Chapter summary
With the Marquis de La Mole confined to the house by a gout attack, and Mathilde de La Mole and her mother in Hyères, Julien Sorel becomes the reading companion of the old nobleman, who gives him a blue suit: dressed like that at night, he is treated as the younger brother of the Count de Chaulnes, son of the old duke, and in the morning, in black, he is again a secretary. Julien reorganizes the marquis's business accounts and refuses, in black, to share the stock market gains with him. Sent to London for two months, he learns dandyism from Prince Korasoff and visits the imprisoned philosopher Philip Vane, and on his return the marquis gives him a decoration. It brings him a visit from Baron Valenod, who came to Paris to thank the ministry for his barony and is about to be appointed mayor of Verrières in place of Rênal. Julien asks the marquis for the management of the poorhouse for his father, and gives the Verrières lottery to old Cholin, without knowing that the post had been requested for the land surveyor Gros.
Analysis
On learning that Valenod will come as mayor of Verrières, Julien does not protest: he coolly asks for the post of director of the poorhouse for his father, Father Sorel, just when the marquis says he will receive Valenod for dinner. The marquis agrees, pleased, because he expected lessons in morality and sees that Julien is learning. The lottery given to Cholin is a gesture of the same logic, done for amusement, and only afterward does he discover who deserved the post. He learns that one wins by exacting a price.
If one can grow attached to a fine cocker spaniel, the marquis thought, why am I so ashamed of growing attached to this little priest? He is original. I treat him like a son. Well then! Where is the impropriety?
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