Pierre de Bérulle

Vincent, unmoved by his threats, only answered gently that he had seen nothing of the money and did not know what had become of it but his companion refusing to listen to reason rushed out and accused him to the police this led to nothing as neither witness nor proof could be brought forward by the judge who furious at the failure of his accusation went about paris denouncing vincent as a thief so determined was he to ruin the poor priest whose room he had shared that he obtained an introduction to father de brulle for the express purpose of making vincent's guilt known to him as for the latter he bore the affront in silence making no attempt to justify himself beyond his first declaration that he was innocent god knows the truth he would reply to all accusations the true thief was only discovered six months later the chemist's assistant had fallen ill and was lying at the point of death at a hospital when repenting of his crime he sent to implore forgiveness of the man he had robbed the judge stricken with remorse wrote at once to vincent offering to come and ask his pardon on his knees for the wrong he had done him.

Vincent was then living at the oratory with Father de Berulle, who had never doubted his innocence.

He hastened to assure his old roommate that he desired no such apology, and begged him to say no more about the matter.

Such was his treatment of the man who had done him so grievous an injury.

strong and firm as such a faith must be, it held him ready for all that God might send.

End of chapter 2

CHAPTER THREE A GREAT HOUSEHOLD Vincent remained two years in the house of Father de Berulle in the hope of obtaining permanent work.

The administration of a poor country parish was, he maintained, the only thing he was fit for, but de Berulle thought otherwise.

His only desire was to get his business over and to leave the court as quickly as possible.

The question of how he was to live, remaining still unanswered, he took a room in a house near one of the largest hospitals in paris and devoted himself to the service of the sick and dying but even the rent of the little room was more than he could afford to pay and he was glad to share it with a companion this was a judge from his own part of the country who was in paris on account of a lawsuit and who not being overburdened with money offered to share the lodging and the rent it was at this time that vincent met father afterwards cardinal de berulle one of the most holy and learned priests of his time who was occupied at that moment in founding the french congregation of the oratory destined to do such good work for the clergy of france de beryl was quick to recognize holiness and merit and he and vincent soon became fast friends but it did not seem to be god's will that our hero should prosper in paris he fell ill and one day while he was lying in bed waiting for some medicine which had been ordered his companion went out leaving the cupboard in which he kept his money unlocked the chemist's assistant arriving shortly afterwards with the medicine and opening the cupboard to get a glass for the patient, caught sight of the purse, slipped it into his pocket, and made off.

No sooner had the judge returned than he went to the cupboard and discovered the theft.

Turning furiously on the sick man, he accused him of having stolen his property and overwhelmed him with insults and abuse.

Vincent, unmoved by his threats, only answered gently that he had seen nothing of the money and did not know what had become of it but his companion refusing to listen to reason rushed out and accused him to the police this led to nothing as neither witness nor proof could be brought forward by the judge who furious at the failure of his accusation went about paris denouncing vincent as a thief so determined was he to ruin the poor priest whose room he had shared that he obtained an introduction to father de brulle for the express purpose of making vincent's guilt known to him as for the latter he bore the affront in silence making no attempt to justify himself beyond his first declaration that he was innocent god knows the truth he would reply to all accusations the true thief was only discovered six months later the chemist's assistant had fallen ill and was lying at the point of death at a hospital when repenting of his crime he sent to implore forgiveness of the man he had robbed the judge, stricken with remorse, wrote at once to Vincent, offering to come and ask his pardon on his knees for the wrong he had done him.

Vincent was then living at the oratory with Father de Berulle, who had never doubted his innocence.

He hastened to assure his old roommate, that he desired no such apology, and begged him to say no more about the matter.

Such was his treatment of the man who had done him so grievous an injury.

This was a judge from his own part of the country who was in Paris on account of a lawsuit and who, not being overburdened with money, offered to share the lodging and the rent.

It was at this time that Vincent met Father, afterwards Cardinal, de Bérulle, one of the most holy and learned priests of his time, who was occupied at that moment in founding the French Congregation of the Oratory, destined to do such good work for the clergy of France.

De Bérulle was quick to recognize holiness and merit, and he and Vincent soon became fast friends.

But it did not seem to be God's will that our hero should prosper in Paris.

He fell ill, and one day while he was lying in bed waiting for some medicine which had been ordered, his companion went out, leaving the cupboard in which he kept his money unlocked.

But his companion, refusing to listen to reason, rushed out and accused him to the police.

This led to nothing, as neither witness nor proof could be brought forward by the judge, who, furious at the failure of his accusation, went about Paris denouncing Vincent as a thief.

So determined was he to ruin the poor priest whose room he had shared that he obtained an introduction to Father de Bérulle for the express purpose of making Vincent's guilt known to him.

This was a judge from his own part of the country who was in Paris on account of a lawsuit and who, not being overburdened with money, offered to share the lodging and the rent.

It was at this time that Vincent met Father, afterwards Cardinal de Bérulle, one of the most holy and learned priests of his time, who was occupied at that moment in founding the French Congregation of the Oratory, destined to do such good work for the clergy of France.

De Bérulle was quick to recognize holiness and merit, and he and Vincent soon became fast friends.

But it did not seem to be God's will that our hero should prosper in Paris.

He fell ill, and one day while he was lying in bed waiting for some medicine which had been ordered, his companion went out, leaving the cupboard in which he kept his money unlocked.

But his companion, refusing to listen to reason, rushed out and accused him to the police.

This led to nothing, as neither witness nor proof could be brought forward by the judge, who, furious at the failure of his accusation, went about Paris denouncing Vincent as a thief.

So determined was he to ruin the poor priest whose room he had shared that he obtained an introduction to Father de Bérulle for the express purpose of making Vincent's guilt known to him.