m to
think otherwise. Indeed this is an age in which honour is prated of most
by those who practise it least. Well, my son, there are a thousand
things I would say, but that is all I shall say. Good-bye--may the good
God bless and protect you."

I had much to do to speak firmly and to perceive what I was about, in
taking my leave, for my mother could no longer refrain from sobbing as
she embraced me at the last, and my young brother and sister, catching
the infection, began to whimper and to rub their eyes with their fists.
Knowing so much more of my wild purpose than they did, and realizing
that I might never return alive, I was the more tried in my resolution
not to disgrace with tears the virgin rapier and dagger at my side. But
finally I got somehow upon my horse, whose head Blaise Tripault was
holding, and threw my last kisses to the family on the steps. I then
managed voice enough to say "Good-bye, Blaise," to the old soldier.

"Nay, I will walk as far as to the village," said he, in his gruff,
autocratic way. "I have a word or two for you at parting."

Throwing back a somewhat pallid smile to my people, tearfully waving
their adieus, I turned my horse out of the court-yard, followed by
Nicolas on the mule, and soon emerging from the avenue, was upon the
road. Blaise Tripault strode after me. When I came in front of the inn
at the end of the village, he called out to stop. I did so, and Blaise,
coming up to my stirrup, handed me a folded paper and thus addressed me:

"Of course your father has given you all the advice you need. Nobody is
more competent than he to instruct a young man setting out to see the
world. His young days were the days of hard knocks, as everybody knows.
But as I was thinking of your journey, there came into my head an old
tale a monk told me once--for, like your father, I was never too much of
a Huguenot to get what good I might out of any priest or monk the Lord
chose to send my way. It's a tale that has to do with travelling, and
that's what made me think of it--a tale about three maxims that some
wise person once gave a Roman emperor who was going on a journey. I half
forget the tale itself, for it isn't much of a tale; but the maxims I
remembered, because I had had experience enough to realize their value.
I've written them out for you there: and if you get them by heart, and
never lose sight of them, you'll perhaps save yourself much repentance."

He then bade me good-bye, and the