# Chapter XXII. Manners Of Procedure In 1830 explained — The Red and the Black

> Chapter companion for The Red and the Black by Stendhal.

## What happens

Julien returns to Verrières and works to repair his reputation, building a bookcase for the displaced Curé Chélan and deftly handling a visit from the sub-prefect who tries to lure him away with a better salary. He also encounters M. Valenod and his allies, and enjoys a brief, joyful reunion with Madame de Rênal and her children, which is interrupted by M. de Rênal's suspicious and morose return.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy and Social Mobility

Julien uses Jesuitical language to conceal his thoughts and advance his position, while M. Valenod's rise is marked by coarseness and opportunism.

### Class and Aristocratic Prejudice

M. de Rênal's vanity and suspicion are tied to his noble status, while Julien's low birth is a constant source of tension.

### Provincial vs. Parisian Society

The chapter contrasts the petty intrigues and limited horizons of Verrières with the more sophisticated but equally corrupt Parisian world.

## Character check-ins

### Julien Sorel

Returns to Verrières, builds a bookcase for Curé Chélan, handles the sub-prefect's offer with Jesuitical tact, and enjoys a tender moment with Madame de Rênal and her children.

### Madame de Rênal

Visits Julien secretly, shares a delicious breakfast with him and her children, and is overjoyed by his presence, but grows pale when her husband returns.

### M. de Rênal

Returns home to find his family happy with Julien, becomes suspicious and morose, and is displeased by the mention of money.

### M. Valenod

The director of the workhouse who offers Julien a higher salary and is seen as a coarse, ambitious rival to M. de Rênal.

### Curé Chélan

The old curé who has been dismissed from his living; Julien builds a bookcase for him, and he is moved to tears.

### M. de Maugiron

The sub-prefect who visits Julien to offer him a position with a higher salary, but is met with a vague and Jesuitical response.

### Stanislas-Xavier

One of Madame de Rênal's children, who offers to sell his silver goblet to give money to Julien, touching Julien deeply.

## Key lines

> Speech has been given to man to conceal his thought.

Language is used to hide one's true intentions.

_Epigraph that sets the tone for the chapter's theme of hypocrisy._

> I thought you were corrupted by the vanity of the world, but this is something which well redeems all the childishness of that brilliant Guard of Honour uniform which has made you so many enemies.

I feared you had been spoiled by worldly pride, but this act makes up for the foolishness of your uniform that has earned you enemies.

_Curé Chélan praises Julien for building the bookcase, contrasting it with his earlier vanity._

> It suggested everything and yet said nothing clearly.

His answer hinted at many things but committed to nothing.

_Describes Julien's evasive response to the sub-prefect's offer._

## Links

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