"Sire," said he, "old age is boastful; and it is pardonable for old men to praise themselves when others no longer do it.
It is very possible I said that; but the fact is, sire, I am very much fatigued, and request permission to retire." "Monsieur," said the king, advancing towards the officer with a gesture full of majesty, "you are not assigning me the true reason.

You wish to quit my service, it may be true, but you disguise from me the motive of your retreat." "Sire, believe that----" "I believe what I see, monsieur; I see a vigorous, energetic man, full of presence of mind, the best soldier in France, perhaps; and this personage cannot persuade me the least in the world that you stand in need of rest." "Ah! sire," said the lieutenant, with bitterness, "what praise! Indeed, your majesty confounds me! Energetic, vigorous, brave, intelligent, the best soldier in the army! But, sire, your majesty exaggerates my small portion of merit to such a point, that however good an opinion I may have of myself, I do not recognize myself; in truth I do not.

If I were vain enough to believe only half of your majesty's words, I should consider myself a valuable, indispensable man.

I should say that a servant possessed of such brilliant qualities was a treasure beyond all price.

Now, sire, I have been all my life--I feel bound to say it--except at the present time, appreciated, in my opinion, much below my value.