I looked sharply into his eyes, and was as-
tounded to see that they shone with the lustre 
of incontestable sincerity. Then I saw clearly 
how it was; he had wished to combine philan-
thropy and business, to gain a florin and God’s 
heart; to acquire Heaven at a bargain-counter 
and the title of philanthropist free of charge. I 
could almost have pardoned him the criminal 
enjoyment of which I had just supposed him 
capable; I should have found it curious, singu-
lar, that he should amuse himself by placing a 
poor man in a false position; but I will never 
pardon him the stupidity of his calculation. It is 
never excusable to be wicked, but there is 
some merit in knowing that one is so; and the 
most irreparable vice is to do evil by stupidity.