“I was not in the château. I had gone to seek my younger brother, the Comte de C----, who is ill.” “And is he in danger?” interrupted I. “No, monsieur. Thanks to heaven,” replied my host; “but in his youth ambitious dreams of glory exalted his imagination, and a serious illness that he has had recently (and which he deemed fatal) has upset his mind, and produced a sort of delirium and mental aberration, by which he persuades himself always that he has but one day to live. It is insanity.” All was explained to me. “Now,” continued the duke, “let us come to you, young man, and see what can be done for your advancement. We will depart at the end of the month for Versailles. I will present you at court.” I blushed and replied: “I appreciate your kindness, Monsieur le Duc, and I thank you very much; but I will not go to Versailles.” “What! would you renounce the court and all the advantages and promotions which certainly await you there?” “Yes, Monsieur--” “But do you realize that with my influence you can rise rapidly, and that with a little assiduity and patience you can become distinguished in ten years?” “Ten years lost!” I cried in terror. “What!” replied he, astonished. “Ten years is not much to pay for fortune, glory, and honors? Come, come, my young friend. Come with me to Versailles.” “No, Monsieur le Duc. I am determined to return to Brittany, and I beg of you to receive my profound gratitude, and that of my family.” “What folly!” cried he. And I, remembering what I had listened to, said: “It is wisdom!” The next day I was en route, and with what exquisite delight did I behold my beautiful château of Roche-Bernard, the grand old trees in my park, and the bright sunshine of Brittany. I found again my vassals, my mother, my sisters, my fiancée, and my happiness, which I still retain, for one week later I married Henriette. NAPOLEON AND POPE PIUS VII BY ALFRED VICTOR, COMTE DE VIGNY [Illustration] _In 1835, “in one of the most distinguished books of modern literature,” as Edmund Gosse says, De Vigny exemplified the illusion of military glory in three episodes. The story here given is the great scene in the third episode which mocks the illusion of active glory._ _Alfred de Vigny was born at Loches in 1799. In 1828 he resigned his commission in the army, where he had been fighting and writing since 1815, having already published his masterly poem “Möise,” and the historical novel “Cinq-Mars,” after the manner of Walter Scott. His one dramatic success was “Chatterton.” His last days were passed in solitude, and he died at Paris in 1863._