execution was carried out in his presence, the Marquis d'Espard helped
the bailiff, whom he treated like a man of rank, paying him all the
marks of attention and respect which he would have shown to a person
of superior birth and dignity to himself.'"

The uncle and nephew glanced at each other and laughed.

"'That, moreover, every act of his life, besides the facts with
reference to the widow Jeanrenaud and the Baron Jeanrenaud, her son,
are those of a madman; that for nearly ten years he has given his
thoughts exclusively to China, its customs, manners, and history; that
he refers everything to a Chinese origin; that when he is questioned
on the subject, he confuses the events of the day and the business of
yesterday with facts relating to China; that he censures the acts of
the Government and the conduct of the King, though he is personally
much attached to him, by comparing them with the politics of China;

"'That this monomania has driven the Marquis d'Espard to conduct
devoid of all sense: against the customs of men of rank, and, in
opposition to his own professed ideas as to the duties of the
nobility, he has joined a commercial undertaking, for which he
constantly draws bills which, as they fall due, threaten both his
honor and his fortune, since they stamp him as a trader, and in
default of payment may lead to his being declared insolvent; that
these debts, which are owing to stationers, printers, lithographers,
and print-colorists, who have supplied the materials for his
publication, called A Picturesque History of China, now coming out in
parts, are so heavy that these tradesmen have requested the petitioner
to apply for a Commission in Lunacy with regard to the Marquis
d'Espard in order to save their own credit.'"