CHAPTER I

Alphonse Karr--The cuirassier--The medal for life saving and the Cross of the Légion d'honneur--Karr's home at Montmartre--_Sous les tilleuls_ and the critics--The taking of Algiers--M. Dupin senior--Why he did not write his Memoirs--Signing of the Ordinances of July--Reasons that prevented my going to Algiers