caped
conscription, absolutely refused to enter the army. He was a
clever, unprincipled lad, who had done well at his studies,
but lost no time in getting into the most dissipated society
he could find from the moment he left college. He inherited
his father's good looks, but his mother's predilections
apparently; for he set out in life with the determination to
be Parisian amongst Parisians--of a certain class, be it
understood; and having some talent for drawing, as indeed he
had for most things, he used it as a pretext, announced that
he intended to be an artist, and furnishing a room in the
Quartier Latin, with an easel and a pipe, he began the wild
Bohemian life which he found most in accordance with his
tastes.

He was selfish and reckless enough, but not altogether
heartless, for he had a real affection for his mother, which
might have been worked upon with advantage. But Madame
Linders, who had indulged him till he had learnt to look upon
her devotion as a thing of course, now turned upon him with
the fretful, inconsequent reproaches of a weak mind; and
finding that he was constantly met with tearful words and
aggrieved looks, her son avoided her as much as possible. His
sister he could not endure. Therese had always been jealous of
the marked preference shown to him; and now, with an evident
sense of triumph, she preached little sermons, talked at him
with unceasing perseverance, and in truth was not a very
engaging person.

Madame Linders had not been dead ten days, when the brother
and sister had a violent quarrel, and parted with the
determination on either side never to meet again--a resolution
which was perfectly well kept. Therese retired to the Belgian
convent, and Adolphe, the possessor of a few thousand francs,
the remains of his mother's small fortune, returned to his
studio and to the life he had chosen.

The success and duration of a career of this sort is in exact
proportion to the amount of capital, real or assumed, invested
in it. Monsieur Linders' capital was very small; his francs
and credit both were soon exhausted, and began to find that
making-believe to paint pictures was hardly a paying business.
He tried to take portraits, attempted etching, gambled, and,
finally, being more in debt than he could well afford,
disappeared from the Paris world for a number of years, and
for a long space was known and heard of no more. It was indeed
affirmed in his circle of acquaintance that he had