Maitre Cornelius by Honoré de Balzac
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Maitre Cornelius
The Project Gutenberg EBook of Maitre Cornelius, by Honore de Balzac This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
Title: Maitre Cornelius
Author: Honore de Balzac
Release Date: February 22, 2005 [EBook #1454]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MAITRE CORNELIUS ***
Produced by John Bickers, and Dagny
MAITRE CORNELIUS
BY
HONORE DE BALZAC
Translated By Katharine Prescott Wormeley
DEDICATION
To Monsieur le Comte Georges Mniszech:
Some envious being may think on seeing this page illustrated by one of the most illustrious of Sarmatian names, that I am striving, as the goldsmiths do, to enhance a modern work with an ancient jewel,--a fancy of the fashions of the day,--but you and a few others, dear count, will know that I am only seeking to pay my debt to Talent, Memory, and Friendship.
MAITRE CORNELIUS
CHAPTER I
A CHURCH SCENE OF THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY
In 1479, on All Saints' day, the moment at which this history begins, vespers were ending in the cathedral of Tours. The archbishop Helie de Bourdeilles was rising from his seat to give the benediction himself to the faithful. The sermon had been long; darkness had fallen during the service, and in certain parts of the noble church (the towers of w