A Romance of Youth -- Volume 2

iolette-they now called him at the office "Father Violette," he had grown so aged and decrepit-was not too much "consoled"

my mind until you have received your degree

journalist, theatrical critic, a boarder in Mazas prison, insurance agent, director of an athletic ring-he quoted Homer in his harangue-at presen

nd both passed honorably. A little old man with a head like a baboon-the scientific examiner-tried to make

ought of it when he was not at his station at the Ru

solved. Was Amedee to spend his youth deciphering enigmas? M. Violette hoped for a more independent career for his son, if it were possible. Commerce, for example! Yes! there was a future in commerce. As a proof of it there was the grocer opposite him, a simpleton who probably did not pu

see your uncle

mantic drama wherein one would say "Good heavens!" and "My lord!" But first of all, he must please his father. He was glad to observe that for some time M. Violette had interested himsel

own at the table. He even invited them to follow his example and taste of his stewed kidneys, one of Berenice's triumph

t begin at the very beginning and follow the regular course. Oh! the boy will not be badly treated! He may take his meals with us, is not that s

e dazzled M. Patin before the whole University by reciting, without hesitation, three verses of Aristophanes, only to become

eave of Unc

Monsieur Gaufre, and wil

t the door upon them when M

omorrow we will go to see the chief of my departm

ong backed up to the fireplace with limbs spread apart, for it seemed that he must surely burn the seat of his trousers. But no matter, he has stomach enough. He has noticed M. Violette's pitiful decline-"a poor devil who never will live

ours at a time. He owed it to M. Courtet's kindness, that he was put at once into the correspondence room. He studied the formulas, and soon became skilful in official politene

bored, but he was not unhap

the grand love scene which should take place at the foot of the Montfaucon gallows. In the evening he went to the Gerards, and they seated themselves around-the lamp which stood on the dining-room table, the father

Lantz young ladies, whom he saw sometimes at Madame Roger's, and who each wore Sunday evenings roses in her hai

loor, whose side-glance troubled him as he met her on the staircase; and his heart sank every time he turned the handle of the door of a shop in the Rue Bonaparte, where

nor, in which he now always put the plural "amours," so as to make it rhyme with "toujours," which was an improvement. He never had dared to reply to the glance of the little maid on the second floor; and

his friend Maurice, who had obtained from Madame Roger permission to

el Mademoiselle Irma, the favorite of the master of the apartment, had left the last fashionable novel, marking, with one of her hairpins, where she had left off reading. Amedee spent a delightful hour there. Maurice always greeted him with his joyful, kind manner, in which one hardly minded the slight shade of patronage. He walked up and down his room, expanding his fin

door-Maurice's comrades, young pleasure-seekers like himself, but more vulgar, not having his gentlemanly bearing an

, after placing his lighted cigar upon the edge of the piano. These fast fe

ain, and Mademoiselle Irma, in her furs and small veil-a comical little face-would enter quickly

ll all three

r mantle upon the sofa and crowned the bronze Venus de Milo with her

urice to him, as he conduct

e never had one louis in his pocket for pleasure or liberty. But he did not complain. His life was noble and happy! He smiled with pleasure as he thought of his good friends; his heart beat in great