Of course my grandfather accepted willingly enough. The two heroes of the Regency held long conversations over their campaigns and their love-affairs. Then over dessert the talk fell on my father; and the marshal proposed to take the first opportunity that offered to place his old friend's son in the army.
It was decreed that my father's military career should begin under less illustrious auspices.
About this time my grandfather married again, and took his housekeeper to wife, Marie-Françoise Retou; he was then seventy-four years of age.
This marriage caused an estrangement between father and son.
The result of this estrangement was that the father tied up his money bags tighter than ever, and the son soon discovered that life in Paris without money is a sorry life.
He then had an interview with the marquis, and told him he had made up his mind to a course of action.
"What is that?" asked the marquis.
"To enlist."
"As what?"
"As a private."