ABSTRACT
Jean le noir, the hero of the following pages, drew his first breath in an obscure village in the province of Champaigne 1 in the kingdom of France. He was the son of very poor, but very honest parents, / who were enabled, by industry, to gain a mere subsistence for themselves and a numerous family. While this humble, but contented couple were enjoying the scanty fruits of their own labour in thankfulness and peace, and partaking occasionally of the bounty of the Seigneur when he visited his estate, or of the charity of the neighbouring monastery, they were not induced inviduously to inquire if the benefits they received were derived from ostentation in the one, or hypocrisy in the other.
