Monsieur de Camors -- Volume 1

de-Jouy. He ascended, with the walk of a master, the steps leading to the entrance, to the hall where several servants awaited him. One of them followed him into an elegant study on the first flo

on return

e Comte. Monsie

l!

ieur le Comte

ld I have taken this evenin

eur require

. Left alone, his master approached a cabinet curiously carve

thumb. That done, he lighted a cigar, and for half an hour the muffled beat of his regular tread sounded on the carpet of the g

Count threw a glance of singular interest round the interior of this chamber, which was his own-on the familiar objects-on the sombre hangings-on the bed, prepared for sleep. Then he turned towa

MY

urround him, lies in his power to free himself, at will, from those, pernicious servitudes which are termed the laws of nat

ditated upon this planet. Produced by unexpected combinations and haphazard transformations,

at the monster, she has sought to control it, and has overloaded it with instincts, commonly called duties, and police regulations known as r

ns of the truth. But ripe to-day, it has become the common property of all who are strong enough to stand it-for, in sooth, this latest religion of humanity is food fit only for the strong. It carries sadness with it

And at bottom there will be no more belief in Christ than in Jupiter; nevertheless, churches will continue to be built mechanically. There are no longer even Deists; for the old chimera of a personal, moral God-witness, sanction, and judge,-is virtually extinct; and yet hardly a word is

, besides, I retained the prejudices and the repugnance to the doctrines of the new world that belonged to my name. I was unable to comprehend that there was anything better to be done than childishly to pout at the conqueror; that is, I co

more complete, if yo

vi

a man of this age bec

conform his life r

recepts of ordinary morals which our fathers entitled virtue; but I do find there a grand word which may well counterbalance many others, that is to say, Honor, self-esteem! Unquestionably a materialist may not be a saint; but he can be a gentleman, which is something. You have happy gi

ic life for the gratification of your riper age. Do not enter into any engagements with the reigning government, and reserve for yourself to hear its eulogium made by those who will have s

ats, the nervous, aristocrats. You are both sanguine and nervous, an excellent constitution, for it gives you a choice. You may, for example, be

f. In reality, all principles are indifferent-true or false according to the hour and circumstance. Ideas are mere instru

will have need of strong sensations. The sanguinary diversions of r

of the other, and to end in a whirlwind-such has been the lot in which I have failed, but which, nevertheless, I bequeath to you. With your great faculties you, however, are capable of

is character. In fine, strive to relieve yourself from all thraldom, from all natural inst

some superior interes

event, have

ends. Caesar having g

as B

en is the begin

is altogether too open, my son. Do not get

MOR

M. de Camors raised his head and listened in an absent mood to the sound which astonished him. Seeing that it was daybreak, he folded in so

icent ivory carving of the sixteenth century, which had belonged to his wif

moment with strange fascination. Then he smiled bitterly, seized

y body shook the floor-fragments of brains strewed the

was clenched

ddressed? Upon what kind of

, a widow, and a rather good sort of woman. Her natural sensibility, and the laxity of morals then reigning at Paris, permitted her to occupy herself at the same time with the happiness of the father and the education of the son. When the father deserted her after a time, he left her the child, to comfort her somewhat by this mark of confidence and affection. She took him out three times a week;

kiss a gentleman who

ommands us to be charitable and affectionate to the poor,

unday. Toward the close of his college course, he became particularly attached to a poor bursar, by name Lescande, who excelled in mathematics, but who was very ungraceful, awkwardly shy and timid, with a painful sensitiveness to the peculiarities of his person. He was nicknamed "

r him that she was poor, otherwise he never should have dared to aspire to her. It was a sad occurrence that ha

mstances; and Lescande, on occasion of his last visit, found her w

I-only three times a week. As to her, one would never discover it. She is neat as a bird. I also try to be; but, alas! when

ich time he would either be dead, or living deliciously in a humble house with his cousin. He showed the note, and unfolded his plans

can never be. There I feel transports-passions, which give me sometimes great joy, sometimes inexpressible suffering. I burn to discover a world-to save a nation- to love a

rld at this era. Which one I know not yet, for my opinions are not very fixed. But as soon as I leave coll

tly lighted it is only necessary to open one's eyes and

is a Legitimist-and what is still more, a saint; and another uncle who is a Conservative. It is not vanity that leads me to speak of these things; but only a desire to show you that, having a foot in all parties, I

ion and accompanied by a warm clasp of the hand, drew