LIFE OF SADI CARNOT. 33 



Peers, of which Carnot had been a member in 

 1815. We had on this occasion a brief conference. 

 Unknown to us both, this distinction could be 

 offered only to a title in some sort hereditary. 

 We could not accept it without forsaking the prin- 

 ciples of Carnot, who had combated the heredity 

 of the peerage. The paternal opinion therefore 

 came to second our distaste for the proposition, 

 and dictated our reply. 



Sadi frequented the popular reunions at this 

 period without forsaking his role of a simple ob- 

 server. 



Nevertheless he was, when occasion demanded 

 it, a man of prompt and energetic action. One 

 incident will suffice to prove this, and to show the 

 sang-froid which characterized him. 



On the day of the funeral of Gen. Lamarque, 

 Sadi was walking thoughtfully in the vicinity of 

 the insurrection. A horseman preceding a com- 

 pany, and who was evidently intoxicated, passed 

 along the street on the gallop, brandishing his 

 sabre and striking down the passers-by. Sadi 

 darted forward, cleverly avoided the weapon of 

 the soldier, seized him by the leg, threw him to 

 the earth and laid him in the gutter, then contin- 

 ued on his way to escape from the cheers of the 

 crowd, amazed at this daring deed. 



