Red black briefly chapter by chapter. Red and black (detailed translation)

M. de Renal, the mayor of the French town of Verrières in the Franche-Comté district, a smug and conceited man, informs his wife of the decision to take a tutor into the house. There is no particular need for a tutor, just the local rich Mr. Valeno, that vulgar screamer, always competing with the mayor, is too proud of a new pair of Norman horses. Well, now Mr. Valno has horses, but there is no tutor. M. de Renal had already made arrangements with Father Sorel that his youngest son would serve with him. The old curate, Mr. Chelan, recommended his son to him

Carpenter as a young man of rare abilities who has been studying theology for three years and knows Latin brilliantly. His name is Julien Sorel, he is eighteen years old; this is a short, fragile-looking young man, whose face bears the stamp of a striking originality. He has irregular but delicate features, large black eyes that sparkle with fire and thought, and dark brown hair. The young girls look at him with interest. Julien never went to school. He was taught Latin and history by a regimental doctor, a participant in the Napoleonic campaigns. Dying, he bequeathed to him his love for Napoleon, the cross of the Legion of Honor and several dozen books. From childhood, Julien dreams of becoming a military man. In the time of Napoleon, for a commoner, this was the surest way to make a career and go out into the people. But times have changed. Julien realizes that the only path open to him is to become a priest. He is ambitious and proud, but he is ready to endure everything in order to make his way.

Madame de Renal does not like her husband's idea. She adores her three boys and the thought of someone else standing between her and her children drives her to despair. She is already imagining a disgusting, rude, disheveled guy who is allowed to yell at her children and even spank them.

Imagine her surprise when she sees a pale, frightened boy in front of her, who seems to her unusually handsome and very unhappy. However, less than a month passes, when everyone in the house, even M. de Renal, begins to treat him with respect. Julien carries himself with great dignity, and his knowledge of Latin is admirable - he can recite any page of the New Testament by heart.

Madame de Renal's maid, Eliza, falls in love with a young tutor. In confession, she tells Abbé Chelan that she has received an inheritance and now wants to marry Julien. The cure is sincerely happy for his pet, but Julien resolutely refuses the enviable offer. He is ambitious and dreams of glory, he wants to conquer Paris. However, he skillfully hides it.

In the summer, the family moves to Vergy, the village where the estate and the castle de Renal are located. Here Madame de Renal spends whole days with the children and the tutor. Julien seems to her smarter, kinder, nobler than all the men around her. She begins to realize that she loves Julien. But does he love her? After all, she is ten years older than him! Julien likes Madame de Renal. He finds her charming, he has never seen such women. But Julien is not in love at all. He wants to win Madame de Renal in order to assert himself and to take revenge on this self-satisfied Monsieur de Renal, who allows himself to speak condescendingly and even rudely to him.

When Julien warns Madame de Renal that he will come to her bedroom at night, she answers him with the most sincere indignation. At night, leaving his room, he dies of fear, his knees give way, but when he sees Madame de Renal, she seems to him so beautiful that all conceited nonsense fly out of his head. Julien's tears, his despair subdue Madame de Renal. A few days pass, and Julien, with all the ardor of youth, falls head over heels in love with her. The lovers are happy, but Madame de Renal's youngest son suddenly falls seriously ill. And it seems to the unfortunate woman that with her love for Julien she is killing her son. She realizes what a sin she commits before God, she is tormented by remorse. She pushes Julien away from her, who is shaken by the depth of her grief and despair. Fortunately, the child is recovering.

M. de Renal suspects nothing, but the servants know a lot. The maid Eliza, having met Mr. Valno on the street, tells him that her mistress is having an affair with a young tutor. That same evening, M. de Renal receives an anonymous letter from which he learns what is happening in his house. Madame de Renal manages to convince her husband of her innocence, but the whole city is only engaged in the history of her love affairs.

Julien's mentor, Abbé Chelan, believes that he should leave the city for at least a year - to his friend Fouquet, a timber merchant, or to a seminary in Besançon. Julien leaves Verrieres, but returns three days later to say goodbye to Madame de Renal. He sneaks into her room, but their date is overshadowed - it seems to them that they are parting forever.

Julien arrives in Besançon and visits the rector of the seminary, Abbé Pirard. He is very excited, besides, Pirard's face is so ugly that it causes horror in him. For three hours the rector examines Julien and is so impressed by his knowledge of Latin and theology that he accepts him into the seminary on a small scholarship and even assigns him a separate cell. This is a great mercy. But the seminarians unanimously hate Julien: he is too talented and impresses thinking person- this is not forgiven here. Julien must choose a confessor for himself, and he chooses the abbot Pirard, not even suspecting that this act will be decisive for him. The abbot is sincerely attached to his student, but the position of Pirard himself in the seminary is very precarious. His enemies the Jesuits are doing everything to force him to resign. Fortunately, he has a friend and patron at court - an aristocrat from Franche-Comté, the Marquis de La Mole, whose orders the abbot regularly carries out. Having learned about the persecution that Pirard is subjected to, the Marquis de La Mole invites him to move to the capital and promises one of the best parishes in the vicinity of Paris. Saying goodbye to Julien, the abbot foresees that difficult times await him. But Julien is unable to think of himself. Knowing that Pirard needs money, he offers him all his savings. Pirard will not forget this.

The Marquis de La Mole, politician and nobleman, enjoys great influence at court, he receives the Abbé Pirard in his Parisian mansion. In a conversation, he mentions that for several years he has been looking for an intelligent person who could take care of his correspondence. The abbot offers his student for this place - a man of very low birth, but energetic, intelligent, with a high soul. So an unexpected prospect opens up before Julien Sorel - he can get to Paris!

Having received the invitation of the Marquis, Julien first goes to Verrieres, hoping to see Madame de Renal. He heard that lately she had fallen into the most frenzied piety. Despite many obstacles, he manages to get into the room of his beloved. She had never seemed so beautiful to him before. However, the husband suspects something, and Julien is forced to flee.

Arriving in Paris, he first of all examines the places associated with the name of Napoleon, and only then goes to the abbe Pirard. The abbot introduces Julien to the marquis, and in the evening he is already sitting at the common table. Opposite him sits a fair blonde, unusually slender, with very beautiful, but cold eyes. Mademoiselle Mathilde de La Mole clearly does not like Julien.

The new secretary is accustomed quickly: after three months, the Marquis considers Julien quite a suitable person for himself. He works hard, is silent, understanding and gradually begins to conduct all the most difficult cases. He becomes a real dandy and completely masters the art of living in Paris. The Marquis de La Mole presents Julien with an order. This soothes Julien's pride, he is now more relaxed and does not feel offended as often. But with Mademoiselle de La Mole, he is emphatically cold. This nineteen-year-old girl is very smart, she is bored in the company of her aristocratic friends - the Count of Quelus, the Viscount de Luz and the Marquis de Croizenoy, who claims to be her hand. Once a year, Matilda wears mourning. Julien is told that she is doing this in honor of the ancestor of the family, Boniface de La Mole, lover of Queen Marguerite of Navarre, who was beheaded on April 30, 1574 at the Place Greve in Paris. Legend has it that the queen demanded the head of her lover from the executioner and buried it in the chapel with her own hands.

Julien sees that Matilda is sincerely excited about this romantic story. Gradually, he ceases to shy away from conversations with Mademoiselle de La Mole. Conversations with her are so interesting that he even forgets his role as an indignant plebeian. It would be funny, he thinks, if she fell in love with me.

Matilda had long realized that she loved Julien. This love seems to her very heroic - a girl in her position loves the son of a carpenter! From the moment she realizes that she loves Julien, she ceases to be bored.

Julien himself excites his imagination rather than being carried away by love. But having received a letter from Matilda with a declaration of love, he cannot hide his triumph: a noble lady loves him, a poor peasant, she preferred him to an aristocrat, the Marquis de Croisenois! Matilda is waiting for him at one in the morning. It seems to Julien that this is a trap, that Matilda's friends want to kill him or expose him to ridicule. Armed with pistols and a dagger, he enters Mademoiselle de La Mole's room. Mathilde is submissive and gentle, but the next day she is horrified at the thought that she has become Julien's mistress. Talking to him, she barely restrains her anger and irritation. Julien's pride is offended, and both of them decide that everything is over between them. But Julien feels that he has fallen madly in love with this wayward girl, that he cannot live without her. Matilda constantly occupies his soul and imagination.

Julien's acquaintance, the Russian Prince Korazov, advises him to arouse the jealousy of his beloved and start courting some secular beauty. The "Russian plan", to Julien's surprise, works flawlessly, Matilda is jealous, she is in love again, and only monstrous pride prevents her from taking a step towards her. Once Julien, not thinking about the danger, puts a ladder to Matilda's window. Seeing him, she falls into his arms.

Soon Mademoiselle de La Mole informs Julien that she is pregnant and wants to marry him. Upon learning of everything, the Marquis becomes furious. But Matilda insists, and the father finally gives in. To avoid disgrace, the marquis decides to create a brilliant position in society for Julien. He seeks for him a patent for a hussar lieutenant in the name of Julien Sorel de La Vernet. Julien goes to his regiment. His joy is boundless - he dreams of a military career and his future son.

Unexpectedly, he receives news from Paris: Matilda asks him to return immediately. When they meet, she hands him an envelope containing Madame de Renal's letter. It turns out that her father asked her to provide some information about the former tutor. Madame de Renal's letter is monstrous. She writes about Julien as a hypocrite and a careerist, capable of any meanness, just to get out into the people. It is clear that Monsieur de La Mole will never agree to his marriage to Matilda.

Without a word, Julien leaves Matilda, gets into the mail coach and rushes to Verrieres. There he buys a pistol in a gun shop, enters the Verrières church, where Sunday worship is taking place, and shoots Madame de Renal twice.

Already in prison, he learns that Madame de Renal was not killed, but only wounded. He is happy and feels that now he can die in peace. Following Julien, Matilda arrives in Verrieres. She uses all her connections, distributes money and promises in the hope of commuting the sentence.

On the day of judgment the whole province flocks to Besançon. Julien is surprised to find that he inspires all these people with sincere pity. He wants to refuse the last word, but something makes him rise. Julien does not ask the court for any mercy, because he understands that his main crime is that he, a commoner, rebelled against his miserable lot.

His fate is decided - the court passes Julien a death sentence. Madame de Renal comes to Julien in prison. She says that the ill-fated letter was written by her confessor. Julien had never been so happy. He understands that Madame de Renal is the only woman he is capable of loving.

On the day of execution, he feels cheerful and courageous. Mathilde de La Mole buries her lover's head with her own hands. And three days after Julien's death, Madame de Renal dies.

Option 2

Julien Sorel serves as tutor in the house of the mayor of the town of Verrières. The 18-year-old son of a commoner, who has never attended school, is unusually gifted and vain: he dreams of conquering Paris.

The tutor is to the liking of the family of Mr. de Renal, three boys admire the mentor. The mistress's maid, Eliza, falls in love with the young man, but he does not reciprocate.

Unbeknownst to herself, Madame de Renal becomes attached to Sorel, who is ten years her junior. Julien decides to win the heart of the mistress for self-affirmation, at the same time taking revenge on Mr. de Renal for being rude.

Sorel puts the woman before the fact: at night he will come to her room. She is sincerely indignant, but the door does not lock ... After a couple of days, the youth was inflamed with a sincere passion for a secret mistress. They are happy, but the illness of Madame de Renal's son upsets the relationship: the woman believes that the boy is suffering for her sins.

The offended Eliza tells about the relationship of the hostess with an outside tutor. That same evening, M. de Renal receives a letter from which he learns about what is happening in the house. The wife assures fidelity, but the city is full of rumors about lovers.

The Abbé Chelan invites Sorel to leave Verrières, at least for a while. Julien moves to Besançon, enters the theological seminary. A proud talented student is not to the liking of the seminarians; he keeps to himself. Sorel's confessor introduces him to the Marquis de La Mole, who enjoys influence at court. The aristocrat offers Julien the position of secretary. The young man is flattered - he will live in Paris!

Before leaving, Julien goes to see Madame de Renal, who has fallen into piety. A suspicious husband upsets a secret date. Sorel is forced to flee from his beloved's room.

In the house of the marquis, Sorel's attention is attracted by a slender blonde with cold eyes. The new secretary does not like the daughter of the Marquis Matilda, but he does not think about her - he is completely immersed in work. La Mole appreciates the efforts of the young man, rewarding him with an order. Sorel's pride is flattered, he feels satisfied, but he is still cold with Matilda.

The girl has oddities: she wears mourning once a year. Julien becomes aware: in this way she pays tribute to the executed ancestor - the beloved of Queen Margot. According to legend, the Queen herself buried the severed head of La Mole.

Interest takes over and Sorel begins to communicate with Matilda, even dreams that she will fall in love. The girl has long been indifferent to him, she writes a passionate letter and makes an appointment in her bedchamber. Julien, not believing that a noble lady could descend to a plebeian, decides that they want to play a trick on him and humiliate him. And yet he goes on a date, armed with a pistol and a dagger.

Matilda is gentle and submissive at night, but in the morning she sincerely repents of her deed. The coldness of the mistress suggests that it's all over. Insulted, Sorel deliberately takes care of another girl, which causes Matilda's jealousy, she is again passionate and obedient. They don't separate anymore.

Matilda is expecting a child and confesses to her father that she dreams of marrying Sorel. The Marquis is furious, but succumbs to his daughter's persistence. La Mole helps the future son-in-law to become a hussar. He is looking forward to a military career and the birth of a son.

Madame de Renal's letter destroys bright dreams. In response to the request of La Mole to characterize the former tutor, she exposes him as a hypocrite and a liar, capable of meanness for a career.

Enraged, Julien goes to Verrieres and shoots his former mistress twice. Matilda's connections do not help - the court passes Sorel a death sentence. In prison, Madame de Renal visits him - the wounds were not fatal. She admits that the letter was written by her confessor. Julien suddenly realizes that this woman is his only true love. He courageously goes to the chopping block. Matilda buries her lover's head. A few days after the execution, Madame de Renal also dies.

Summary Red and Black Stendhal

Year of writing:

1830

Reading time:

Description of the work:

Stendhal's novel "Red and Black" gained popularity towards the end of the 19th century. There are many rumors and hypotheses why the novel was named that way. It is generally accepted that the colors symbolize the choice that the main character faced. On the one hand, a career in the church (black color of clothes) and on the other, a career in the army (red color of the uniform).

In 1864, the Vatican placed this novel on its list of banned books. Also in Russia, the book was banned by Nicholas I in 1850.

M. de Renal, mayor of the French town of Verrieres in the Franche-Comté district, a smug and conceited man, informs his wife of the decision to take a tutor into the house. There is no special need for a tutor, just the local rich Mr. Valeno, that vulgar screamer, always competing with the mayor, is too proud of a new pair of Norman horses. Well, Mr. Valno now has horses, but there is no tutor. M. de Renal had already made arrangements with Father Sorel that his youngest son would serve with him. The old curé, M. Chelan, recommended to him the son of a carpenter, as a young man of rare ability, who had been studying theology for three years and was brilliant in Latin. His name is Julien Sorel, he is eighteen years old; this is a short, fragile-looking young man, whose face bears the stamp of a striking originality. He has irregular, but delicate features, large black eyes that sparkle with fire and thought, and dark brown hair. The young girls look at him with interest. Julien never went to school. He was taught Latin and history by a regimental doctor, a participant in the Napoleonic campaigns. Dying, he bequeathed to him his love for Napoleon, the cross of the Legion of Honor and several dozen books. From childhood, Julien dreams of becoming a military man. In the time of Napoleon, for a commoner, this was the surest way to make a career and go out into the people. But times have changed. Julien realizes that the only path open to him is to become a priest. He is ambitious and proud, but he is ready to endure everything in order to make his way.

Madame de Renal does not like her husband's idea. She adores her three boys and the thought of someone else standing between her and her children drives her to despair. She is already imagining a disgusting, rude, disheveled guy who is allowed to yell at her children and even spank them.

Imagine her surprise when she sees a pale, frightened boy in front of her, who seems to her unusually handsome and very unhappy. However, less than a month passes, when everyone in the house, even M. de Renal, begins to treat him with respect. Julien carries himself with great dignity, and his knowledge of Latin is admirable - he can recite any page of the New Testament by heart.

Madame de Renal's maid, Eliza, falls in love with the young tutor. In confession, she tells Abbé Chelan that she has received an inheritance and now wants to marry Julien. The cure is sincerely happy for his pet, but Julien resolutely refuses the enviable offer. He is ambitious and dreams of glory, he wants to conquer Paris. However, he skillfully hides it.

In the summer, the family moves to Vergy, a village where the estate and the castle de Renal are located. Here Madame de Renal spends whole days with the children and the tutor. Julien seems to her smarter, kinder, nobler than all the men around her. She begins to realize that she loves Julien. But does he love her? After all, she is ten years older than him! Julien likes Madame de Renal. He finds her charming, he has never seen such women. But Julien is not in love at all. He wants to win Madame de Renal in order to assert himself and in order to take revenge on this self-satisfied Monsieur de Renal, who allows himself to speak condescendingly and even rudely to him.

When Julien warns Madame de Renal that he will come to her bedroom at night, she answers him with the most sincere indignation. At night, leaving his room, he dies of fear, his knees give way, but when he sees Madame de Renal, she seems to him so beautiful that all conceited nonsense fly out of his head. Julien's tears, his despair subdue Madame de Renal. A few days pass, and Julien, with all the ardor of youth, falls in love with her without memory. The lovers are happy, but Madame de Renal's youngest son suddenly falls seriously ill. And it seems to the unfortunate woman that with her love for Julien she is killing her son. She realizes what a sin she commits before God, she is tormented by remorse. She pushes Julien away from her, who is shocked by the depth of her grief and despair. Fortunately, the child is recovering.

M. de Renal suspects nothing, but the servants know a lot. The maid Eliza, having met Mr. Valno on the street, tells him that her mistress is having an affair with a young tutor. That same evening, M. de Renal receives an anonymous letter from which he learns what is happening in his house. Madame de Renal manages to convince her husband of her innocence, but the whole city is only engaged in the history of her love affairs.

Julien's mentor, Abbé Chelan, believes that he should leave the city for at least a year - to his friend, the timber merchant Fouquet, or to the seminary in Besançon. Julien leaves Verrieres, but returns three days later to say goodbye to Madame de Renal. He sneaks into her room, but their date is overshadowed - it seems to them that they are parting forever.

Julien arrives in Besançon and visits the rector of the seminary, Abbé Pirard. He is very excited, besides, Pirard's face is so ugly that it causes horror in him. For three hours the rector examines Julien and is so impressed by his knowledge of Latin and theology that he accepts him to the seminary on a small scholarship and even assigns him a separate cell. This is a great mercy. But the seminarians unanimously hate Julien: he is too talented and gives the impression of a thinking person - they do not forgive this here. Julien must choose a confessor for himself, and he chooses the abbot Pirard, not even suspecting that this act will be decisive for him. The abbot is sincerely attached to his student, but the position of Pirard himself in the seminary is very precarious. His enemies the Jesuits are doing everything to force him to resign. Fortunately, he has a friend and patron at court - an aristocrat from Franche-Comté, the Marquis de La Mole, whose orders the abbot regularly carries out. Having learned about the persecution that Pirard is subjected to, the Marquis de La Mole invites him to move to the capital and promises one of the best parishes in the vicinity of Paris. Saying goodbye to Julien, the abbot foresees that difficult times await him. But Julien is unable to think of himself. Knowing that Pirard needs money, he offers him all his savings. Pirard will not forget this.

The Marquis de La Mole, politician and nobleman, enjoys great influence at court, he receives the Abbé Pirard in his Parisian mansion. In a conversation, he mentions that for several years he has been looking for an intelligent person who could take care of his correspondence. The abbot offers his student for this place - a man of very low birth, but energetic, intelligent, with a high soul. So an unexpected prospect opens up before Julien Sorel - he can get to Paris!

Having received the invitation of the Marquis, Julien first goes to Verrieres, hoping to see Madame de Renal. He heard that lately she had fallen into the most frenzied piety. Despite many obstacles, he manages to get into the room of his beloved. She had never seemed so beautiful to him before. However, the husband suspects something, and Julien is forced to flee.

Arriving in Paris, he first of all examines the places associated with the name of Napoleon, and only then goes to the abbe Pirard. The abbot introduces Julien to the marquis, and in the evening he is already sitting at the common table. Opposite him sits a fair blonde, unusually slender, with very beautiful, but cold eyes. Mademoiselle Mathilde de La Mole clearly does not like Julien.

The new secretary is accustomed quickly: after three months, the Marquis considers Julien quite a suitable person for himself. He works hard, is silent, understanding and gradually begins to conduct all the most difficult cases. He becomes a real dandy and completely masters the art of living in Paris. The Marquis de La Mole presents Julien with an order. This soothes Julien's pride, he is now more relaxed and does not feel offended as often. But with Mademoiselle de La Mole, he is emphatically cold. This nineteen-year-old girl is very smart, she is bored in the company of her aristocratic friends - the Count of Quelus, the Viscount de Luz and the Marquis de Croisenois, who claims her hand. Once a year, Matilda wears mourning. Julien is told that she is doing this in honor of the ancestor of the family, Boniface de La Mole, lover of Queen Marguerite of Navarre, who was beheaded on April 30, 1574 at the Place Greve in Paris. Legend has it that the queen demanded the head of her lover from the executioner and buried it in the chapel with her own hands.

Julien sees that Matilda is sincerely excited about this romantic story. Gradually, he ceases to shy away from talking with Mademoiselle de La Mole. Conversations with her are so interesting that he even forgets his role as an indignant plebeian. It would be funny, he thinks, if she fell in love with me.

Matilda had long realized that she loved Julien. This love seems to her very heroic - a girl in her position loves the son of a carpenter! From the moment she realizes that she loves Julien, she stops being bored.

Julien himself excites his imagination rather than being carried away by love. But having received a letter from Matilda with a declaration of love, he cannot hide his triumph: a noble lady loves him, a poor peasant, she preferred him to an aristocrat, the Marquis de Croisenois! Matilda is waiting for him at one in the morning. It seems to Julien that this is a trap, that Matilda's friends want to kill him or expose him to ridicule. Armed with pistols and a dagger, he enters Mademoiselle de La Mole's room. Mathilde is submissive and gentle, but the next day she is horrified at the thought that she has become Julien's mistress. Talking to him, she barely restrains her anger and irritation. Julien's pride is offended, and both of them decide that everything is over between them. But Julien feels that he has fallen madly in love with this wayward girl, that he cannot live without her. Matilda constantly occupies his soul and imagination.

Julien's acquaintance, the Russian Prince Korazov, advises him to arouse the jealousy of his beloved and start courting some secular beauty. The "Russian plan", to Julien's surprise, works flawlessly, Matilda is jealous, she is in love again, and only monstrous pride prevents her from taking a step towards her. Once Julien, not thinking about the danger, puts a ladder to Matilda's window. Seeing him, she falls into his arms.

Soon Mademoiselle de La Mole informs Julien that she is pregnant and wants to marry him. Upon learning of everything, the Marquis becomes furious. But Matilda insists, and the father finally gives in. To avoid disgrace, the marquis decides to create a brilliant position in society for Julien. He seeks for him a patent for a hussar lieutenant in the name of Julien Sorel de La Vernet. Julien goes to his regiment. His joy is boundless - he dreams of a military career and his future son.

Unexpectedly, he receives news from Paris: Matilda asks him to return immediately. When they meet, she hands him an envelope containing Madame de Renal's letter. It turns out that her father asked her to provide some information about the former tutor. Madame de Renal's letter is monstrous. She writes about Julien as a hypocrite and a careerist, capable of any meanness, just to get out into the people. It is clear that Monsieur de La Mole will never agree to his marriage to Matilda.

Without a word, Julien leaves Matilda, gets into the mail coach and rushes to Verrieres. There, in a gun shop, he buys a pistol, enters the Verrières church, where Sunday worship is taking place, and shoots Madame de Renal twice.

Already in prison, he learns that Madame de Renal was not killed, but only wounded. He is happy and feels that now he can die in peace. Following Julien, Matilda arrives in Verrieres. She uses all her connections, distributes money and promises in the hope of commuting the sentence.

On the day of judgment the whole province flocks to Besançon. Julien is surprised to find that he inspires all these people with sincere pity. He wants to refuse the last word, but something makes him rise. Julien does not ask the court for any mercy, because he understands that his main crime is that he, a commoner, rebelled against his miserable lot.

His fate is decided - the court passes Julien a death sentence. Madame de Renal comes to Julien in prison. She says that the ill-fated letter was written by her confessor. Julien had never been so happy. He understands that Madame de Renal is the only woman he is capable of loving.

On the day of execution, he feels cheerful and courageous. Mathilde de La Mole buries her lover's head with her own hands. And three days after Julien's death, Madame de Renal dies.

You have read the summary of the novel Red and Black. In the section of our site - brief contents, you can familiarize yourself with the presentation of other famous works.

PART ONE

provincial city

The most picturesque town in Franche-Comté, Verrières, is located in the valley of the Doubs River. From the north, it is protected by Mount Vera, which is already covered with snow in October. A mountain stream crosses Verrières and drives many sawmills. However, the town did not get rich thanks to sawmills. The factory of printed fabrics became a source of prosperity. There is also a nail factory in the town, which amazes the traveler with the terrible roar of giant hammers. It belongs to the mayor of Ver "here, Mr. de Renal.

Monsieur de Renal is "a cavalier of several orders, he has a large forehead, an aquiline nose and generally quite regular features." But the new man "is uncomfortably struck by the expression of self-satisfaction and arrogance, mixed with some kind of mediocrity and narrow-mindedness." It is felt that his most important talent is the ability to demand accurate payment of debts from people, and not to pay his debts for as long as possible.

The mayor lives in a nice house surrounded by beautiful gardens behind iron bars.

It is said that M. de Renal "comes from an old Spanish family that settled in this country long before its conquest by Louis XIV."

In Franche-Comte, you can win the respect of your neighbors only when you have many walls around your land. That is why the mayor persuaded the stubborn and rude peasant Sorel to move his sawmill away and sell the land to him. Later, Monsieur de Renal realized that 6,000 francs was a big price, and the respect of the townspeople was dearer to him. Public opinion in Franche-Comte was as dumb as in other provincial towns in France, but even the mayor could not help but reckon with her.

Mr Mayor

Walking along the city boulevard, the citizens could admire one of the most picturesque landscapes in France. But every spring, rain torrents washed away the paths of this boulevard. There was a need to build a huge retaining moor along the hillside. This difficult task, which immortalized his name, was done by Monsieur de Renal. "Despite the opposition of the city council, the mayor ordered earth to be filled along the entire length of the great retaining wall, and thus widened the boulevard by more than six feet." Gardeners planted luxurious plane trees. Twice a year, these trees were mercilessly amputated, and "the hand of the city gardener has become much more pitiless since the vicar Maslon began to appropriate the fruits of this haircut."

Once an old regimental doctor, a member of the Italian company, complained to the mayor about the destruction of these wonderful trees. M. de Renal replied that he ordered the trees to be trimmed so that they would give shade. He did not understand what else a tree could serve when it did not give a profit, like, for example, a walnut.

“Here it is, that great word that decides everything in Ver" ri: to make a profit; the thoughts of more than three-quarters of the entire population boil down to this alone.

The foreigner, fascinated by the beauty and freshness of the valleys, at first imagines that the inhabitants are sensitive to beauty, because they talk a lot about the beauty of their country. So, they value it, but only because this beauty "makes a profit for the city."

“One fine autumn day, Monsieur de Renal was walking along the Avenue of Fidelity (the name of the boulevard) with his wife and three boys. The mayor angrily told Madame de Renal that Monsieur Apert had come from Paris and “somehow managed to visit not only the prison and the Ver’sky orphanage for the poor, but also the hospital, which was run free of charge by the mayor, along with the most respected landlords of the city ".

property of the poor

Mr. Aper had a letter of recommendation to the faith priest of the Jews. The eighty-year-old Abbé Chelan retained iron health and iron temper. Together with Mr. Ahler, he visited the prison, hospital, orphanage, asked a lot. “Despite the strange answers, he did not allow himself a word of blasphemy.”

A few hours later they returned to the prison again. "At the entrance they were met by the jailer, a bow-legged giant six feet tall." He told the priest that he had received the strictest order from the prefect not to let Monsieur Aper into prison. And now he can be removed from office.

In the morning, the Mayor, accompanied by Mr. Valeno, the director of the asylum for the poor, went to the curate to express his extreme displeasure. The priest had no patrons and understood what consequences this conversation threatened him with. But the fear of losing the position could not force the curate to make a deal with his conscience.

M. de Renal lived in harmony with his wife. She was a good mother, attentive, calm, reasonable companion. “At one time she was known as the first beauty in the whole region. ... It was said that Mr. Valno, a rich man, the director of an orphanage, courted her, but was not successful. She was very annoyed by the unbridled fussiness of this tall, strongly built young man, with a ruddy face and thick black sideburns. She never knew how to use her popularity, she liked to wander alone in the garden.

“It was a simple and naive soul; she never dared to judge her husband, did not admit to herself that she was bored with him ... after all, M. de Renal seemed to her much less boring than all the other men she knew.

Father and son

Monsieur de Renal decided to take Sorel, the sawmiller's son, as a tutor to his sons, who knows Latin well and will force the children to learn. Uncle Sorel was very surprised, and even more delighted, when he heard the mayor's proposal regarding his son Julien. The cunning old man could not understand why such a Respected man wants to take his lazy son to her, but just in case he dragged out the conversation.

Old Sorel went to the sawmill, where his older sons, real giants, hewed trunks. Julien, instead of following the progress of the saw, sat and read. “Nothing could cause Sorel such grief, he could somehow give Julienov his delicate posture, unsuitable for physical labor and so unlike the posture of his older sons, but this passion for reading was disgusting to him; he himself could not read. Sorel knocked the book out of his son's hands, almost knocked the young man off his feet with a second blow to the back of the head, and, pounding his fist on the back, drove Julien home. On the way, the guy looked sadly at the stream where his book had fallen.

"He was a short youth of eighteen or nineteen years old, frail in appearance, with irregular but delicate features and an aquiline nose."

Since childhood, he was frail and everyone in the family despised him. He hated his brothers and his father, but with all his heart he fell in love with the old regimental doctor, who gave him lessons in Latin and history, dying, told him the cross of the Legion of Honor, the rest of his pension and three or four dozen books.

Negotiation

Old Sorel tried to ask his son how he knew Madame de Renal, who invites him to be a tutor to her children, but Julien himself did not understand anything. The only thing he wanted in the mayor's house was the privilege of eating not with the servants, but with the masters. “The horror is with the servants, he borrowed from Rousseau's Confessions. It was the only book with which his imagination drew him a secular life.

“Early in the morning of the second day, Monsieur de Renal sent for old Sorel; forcing himself to wait an hour or two, he finally came ... "The cunning Sorel demanded that they show him his son's room, his clothes," numerous points were considered, should determine the new position of Julien; salary was not only increased from three hundred to four hundred francs, but it had to be issued in advance.

When Sorel realized that he could achieve nothing more, he promised to send his son to the castle.

From childhood, Julien dreamed of making his way - to escape from Ver "jen. He hated his homeland and immersed himself in dreams with pleasure, imagining how he would get acquainted with Parisian beauties, how some brilliant lady would love him, how de Beauharnais fell in love with the poor and no one unknown Bonaparte.

At first he raved about a military career, but later, having learned that a priest at the age of forty receives a salary three times higher than the famous generals of Napoleon, he decided to become a priest. To do this, he squeezed out theology, read church books day and night, made friends with the ingenuous curate.

Before going to the mayor, Julien went into the church, because he decided that it would be useful for his hypocrisy. On the bench, the boy noticed a piece of paper on which was printed: “Details of the execution and last minutes the life of Louis Genrel, who was executed in Besancon ... ”Julien was surprised that the name of the executed was consonant with his name.

“When Julien went out, it seemed to him that blood was shining near the bowl: it was holy water, but from the Red curtains on the windows it seemed like blood.”

Julien's heart sank as he entered the mayor's house. But the mistress of the house was completely shocked that some stranger would stand between her and the children. “She already imagined a nasty, rude, disheveled subject who is allowed to scold her children only because he knows Latin ...”

Madame de Renal was just going out of the drawing room into the garden when she saw a very pale and crying guy in a clean white shirt at the entrance. The eyes of this young peasant were so tender that the lady at first thought she was a girl in disguise. How uncontrollably and merrily she laughed when she found out that this was the tutor whom she imagined to be a dirty slob.

Madame de Renal invited Julien into the house. She asked the guy to become a friend to her children, not to beat the boys for pranks. Julien was surprised at the meek expression of this charming woman. He asked forgiveness in advance for his possible mistakes, because he never talked to anyone except the regimental doctor and the curate, and never went to school.

Monsieur de Renal, hearing their conversation, turned to Julien with the reservation never to meet with either relatives or comrades, "because their manners are not suitable for the mayor's sons", never to give money to his father. Then he took the guy to the cloth shop and bought him a suit.

When the mayor and Julien returned, Madame de Renal was surprised at the changes that had taken place in the boy. It was a completely different person.

Julien met the children, showed them the Bible, read a whole page by heart.

He was talking and talking in Latin when the footman came to the drawing-room door, then the maid and the cook appeared. Everyone was fascinated and enthusiastic. At the end of the triumph, Monsieur Valenod, the owner of fine Norman horses, and Monsieur Charcot de Maugiron, super-prefect of the district, entered the drawing room.

"Julien managed to put himself in such a way that less than a month after his appearance in the house, even Monsieur de Renal began to respect him."

kinship of souls

“The kids adored him. He did not like them at all ... Cold, fair, indifferent ... he was a good educator. In his heart he felt hatred for high society. Sometimes he could hardly contain his disgust at everything that surrounded him.

Somehow, walking alone in the woods along the Alley of Fidelity, Julien met two of his brothers. “A handsome black suit, an extremely neat appearance of Julien and his frank disdain for the brothers aroused such fierce hatred in them that they beat him half to death and left him fainted and bloody.” Madame de Renal, Monsieur Valenod, and the superprefect found him by chance. The woman became so excited that Mr. Valeno felt jealous.

"He worried prematurely." Julien almost hated Madame de Renal for her beauty.

“Elise, Madame de Renal's maid, soon fell in love with the young tutor, and this aroused in the lackey hatred of Julien. Mr. Valeno also hated the young man for his beauty and concern for his appearance.

Madame de Renal learned that Julien had little underwear, decided to give him a few louis and asked him not to talk about de man. Julien was deeply offended by this and studied her. He secretly loved her, and she felt respect and admiration for him. The young man was not like those moneybags for whom money was the greatest value and among whom she had to live.

To atone for her guilt before Julien, “Madame de Renal bought ten louis d'or books to give to her children. But these were precisely the books that - she knew - Julien wanted to have.

Julien had the idea of ​​persuading Monsieur de Renal to register one of the servants as a subscriber in the bookstore in order to be able to accept the necessary books. The mayor agreed because he thought it was all for the kids.

Madame de Renal enjoyed talking with Julien in company, but when they were alone, both were embarrassed and fell silent.

“Madame de Renal, a rich heiress of a pious aunt, married at sixteen to an elderly nobleman, in her whole life did not experience anything that even slightly resembled love ... Thanks to this ignorance, Madame de Renal, completely captured by Julien, was happy, and she It didn’t even cross my mind what to reproach for.”

small events

" Madame de Renal's angelic meekness ... changed her a little only when she remembered her maid Eliza". The girl received an inheritance and confessed to the curate that she loved Julien and wanted to marry him. But Shelan's favorite resolutely refused mademoiselle's advantageous offer.

The curé warned Julien that he should not succumb to illusions, because the dignity of a priest might not give the expected. The cure was worried for the young man's soul.

Julien for the first time in his life felt that he was loved, and was very moved. But he wanted to deceive a man who saw all the secret movements of his soul. For his age, he very successfully covered his hypocrisy with the right words and gestures.

Madame de Renal fell ill and even took to her bed when she found out that the maid was dreaming of marriage with Julien. Eliza began to terribly annoy her. But, having learned that Julien refused, Madame de Renal felt relieved and promised Eliza to talk to the tutor.

“On the second day, after breakfast, Madame de Renal gave herself up to a magical pleasure - to defend the cause of her rival and to see how, for an hour, Julien stubbornly refuses the hand and wealth of Eliza ... A stormy stream of happiness that surged into her soul after so many days of despair broke her strength. She passed out."

Recovering herself, she was very surprised and finally asked herself: “Is it possible that I fell in love with Julien?” But this discovery did not frighten her, did not cause remorse. "She's already learned a little trickery since she fell in love." She was only more deeply affected by her husband's ridiculous jokes.

With the onset of the first days of spring, Monsieur de Renal moved with his family to the countryside. So did the nobility of the court, and the mayor diligently imitated her customs.

In Vergy there was a castle with four towers, which belonged to Monsieur de Renal. Near the castle there was a park, and further - an apple orchard.

“Madame de Renal seemed to feel the beauty of nature for the first time; she admired everything to the point of insanity. The love that penetrated her made her enterprising and resolute. Without the consent of her husband, she, on the advice of Julien, ordered a path to be laid through the entire garden. "This allowed the children to walk in the morning without the risk of getting their shoes soaked in dew."

Madame de Renal spent whole days in the garden with her children. They caught butterflies with big nets. "Julien told them about the strange customs of these poor insects."

Eliza, the maid, wondered why Madame de Renal was now taking such great care of her toilets and changing her dress three times a day. But the mistress was so attentive to her toilet without any intentions. “Without any hidden thought, she made new outfits with Eliza,” bought new fabric for summer dresses.

“She brought with her to Vergy her young relative, Madame Derville, with whom she had once studied at the Secre-Coeur monastery.” A friend noticed that Madame de Renal was very happy.

Julien no longer needed to be cunning and restrained. Far from human views, he indulged in the joys of life. He showed Madame Derville landscapes that were no longer poisoned for him by the envy of his brothers and the presence of a despotic and grouchy father. Julien no longer hid with books, he enthusiastically read arguments about women.

Often, on dark, hot evenings, Julien and the women sat under a huge linden tree a few paces from the house. One day he accidentally touched Madame de Renal's hand. “She immediately withdrew her hand, but then it occurred to Zhuliyonova that it was his duty to ensure that her hand did not avoid his touch.” He considered it his duty, but the fear of being in a humiliating position instantly poisoned all his joy.

Evening at the estate

The next day, Julien looked at Madame de Renal with a strange look: "he followed her as if he were an enemy to be fought." She couldn't take her eyes off him.

Having finished his lessons with the children much earlier, Julien was immersed in thoughts that “he absolutely needs to get her to leave her hand in his red hair today.”

A dark, stuffy night was falling, the decisive moment was approaching, and Julien's heart was beating wildly.

Madame de Renal, Madame Derville, and Julien sat down in the garden. The young man could not concentrate on the conversation, was terribly nervous and was afraid to fulfill the promise he had made to himself, which he considered a duty. “Outraged by his cowardice, he said to himself: “As soon as the clock strikes ten o’clock, I will do what I promised myself to do all day in the evening, otherwise I will go to my place and shoot myself.”

Each blow of the tower clock was reflected in his chest, and when the tenth struck, Julien "took Madame de Renal's hand - she immediately hurriedly lifted it." Little understanding, the guy grabbed the woman's hand again and defeated her last effort to break free.

“His soul was filled with happiness; not because he loved Madame de Renal, but because this terrible torment was finally over. Madame Derville noticed that Madame de Renal's voice was trembling, and suggested that they go home. Madame de Renal was about to get up, but Julien firmly grasped the hand that had been obediently left to him, and the woman remained.

Madame de Renal took great delight in the fact that her hand was squeezing Julien's. She stood up for a minute, straightened the flowerpot, “but as soon as she sat down again, she gave him her hand, almost without resistance, as if it had been agreed between them beforehand.”

At night, Madame de Renal did not close her eyelids, experiencing new feelings for herself. “Julien, completely exhausted by the struggle that timidity and pride had been waging in his heart all day, suddenly fell into a deep sleep, and in the morning he did not remember the woman, forgetting about his victory. “Going down to the living room, he half-jokingly thought: I will have to tell this woman that I love her.”

And below, Monsieur de Renal was waiting for him, who did not hide his displeasure at the fact that the children were beating their thumbs all morning. Each caustic word of her husband addressed to Julien touched the heart of Madame de Renal, and the tutor rather sharply replied: "I am sick." This only inflamed the mayor's anger, and he burst into rude abuse. Julien did not hide his withering glances at Monsieur and Madame de Renal. But only Madame Derville noticed how much fury and boundless contempt were in Julien's eyes. "Undoubtedly, it is precisely such moments of humiliation that create Robespierres."

Everyone went out into the garden, and Julien found himself between two friends who took him by the arms. They said some nice things to him, but "he despised these two women and all their tender feelings."

Incidentally, Madame de Renal said that her husband had ordered the mattresses throughout the house to be shaken up. Julien looked at her strangely and quietly asked Madame de Renal to find a box with a portrait in his room in the corner of the mattress and hide it. He insisted that the woman not look at the portrait, because it was his secret.

Madame de Renal thought that the box contained a portrait of a woman Julien loves. In fact, there was a portrait of Napoleon, whom the young man idolized.

Noble heart and small fortune

Julien met Monsieur de Renal in the house and angrily warned him that he would leave this house if he heard about his neglect of his duties again. Instead of apologizing, Monsieur de Renal increased the tutor's pay. He decided that Monsieur Valenod was luring Julien to him, and wanted to do something to prevent this.

Julien went to confession to Monsieur Chelan, but went into the mountains to think about what Monsieur de Renal was so afraid of that he increased his salary.

"Clean mountain air filled his soul with peace and even joy."

Returning, Julien met Monsieur Valeno, whom he told that his salary had been increased.

In the evening Julien went into the garden, where Madame Derville and Madame de Renal were already waiting for him. He tried to seize Madame de Renal's hand, but "after some hesitation, it was torn out."

M. de Renal approached, began to talk tediously about politics, and Julien repeated the maneuver and took possession of the hand of Madame de Renal, although her husband was four steps away from them.

Madame de Renal felt that she loved Julien. This feeling was new to her, and she was confused by a passion that had not been experienced before him until now.

It was pleasant for Julien to hold the hand of this charming woman, to kiss her tenderly in the darkness of the garden, but he gladly went to his room, where an unfinished book was waiting for him.

“Madame de Renal could not sleep. She experienced in her mind the paradise that seized her when she felt Julien cover her hand with passionate kisses. But her soul from time to time plunged into the abyss of monstrous torment, because she, a married woman, showed sin by loving another man. These thoughts made her sick.

Travel

The next day Julien took three days off. Before leaving, he wanted to see Madame de Renal and went out into the garden. After a while she came, and Julien was fascinated by the beauty of the agitated woman. But her expression was markedly cold. Julien decided that he was despised; he felt a burning annoyance, said nothing about the departure, bowed and left.

Julien cheerfully walked along the path to the mountains to his friend the lumber merchant Fouquet. "On an almost sheer slope of one of the rocks, he noticed a small grotto." Julien climbed into this grotto and felt completely free and happy. "In the boundless darkness that surrounded him, his soul plunged into the contemplation of the pictures of his future life in Paris." He dreamed of a woman with a high soul who loves him. And he parted with his beloved only in order to cover himself with glory and become even more worthy of her love.

Julien spent the night in the grotto, and in the morning he went to Fouquet and told his friend about the quarrel with Monsieur de Renal. Fouquet invited Julienova to become his companion. But Julien refused, because this proposal blocked his path to fame.

Fishnet stockings

Julien did not think of Madame de Renal for three days. Returning to the castle, he thought with pleasure about the offer of Fouquet, which gave him the opportunity to get rich and feel independent.

“All the time Julien was absent, Madame de Renal suffered unspeakably: her torments were very different, but all equally unbearable.”

Before his arrival, Madame de Renal put on fishnet stockings, a new dress of fashionable fabric. Madame Derville also noticed that, while talking with Julien, her friend turned pale, and her eyes, full of anxiety, were riveted to the young tutor.

In the evening, in the dark garden, Julien wanted to take advantage of his privilege, took Madame de Renal by the hand, felt her handshake, "however, this did not please him at all." He could not believe in the sincerity of the feelings of this charming woman, because it seemed to him that she always sees him in the form of a working guy who, blushing to the very hair, stood at the door of the house, not daring to call.

English scissors

Fouquet's proposal made Julien unhappy; he could not choose one thing, and therefore decided to continue the affair with the hostess, "made himself a detailed campaign plan and wrote it down on paper." This stupid plan stifled Julien's lively mind. He often did not find an answer to simple questions, and therefore Madame de Renal believed that " he has such a look as if he is considering everything and every act counts in advance".

Julien made it his duty to correct his awkwardness in front of Madame de Renal "and, choosing a good moment, when they moved from one room to another, hurrying about this duty, he kissed her." This inappropriate outburst terribly frightened and outraged the woman. "And all her virtue returned to her, for love was darkened." But Julien continued to carry out his plan of seduction. However, he clearly saw "that he does not at all manage to be not only seductive, but also simply polite."

After breakfast, everyone gathered in the drawing room, and here our hero did not find anything better than to lightly step on Madame de Renal's small foot. She was frightened, but as if by chance she dropped scissors, a ball of wool, needles on the floor, so that Julien's gesture could seem like a clumsy attempt to pick up all the utensils for embroidery. This deceived everyone except Madame Derville. She understood well what these gestures meant.

Julien, who never had a mistress, stubbornly played the role of Don Giovanni all day long. Feeling like an incompetent fool, "he told Monsieur de Renal that he was going to Verrieres to the curate."

Mr. Shelan was fired, and Vicar Maslon took his place. Helping a good priest to move to new housing, Julien decided to write to Fouquet that he saw an unfair attitude towards the priests, and therefore, in order to save his soul, it would be better to refuse the dignity and agree to a friend's proposal.

Julien wanted to keep a way out for himself, so that he could engage in trade if sad caution triumphed over heroism in him.

cock crow

When Julien pishovu Ver "єp, these mistakes were forgotten. In the evening, with incredible boldness, he suddenly told Madame de Renal that he would come to her room at two in the morning. Saying this, he trembled with fear that she would agree. "The role of a seducer oppressed him, "and he would rather lock himself in his room so as not to see these ladies."

Madame de Renal was terribly indignant, and in her answer "he distinctly heard the word" fe "".

When they had all left at midnight, Julien decided with gloomy certainty that Madame Derville and Madame de Renal deeply despised him. From these thoughts, he could not sleep and "felt deeply unhappy when suddenly two hours struck on the castle clock."

"This sound awakened him just as the cock's crow awakened St. Peter." Julien had never forced himself so much as now. His knees gave way as he walked past M. de Renal's room, who was snoring loudly.

A light was on in Madame de Renal's room. Julien's fear was so great that he "forgot all his ambitious plans and became himself." In response to the frightened woman's reproaches, “he threw himself at her feet, grabbed her knees and burst into tears.

A few hours later Julien left the room, Madame de Renal. He was happy, but even in the sweetest moments of intimacy, "he never for a moment allowed himself to forget about his" duty "and tried to play the role of conqueror of women's hearts." Julien looked like a sixteen-year-old girl "with a magical complexion, who, going to a ball, foolishly puts rouge on her cheeks."

Mortally frightened by the appearance of Julien, Madame de Renal "considered herself a lost woman forever and, in order to drive away the ghost of hell from herself, showered Julien with the most ardent caresses."

Julien, returning to his room, "was in that state of bewilderment and confusion that takes possession of the human soul, she had just achieved what she had been striving for a long time."

The next day

In the morning at breakfast Julien's behavior was impeccable. And Madame de Renal "could not look at him without blushing, and at the same time she could not live a minute without looking at him." Leaving the dining room for the garden, she grabbed and shook Julien's hand, and "he looked at her with a fiery gaze." These secret signs were not noticed by Mr. Mayor, but Mrs. Derville clearly saw them. For a whole day she pestered her friend with hints of danger, but only bored her. In the evening Madame Derville sat down between the lovers, and this hindrance increased Madame de Renal's excitement. She had gone to her room earlier, and two hours of waiting were like two centuries of torture for her. But at one in the morning Julien slipped into his mistress's room.

That night he no longer played a role. "He opened his eyes to see and his ears to hear." Julien liked that Madame de Renal was oppressed by the difference in age between them, but he did not understand her suffering.

"A few days passed, and Julien fell in love with all the fervor of youth." He even confessed to Madame de Renal his youthful fears, and this caused a new outbreak of the Woman's love. “I could marry such a man and live with him as if in paradise,” she often thought, leaning on her youthful shoulder. She taught him all sorts of everyday trifles and rules, bringing him to her high position, and was immensely happy. "Only Madame Derville did not show such feelings at all." Convinced that her wise advice only irritated her friend, she suddenly left Vergy. "After the departure of Madame de Renal's friend, she spent almost whole days face to face with her lover."

First Assistant Mayor

One evening, Julien inadvertently spoke about the fact that during the reign of Napoleon, young Frenchmen had the opportunity to get an education, and now the lack of money becomes the cause of the misfortunes of the poor. Madame de Renal thought that only servants could have such thoughts, and she furrowed her brows. Money did not matter to him, because she was very rich. Those furrowed brows dealt the first blow to Julien's illusions. He realized that she was from the enemy camp, which would not allow some poor fellow to make a career. “In her entourage, everyone repeated that one must be wary of the emergence of a new Robespierre precisely from among those too well-educated young men from the lower strata.”

"Julien no longer dared to sincerely express his dreams." Now he decided to talk calmly about everything. It occurred to him that Madame de Renal would be safer to visit him than he had been before her. But he had books that he opened only at night, waiting for a date. From these books and from the education that was carried out loving woman, Julien learned a lot of useful things about secular society, about the intrigues that are woven around the Besancon prefect. The privileged society was deeply interested that M. de Moireau, who had three houses on the King's Route, should go to the post of chief assistant. They were to be demolished. If Mr. de Moireau had been lucky with his position, his houses and the houses of other wealthy citizens would have been only slightly rebuilt and would have stood for another hundred years.

Once Julien found out about some kind of saved institution for men, in which everyone contributes twenty francs, and where all the members of the institution address each other as “you”. The meetings on Fridays were attended by both the honorable citizens and their servants.

As time went on, the feelings between the lovers flared up to play the game as a scolding. Children could notice their affectionate glances, intimate gestures, and therefore lovers had to be especially attentive. Madame de Renal often found herself thinking that she loved Julien as if she were her own child. And although while she had to answer his naive boyish questions, "she imagined him either as a pope or as a first minister, like Richelieu."

King in Ver "єri"

On the third of September, a mounted gendarme galloped Ver" er. He said that on Sunday the king would arrive in the city. M. de Renal set about organizing a guard of honor, and appointed M. de Moireau as its commander. The wives of the liberals asked Ms. de Renal to help the mayor appoint them husbands to the guard of honor, and the woman in love conceived an unheard of thing: “she got from Mr. de Moireau and the super-prefect where Mogiron, so that Julien was appointed to the guard of honor, although five or six young men from families of wealthy manufacturers claimed this place ...” Mister Valenod, who hated Julien, agreed to give him one of his Norman horses. Madame de Renal wanted to impress her lover with a suit. "She ordered him full form, weapons, a cap - everything you need for an honorary guard "not in Ver "єri, but for some reason in Besançon.

“The king wanted to visit the relics of St. Clement, stored in Bres-le-Haut, a mile from Ver" yera. The new curate did not want to allow the presence of the disgraced Mr. Chelan at the ceremony, and Mr. de Renal had to prove to the curate that the Marquis de la accompanies the king Moth, who "has known Abbe Chelan for thirty years." If he learns of Chelan's disgrace, he himself will go to the old house. It all ended with Chelan being sent an invitation "to take part in solemn ceremony". M. Chelan demanded that Julien accompany him among the subdeacons.

From early Sunday morning, the streets of Ver "yera were filled with thousands of townspeople and peasants. At about three o'clock, all the bells rang: the king entered the territory of the department. The guard of honor moved. "Everyone admired the shiny uniforms, everyone recognized either a relative or a friend." In the ninth bench, the first to ride was "a very handsome, slender young man whom at first no one could recognize. "Suddenly someone exclaimed that this was the son of the carpenter Sorel, and a commotion arose in the crowd. "Everyone unanimously expressed indignation at the mayor, especially the liberals," that he was appointed to the guard of honor as a "craftsman", "tutor", "peasant offspring".

Meanwhile, Julien felt himself happy man in the world. "He imagined Napoleon's adjutant, rushing to attack an enemy battery."

His Majesty had to go after dinner to venerate the relics of St. Clement. Julien, sighing, changed into his old black suit, mounted his horse, and in a few minutes was in Bres-le-Haut. A crowd of ten thousand crowded around the old abbey rebuilt during the Restoration. The holy relic was to be shown to the king by the young Bishop of Agde, the nephew of Monsieur de la Mole. “But now this bishop could not be found anywhere.” The impudent lackeys of the bishop did not let even Monsieur Chelan, who was the rector of the chapter of Bres-le-Hauts and "had the privilege of entering at all times the bishop of his church," to him.

"The proud Julienova nature was indignant at the impudence of the lackeys." He rushed so resolutely into the cell where the bishop was, that the servants did not dare to stop him. Julien saw the young bishop in a gloomy hall in front of a large mirror, "With his right hand he was busily distributing blessings towards the mirror." It was not until later that Julien realized that the bishop, who was six or eight years older than him, was simply learning how to give blessings.

Julien, as the person attached to the Abbé Chelan, carried a canopy for the king and was six paces from his majesty while praying before the altar in a small chapel.

After the service, Monsieur de la Mole ordered that ten thousand bottles of wine be distributed among the peasants. Before leaving, the king visited the mayor's house.

To think is to suffer

While cleaning the room where Monsieur de la Mole was staying, Julien found a letter that Monsieur de Cholain had written to the Marquis. It was a request to give him a place in the head of the faith "Yerskoy lottery office.

This letter showed Julien the way he had to go.

A week after the departure of the king from gossip, ridiculous gossip, the objects of which were the king, the bishop, the marquis de la Mole, poor Moiret, who fell from his horse in front of the king’s carriage, there remained only chatter about the unseemly shamelessness with which they “pushed” into the ranks of the honor guard this Julien Sorel, the carpenter's son."

The mayor's family returned to Verzhi, and soon fell seriously ill a little boy, Stanislav-Xavier. "Madame de Renal was suddenly pierced by cruel remorse." She began to reproach herself for loving Julien, believing that this was God's punishment for the crime of adultery. She brought herself to the point that she was ready to confess to her husband her sinful love for the tutor. And no reasonable evidence of Julien not only did not reassure, but, on the contrary, irritated her. The young man understood her condition and loved her even more because she still loved him, even thinking that this was killing her son. Madame de Renal wanted to repent before God with her suffering and denial of love, but Julien's tears and persuasion changed her decision to tell everything to her husband.

Stanislav began to gradually recover, and the happiness of the lovers “from now on became uplifted, and the flame that dried them burned even more. They gave themselves to insane impulses ... Now their happiness sometimes resembled a crime.

One day Eliza went to Verrières and met Monsieur Valenod, who was very angry with Julien. It was from the maid that Mr. Valno learned the news that was offensive to himself: the most brilliant woman in the district, to whom he had shown so much attention for six years, "and everyone saw this," she took as her lover that artisan who is a tutor.

That same evening, M. de Renal received an anonymous letter informing the reporter of what was going on in his house.

Anonymous letters

Julien saw Monsieur de Renal read the letter, glaring fiercely at the tutor, and therefore decided that today he should not meet with his mistress. And in the morning he received a note in which Madame de Renal wrote about her love and her suspicions about the author of the anonymous letter: it was Monsieur Valeno. In order to avert suspicion from herself, she suggested that Julien write another anonymous letter, already addressed to her, in which it would be said that the “author” knows about her sin and offers to break with the redneck forever. This sheet must be written on Mr. Valeno's paper.

Then Madame de Renal will give this letter to her husband and convince him that it is Monsieur Valenod who takes revenge on her for her dislike and immediately on him.

According to her cunning plan, Julien was to go to Verrières, settle down there, make friends with everyone, even with liberals. Let Ver" ri think that he "intends to get a job as a tutor with Mr. Valno or someone else." Madame de Renal was sure that her husband would treat Julien as public opinion would indicate to him.

Dialogue with the ruler

For an hour Julien worked on an anonymous letter. Madame de Renal took it simply, resolutely, kissed the children, and quickly left. Julien was struck by the majestic calmness of his mistress.

Monsieur de Renal, having received an anonymous letter, experienced a terrible shock. He was now afraid to admit to himself that he had no friends at all with whom he could consult. Falcos and Ducrot, childhood friends, he pushed away with his pomposity in 1814. "They were not from the nobility, and he wanted to put an end to the tonal equality that had been established between them since childhood."

A storm raged in his soul. He understood that he would no longer find such a smart, beautiful and rich wife as Louise. If a quarrel breaks out in the mayor's family, the whole city will laugh at him. But you can't forgive betrayal.

After many hours of reflection, Monsieur de Renal went out into the garden and suddenly, in the alley, he met the one whom he recently wished for death. His wife was walking from the church. She gave him a letter. “This abomination,” she said, “was given to me by ... some suspicious person. I demand one thing from you: that you immediately send this Monsieur Julien to your father.

Monsieur de Renal furiously crumpled this letter and silently walked away with long strides. Later, a conversation took place between the spouses, after which M. de Renal, believing in the innocence of his wife, gave Julien leave on the condition that he would go to Verrieres.

This is what they did in 1830.

M. de Renal ordered Julien to live in the house of M. Chelan. On the third day of his stay at the abbot, Mr. superprefect where Mogiron arrived, who for a long time praised the modesty of the arrogant tutor, and then invited him to leave his job in Mr. de Renal forever and go to a friend of the official to raise his children. Julien diplomatically expressed his gratitude for the proposal, spoke a lot about his respect for the mayor and for the religious society. “No other Balakun minister has managed to say so many words without saying so little.” from Julien something definite.

Later, Julien was given an invitation to dine with Monsieur Valenod. He, showing respect, came earlier and found this significant person in front of a pile of folders with cases. Thick black sideburns, incredible hair, fez ... a huge cradle, embroidered shoes, massive gold chains ... "made Julien want to beat this provincial money ace with a stick.

At dinner there were a tax collector, an excise inspector, a gendarmerie officer, two or three officials with their wives, and several wealthy liberals. The guests were received by Valno's wife, one of the most distinguished ladies in Ver" ri. "She had a rude, masculine face, which she thickly numbed for the solemn occasion ..." Julien remembered Madame de Renal's beauty and sophistication. Servants in rich liveries were pouring expensive wine, and it occurred to Julien that here, behind the wall, the hungry inhabitants of the shelter were sitting. “Despite all the hypocrisy to which he so often resorted, he felt a large tear roll down his cheek.” He thought about the wonderful times of Napoleon's reign, when people won happiness in battles and fought against meanness. And his dreams were interrupted by one of the guests, who asked Julien to demonstrate knowledge of the Latin language. Julien recited passages from the New Testament by heart, translated Latin phrases. The guests applauded and whispered admiringly. The dinner was over, and before leaving, "Julien received four or five invitations to dinner."

In the dining room, drunken guests were still talking about Julien's magnificent abilities, but he had already said goodbye. Going out the gate, Julien breathed in the fresh air with pleasure. “Well, the company! he thought. “Even if they gave me even half of what they steal, I still would not agree to live with them.”

However, he became fashionable and, following the order of Madame de Renal, had to attend such dinners several more times. “Among the crowd of these people new to him, Julien found, as it seemed to him, one honest person: it was a mathematician, named Gro, who was considered a Jacobin.”

Julien was very careful in his statements, carried out all the orders of Madame de Renal, but missed his mistress very much. And then one morning she came to him with the children. It was an infinitely happy, albeit short, meeting. Julien listened to the chirping of children, marveled at the tenderness of their voices, the simplicity and nobility in all their behavior “and felt the need to clear his imagination of all these vulgar manners, vile deeds and thoughts, among which he was forced to exist in Ver" eri.

Monsieur de Renal was dissatisfied with the joyful mood of the family for his absence. Painful pride told him that Julien could become a hundred times nicer for children than he, the owner of the house.

Madame de Renal did not pay attention to her husband's gloomy mood, it occurred to her to linger in Ver'eri, and she announced that she wanted to do some shopping.

“Monsieur de Renal left his wife at the very first haberdashery she went into: he had to visit someone. He returned in a gloomy mood, because he was convinced that the whole city was interested in him and Julien. Everyone wanted to know if Julien would remain a teacher of the mayor's children for six hundred francs, "would go to eight hundred - to the director of the orphanage." M. Valno himself received M. de Renal very coldly: "In the provinces, rash acts are so rare that they are cruelly dealt with."

M. Valno was “under the rule of M. de Renal, but he was more active, far more energetic than he, and, not shunning anything, intervened in everything, tirelessly went to whom he went, wrote to someone ... and, without pretending to anything , ultimately shattered the authority of its mayor in the eyes of church authorities. He secured the release of the old curate Chelan, but found himself completely dependent on the senior vicar Friler, who "now gave him rather strange assignments."

Mr. Valno wanted to retain the leadership of the orphanage, and therefore, in the fight against the mayor, he was looking for allies for himself, even among the liberals. “Never has pride in the fight against the most petty attachment to money brought a person to the deplorable state in which Monsieur de Renal was now.”

An official's worries

“Immediately after dinner, the whole family left for Vergis, but a day later Julien saw them all again in Vergis.” He noticed that Madame de Renal was hiding something from him, because when he appeared, the conversation was often interrupted. Julien seemed that she wants to replace him with another lover, and he became cold and reserved.” And the conversation between the spouses was only about the sale of a big old house.

"Julien went to the auction." He stood among the crowd and listened to the conversations. A man was ready to give eight hundred francs for the house, but the head of the prefectural office, Monsieur de Saint-Giraud, received the right to this house for only three hundred and thirty francs. Everyone understood that M. de Saint-Giraud must thank M. Valno for this, and even the mayor could not resist this.

“In the evening, everyone was silently sitting by the fireplace ...” Suddenly the bell rang, and a very handsome gentleman with lush black sideburns entered the room. It was the famous Italian singer, Signor Geronimo, who brought a letter from Madame de Renal from her cousin, the cavalier de Bovezi.

“The cheerful Neapolitan brought unexpected animation to this sad evening ... He sang a small duet from Madame de Renal. Then he charmed everyone with different stories ”about his studies at the conservatory and performances in the theater.

“On the second day, Monsieur and Madame de Renal gave Signor Geronimo the letters needed to be recommended to the French court.” After his departure, Julien often thought alone about the role chance and good acquaintances play in a person's life.

The family of Mr. de Renal left the forests of Vergis, and the decent society of Vergis continued to slander about Madame de Renal and Julien. These rumors reached Mr. Chelan, who, by the power of his authority, tried to convince the young man to leave the city. Mr. de Renal also spoke frankly with his wife. He admitted to her that public opinion in Verriers was somehow strangely tuned, and therefore it was necessary to make sure that "Julien left Verrieres and entered the Besancon or Dijon seminary."

Madame de Renal was in despair. She thought that Julien would love another and forget her. But parting was inevitable. Julien asked M. de Renal for letters of recommendation, and the mayor joyfully exalted all his virtues.

From that moment Madame de Renal could only think of one thing: "I see him for the last time."

Big city

Julien arrived in Besancon, one of the most beautiful cities in France, and before burying himself behind the walls of the seminary, he decided to first examine the high walls, deep ditches, formidable cannons of the fortress, and then have lunch in a cafe.

There was a game going on in the spacious hall of the cafe on two billiards. The players were tall, with a heavy gait, huge sideburns, in long frock coats. “These noble descendants of the ancient Bisontius did not speak, but shouted, pretending to be formidable warriors.”

“The girl sitting behind the counter noticed the handsome face of the young provincial,” who stood modestly on the threshold of the cafe. She turned to him, and Julien politely ordered a cup of coffee and bread. The girl invited him to sit at a table near the counter, put a cup, sugar and bread in front of him. “Julien dreamed, comparing in his mind the beauty of this cheerful blond girl with some of the exciting memories that now and then arose before him.”

The beautiful Amanda looked attentively into Julien's eyes and seemed to understand the reason for his embarrassment: he found himself in a big city without acquaintances. The girl wrote her address on a card and handed it to Julien, who said he was madly in love with her. "He was quoting 'The New Eloise' to the enchanted Mademoiselle Amanda and was happy with his own courage," when suddenly one of her lovers appeared at the door of the cafe.

He went to the counter, unceremoniously poured himself a glass of vodka and stared at Julien. The young man "jumped up, beside himself with Rage, but did not know how to start a quarrel." Amanda stood between the men and did not let the quarrel flare up.

Finally Julien left. "He had only been in Besancon for a few hours, and he already had something to reproach himself for."

Seminary

“From a distance, Julien saw a gilded iron cross on the doors.” The seminary frightened him, it was considered to him an earthly hell, from which there was no way out. “In the end, he decided to call.” About ten minutes later the door was opened by a very strange priest with an ominous face and silently led the young man to the rector of the seminary, Mr. Pirard. Julien's heart pounded wildly, his legs buckled, "he would cry, but he did not dare." They entered a warm room. A man in a worn-out cassock sat at the table and wrote something. Suddenly he raised his head, and Julien “saw a long face, covered with red spots, which were not there only on the forehead, deathly pale. Between those red cheeks and white forehead, small black eyes sparkled, which might frighten even the brave. Thick, smooth and jet black, the hair hugged a huge forehead. From fear of this man, Julien suddenly lost consciousness. Recovering himself, the young man saw that Abbé Pirard was reading the letters of M. Chelan, in which he characterized Julien as a witty man.

Monsieur Pirard turned to Julien in Latin, and the young man passed the exam in theology, logic and Holy Scripture with dignity, but revealed complete ignorance of the teachings of the Church Fathers. The rector ordered the goalkeeper to take Julien to a separate cell; "it was a small room, eight feet square, on the top floor of the house."

The world, or what the rich man lacks

In the morning Julien was late for breakfast. The warden scolded him severely, and he did not justify himself, but crossed his arms over his chest and said with an upset look: “I have sinned, reverend father.”

The seminarians, whom Julien made up his mind to regard as enemies, realized that this newcomer was no stranger to their cause.

“All the first steps of our hero, convinced that he is acting very carefully,” were very imprudent: he chose Abbot Pirard as his confessor; showed himself to be a good student, which was perceived very negatively by everyone in the seminary; was silent, and everyone thought he was arrogant.

Letters to Julien did not reach: Abbé Pirard read and burned them.

One day Fouquet came to see him. Friends talked for a long time. And suddenly Fouquet said that Madame de Renal had "succeeded in the deepest piety ... in the most ardent piety."

Fouquet's arrival and conversation with him led Julien to the idea that from the very beginning of his stay in the seminars he had done nothing but make mistakes. He pondered every step of his life, but did not care about the details. Many small inaccuracies created a reputation for him as a "freethinker", because he thought instead of blindly obeying authority. “From now on, Julien's attention was always on her guard. He had to pose as a completely different person. But even after many months of Julien's tireless efforts, his manner did not at all indicate blind faith.

The rudest male seminarians felt respect for money, wealth, and government. At first, Julien despised them, but finally felt regret: these guys from childhood knew only poverty. They were convinced that a spiritual title would give them the opportunity to eat well and have warm clothes in winter.

Once Julien was called by the rector. In his hands, Abbé Pirard held a playing card with Amanda's address. Julien realized that she had been kidnapped by the scammers of the Abbe Castaneda, deputy rector. Calmly enduring the formidable look of Abbé Pirard, Julien said that this was the address of an unfamiliar woman, the owner of the cafe, who took pity on him and agreed to help.

Everything he said was carefully checked. Abbé Pirard warned Julien that keeping this address was a great negligence, which could do harm even after ten years.

First life experience

In the seminary, Julien remained by himself, like a boat abandoned in the middle of the ocean. "It was the hardest time of his life." At the lessons, the teachers proved to the seminarians that the government is a power that must be respected by oneself and teach the flock to obey this power. The disciples dreamed of one thing - to get a profitable parish. They told stories about priests they knew who got jobs by sycophancy, the ability to please in time. “Julien saw how the idea of ​​​​a second god appears in them, but a god far more powerful and more terrible than the first. That god was dad."

To gain respect for himself, Julien told the seminarians everything he knew from the books about the pope. But “they didn’t like that he put their own thoughts out better than they did.” They gossiped about Julien, they called him Martin Luther.

Procession

"How Julien tried to pretend to be insignificant and stupid, he could not please anyone, because he was too different from others." Only the teacher of rhetoric, Abbé Cha-Bernard, was deceived by Julien's willingness to "believe everything and make a fool out of himself." Often, after a lecture, he took the young man by the arm, walked with him in the garden and talked about various cathedral decorations, because he was the master of ceremonies in the cathedral.

One evening, Julien was called to the abbot of Pirara, who ordered the young man to go to the abbot of Chat-Bernard to help decorate the cathedral for the holiday. This was Julien's first outing into the city, as he entered the seminary.

Abbot I met Julien on the porch of a cathedral dear to his heart, whose Gothic pylons had to be draped in red Damascus. That's when Julien's dexterity came in handy. He seemed to fly from one ladder to another, doing hard work. Finally, it was necessary to fix five huge brushes with feathers on a large canopy above the main altar. The only way to get there was by an old wooden ledge forty feet high. Nobody wanted to take risks, because the cornice, perhaps, was undermined with a shishel. And then Julien very dexterously climbed up the ladder and fixed his hands. Abbe I said, moved, that his cathedral had never been so beautifully decorated.

When the bell rang for the feast, Abbot I put Julien in charge of the church from thieves. The fragrance of incense and rose petals, solemn sounds big bell caused a wave of warmth in the soul of the young man. He devoted himself entirely to his dreams in an empty church. And suddenly Julien noticed two women who were kneeling in the confessional. He stepped closer. One of the women turned her head when she heard Julien's footsteps, screamed loudly and lost consciousness. “And at that very moment Julien saw the shoulders and neck of the astonished lady. The twisted necklace of large pearls, well known to him, struck his eyesight. It was Madame de Renal! The second woman was Madame Derville. Seeing Julien, she commanded him to go away before Madame de Renal came to her senses. Confused, Julien obeyed and walked away.

First promotion

Julien had not yet fully recovered from his meeting in the cathedral, when one morning he was called to his place by the stern Abbé Pirard. He said that on the whole he was pleased with Julien's behavior, although he was sometimes careless and stupid. And he has a spark that should not be neglected, and therefore the abbot appointed Julien as a tutor from the New and Old Testament. Hearing this, Julien was subjected to a sincere impulse: "he went up to the abbe Pirara, took his hand and raised it to his lips." The rector's voice betrayed him and trembled when he confessed his commitment to Julien, because the position requires him to have an unbiased attitude towards all students.

“Julien has not heard friendly words for so long ... that he burst into tears. Abbe Pirard embraced him. It was a sweet moment for both."

Now the situation has changed: Julien dined by himself, he had the key to the garden; he could walk there, and the hatred of the seminarians was considerably weakened.

“Since Julien received a new appointment, the rector of the seminary frankly avoided talking to him without witnesses ... The invariable rule of the strict Pirard was this: when, in your opinion, a person is worth something, try to interfere with her in all her desires and aspirations . If she has real merit, she will be able to overcome or circumvent all obstacles.

“Exams have arrived. Julien answered brilliantly ... ”In the seminary, it was planned that he would be the first in the general examination list, but at the end of the exam one cunning examiner spoke to him about Horace and Virgil, and Julien, forgetting where he was, began to quote these secular authors. This vile trick of the examiner led to the fact that the Abbé de Friler himself put his hand near the name of Julien No. 198. "Where Friler with pleasure did this trouble to his enemy, Jansen Pirard."

A few weeks later Julien received a letter from Paris and five hundred francs on behalf of Paul Sorel. The young man decided that this was a gift from Madame de Renal. But this money was from the Marquis de la Mole.

Many years ago the abbé de Friler bought half of the estate, the other half of which was inherited by Monsieur de la Mole. A dispute arose between two high-ranking officials, then a lawsuit. Monsieur de la Mole turned to the Abbé Pirara for advice. M. Pirard got acquainted with the case and found that the truth was on the side of M. de la Mole. A business correspondence began between them, which later turned into friendship. In order to somehow annoy the Abbé de Friler and support Mr. Pirard, who would never take money, the Marquis sent five hundred francs to his beloved student.

Soon Abbé Pirard received a letter from Monsieur de la Mole, in which the Marquis invited Jansenit to Paris and offered him a position in one of the best parishes in the vicinity of the capital.

"The stern abbe Pirard, without suspecting it, loved his seminary, where it was full of enemies, the seminary to which all his thoughts were devoted for fifteen years." He thought for a long time, but nevertheless decided to accept the offer of the Marquis. The abbot wrote a letter to de la Mole and composed a letter for the bishop, in which he told about all the vile petty quibbles of M. de Friler. Julien was supposed to take this message. The Monsignor Bishop was having lunch. "Thus Julien gave the letter to Monsieur de Friler himself, whom he did not know by sight."

The abbot unceremoniously opened the letter addressed to the bishop. While he was reading, surprised Julien managed to look at him. Monsieur de Friler was very handsome, but there was an extraordinary cunning and slyness in his features. “Subsequently, Julien learned what was the special talent of the Abbé de Friler. He knew how to entertain the bishop...” and “selected the bones from the fish that the monsignors served.”

The Bishop of Besancon, a man with a mind tested in long-term exiles, "had more than seventy-five years and was not very worried about what would happen in ten years." He invited Julien to dinner to inquire in detail about the Abbé Pirard and the seminary. And at first he wanted to know about Julien's training. He posed a few questions to the young man from dogmatics, then moved on to secular literature and was amazed at Julien's knowledge. Almost at midnight, the bishop sent the young man to the seminary, presenting him with eight volumes of Tacit.

Until two o'clock in the morning, Abbé Pirard questioned Julien about what was being said in the bishop's office. And in the morning all the seminarians knew about Monseigneur's gift. “From that moment on, no one envied him, everyone frankly flattered him.”

“Somewhere in the afternoon, Abbe Pirard left his students, having addressed them with severe instructions before,” but “no one in the seminary took seriously the speech of the former rector. No one in Besançon believed that it was possible to voluntarily give up a position that made it possible to get rich.

ambitious

"The abbot was struck by the noble appearance and almost playful tone of the marquis." The future minister received Mr. Pirard "without all the ceremonial excesses of a great nobleman", which were just a waste of time.

The Marquis asked Abbé Pirard about the affairs in Franche-Comte, spoke about his own affairs, complained that there was no person next to him who would conduct his correspondence. After some thought, Monsieur Pirard suggested that de la Mole accept Julien as secretary.

A few days after the departure of Abbé Pirard, Julien received a letter demanding that he leave for Paris. Before leaving Verrières for good, he decided to see Madame de Renal once more. Late at night, the young man climbed the stairs to his beloved's room, but met with a cold reception. Madame de Renal repented of the crime of adultery, with all her might resisted the love that breathed every word of Julien, pushed his hands away from her. And everything changed when Julien said that he was going to Paris forever. “She forgot about the danger that threatened her from her husband, because she was frightened by a much greater danger - Julien's doubts about her love” and his departure. It was a night of paradise. In the morning they pulled the ladder into the room so that Julien could stay. Madame de Renal fed her lover all day, tried to stay in the room for a long time, and this aroused her husband's suspicions. In the evening, the lovers were having dinner, when “suddenly, someone was closing the doors with might and main, the angry voice of Monsieur de Renal was heard. Julienova had to jump half-dressed from the window of Madame de Renal's dressing room.

PART TWO

The joys of rural life

Julien was traveling to Paris by mail coach and listened attentively to the conversation of two familiar men. Saint-Giraud told Falcose that four years ago, seeking simplicity and sincerity, which are not found in Paris, he decided to buy a charming mansion in the mountains from the Rhone. He was well received by the neighboring small landowners and the village vicar. But soon they began to demand money from him for some pious societies, and when he refused to give, he received the nickname "impious." Troubles followed: the vicar did not bless his fields, the peasants poisoned the fish in the pond, the bricklayer and stelmach deceived him, the liberals demanded to vote for a stranger. And now Saint-Giraud is selling the estate and running away from rural life to Paris, where he can hide from all the troubles in an apartment on the fifth floor, windows overlooking the Champs Elysees.

Listening to all this, Julien timidly pointed out Saint-Giraud to the example of Mr. de Renal, but in response he received a new outburst of emotions against Mayor Ver "jer, the rogue Valno and other residents of the city.

“Julien did not feel much excitement when Paris appeared in the distance, the castles in the air of the future receded in his imagination in front of the living memories of the twenty-four hours just spent in Ver" y. that he would live in the house of the greatest nobleman of France and correspond, spoke about the family of the marquis. The nineteen-year-old son of Mr. de la Mole, Count Norbert, is "a real dandy, an anemone who does not know at noon what he will do at two o'clock. He is witty, brave, fought in Spain."

The wife of the Marquis de la Mole is “a tall blond woman, very pious, proud, extremely polite and completely useless ... She does not even consider it necessary to hide that the only merit worthy of respect in her eyes is to have ancestors in her own kind who took part in the crusades.

Entry into the world

Julien was delighted with the house of the Marquis de la Mole, but the abbot Pirard cooled the young man's ardor, saying that in this house severe trials awaited him.

In one of the rooms "a wizened little man with lively eyes, in a blond wig, was sitting." Julien scarcely recognized him as the pompous nobleman he had seen at the abbey of Bres-le-Hauts. They talked for about three minutes. When Julien and Abbé Pirard went out, the priest said that the boldness of the young man's look seemed to him not very polite.

The abbot took Julien to a tailor, then to other craftsmen to order clothes, shoes and shirts. Returning to the mansion, Julien found himself in a huge library, where there were many luxuriously mounted books.

After a while Monsieur de la Mole led him into the drawing-room, gleaming with gilding. There were several strangers here. The marquis introduced the young man to a tall and majestic lady - Madame de la Mole, who barely glanced in his direction.

“At half past seven, a handsome young man with a mustache, very pale and slender, entered the room; he had a small head." It was the Comte Norbert de la Mole.

We sat at the table. Opposite Julien sat "a young lady, very fair blond, very slender" with beautiful eyes, which, however, "reflected a great spiritual coldness." It was Mademoiselle Mathilde, daughter of the Marquis.

The guests must have already heard from the marquis about Julien's education, "for one of them began a conversation with him about Horace." The young man felt completely calm, answered well, and "this kind of examination brought some revival to the too serious mood at dinner." Julien liked the society.

The first steps

The next morning, Julien was copying letters in the library when Mademoiselle Mathilde entered through a secret door. She seemed stern and proud to Julien.

At three o'clock Count Norbert appeared. He was exceedingly kind and offered Julien a ride. On a walk, Julien fell off his horse, and at dinner he himself told about this adventure. “Mademoiselle Matilda held back her laughter in vain; Finally, without ceremony, she began to ask about the details.

The next day, Julien found a young man in the library, "the young man was very carefully dressed, but he looked frail, with an envious look." It was Tambo, nephew of the academician, a friend of Madame de la Mole. He worked in a separate room, but wanted to take advantage of Julien's privileges and transferred his writing materials to the library. And the marquis strictly subtracted Tambo and drove him out of the library.

At four o'clock Count Norbert again took Julien for a ride. “Twenty times Norbert saw that Julien was about to fall, but at the end the walk ended happily.” At dinner, the Count praised Julien for his courage, and "despite all this benevolence, Julien soon began to feel lonely in this family."

Palace de la Mole

In the aristocratic living room of the palace of the Marquis, Julien made a strange impression on the guests. Madame de la Mole asked her husband to send him on some mission on those days when certain people were invited to dinner, but the marquis wanted to complete the test.

Julien tried to make sense of his new surroundings. He noted several friends of the house, the impoverished nobles, who, just in case, whipped his circle.

The owners of the house were almost always impeccably polite.

It was possible to speak at receptions quite freely, “so that they don’t say good things about Berenger, Voltaire, Rousseau and opposition newspapers. The youth were afraid to talk about something that could characterize them as freethinkers.” “Despite the good tone, the impeccable politeness, the desire to be pleasant, boredom was reflected on all faces.”

For Julien to dine every day at the table of the marquise was the most difficult part of his duties, although everyone considered it a great honor for him. One day he turned to Abbot Pirara to ask the Marquis for permission to go to dine in some tavern. This conversation was overheard by Mademoiselle de la Mole; this earned him respect for Julien.

Many people have been waiting for this day. After dinner, the youth gathered in a separate circle. "Here were the Marquis de Croisnoy, the Comte de Caylus, the Viscount de Luz, and two or three other young officers, friends of Norbert or his sister." Julien sat on a low straw chair, just opposite the beautiful Mademoiselle de la Mole, and "he was the envy of all Matilda's admirers."

"Today, Matilda's friends were very hostile to everyone who came into this spacious living room." They gave offensive characteristics to high-ranking persons, recalled the events and actions of these people, which testified to their negative traits. "These people got into the salons only thanks to the clever servility of all parties, or thanks to their wealth, acquired in a dubious way." The most honest man in the drawing-room was Abbé Pirard. "This bilious Jansenit, who believed in the duty of Christian mercy, had to, living in a higher world, tirelessly fight with himself."

In the Youth Circle they ridiculed the unfortunate Comte de Talais, the son of a wealthy Jew, who left his son an annuity of one hundred thousand crowns a month. Julien, hearing this laughter, thought that "such a spectacle can cure envy."

Sensuality and high-society shrine

Several months of testing passed, and Monsieur de la Mole entrusted Julien to supervise the administration of the estates in Brittany and Normandy and "direct all correspondence concerning the notorious lawsuit of the Abbé de Friler."

“Abbé Pirard introduced Julien into various Jansenite circles. He was shocked by these God-fearing and harsh people who didn't care about money."

With the children of the Marquis de la Mole, Julien was on cool terms. "Norbert thought that the secretary was responding too harshly to the jokes of some of his friends", and "Matilde felt that Julien was violating the rules of politeness."

"The marquis liked Julien's stubborn industriousness, his silence, reason, and he gradually handed over to him all the more or less difficult and intricate cases."

In the Palace de la Mole, no one openly insulted Julien's pride, but the young man felt like a stranger here and at the end of the day was ready to burst into tears from loneliness and isolation from a difficult, but familiar and understandable life.

Shades of pronunciation

Once, in a cafe, a man in a frock coat was intently examining Julien. The young man could not stand this insulting look and demanded an explanation. The man in the frock coat answered him with the most rude abuse. Julien began to demand the address of a stranger, and he threw five or six business cards in his face.

Julien took as a second the retired lieutenant Levin, with whom he often fenced, "and they went to look for Mr. Ch. de Beauvois in the Faubourg Saint-Germain, at the address printed on business cards." It was seven o'clock in the morning when they entered the house. The footman led them into luxurious chambers, where a tall youth, dressed up like a doll, was already waiting, with meek manners, with a restrained, important and self-satisfied look. “This was not at all the same person with whom Julien had a skirmish the day before ... This young man with impeccable manners, who was in front of him, had nothing to do with that rude subject who insulted him yesterday.” Julien explained the reason for such an early visit and was about to leave, when suddenly he saw a coachman in front of the porch near the carriage and recognized him as yesterday's offender. The young man grabbed him by the hem of his coat and began to beat him with a whip. This beating of the coachman caused a duel between Julien and the Chevalier de Beauvois.

“The duel was over in an instant: Julien received a bullet in his hand, he was bandaged with handkerchiefs soaked in vodka, and the Chevalier de Beauvois, very politely asked Julien for permission to take him home in a carriage.” The dear chevalier and his second told very indecent anecdotes, laughed from the procession, but spoke easily, in refined, figurative language. Julien wanted to maintain friendly relations with these interesting people.

The Chevalier found out with whom he had a duel, and was unpleasantly surprised: he could not admit that he had fought with some secretary of Mr. de la Mole, and therefore divulged that Julien Sorel was the illegitimate son of a close friend of the Marquis. When this fact became public, the young diplomat allowed himself to visit the sick Julien several times, and then invited him to the opera and introduced him to the famous singer Geronimo.

“Julien was seen at the opera in the company of the Chevalier de Beauvois, and this acquaintance made people talk about him.”

Gout attack

For several months Monsieur de la Mole suffered from attacks of gout, did not go out anywhere, and was content with communicating with Julien. The marquis liked this young man more and more, who surprised the ruler with his knowledge and views. “It happens that people become attached to a charming dog,” thought the Marquis, “why should I be embarrassed by my affection for this young abbot?”

Monsieur de la Mole decided to give Julien a noble birth and sent him on minor assignments to England.

In London, Julien met Russian nobles and finally learned what foppishness of the highest grade is. Prince Korazov recommended Julien to "always do the opposite of what is expected of you." The young Frenchman visited salons, got acquainted with the higher world of England, dined once a week with the ambassador of his majesty, and when he returned to Paris, the marquis presented him with an order. “Thanks to this order, Julien was honored with a very strange visit: Mr. Baron de Valno appeared to him ... He should have been appointed mayor of Ver" Yera instead of Mr. de Renal, who lost the election.

The newly minted baron asked the Marquis for lunch and the far-sighted Monsieur de la Mole accepted this rogue.

What marks a person

The marquise and her daughter returned from the Persian Islands, and Matilda was surprised by the changes that had taken place during this time with Julien. "There was nothing provincial in his figure and manner." It seemed to Mademoiselle that this young peasant was the most interesting among the people who surrounded her. She very dryly invited Julien to a ball at M. Retz's. “How I dislike this lanky girl,” he thought, following Mademoiselle de la Mole with his eyes. - She exaggerates every fashion; her dress completely falls off her shoulders ... She is even paler than she was before her journey ... Which is colorless hair, blond, as if shining through ... How much arrogance in her manner of greeting, in her eyes! What majestic gestures!

The palace of the Duke de Retz struck Julien with unprecedented luxury.

The guests formed a crowd around the first beauty of the ball. Julien heard the enthusiastic voices of men about the grace, eyes, posture, mind of Matilda and decided to take a good look at her.

Mademoiselle turned to Julien, and a conversation began between them about Jean-Jacques Rousseau and his Social Contract. Matilda was intoxicated with her knowledge, and "Julien's gaze remained piercing and cold." Madame de la Mole was amazed. She examined with her sky-blue eyes the Marquis de Croisnoy, who dreamed of marrying her, other people and thought about their insignificance, about her own, provided, but a boring future. In the corner of the hall, Matilda noticed Count Altamira, condemned in his homeland to death penalty and thought: “It can be seen that only a death sentence marks a person. It's the only thing you can't buy. And what young Frenchman would be capable of doing something that would threaten him with a death sentence?

Matilda was the queen of the ball, but remained indifferent. She thought about what a colorless life awaits her with such a creature as Croisnoy, and was angry with Julien, who did not approach her.

Matilda's mood worsened. She searched with the eyes of Julienne and "saw him in the second hall." The young man was talking to Count Altamira. Julien surrendered to Matilda as a prince in disguise, a real handsome man.

Count Altamira told Julien about the nobles present at the ball. Here is Prince Arachel, who glances minute by minute at the Order of the Golden Fleece. He earned the reward by "ordering three dozen rich landowners, who were considered liberals, to be thrown into the river." This ball was attended by "probably a dozen people who in the next world will be damned as murderers." Julien's face was filled with excitement. He seemed to Matilda the most beautiful, but Julien never looked at her. The offended girl went to dance so as not to think about the neglect shown to her by the secretary.

The next day, while working in the library, Julien "more than once returned in his thoughts to a conversation with Count Altamir." He was so absorbed in thinking about the undefeated heroes of France that he did not notice Mademoiselle Mathilde enter and noted with displeasure that Julien's eyes went out when he looked at her.

Queen Margarita

"In the morning Julien saw Mademoiselle de la Mole in the dining-room in deep mourning." All other family members were dressed as usual. After dinner, Julien began to inquire about the reason for the mourning and heard a strange story. “On April 30, 1574, Boniface de la Mole, the most brilliant young man of his time, and his friend Annibal de Coconasso were beheaded in the Place de Greve” because Boniface tried “to free his friends, the princes, whom Queen Catherine de Medici held at court as captives.”

In all this story, Matilda was most struck by the fact that Margaret of Navarskaya, the wife of King Henry IV of Navarsky, who was the mistress of Boniface de la Mole, bought her lover's head from the executioner and buried it in a chapel at the foot of Montmartre Hill.

Interesting in this story of mourning was also the fact that the second name of Matilda de la Mole was Marguerite. The marquis allowed her daughter her whims, because “Matilda did not wear mourning in order to attract everyone's attention to herself. She really loved that la Mole, the Queen's adored lover, the hottest woman of his time, the young man who died because he tried to rescue his friends. And what friends! - First Prince of the Blood and Henry IV."

"Julien tried not to exaggerate this strange friendship" and did not lose dignity. He could interrupt the language of Matilda, did not tolerate insulting treatment of himself, but noted with surprise that the daughter of the Marquis tolerated this because she was in love with him. Sometimes doubts besieged him, and then, with sparkling eyes, he promised himself to take possession of her and leave this house.

The power of a young girl

Matilda was often bored. She received real entertainment and pleasure only when she could humiliate a person unpleasant to her with an exquisite mockery. The Marquis de Croisnoy, the Comte de Caylus, and several other distinguished young men wrote letters to him. “The letters of these young men entertained her, but she assured that they were all the same. These have always been manifestations of that very passion - the deepest, most sumovitishoy. Matilda was confident in their courage and courage, but “which of them would think of doing something unusual? » She looked at her future next to one of them with disgust. And Julien seemed completely different to her. “She was struck by his pride, she was carried away by the subtle, mind of this tradesman.” Very soon Matilda realized that she fell in love with Julien. It seemed to her that "there is something great and bold in daring to love a person so far from her by her position in society."

Is he Danton?

Mademoiselle de la Mole was filled with wonderful thoughts about her love for Julien. It seemed to her unusual, heroic, similar to the love of Queen Marguerite de Valois for the young la Mole. Julien's energy frightened those around her. It seemed to Matilda that her lover, for salvation, would not be afraid to put a bullet in the forehead of every Jacobin, and she passionately defended him from the attacks of young aristocrats.

Since Matilda decided that she loved Julien, her longing dissipated. She often looked at him for a long time. Once Julien accidentally heard his name "in the company of brilliant youths with mustaches who surrounded Mademoiselle de la Mole." When he came closer, everyone fell silent and did not find how to break this silence.

It occurred to Julien that this charming youth had conspired to mock him. He suspected that Matilda wanted to convince him of her love in order to make him a laughing stock. This terrible thought easily destroyed in his heart the germ of love, "which was generated only by the exceptional beauty of Matilda, or rather, her regal posture and charming toilets." And he had enough common sense to understand that he did not know her spiritual qualities at all.

From the time of his terrible discovery of Mathilde's feelings, Julien began to reject all words of affection with which Mademoiselle de la Mole addressed him. But she did not understand and suffered.

Julien decided to leave Paris for a while and persuaded the Marquis to let him go. Matilda found out about this and in the evening handed over Julien's letter, in which she confessed her feelings. Reading this letter, it suddenly occurred to Julien that he, the son of a carpenter, had defeated the Marquis de Croisnoy, that handsome man with a mustache, in a luxurious uniform, who for many years dreamed of Matilda's hand and reverently listened to her every word.

After some time, Julien found a reason to refuse the trip, and the Marquis de la Mole said that he was glad of this, because he was pleased to see Julien. The young men were embarrassed by these words, because he dreamed of seducing the daughter of his benefactor, "perhaps upsetting her marriage to the Marquis de Croisnoy." But the sweetness of victory drowned out the voice of goodness, he felt like a hero and repeated more than once that this was a victory both over the Marquis de Croisnoy and over the whole world of the aristocracy.

Julien Mathilde's reply "would do honor to the diplomatic caution of the Chevalier de Beauvois himself." He felt like a god.

Thoughts of a young girl

For the first time in her life, the prideful soul of Matilda knew love. “She was least of all frightened by the thought of doing badly and breaking the rules sacred in the eyes of people like de Keylus, de Luz, where is Croisnoy ... She was afraid of only one thing: that Julien would not condemn her.” At nineteen, "Matilda had already given up hope of meeting a person even slightly different from the common template." And now she fell in love with a man who stands on the lower rungs of society and differs in everything from the men of her circle. "The depth, incomprehensibility of Julien's character could also frighten the woman who had an ordinary relationship with him, and she was going to make him her lover, perhaps her master."

Julien decided to check that Matilda's letter was not a game, agreed in advance with Count Norbert. He pretended to leave. "Matilda didn't close her eyes all night."

On the second day, as soon as he entered the library, Mademoiselle de la Mole appeared at the door. Julien conveyed his answer to her." In the next letter, Matilda demanded a decisive answer from him. The third letter contained only a few lines: Matilda wrote that she was waiting for him at night in her room.

Is this not a conspiracy?

Having received the third letter, Julien again began to think that they wanted to destroy him or make a laughing stock of him. Well, he will look moonlit night, climb the stairs to the second floor to Matilda's room. Julien decided not to answer the letters and leave on business. He began to pack for the trip, when he suddenly thought that Matilda could be sincere in her feelings. Then he will be a coward in her eyes, forever lose the favor of this girl and despise himself all his life.

Julien thought for a long time about the fact that several conspirators might be waiting for him in Matilda's room, that some servant might shoot him on the stairs, but he could not help but go.

He reloaded the small pistols, checked the stairs under Matilda's windows. It reminded Julien of how he had climbed through the window of Madame de Renal's room in Ver'jere. But then he did not have to distrust the person for whom he had put himself in such danger.

First hour of the night

At half past one in the night, the moon "flooded with bright light the facade of the palace overlooking the garden." “The hour has struck; but there was still light in Count Norbert's windows. Never in his life had Julien felt such fear; he saw only the dangers in this whole affair, completely losing his courage. But at one o'clock five minutes the young man quietly climbed the stairs, holding a pistol in his hand. “When he had already approached the window, it silently opened”: Matilda was waiting for him. "Julien didn't know how to behave and didn't feel any love." He tried to hug the girl, but she pushed him away. “Confusion reigned - equally strong in both. Julien made sure the doors were fully bolted. He even looked under the bed.

Julien spoke of his suspicions. He showed a keen sense of satisfied ambition, and Matilda was unpleasantly struck by his victorious tone. She was tormented by remorse, but she firmly decided that when he had the courage to come to her, she would give herself to him. "After much hesitation, Matilda finally forced herself to become his tender mistress."

After that night, grief and shame seized her, instead of the boundless paradise described in the novels.

ancient sword

The next day Matilda did not even look at Julien. Her face was dry and bad. "Julien, gripped by agonizing anxiety, was now distant lands from the triumph that he experienced on the first day."

Matilda was afraid that Julien might divulge her secret, because she herself made him her ruler, who has unlimited power over her.

And Julien, who until three days ago had not felt love for Mathilde, was now sure that he loved her. "He dreamed of a tender mistress that forgets himself, making his beloved happy," and "the indignant arrogance of Matilda rebelled against him."

On the third day of incomprehensible hostility, Julien decided to speak frankly with Matilda, and after a few minutes they declared to each other that everything was over between them.

A terrible internal struggle arose in Julien's soul. He decided to leave for the Languedoc at least for a while, and, having packed his suitcases, he went to Monsieur de la Mole to inform him of his departure. In the library he met Matilda. “When he entered, such anger was reflected on her face that he no longer had any doubts”: she does not love him. And yet, Julien spoke to Matilda in the most gentle voice, but in response she said: “I can’t come to my senses that I gave myself to the first person I met.” Beside himself with grief, Julien pulled out a sword from an ancient scabbard. He was ready to kill an unfaithful mistress, but, remembering the Marquis, "sheathed his sword and calmly fastened it on a gilded bronze nail on which it hung." “Mademoiselle de la Mole looked at him with surprise. So my lover almost killed me, she told herself. There was no more disdain in her eyes. And she ran away."

The Marquis entered. Julien informed him of his departure, but Monsieur de la Mole asked to stay, because he had an important mission before him.

Cruel minutes

Mademoiselle de la Mole was delighted with the passion that Julien discovered. “If at this moment there was some reason to resume their relationship, she would gladly seize on it.”

After dinner she was the first to speak to Julien. She spoke about her heartfelt feelings, about her passion for Mr. de Croisnoy, Mr. de Caylus. "Julien suffered the most terrible pangs of jealousy." How cruelly punished is Julien's pride for putting himself above all these aristocrats.

"For a whole week this ruthless opening lasted." Matilda told Julien the letters she once wrote, “his torment gave her obvious pleasure. She saw in them the weakness of her tyrant, therefore, she could afford to love him. But Julien did something stupid: he passionately confessed to Matilda that he loved her. “Sincere, but such thoughtless words of Julien changed everything in an instant. Convinced that he loved her, Matilda felt the deepest contempt for him, and even disgust.

Julien did not understand anything, but he immediately felt this disdain and stopped even looking at Matilda, although it cost him tremendous effort.

Having enjoyed the attention of young aristocrats, Matilda again began to think about Julien. She saw herself as a friend to a man, next to whom she would not go through life invisible.

Italian opera

“Immersed in thoughts about the future and about the outstanding role that she hoped to play, Matilda soon began, not without regret, to recall the disputes that she and Julien had had.” She increasingly recalled moments of happiness, and she was tormented by remorse.

In the evening, Matilda and her mother went to the Italian Opera. "During the first act, she dreamed of her lover with the most ardent passion." In the second act, the love aria struck the girl so much that "she was in some kind of ecstasy." It seemed to her that she had conquered her love.

Meanwhile, Julien felt like a victim. “Never before had he reached such despair,” and yet he decided to put an end to it once and for all. At night, he found a ladder, went up to the room, dreaming of kissing his beloved for the last time, and fell into her arms.

“Who could describe Julien's happiness?

Matilda was happy, perhaps no less. She, squeezing him in her arms, asked for forgiveness for her rebellion, called him the owner, and herself his slave and servant. As a sign of reconciliation, Matilda cut off a large strand of hair and gave it to the man.

In the morning Julien went down to the dining-room and saw Matilda's eyes shining with love.

But a day later, she again began to repent of what she had done for him. "He's tired of being in love."

Julien did not understand what he had done to deserve such disfavor. He was overcome with despair.

Japanese vase

The next day, Matilda again surrounded herself with young aristocrats. She regained her commitment to secular entertainment. Julien had the imprudence to take his old place in the circle next to Matilda, but he felt superfluous here: no one paid any attention to him. "For an hour, he played the role of an obsessive subordinate, from whom they do not hide what they think of him." He was looking for an excuse to leave, "and when he left the living room, he did it extremely awkwardly."

The next day it all happened again. Julien wanted only one thing - to talk to Matilda. The girl herself started this unpleasant conversation. Quite frankly and bluntly, she declared that she did not love him, that her wild imagination had deceived her.

Julien tried to somehow justify himself, but the sound of his voice irritated Matilda. “She had an extremely sharp mind and perfectly mastered the art of striking human vanity” so that Julien began to despise himself.

Matilda was proud that she could break everything forever. “She was so happy that in those moments she really didn’t feel love at all.”

That morning Madame de la Mole asked Julien to give her a very rare pamphlet. "He, taking it with the console, threw over an old blue porcelain vase, very ugly."

Madame de la Mole jumped up with a desperate cry. She began to tell the story of this vase, but Julien was not even embarrassed. He quietly said to Matilda, who was standing near him: “This vase is broken, destroyed forever. The same thing befell the one feeling that once reigned in my heart. I apologize to you for the madness to which it pushed me. And he went out.

secret note

“The Marquis called Julien to his place and suggested that he study the four pages of the message, go to London and hand it over there without changing a single word.

In the evening Julien and Monsieur de la Mole went to meet the conspirators. They entered the living room, in the middle of which the footman had placed a large table.

The name of the owner, an extremely overweight man, was never mentioned. At the table, with their backs to Julien, sat seven interlocutors. “Another man entered without any report ... He was short and fat, ruddy, and nothing could be read in his brilliant eyes except the fury of a wild boar.”

Another man entered. He looked like an old Bishop of Besancon. Then came the young bishop of Agd. He recognized Julien and his face showed surprise.

All the guests were divided into groups and talked quite loudly among themselves. Julien did not know how to behave in this situation. "He heard such amazing things that his embarrassment grew more and more."

The footman reported that the Duke *** had arrived. "With his appearance, the meetings began immediately."

Julien's discourse on this meeting was interrupted by Monsieur de la Mole, who introduced him as a man endowed with an amazing memory. His task was to memorize everything that would be said in this room, and to convey all the speeches verbatim to the person who would be named to him. Julien realized that he was involved in some kind of conspiracy, but this did not bother him much. He recorded the speeches in twenty pages of minutes. All speeches boiled down to the fact that England should help France in its fight against freethinking and the petty bourgeoisie, and the French aristocrats would help her by sending an army of noble nobles.

Clergy, forests, freedom

French aristocrats dreamed of creating an armed party. And there was no unity between them, they did not trust each other. But the matter had to be brought to an end, and the marquis composed a secret note, which Julien learned by heart.

Monsieur de la Mole gave Julien a road trip in a fictitious name and advised the young man to pretend to be “a veil, travels to pass the time. The marquis warned Julien to be very careful on the road, because the enemies of the conspirators knew about the messenger and organized searches on all roads and at postal stations. And indeed, at one station they detained him, searched his luggage, but, not finding paper, decided that he could not be a courier.

Julien, without much incident, reached the duke, gave him a message and received an order to leave for Strasbourg.

Strasbourg

Julien spent a whole week in Strasbourg. All this time he thought only of Matilda. “He had to exert all his strength so as not to fall into despair,” but the future seemed bleak to him. He dreamed of having a friend by his side, to whom he could tell everything.

One day, Julien accidentally met the Russian prince Korazov. When the prince advised Julien to be serious and taciturn. And now he saw the young Frenchman depressed. The prince showed interest in Julien's emotional experiences, and he told Korazov his sad love story. Of course, he did not name his beloved, but he accurately described the actions and character of Matilda to the prince.

Prince Korazov worked out for Julien every step in his relationship with his beloved.

First, Julien will not avoid communication with her, but in no case will show her that he is cold or resentful. Secondly, he has to "drag after some woman from her society, but without showing passionate love." It is necessary to play this comedy very skillfully so that no one guesses anything. Thirdly, Julien must write letters to the woman for whom we fall, twice a day. The next day the prince handed Julien fifty-three numbered love letters, addressed to the highest and saddest decency.

“The prince was captured by Julien. Not knowing how to prove his sudden favor to him, he finally offered him the hand of one of his cousins, a wealthy Moscow heiress. Julien promised to think, but, having received an answer from an important person to a secret note, he left for Paris and felt that he could not leave France and Matilda.

He decided that, following the instructions of Prince Korazov, he would look after the widow of Marshal de Fervac, who often visited the Palace de la Mole. This beauty considered her goal in life to make everyone forget "that she is the daughter of an industrialist, and in order to create a certain position for herself, to gain authority in Paris, she decided to preach virtue."

The realm of virtue

Returning to Paris, and handing de la Mole the answer, with which he was obviously very disappointed, Julien hurried to the Count of Altamira. The young man confessed that he was passionately in love with the marshal's widow. The Count took him to Don Diego Buetos, who had once unsuccessfully courted beauties. He told Julien that Madame de Fervac can be vindictive, but the desire to harm people comes from some secret grief that she carries in her soul. The Spaniard handed over four letters written by her, and Julien promised that their conversation would remain a secret.

Dinner hour was approaching, and Julien hastened to the Palais de la Mole. He decided to fulfill all the orders of the prince, and therefore dressed in a simple traveling suit. At table, he tried not to look at Mathilde, and in the afternoon the Marshal de Fervac came to pay a visit. "Julien immediately disappeared, but soon reappeared, extremely exquisitely dressed." He sat down beside the marshal's wife and focused on her a look filled with the deepest admiration. Julien then went to the Italian Opera, and there looked at Madame de Fervac for the whole evening. During this time, he never thought of Matilda.

“Matilda almost completely forgot him while he was traveling. She finally found agreement to finalize marriage negotiations with the Marquis de Croisnoy ... But her thoughts completely changed when she saw Julien. Matilda was struck by the behavior of Julien, who spoke only with Madame de Fervac. Prince Korazov could be proud of his pupil, who every evening sat down near the marshal's chair with the air of an infinitely in love man.

High moral love

Madame de Fervac was fascinated by the young abbé, who could only listen and look with very beautiful eyes.

“Julien, for his part, found in the manners of the marshal an almost perfect example ... impeccable politeness ... and incapacity for any strong feeling ... Her favorite topic of conversation was the king’s last hunt, and her favorite book was “Memoirs of the Duke de Saint- Simon”, especially in their genealogical part”.

Julien always sat down early at Madame de Fervac's favorite seat, turning his chair back so as not to see Mathilde. He spoke with the marshal, but he tried to influence the soul of Mademoiselle de la Mole, who always listened attentively to the conversation.

Julien, acting according to the plan that Prince Korazov worked out for him, copied letter No. 1 to Madame de Fervak. "It was a very boring sermon, full of grandiloquent words about charity." He personally took this letter and handed it to the porter, while he must have been upset, full of deep melancholy expression.

The next evening Mathilde left her usual company and sat closer to Madame de Fervac, which raised Julien's eloquence. But he never once looked in the direction of an unfaithful lover.

Top Church Positions

Madame de Fervac's second letter was even more boring than the first. And Julien copied it, took the marshals and, leading the horse into the stable, furtively glanced into the garden in the hope of seeing at least Matilda's dress. “On the whole, his life was now not as unbearable as before, when days passed in complete inactivity.”

Julien had already brought back fourteen of those odious dissertations, and Madame de Fervac treated him as if he had never written to her. And one morning they gave him an invitation to dinner from the marshal's wife.

The living room in the Palace de Fervac was striking in luxury. "In this salon, Julien saw three of those who were present at the drafting of the secret note." One of them was the Monsignor Bishop, Madame de Fervac's uncle. "He was in charge of the list of vacant spiritual positions and, it was said, could not refuse his niece anything."

All the benefits of this acquaintance were calculated by Tambo, who worked for Monsieur de la Mole and considered Julien his rival. He thought that "when Sorel becomes the lover of the beautiful marshal, she will arrange him for some profitable church position," and he will get rid of Julien in the palace de la Mole.

Manon Lesko

"The instructions of the Russian forbade contradicting the person to whom the letters were written."

Once at the opera, Julien praised the ballet Manon Lescaut. "Marshal - I said that the ballet is far weaker than the novel of the Abbé Prevost", which occupies one of the first places among depraved, dangerous works.

“Madame de Fervac considered it her duty ... to express crushing disdain for writers who, with their vile creations, are trying to spoil the youth, which, unfortunately, is already easily succumbed to destructive passions.”

“During the whole time that Julien spent in courting Madame de Fervac, Mademoiselle de la Mole had to make great efforts to force herself not to think about him. There was a fierce struggle going on in her soul.” She listened to Julien and was surprised that he said to the marshals something completely different from what he really thinks.

Julien was in despair that Matilda treated her fiancé so kindly. He even thought about suicide, but when he saw his beloved, he was ready to die of happiness.

"At first Madame de Fervac read Julien's long letters with indifference, but at last they began to interest her." She developed an interest in this handsome young man. “One day she suddenly decided that she had to answer Zhul'yenova. It was a victory for boredom." The marshal's wife "formed a pleasant habit of writing almost every day. Julien answered by diligently copying Russian letters, but Madame de Fervac was not at all bothered by the lack of a logical connection between their letters. How surprised she would have been to know that most of her letters remained unopened.

One morning Matilda went into Julien's library, saw the marshal's letter and exploded with indignation. She recalled that she was his wife and would not tolerate all this disgrace. Angered, mademoiselle pushed the drawer aside with fury and saw a whole pile of unopened letters. Terrified, Mathilde exclaimed that Julien despises Madame de Fervac, but suddenly fell on her knees and cried out: “Ah, forgive me, my friend! Neglect me when you want, but love me, I can't live without your love!"

Lodge at the comic opera

Awakening from her shock, Mathilde asked if Madame de Fervac had really taken Julien's heart from her. The young man was silent.

Matilda had been tormented by jealousy for a whole month, which in an instant defeated pride. Her grief was so great that Julien felt sorry for this girl. But he well understood: as soon as he discovers his love, her eyes will reflect again, the coldest neglect. Courage betrayed him, but, having gathered the last strength, Julien said in a firm voice that the marshal was worthy of love, because she supported him when others despised him. Julien demanded guarantees that Matilda's love for him would last more than two days. At that moment, the girl "wanted to do something unusual, incredible, to prove to him how immensely she loves him and hates herself," but Julien gathered the scattered sheets of the marshal and went out.

Keep at bay

In the evening, Julien saw Mathilde with her mother at the opera, although it was not their day. "He hurried to Madame de la Mole's box," but never spoke to Mademoiselle, although it cost him incredible effort. And Matilda wept with happiness, holding Julien's hand.

At home, Julien suddenly felt like a commander who had won a big battle. But this victory still had to be kept. And he decided to keep Matilda at bay. “The enemy will obey me only as long as he fears me; then he will not dare to despise me,” thought Julien.

The next morning, Matilda waited for Julien in the library for an hour. When he arrived, the girl said in a low voice: “Dear, I offended you, it's true, you have the right to be angry with me. The guarantee that I love you will be our departure to London. This will destroy me forever, to glorify ... "

Julien paused to control himself, and declared in an icy tone: “Let you be glorified, but who will guarantee me that you will love me, that my presence in the mail coach will not suddenly become hateful to you? I am not an executioner, and ruining your reputation will only be an extra misfortune for me. After all, it is not your position in the upper world that stands in our way, but, unfortunately, your luck.”

That day and henceforth, Julien skillfully concealed his boundless joy at Matilda's confessions. And one day he lost control of himself, told about the boundless suffering, but suddenly caught himself and said that he invented it all. Matilda was amazed. And despite all the unpleasant words of Julien, their relationship developed further.

“An English traveler says that he became friends with a tiger. He raised him and caressed him, but he always kept a loaded pistol on the table.”

Julien gave himself entirely to love when Matilda could not read the happiness in his eyes. When he was ready to lose his temper, he left Matilda. And she loved at first and neglected the danger.

"She became pregnant - she happily informed Julien of this." This was a guarantee of her love and devotion.

Matilda decided to confess everything to her father, but Julien refused her, because through this confession the Marquis could kick her daughter out of the house. He was even more afraid of being separated from his beloved. "Matilda was happy."

The fateful day has come. The Marquis held a letter from Matilda, in which she confessed her love for Julien, wrote that the young man was not to blame for anything, it was she who seduced him.

Julien knew about the letter and was tormented by the fact that in the eyes of the Marquis he would now be an ungrateful swindler.

Suddenly an old valet appeared and called the youth of Monsieur de la Mole.

Hell cowardice

“Julien found the marquis furious: perhaps for the first time in his life this nobleman behaved so indecently.” But the young man did not lose his sense of gratitude towards Monsieur de la Mole. He knew how much hope the marquis placed on the successful marriage of Matilda. And now everything has gone upside down.

Julien tried to justify himself, but ran into a new outburst of anger. And then the young man wrote a note in which he asked the Marquis to kill him when he was walking in the garden. But the thought of the fate of the future son worried Julien more than his own troubles.

Matilda was in despair. She declared that she would die if Julien died. Now the marquis himself was at a loss. He looked for a way out of the situation, but "Matilda resisted all her father's 'calculative' projects." She wanted to become Madame Sorel and live quietly with her husband in Switzerland.

At this time, Julien left for Villec "є, where he checked the accounts of the farmers, and then returned and asked for asylum with the abbe Pirard, who persuaded the marquis to agree to the marriage of lovers. But the marquis, in the depths of his soul, could not come to terms with the fact that his daughter would become the wife of his son carpenter.

Smart man

For a time, the marquis thought that the best way out of the situation would be the death of Julien. Then he came up with some projects in order to abandon them after a while.

Julien understood that Monsieur de la Mole did not know what to do. He either gave a lot of money to his daughter and her beloved, then he dreamed that Julien would move to America, then he wanted to create a brilliant career for him.

Matilda saw her father's mood and wrote him a letter in which she proved that she loved Julien and would never give him up. She will marry her beloved and leave Paris forever.

Having received this letter, the marquis had to make some decision, "but he again began to put off the matter and write to his daughter, because they started a correspondence from one room to another." In a letter, Monsieur de la Mole gave Matilda a patent for the rank of hussar lieutenant in the name of the cavalier Julien Sorel de la Verneuil. Matilda's answer was overflowing with gratitude, but at the same time she appointed the day of the wedding. After a while, she received an unexpected answer from her father. He warned Matilda and wrote that no one knows what this Julien is.

Learning from Matilda about the rank of lieutenant, Julien was delighted, because all his ambitious dreams were filled.

“So,” he said to himself, “my romance is over, and I owe it only to myself. I managed to make this proud monster love me ... Her father cannot live without her, and she cannot live without me.

“Julien plunged into deep thought and scarcely responded to Matildine's ardent caresses. He was silent and gloomy, ”and Matilda did not dare to ask him about the reason for such a mood. Something like terror crept into her soul. “This callous soul has now known in her love everything that is characteristic of passion ...”

Julien received twenty thousand francs from the marquis, and the abbot Pirard made sure that Julien was recognized as the illegitimate son of a wealthy nobleman, M. de la Verneuil.

Soon Julien went to the most dazzling hussar regiment. "His horses, uniform, liveries of his servants were in such impeccable order that they would have done honor to the most demanding English nobleman." He was already counting when he would become a regiment commander, thinking only about glory and about his son.

And it was then that a letter came from Matilda in which she asked and demanded to come immediately. Julien received leave and arrived at the Palais de la Mole. Matilda, seeing him, forgot about everything and threw herself into his arms. With tears in her eyes, she gave him a letter from her father, in which the Marquis announced that he was abandoning all his intentions regarding the wedding. And then Matilda handed Julien a letter from Madame de Renal, in which it was written that Mr. Sorel “sought to win himself a certain position in the world and go out into the people, resorting to the subtlest hypocrisy for this purpose and seducing a weak and unhappy woman.” Madame de Renal further wrote that Julien does not recognize any laws of religion and "everywhere sows misfortune and eternal repentance."

After reading the long and tearful letter, Julien jumped into the mail-coach and rushed off to Verrieres. There he bought a pair of pistols, went to church, approached Madame de Renal, who was praying, "shot and missed, fired a second time - she fell."

sad details

Julien was detained right in the church, sent to prison, put on iron handcuffs, locked the door and left alone. “It all happened very quickly, and he did not feel anything.”

“Madame de Renal was not mortally wounded ... The bullet hit her shoulder and - a strange thing - bounced off the humerus ...”

The woman had long wanted to die. Separation from Julien was a real grief for her, and she called this grief "remorse." The confessor well understood her condition and forced her to write a letter to Monsieur de la Mole with words of repentance.

Julien confessed everything to the judge, who came to his cell. Then he wrote to Mademoiselle de la Mole about what had happened. He asked for forgiveness from Matilda that this unfortunate incident would get into the newspapers and could be associated with her name, forbade talking about him even with his son, bequeathed to marry Monsieur de Croisnoy.

After sending the letter, Julien began to think about his life, which was like a preparation for death, in which he did not see anything reprehensible, except that he would die on the guillotine. ; The jailer, bribed by Madame de Renal, informed her that she was alive and recovering. "Only now Julien began to repent of his crime."

Julien was transferred to Besançon and kindly assigned to the premises on the top floor of the Gothic tower. At the time when they came to him, the curate Chelan came. He was very old, walked with a cane, accompanied by his nephew. Julien could not get anything clever from the old man and was very upset. “He saw death in all its frivolity,” but then it occurred to him that he would die young, and this would save him from miserable destruction. And from time to time courage left him. “If such weakness of character grows, it is better to commit suicide. What a joy it will be for all those abbots Masloniv and Mr. Valenod if I die like a coward, thought Julien.

Fouquet arrived and told a friend that he wanted to sell all his possessions, bribe the jailer and save the captive. “This display of lofty nobility returned Zhuliyonov’s spiritual strength, which the appearance of Mr. Shelan had taken away from him.”

Fouquet paid the jailers so that Julien would not be transferred to a terrible casemate, but left in " a pretty room, at a height of one hundred and eighty steps". He then turned to the Abbé de Frilera, who promised to put in a good word before the judges.

"Julien provided for only one trouble before his death: a visit to his father."

Mighty man

One morning the door was flung open and a woman dressed as a peasant rushed to Julien. It was Mademoiselle de la Mole. Her act touched the young man. It seemed to him again that he loved the queen.

Matilda told how she managed to get a date: she confessed to the secretary that she was Julien's wife, and gave her name. Mademoiselle was delighted with Julien's act: he seemed to her like Boniface de la Mole. She hired the best lawyers, achieved an audience with Mr. de Friler, who "it took only a few seconds to force Matilda to confess that she was the daughter of his mighty opponent, the Marquis de la Mole."

During the conversation with Mademoiselle, Monsieur de Friler thought about his own benefit from the decision of this matter. He heard that Marshal de Fervac, on whom the appointment of all the bishops in France depended, was a close acquaintance of Julien. This discovery made him more accommodating. He promised that the majority of the jury would follow his orders and Julien would be acquitted.

Matilda tried her best to save Julien. She even wrote a letter to Madame de Fervac, in which she implored her rival to get Monsignor Bishop *** to write a letter to M. de Friler in his own hand. She went so far as to ask her to personally come to Besançon.”

Julien did not even know about all this, but he was worried about the presence of Matilda. “The proximity of death made him a more orderly and kind person than he had been during his life,” but Matilda’s ardent passion left him indifferent. He severely reproached himself for this and repented of having made an attempt on the life of Madame de Renal. Julien felt that he loved her as before. One day he asked Mathilde to give the child who would be born "to Verrieres nurse, and Madame de Renal to look after her." Julien foresaw the unfortunate fate of his child and wanted to do something to help this.

calmness

Julien fully pleaded guilty. “The lawyer thought he was crazy and, along with everyone else, thought that he grabbed the gun in a fit of jealousy.” Admitting this would have made an excellent defense, but Julien angrily told the lawyer not to repeat the lie.

Everyone in Besancon only talked about the upcoming trial, and Julien lived in a world of dreams. He had already seen the near end and only now learned to enjoy life.

Monsieur de Friler was sure that gentlemen of the jury, Valno, de Moireau and de Cholain, were tools in his hands and would carry out his order, because in friendly correspondence with Madame de Fervac, the cherished word had already been said - episcopacy for the salvation of Julien.

Madame de Renal has almost recovered. She came to Besançon and "wrote each of the thirty-six jurors" with her own hand" letters asking for Julien's acquittal.

“Finally, this day has come, which Matilda and Madame de Renal so feared ... The whole province gathered in Besançon to listen to this romantic affair.”

On the eve of the trial, Matilda took the bishop's letter to the vicar, in which the prelate asked for Julien's acquittal, and Monsieur de Friler assured her that he vouched for the verdict of the jury.

Going to court, Julien was surprised that the people who crowded in his way sympathized with him. There were many women in the courtroom. “Their eyes shone, they reflected ardent sympathy. As soon as he sat down on the bench, he heard from all sides: "God! How young he is! Yes, this is a child ..."

The prosecutor spoke with pathos about the barbarism of the crime, but "the women in the boxes of the court listened to him very displeasedly."

When the lawyer began to speak, the women pulled out their handkerchiefs.

Julien did not want to take the last word, but the sense of duty prevailed, and he "addressed the jury with very strong words." He did not ask for any mercy, he admitted that he "made an attempt on the life of a woman who deserves the deepest respect", which for him was almost a mother. Julien said that his greatest crime was that he dared "to penetrate the milieu which is called high society in the language of the swaggering rich." He is judged by people who are not equal to him, not by peasants, but only by indignant bourgeois; therefore he does not hope for justification and is ready to die.

During his speech, Julien saw in front of him the insolent look of M. Baron de Valno. It was he who announced the decision of the jury: “Julien Sorel is guilty of murder, and of murder with premeditated intent. This decision entailed the death penalty, and the sentence was announced immediately.

The women in the courtroom sobbed, and Mr. Valeno triumphed.

Julien was placed on death row. He thought of Madame de Renal, who would never know that he was the only one he truly loved, about the Christian God, whom he considered a vengeful despot, because “in his Bible there is only talk about cruel punishments”; about how his life would have turned out so that there was no assassination attempt.

Matilda came in the morning. She was haggard and simple, like an ordinary heartbroken woman, and Julien could not be simple with her. He spoke with affectation of his speech yesterday, during which he behaved like Boniface de la Mole before his judges. "Involuntarily, he paid her for all the torments that she so often caused him."

The tearful Matilda asked Julien to sign the appeal, but he categorically refused, arguing that he was ready to die now, and who can guarantee what he will become after two months in prison?

Matilda moved from persuasion to reproaches. Julien again saw before him the proud noblewoman, "who had once insulted him so much in the library of the Palace de la Mole."

Matilda is gone. “An hour later, Julien was awakened from a deep sleep by someone’s tears dripping onto his hand ... It was Madame de Renal.”

Finally, Julien had the opportunity to express his feelings to this holy woman, to ask forgiveness for his crazy act. “Both of them, now and then interrupting each other, began to talk about everything that had happened to them. The letter written to Monsieur de la Mole was compiled by the confessor, Madame de Renal, and she copied it.

“Julien's delight and joy proved to her that he forgives her everything. He had never loved her so unconditionally."

Madame de Renal visited Julien every day. This reached her husband, and "three days later he sent a carriage for her with a categorical order to return immediately to Verrières".

Upon learning that Madame de Renal was forced to leave Besançon, Julien was in a depressed mood. The arrival of Matilda only angered him.

She told him that on the day of the trial, Monsieur de Valno decided to amuse himself by condemning Julien to death. Matilda did not yet know that "the abbé de Friler, seeing that Julien was a dead man, considered it useful for his ambitious intentions to try to become his successor."

Julien wanted to be alone. Mathilde left, but Fouquet came. These visits did not dispel the depressed mood of the prisoner, but made him cowardly.

“The next day, a new, not the biggest trouble awaited him”: a visit to his father.

The old grey-haired carpenter immediately began to reproach Julienov and brought him to tears. The young man was tormented by the fact that even before his death he did not feel either respect or love for his father. He hated himself for his cowardice, about which the carpenter must ring up in Ver "єri" to console Valnya and all hypocrites.

In order to somehow interrupt the endless stream of reproaches from his father, Julien suddenly exclaimed: "I have savings."

"The old carpenter was trembling with greed, afraid to miss this money." He began to talk about the funds that he spent on food and education for his son.

""Here it is - parental love!" - Julien repeated to himself with pain in his heart, finally left alone. He began to think "about death, life, eternity - things are very simple for someone whose organs can perceive them."

“The bad air of the casemate was already exerting its influence on Julien: his mind was weakening. What happiness it was for him when Madame de Renal returned to him, ”who fled from Ver "єra.“ There are no words to describe Julien's boundless and crazy love.

“Hearing about this, Matilda almost went crazy with jealousy,” but Julien, not knowing how to pretend, explained that he had an “excuse”: the end of this drama was near.

"Mademoiselle de la Mole has received news of the death of the Marquis de Croisnoy." There were rumors in Paris about the disappearance of Matilda. M. de Talais took the liberty of expressing some insulting suggestions on this subject. The Marquis de Croisnoy challenged him to a duel and died before he was twenty-four years old.

This death made a painful impression on Julien and changed his plans for the future of Matilda. Now he tried to prove that she was married to Monsieur de Luz.

On the last day, courage did not leave Julien. "Everything happened simply, decently, without any affectation on his part."

On the eve of his execution, "Julien made Madame de Renal swear that she would live and look after Matilda's son." And he agreed with Fouquet that a friend would bury him in a small grotto on the top above Ver'er.

At night, Fouquet was sitting in his room near the body of his friend, when Matilda suddenly came in. She threw herself on her knees in front of the body of her beloved, as Margarita Navarskaya once did at the executed Boniface de la Mole.

Mathilde lit a few candles, and Fouquet was amazed to see "that she laid Julien's head on a small marble table in front of her and kissed her on the forehead."

Julien was buried in the grotto, as he requested. Twenty priests celebrated a funeral mass, and Matilda ordered several thousand five-franc coins to be thrown into the crowd that had gathered on the mountain. Italy".

Madame de Renal made no attempt on her life, "but three days after Julien's execution she died embracing her children."

The work that we will consider today is called "Red and Black". A summary of this novel by Stendhal is brought to your attention. This work was first published in 1830. To this day, the classic novel "Red and Black" is very popular. A summary of it begins as follows.

The mayor of the town of Verrieres, located in France (Franche-Comté district), Mr. de Renal, is a vain and self-satisfied person. He informs his wife about the decision to take the tutor into the house. There is no special need for this, just Mr. Valno, a local rich man, a vulgar screamer and a rival of the mayor, is proud of the new pair of horses he has acquired. But he has no tutor.

M. de Renal's tutor

The mayor has already agreed with Sorel that his youngest son will serve with him. M. Chelan, the old curate, recommended to him, as a man of rare ability, the son of a carpenter, who had been studying theology for three years and knew Latin very well.

This young man's name is Julien Sorel, he is 18 years old. He is fragile in appearance, short, his face bears the stamp of originality. Julien has irregular features, black eyes, large and sparkling with thought and fire, dark brown hair. Young girls look at him with interest. Julien did not go to school. History and Latin were taught to him by a regimental doctor who participated in the Napoleonic campaigns. He bequeathed to him, dying, his love for Bonaparte. Julien dreamed of becoming a military man since childhood. For a commoner during the reign of Napoleon, this was the surest way to get out into the people, to make a career. However, times have changed. The young man realizes that the only way open before him is the field of the priest. He is proud and ambitious, but at the same time he is ready to endure everything in order to make his way to the top.

Julien's meeting with Madame de Renal, the general admiration of the young men

Madame de Renal does not like her husband's idea from the work "Red and Black", a summary of which interests us. She adores her three sons, and the thought of someone else standing between her and the boys drives her mistress to despair. In her imagination, a woman already draws a disheveled, rude, disgusting guy who is allowed to scream at her sons and even beat them.

The lady was very surprised when she saw a frightened, pale boy in front of her, who seemed to her very unhappy and extraordinarily handsome. In less than a month, everyone in the house, including M. de Renal, treats him with respect. Julien carries himself with great dignity. His knowledge of Latin also causes universal admiration - the young man can recite any passage from the New Testament by heart.

Eliza's proposal

Eliza, the lady's maid, falls in love with the tutor. She tells the Abbé Chelan in confession that she has recently received an inheritance and plans to marry Julien. I am sincerely happy for the young curate, but he resolutely refuses this enviable offer. He dreams of becoming famous, but skillfully hides it.

Feelings develop between Madame de Renal and Julien

The family moves in the summer to the village of Vergy, where the castle and the estate de Renal are located. The lady spends whole days here with the tutor and sons. Julien seems to her nobler, kinder, smarter than all the other men around her. She suddenly realizes that she loves this young man. But is it possible to hope for reciprocity? After all, she is 10 years older than him!

Madame de Renal Julien likes it. He considers her charming, because he had never seen such women before. However, Julien is not yet in love, the protagonist novel "Red and Black". A brief summary of further events will help you better understand the relationship between them. In the meantime, the protagonist seeks to win this woman for the sake of self-affirmation and revenge on M. de Renal, this self-satisfied man who speaks condescendingly and often even rudely to him.

Mistress and boy become lovers

The young man warns the mistress that he will come to her bedroom at night, to which she answers him with sincere indignation. Leaving his room at night, Julien is terribly afraid. The young man's knees give way, which emphasizes Stendhal ("Red and Black"). The summary, unfortunately, does not fully convey all the complex emotions that owned the hero at that moment. Let's just say that when he sees the lady, she seems to him so beautiful that all conceited nonsense fly out of his head.

Julien's despair, his tears conquer the mistress. A few days later, the young man falls head over heels in love with this woman. The lovers are happy. Suddenly, the youngest son of the lady falls seriously ill. The unfortunate woman believes that she is killing her son with her sinful love for Julien. She understands that she is guilty before God, she is tormented by remorse. The mistress pushes Julien away, shocked by the depth of her despair and grief. The child, fortunately, recovers.

The secret becomes clear

M. de Renal suspects nothing of his wife's infidelity, but the servants know enough. The maid Eliza, having met Mr. Valno on the street, tells him about the affair of the lady with the young tutor. M. de Renal is brought an anonymous letter the same evening, which tells about what is happening in his house. The mistress tries to convince her husband that she is innocent. However, the whole city already knows about her love affairs.

Julien leaves town

Tragic events continue his novel Stendhal ("Red and Black"). Their summary is as follows. Abbé Chelan, Julien's mentor, believes that the young man should leave the city for at least a year - to Besancon to the seminary or to the lumber merchant Fouquet, his friend. Julien follows his advice, but returns 3 days later to say goodbye to his mistress. The young man makes his way to her, but the date is not joyful - it seems to both that they are saying goodbye forever.

Already in the second part, the novel "Red and Black" continues (summary). Part 1 ends here.

Seminary training

Julien goes to Besançon and comes to the abbe Pirard, rector of the seminary. He is quite excited. Moreover, his face is so ugly that it causes horror in the young man. The rector examines Julien for 3 hours and is amazed at his knowledge of theology and Latin. He decides to accept the young man on a small scholarship to the seminary, even allocates a separate cell for him, which is a great mercy. However, the seminarians hate Julien, because he is too talented and, moreover, gives the impression of a thinking person, and this is not forgiven here. The young man must choose a confessor for himself, and he chooses the abbe Pirard, not suspecting that this act will be decisive for him.

Julien's relationship with the Abbé Pirard

The abbot is sincerely attached to his student, but Pirard's position in the seminary is precarious. The Jesuits, his enemies, are doing everything to force him to resign. Pirard, fortunately, has a patron and friend at court. This is de La Mole, marquis and aristocrat from the city of Franche-Comté. The abbot fulfills all his orders. Upon learning of the persecution, the Marquis invites Pirard to move to the capital. He promises the abbot the best parish in the vicinity of Paris. Pirard, saying goodbye to Julien, foresees that difficult times will come for the young man. However, he cannot think of himself. He realizes that Pirard needs money and offers all of his savings. Pirard will never forget this.

Tempting offer

The nobleman and politician, the Marquis de La Mole, enjoys great influence at court. He receives Pirard in a Parisian mansion. It is here that the action of the novel "Red and Black" continues, briefly described by chapters. The Marquis mentions in a conversation that he has been looking for an intelligent person for several years to take care of his correspondence. For this place, the abbot offers his student. He has a low origin, but this young man has a high soul, great intelligence and energy. So an unexpected prospect opens up before Julien Sorel - he can go to Paris!

Meeting with Madame de Renal

The young man, having received an invitation from de La Mole, goes first to Verrieres, where he hopes to see Madame de Renal. According to rumors, she has lately fallen into a frenzy of piety. Julien, despite numerous obstacles, manages to get into her room. The lady had never seemed so beautiful to the young man. However, her husband suspects something, and Julien has to flee.

Julien in Paris

And now, again, Stendhal's novel "Red and Black" takes us to Paris. The summary further describes the main character's arrival here. Arriving in Paris, first of all he inspects the places associated with the name of Bonaparte and only then goes to Pirard. He introduces the Marquise Julien, and in the evening the young man is already sitting at his table. An unusually slender blonde with beautiful, but at the same time cold eyes sits opposite him. Julien clearly does not like this girl - Mathilde de La Mole.

Julien, the hero created by F. Stendhal ("Red and Black"), is quickly accustomed to a new place. The brief content described by us does not stop at this in detail. Note that the Marquis considers him already after 3 months a person quite suitable. The young man works hard, he is quick-witted, silent, and gradually begins to do difficult things. Julien turns into a real dandy, fully accustomed to Paris. The marquis presents him with an order, which calms the young man's pride. Now Julien is more relaxed and does not feel offended so often. However, the young man is pointedly cold towards Mademoiselle de La Mole.

Mademoiselle de La Mole

Matilda wears mourning once a year in honor of Boniface de La Mole, the ancestor of the family, who was the lover of Queen Margaret of Navarre herself. He was beheaded in the Place de Greve in 1574. According to legend, the queen asked the executioner for the head of her lover and buried it with her own hands in the chapel. You will still remember this legend when reading the novel "Red and Black" (a summary of the chapters).

New woman in Julien's life

Julien Sorel sees that this romantic story genuinely excites Matilda. Over time, he ceases to shy away from her company. The young man was so interested in conversations with this girl that for a while he even forgets the role of the indignant plebeian, which he took on. Matilda realized long ago that she loved Julien. This love seems very heroic to her - a girl of such high birth falls in love with a carpenter's son! Matilda stops being bored after realizing her feelings.

Julien, on the other hand, rather excites his own imagination than is really attracted to Matilda. However, having received a letter from her with a declaration of love, he is unable to hide his triumph: a noble lady fell in love with him, the son of a poor peasant, preferring him to an aristocrat, the Marquis de Croisenois himself!

The girl is waiting for Julien at one in the morning at home. He thinks that this is a trap, that in this way Matilda's friends planned to kill him or laugh at him. Armed with a dagger and pistols, he goes to the room of his beloved. Matilda is gentle and submissive, but the next day the girl is horrified, realizing that she is now Julien's mistress. When talking with him, she barely hides her irritation and anger. Julien's pride is offended. Both decide it's over between them. However, Julien realizes that he fell in love with this girl and cannot live without her. His imagination and soul are constantly occupied by Matilda.

"Russian plan"

The Russian prince Korazov, Julien's acquaintance, advises the young man to arouse her anger by starting to court another secular beauty. To Julien's surprise, the "Russian plan" works flawlessly. Matilda is jealous of him, she is in love again, and only great pride does not allow the girl to take a step towards her beloved. One day, Julien, not thinking about the impending danger, puts a ladder to Matilda's window. Seeing him, the girl gives up.

Julien achieves a position in society

We continue to describe the novel "Red and Black". A very brief summary of what happened next is as follows. Mademoiselle de La Mole soon informs her lover that she is pregnant, as well as her intentions to marry him. The marquis, having learned about everything, becomes furious. However, the girl insists, and the father agrees. In order to avoid shame, he decides to create a brilliant position for the groom. For him, he takes out a patent for a hussar lieutenant. Julien now becomes Sorel de La Vernet. He goes to serve in his regiment. Julien's joy is boundless - he dreams of a career and a future son.

fatal letter

Suddenly, news comes from Paris: his beloved asks him to return immediately. When Julien returns, she hands him an envelope containing Madame de Renal's letter. As it turned out, Matilda's father asked for information about the former tutor. A monstrous letter from Madame de Renal. She writes about Julien as a careerist and a hypocrite, capable of committing any meanness in order to break through to the top. It is clear that Monsieur de La Mole will now not agree to marry his daughter to him.

Julien's crime

Julien, without saying a word, leaves Mathilde and goes to Verrieres. In the gun shop, he acquires a pistol, after which he goes to the Verrières church, where the Sunday service is just taking place. In the church, he shoots Madame de Renal twice.

He learns already in prison that she was only wounded, not killed. Julien is happy. He feels that he can now die in peace. Matilda follows Julien to Verrieres. The girl uses all connections, gives out promises and money, hoping to commute the sentence.

The whole province flocks to Besançon on the day of judgment. Julien discovers with surprise that all these people inspire sincere pity. He intends to refuse the last word given to him, but something makes the young man rise. Julien does not ask for mercy from the court, as he realizes that the main crime committed by him is that he, a commoner by birth, dared to rebel against the miserable lot that fell to him.

execution

His fate is decided - the court issues a death sentence to the young man. Madame de Renal visits him in prison and informs him that the letter was written not by her, but by her confessor. Julien has never been so happy. The young man realizes that the woman standing in front of him is the only one he can love. Julien feels courageous and cheerful on the day of his execution. Matilda buries his head with her own hands. And 3 days after the death of the young man, Madame de Renal dies.

Thus ends the novel "Red and Black" (summary). Part 2 is the final one. The novel precedes the appeal to the reader, and completes it with a note by the author.

The meaning of the name

You may ask why Frederik Stendhal called his work "Red and Black". The summary presented above does not answer this question. So let's explain. There is no unequivocal opinion on this point in the literature. It is traditionally believed that such a name symbolizes the choice of the protagonist between a career in the army (red) and a career in the church (black). However, there is still debate about why Frederik Stendhal called his novel "Red and Black". A brief summary of the chapters or a cursory acquaintance with the work, of course, does not give the right to be included in these disputes. This requires a deep analysis. This is done by professional researchers of Stendhal's work.

The novel by the French writer Stendhal "Red and Black" tells the story of the fate of a poor young man named Julien Sorel. The protagonists of the novel: the mayor, Monsieur de Renal, the rich man of Valno, the Abbé Chelan, the maid Eliza, Madame de Renal, the Marquis de La Mole, his daughter Matilda. The main events of the novel unfold in the town of Verrieres.
Monsieur de Renal, the mayor of the town wants to take a tutor into the house. There is no special need for this, but due to the fact that the local rich man Valno has acquired new horses, the mayor decides to "outdo" Valno. The curé, Monsieur Chelan, recommends to Monsieur de Renal the carpenter's son, "a young man of rare ability," Julien Sorel. This is a fragile eighteen-year-old boy, young girls look at him with interest.
Madame de Renal does not like her husband's idea. She loves her children very much, and the thought that someone else will stand between her and the children drives her to despair. Her imagination draws her a rude, disheveled guy who will yell at the children. Therefore, she is very surprised when she sees this “pale and frightened boy” in front of her. In less than a month, everyone in the house begins to treat Julien with respect. At the same time, the young man himself behaves with great dignity, and his knowledge of Latin is admirable - he can read any page from the Bible by heart. Soon the maid Eliza falls in love with Julien. She really wants to marry him, which she tells the abbot Chelan in confession. Julien learns about this from the abbot, but refuses, since most of all he dreams of fame and the conquest of Paris.
Summer is coming. The mayor's family comes to the village where their castle and estate are located. Here Madame de Renal spends whole days with her children and her tutor. Gradually, she comes to the conclusion that she is in love with Julien. And he wants to win her only in revenge on the “smug Monsieur de Renal”, who speaks condescendingly and even rudely to Julien.
One day, the young man tells the mistress do Renal that he will come to her at night. At night, leaving his room, he dies of fear. But when he sees Madame de Renal, she seems to him so beautiful that he forgets all his conceited thoughts. A few days later, he falls in love with her without a memory. The lovers are very happy, but then the youngest son of Madame de Renal falls ill. It seems to the unfortunate woman that the cause of her son's illness is her love for Julien. She pushes the young man away from her. The child is recovering. As for Monsieur de Renal, he does not suspect anything, but the maid Eliza tells Monsieur Valeno that her mistress is having an affair with a tutor. That same evening, Monsieur de Renal receives an anonymous letter informing him of the same. However, Madame de Renal convinces her husband of her innocence.
Julien's mentor, Abbé Chelan, believes that he should leave the town for at least a year. Julien leaves for Besançon and enters the seminary. He does not study badly, but the seminarians unanimously hate him. The main reason for this attitude towards Julien is his intelligence and talent. Through the rector of the seminary, Julien meets the Marquis de La Mole, who has long been looking for a secretary. Thus, there is an opportunity to fulfill Julien's long-standing dream - to visit Paris. Before this trip, the young man meets his beloved again. However, Madame de Renal's husband suspects something and Julien flees.
In the house of the Marquis, the young man meets a young and pretty girl, Matilda de La Mole. However, he does not like her. The former tutor quickly learns a new job, begins to conduct all the most complex affairs of the marquis. In addition, he becomes a real "dandy" and even receives an order from the Marquis. This assuages ​​the young man's pride, but one problem remains: he still doesn't get along with Mathilde de La Mole. She seems too romantic to him, but soon the estrangement between them passes. Young people are starting to turn more. One day, the girl realizes that she has fallen in love with Julien. She writes him a letter declaring her love. Having received the letter, Julien triumphs: a noble lady fell in love with him, the son of a carpenter. The girl is waiting for him at night in her room. Julien comes to her, they become lovers. But the next morning, Matilda regrets what she has done, the young people quarrel. Julien realizes that he is also in love with the girl, so the quarrel between them upsets him very much. He is advised to arouse the jealousy of Matilda, Julien begins to court another lady, the plan works. One night, Julien breaks into Mathilde's room through the window. Seeing him, Matilda falls into his arms.
Soon the girl tells her father that she is pregnant by Julien Sorel. The Marquis is furious, but agrees to give his daughter to Julien. To do this, it is necessary to create a position in society for the young man, for which the Marquis is accepted. He seeks to appoint Julien as a lieutenant. Julien goes to his regiment.
After some time, he receives news from Paris: Matilda asks him to return immediately. As it turns out later, a letter came to the Marquis's house from Madame de Renal. It tells about Julien as a hypocrite and a careerist, capable of any meanness. The Marquis de La Mole does not at all think that he needs such a son-in-law. Julien leaves Mathilde and goes to Verrieres. There he buys a pistol and shoots Madame de Renal in the church of Verrières. He is put in prison and already there he learns that his beloved did not die, but was only wounded. He is happy, and calmly reacts to the news that he has been sentenced to death. One day, Madame de Renal herself comes to the prison and reports that the ill-fated letter was written by her confessor. Now the young man understands that this woman is the love of his life.
Three days after Julien's execution, Madame de Renal dies.
Thus ends Stendhal's Red and Black.

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