Alexandre Dumas

The Corsican Brothers Alexandre Dumas

ine; our historians, MZzeray, Chateaubriand, A. Thierry; our scientific men, Cuvier, Beudant, Elias de Beaumont; lastly, some volumes of novels, amongst which I discovered, with a certain pride, my Impressions de Voyage. The keys were left on the drawers of the writing desk; I opened one of them. It contained some manuscripts, fragments of a history of Corsica, a sketch on the means of abolishing the custom of the vendetta, some French verses, and a few Italian sonnets. This was all I wanted, and I had the presumption to think that I needed nothing more to form a correct opinion of Mons. Louis de Franchi's character. I fancied he must of course be a peaceable, studious young man, and an admirer of French improvements and reform. I then understood his reasons for going to Paris to study the law. There was no doubt a project of civilization in this pursuit.