Raynal ran his eye over it, nodded cold approval, and
told him to take this for the present as a guide as to his own duties.
He then pointed to a map on which Riviere's district was marked in
blue ink, and bade him find the centre of it. Edouard took a pair
of compasses off the table, and soon discovered that the village of
Beaurepaire was his centre. "Then quarter yourself at Beaurepaire; and
good-day," said Raynal.
The chateau was in sight from Riviere's quarters, and he soon learned
that it belonged to a royalist widow and her daughters, who all three
held themselves quite aloof from the rest of the world. "Ah," said the
young citizen, "I see. If these rococo citizens play that game with me,
I shall have to take them down." Thus a fresh peril menaced this family,
on whose hearts and fortunes such heavy blows had fallen.
One evening our young official, after a day spent in the service of
the country, deigned to take a little stroll to relieve the cares of
administration. He imprinted on his beardless face the expression of
a wearied statesman, and strolled through an admiring village.
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