“Do you think so?”
“Yes; and as I am a moral man I insist upon marriage.”
“Does that mean that I am immoral,” retorted Roland, “or that I cause any scandal with my mistresses?”
“Augustus,” answered Bonaparte, “created laws against celibates, depriving them of their rights as Roman citizens.”
“Augustus—”
“Well?”
“I’ll wait until you are Augustus; as yet, you are only Cæsar.”
Bonaparte came closer to the young man, and, laying his hands on his shoulders, said: “Roland, there are some names I do not wish to see extinct, and among them is that of Montrevel.”
“Well, general, in my default, supposing that through caprice or obstinacy I refuse to perpetuate it, there is my little brother.”
“What! Your brother? Then you have a brother?”