I returned to Paris with the intention of endeavoring by every means in my power to induce my father to permit me to wed the woman I loved.  It is doubtless difficult for M’sieu’ to appreciate the position of a French officer.  In America—­Ah—­America is free, one can marry the woman one loves, but in France no officer can marry without the consent of the Minister of War and of the President of the Republic; and more than that he cannot marry unless his intended wife possesses a dowry of at least fifty thousand francs which must be deposited with the Minister of War for investment.”

“In spite of the fact that I enjoyed the confidence and friendship of President Carnot the latter, at my father’s request, refused me permission to marry.  There was no choice left for me but to resign my commission, and this I did.  I returned to England and was married at St. Thomas’s Church, London, on the 21st of June, 1893.

“My education as an engineer had been of the most highly technical and thorough character, and I had every reason to believe that in America I could earn a comfortable living.  My wife and I, therefore, sailed for America immediately after our marriage.  I first secured a position in some iron works in South Boston, and for a time lived happily.  A boy, Oscar, named after my father, was born to us while we were living in the town of Winchester near Boston.  Another son was born a year later in the same place, and still a third in Pittsburgh, where I had gone to assume the position of general foreman of the Homestead Steel Works and assistant master mechanic of the Carnegie Steel Company.  I rapidly secured the confidence of my employers and was sent upon several occasions to study new processes in different parts of the country.  During one of my vacations we returned to England and visited my wife’s people, who lived in Manchester; here she died on the 17th of June, 1901.”

De Nevers paused again and it was some moments before he continued.

“After the death of my wife my father expressed himself as ready for a reconciliation, but although this took place I had not the heart to remain in France.  I liked America and had attained distinction in my profession.  I therefore expressed my intention of returning to continue my career as an engineer, but at the earnest solicitation of my father, left my three children with my parents.  They are now living at the chateau of my mother at Nievre.

“I was sent to Chicago to study a new blast furnace, and two years later, when Mr. Schwab organized the Russo-American Company at Mariopool, South Siberia, he offered me the position of general manager, which I accepted.  Here I remained until November, 1904, when all the American engineers were arrested and imprisoned on the order of General Kozoubsky of the Russian Engineers, who at the same time shot and murdered my assistant, Thomas D. McDonald, for refusing to allow him to remove pig iron from the storehouse without