The notary's nose;

92 THE NOTARY'S NOSE.
had, and always did have, the most Christian principles, and always lived up to
them. He never abused his strength with
man or beast. He avoided quarrels, and
got many a rap without returning it. If
the sub-prefect of Mauriac had wanted
to give him a silver medal, he would only
have had to write to Paris; for Sebastian
had saved several people at the risk of his
life, and especially two gendarmnes who
were drowning with their horses in the
torrent of Saumaise. But people took
these things as a matter of course, just as
if he had done them by instinct, and no
one any more dreamed of rewarding him,
than if he had been a Newfoundland dog.
At the age of twenty, he drew lots for the
conscription, and got a good number, of
course because of a nine days' religious
service that he had observed at home, after which he made up his mind to go to
Paris, conformably with the manners and