[The Boy Life of Napoleon by Eugenie Foa]@TWC D-Link bookThe Boy Life of Napoleon CHAPTER THIRTEEN 10/13
His favor would put the boy well forward in his career.
He felt quite elated.
But, unfortunately for the plans proposed, the Inspector de Keralio died suddenly, before his recommendation could be acted upon; and with so many other applications that were backed up by influence, for boys with better opportunities, Napoleon's desired assignment to the naval service did not receive action by the government, and he was passed by in favor of less able but better befriended boys. So, when the examination--days came, the new Inspector, who came in place of the lad's friend Chevalier de Keralio, decided that young Napoleon Bonaparte was fitted for the artillery service; and at the age of fifteen the boy left the school at Brienne, and was ordered to enter upon a higher course of study at the military school at Paris.
Nothing more was said about preparing him for the naval service, for which Inspector de Keralio had recommended him.
And in the certificate which he carried from Brienne to Paris, Napoleon was described as a "masterful, impetuous and headstrong boy." Evidently the opinion of Napoleon's teachers was adopted, rather than the prophetic report of his dead friend, Inspector de Keralio. In after-years Napoleon forgot all the worries and troubles of his school-days at Brienne, and remembered only the pleasant times there. Once, when he was a man, he heard some bells chiming musically.
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