time, whereupon, considering him a mischievous youngster, he had
treated him as such.

Valence's answer was reported to Louis, who retorted that pulling
a comrade's queue was only teasing him, whereas a blow was an
insult. Obstinacy endowed this child of thirteen with the logic
of a man of thirty.

The modern Popilius to Valence returned with his declaration
of war. The youth was greatly embarrassed; he could not fight
with a child without being ridiculous. If he fought and wounded
him, it would be a horrible thing; if he himself were wounded,
he would never get over it so long as he lived.

But Louis's unyielding obstinacy made the matter a serious one.
A council of the Grands (elder scholars) was called, as was usual
in serious cases. The Grands decided that one of their number
could not fight a child; but since this child persisted in
considering himself a young man, Valence must tell him before
all his schoolmates that he regretted having treated him as a
child, and would henceforth regard him as a young man.

Louis, who was waiting in his friend's room, was sent for. He
was introduced into the conclave assembled in the playground
of the younger pupils.

There Valence, to whom his comrades had dictated a speech carefully
debated among themselves to safeguard the honor of the Grands
toward the Petits, assured Louis that he deeply deplored the
occurrence; that he had treated him according to his age and