The first pupil whom the Abbé de Saint Pierre de Val, at the moment of beginning his reading on canon law, always perceived, glued to a pillar of the school Saint−Vendregesile, opposite his rostrum, was Claude Frollo, armed with his horn ink−bottle, biting his pen, scribbling on his threadbare knee, and, in winter, blowing on his fingers.
Le premier écolier que l’abbé de Saint-Pierre de Val, au moment de commencer sa lecture de droit canon, apercevait toujours collé vis-à-vis de sa chaire à un pilier de l’école Saint-Vendregesile, c’était Claude Frollo, armé de son écritoire de corne, mâchant sa plume, griffonnant sur son genou usé, et l’hiver soufflant dans ses doigts.