The Life of Father de Ravigana. Transl (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Wfi CHAPTER II. THE SOLDIER AND THE MAGISTRATE. Gustavede Ravignan, Lientenant of Cavalry, Counsellor of the Royal Court of Paris, Deputy Procurcurdu Roi? Vocation?Mysterioui Departure. USTAVE DE RAVIGNAN must now choose a profession. After a few slight and passing thoughts of the diplomatic career, his inclinations became fixed on the magistracy; and he followed the bent of his mind. Under providential direction, he hereby made a step towards that ultimate employ of which he had as yet no suspicion. In the month of November 1813, he entered the chambers of M. Goujon, a lawyer of standing, who had been recommended to his mother by the noble and generous De Seze, who had pleaded the cause of the King. At the same time he put his conscience under the direction of M. de Frayssinous, whom from that time he looked upon as a father. Heaven coupled their names together before associating them in the same work. But the young law-student had soon to put off his studies to a more propitious moment. In the month of January 1814, he had an attack of weakness, due to the sudden rapidity with which, after some delay, his growth in stature had begun to proceed. Moreover, the law school was brokenup, on account of the desperate state of the empire. It was a good opportunity for a journey to the South. On March 11, he was present at the triumphant entry of Mgr. le Due d'Angouleme into Bordeaux, and he partook in the enthusiasm of the royalist reaction. As soon as the Restoration had been brought about, he returned with his mother to Paris, there to recommence his peaceful pursuits. But soon a new moment of danger tears the student from his chamber. This time he casts aside his law-books, and plunges into the thick of the fight. From the moment when he heard that Napoleon had landed...