第4章

Modesteexistedforsometimeonacomprehension，notonlyoftheworks，butofthecharactersofherfavoriteauthors，——Goldsmith，theauthorofObermann，CharlesNodier，Maturin。Thepoorestandthemostsufferingamongthemwereherdeities;sheguessedtheirtrials，initiatedherselfintoadestitutionwherethethoughtsofgeniusbrooded，andpoureduponitthetreasuresofherheart;shefanciedherselfthegiverofmaterialcomforttothesegreatmen，martyrstotheirownfaculty。Thisnoblecompassion，thisintuitionofthestrugglesoftoilers，thisworshipofgenius，areamongthechoicestperceptionsthatflutterthroughthesoulsofwomen。Theyare，inthefirstplace，asecretbetweenthewomanandGod，fortheyarehidden;

inthemthereisnothingstriking，nothingthatgratifiesthevanity，——thatpowerfulauxiliarytoallactionamongtheFrench。

Outofthisthirdperiodofthedevelopmentofherideas，therecametoModesteapassionatedesiretopenetratetotheheartofoneoftheseabnormalbeings;tounderstandtheworkingofthethoughtsandthehiddengriefsofgenius，——toknownotonlywhatitwantedbutwhatitwas。Attheperiodwhenthisstorybegins，thesevagariesoffancy，theseexcursionsofhersoulintothevoid，thesefeelersputforthintothedarknessofthefuture，theimpatienceofanungivenlovetofinditsgoal，thenobilityofallherthoughtsoflife，thedecisionofhermindtosufferinasphereofhigherthingsratherthanflounderinthemarshesofprovinciallifelikehermother，thepledgeshehadmadetoherselfnevertofailinconduct，buttorespectherfather’shearthandbringithappiness，——allthisworldoffeelingandsentimenthadlatelycometoaclimaxandtakenshape。Modestewishedtobethefriendandcompanionofapoet，anartist，amaninsomewaysuperiortothecrowdofmen。Butsheintendedtochoosehim，——nottogivehimherheart，herlife，herinfinitetendernessfreedfromthetrammelsofpassion，untilshehadcarefullyanddeeplystudiedhim。

Shebeganthisprettyromancebysimplyenjoyingit。Profoundtranquillitysettleddownuponhersoul。Hercheekstookonasoftcolor;andshebecamethebeautifulandnobleimageofGermany，suchaswehavelatelyseenher，thegloryoftheChalet，theprideofMadameLatournelleandtheDumays。Modestewaslivingadoubleexistence。Sheperformedwithhumble，lovingcarealltheminutedutiesofthehomelylifeattheChalet，usingthemasareintoguidethepoetryofherideallife，liketheCarthusianmonkswholabormethodicallyonmaterialthingstoleavetheirsoulsthefreertodevelopinprayer。Allgreatmindshaveboundthemselvestosomeformofmechanicaltoiltoobtaingreatermasteryofthought。Spinosagroundglassesforspectacles;Baylecountedthetilesontheroof;

Montesquieugardened。Thebodybeingthussubdued，thesoulcouldspreaditswingsinallsecurity。

MadameMignon，readingherdaughter’ssoul，wasthereforeright。

Modesteloved;shelovedwiththatrareplatoniclove，solittleunderstood，thefirstillusionofayounggirl，themostdelicateofallsentiments，averydaintyoftheheart。Shedrankdeepdraughtsfromthechaliceoftheunknown，thevague，thevisionary。Sheadmiredtheblueplumageofthebirdthatsingsafarintheparadiseofyounggirls，whichnohandcantouch，noguncancover，asitflitsacrossthesight;shelovedthosemagiccolors，likesparklingjewelsdazzlingtotheeye，whichyouthcansee，andneverseesagainwhenReality，thehideoushag，appearswithwitnessesaccompaniedbythemayor。Tolivetheverypoetryofloveandnottoseethelover——ah，whatsweetintoxication！whatvisionaryrapture！achimerawithflowingmanandoutspreadwings！

Thefollowingisthepuerileandevensillyeventwhichdecidedthefuturelifeofthisyounggirl。

Modestehappenedtoseeinabookseller’swindowalithographicportraitofoneofherfavorites，Canalis。Weallknowwhatliessuchpicturestell，——beingastheyaretheresultofashamelessspeculation，whichseizesuponthepersonalityofcelebratedindividualsasiftheirfaceswerepublicproperty。

InthisinstanceCanalis，sketchedinaByronicpose，wasofferingtopublicadmirationhisdarklocksfloatinginthebreeze，abarethroat，andtheunfathomablebrowwhicheverybardoughttopossess。

VictorHugo’sforeheadwillmakemorepersonsshavetheirheadsthanthenumberofincipientmarshalseverkilledbythegloryofNapoleon。

ThisportraitofCanalis（poeticthroughmercantilenecessity）caughtModeste’seye。ThedayonwhichitcaughthereyeoneofArthez’sbestbookshappenedtobepublished。Wearecompelledtoadmit，thoughitmaybetoModeste’sinjury，thatshehesitatedlongbetweentheillustriouspoetandtheillustriousprose—writer。Whichofthesecelebratedmenwasfree？——thatwasthequestion。

Modestebeganbysecuringtheco—operationofFrancoiseCochet，amaidtakenfromHavreandbroughtbackagainbypoorBettina，whomMadameMignonandMadameDumaynowemployedbytheday，andwholivedinHavre。Modestetookhertoherownroomandassuredherthatshewouldnevercauseherparentsanygrief，neverpasstheboundsofayounggirl’spropriety，andthatastoFrancoiseherselfshewouldbewellprovidedforafterthereturnofMonsieurMignon，onconditionthatshewoulddoacertainserviceandkeepitaninviolablesecret。Whatwasit？Why，anothing——perfectlyinnocent。AllthatModestewantedofheraccomplicewastoputcertainlettersintothepostatHavreandtobringsomebackwhichwouldbedirectedtoherself，FrancoiseCochet。Thetreatyconcluded，ModestewroteapolitenotetoDauriat，publisherofthepoemsofCanalis，asking，intheinterestofthatgreatpoet，forsomeparticularsabouthim，amongothersifheweremarried。SherequestedthepublishertoaddresshisanswertoMademoiselleFrancoise，"posterestante，"Havre。

Dauriat，incapableoftakingtheepistleseriously，wroteareplyinpresenceoffourorfivejournalistswhohappenedtobeinhisofficeatthetime，eachofwhomaddedhisparticularstrokeofwittotheproduction。

Mademoiselle，——Canalis（Baronof），ConstantCysMelchior，memberoftheFrenchAcademy，bornin1800，atCanalis（Correze），fivefeetfourinchesinheight，ofgoodstanding，vaccinated，spotlessbirth，hasgivenasubstitutetotheconscription，enjoysperfecthealth，ownsasmallpatrimonialestateintheCorreze，andwishestomarry，buttheladymustberich。

Hebearethperpale，gulesanaxeor，sablethreeescallopsargent，surmountedbyabaron’scoronet;supporters，twolarches，vert。Motto:"Oretfer"（noallusiontoOphirorauriferous）。

TheoriginalCanalis，whowenttotheHolyLandwiththeFirstCrusade，iscitedinthechroniclesofAuvergneasbeingarmedwithanaxeonaccountofthefamilyindigence，whichtothisdayweighsheavilyontherace。Thisnoblebaron，famousfordiscomfitingavastnumberofinfidels，died，without"or"or"fer，"asnakedasaworm，nearJerusalem，ontheplainsofAscalon，ambulancesnotbeingtheninvented。

ThechateauofCanalis（thedomainyieldsafewchestnuts）

consistsoftwodismantledtowers，unitedbyapieceofwallcoveredbyafineivy，andistaxedattwenty—twofrancs。

Theundersigned（publisher）callsattentiontothefactthathepaystenthousandfrancsforeveryvolumeofpoetrywrittenbyMonsieurdeCanalis，whodoesnotgivehisshells，orhisnutseither，fornothing。

ThechanticleroftheCorrezelivesintheruedeParadis—

Poissoniere，number29，whichisahighlysuitablelocationforapoetoftheangelicschool。LettersmustbePOST—PAID。

NobledamesofthefaubourgSaint—GermainaresaidtotakethepathtoParadiseandprotectitsgod。Theking，CharlesX。，thinkssohighlyofthisgreatpoetastobelievehimcapableofgoverningthecountry;hehaslatelymadehimofficeroftheLegionofhonor，and（whatpayshimbetter）presidentofthecourtofClaimsattheforeignoffice。Thesefunctionsdonothinderthisgreatgeniusfromdrawinganannuityoutofthefundfortheencouragementoftheartsandbellesletters。

ThelasteditionoftheworksofCanalis，printedonvellum，royal8vo，fromthepressofDidot，withillustrationsbyBixiou，JosephBridau，Schinner，Sommervieux，etc。，isinfivevolumes，price，ninefrancspost—paid。

Thisletterfelllikeacobble—stoneonatulip。Apoet，secretaryofclaims，gettingastipendinapublicoffice，drawinganannuity，seekingadecoration，adoredbythewomenofthefaubourgSaint—

Germain——wasthatthemuddyminstrellingeringalongthequays，sad，dreamy，wornwithtoil，andre—enteringhisgarretfraughtwithpoetry？However，Modesteperceivedtheironyoftheenviousbookseller，whodaredtosay，"IinventedCanalis;ImadeNathan！"

Besides，shere—readherhero’spoems，——versesextremelyseductive，insincere，andhypocritical，whichrequireawordofanalysis，wereitonlytoexplainherinfatuation。

CanalismaybedistinguishedfromLamartine，chiefoftheangelicschool，byawheedlingtonelikethatofasick—nurse，atreacheroussweetness，andadelightfulcorrectnessofdiction。Ifthechiefwithhisstridentcryisaneagle，Canalis，roseandwhite，isaflamingo。

Inhimwomenfindthefriendtheyseek，theirinterpreter，abeingwhounderstandsthem，whoexplainsthemtothemselves，andasafeconfidant。ThewidemarginsgivenbyDidottothelasteditionwerecrowdedwithModeste’spencilledsentiments，expressinghersympathywiththistenderanddreamyspirit。Canalisdoesnotpossessthegiftoflife;hecannotbreatheexistenceintohiscreations;butheknowshowtocalmvaguesufferingslikethosewhichassailedModeste。Hespeakstoyounggirlsintheirownlanguage;hecanallaytheanguishofableedingwoundandlullthemoans，eventhesobsofwoe。Hisgiftliesnotinstirringwords，norintheremedyofstrongemotions，hecontentshimselfwithsayinginharmonioustoneswhichcompelbelief，"Isufferwithyou;Iunderstandyou;comewithme;letusweeptogetherbesidethebrook，beneaththewillows。"Andtheyfollowhim！

Theylistentohisemptyandsonorouspoetrylikeinfantstoanurse’slullaby。Canalis，likeNodier，enchantsthereaderbyanartlessnesswhichisgenuineintheprosewriterandartificialinthepoet，byhistact，hissmile，thesheddingofhisrose—leaves，inshortbyhisinfantilephilosophy。Heimitatessowellthelanguageofourearlyyouththatheleadsusbacktotheprairie—landofourillusions。Wecanbepitilesstotheeagles，requiringfromthemthequalityofthediamond，incorruptibleperfection;butasforCanalis，wetakehimforwhatheisandlettherestgo。Heseemsagoodfellow;theaffectationsoftheangelicschoolhaveansweredhispurposeandsucceeded，justasawomansucceedswhensheplaystheingenuecleverly，andsimulatessurprise，youth，innocencebetrayed，inshort，thewoundedangel。

Modeste，recoveringherfirstimpression，renewedherconfidenceinthatsoul，inthatcountenanceasravishingasthefaceofBernadindeSaint—Pierre。Shepaidnofurtherattentiontothepublisher。Andso，aboutthebeginningofthemonthofAugustshewrotethefollowinglettertothisDoratofthesacristy，whostillranksasastarofthemodernPleiades。

ToMonsieurdeCanalis，——Manyatime，monsieur，Ihavewishedtowritetoyou;andwhy？Surelyyouguesswhy，——totellyouhowmuchIadmireyourgenius。Yes，Ifeeltheneedofexpressingtoyoutheadmirationofapoorcountrygirl，lonelyinherlittlecorner，whoseonlyhappinessistoreadyourthoughts。IhavereadRene，andIcometoyou。Sadnessleadstoreverie。Howmanyotherwomenaresendingyouthehomageoftheirsecretthoughts？WhatchancehaveIfornoticeamongsomany？Thispaper，filledwithmysoul，——canitbemoretoyouthantheperfumedletterswhichalreadybesetyou。Icometoyouwithlessgracethanothers，forIwishtoremainunknownandyettoreceiveyourentireconfidence——asthoughyouhadlongknownme。

Answermyletterandbefriendlywithme。Icannotpromisetomakemyselfknowntoyou，thoughIdonotpositivelysayIwillnotsomedaydoso。

WhatshallIadd？Readbetweenthelinesofthisletter，monsieur，thegreateffortwhichIammaking:permitmetoofferyoumyhand，——thatofafriend，ah！atruefriend。

Yourservant，O。d’EsteM。

P。S。——Ifyoudomethefavortoanswerthisletteraddressyourreply，ifyouplease，toMademoiselleF。Cochet，"posterestante，"

Havre。

CHAPTERVII

APOETOFTHEANGELICSCHOOL

Allyounggirls，romanticorotherwise，canimaginetheimpatienceinwhichModestelivedforthenextfewdays。Theairwasfulloftonguesoffire。Thetreeswerelikeaplumage。Shewasnotconsciousofabody;shehoveredinspace，theearthmeltedawayunderherfeet。Fullofadmirationforthepost—office，shefollowedherlittlesheetofpaperonitsway;shewashappy，asweallarehappyattwentyyearsofage，inthefirstexerciseofourwill。Shewaspossessed，asinthemiddleages。Shemadepicturesinhermindofthepoet’sabode，ofhisstudy;shesawhimunsealingherletter;andthenfollowedmyriadsofsuppositions。

Aftersketchingthepoetrywecannotdolessthangivetheprofileofthepoet。Canalisisashort，spareman，withanairofgood—breeding，adark—complexioned，moon—shapedface，andarathermeanheadlikethatofamanwhohasmorevanitythanpride。Helovesluxury，rank，andsplendor。Moneyisofmoreimportancetohimthantomostmen。

Proudofhisbirth，evenmorethanofhistalent，hedestroysthevalueofhisancestorsbymakingtoomuchoftheminthepresentday，——afterall，theCanalisarenotNavarreins，norCadignans，norGrandlieus。Nature，however，helpshimoutinhispretensions。HehasthoseeyesofEasterneffulgencewhichwedemandinapoet，adelicatecharmofmanner，andavibrantvoice;yetataintofnaturalcharlatanismdestroystheeffectofnearlyalltheseadvantages;heisaborncomedian。Ifheputsforwardhiswell—shapedfoot，itisbecausetheattitudehasbecomeahabit;ifheusesexclamatorytermstheyarepartofhimself;ifheposeswithhighdramaticactionhehasmadethatdeportmenthissecondnature。Suchdefectsasthesearenotincompatiblewithageneralbenevolenceandacertainqualityoferrantandpurelyidealchivalry，whichdistinguishesthepaladinfromtheknight。CanalishasnotdevotionenoughforaDonQuixote，buthehastoomuchelevationofthoughtnottoputhimselfonthenoblersideofquestionsandthings。Hispoetry，whichtakesthetownbystormonallprofitableoccasions，reallyinjuresthemanasapoet;

forheisnotwithoutmind，buthistalentpreventshimfromdevelopingit;heisoverweightedbyhisreputation，andisalwaysaimingtomakehimselfappeargreaterthanhehasthecreditofbeing。

Thus，asoftenhappens，themanisentirelyoutofkeepingwiththeproductsofhisthought。Theauthorofthesenaive，caressing，tenderlittlelyrics，thesecalmidyllspureandcoldasthesurfaceofalake，theseversessoessentiallyfeminine，isanambitiouslittlecreatureinatightlybuttonedfrock—coat，withtheairofadiplomatseekingpoliticalinfluence，smellingofthemuskofaristocracy，fullofpretension，thirstingformoney，alreadyspoiledbysuccessintwodirections，andwearingthedoublewreathofmyrtleandoflaurel。A

governmentsituationwortheightthousandfrancs，threethousandfrancs’annuityfromtheliteraryfund，twothousandfromtheAcademy，threethousandmorefromthepaternalestate（lessthetaxesandthecostofkeepingitinorder），——atotalfixedincomeoffifteenthousandfrancs，plusthetenthousandboughtin，oneyearwithanother，byhispoetry;inalltwenty—fivethousandfrancs，——thisforModeste’sherowassoprecariousandinsufficientanincomethatheusuallyspentfiveorsixthousandfrancsmoreeveryyear;buttheking’sprivypurseandthesecretfundsoftheforeignofficehadhithertosuppliedthedeficit。Hewroteahymnfortheking’scoronationwhichearnedhimawholesilverservice，——havingrefusedasumofmoneyonthegroundthataCanalisowedhisdutytohissovereign。

ButaboutthistimeCanalishad，asthejournalistssay，exhaustedhisbudget。Hefelthimselfunabletoinventanynewformofpoetry;hislyredidnothavesevenstrings，ithadone;andhavingplayedonthatonestringsolong，thepublicallowedhimnootheralternativebuttohanghimselfwithit，ortoholdhistongue。DeMarsay，whodidnotlikeCanalis，madearemarkwhosepoisonedshafttouchedthepoettothequickofhisvanity。"Canalis，"hesaid，"alwaysremindsmeofthatbravemanwhomFrederictheGreatcalledupandcommendedafterabattlebecausehistrumpethadneverceasedtootingitsonelittletune。"Canalis’sambitionwastoenterpoliticallife，andhemadecapitalofajourneyhehadtakentoMadridassecretarytotheembassyoftheDucdeChaulieu，thoughitwasreallymade，accordingtoParisiangossip，inthecapacityof"attachetotheduchess。"Howmanytimesasarcasmorasinglespeechhasdecidedthewholecourseofaman’slife。Colla，thelatepresidentoftheCisalpinerepublic，andthebestlawyerinPiedmont，wastoldbyafriendwhenhewasfortyyearsofagethatheknewnothingofbotany。Hewaspiqued，becameasecondJussieu，cultivatedflowers，andcompiledandpublished"TheFloraofPiedmont，"inLatin，alaboroftenyears。

"I’llmasterDeMarsaysomeofthesedays！"thoughtthecrushedpoet;

"afterall，CanningandChateaubriandarebothinpolitics。"

Canaliswouldgladlyhavebroughtforthsomegreatpoliticalpoem，buthewasafraidoftheFrenchpress，whosecriticismsaresavageuponanywriterwhotakesfouralexandrinestoexpressoneidea。Ofallthepoetsofourdayonlythree，Hugo，TheophileGautier，andDeVigny，havebeenabletowinthedoublegloryofpoetandprose—writer，likeRacineandVoltaire，Moliere，andRabelais，——araredistinctionintheliteratureofFrance，whichoughttogiveamanarighttothecrowningtitleofpoet。

Sothen，thebardofthefaubourgSaint—Germainwasdoingawisethingintryingtohousehislittlechariotundertheprotectingroofofthepresentgovernment。WhenhebecamepresidentofthecourtofClaimsattheforeignoffice，hestoodinneedofasecretary，——afriendwhocouldtakehisplaceinvariousways;cookuphisinterestswithpublishers，seetohisgloryinthenewspapers，helphimifneedbeinpolitics，——inshort，acat’spawandsatellite。InParismanymenofcelebrityinart，science，andliteraturehaveoneormoretrain—

bearers，captainsoftheguard，chamberlainsasitwere，wholiveinthesunshineoftheirpresence，——aides—de—campentrustedwithdelicatemissions，allowingthemselvestobecompromisedifnecessary;workersroundthepedestaloftheidol;notexactlyhisservants，noryethisequals;boldinhisdefence，firstinthebreach，coveringallretreats，busywithhisbusiness，anddevotedtohimjustsolongastheirillusionslast，oruntilthemomentwhentheyhavegotalltheywanted。Someofthesesatellitesperceivetheingratitudeoftheirgreatman;othersfeelthattheyaresimplymadetoolsof;manywearyofthelife;veryfewremaincontentedwiththatsweetequalityoffeelingandsentimentwhichistheonlyrewardthatshouldbelookedforinanintimacywithasuperiorman，——arewardthatcontentedAliwhenMohammedraisedhimtohimself。

Manyofthesemen，misledbyvanity，thinkthemselvesquiteascapableastheirpatron。Puredevotion，suchasModesteconceivedit，withoutmoneyandwithoutprice，andmoreespeciallywithouthope，israre。

NeverthelessthereareMennevalstobefound，moreperhapsinParisthanelsewhere，menwhovaluealifeinthebackgroundwithitspeacefultoil;thesearethewanderingBenedictinesofoursocialworld，whichoffersthemnoothermonastery。Thesebrave，meekheartslive，bytheiractionsandintheirhiddenlives，thepoetrythatpoetsutter。Theyarepoetsthemselvesinsoul，intenderness，intheirlonelyvigilsandmeditations，——astrulypoetsasothersofthenameonpaper，whofatteninthefieldsofliteratureatsomuchaverse;likeLordByron，likeallwholive，alas，byink，theHippocrenewaterofto—day，forwantofabetter。

AttractedbythefameofCanalis，alsobytheprospectofpoliticalinterest，andadvisedtheretobyMadamed’Espard，whoactedinthematterfortheDuchessedeChaulieu，ayounglawyerofthecourtofClaimsbecamesecretaryandconfidentialfriendofthepoet，whowelcomedandpettedhimverymuchasabrokercaresseshisfirstdabblerinthefunds。Thebeginningofthiscompanionshipboreaveryfairresemblancetofriendship。Theyoungmanhadalreadyheldthesamerelationtoaminister，whowentoutofofficein1827，takingcarebeforehedidsotoappointhisyoungsecretarytoaplaceintheforeignoffice。ErnestdeLaBriere，thenabouttwenty—sevenyearsofage，wasdecoratedwiththeLegionofhonorbutwaswithoutothermeansthanhissalary;hewasaccustomedtothemanagementofbusinessandhadlearnedagooddealoflifeduringhisfouryearsinaminister’scabinet。Kindly，amiable，andover—modest，withaheartfullofpureandsoundfeelings，hewasaversetoputtinghimselfintheforeground。Helovedhiscountry，andwishedtoserveher，butnotorietyabashedhim。TohimtheplaceofsecretarytoaNapoleonwasfarmoredesirablethanthatoftheministerhimself。AssoonashebecamethefriendandsecretaryofCanalishedidagreatamountoflaborforhim，butbytheendofeighteenmonthshehadlearnedtounderstandthebarrennessofanaturethatwaspoeticthroughliteraryexpressiononly。Thetruthoftheoldproverb，"Thecowldoesn’tmakethemonk，"iseminentlyshowninliterature。Itisextremelyraretofindamongliterarymenanatureandatalentthatareinperfectaccord。Thefacultiesarenotthemanhimself。Thisdisconnection，whosephenomenaareamazing，proceedsfromanunexplored，possiblyanunexplorablemystery。Thebrainanditsproductsofallkinds（forinartthehandofmanisacontinuationofhisbrain）areaworldapart，whichflourishesbeneaththecraniuminabsoluteindependenceofsentiments，feelings，andallthatiscalledvirtue，thevirtueofcitizens，fathers，andprivatelife。This，howevertrue，isnotabsolutelyso;nothingisabsolutelytrueofman。Itiscertainthatadebauchedmanwilldissipatehistalent，thatadrunkardwillwasteitinlibations;while，ontheotherhand，nomancangivehimselftalentbywholesomeliving:nevertheless，itisallbutprovedthatVirgil，thepainteroflove，neverlovedaDido，andthatRousseau，themodelcitizen，hadenoughpridetohadfurnishedforthanaristocracy。OntheotherhandRaphaelandMichaelAngelodopresentthegloriousconjunctionofgeniuswiththelinesofcharacter。Talentinmenistherefore，inallmoralpoints，verymuchwhatbeautyisinwomen，——

simplyapromise。Letus，therefore，doublyadmirethemaninwhombothheartandcharacterequaltheperfectionofhisgenius。

WhenErnestdiscoveredwithinhispoetanambitiousegoist，theworstspeciesofegoist（fortherearesomeamiableformsofthevice），hefeltadelicacyinleavinghim。Honestnaturescannoteasilybreakthetiesthatbindthem，especiallyiftheyhavetiedthemvoluntarily。

ThesecretarywasthereforestilllivingindomesticrelationswiththepoetwhenModeste’sletterarrived，——insuchrelations，beitsaid，asinvolvedaperpetualsacrificeofhisfeelings。LaBriereadmittedthefranknesswithwhichCanalishadlaidhimselfbarebeforehim。Moreover，thedefectsoftheman，whowillalwaysbeconsideredagreatpoetduringhislifetimeandflatteredasMartmontelwasflattered，wereonlythewrongsideofhisbrilliantqualities。

Withouthisvanityandhismagniloquenceitispossiblethathemightneverhaveacquiredthesonorouselocutionwhichissousefulandevennecessaryaninstrumentinpoliticallife。Hiscold—bloodednesstouchedatcertainpointsonrectitudeandloyalty;hisostentationhadaliningofgenerosity。Results，wemustremember，aretotheprofitofsociety;motivesconcernGod。

ButafterthearrivalofModeste’sletterErnestdeceivedhimselfnolongerastoCanalis。Thepairhadjustfinishedbreakfastandweretalkingtogetherinthepoet’sstudy，whichwasontheground—floorofahousestandingbackinacourt—yard，andlookedintoagarden。

"There！"exclaimedCanalis，"IwastellingMadamedeChaulieutheotherdaythatIoughttobringoutanotherpoem;Iknewadmirationwasrunningshort，forIhavehadnoanonymouslettersforalongtime。"

"Isitfromanunknownwoman？"

"Unknown？yes！——aD’Este，inHavre;evidentlyafeignedname。"

CanalispassedthelettertoLaBriere。Thelittlepoem，withallitshiddenenthusiasms，inshort，poorModeste’sheart，wasdisdainfullyhandedover，withthegestureofaspoileddandy。

"Itisafinething，"saidthelawyer，"tohavethepowertoattractsuchfeelings;toforceapoorwomantostepoutofthehabitswhichnature，education，andtheworlddictatetoher，tobreakthroughconventions。Whatprivilegesgeniuswins！Alettersuchasthis，writtenbyayounggirl——agenuineyounggirl——withouthiddenmeanings，withrealenthusiasm——"

"Well，what？"saidCanalis。

"Why，amanmightsufferasmuchasTassoandyetfeelrecompensed，"

criedLaBriere。

"Sohemight，mydearfellow，byafirstletterofthatkind，andevenasecond;buthowaboutthethirtieth？Andsupposeyoufindoutthattheseyoungenthusiastsarelittlejades？Orimagineapoetrushingalongthebrilliantpathinsearchofher，andfindingattheendofitanoldEnglishwomansittingonamile—stoneandofferingyouherhand！Orsupposethispost—officeangelshouldreallybearatheruglygirlinquestofahusband？Ah，myboy！theeffervescencethengoesdown。"

"Ibegintoperceive，"saidLaBriere，smiling，"thatthereissomethingpoisonousinglory，asthereisincertaindazzlingflowers。"

"Andthen，"resumedCanalis，"allthesewomen，evenwhentheyaresimple—minded，haveideals，andyoucan’tsatisfythem。Theyneversaytothemselvesthatapoetisavainman，asIamaccusedofbeing;

theycan’tconceivewhatitisforanauthortobeatthemercyofafeverishexcitement，whichmakeshimdisagreeableandcapricious;theywanthimalwaysgrand，noble;itneveroccurstothemthatgeniusisadisease，orthatNathanliveswithFlorine;thatD’Arthezistoofat，andJosephBridauistoothin;thatBerangerlimps，andthattheirownparticulardeitymayhavethesnuffles！ALuciendeRubempre，poetandcupid，isaphoenix。AndwhyshouldIgoinsearchofcomplimentsonlytopullthestringofashower—bathofhorridlooksfromsomedisillusionedfemale？"

"Thenthetruepoet，"saidLaBriere，"oughttoremainhidden，likeGod，inthecentreofhisworlds，andbeonlyseeninhisowncreations。"

"Glorywouldcosttoodearinthatcase，"answeredCanalis。"Thereissomegoodinlife。Asforthatletter，"headded，takingacupoftea，"Iassureyouthatwhenanobleandbeautifulwomanlovesapoetshedoesnothideinthecornerboxes，likeaduchessinlovewithanactor;shefeelsthatherbeauty，herfortune，hernameareprotectionenough，andshedarestosayopenly，likeanepicpoem:’IamthenymphCalypso，enamoredofTelemachus。’Mysteryandfeignednamesaretheresourcesoflittleminds。FormypartInolongeranswermasks——"

"Ishouldloveawomanwhocametoseekme，"criedLaBriere。"ToallyousayIreply，mydearCanalis，thatitcannotbeanordinarygirlwhoaspirestoadistinguishedman;suchagirlhastoolittletrust，toomuchvanity;sheistoofaint—hearted。Onlyastar，a——"

"——princess！"criedCanalis，burstingintoashoutoflaughter;"onlyaprincesscandescendtohim。Mydearfellow，thatdoesn’thappenonceinahundredyears。Suchaloveislikethatflowerthatblossomseverycentury。Princesses，letmetellyou，iftheyareyoung，rich，andbeautiful，havesomethingelsetothinkof;theyaresurroundedlikerareplantsbyahedgeoffools，well—bredidiotsashollowaselder—bushes！Mydream，alas！thecrystalofmydream，garlandedfromhencetotheCorrezewithroses——ah！Icannotspeakofit——itisinfragmentsatmyfeet，andhaslongbeenso。No，no，allanonymouslettersarebeggingletters;andwhatsortofbegging？Writeyourselftothatyoungwoman，ifyousupposeheryoungandpretty，andyou’llfindout。Thereisnothinglikeexperience。Asforme，Ican’treasonablybeexpectedtoloveeverywoman;Apollo，atanyrateheofBelvedere，isadelicateconsumptivewhomusttakecareofhishealth。"

"Butwhenawomanwritestoyouinthiswayherexcusemustcertainlybeinherconsciousnessthatsheisabletoeclipseintendernessandbeautyeveryotherwoman，"saidErnest，"andIshouldthinkyoumightfeelsomecuriosity——"

"Ah，"saidCanalis，"permitme，myjuvenilefriend，toabidebythebeautifulduchesswhoisallmyjoy。"

"Youareright，youareright！"criedErnest。However，theyoungsecretaryreadandre—readModeste’sletter，strivingtoguessthemindofitshiddenwriter。

"Thereisnottheleastfine—writinghere，"hesaid，"shedoesnoteventalkofyourgenius;shespeakstoyourheart。InyourplaceI

shouldfeeltemptedbythisfragranceofmodesty，——thisproposedagreement——"

"Then，signit！"criedCanalis，laughing;"answertheletterandgototheendoftheadventureyourself。Youshalltellmetheresultsthreemonthshence——iftheaffairlastssolong。"

FourdayslaterModestereceivedthefollowingletter，writtenonextremelyfinepaper，protectedbytwoenvelopes，andsealedwiththearmsofCanalis。

Mademoiselle，——Theadmirationforfineworks（allowingthatmybooksaresuch）impliessomethingsoloftyandsincereastoprotectyoufromalllightjesting，andtojustifybeforethesternestjudgethestepyouhavetakeninwritingtome。

ButfirstImustthankyouforthepleasurewhichsuchproofsofsympathyafford，eventhoughwemaynotmeritthem，——forthemakerofversesandthetruepoetareequallycertainoftheintrinsicworthoftheirwritings，——soreadilydoesself—esteemlenditselftopraise。ThebestproofoffriendshipthatIcangivetoanunknownladyinexchangeforafaithwhichallaysthestingofcriticism，istosharewithhertheharvestofmyownexperience，evenattheriskofdispellinghermostvividillusions。

Mademoiselle，thenoblestadornmentofayounggirlistheflowerofapureandsaintlyandirreproachablelife。Areyoualoneintheworld？Ifyouare，thereisnoneedtosaymore。Butifyouhaveafamily，afatheroramother，thinkofallthesorrowthatmightcometothemfromsuchaletterasyoursaddressedtoapoetofwhomyouknownothingpersonally。Allwritersarenotangels;