the sight of my brother, from whom I had been parted for four or five
years, gave me so much joy that I very soon recovered.

My father, with the rank of divisional general, commanding the
camp situated at Miral, close to Toulouse, was entitled to a billet,
and the municipality had assigned to him the fine town house of
Rességuier, whose owner had emigrated. Madame de Rességuier and her
son had retreated to the most distant rooms, and my father gave
orders that the strictest regard was to be given to their unhappy
position.

My father's house was much frequented. Every day there were
visitors, and he had a great deal of expense, for although at that
time a divisional general received eighteen rations of all kinds, and
his aides-de-camp a similar amount, it was not enough. He had to buy
a host of things and as the state gave to a general officer what it
gave to a sous-lieutenant, that is eight francs a month in cash, the
rest being made up in assignats, the value of which diminished daily,
and as my father was very generous, entertained many of the officers
from the camp, had numerous domestic servants (at that time called
servitors), had eighteen horses, a coach, a box at the theatre
etc...He spent the savings which he had accumulated at Larivière, and
it was from the time of his re-entry into military service that the
decline of his fortune began.

Although the "Terror" was now at its height and class distinction
was greatly weakened in France, from whence all good manners seemed
to have removed themselves forever, my father knew so well how to
impose them on the many officers who came to his quarters, that the
most perfect politeness ruled in his salon and at his table.