midnight
And the turbulence and recklessness of his earlier years , redeemed as they were , in the traditions of his contemporaries , by courage and generosity , were not offences to which young Frenchmen are inclined to be harsh . All question as to the mode in which his life might have been passed during his long absence from the capital was merged in the respect due to the only facts known , and these were clearly proved in his pieces justificatives : First , that he had served under another name in the ranks of the army in Algiers ; had distinguished himself there for signal valour , and received , with promotion , the decoration of the cross . His real name was known only to his colonel , and on quitting the service , the colonel placed in his hands a letter of warm eulogy on his conduct , and identifying him as Victor de Mauleon . Secondly , that in California he had saved a wealthy family from midnight murder , fighting single-handed against and overmastering three ruffians , and declining all other reward from those he had preserved than a written attestation of their gratitude . In all countries , valour ranks high in the list of virtues ; in no country does it so absolve from vices as it does in France . But as yet Victor de Mauleon 's vindication was only known by a few , and those belonging to the gayer circles of life . How he might be judged by the sober middle class , which constitutes the most important section of public opinion to a candidate for political trusts and distinctions , was another question .