which were stained with his blood, as for his conciliating spirit, his estimable qualities as a magistrate, and the modesty with which he declined the honors of the mayoralty, pointing out one more worthy of them, the Baron de la Billardiere, one of those noble Vendeens whom he had learned to value in the dark days.”

“That phrase is better than mine,” whispered Cesar to Pillerault.

“At that time the creditors, who received sixty per cent of their claims through the aforesaid relinquishment on the part of this loyal merchant, his wife, and his daughter of all that they possessed, recorded their respect for their debtor in the certificate of bankruptcy granted at the concordat which then took place, giving him at the same time a release from the remainder of their claims.  This testimonial is couched in terms which are worthy of the attention of the Court.”

Here the procureur-general read the passage from the certificate of bankruptcy.

“After receiving such expressions of good-will, gentlemen, most merchants would have considered themselves released from obligation and free to return boldly into the vortex of business.  Far from so doing, Birotteau, without allowing himself to be cast down, resolved within his conscience to toil for the glorious day which has at length dawned for him here.  Nothing disheartened him.  Our beloved sovereign granted to the man who shed his blood on the steps of Saint-Roch an office where he might earn his bread.  The salary of that office the bankrupt laid by for his creditors, taking nothing for his own wants; for family devotion has supported him.”

Birotteau pressed his uncle’s hand, weeping.

“His wife and his daughter poured their earnings into the common fund, for they too espoused the noble hope of Birotteau.  Each came down from the position she had held and took an inferior one.  These sacrifices, gentlemen, should be held in honor, for they are harder than all others to bear.  I will now show you what sort of task it was that Birotteau imposed upon himself.”

Here the procureur-general read a summing-up of the schedule, giving the amounts which had remained unpaid and the names of the creditors.

“Each of these sums, with the interest thereon, has been paid, gentlemen; and the payment is not shown by receipts under private seal, which might be questioned:  they are payments made before a notary, properly authenticated; and according to the inflexible requirements of this Court they have been examined and verified by the proper authority.  We now ask you to restore Birotteau, not to honor, but to all the rights of which he was deprived.  In doing this you are doing justice.  Such exhibitions of character are so rare in this Court that we cannot refrain from testifying to the petitioner how heartily we applaud his conduct, which an august approval has already privately encouraged.”

The prosecuting officer closed by reading his charge in the customary formal terms.