He was afraid that he might injure some of his family.

Paternal affection robbed him of three quarters of his power.
But having learned during the clamor that Clementine was called Catharine, and that Pierre Langevin was born in 1810, he resumed the offensive, blacked three eyes, broke an arm, mashed two noses, knocked in four dozen teeth, and regained his carriage with all the honors of war.
"Devil take the children!" said he, while riding in a post-chaise toward the Avricourt station.

"If I have a son, I wish he may find me!".