Ni ange, ni bête

In the mist‑shrouded valleys of the Somme, a weary carriage carries Philippe Viniès, a fresh‑appointed engineer with a fiercely modern outlook, into the quiet, conservative town of Abbeville. There he meets the eccentric, well‑meaning archaeologist Bertrand d’Ouville, whose habit of probing ancient relics matches his curiosity about the present. Their uneasy encounter, set against the lingering shadows of the old monarchy and the rumblings of republican ideas, instantly highlights the clash between youthful idealism and the town’s cautious traditions.

As the two men share a simple meal of chicken, bread, and wine, they exchange veiled opinions on politics, religion, and science, each aware that their words could stir the fragile peace of the community. The narrative unfolds with a gentle humor that exposes the absurdities of bureaucratic expectations while hinting at deeper questions about loyalty, progress, and the personal costs of holding a conviction in a world reluctant to change.