part of it, and were, in effect, its nursery.

These Representatives were received and fêted like Sovereigns. On
their arrival, all the pupils were dressed in their military
uniforms; the battalion was paraded before them; a guard was mounted
at every gate as if in a military barracks. Little tableaux were
enacted which exuded the purest patriotism; one sang national hymns,
and when they visited the classes, particularly those of history, an
occasion was always found to produce some tirade on the excellence of
Republican government and the patriotic virtues which derived from
it. I can remember, in this regard, an occasion when Representative
Chabot, a former Capuchin, questioned me on Roman history. He asked
me what I thought of Coriolanus, who finding himself wronged by his
fellow citizens, forgetful of his former services, withdrew to the
country of the Volscians, sworn enemies of the Romans. Dom Ferlus
and the teachers feared greatly that I might approve of the Roman's
conduct, but I blamed him, saying that a good citizen must never bear
arms against his country, nor dream of any vengeance against her, no
matter how justified his discontent. The representative was so
pleased with my answer that he patted me on the back, and
complemented the head of the college and the teachers on the sound
principles which they inculcated in their pupils!

This little success did not diminish the dislike I had for these
representatives. The actions of the convention filled me with
horror. Young as I was, I had, already, enough sense to realise that
it was not necessary to wallow in French blood in order to save the
country, and that the guillotinades and massacres were appalling
crimes.