a book of scoundrels(流浪之书)-第42章
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since our priest was not of those who could pursue bonnes fortunes; ever
he sighed for ‘booze and the blowens;' but ‘booze and the blowens' he
could only purchase with the sovereigns his honest calling denied him。
136
… 137
A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
There was no resource but thievery and embezzlement; sins which led
sometimes to falsehood or incendiarism; and at a pinch to the graver
enterprise of murder。 But Bruneau was not one to boggle at trifles。
Women he would encounteryoung or old; dark or fair; ugly or beautiful;
it was all one to himand the fools who withheld him riches must be
punished for their niggard hand。 For a while a theft here and there; a
cunning extortion of money upon the promise of good works; sufficed for
his necessities; but still he hungered for a coup; and patiently he devised
and watched his opportunity。
Meanwhile his cunning protected him; and even if the gaze of
suspicion fell upon him he contrived his orgies with so neat a discretion
that the Church; which is not wont to expose her malefactors; preserved a
timid and an innocent silence。 The Abb was never guilty of a meanness。 The less
guilty scheme was speedily staled; and then it was that the Abb was still impoverished。 Already he had
robbed his vicar; and the suspicion of the Abb
The childhood of the Abb