he refused to show himself in the circumstances I speak of. His
obstinacy very nearly cost us dear, for on the earnestly longed-for
break in the fog suddenly taking place a point of land was seen. We
thought we recognized the Island of Molenes: the commander was hurriedly
informed, and he sent an order to change our course. A lightening at
another point in the horizon showed us some rocks. "The Pierres Vertes
ahead!" sang out a coasting pilot specially shipped for the voyage, who
was looking out from his perch on the foreyards, and the navigating
officer tore off again to warn the commanding officer. During all these
comings and goings the curtain of fog came down again, and we went
driving on towards the reefs at the rate of twelve knots an hour. It
could not be allowed to go on! With or without leave the second officer
took the command, and put an end to an impossible situation. Our worthy
commander only appeared just as we were dropping anchor in the
roadstead, when all uncertainty was over, and I seem yet to see the
looks that greeted his tardy appearance. Everybody's anxiety had been
increased by knowing how he had lost the ship Le Superbe, seventy-four
guns, off the Island of Paros, some years before, and under very
peculiar circumstances. For my own part, I learnt on this occasion what
everything has confirmed me in since--the danger of uncertain and
divided authority either at sea or elsewhere.

When I got back to Paris, having finished the technical portion of my
education, I went on with a course of history, with my sisters,
especially my sister Mary, I applied myself with the utmost fervour to
my drawing. I worked with her daily, under the direction of Ary
Scheffer, and I recollect our grief one morning on finding the Jeanne
d'Arc she was modelling in wax for Versailles, melted by an overheated
stove, had collapsed the whole length of its framework, to such an
extent as to become the merest cripple. By dint of lowering the