“Why,” asked the druggist, “should she excommunicate actors? For formerly they openly took part in religious ceremonies. Yes, in the middle of the chancel they acted; they performed a kind of farce called Mysteries , which often offended against the laws of decency.”

The ecclesiastic contented himself with uttering a groan, and the chemist went on⁠—

“It’s like it is in the Bible; there there are, you know, more than one piquant detail, matters really libidinous!”

And on a gesture of irritation from Monsieur Bournisien⁠—

“Ah! you’ll admit that it is not a book to place in the hands of a young girl, and I should be sorry if Athalie⁠—”

“But it is the Protestants, and not we,” cried the other impatiently, “who recommend the Bible.”