Some of the persons thus uncomfortably influenced coughed violently
in an instinctive attempt to divert or frustrate the preacher's
mood, but even the most persistent cougher must cease coughing at
some time or another--and the Abbe was evidently determined to wait
for an absolute silence before he spoke. At last silence came, and
he opened the Testament. Holding it up to the view of the
congregation, he began with all that easy eloquence which the French
tongue gives to a cultured speaker,--his voice full and sonorous,
reaching distinctly to every part of the crowded church.
"This," he said, "is a small book which you all pretend to know. It
is so small a book that it can easily be read through in an hour. It
is the Testament;--or the Last Will and Command to the world of one
Jesus Christ, who was crucified on account of His Divinity more than
eighteen hundred years ago. I mention the fact, in case any of you
have forgotten it! It is generally understood that this book is the
message of God and the key of Faith;--upon it our churches and
religious systems are founded;--by its teaching we are supposed to
order our conduct of life--and yet,--though as I have said, it is a
very small book, and would not take you an hour to read it--none of
you know any thing about it! That is a strange thing, is it not?"
Here he leaned over the pulpit edge, and his bright eyes, coldly
satiric, flashed a comprehensive glance over the whole congregation.
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