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Updated: June 12, 2025
"'Quand la rime enfin se trouve au bout des vers, Qu'importe que le reste y soit mis des travers." "Helas" said the Viscount D'A t, an author of no small celebrity himself; "I agree with you we shall never again see a Voltaire or a Rousseau." "There is but little justice in those complaints, often as they are made," replied Vincent.
M. le Baron Larrey was always most disinterested in his kind services, a fact which was well known and often abused. General d'A , the son of a rich senator, had his shoulder broken by a shell at Wagram; and an exceedingly delicate operation was found necessary, requiring a skilled hand, and which M. Larrey alone could perform.
We all laughed at this reply, and Monsieur D'A , rising to depart, said, "Well, well, milord, your countrymen are great generalizers in philosophy; they reduce human actions to two grand touchstones. All hilarity, they consider the sign of a shallow mind; and all kindness, the token of a false heart." Quis sapiens bono Confidat fragili. Seneca. Grammatici certant et adhuc sub judice lis est.
What did they care if their horses could hardly carry them further, and if many of them would be incapable of galloping? What did it matter? My fellow-officers and I were already making wonderful plans. Those of d'A., who had just finished his course of instruction as lieutenant at Saumur with honours, comprised vast movements of complicated strategy.
Then I saw once more the victims of those terrible and mysterious plots, the awful depths of which have never been penetrated thanks to the death of Father d'A. and Father R., and the incurable madness of Madame de St.-D., the three authors or accomplices of the dreadful deeds.
Alas! that was a happy time, when my carriage used to await me at the door of the Rocher de Cancale, and then whirl me to a succession of visits, varying in their degree and nature as the whim prompted: now to the brilliant soirees of Madame De , or to the appartemens au troisieme of some less celebrated daughter of dissipation and ecarte; now to the literary conversaziones of the Duchesse de D s, or the Vicomte d'A , and then to the feverish excitement of the gambling house.
One of the persons present was especially displeased. This was the Viscount de C , who had introduced M. F to Madame d'A . Extremely annoyed by this contretemps, he took umbrage at an offensive remark made by M. de R , and it was rumored that these gentlemen would cross swords at daybreak this morning.
At last the evening arrived which was to put an end to his impatience, and bring the time of his interview; and his disappointment and rage may be imagined when he discovered the deception which had been practiced on him. Monsieur d'A wished at first to challenge the authors and actors in this hoax, and could with great difficulty be appeased.
The party was as stiff and formal as such assemblies invariably are, and we were both delighted when we espied Monsieur d'A , a man of much conversational talent, and some celebrity as an ultra writer, forming a little group in one corner of the room. We took advantage of our acquaintance with the urbane Frenchman to join his party; the conversation turned almost entirely on literary subjects.
Not that I care: what interest have I in their lives? they never pay: but ye see custom's second nature; an d'Ive formed a vile habit; I've got to be a Healer among the killers: an d'a Triton among the millers. Here we are at last, Hiven be praised." And he hopped into the house faster than most people can run on a good errand. Alfred flung the reins to a cad and followed him.
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