tle children danced and shouted about his horse, as if the
animal's good-nature were as well known as the kindness of its master.
The gladness was undemonstrative; there was the instinctive delicacy of
all deep feeling about it, and it had the same pervasive power. At the
sight of this welcome it seemed to Genestas that the doctor had been too
modest in his description of the affection with which he was regarded by
the people of the district. His truly was a sovereignty of the sweetest
kind; a right royal sovereignty moreover, for its title was engraven
in the hearts of its subjects. However dazzling the rays of glory that
surround a man, however great the power that he enjoys, in his inmost
soul he soon comes to a just estimate of the sentiments that all
external action causes for him. He very soon sees that no change has
been wrought in him, that there is nothing new and nothing greater
in the exercise of his physical faculties, and discovers his own real
nothingness. Kings, even should they rule over the whole world, are
condemned to live in a narrow circle like other men. They must even
submit to the conditions of their lot, and their happiness depends
upon the personal impressions that they receive. But Benassis met with
nothing but goodwill and loyalty throughout the district.

CHAPTER III. THE NAPOLEON OF THE PEOPLE

"Pray, come in, sir!" cried Jacquotte. "A pretty time the gentlemen have
been waiting for you! It is always the way! You always manage to spoil
the dinner for me whenever it ought to be particularly good. Everything
is cooked to death by this time----"

"Oh! well, here we are," answered Benassis with a smile.

The two horsemen dismounted, and went off to the salon, where the guests
invited by the doctor were assembled.

"Gentlemen," he said taking Genestas by the hand, "I have the honor
of introducing you to M. Bluteau, captain of a regiment of cavalry
stationed at Grenoble--an old soldier, who has promised me that he will
stay among us for a little while."

Then, turning to Genestas, he presented to him a tall, thin, gray-haired
man, dressed in black.

"This gentleman," said Benassis, "is M. Dufau, the justice of the peace
of whom I have already spoken to you, and who has so largely contributed
to the prosperity of the Commune." Then he led his guest up to a pale,
slight young man of middle height, who wore spectacles, and was also
dressed in black. "And this is M. Tonnelet," he went