ver,
three weeks later, on August thirtieth, 1791, a leave of absence
arrived, to which he was entitled in the course of routine, and which
was not granted by the favor of any one, he had abandoned all idea of
service under France in the Corsican guard. The disorder of the times
was such that while retaining office in the French army he could test
in an independent Corsican command the possibility of climbing to
leadership there before abandoning his present subordinate place in
France. In view, apparently, of this new venture, he had for some time
been taking advances from the regimental paymaster, until he had now
in hand a considerable sum--two hundred and ninety livres. A formal
announcement to the authorities might have elicited embarrassing
questions from them, so he and Louis quietly departed without
explanations, leaving for the second time debts of considerable
amount. They reached Ajaccio on September sixth, 1791. Napoleon was
not actually a deserter, but he had in contemplation a step toward the
defiance of French authority--the acceptance of service in a Corsican
military force.

CHAPTER XIII.

Buonaparte the Corsican Jacobin.

Buonaparte's Corsican Patriotism -- His Position in His
Family -- The Situation of Joseph -- Corsican Politics --
Napoleon's Power in the Jacobin Club of Ajaccio -- His
Failure as a Contestant for Literary Honors -- Appointed
Adjutant-General -- His Attitude Toward France -- His New
Ambitions -- Use of Violence -- Lieutenant-Colonel of
Volunteers -- Politics in Ajaccio -- His First Experience of
Street Warfare -- His Manifesto -- Dismissed to Paris -- His
Plans -- The Position of Louis XVI -- Buonaparte's
Delinquencies -- Disorganization in the Army -- Petition for
Reinstatement -- The Marseillais -- Buonaparte a Spectator
-- His Estimate of France -- His Presence at the Scenes of
August Tenth -- State of Paris -- Flight of Lafayette.

[Sidenote: 1791-92.]

This was the third time in four years that Buonaparte had revisited
his home.[26] On the plea of ill health he had been able the first
time to remain a year and two months, giving full play to his Corsican
patriotism and his own ambitions by attendance at Orezza, and by
political agitation among the people. The second time he had remained
a year and four months, retaining his hold on his commission by
subterfuges and irregularities which, though condon