But if the latter equation be altered, so as to give to z the same value as in the former, it will be useless, in the statement of a problem. For nothing can be determined from the one, which cannot be from the other. Thus, in the equations 3x 60, and 10, one is superfluous. But if the number of independent equations produced from the conditions of a problem, be less than the number of unknown quantities, the subject is not sufficiently limited to admit of a definite answer. If, for instance, in the equation x+y=100, x and y are required, there may be 50 different answers. The values of x and y may be either 99 and 1, or 98 and 2, or 97 and 3, etc. For the sum of each pair of these numbers is equal to 100. But if there be a second equation which determines one of these quantities, the other may then be found from the equation already given. As z+y=100, if x 46, y must be such a number as added to 46 will make 100, that is, it must be 54; and no other number will answer this condition. In most cases also, the solution of a problem which contains many unknown quantities, may be abridged by particular artifices in substituting a single letter for several. Prob. 55. Suppose 4 numbers, u, x, y, and z, are required, of which the sum of the first 3 is 13, the sum of the first 2 and the last 17, the sum of the first and the last 2, 18, and the sum of the last 3, 21. Now, let S be substituted for the sum of the four numbers, that is, u+z+y+z. It will then be seen that of these 105. four equations, Prob. 48. There is a certain fraction, such, that if 3 be added to the numerator, the value of the fraction will be ; but if I be subtracted from the denominator, the value will be . What is the fraction? Ans. . Prob. 49. Divide the number 90 into 4 such parts, that the first is increased by 2, the second diminished by 2, the third multiplied by 2, and the fourth divided by 2, shall all be equal. Ans. 18, 22, 10, and 40. Prob. 50. Find three numbers, such that the first with the sum of the second and third shall be 120; the second with the difference of the third and first shall be 70; and the sum of the three numbers shall be 95. Ans. 50, 65, and 75. Prob. 51. What two numbers are those, whose difference, sum and product, are as the numbers 2, 3, and 5? Ans. 10 and 2. Prob 52. A vintner sold at one time, 20 dozen of port wine, and 30 dozen of sherry; and for the whole received 120 guineas. At another time, he sold 30 dozen of port and 25 dozen of sherry, at the same prices as before; and for the whole received 140 guineas. What was the price per dozen of each sort of wine? Ans. 3 guineas and 2 guineas. Prob. 53. A merchant having mixed a certain number of gallons of brandy and water, found that, if he had mixed 18 gallons more of each, he would have put into the mixture 8 gallons of brandy for every 7 of water. But if he had mixed 18 less of each, he would have put in 5 gallons of brandy for every 4 of water. How many gallons of each did he mix? Ans. 78 and 66. Prob. 54. What fraction is that, whose numerator being doubled, and the denominator increased by 7, the value becomes; but the denominator being doubled, and the numerator increased by 2, the value becomes? Ans. 1. If in the algebraic statement of the conditions of a problem, the original equations are more numerous than the unknown quantities; these equations will either be contradictory, or one or more of them will be superfluous. Thus, the equations 32 60, and 20, are dictory. For by the first = 20, while by the second, x = 40. contra SECOND CENTENARY OF PROBLEMS. In the following problems, the student may now employ two, three, or more unknown quantities in their solution, just as the nature of each may require; or, he may still limit the number of the unknown quantities by first supposing one unknown quantity, and then finding from the conditions of the question, expressions for the other unknown quantities in terms of that which has been assumed. We shall be glad to receive solutions as formerly, and to name the authors in our pages. Prob. 1. Find two numbers such that their sum shail be a, and their difference b. Ans. (a+b) and † (a —b). Prob. 2. Divide the number 20 into such parts, that three times the one added to five times the other will make 76. Ans. 12 and 8. Prob. 3. Two gamesters, A and B, sat down to play. A had 80 guineas and B had 60; after a certain number of games were won and lost between them, it was found that A had three times as many guineas as B; how many guineas did A win of B? Ans. 25. Prob. 4. Find two numbers such that half the first and a third part of the second shall make 9; and that a fourth part of the first with a fifth part of the second shall make 5. Ans. 8 and 15. Prob. 5. Divide the number 2 into two such parts that a third of the one added to a fifth of the other shall make 3. Ans. 1 and . Prob. 6. Find three numbers such that the sum of the first and second shall be 7, the sum of the first and third 8, and the sum of the second and third 9; and give a general solution, by supposing these three sums to be a, b, and c, respectively. Ans. 3, 4, and 5; and † (a + b − e), § (a− b + c), and (a+c). Prob. 7. The sum of the three digits in a certain number is 16; the sum of the hundreds' digit and the tens' digit is to the sum of the tens' digit and the units' digit, as 4 is to 5; and if 198 be added to the number, the hundreds' digit and the units' digit will change places. What is the number? Ans. 547. Prob. 8. Divide 72 into four such parts, that the first increased by 5, the second diminished by 5, the third multiplied by 5, and the fourth divided by 5, the sum, difference, product, and quotient, shall all be equal to one another. Ans. 5, 15, 2, and 50. Prob. 9. A farmer hired 4 men and 8 boys for a week, and paid them in all £8; the next week he paid 7 men and 6 boys at the same rate each, and paid in all £10; how much did he pay each man and each boy by the week? Ans. 20 shillings, and 10 shillings. Prob. 10. A father bequeathed £2,800 to his daughter and son, in such a manner that for every half-crown the daughter had, the son should have a shilling; what were their shares? Ans. £2,000, and £800. Prob. 11. A bill of £100 was paid in half-guineas and crowns; and 202 pieces of money were employed in the payment; how many pieces were there of each kind? Ans. 180 half-guineas, and 22 crowns. Prob. 12. Find four numbers such, that the sum of the first, second, and third, shall be 13; the sum of the first, second, and fourth, 15; the sum of the first, third, and fourth, 18; and the sum of the second, third, and fourth, 20. Ans. 2, 4, 7, and 9. Prob. 13. Two numbers are to each other as 20 to 30, but if 6 be added to each, then the sums are to each other as 40 to 50; what are the numbers? Ans. 6 and 9. Prob. 14. There are two numbers such, that the greater is to the less as their sum is to 20, or as their difference is to 10; what are the numbers? Ans. 45 and 15. Prob. 15. Three boys were playing at marbles. In the first game, A loses to B and C as many as each of these two had when they began; in the second game, B loses to A and C as many as each of these two had at the end of the first game; in the third game, C loses to A and B as many as each of these two had at the end of the second game. Each has now 16 marbles; how many had each at first? Ans. A, 26; B, 14; and C, 8. Prob. 16. A person goes to a coffee-house with a certain quantity of money in his pocket, where he spends 2 shillings; he then borrows as much money as he had left, and going to another coffee-house, he there spends shillings also: then borrowing again as much money as was left, he went to a third coffee-house, where likewise he spent 2 shillings; and thus repeating the same at a fourth coffee-house, he then had nothing remaining: what sum had he at first, and what was he in debt? Ans. At first. 3s. 9d, and had borrowed 4s. 3d. Prob. 17. A man with his wife and child dine together at an inn. The landlord charged 1 shilling for the child; for the woman as much as for the child and quarter as much as for the man; and for the man as much as for the woman and child together: how much was that for each. Ans. The woman 1s, 8d, and the man 2s, 8d. Prob. 18. A cask which held 60 gallons was filled with a mixture of brandy, wine, and cyder, so that the cyder was 6 gallons more than the brandy, and the wine was as much as the cyder and of the brandy: how much was there of each ? Ans. Brandy 15, cyder 21, wine 24. Prob. 19. Says A to B, if you give me 10 guineas of your money, I shall then have twice as much as you will have left; but says B to A, give me 10 of your guineas, and then I shall have 3 times as many as you? how many had each. Ans. A 22, B 26. Prob. 20. Three persons, A, B, C, make a joint contribution, which in the whole amounts to £400; of which sum B contributes twice as much as A and £20 more; and C as much as A and B together: what sum did each contribute? Ans. A £60, B £140, and C £200. Prob. 21. The stock of three traders amounted to £760; the shares of the first and second exceeded that of the third by £240, and the sum of the second and third exceeded the first by £360: what was the share of each? Ans. The 1st, £200; the 2nd, £300; and the 3rd, £260. Prob. 22. What two numbers are those, which, being in the ratio of 3 to 4, their product is equal to 12 times their sum. Ans. 21 and 28. Prob. 23. A certain company at an inn, when they came to settle their reckoning, found that had there been 4 more in company, they might each have paid a shilling less than they did; but that if there had been 3 fewer in company, they must each have paid a shilling more than they did what then was the number of persons in company, what did each pay, and what was the whole reckoning? Ans. 24 persons, each paid 78., and the whole reckoning was 8 guineas. Prob. 24. A farmer has two horses; and also two saddles, the one valued at £18 the other at £3. Now when he sets the better saddle on the 1st horse, and the worse on the 2nd, it makes the 1st horse worth double the 2nd, but when he places the better saddle on the 2nd horse, and the worse on the 1st, it makes the second horse worth three times the 1st: what were the values of the two horses. Ans. £6, and £9. Prob. 25. It is required to divide the number 24 into two such parts, that the quotient of the greater part divided by the less, may be to the quotient of the less part divided by the greater, as 4 to 1. Ans. 16 and 8. Prob. 26. A cistern is to be filled with water from three different stop-cocks; from the first it can be filled in 8 hours, from the second in 10, and from the third in 14: how soon would they altogether fill it? Ans. In 3h. 22m. 24 sec. Prob. 27. A labourer engages to work for 3s. 6d. a day and his board, but to allow 9d, for his board each day that he is unemployed. At the end of 24 days he has to receive £3 28. 9d.: how many days did he work? Ans. 19 days. Prob. 28. Three workmen are employed to dig a ditch of 191 yards in length. If A can dig 27 yards in 4 days, B 35 yards in 6 days, and C 40 yards in 12 days, in what time could they do it if they worked simultaneously? Ans. 12 days. Prob. 29. A farmer wishes to mix 28 bushels of barley at 2s. 4d. a bushel, with rye at 3s. a bushel, and wheat at 4s. a bushel, so that the whole may consist of 100 bushels at 3s. 4d. a bushel: how much rye and wheat must he use for this purpose? Ans. 30 bushels of rye, and 42 bushels of wheat. Prob. 30. A sum of money was divided equally amongst a certain number of persons: had there been three persons more, each would have received one shilling less; and had there been two persons fewer, each would have received one shilling more. Required the number of persons, and what each received. Ans. 12 persons, and 5 shillings. Prob. 31. How may a bill of £7 4s. be paid with half guineas and crowns, so that twice the number of crowns may be equal to three times the number of half guineas? Ans. 12 crowns, and 8 half guineas. Prob. 32. A person rows a distance of 20 miles and back in 10 hours, the stream flowing uniformly in the same direction all the time; he finds that, with the stream, he can row 3 miles in the same time that it takes him to row 2 miles against it. How long was he going with the stream, and how long against Ans. 4 hours with stream, and 6 hours against it. it ? [The remainder of this Centenary of Problems will be given in our next number if possible; in the mean time our students can be working at these just given.] Because BD is a parallelogram, and AC its diagonal, the triangle ABC is equal (I. 34) to the triangle ADC. Again, because E H is a parallelogram, E A H Because FL is a parallelogram (Def. 36), of which the diagonal is HK; AG and ME are the parallelograms about н K, and LB and B F are the complements. Therefore the complement LB is equal (I. 43) to the complement BF. But the complement B F is equal (Const.) to the triangle c. Therefore LB is equal (Az. 1) to the triangle c. Because the angle G BE is equal (I. 15) to the angle A B M, and likewise (Const.) to the angle D. Therefore the angle ABM is equal (Ax. 1) to the angle D. Wherefore to the straight line AB, is applied the parallelogram LB, equal to the triangle c, and having the angle A B M equal to the angle D. Q. E. F. Corollary. From this proposition, it is manifest how to describe on a given straight line, a rectangle equal to a given triangle. D F and AK its diagonal, the triangle AEK is equal (I. 34) to the triangle A HK. For the same reason, the triangle K GC is equal to the triangle KFC. Therefore the two triangles A E K and K G C are equal (Ax. 2) to the two triangles A H K and K FC. But the whole triangle ABC is equal to the whole triangle ADC. Therefore the remaining complement BK is equal (Ar. 3) to the remaining complement K D. Wherefore the complements, etc. Q. E. D. Corollary 1.-The parallelograms about the diagonal of a parallelogram, as also its complements, are equiangular to the whole parallelogram and to each other. Corollary 2.-If through any point in the diagonal of a parallelogram, straight lines be drawn parallel to its sides, the parts into which each divides the parallelogram are equal, the greater to the greater, and the less to the less. apply to (that is, to describe upon) the straight line AB, a parallelogram equal to the triangle c, and having an angle equal to D. Make the parallelogram BF equal (I. 42) to the triangle c, and having the angle EBG equal to the angle D. Place the parallelogram so that its side B E shall be in the same straight fine with AB. Produce FG to H. Through A, draw A parallel to B G or EF (I. 31), and meeting FH in H. Join H B. Because the straight line HF falls upon the two parallels AH and EF, the two angles A HF and HFE are together equal (I. 29) to two right angles. Therefore the two angles BHF and HPE are less than two right angles. But those straight lines which, with another straight line, make the two interior angles upon the same side of it less than two right angles, do meet (Ax. 12) if produced far enough. Therefore H B and FE ahall meet, if produced. Let them be produced and meet in Through K, draw KL parallel to EA or FH. and produce HA and GB, to meet in the points L and M. | Join DB. Describe the parallelogram FH equal to the triangle A D B, and having the angle PK H equal (I. 42) to the angle E. To the straight line G H apply the parallelogram ex equal to the triangle DB c, and having the angle GHM equal (I. 44) to the angle E. Then the figure KL is the parallelogram required. Because the angle E is equal (Const.) to each of the angles FK H and GH м, the angle FK H is equal (Ax. 1) to the angle GH M. To each of these equals add the angle KH G. Therefore the two angles FK H and K HG are equal to the two angles KHG and G H M. But the two angles FK H and K HG are equal (1.29) to two right angles. Therefore the two angles K HO and G H M are also equal (Ax. 1) to two right angles. Because at the point H, in the straight line G H, the two straight lines KH and Hм, upon opposite sides of it, make the adjacent angles equal to two right angles, HK is in the same straight line (I. 14) with H м. Again, because the straight line H G meets the parallels K м and FG, therefore the angle мHG is equal (I. 29) to the alternate angle HGF. To each of these equals add the angle HGL; and the two angles MHG and HGL are equal to the two angles HGF and HGL; but the two angles MHG and HG L are equal (I. 29) to two right angles. Therefore also the two angles HGF and HG L are equal (Ax. 1) to two right angles. Wherefore, as before, FG (I. 14) is in the same straight line with G L. Because K F is parallel to H G, and H G to ML; therefore KF is parallel (I. 30) to M L. And Therefore, the figure KM has been proved parallel to F L. KL is a parallelogram (Def. 36). But the parallelogram FH is equal (Const.) to the triangle A BD, and the parallelogram GM to the triangle BDC. Therefore the whole parallelogram K L is equal to the whole rectilineal figure ABCD. Wherefore the lineal figure A B CD, and having the angle г Kм equal to the parallelogram K L has been described equal to the given rectigiven angle E. Q. E. F. Corollary. From this it is manifest how, to a given straight line, to apply a parallelogram, which shall have an angle equal to a given rectilineal angle, and shall be equal to a given rectilineal figure; viz., by applying to the given straight line a parallelogram equal to the first triangle ABD (I. 44), and having an angle equal to the given angle, and conK.structing the rest of the figure as in this proposition. By this proposition, also, upon a given straight line, a rect angle may be described, equal to a given rectilineal figure. To describe a square upon a given straight line. C D A E From the point a draw A c at right angles (I. 11) to A B. Make AD equal (I. 3) to A B. Through the point D draw LE parallel (I. 31) to A B, and through the point в, draw BE parallel to A D. Then, the figure A E is a square. Because a E is a parallelogram (Def. 36), a P is equal (I. 34) to DE, and A to B E. But BA is equal to A D. Therefore the four lines BA, AD, DE, and EB are all equal to one another, and the parallelogram AE is equilateral. Again, because A D meets the parallels A B and D E, the two angles B A D and AD E are equal (I. 29) to two right angles. But BAD is (Const.) a right angle. Therefore also ADE is a right angle. But the opposite angles of parallelograms (I. 34) are equal. Therefore each of the opposite angles ABE and BED is a right angle, and the parallelogram A E is rectangular, that is, has all its angles right angles. And it has been proved to be equilateral. Therefore the figure A E is a square (Def. 30), and it is described upon the given straight line a B. Q. E. F. Corollary 1.-Hence every parallelogram that has one right angle, has all its right angles. The construction of this problem may be effected, in accordance with Euclid's definition of a square, by Prop. XI. of this book. Euclid's corollary has also been anticipated. Corollary 2.-If two squares be equal, their sides, or the straight lines on which they are described, are equal. [The exercises to these Propositions will be given in our next.] FRENCH READING S.-No. XIX. SECTION III. En 1812, Joséphine fit un voyagel en Italie; et là, comme jadis, alors qu'elle était au faîte des grandeurs, elle se fit adorer des populations. Les qualités éminentes de son cœur et de son esprit avaient donné à la couronne plus d'éclat qu'elles n'en avaient reçu; c'est pourquoi Joséphine conserva mo-après sa chute le respect et l'amour du peuple. A part quelques courtisans avides et sans honte qui l'abandonnerent, l'impératrice déchue resta l'impératrice bien-aimée,3 surnom qui lui fut donné et que la postérité lui confirmera. Les désastres de 1814 portèrent un coup mortel au cœur de Joséphine. Pourquoi ai-je consenti au divorce? Napoléon est malheureux et je ne puis partager son mulheur, répétait-elle sans cesse. Femme d'un des plus grands hommes des temps dernes, impératrice sacrée des Français, reine couronnée d'Italie, aimée et vénérée de tout le monde, Joséphine semblait être arrivée au comble de la gloire et du bonheur, et n'avoir plus rien à désirer: mais son mariage avec l'Empereur était stérile. Dans les premières années de son règne, Napoléon parut peu sensible à ce malheur; il considérait alors les fils de son frère Louis et d'Hortense, fille de Joséphine, comme ses héritiers naturels à l'empire; Après l'entrée des ennemis à Paris, les souverains étranet il avait désigné Eugène à la succession d'Italic. Mais en gers s'empressèrent d'aller porter à l'impératrice le tribut 1808, il céda aux conseils pressants de ses sœurs, envieuses de leurs hommages. Joséphine, aveuglée un instant par ce de Joséphine, et plus encore à la fausse vanité de s'allier à qu'elle crut être de l'intérêt de ses enfants, se laissa aller l'une de ces grandes familles de l'Europe qu'il avait succes-à recevoir les princes alliés. Le dévouement 10 maternet sivement écrasées de sa puissance populaire. excuse cet acte de faiblesse; et d'ailleurs la violence que Il se décida donc à divorcer d'avec Joséphine, l'impéra- | Joséphine dut faire à ses sentiments" de femme et de trice française, la compagne de sa destinée extraordinaire, pour mettre à sa place une étrangère, qui en cette qualité ne pouvait et ne devait jamais avoir aucune sympathie avec la France. Joséphine consentit à ce sacrifices avec un courage héroïque. Elle perdait par là l'Empereur, qu'elle aimait de toute la tendresse de son âme, et l'espérance de voir ses petits fils et son fils succéder à l'empire, et à la royauté d'Italie; et pourtant elle se résigna11 sans faiblesse, sinon sans une grande douleur. En présence des princes de la famille impériale et des hauts dignitaires de l'empire, elle dut lire elle-même l'acte de renonciation à ce qu'elle avait de plus cher: telle était la volonté de Napoléon; et elle l'accomplit. On lui offrit alors le gouvernement de Rome ou celui de Bruxelles; elles les refusa en disant que, celle qui avait été impératrice des Français ne pouvait ni descendre ni monter. Mais elle voulut rester en France, et elle y resta malgré les jalousies et les intrigues qui cherchaient à l'en éleigner. Française, épuisa ses forces; son sang s'enflamma; elle se trouva grièvement indisposée. Le roi de Prusse étant venu la voir,14 elle fut obligée de se lever. Un refroidissement gagné 15 dans ses jardins aggrava son mal, une ungine? se déclara, et trois jours après le vingt-neuf mai, elle expira, chrétienne et résignée, dans les bras de ses enfants. Ses dernières paroles furent: L'île d'Elbe1........ Napoléon! Me voilà, me voilà... Justement à la même époque, Marie-Louise rentrait à Vienne avce son fils, abandonnant volontairement et pour toujours, la France et son époux malheureux. Le corps de Joséphine fut déposé dans l'église de Ruel, près de Paris. Sept ans plus tard ses enfants obtinrent la permission de lui élever un tombeau. La mémoire de Joséphine ne périra pas. Deux qualités précieuses lui assurent la perpétuité du souvenir populaire; elle fut bonne et Française. La postérité de l'impératrice se compose de deux petits-fils et de quatre petites-filles. LE BAS NOTES AND REFERENCES.-a. L. S. 34. R. 2.-b. courtisans, courtiers.-c. lieu, reason.-d. from voir; L. part ii., p. 110.e. elle, relates to majesté, which is feminine.-f. pauvre, beggar.chapeau bas, with his hat off; literally, low.-h. from suivre; L. part ii., p. 106.-i. refrain, reply; literally, chorus. 11. A quels sentiments dut-elle. faire violence? 13. Comment se trouva-t-elle ? 16. Combien de jours vécut- 17. Quelles furent ses dernières 18. Que se passait-il à la même 19. Ou plaça-t-on le corps de NOTES AND REFERENCES.-a. from faire; L. part ii., p. 92. -b. L. S. 41, R. 5.-c. à part quelques courtisans, if we except a few courtiers-d. se laissa aller, consented.-e. dut, was compelled. f. angine, inflammation of the throat.-g. me voilà, here I am.-h. from vivre; L. part ii., p. 110 LE ROI ALPHONSE. Alphonse fut, dit-on, un célèbre astronome.3 Mes amis, disait-il, enfin j'ai lieu de croire Je verrai cette nuit des hommes dans la lune. Répondait-on; la chose est même trop commune; Et sans le regarder, son chemin continue. Le pauvre suit le roi, toujours tendant la main, Toujours renouvelant sa prière importune: Mais, les yeux vers le ciel, le roi pour tout refrain,i Répétait: 12 Je verrai des hommes dans la lune. Enfin le pauvre le saisit 13 Par son manteau royal, et gravement lui dit; Ce n'est pas de là-haut,14 c'est des lieux où nous sommes Que Dieu vous a fait souverain. Regardez 15 à vos pieds; là vous verrez des hommes,15 Et des hommes manquant de pain. COLLOQUIAL EXERCISE. 1. Où régnait un certain roi? 2. Pourquoi l'avait-on surnommé le sage? 3. Que fut surtout Alphonse? 4. Quelles étaient ses connaissances? 5. Pourquoi quittait-il souvent le conseil? 6. Où allait-il un soir entouré de ses courtisans ? 7. Que leur disait-il ? FLORIAN. 9. Qu'arriva-t-il pendant ces discours? 10. Le roi fit-il attention au pauvre? 11. Que fit alors le mendiant ? 12. Que répétait Alphonse les yeux tournés vers le ciel ? 13. Que fit enfin le pauvre? 14. Que dit-il gravement au monarque? 15. Où lui dit-il de regarder? 8. Que lui répondirent les 16. Que devait-il voir à ses courtisans ? pieds? DEUX HOMMES BIENFAISANTS, SECTION I. DANS un temps qui n'est pas éloigné de nous, vivait en Allemagne un petit souverain1 qui gouvernait sa principauté en véritable père. C'était l'ancien landgrave de HesseHombourg. Un jour ce bon prince étant à table,3 s'entre tenait avec sa femme et un de ses chambellans de la position de ses sujets, qu'il connaissait en grande partie par leurs noms, car ils n'étaient qu'au nombre de quelques mille. Des flocons de neiges voltigeaient en dehors autour des fenêtres comme un léger duvet agité par le vent. Il faisait un bien grand froid. Avec quelle bonté," interrompit tout à coup la femme du landgrave, le Créateur n'a-t-il pas pris soin de nous? Et pourtant nous nous montrons bien peu reconnaissants des bontés que nous envoie sa Providence. Sans peines comme sans souffrances,"jouissant de tout ce que nous pouvons désirer, nous n'avons jusqu'ici vécu dans notre château héréditaire qu'au sein de la paix et du bonheur; et, tandis que le froid pénètre au fond des pauvres 10 cabanes et y fait entrer la misère, nous sommes ici, nous, dans un appartement bien chaud, nous savourons des mets délicats. Ah! remercions dans nos cœurs le bon Dieu de toutes les faveurs dont il nous comble. Le prince, secrètement ému 12 des paroles touchantes qu'il venait d'entendre, se retourna du côté de son chambellan, et lui dit: Quelles sont les familles les plus pauvres 13 et les plus honnêtes de ma principauté? Vous devez les connaître; nommez-les-moi pour que je leur distribue des secours. Le chambellan, fort honoré de cette marque de confiance, répondit: -Je suis heureux, Monseigneur, que vous daigniez m'interroger sur ce point, car je puis vous satisfaire. Au village le plus prochain, dans la première cabane,15 végète dans la plus profonde misère, une famille intéressante; il y a là un bien digne homme, une brave femme et leurs deux petits enfants. Si vous voulez faire une bonne œuvre, elle sera bien placée. Le prince répliqua: Votre avis me plait;s cependant, je voudrais être bien sûr 16 de l'honnêteté de cette famille, et particulièrement de celle du père.-Monseigneur, reprit le chambellan, je réponds des vertus de cet homme; 17 il est si bon, en vérité, qu'il se dépouillerait pour un autre plus pauvre que lui.-Vraiment ? s'écria le prince.-Sur l'honneur! répondit le chambellan.-Eh bien? je veux, dit le prince, le soumettre 18 à une épreuve. Promettez-moi 19 seulement de garder le secret. Le chambellan, après avoir fait 20 la promesse, salua et se retira. |