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of the Bourbons； and as he neglected to tell me who the Bourbons were； I got the ideaI can't tell howthat the Bourbons were horse…dealers established at Waterloo。 The Captain； who never interrupted his talk except for the purpose of pouring out wine； furthermore made charges against a number of dirty scoundrels； blackguards； and good…for…nothings whom I did not know anything about； but whom I hated from the bottom of my heart。 At dessert I thought I heard the Captain say my father was a man who could be led anywhere by the nose； but I am not quite sure that I understood him。 I had a buzzing in my ears； and it seemed to me that the table was dancing。
My uncle put on his frogged coat； took his bell shaped hat； and we descended to the street； which seemed to me singularly changed。 It looked to me as if I had not been in it before for ever so long a time。 Nevertheless； when we came to the Rue de Seine； the idea of my doll suddenly returned to my mind and excited me in an extraordinary way。 My head was on fire。 I resolved upon a desperate expedient。 We were passing before the window。 She was there； behind the glasswith her red checks； and her flowered petticoat； and her long legs。
〃Uncle；〃 I said； with a great effort； 〃will you buy that doll for me？〃
And I waited。
〃Buy a doll for a boysacrebleu！〃 cried my uncle； in a voice of thunder。 〃Do you wish to dishonour yourself？ And it is that old Mag there that you want！ Well； I must compliment you； my young fellow！ If you grow up with such tastes as that； you will never have any pleasure in life； and your comrades will call you a precious ninny。 If you asked me for a sword or a gun； my boy； I would buy them for you with the last silver crown of my pension。 But to buy a doll for youby all that's holy！to disgrace you！ Never in the world！ Why； if I were ever to see you playing with a puppet rigged out like that； Monsieur； my sister's son； I would disown you for my nephew！〃
On hearing these words； I felt my heart so wrung that nothing but pridea diabolical pridekept me from crying。
My uncle； suddenly calming down； returned to his ideas about the Bourbons； but I； still smarting under the weight of his indignation； felt an unspeakable shame。 My resolve was quickly made。 I promised myself never to disgrace myselfI firmly and for ever renounced that red…cheeked doll。
I felt that day； for the first time； the austere sweetness of sacrifice。
Captain； though it be true that all your life you swore like a pagan； smoked like a beadle； and drank like a bell…ringer； be your memory nevertheless honourednot merely because you were a brave soldier； but also because you revealed to your little nephew in petticoats the sentiment of heroism！ Pride and laziness had made you almost insupportable； Uncle Victor！but a great heart used to beat under those frogs upon your coat。 You always used to wear； I now remember； a rose in your button…hole。 That rose which you offered so readily to the shop…girlsthat large； open…hearted flower； scattering its petals to all the winds； was the symbol of your glorious youth。 You despised neither wine nor tobacco； but you despised life。 Neither delicacy nor common sense could have been learned from you； Captain； but you taught me； even at an age when my nurse had to wipe my nose； a lesson of honour and self…abrogation that I shall never forget。
You have now been sleeping for many years in the Cemetery of Mont… Parnasse； under a plain slab bearing the epitaph：
CI…GIT ARISTIDE VICTOR MALDENT； Capitaine d'Infanterie； Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur。
But such； Captain； was not the inscription devised by yourself to be placed above those old bones of yoursknocked about so long on fields of battle and in haunts of pleasure。 Among your papers was found this proud and bitter epitaph； which； despite your last will none could have ventured to put upon your tomb：
CI…GIT UN BRIGAND DE LA LOIRE
〃Therese； we will get a wreath of immortelles to…morrow； and lay them on the tomb of the Brigand of the Loire。〃 。。。
But Therese is not here。 And how； indeed； could she be near me； seeing that I am at the rondpoint of the Champs…Elysees？ There； at the termination of the avenue； the Arc de Triomphe； which bears under its vaults the names of Uncle Victor's companions…in…arms； opens its giant gate against the sky。 The trees of the avenue are unfolding to the sun of spring their first leaves； still all pale and chilly。 Beside me the carriages keep rolling by to the Bois de Boulogne。 Unconsciously I have wandered into this fashionable avenue on my promenade； and halted； quite stupidly； in front of a booth stocked with gingerbread and decanters of liquorice…water； each topped by a lemon。 A miserable little boy； covered with rags； which expose his chapped skin； stares with widely opened eyes at those sumptuous sweets which are not for such as he。 With the shamelessness of innocence he betrays his longing。 His round； fixed eyes contemplate a certain gingerbread man of lofty stature。 It is a general； and it looks a little like Uncle Victor。 I take it； I pay for it； and present it to the little pauper； who dares not extend his hand to receive itfor； by reason of precocious experience； he cannot believe in luck； he looks at me； in the same way that certain big dogs do； with the air of one saying； 〃You are cruel to make fun of me like that！〃
〃Come； little stupid；〃 I say to him； in that rough tone I am accustomed to use； 〃take ittake it； and eat it； for you； happier than I was at your age； you can satisfy your tastes without disgracing yourself。〃。。。And you； Uncle Victoryou； whose manly figure has been recalled to me by that gingerbread general； come； glorious Shadow； help me to forget my new doll。 We remain for ever children； and are always running after new toys。
Same day。
In the oddest way that Coccoz family has become associated in my mind with the Clerk Alexander。
〃Therese；〃 I said； as I threw myself into my easy…chair； 〃tell me if the little Coccoz is well； and whether he has got his first teeth yetand bring me my slippers。〃
〃He ought to have them by this time； Monsieur；〃 replied Therese； 〃but I never saw them。 The very first fine day of spring the mother disappeared with the child； leaving furniture and clothes and everything behind her。 They found thirty…eight empty pomade…pots in the attic。 It passes all belief！ She had visitors latterly； and you may be quite sure she is not now in a convent of nuns。 The niece of the concierge says she saw her driving about in a carriage on the boulevards。 I always told you she would end badly。〃
〃Therese；〃 I replied； 〃that young woman has not ended either badly or well as yet。 Wait until the term of her life is over before you judge her。 And be careful not to talk too much with that concierge。 It seemed to methough I only saw her for a moment on the stairs that Madame Coccoz was very fond of her child。 For that mother's love at least； she deserves credit。〃
〃As far as that goes； Monsieur； certainly the little one never wanted for anything。 In