"I can promise you at once that as a retreatant, you will not be bound to lead the life of a Trappist in its austerest sense. You need not get up at two in the morning for Matins, but at three, or even at four o'clock, according to the day."
And smiling at the face Durtal made, the abbé went on,—
"As to your food it will be better than that of the monks; naturally you will have no fish nor meat, but you may certainly have an egg for dinner, if vegetables are not enough for you."
"And the vegetables, I suppose, are cooked with salt and water, and no seasoning?"
"No, they are dressed with salt and water only on fasting days; at other times you will have them cooked in milk and water, or in oil."
"Many thanks," said Durtal.
"But all that is excellent for your health," continued the priest, "you complain of pains in the stomach, sick headaches, diarrhœa, well, this diet, in the country, in the air, will cure you better than all the drugs you take.
"Now let us leave, if you like, your body out of the question, for in such a case, it is God's part to act against your weakness. I tell you, you will not be ill at La Trappe, that were absurd; it would be to send the penitent sinner away, and Jesus would not then be the Christ; but let us talk of your soul. Have the courage to take its measure, to look it well in the face. Do you see that?" said the abbé after a silence.
Durtal did not answer.
"Admit," said the priest, "that you are horrified at it."