"And if they were left with you, then they would not fail to become so. I went apprentice to try and gain a livelihood, so that I might take them into my own care and leave the island with the children; but in Paris everything was known, and it was always, 'You son of the guillotined!' or, 'You brother of the felon!' I had battles daily, and I grew tired of it." "But you didn't grow tired of being honest,--that answered so well! Instead of having the pluck to come to us, and do as we do,--as the children will do, in spite of you,--yes, in spite of you! You think to cajole them with your preaching! But we are always here. Francois is already one of us, or nearly. Let the occasion serve, and he'll be one of the band." "I tell you, no!" "You will see,--yes! I know what I say. He has vice in him; but you spoil him. As to Amandine, as soon as she is fifteen she will begin on her own account! Ah, they throw stones at us! Ah, they pursue us like mad dogs! They shall see what our family is made of! Except you, dastard; for here you are the only one who brings down shame upon us!"[5] [5] These frightful facts are, unfortunately, not exaggerated. The following is from the admirable report of M. de Bretigneres on the Penitentiary Colony of Mettray (March 12, 1843): "The civil condition of our colonists it is important to state. Amongst them we count thirty-two natural children; thirty-four whose fathers and mothers are re-married; fifty-one whose parents are in prison; 124 whose parents have not been pursued by justice, but are in the utmost distress. These figures are eloquent, and full of instruction. They allow us to go from effects to causes, and give us the hope of arresting the progress of an evil whose origin is thus arrived at. The number of parents who are criminals enable us to appreciate the education which the children have received under the tutelage of such instructors. Taught evil by their fathers, the sons have become wicked by their orders, and have believed they were acting properly in following their example. Arrested by the hand of the law, they resign themselves to share the destiny of their family in prison, to which they only bring the emulation of vice; and it is absolutely necessary that a ray of divine light should still exist within these rude and coarse natures, in order that all the germs of honesty should not be utterly destroyed." "That's a pity!" "And as you may be spoiled amongst us, why, to-morrow you shall leave this place, and never return to it." Martial looked at his mother with surprise, then, after a moment's silence, said, "Was it for this that you tried to get up a quarrel with me at supper?" "Yes, to show you what you might expect if you would stay here in spite of us,--a hell upon earth,--I tell you, a hell! Every day a quarrel and blows--struggles. And we shall not be alone as we were this, evening; we shall have friends who will help us. And you will not hold out for a week."