Chapter summary
Julien Sorel knocks at the door of the seminary at Besançon, is led by a porter with cat-like eyes into a bare room, and stands, unnoticed, before Abbé Pirard, who is writing on little squares of paper. When the director looks up and asks his name, Julien faints. On coming to, he hears the letter of recommendation from Abbé Chélan read, and he is subjected to an examination in theology in Latin, which reveals broad knowledge of Scripture, ignorance of the Fathers of the Church, and the whole of Maistre's book on the pope recited by heart. Pirard forbids him to join any secret society without his consent, has him record how he spends the thirty-five francs he has, and gives him cell 103, where he falls asleep and misses dinner.
Analysis
Julien faints when Pirard looks at him because he reaches the limit of fear after ten minutes standing in silence. On coming to, Chélan's letter does the rest, and Pirard accepts him despite what he sees as a tendency toward Protestantism. Questioned about the authority of the pope, Julien recites Maistre's book in full and, however much Pirard insists, answers only from memory, without saying whether he believes the doctrine.
Julien's arrival at the seminary, before Abbé Pirard: The man did not notice Julien's presence. Who remained motionless, standing in the middle of the room, where the porter had left him, and who, on leaving, closed the door. Ten minutes went by; the badly dressed man was still writing. Julien's emotion and terror were so great that he felt he might collapse at any moment. A philosopher would have said, perhaps mistakenly: Here is the violent impression of ugliness on a soul made to love what is beautiful.
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