Papus named Saint-Yves as his intellectual master. As a boy he was quite difficult to manage and his parents sent him to a number of private teachers: Frédéric-Auguste de Metz and l'abbé Rousseau. He became a naval physician. After contracting a serious illness he went to the island of Jersey where he met a number of French citizens in exile (Pelleport et Hugo).

In 1870, while still in Jersey, he joined the army, later, in 1871, was employed by the Ministry of interior. In 1880, friends obtained for him the title of Marquis from the Vatican.

He was the founder of the French syndicate of professional reporterss.