The Adventures of François Read online

  Produced by Al Haines.

  "THE NETS WERE HUNG OVER FRANCOIS'S SHOULDERS." (See page18.)]

  The Adventures of Francois

  Foundling, Thief, Juggler, and Fencing-Master during the French Revolution

  By

  S. Weir Mitchell, M.D.

  LL.D. Harvard and Edinburgh

  New York The Century Co. 1898

  Copyright, 1897, 1898, by THE CENTURY Co.

  THE DE VINNE PRESS.

  TO PHILIP SCHUYLER

  IN RECOGNITION OF A CONSTANT FRIENDSHIP

  *CONTENTS*

  *I*

  Of how Francois the foundling was cared for by the good fathers of theBenedictine Asylum for Orphans, and of what manner of lad he was

  *II*

  In which Francois becomes a choir-boy, and serves two masters, to theimpairment of his moral sense

  *III*

  Of the misfortunes caused by loss of a voice, and of how a cat and adamsel got Francois into trouble--whereupon, preferring the world to amonastery, he ran away from the choristers of Notre Dame

  *IV*

  Of how the world used Francois, and of the reward of virtue. He makeshis first friend

  *V*

  Of the immorality which may come of an empty stomach, and of howFrancois became acquainted with a human crab

  *VI*

  Of how Francois regained a lost friend, and of his adventure with thepoet Horace and another gentleman

  *VII*

  Wherein is told how Francois saved a man's neck and learned to juggle

  *VIII*

  In which Francois discovers the mercantile value of laughter, and theCrab takes toll of the jugglers--with the sad history of Despard, thepartner

  *IX*

  In which Francois tells the fortune of the Marquis de Ste. Luce and ofRobespierre, and has his own fortune told, and of how Despard saw a manof whom he was afraid

  *X*

  How Pierre became a Jacobin and how a nation became insane

  *XI*

  The juggling firm of Despard, Francois & Co. is broken up--Despard goesinto politics, and Francois becomes a fencing-master

  *XII*

  In which Toto is seen to change his politics twice a day--the morningsand the afternoons quarrel--In which Jean Pierre Andre Amar, "_lefarouche,_" appears

  *XIII*

  Citizen Amar, meeting the marquis, is unlucky and vindictive

  *XIV*

  Francois escapes from Paris and goes in search of a father. He meets aman who has a wart on his nose, and who because of this is unlucky

  *XV*

  How Francois finds Despard and has a lesson in politics, and of whatcame of it

  *XVI*

  How Francois warns the Marquis de Ste. Luce, and of the battle on thestaircase between the old day and the new

  *XVII*

  Of how Francois, escaping, lives in the wood; of how he sees thedaughter of the marquis dying, and knows not then, or ever after, whatit was that hurt him; of how he becomes homesick for Paris

  *XVIII*

  Wherein is told how Francois reenters Paris, and lodges with the Crab;and of how Toto is near to death by the guillotine. Francois meetsDespard and the marquis, who warns him and is warned

  *XIX*

  Of the sorrowful life of loneliness, of Francois's arrest, and of thosehe met in prison

  *XX*

  Of how Francois gave Amar advice, and of how the marquis bought his ownhead

  *XXI*

  How Francois, having made a bargain with Citizen Amar, cannot keep itwith the man of the wart--How Despard dies in the place of themarquis--Of Francois's escape from prison

  *XXII*

  Wherein is told how Francois baits a crab-trap with the man of the wart

  *XXIII*

  Of how Francois found lodgings where he paid no rent--Of the death ofToto--Of how his master, having no friends on the earth, finds themunderground

  *XXIV*

  Of how Francois got into good society underground--Of what he saw, andof the value of a cat's eyes--From darkness to light--Of how Francoismade friends for life

  *EPILOGUE*

  Wherein is some further account of Francois and of those who helped him