compel it.  He tolerated Ben because he could not well do without him.  He kept an interest account with Ben.  He had paid for him six hundred dollars, when first purchased.  Ten per cent, upon this amount was sixty dollars.  His insurance upon a life policy, which risk he took himself, was one hundred dollars.  His services were regularly valued by what such a man would hire for.  Ben accompanied him on the circuit, and died at Alexandria.  When this was told him, he immediately referred to this account, and declared he had saved money by buying Ben, but should be loser if he paid his funeral expenses, which he declined to do.  Judge Martin was very near-sighted, and it was amusing to see him with his little basket doing his marketing, examining scrupulously every article, cheapening everything, and finally taking the refuse of meats and vegetables, rarely expending more than thirty cents for the day’s provisions.  His penurious habits seemed natural:  they had characterized him from the moment he came to the United States, and were then so complete as not to be intensified by age and experience.  For many years, he had no relative in this country, and he created no relations, outside of his business, with the community in which he lived.  His antisocial nature and his miserable manner of living kept every one from him.  Secluded, and studious in his habits, he never seemed solitary, for his books and papers occupied his entire time.  His thirst for knowledge was coequal with his thirst for money—­and why, no one could tell.  He never made a display of the one, or any use of the other but to beget money.  There seemed an innate love for both, and an equal disposition to husband both.  He seemed to have no ulterior view in hoarding—­he endowed no charity, nor sought the world’s praise in the grave, by building a church or endowing a hospital.  With mankind, his only relations were professional.  He never married, and had no taste for female society—­was never known to attend a ball or private party, to unite himself with any society, or be at a public meeting—­never indulged in a joke or frivolous conversation, and had no use for words unless to expound law or conclude a contract; strictly punctual to every engagement, but exceedingly chary in making any.

As Judge Martin advanced in years, his habits became more and more secluded.  He had written for a brother, who came to him from France.  This brother was quite as peculiar as himself—­they lived together, and he in a great degree substituted Ben, at least so far as society was concerned.  Now he was rarely seen upon the street, or mingling with any, save an occasional visit to some member of the Bar, who, like himself, had grown old in the harness of the law.  During the early period of the State Government he reported the decisions of the Supreme Court:  these reports are models, and of high authority in the courts of Louisiana.