"From the time that, at my mother's feet, or on my father's knees, I first learned to lisp verses from the Sacred Writings, they have been my daily study, and vigilant contemplation. If there be anything in my style or thoughts worthy to be commended, the credit is due to my kind parents, in instilling into my early mind a love for the Scriptures."
"How long will it take you," inquired Napoleon, of the young brother-in-law of Junot, "to acquaint yourself with the Coptic language, and be prepared to go to Egypt on a secret service?"
"Three months, sire," replied the energetic Frenchman, with scarcely a perceptible pause for consideration.
"Bien!" returned the great Captain, "begin at once." And he moved on in his briefly-interrupted walk, through the salon of the beautiful mother of the youth, saying to the Turkish Ambassador, who accompanied his stroll:—"There is such a son as one might expect from such a mother!"
Three months from that night there left the private cabinet of Napoleon, a stripling, of slight form and yet unsunned brow, charged by him who knew men by intuition, with a task of fearful risk and responsibility; and, on the morrow, he was embarked on the blue waters of the Mediterranean, speeding toward a land where, from the heights of the Pyramids, a thousand years would behold his deeds!
"I swear, I'll cut that woman! I'll never call there again, that I am determined!" cried Paul Duncan, impetuously.
"But why, brother? Don't judge too hastily," replied his sister, gently. "The whole family have always been so kind to us; for my part, I think one seldom meets persons of more polished manners, and"——
"Polished manners!" interrupted the irritable man, rudely, "what do you call polished manners? I gave up R—— himself, just because he is so devilish un-polished, long ago. He passed me, once or twice, in Wall-street, with his head down, and didn't even bow! after that I let him run!"