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"The bald member of the club... signed his name Lègle (de Meaux). His comrades, for the sake of brevity, called him Bossuet. Bossuet was a cheery fellow who was unlucky. His specialty was to succeed in nothing. On the other hand, he laughed at everything. At twenty-five he was bald. His father had died owning a house and some land; but he, the son, had found nothing more urgent than to lose this house and land in a bad speculation. He had nothing left. He had considerable knowledge and wit, but he always miscarried. Everything failed him, everything deceived him; whatever he built up fell upon him.... Rarely astonished, since he was always expecting some accident, he took ill luck with serenity and smiled at the vexations of destiny like one who hears a jest. He was poor, but his fund of good humor was inexhaustible... Bossuet was slowly making his way towards the legal profession; he was doing his law, in the manner of Bahorel. [He] had never much domicile, sometimes none at all. He lodged sometimes with one, sometimes with another, oftenest with Joly." |