"I do not doubt that if some captain of the tall grenadiers ever reads this work, he will add two feet at least to the hats of his troop. But I warn him that this will be in vain, that he and his men will never be anything save infinitely small." (27)

"Before being an interne at the Hotel-Dieu, Horace Bianchon was a medical student, living in a wretched pension of the Latin Quarter, known under the name of the Maison Vauquer. There this poor young man suffered from bitter poverty, a kind of crucible from which great talents come forth pure and incorruptible as diamonds which can be submitted to all blows and never break." (53)

"With the good faith of the doubter I say: 'Lord, if there is a sphere where you place after their death those who were perfect, don't forget good Bourgeat. And if there is...