You don't mind my reminding you of this?
Really?
It was only a soldier's gallant jests.

How many would say that now?
When you left, I said to my brother-in-law, 'He has put on the uniform for good and all; it is useless his uncle, the beneficiary, thinking of making a priest of him.'" "It was a youthful sally," said the cardinal smiling, remembering with pride the dashing sergeant of dragoons.

"In Spain, there are only three professions worthy of a man--the sword, the Church and the toga.
My blood was hot and I wanted to be a soldier, but unluckily I fell on times of peace, my promotion would have been very slow, and in order not to embitter my uncle's last years, I renewed my studies and turned to the Church.

One can serve God or one's country as well in one place as another, but, believe me, very often in spite of the pomp of my cardinalate I think with envy of that soldier you saw.

What happy times they were! Even now the sword draws me.