You wished to bring laurels to Micheline as a dower.

That is all nonsense! When one leaves the Polytechnic School with honors, and with a future open to you like yours, it is not necessary to scour the deserts to dazzle a young girl.

One begins by marrying her, and celebrity comes afterward, at the same time as the children.

And then there was no need to risk all at such a cost.

What, are we then so grand?
Ex-bakers! Millionaires, certainly, which does not alter the fact that poor Desvarennes carried out the bread, and that I gave change across the counter when folks came to buy sou-cakes! But you wanted to be a knight-errant, and, during that time, a handsome fellow.