The abbé burst out laughing.
"You are mad! What is your notion of Christ?"
"Not of Christ, but of His intermediary the human being who replaces Him."
"You can only chance upon a man pointed out beforehand from above to judge you; moreover, at Notre Dame de l'Atre you have every chance of kneeling at the feet of a saint, therefore God will inspire him, will be present, you have nothing to fear.
"As to the Communion, the prospect of being rejected terrifies you, but is not that one proof the more that, contrary to your opinion, God does not leave you insensible?"
"Yes, but the idea of communicating alarms me none the less."
"I say to you again: if Jesus were indifferent to you, it would be just the same to you, to consume or not to consume the sacred species."
"All that does not convince me," sighed Durtal. "I do not know where I am; I am afraid of a confessor, of others, of myself; it is foolish, but it is stronger than I. I cannot gain the upper hand."
"You are afraid of the water; imitate Gribouille, throw yourself in boldly; look, suppose I write to La Trappe this very day to say you are coming; when?"
"Oh!" cried Durtal, "wait a while."