Archbishop Guisseau in the luxurious private box, his feelings were the most complex and conflicted.
Pierre's singing also moved him; the sacredness in that voice even caused him a momentary trance, as if he were hearing angels sing.
The emotion brought by the music itself was real and strong.
However, the source of this emotion was like a sharp knife piercing through his faith!
This ultimate beauty, this sacred sense of salvation, did not come from the "discipline and punishment of the Church" represented by Director Razz—
It came from Mathieu, the "secular" music teacher whom Director Razz constantly belittled and ostracized, it came from his tolerance, patience, and trust!
And Director Razz, at this moment standing helplessly to the side, in the Archbishop's eyes, was simply hideous! A complete clown!
The Church had become the antagonist, obstructing beauty and goodness, suppressing genius and humanity!
And salvation came from the "secular" means of an "outsider"—music and education!
This play was not praising the Church at all, but rather eulogizing how "secular forces" created a miracle in a place ravaged by the Church's rigid system!
It nailed the Church to the pillar of shame!
"Bang!" A muffled thud echoed in the Archbishop's private box.
Archbishop Guisseau could no longer suppress the rage within him and a sense of humiliation from being openly betrayed and fooled.
He slammed his fist onto the armrest of the box!
His face was ashen, his chest heaving violently, the appreciation and emotion in his eyes long since completely replaced by raging fury.
But the performance on stage would not stop because of his anger.
The climax had arrived, and the curtain for the finale was about to slowly draw open in a tension-filled manner.
The Countess's carriage, filled with "emotion," drove away from "Pond's Bottom Boarding School," leaving behind a substantial donation.
On stage, Director Razz's fawning smile vanished almost the instant the carriage disappeared.
He turned and went back inside the institution, just as he encountered Teacher Mathieu comforting the children who were still immersed in the excitement of the successful performance.
Mathieu's face wore a relieved smile, his eyes bright, as if all his efforts had been rewarded at that moment.
But this scene of "harmonious teacher and students" was incredibly jarring in Director Razz's eyes.
The children's gazes toward Mathieu were full of dependence, adoration, and trust—something he could never gain through fear and punishment.
The credit was his, the donation was his, but the "hearts of the people" were not!
[Director Razz: "Mr. Mathieu, come to my office."
(Scene change, Director's Office)
Director Razz: "Mr. Mathieu, the Countess's generous donation proves the 'success' of our management model. However, I believe that this 'success' needs to return to its rightful, pure path."
Mathieu: "Director, I don't understand what you mean. The children performed wonderfully, music gave them…"
Director Razz: "Music? That's merely a fleeting embellishment! A means to appease benefactors! True order and discipline don't need these sentimental, weak things that easily breed instability! Look at them now! Their hearts have run wild! They no longer revere rules like before! This is all your influence!"
Mathieu: "Director, children need more than just fear; they need hope, they need to experience beauty…"
Director Razz: "Enough! I don't need philosophers or musicians here! What I need is absolute obedience and stability! Your contract ends here. Go to finance, settle your pay, and leave 'Pond's Bottom' immediately. I don't want to see you again, nor do I want you to have any more contact with any of the children here! Your brand of 'hope' and 'beauty' will only ruin them, and ruin the order here!"]
The final verdict was cold and ruthless; Mathieu was about to leave "Pond's Bottom Boarding School."
Archbishop Guisseau sat in his private box, feeling his temples throb.
Razz's words and actions were practically the most thorough commentary on the Church's negative image!
He clenched his fists, repeatedly rehearsing the "corrective speech" he would deliver after the play ended; he had to salvage all of this!
The lights briefly dimmed as theater staff swiftly changed the set.
When the curtain rose again, the scene returned to outside the heavy gate of the boarding school.
Just as when Mathieu first arrived in Act One, it was gloomy and cold.
Mathieu emerged alone, carrying his worn-out suitcase.
He turned his head, looking back at the gray building that had confined countless childhoods, yet where he had also left his heart and hope.
A sorrowful and restrained monologue began:
[Mathieu: "So… it ends like this? Like a dream. I brought music, left a few songs… and then what? Director Razz is still there, his rules are still there. The children… will eventually forget the teacher named Mathieu, forget those notes, and revert to the 'disciplined' way he wants them to be, right? Perhaps… he was right? Here, trying to sow hope is, in itself… futile?"]
His confession was filled with the bitterness of failure, tugging at the hearts of the audience.
Many people's eyes welled up again, saddened by the "failure" of this kind idealist.
The Archbishop narrowed his eyes slightly.
Mathieu's self-doubt in this passage, perhaps it could be his entry point for his speech later?
To emphasize the limitations of individual attempts, and the ultimate need to return to "orthodox" guidance?
Just as Mathieu turned gloomily, preparing to leave this sorrowful place for good, suddenly, a faint but clear, ethereal song drifted out from beyond the high walls of the boarding school, from those windows!
It was a song full of farewell, gratitude, and blessings! It had appeared in a previous scene, but the children hadn't finished rehearsing it before Mathieu left.
Now, they were interpreting this song with their own hearts—
[A kite dancing in the wind
Please don't stop
Fly to the sea, drift to the sky
A child is watching you
A free-spirited journey, intoxicating turns
Pure love, oh
Following your path, flying along your path
A kite dancing in the wind
Please don't stop
Fly to the sea, drift to the sky
A child is watching you
In the storm, you soar with your wings
Don't forget to return, return to my side]
Mathieu suddenly stopped, looking up at the high windows in disbelief.
The audience was also stunned, all holding their breath.
Then, a miracle happened.
Behind one, two, countless high windows, little hands reached out.
The children couldn't break through the doors of their confinement, but they crowded to the windows!
One, two, countless paper flowers, meticulously folded from homework paper, fluttered down like snowflakes from those high windows, drifting towards Teacher Mathieu, who stood stunned below.
At the same time, countless paper flowers, also bearing messages, slowly drifted down from the dome of Richelieu Hall, like a warm snow, falling onto the entire audience.
The closest audience members instinctively caught the paper flowers, seeing them inscribed with childlike handwriting:
"Thank you, Teacher Mathieu"
"We will never forget your songs"
"You are our angel"
"Come back to see us"
On stage, Mathieu trembled as he picked up the paper flowers that had fallen around him and on his suitcase, and seeing the words on them, tears finally streamed uncontrollably from his eyes.
This was not futile!
His effort, his love, his music had long since taken root and blossomed in the hearts of these children!
They could not be confined, could not be stripped away; in this way, they broke through high walls and iron bars to bid him farewell!
Another new song was sung by the children—
[Look at the path you've traveled
Children have lost their way
Reach out your hand to them
Pull them up
Step towards the days ahead
A direction in the darkness
A light of hope
Passion in life
Joys of childhood
Vanishing in an instant, forgotten
A splendid golden light
Shining at the end of the path
…"]
The lyrics were full of gratitude and hope, perfectly fitting this scene.
On stage, Mathieu stood in the rain of paper flowers, tears streaming down his face, yet displaying the most brilliant, most relieved, most contented smile of the entire play.
He knew then that he had changed something.
Below the stage, the audience was completely captivated by this profoundly impactful scene.
Emotions surged out like a bursting flood.
Sobs and chokes merged into a vast resonance.
Many audience members also bowed their heads to wipe away tears, looking at the paper flowers in their hands filled with innocent messages, feeling an emotion that transcended the stage.
As the children began to sing the second chorus, and without anyone knowing who started it, a low, tentative humming began in the audience.
Soon, the humming grew louder, and more and more people joined in.
Nobles, bankers, professors, students, clerks… people from different social strata and backgrounds, at this moment, merged wonderfully together in this deeply moving music and scene.
"Look at the path you've traveled
Children have lost their way
Reach out your hand to them
Pull them up
Step towards the days ahead
…"
The singing grew louder and louder, finally converging into a grand chorus of thousands throughout the hall!
Richelieu Hall of the Comédie-Française had never witnessed such a sight!
It was no longer a theater for watching performances; it had become a colossal choir itself, with all the audience members expressing their inner emotions, their yearning for beauty, through song…
And, of course, the most profound tribute to "kindlers of hope" like Mathieu!
Archbishop Guisseau froze in his private box.
The scene before him completely surpassed his expectations and control.
The paper flowers fluttering everywhere, the deafening, heartfelt chorus of the entire audience, swept away the speech he had prepared in his mind like an irresistible flood, leaving nothing behind.
His face was ashen white like paper, his palms cold.
He knew deeply that in the face of such powerful emotional force, any sermonizing would appear pale and feeble, even ridiculous, even detestable.
He felt like a fool trying to fight the sun with a candle.
What more could he say?
He could say nothing.
For the first time, he felt that something he had steadfastly adhered to was so… fragile in the face of such a power.
At this moment of roaring excitement and echoing songs throughout the hall, the grand curtain slowly and solemnly fell amidst a shower of paper flowers.
The performance ended.
(End of Chapter)
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