To these
Prince Pierre added a number of mementoes. I went to visit my parents,
whom I had not seen for many years. I found that my mother was dead, that
my father was a drunkard. I left money for my father with the mayor, and
sailed for England. From London I came to New York; from New York to
Quebec. All the time I was restless, unhappy. I had had to work all my
life, now I had nothing to do. I had lived close to great traditions, now
there was no habit of life to keep them alive in me. I spent money
freely, but it gave me no pleasure. I once was a valet to a great man,
now I had the income of a gentleman, and was no gentleman. Ah, do you not
shrink from me, Monsieur le Cure?"
The Cure did not reply, but made a kindly gesture, and Valmond continued:
"Sick of everything, one day I left Quebec hurriedly. Why I came here I
do not know, save that I had heard it was near the mountains, was quiet,
and I could be at peace. There was something in me which could not be
content in the foolishness of idle life. All the time I kept
thinking--thinking. If I were only a Napoleon, how I would try to do
great things! Ah, my God! I loved the Great Napoleon.
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