But Francois, raising his eyes and glancing at the old place, remarked: "No, no, to-day's Thursday, and I'm at liberty! Oh! we have a deal of liberty, perhaps too much.

But for my own part I'm well pleased at it, for it often enables me to go to Montmartre and work at my old little table.
It's only there that I feel any real strength and clearness of mind." His preliminary examinations had entitled him to admission at either the Ecole Polytechnique or the Ecole Normale,* and he had chosen the latter, entering its scientific section with No.

1 against his name.

His father had wished him to make sure of an avocation, that of professor, even if circumstances should allow him to remain independent and follow his own bent on leaving the college.

Francois, who was very precocious, was now preparing for his last examination there, and the only rest he took was in walking to and from Montmartre, or in strolling through the Luxembourg gardens.
* The purposes of the Ecole Normale have been referred to on p.197.At the Ecole Polytechnique young men receive much of the preliminary training which they require to become either artillery officers, or military, naval or civil engineers .-- Trans.
From force of habit he now turned towards the latter, accompanied by Pierre and chatting with him.