From that moment matters grew worse each day, and conciliation soon
seemed to be out of the question; for Ambroise, on being solicited to
find a basis of agreement, became in his turn impassioned, and even ended
by enraging both parties. Thus the hateful ravages of that fratricidal
war were increased: there were now three brothers up in arms against one
another. And did not this forebode the end of everything; might not this
destructive fury gain the whole family, overwhelming it as with a blast
of folly and hatred after so many years of sterling good sense and strong
and healthy affection?
Mathieu naturally tried to intervene. But at the very outset he felt that
if he should fail, if his paternal authority should be disregarded, the
disaster would become irreparable. Without renouncing the struggle, he
therefore waited for some opportunity which he might turn to good
account. At the same time, each successive day of discord increased his
anxiety. It was really all his own life-work, the little people which had
sprung from him, the little kingdom which he had founded under the
benevolent sun, that was threatened with sudden ruin.
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