"What," said he, "are you one of those ?" "I am; I make no secret of it, hoping that there is no occasion for me to feel shame, though there may be for grief.

All my friends know this; and I am surprised that you are not aware that I am simply a foundling from the Hopital de Vendome.

Up to twelve years of age I was perfectly happy, and the master praised me for the knack I had of acquiring knowledge.

I used to work in the garden by day, and in the evening I wasted reams of paper; for I had made up my mind to be an artist.

But nothing goes easily in this world, and one day the lady superintendent conceived the idea of apprenticing me to a tanner." Paul, who had taken a seat on the divan in order to listen, here commenced making a cigarette; but Andre stopped him.