Picciola

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1899. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER I. Count Charles Veramont De Charney, whose name is doubtless not yet forgotten by the learned men of our time, and might, if need were, be found inscribed in the books of the imperial police,1 was born with a vast facility for learning; but his noble intellect, trained in the schools, had acquired the habit of discussion. He argued far more than he observed. In short, he was better adapted for a philosopher than a scientist. When he was twenty-five years old, he was complete master of seven languages. Unlike many worthy polyglots who seem to have labored to acquire various idioms merely to display their ignorance and inanity to foreigners as well as to their fellow-countrymen (for a man may be a fool in several languages), Count Charney made use of these preparatory studies as stepping-stones to others far more important. If he had many servants in the employ of his intelligence, at least each of them had his own duties, his 1 Referring to the period from 1804 to 1814, reign of Napoleon I. especial charge, his particular fields to till.1 With the Germans, he 'devoted himself to metaphysics; with the English and Italians, to politics and legislation; with all, to history, which he could question by going back to its first sources, thanks to the Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans. He accordingly devoted himself wholly to these grave speculations, by no means neglecting the sister sciences which relate to them. But soon, dismayed by the everwidening horizon, stumbling at every step in the labyrinthine maze upon which he had entered, wearied by the vain pursuit of a doubtful truth, he ceased to regard history as anything but a huge traditional lie, and strove to reconstruct it upon new bases. He merely wrote one more romance, which scholars ridiculed from envy, an...