XXII.
ROGER DE MONBERT
to
M. LE COMTE DE VILLIERS,
Pont de l'Arche (Eure).
Rouen, July 10th 18—.
Very rarely in life do we receive letters that we expect; we always receive those that we don't expect. The expected ones inform us of what we already know; the unexpected ones tell us of things entirely new. A philosopher prefers the latter—of which I now send you one.
I passed some hours at Richeport with you and Edgar, and there I made a discovery that you must have made before me, and a reflection that you will make after me. I am sixty years old in my feelings—travel ages one more than anything else—you are twenty-five, according to your baptismal register. How fortunate you are to have some one able to give you advice! How unfortunate I am that my experience has been sad enough to enable me to be that one to give it! But I have a vague presentiment that my advice will bring you happiness, if followed. We should never neglect a presentiment. Every man carries in him a spark of Heaven's intelligence—it is often the torch that illumines the darkness of our future. This is called presentiment.
Read attentively, and do not disturb yourself about the end. I must first explain by what means of observation I made my discovery. Then the dénoûement will appear in its proper place, which is not at the beginning.