Life And Adventures Of Alexander Dumas Volume 2 Primary Source Edition PDF Download

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1873 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII. PARIS. 1823. He arrived in the great city at five o'clock on a Sunday morning, was set down at No. 9 in the Rue du Bouloi, and from this place carried his parcel to his old hotel in the Rue des Vieux Augustins. Such was the modest entrance of the future owner of the splendid "Folly " at St. Germain, the builder of the great Theatre Historiquc, and the world-renowned literary "conjuror," to whom thousands owe a heavy debt for many a weary hour beguiled. Almost his first proceeding was to look over the list of the ministers, and he found that Victor, the Duke of Belluno, was Minister of War. His portfolio furnished him with an old letter of the marshal's to his father, thanking the general for some service. He sat down and prepared a modest application founded on this document. But he had even a letter card to play. There was DEGREES Jourdan, whose letters gave evidence of a friendship as warm as that of Damon for Pythias, to say nothing of Sebastiani, whose letter showed that he actually owed a command to the intercession of the general. There is some worldly knowledge to be gathered from this passage in Dumas's life, and not to be disdained by the reader, viz., that such weighty obligations are often a hindrance rather than a recommendation to the obtaining of favours from the great. He first went boldly to call on Jourdan, and sent up his name. He was admitted at once. But he saw a look of surprise on the marshal's face, who had some dim idea that this might be his old friend. He had never heard of his having a son, or did not choose to run the risk of being deceived. All the young man could say would not convince him, and he was dismissed coolly. Alexander, not a little discouraged, then passed to Sebastiani's hotel, whom he...