The young man excuses himself, he is expected at home.
"Timid fellow, go!" said Maurice to him, as he conducted him to the door, laughing.
What longings! What dreams! They made up all of poor Amedee's life.
Sometimes they were sad, for he suffered in seeing his father indulge himself more and more in his vice.

No woman loved him, and he never had one louis in his pocket for pleasure or liberty.

But he did not complain.

His life was noble and happy! He smiled with pleasure as he thought of his good friends; his heart beat in great throbs as he thought of love; he wept with rapture over beautiful verses.
The spectacle of life, through hope and the ideal, seemed to him transfigured.

Happy Amedee! He was not yet twenty years old!.