ay that you only strive after that
which is useful to yourself. You weigh the goodness of an action only
by the result."

"Dear Colas, I see you will be a bad advocate, and will make a poor
fortune, if you only defend causes which are right according to your
notions, and never an unjust one by which you might gain."

"I swear to you, Bertollon, I should abhor myself as long as I lived,
if ever I moved my lips for the accusation of innocence, and the
defence of crime."

"And yet you, good-hearted simpleton, you will do it more than once,
because you will not always find guilt or innocence written on men's
foreheads. You will be the world's fool, if you will not walk its way."

In this manner we often disputed. I was sometimes puzzled with him,
and could have feared him, had he not always expressed his terrible
opinions so jocosely, that he did not seem to believe them himself. He
only wished to irritate me, and when he had succeeded, laughed
heartily. But his actions contradicted his words.

Madame Bertollon, on the contrary, daily displayed more of the noble
sentiments that animated her. She glowed for the virtuous actions
which she practised with religious ardour.

I became her guest, and we were never in want of conversation. Alone
with her I spent the long winter evenings, and from me she learned the
harp. Soon I could accompany her charming voice, while she sang my
songs with deep feeling. She was lovely, and her beauty would have
been dangerous to me, had not my heart been fixed on Clementine.

When I spoke of her with enthusiasm to Bertollon, he smiled; if I
reproached him for leaving such a lovely creature to herself, he
replied, "Our tastes differ; let every one follow his own inclination.
Would you, dear despot, have all heads and hearts moulded in the same
form? I know my wife loses nothing by me, consequently she is not made
unhappy by my treating her in the manner so customary in fashionable
society. She knew this beforehand. If you are happy in her society I
am glad; and I rejoice if she also finds pleasure in your conversation.
You see, virtuous Colas, that I, also, am capable of great sacrifices,
for I leave you to her often when I most sincerely desire your company."

I had finished my studies, had taken the degree of Doctor of Laws, and
had obtained permission to practise as attorney before the tribunals of
the kingdom. My increased occupations during this time prevented me
from vi