Page:The life and writings of Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870) (IA lifewritingsofal00spurrich).pdf/28

 ape, sir. My pedigree commences where yours terminates!"

Dumas's title of Marquis was another favourite topic for the malice of his enemies. It was asserted that he was not truly "De la Pailleterie," because his grandparents were not married. Mr. Fitzgerald repeated this assertion; but M. Parigot refutes it. "Son grandpère paternel... avait épousé une négresse Marie-Cessette (sic) Dumas, décédée en Amerique, à la Guinodée, en 1772." Although the legitimate holder of the title after his father's death, Dumas never but once in his life alluded publicly to it; that indiscretion was absurdly magnified, and the truth of the statement was doubted. Yet (says Janin) when M. Theodore Anne, in his researches concerning the cross of St. Louis, discovered the origin of the La Pailleteries, and proved them to be indisputably noble, Dumas said simply, "I knew it." His son for his part said, "I did not know it." Such was the pride of the father and the son. But to return.

The first of three Alexanders—Mr. A. B. Walkley has dubbed him "Alexandre the greatest"—was a true Frenchman, an ardent Republican, a brilliant soldier, and an honest man. The son, who was apt, at times, to decorate his facts with a gorgeous edge of appropriate fiction, seems to have