But when he heard that Bouquet had escaped from prison, he really felt relieved.
"Bouquet was my old schoolfellow at Brienne," he said.

"I am glad I did not have to punish him." Whenever he had the chance, after he had risen to honor and power, he would do his old schoolmates and teachers at Brienne school a service.
Bourrienne and Lauriston were both advanced and honored.

To one teacher he gave the post of palace librarian; another was appointed the head of the School of Fine Arts; Father Patrault, who had been his friend and had taught him mathematics, was made one of his secretaries; other teachers he helped with pensions or positions; and even the porter of the school was made porter of one of the palaces when Napoleon became an emperor.
At last, as I have told you, when the opportunity came, Napoleon said good-by to Brienne school.

He left before his time was up, in order to give his younger brother, Lucien, the chance for a scholarship in the school; he put aside with regret, but without complaining, the wished-for assignment to the naval service.

He decided to become an artillery officer; and on October 17, in the year 1784, he started for Paris to enter upon his "king's scholarship" in the military school.