Le duel au balai Extrait du quotitien "La Patrie", éditions du 27 et 28 février 1879.

In a quiet French village, a retired general of the First Empire holds court as the elected mayor. Hardened by years of battle, he despises any display of piety, seeing a black robe as a scarecrow and refusing even a modest stipend for the village priest. His authoritarian streak turns everyday matters into petty battles – he blocks the priest’s assistant, forces the clergyman to shoulder costly repairs, and generally treats the chapel as a hostile territory.

When the heavy rains of June flood the town square on the eve of the Feast of Corpus Christi, the priest urges the parishioners to clear the mud so the procession can pass. The villagers, however, hesitate, fearing the general’s wrath if any broom crosses the ground of his estate, a small but symbolic stretch left untouched. Their quiet rebellion sets the stage for a clash that will test whether pride or compassion will finally sweep the village clean.