“Well, my dear count, then, I was about to say that you pursued me from one abstraction to another, and that when I placed at you disposal all my knowledge in algebra, I did not intend that we should enter into a research of the unknown. His character! good heaven, my dear count, who can speak knowingly of the character of a man, unless it be himself--and even then--but hold--I, myself, as you now see me, have ploughed for twenty years, at one time with the keel of a brig, at another with that of a frigate, this vast expanse, which now extends itself before us. My eyes, for so I may express myself, discerned the ocean almost at the same moment that they saw the sky above it; since my tongue was able to join two words together, or my comprehension could combine two ideas, I have interrogated and studied the caprices of the ocean, and yet I do not, even to this time, know its character--and there are only four principal winds and thirty-two breezes which agitate it--that’s all. How, then, can you expect that I should judge of man, torn as he is by his thousand passions.” “Nor did I ask you, my dear--duke--marquis--count?”-- “Lieutenant,” replied the young sailor, bowing, as Emanuel had done before. “I was about to say, then, my dear lieutenant, I do not ask a physiological lecture on the passions of Captain Paul. I only wish to inform myself upon two points. Firstly, whether you consider him a man of honor?” “We must first of all understand each other as to the meaning of words, my dear count--what is your precise definition of the word honor?” “Permit me to remark, my dear lieutenant, that this question is a most singular one. Honor! Why, honor--is--honor.” “That’s it precisely--a word without a definition, like the word God! God--is God! and every one creates a God after his own fashion. The Egyptians adored him under the form of a scorpion--the Israelites, under that of a golden calf. So it is with honor. There is the honor of Camillus, and that of Coriolanus--that of the Cid, and that of Count Julian. Define your question better if you wish me to reply to it.” “I ask, then, whether his word may be relied upon?” “I do not believe he ever failed in that regard. His enemies--and no one can arrive to his station without having them--even his enemies, I say, have never doubted that he would keep, even unto death, an oath which he had sworn to. This point is, therefore, believe me, fully settled. In this respect, he is a man of _honor_. Let us pass, therefore, to your second question, for if I do not deceive myself, you wish to know something farther.” “Yes, I wish to know whether he would faithfully obey an order given by his Majesty?” “What Majesty?” “Really, my dear lieutenant, you affect a difficulty of comprehension which would better suit the gown of a sophist, than a naval uniform.”