Mauprat
recovering my rank. When the enemy was at the gates of France, she sent me to serve as a volunteer; when the Republic was overthrown, and a military career came to be merely a means of gratifying ambition, she recalled me, and said:
"You must never leave me again."
Patience played a great part in the Revolution. He was unanimously chosen as judge of his district. His integrity, his impartiality between castle and cottage, his firmness and wisdom will never be forgotten in Varenne.
During the war I was instrumental in saving M. de la Marche's life, and helping him to escape to a foreign country.
Such, I believe, said old Mauprat, are all the events of my life in which Edmée played a part. The rest of it is not worth the telling. If there is anything helpful in my story, try to profit by it, young fellows. Hope to be blessed with a frank counsellor, a severe friend; and love not the man who flatters, but the man who reproves. Do not believe too much in phrenology; for I have the murderer's bump largely developed, and, as Edmée used to say with grim humour, "killing comes natural" to our family. Do not believe in fate, or, at least, never advise any one to tamely submit to it. Such is the moral of my story.
After this old Bernard gave us a good supper, and continued conversing with us for the rest of the evening without showing any signs of discomposure or fatigue. As we begged him to develop what he called the moral of his story a little further, he proceeded to a few general considerations which impressed me with their soundness and good sense.
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