30 LIFE OF SADI GARNOT. 



threatening him. Anxious to be perfectly clear, 

 Sadi made me read some passages of his manu- 

 script in order to convince himself that it would 

 be understood by persons occupied with other 

 studies. 



Perhaps a solitary life in small garrisons, in the 

 work-room and in the chemical laboratory, had 

 increased his natural reserve. In small compa- 

 nies, however, he was not at all taciturn. He took 

 part voluntarily in the gayest plays, abandoning 

 himself to lively chat. "The time passed in 

 laughing is well spent," he once wrote. His lan- 

 guage was at such times full of wit, keen without 

 malice, original without eccentricity, sometimes 

 paradoxical, but without other pretension than 

 that of an innocent activity of intelligence. He 

 had a very warm heart under a cold manner. He 

 was obliging and devoted, sincere and true in his 

 dealings. 



Towards the end of 1826, a new royal ordinance 

 having obliged the staff lieutenants to return to 

 the ranks, Sadi asked and obtained a return to the 

 engineer corps, in which he received the following 

 year, as his rank of seniority, the grade of captain. 



Military service, however, weighed upon him. 

 Jealous of his liberty, in 1828, he laid aside his 

 uniform that he might be free to come and go at 



