On the first Sunday in the month of August, 1815, at ten o'clock precisely-as on every Sunday morning-the sacristan of the parish church at Sairmeuse sounded the three strokes of the bell which warn the faithful that the priest is ascending the steps of the altar to celebrate high mass. The church was already more than half full, and from every side little groups of peasants were hurrying into the church-yard. The women were all in their bravest attire, with cunning little fichus crossed upon their breasts, broad-striped, ...
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On the first Sunday in the month of August, 1815, at ten o'clock precisely-as on every Sunday morning-the sacristan of the parish church at Sairmeuse sounded the three strokes of the bell which warn the faithful that the priest is ascending the steps of the altar to celebrate high mass. The church was already more than half full, and from every side little groups of peasants were hurrying into the church-yard. The women were all in their bravest attire, with cunning little fichus crossed upon their breasts, broad-striped, brightly colored skirts, and large white coifs. Being as economical as they were coquettish, they came barefooted, bringing their shoes in their hands, but put them on reverentially before entering the house of God. But few of the men entered the church. They remained outside to talk, seating themselves in the porch, or standing about the yard, in the shade of the century-old elms. For such was the custom in the hamlet of Sairmeuse. The two hours which the women consecrated to prayer the men employed in discussing the news, the success or the failure of the crops; and, before the service ended, they could generally be found, glass in hand, in the bar-room of the village inn. For the farmers for a league around, the Sunday mass was only an excuse for a reunion, a sort of weekly bourse. All the cures who had been successively stationed at Sairmeuse had endeavored to put an end to this scandalous habit, as they termed it; but all their efforts had made no impression upon country obstinacy.
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Seller's Description:
This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has hardback covers. In fair condition, suitable as a study copy. No dust jacket. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 800grams, ISBN:
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Seller's Description:
frontispiece from a painting by John A. Williams. Fair. No dust jacket. structurally intact with some looseness and cracking along hinge in front/back, pages have lightly yellowed, some soil and wear, cover has edge and corner wear Fully Readable. 479 p. Includes illustrations. The Lecoq Edition Two novels in one volume-"Gaboriau's first book of the genre, L'Affaire Lerouge (1866) introduced an amateur detective, who works logically. In the same book appeared also a young policeman named Lecoq, the hero in three of Gaboriau's detective novels. Lecoq was based on a real-life thief turned a police, François Vidocq (1775-1857).
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Seller's Description:
VG. Hardcover in series-uniform burgundy fuax-leather paper over boards with gilt titles to spine and elaborate embossed decorations to spine and front, no jacket, small 8vo. Not ex-lib. 585pp. Reprint of 1927. Tissue-protected frontis by Bayard Jones. VG+. Light depression on upper spine with no damage. Touches of surface loss to tips of corners of boards. Central titles and features somewhat dark but clean and sharp. Mildspineslant with no effect on tight, strong binding. Shelving soil upper page edges. Small tear to front pastedown at lower hnge end with nopeelng. Pages well toned but clean and unmarked. Other titles from Scribner's Gaboriau series from 1920s available, please inquire.