AstoMr。NicholasB。，sub-lieutenantof1808，lieutenantof1813
intheFrencharmy，andforashorttimeOfficierd’OrdonnanceofMarshalMarmont;afterwardcaptaininthe2dRegimentofMountedRiflesinthePolisharmy——suchasitexistedupto1830inthereducedkingdomestablishedbytheCongressofVienna——Imustsaythatfromallthatmoredistantpast，knowntometraditionallyandalittledevisu，andcalledoutbythewordsofthemanjustgoneaway，heremainsthemostincompletefigure。ItisobviousthatImusthaveseenhimin’64，foritiscertainthathewouldnothavemissedtheopportunityofseeingmymotherforwhathemusthaveknownwouldbethelasttime。Frommyearlyboyhoodtothisday，ifItrytocalluphisimage，asortofmistrisesbeforemyeyes，mistinwhichIperceivevaguelyonlyaneatlybrushedheadofwhitehair（whichisexceptionalinthecaseoftheB。family，whereitistheruleformentogobaldinabecomingmannerbeforethirty）andathin，curved，dignifiednose，afeatureinstrictaccordancewiththephysicaltraditionoftheB。family。Butitisnotbythesefragmentaryremainsofperishablemortalitythathelivesinmymemory。Iknew，ataveryearlyage，thatmygranduncleNicholasB。wasaKnightoftheLegionofHonourandthathehadalsothePolishCrossforvalourVirtutiMilitari。Theknowledgeofthesegloriousfactsinspiredinmeanadmiringveneration;yetitisnotthatsentiment，strongasitwas，whichresumesformetheforceandthesignificanceofhispersonality。Itisoverbornebyanotherandcompleximpressionofawe，compassion，andhorror。Mr。
NicholasB。remainsformetheunfortunateandmiserable（butheroic）beingwhoonceuponatimehadeatenadog。
ItisagoodfortyyearssinceIheardthetale，andtheeffecthasnotwornoffyet。Ibelievethisistheveryfirst，say，realistic，storyIheardinmylife;butallthesameIdon’tknowwhyIshouldhavebeensofrightfullyimpressed。OfcourseIknowwhatourvillagedogslooklike——butstill……No！Atthisveryday，recallingthehorrorandcompassionofmychildhood，IaskmyselfwhetherIamrightindisclosingtoacoldandfastidiousworldthatawfulepisodeinthefamilyhistory。Iaskmyself——isitright？——especiallyastheB。familyhadalwaysbeenhonourablyknowninawidecountrysideforthedelicacyoftheirtastesinthematterofeatinganddrinking。
Butuponthewhole，andconsideringthatthisgastronomicaldegradationovertakingagallantyoungofficerliesreallyatthedooroftheGreatNapoleon，Ithinkthattocoveritupbysilencewouldbeanexaggerationofliteraryrestraint。Letthetruthstandhere。TheresponsibilityrestswiththeManofSt。