You, young man, are the first to be elected, the first to be crowned in this dynasty of wisdom and charity. Your name will head the list of the most meritorious. Your life, mark this well, your entire life must follow in the spirit of this most auspicious of beginnings. Today, in the presence of this noble woman who rewards your conduct; in the presence of our soldier-citizens who took up arms to defend the honour of those such as you; in the presence of this congregation gathered here in love to acclaim you, or rather, virtue made manifest in you, you make a solemn pledge with this town and with all of us here to follow unto death the excellent example you have hitherto shown in youth. Never forget, young man, you are the first seed to be sown in the soil of hope. Bring to us the harvest we have come to expect of you.

The Mayor took three steps forward towards Isidore who was now sobbing, opened his arms wide and embraced him warmly. The Rose King wept, he knew not why, with mixed emotions of pride and a sort of simple joy. The Mayor placed in one of his hands a silken purse in which solid gold clinked –500 francs in gold! Having placed in Isidore’s other hand a savings book, he declared in a solemn voice: “All honour, glory and wealth to virtue!”

Major Desbarres cried “Bravo!”, the grenadiers echoed him in chorus and the people burst into applause. It was now Madame Husson’s turn to wipe tears from her eyes. They then took their places at the table where the banquet was being served. It was both magnificent and interminable. Course after course was brought. Yellow cider and red wine flowed in and out of convivial glasses and reached appreciative throats. The clatter of crockery, the sound of voices and that of music in the background provided a constant, resonant buzz which faded as it rose into the sky where swallows now flew.

From time to time Madame Husson adjusted her black silk wig, which had a tendency to keel over and remain beached on her ear. She chatted amicably with the abbé Malou while the Mayor in a state of high excitement talked politics with the major. Isidore ate and drank as he never had before! He took helpings and second helpings of everything on offer and realized for the first time how wonderful it is to feel one’s stomach fill with things that have already tasted heavenly in the mouth. He had slyly undone the buckle of his trouser-belt which was straining under the pressure of his rapidly distending belly. Silent now, and a little worried about a wine stain on his white drill jacket, he stopped eating and brought to his lips a glass which stayed there for some time as he slowly savoured its contents.