“He had just married the niece of the great Richelieu, to whom he wished to present me.  I arrived in Paris, and after enjoying for a few days the run of the town in order to lose my rusticity, I put on a cassock to appear at court in a clerical character.  But my hair was well powdered and dressed, my white boots and gilt spurs showed below, and the cardinal was offended at what he took to be a slight on the tonsure.

“The costume, a compromise between Rome and the army, delighted the court, but my brother pointed out that the time had come to choose between them.  ‘On the one hand,’ he said, ’by declaring for the Church you may have great possessions and a life of idleness; on the other hand, a soldier’s life offers you slender pay, broken arms and legs, the court’s ingratitude, and at length, perhaps, the rank of camp-marshal, with a glass eye and a wooden leg.  Choose.’

“‘I very well know,’ I replied, ’that these two careers cannot be compared as regards the comfort and convenience of life; but since it is our duty to seek salvation first of all, I will renounce the Church that I may save my soul—­always on the understanding that I may keep my benefice.’  Neither my brother’s remonstrances nor his authority could shake my resolution, and I had even to go without my benefice.

“My mother, who hoped that I should be a saint in the Church, but feared that in the world I should become a devil, or be killed in battle, was at first inconsolable.  But after I had somewhat acquired the manners of the court and of society she idolised me, and kept me with her as long as possible.  At last the time came for my departure to the war, and the faithful Brinon undertook to be responsible for my morals and welfare, as well as for my safety on the field.

“Brinon and I fell out very soon.  He had been entrusted with four hundred pistoles for my charges, and I naturally wanted to have them.  Brinon refused to part with the money, and I was compelled to take it by force.  He made such ado about it I might have been tearing the heart from his breast.  From this point my spirits rose exceedingly.

“At last we reached Lyons.  Two soldiers stopped us at the gate to take us to the governor, and I ordered one of them to guide me to the best hotel, while the other should take Brinon before the governor to give an account of my journey and purpose.  There is as good entertainment in Lyons as in Paris, but, as usual, my soldier led me to the house of one of his friends, praising it as the haunt of the best company.  We came thither, and I was left in the hands of the landlord, who was Swiss by race, poisoner by profession, and robber by custom.

“Presently Brinon arrived, angrier than an aged monkey, and, finding me preparing to go down to the company below, assured me that there were none in the house but a dozen noisy gamblers, playing cards and dice.  But I had become ungovernable since I had secured the money, and sent him off to sup and sleep, ordering the horses for the hour before dawn.  My money began to tingle in my pocket from the moment when Brinon spoke of the cards.