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Updated: June 18, 2025
Archangias, the coarse and brutal Christian Brother who serves as a foil to Abbe Mouret; La Teuse, the priest's garrulous old housekeeper; Desiree, his 'innocent' sister, a grown woman with the mind of a child and an almost crazy affection for every kind of bird and beast, are all admirably portrayed.
He spoke on in the most unconcerned manner, pretending that he did not notice the presence of Brother Archangias; but as the latter suddenly broke into an angry grunt, he added, 'Why, Cure, so you bring your pig out with you? 'Take care, you bandit! hissed the Brother, clenching his fists. Jeanbernat, whose stick was still raised, then pretended to recognise him. 'Hands off! he cried.
It's a shame to allow women to rustle their dresses so near the holy relics. The Abbe made an apologetic gesture. He had only been at Les Artaud a little while, he must follow the customs. 'Whenever you like, Monsieur le Cure, we're ready! now called out La Teuse. But Brother Archangias detained him a minute. 'I am off, he said.
As soon as Brother Archangias, with rough violence, had dragged him out of the Paradou, Albine, who had fallen half fainting to the ground, with hands wildly stretched towards the love which was deserting her, rose up again, choking with sobs. And she fled, vanished into the midst of the trees, whose trunks she lashed with her streaming hair.
La Teuse, who had knelt down to get a better view of the Abbe's brush as it glided along his rule, started with alarm. 'Ah! it's Brother Archangias, she said, turning round. 'You came in by the sacristy then? You gave me quite a turn. Your voice seemed to sound from under the floor. Abbe Mouret had resumed his work, after greeting the Brother with a slight nod.
'Well, what of it? queried Brother Archangias. La Teuse looked at him, half suffocated by indignation. 'What of it? It would be sinful, of course, she muttered. 'This altar is like a neglected tomb in a graveyard. If it were not for me, the spiders would spin their webs across it, and moss would soon grow over it. From time to time, when I can spare a bunch of flowers, I give it to the Virgin.
So he left her at the end of the garden, sitting in the sunlight on the ground before a hive, whence the bees buzzed like golden berries round her neck, along her bare arms and in her hair, without thought of stinging her. Brother Archangias dined at the parsonage every Thursday. As a rule he came early so as to talk over parish matters.
It isn't good to loiter out of doors at this time of night. You would be much better in bed. All at once, however, just as they were entering the village, Archangias himself stopped short in the middle of the road. He was looking towards the heights, where the white lines of the roads vanished amidst black patches of pine-woods, and he growled to himself, like a dog that scents danger.
A few strides brought Brother Archangias up with Abbe Mouret, who was walking down the narrow path that led to the village. The Brother had undertaken the task of keeping watch over the Abbe's movements. He incessantly played the spy upon him, accompanying him everywhere, or, if he could not go in person, sending some school urchin to follow him.
The Artauds were a herd penned in between four ranges of hills, increasing, multiplying, spreading more and more thickly over the land with each successive generation. 'See, cried Brother Archangias, interrupting his discourse to point to a tall girl who was letting her sweetheart snatch a kiss, 'there is another hussy over there! He shook his long black arms at the couple and made them flee.
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