The Red and the Black Part 1, Chapter 25 Summary

The Seminary

  • Julien goes to the door of the seminary, where he's greeted by a man who's so mean and ugly looking that it's tough to look him in the eye.
  • The man takes Julien into an inner room to a man who's writing at a desk. The man at the desk eventually looks up. This is Father Pirard, one of the dudes who'll now be in charge of Julien.
  • The guy practically interrogates Julien and makes him super nervous. He also lays out all the strict rules of the seminary.
  • It turns out that Father Chélan from Verrières has asked for Julien to have a scholarship into the seminary. Pirard respects the man a lot, so he agrees, although he's not sure whether Julien is totally sincere about entering the priesthood. And he's right to be suspicious.
  • The man is impressed and pleased that Julien speaks fluent Latin. Pirard is also pleased that Julien seems to know his theology pretty well.
  • When asked about how much money he has brought to the seminary, Julien lies. He doesn't want the priests to know in case he goes out some night and drops a bunch of money at a bar.
  • Father Pirard shows Julien to his room.