Camors complied with his usual good taste; and the song of the sixteenth century terminated the evening’s entertainment; but the young Count, before leaving, found the means of causing Madame de Tecle the most profound astonishment.  He asked her, in a low voice, and with peculiar emphasis, whether she would be kind enough, at her leisure, to grant him the honor of a moment’s private conversation.

Madame de Tecle opened still wider those large eyes of hers, blushed slightly, and replied that she would be at home the next afternoon at four o’clock.

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     Bad to fear the opinion of people one despises
     Camors refused, hesitated, made objections, and consented
     Confounding progress with discord, liberty with license
     Contempt for men is the beginning of wisdom
     Cried out, with the blunt candor of his age
     Dangers of liberty outweighed its benefits
     Demanded of him imperatively—­the time of day
     Do not get angry.  Rarely laugh, and never weep
     Every cause that is in antagonism with its age commits suicide
     Every one is the best judge of his own affairs
     Every road leads to Rome—­and one as surely as another
     God—­or no principles! 
     He is charming, for one always feels in danger near him
     Intemperance of her zeal and the acrimony of her bigotry
     Man, if he will it, need not grow old:  the lion must
     Never can make revolutions with gloves on
     Once an excellent remedy, is a detestable regimen
     Pleasures of an independent code of morals
     Police regulations known as religion
     Principles alone, without faith in some higher sanction
     Property of all who are strong enough to stand it
     Semel insanivimus omnes.’ (every one has his madness)
     Slip forth from the common herd, my son, think for yourself
     Suspicion that he is a feeble human creature after all! 
     There will be no more belief in Christ than in Jupiter
     Ties that become duties where we only sought pleasures
     Truth is easily found.  I shall read all the newspapers
     Whether in this world one must be a fanatic or nothing
     Whole world of politics and religion rushed to extremes
     With the habit of thinking, had not lost the habit of laughing
     You can not make an omelette without first breaking the eggs

MONSIEUR DE CAMORS

By octave Feuillet

BOOK 2.

CHAPTER IX

LOVE CONQUERS PHILOSOPHY

To M. de Camors, in principle it was a matter of perfect indifference whether France was centralized or decentralized.  But his Parisian instinct induced him to prefer the former.  In spite of this preference, he would not have scrupled to adopt the opinions of M. des Rameures, had not his own fine tact shown him that the proud old gentleman was not to be won by submission.