Works . res expressed real indignation ; for this time hespoke the truth. One day he took it into his head to killhimself, — an ephemeral fancy! Persons of his stampare usually too cowardly to make up their minds calmly,and without witnesses, to the death which they face as apoint of honour in a duel. He therefore exclaimed, withan accent of truth : I have fallen very low, but not so low as that. Itwas for myself that I reserved this poison. And then were afraid of it ? asked the comte, with-out changing his posture. I confess I recoiled before this trying extremity, —nothing was yet desperate
Works . res expressed real indignation ; for this time hespoke the truth. One day he took it into his head to killhimself, — an ephemeral fancy! Persons of his stampare usually too cowardly to make up their minds calmly,and without witnesses, to the death which they face as apoint of honour in a duel. He therefore exclaimed, withan accent of truth : I have fallen very low, but not so low as that. Itwas for myself that I reserved this poison. And then were afraid of it ? asked the comte, with-out changing his posture. I confess I recoiled before this trying extremity, —nothing was yet desperate. The persons to whom I owedmoney were rich and could wait. At my age, and withmy connections, I hoped for a moment, if not to repairmy fortunes, at least to acquire for myself an honourableposition, an independence which would have supplied mypresent situation. Many of my friends, perhaps lessqualified than myself, had made rapid progress in diplo-macy. I had ambition. I had but to make it known,198. THE INTERVIEW. and I was attached to the legation to Gerolstein. Un-fortunately, a few days after this nomination, a gamingdebt, contracted with a man who detested me, placed mein a cruel dilemma. I had exhausted my last fatal idea flashed across my mind. Believing that Iwas assured of impunity, I committed an infamous see, my father, I conceal nothing from you. I avowthe ignominy of my conduct, — I do not seek to extenuateanything. Two alternatives are now before me, and I amequally inclined to either. The one is to kill myself, andleave your name dishonoured; for if I do not pay thisvery day the twenty-five thousand francs, the accusationis made, and all is made public, and, dead or alive, I amdisgraced. The second is to throw myself into your arms,father, to say to you,c Save your son, — save your namefrom infamy; and I swear to you to depart for Africato-morrow, and die a soldiers death, or return to youcompletely restored in reputation. What I s
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