第7章
drawer，Imighthavekeptsometreasure，thecomfortofpoorgirlsill—usedbylove，sad，poeticsouls，——butah！IhaveYOU，I
believeinYOU，myfriend。Thatbeliefstraightensallmythoughtsandfancies，eventhemostfantastic，andsometimes——seehowfarmyfranknessleadsme——IwishIwereinthemiddleofthebookwearejustbeginning;suchpersistencydoIfeelinmysentiments，suchstrengthinmyhearttolove，suchconstancysustainedbyreason，suchheroismforthedutiesforwhichIwascreated，——ifindeedlovecaneverbetransmutedintoduty。
IfyouwereabletofollowmetotheexquisiteretreatwhereI
fancyourselveshappy，ifyouknewmyplansandprojects，thedreadfulword"folly！"mightescapeyou，andIshouldbecruellypunishedforsendingpoetrytoapoet。Yes，Iwishtobeaspringofwatersinexhaustibleasafertilelandforthetwentyyearsthatnatureallowsmetoshine。Iwanttodriveawaysatietybycharm。Imeantobecourageousformyfriendasmostwomenarefortheworld。Iwishtovaryhappiness。Iwishtoputintelligenceintotenderness，andtogivepiquancytofidelity。Iamfilledwithambitiontokilltherivalsofthepast，toconjureawayalloutsidegriefsbyawife’sgentleness，byherproudabnegation，totakealifelongcareofthenest，——suchasbirdscanonlytakeforafewweeks。
Tellme，doyounowthinkmetoblameformyfirstletter？Themysteriouswindofwilldrovemetoyou，asthetempestbringsthelittlerose—treetothepollardwindow。Inyourletter，whichI
holdhereuponmyheart，youcriedout，likeyourancestorwhenhedepartedfortheCrusades，"Godwillsit。"
Ah！butyouwillcryout，"Whatachatterbox！"Allthepeopleroundmesay，onthecontrary，"Mademoiselleisverytaciturn。"
O。d’EsteM。
CHAPTERXI
WHATCOMESOFCORRESPONDENCE
Theforegoinglettersseemedveryoriginaltothepersonsfromwhomtheauthorofthe"ComedyofHumanLife"obtainedthem;buttheirinterestinthisduel，thiscrossingofpensbetweentwominds，maynotbeshared。Foreveryhundredreaders，eightymightwearyofthebattle。Therespectduetothemajorityineverynationunderaconstitutionalgovernment，leadsus，therefore，tosuppresselevenotherlettersexchangedbetweenErnestandModesteduringthemonthofSeptember。If，lateron，someflatteringmajorityshouldarisetoclaimthem，letushopethatwecanthenfindmeanstoinsertthemintheirproperplace。
Urgedbyamindthatseemedasaggressiveastheheartwaslovable，thetrulychivalrousfeelingsofthepoorsecretarygavethemselvesfreeplayinthesesuppressedletters，whichseem，perhaps，morebeautifulthantheyreallyare，becausetheimaginationischarmedbyasenseofthecommunionoftwofreesouls。Ernest’swholelifewasnowwrappedupinthesesweetscrapsofpaper;theyweretohimwhatbanknotesaretoamiser;whileinModeste’ssouladeeplovetooktheplaceofherdelightinagitatingagloriouslife，andbeing，inspiteofdistance，itsmainspring。Ernest’sheartwasthecomplementofCanalis’sglory。Alas！itoftentakestwomentomakeaperfectlover，justasinliteraturewecomposeatypebycollectingthepeculiaritiesofseveralsimilarcharacters。Howmanyatimeawomanhasbeenheardtosayinherownsalonaftercloseandintimateconversations:——
"Suchaoneismyidealastosoul，andIlovetheotherwhoisonlyadreamofthesenses。"
ThelastletterwrittenbyModeste，whichherefollows，givesusaglimpseoftheenchantedisletowhichthemeanderingsofthiscorrespondencehadledthetwolovers。
ToMonsieurdeCanalis，——BeatHavrenextSunday;gotochurch;
afterthemorningservice，walkonceortwiceroundthenave，andgooutwithoutspeakingtoanyone;butwearawhiteroseinyourbutton—hole。ThenreturntoParis，whereyoushallreceiveananswer。Iwarnyouthatthisanswerwillnotbewhatyouwish;
for，asItoldyou，thefutureisnotyetmine。ButshouldInotindeedbemadandfoolishtosayyeswithouthavingseenyou？WhenIhaveseenyouIcansaynowithoutwoundingyou;Icanmakesurethatyoushallnotseeme。
ThisletterhadbeensentofftheeveningbeforethedaywhentheabortivestrugglebetweenDumayandModestehadtakenplace。ThehappygirlwasimpatientlyawaitingSunday，whenhereyesweretovindicateorcondemnherheartandheractions，——asolemnmomentinthelifeofanywoman，andwhichthreemonthsofclosecommunionofsoulsnowrenderedasromanticasthemostimaginativemaidencouldhavewished。
Everyone，exceptthemother，hadtakenthistorporofexpectationforthecalmofinnocence。Nomatterhowfirmlyfamilylawsandreligiouspreceptsmaybind，therewillalwaysbetheClarissasandtheJulies，whosesoulslikeflowingcupso’erlapthebrimundersomespiritualpressure。Modestewasgloriousinthesavageenergywithwhichsherepressedherexuberantyouthfulhappinessandremaineddemurelyquiet。Letussayfranklythatthememoryofhersisterwasmorepotentuponherthananysocialconventions;herwillwasironintheresolvetobringnogriefuponherfatherandhermother。Butwhattumultuousheavingswerewithinherbreast！nowonderthatamotherguessedthem。
OnthefollowingdayModesteandMadameDumaytookMadameMignonaboutmid—daytoaseatinthesunamongtheflowers。Theblindwomanturnedherwanandblightedfacetowardtheocean;sheinhaledtheodorsoftheseaandtookthehandofherdaughterwhoremainedbesideher。Themotherhesitatedbetweenforgivenessandremonstranceeresheputtheimportantquestion;forshecomprehendedthegirl’sloveandrecognized，asthepretendedCanalishaddone，thatModestewasexceptionalinnature。
"Godgrantthatyourfatherreturnintime！Ifhedelaysmuchlongerhewillfindnonebutyoutolovehim。Modeste，promisemeoncemorenevertoleavehim，"shesaidinafondmaternaltone。
Modesteliftedhermother’shandstoherlipsandkissedthemgently，replying:"NeedIsayitagain？"
"Ah，mychild！Ididthisthingmyself。Ileftmyfathertofollowmyhusband;andyetmyfatherwasallalone;Iwasallthechildhehad。
IsthatwhyGodhassopunishedme？WhatIaskofyouistomarryasyourfatherwishes，tocherishhiminyourheart，nottosacrificehimtoyourownhappiness，buttomakehimthecentreofyourhome。Beforelosingmysight，Iwrotehimallmywishes，andIknowhewillexecutethem。Ienjoinedhimtokeephispropertyintactandinhisownhands;
notthatIdistrustyou，myModeste，foramoment，butwhocanbesureofason—in—law？Ah！mydaughter，lookatme;wasIreasonable？Oneglanceoftheeyedecidedmylife。Beauty，sooftendeceitful，inmycasespoketrue;butevenwereitthesamewithyou，mypoorchild，sweartomethatyouwillletyourfatherinquireintothecharacter，thehabits，theheart，andthepreviouslifeofthemanyoudistinguishwithyourlove——if，bychance，thereissuchaman。"
"Iwillnevermarrywithouttheconsentofmyfather，"answeredModeste。
"Yousee，mydarling，"saidMadameMignonafteralongpause，"thatifIamdyingbyinchesthroughBettina’swrong—doing，yourfatherwouldnotsurviveyours，no，notforamoment。Iknowhim;hewouldputapistoltohishead，——therecouldbenolife，nohappinessonearthforhim。"
Modestewalkedafewstepsawayfromhermother，butimmediatelycameback。
"Whydidyouleaveme？"demandedMadameMignon。
"Youmademecry，mamma，"answeredModeste。
"Ah，mylittledarling，kissme。Youlovenoonehere？youhavenolover，haveyou？"sheasked，holdingModesteonherlap，hearttoheart。
"No，mydearmamma，"saidthelittleJesuit。
"Canyouswearit？"
"Oh，yes！"criedModeste。
MadameMignonsaidnomore;butshestilldoubted。
"Atleast，ifyoudochooseyourhusband，youwilltellyourfather？"
sheresumed。
"Ipromisedthattomysister，andtoyou，mother。WhatevildoyouthinkIcouldcommitwhileIwearthatringuponmyfingerandreadthosewords:’ThinkofBettina？’Poorsister！"
Atthesewordsatruceofsilencecamebetweenthepair;themother’sblightedeyesrainedtearswhichModestecouldnotcheck，thoughshethrewherselfuponherknees，andcried:"Forgiveme！oh，forgiveme，mother！"
AtthisinstanttheexcellentDumaywascomingupthehillofIngouvilleonthedouble—quick，——afactquiteabnormalinthepresentlifeofthecashier。
ThreelettershadbroughtruintotheMignons;asingleletternowrestoredtheirfortunes。Dumayhadreceivedfromasea—captainjustarrivedfromtheChinaSeasthefollowinglettercontainingthefirstnewsofhispatronandfriend，CharlesMignon:——
ToMonsieurJeanDumay:
MyDearDumay，——Ishallquicklyfollow，barringthechancesofthevoyage，thevesselwhichcarriesthisletter。Infact，Ishouldhavetakenit，butIdidnotwishtoleavemyownshiptowhichI
amaccustomed。
Itoldyouthatnonewwastobegoodnews。Butthefirstwordsofthisletteroughttomakeyouahappyman。Ihavemadesevenmillionsattheleast。Iambringingbackalargepartofitinindigo，onethirdinsafeLondonsecurities，andanotherthirdingoodsolidgold。YourremittanceshelpedmetomakethesumIhadsettledinmyownmindmuchsoonerthanIexpected。Iwantedtwomillionsformydaughtersandacompetenceformyself。
IhavebeenengagedintheopiumtradewiththelargesthousesinCanton，alltentimesricherthaneverIwas。Youhavenoidea，inEurope，whattheserichEastIndiamerchantsare。IwenttoAsiaMinorandpurchasedopiumatlowprices，andfromthencetoCantonwhereIdeliveredmycargoestothecompanieswhocontrolthetrade。MylastexpeditionwastothePhilippineIslandswhereI
exchangedopiumforindigoofthefirstquality。Infact，ImayhavehalfamillionmorethanIstated，forIreckonedtheindigoatwhatitcostme。Ihavealwaysbeenwellinhealth;nottheslightestillness。Thatistheresultofworkingforone’schildren。SincethesecondyearIhaveownedaprettylittlebrigofsevenhundredtons，calledthe"Mignon。"Sheisbuiltofoak，double—planked，andcopper—fastened;andalltheinteriorfittingsweredonetosuitme。Sheis，infact，anadditionalpieceofproperty。
Asea—lifeandtheactivehabitsrequiredbymybusinesshavekeptmeingoodhealth。Totellyouallthisisthesameastellingittomytwodaughtersandmydearwife。ItrustthatthewretchedmanwhotookawaymyBettinadesertedherwhenheheardofmyruin;andthatIshallfindthepoorlostlambattheChalet。MythreedearwomenandmyDumay！Allfourofyouhavebeeneverpresentinmythoughtsforthelastthreeyears。Youarearichman，now，Dumay。Yourshare，outsideofmyownfortune，amountstofivehundredandsixtythousandfrancs，forwhichIsendyouherewithacheck，whichcanonlybepaidtoyouinpersonbytheMongenods，whohavebeendulyadvisedfromNewYork。
Afewshortmonths，andIshallseeyouallagain，andallwell，I
trust。MydearDumay，ifIwritethislettertoyouitisbecauseIamanxioustokeepmyfortuneasecretforthepresent。I
thereforeleavetoyouthehappinessofpreparingmydearangelsformyreturn。Ihavehadenoughofcommerce;andIamresolvedtoleaveHavre。MyintentionistobuybacktheestateofLaBastie，andtoentailit，soastoestablishanestateyieldingatleastahundredthousandfrancsayear，andthentoaskthekingtograntthatoneofmysons—in—lawmaysucceedtomynameandtitle。Youknow，mypoorDumay，whataterriblemisfortuneovertookusthroughthefatalreputationofalargefortune，——mydaughter’shonorwaslost。Ihavethereforeresolvedthattheamountofmypresentfortuneshallnotbeknown。IshallnotdisembarkatHavre，butatMarseilles。Ishallsellmyindigo，andnegotiateforthepurchaseofLaBastiethroughthehouseofMongenodinParis。IshallputmyfundsintheBankofFranceandreturntotheChaletgivingoutthatIhaveaconsiderablefortuneinmerchandise。Mydaughterswillbesupposedtohavetwoorthreehundredthousandfrancs。Tochoosewhichofmysons—in—lawisworthytosucceedtomytitleandestatesandtolivewithus，isnowtheobjectofmylife;butbothofthemmustbe，likeyouandme，honest，loyal，andfirmmen，andabsolutelyhonorable。
Mydearoldfellow，Ihaveneverdoubtedyouforamoment。Wehavegonethroughwarsandcommercetogetherandnowwewillundertakeagriculture;youshallbemybailiff。Youwilllikethat，willyounot？Andso，oldfriend，Ileaveittoyourdiscretiontotellwhatyouthinkbesttomywifeanddaughters;Irelyuponyourprudence。Infouryearsgreatchangesmayhavetakenplaceintheircharacters。
Adieu，myoldDumay。SaytomydaughtersandtomywifethatI
haveneverfailedtokisstheminmythoughtsmorningandeveningsinceIleftthem。Thesecondcheckforfortythousandfrancsherewithenclosedisformywifeandchildren。
Tillwemeet。——Yourcolonelandfriend，CharlesMignon。
"Yourfatheriscoming，"saidMadameMignontoherdaughter。
"Whatmakesyouthinkso，mamma？"askedModeste。
"NothingelsecouldmakeDumayhurryhimself。"
"Victory！victory！"criedthelieutenantassoonashereachedthegardengate。"Madame，thecolonelhasnotbeenillamoment;heiscomingback——comingbackonthe’Mignon，’afineshipofhisown，whichtogetherwithitscargoisworth，hetellsme，eightorninehundredthousandfrancs。Butherequiressecrecyfromallofus;hisheartisstillwrungbythemisfortunesofourdeardepartedgirl。"
"Hehasstilltolearnherdeath，"saidMadameMignon。
"Heattributesherdisaster，andIthinkheisright，totherapacityofyoungmenaftergreatfortunes。Mypoorcolonelexpectstofindthelostsheephere。Letusbehappyamongourselvesbutsaynothingtoanyone，noteventoLatournelle，ifthatispossible。Mademoiselle，"
hewhisperedinModeste’sear，"writetoyourfatherandtellhimofhislossandalsotheterribleresultsonyourmother’shealthandeyesight;preparehimfortheshockhehastomeet。IwillengagetogettheletterintohishandsbeforehereachesHavre，forhewillhavetopassthroughParisonhisway。Writehimalongletter;youhaveplentyoftime。IwilltaketheletteronMonday;MondayIshallprobablygotoParis。"
ModestewassoafraidthatCanalisandDumaywouldmeetthatshestartedhastilyforthehousetowritetoherpoetandputofftherendezvous。
"Mademoiselle，"saidDumay，inaveryhumblemannerandbarringModeste’sway，"mayyourfatherfindhisdaughterwithnootherfeelingsinherheartthanthoseshehadforhimandforhermotherbeforehewasobligedtoleaveher。"
"Ihavesworntomyself，tomysister，andtomymothertobethejoy，theconsolation，andthegloryofmyfather，andISHALLKEEPMY
OATH！"repliedModestewithahaughtyanddisdainfulglanceatDumay。
"Donottroublemydelightinthethoughtofmyfather’sreturnwithinsultingsuspicions。Youcannotpreventagirl’sheartfrombeating——
youdon’twantmetobeamummy，doyou？"shesaid。"Myhandbelongstomyfamily，butmyheartismyown。IfIloveanyone，myfatherandmymotherwillknowit。Doesthatsatisfyyou，monsieur？"
"Thankyou，mademoiselle;yourestoremetolife，"saidDumay，"butyoumightstillcallmeDumay，evenwhenyouboxmyears！"
"Sweartome，"saidhermother，"thatyouhavenotengagedawordoralookwithanyyoungman。"
"Icanswearthat，mydearmother，"saidModeste，laughing，andlookingatDumaywhowaswatchingherandsmilingtohimselflikeamischievousgirl。
"Shemustbefalseindeedifyouareright，"criedDumay，whenModestehadleftthemandgoneintothehouse。
"MydaughterModestemayhavefaults，"saidhermother，"butfalsehoodisnotoneofthem;sheisincapableofsayingwhatisnottrue。"
"Well！thenletusfeeleasy，"continuedDumay，"andbelievethatmisfortunehasclosedhisaccountwithus。"
"Godgrantit！"answeredMadameMignon。"YouwillseeHIM，Dumay;butIshallonlyhearhim。Thereismuchofsadnessinmyjoy。"
CHAPTERXII
ADECLARATIONOFLOVE，——SETTOMUSIC
AtthismomentModeste，happyasshewasinthereturnofherfather，was，nevertheless，pacingherroomdisconsolateasPerretteonseeinghereggsbroken。ShehadhopedherfatherwouldbringbackamuchlargerfortunethanDumayhadmentioned。Nothingcouldsatisfyhernew—foundambitiononbehalfofherpoetlessthanatleasthalfthesixmillionsshehadtalkedofinhersecondletter。Treblyagitatedbyhertwojoysandthegriefcausedbyhercomparativepoverty，sheseatedherselfatthepiano，thatconfidantofsomanyyounggirls，whotellouttheirwishesandprovocationsonthekeys，expressingthembythenotesandtonesoftheirmusic。Dumaywastalkingwithhiswifeinthegardenunderthewindows，tellingherthesecretoftheirownwealth，andquestioningherastoherdesiresandherintentions。
MadameDumayhad，likeherhusband，nootherfamilythantheMignons。
Husbandandwifeagreed，therefore，togoandliveinProvence，iftheComtedeLaBastiereallymeanttoliveinProvence，andtoleavetheirmoneytowhicheverofModeste’schildrenmightneeditmost。
"ListentoModeste，"saidMadameMignon，addressingthem。"Nonebutagirlinlovecancomposesuchairswithouthavingstudiedmusic。"
Housesmayburn，fortunesbeengulfed，fathersreturnfromdistantlands，empiresmaycrumbleaway，thecholeramayravagecities，butamaiden’slovewingsitswayasnaturepursueshers，orthatalarmingacidwhichchemistryhaslatelydiscovered，andwhichwillpresentlyeatthroughtheglobe，ifnothingstopsit。
Modeste，undertheinspirationofherpresentsituation，wasputtingtomusiccertainstanzaswhichwearecompelledtoquotehere——albeittheyareprintedinthesecondvolumeoftheeditionDauriathadmentioned——because，inordertoadaptthemtohermusic，whichhadtheinexpressiblecharmofsentimentsoadmiredingreatsingers，Modestehadtakenlibertieswiththelinesinamannerthatmayastonishtheadmirersofapoetsofamousforthecorrectness，sometimestooprecise，ofhismeasures。
THEMAIDEN’SSONG
Hear，arise！thelarkisshakingSunlitwingsthatheavenwardrise;
Sleepnomore;theviolet，waking，Waftsherincensetotheskies。
Flowersrevived，theireyesunclosing，SeethemselvesindropsofdewIneachcalyx—cupreposing，——
Pearlsofadaytheirmirrortrue。
Breezedivine，thegodofroses，Passedbynighttoblesstheirbloom;
See！forhimeachbuduncloses，Glows，andyieldsitsrichperfume。
Thenarise！thelarkisshakingSunlitwingsthatheavenwardrise;
Noughtissleeping——Heart，awaking，Liftthineincensetotheskies。
"Itisverypretty，"saidMadameDumay。"Modesteisamusician，andthat’sthewholeofit。"
"Thedevilisinher！"criedthecashier，intowhoseheartthesuspicionofthemotherforceditswayandmadehimshiver。
"Sheloves，"persistedMadameMignon。
Bysucceeding，throughtheundeniabletestimonyofthesong，inmakingthecashierasharerinherbeliefastothestateofModeste’sheart，MadameMignondestroyedthehappinessthereturnandtheprosperityofhismasterhadbroughthim。ThepoorBretonwentdownthehilltoHavreandtohisdeskinGobenheim’scounting—roomwithaheavyheart;
then，beforereturningtodinner，hewenttoseeLatournelle，totellhisfears，andbegoncemoreforthenotary’sadviceandassistance。
"Yes，mydearfriend，"saidDumay，whentheypartedonthestepsofthenotary’sdoor，"Inowagreewithmadame;sheloves，——yes，Iamsureofit;andthedevilknowstherest。Iamdishonored。"
"Don’tmakeyourselfunhappy，Dumay，"answeredthelittlenotary。
"Amongusallwecansurelygetthebetterofthelittlepuss;soonerorlater，everygirlinlovebetraysherself，——youmaybesureofthat。Butwewilltalkaboutitthisevening。"
ThusithappenedthatallthosedevotedtotheMignonfamilywerefullyasdisquietedanduncertainastheywerebeforetheoldsoldiertriedtheexperimentwhichheexpectedwouldbesodecisive。Theill—
successofhispasteffortssostimulatedDumay’ssenseofduty，thathedeterminednottogotoParistoseeafterhisownfortuneasannouncedbyhispatron，untilhehadguessedtheriddleofModeste’sheart。Thesefriends，towhomfeelingsweremorepreciousthaninterests，wellknewthatunlessthedaughterwerepureandinnocent，thefatherwoulddieofgriefwhenhecametoknowthedeathofBettinaandtheblindnessofhiswife。ThedistressofpoorDumaymadesuchanimpressionontheLatournellesthattheyevenforgottheirpartingwithExupere，whomtheyhadsentoffthatmorningtoParis。
Duringdinner，whilethethreewerealone，MonsieurandMadameLatournelleandButschaturnedtheproblemoverandoverintheirminds，anddiscussedeveryaspectofit。
"IfModestelovedanyoneinHavreshewouldhaveshownsomefearyesterday，"saidMadameLatournelle;"herlover，therefore，livessomewhereelse。"
"Shesworetohermotherthismorning，"saidthenotary，"inpresenceofDumay，thatshehadnotexchangedalookorawordwithanylivingsoul。"
"Thenshelovesaftermyfashion！"exclaimedButscha。
"Andhowisthat，mypoorlad？"askedMadameLatournelle。
"Madame，"saidthelittlecripple，"Ilovealoneandafar——oh！asfarasfromheretothestars。"
"Howdoyoumanageit，yousillyfellow？"saidMadameLatournelle，laughing。
"Ah，madame！"saidButscha，"whatyoucallmyhumpisthesocketofmywings。"
"Sothatistheexplanationofyourseal，isit？"criedthenotary。
Butscha’ssealwasastar，andunderitthewords"Fulgens，sequar，"——
"ShiningOne，Ifollowthee，"——themottoofthehouseofChastillonest。
"Abeautifulwomanmayfeelasdistrustfulastheugliest，"saidButscha，asifspeakingtohimself;"Modesteiscleverenoughtofearshemaybelovedonlyforherbeauty。"
Hunchbacksareextraordinarycreations，dueentirelytosocietyfor，accordingtoNature’splan，feebleorabortedbeingsoughttoperish。
Thecurvatureordistortionofthespinalcolumncreatesintheseoutwardlydeformedsubjectsasitwereastorage—battery，wherethenervecurrentsaccumulatemoreabundantlythanundernormalconditions，——wheretheydevelop，andwhencetheyareemitted，sotosay，inlightningflashes，toenergizetheinteriorbeing。Fromthis，forcesresultwhicharesometimesbroughttolightbymagnetism，thoughtheyarefarmorefrequentlylostinthevaguespacesofthespiritualworld。Itisraretofindadeformedpersonwhoisnotgiftedwithsomespecialfaculty，——awhimsicalorsparklinggaietyperhaps，anuttermalignity，oranalmostsublimegoodness。Likeinstrumentswhichthehandofartcanneverfullywaken，thesebeings，highlyprivilegedthoughtheyknowitnot，livewithinthemselves，asButschalived，providedtheirnaturalforcessomagnificentlyconcentratedhavenotbeenspentinthestruggletheyhavebeenforcedtomaintain，againsttremendousodds，tokeepalive。Thisexplainsmanysuperstitions，thepopularlegendsofgnomes，frightfuldwarfs，deformedfairies，——allthatraceofbottles，asRabelaiscalledthem，containingelixirsandpreciousbalms。
Butscha，therefore，hadverynearlyfoundthekeytothepuzzle。Withalltheanxioussolicitudeofahopelesslover，avassaleverreadytodie，——likethesoldiersaloneandabandonedinthesnowsofRussia，whostillcriedout，"LonglivetheEmperor，"——hemeditatedhowtocaptureModeste’ssecretforhisownprivateknowledge。Sothinking，hefollowedhispatronstotheChaletthatevening，withacloudofcareuponhisbrow:forheknewitwasmostimportanttohidefromallthesewatchfuleyesandearsthenet，whateveritmightbe，inwhichheshouldentraphislady。Itwouldhavetobe，hethought，bysomeinterceptedglance，somesuddenstartorquiver，aswhenasurgeonlayshisfingeronahiddensore。ThateveningGobenheimdidnotappear，andButschawasDumay’spartneragainstMonsieurandMadameLatournelle。Duringthefewmoment’sofModeste’sabsence，aboutnineo’clock，toprepareforhermother’sbedtime，MadameMignonandherfriendsspokeopenlytooneanother;butthepoorclerk，depressedbytheconvictionofModeste’slove，whichhadnowseizeduponhimasupontherest，seemedasremotefromthediscussionasGobenheimhadbeenthenightbefore。
"Well，what’sthematterwithyou，Butscha？"criedMadameLatournelle;
"onewouldreallythinkyouhadn’tafriendintheworld。"
Tearsshoneintheeyesofthepoorfellow，whowasthesonofaSwedishsailor，andwhosemotherwasdead。
"Ihavenooneintheworldbutyou，"heansweredwithatroubledvoice;"andyourcompassionissomuchapartofyourreligionthatI
canneverloseit——andIwillneverdeservetoloseit。"
Thisanswerstruckthesensitivechordoftruedelicacyinthemindsofallpresent。
"Weloveyou，MonsieurButscha，"saidMadameMignon，withmuchfeelinginhervoice。
"I’vesixhundredthousandfrancsofmyown，thisday，"criedDumay，"andyoushallbeanotaryandthesuccessorofLatournelle。"
TheAmericanwifetookthehandofthepoorhunchbackandpressedit。
"What！youhavesixhundredthousandfrancs！"exclaimedLatournelle，prickinguphisearsasDumayletfallthewords;"andyouallowtheseladiestoliveastheydo！Modesteoughttohaveafinehorse;andwhydoesn’tshecontinuetotakelessonsinmusic，andpainting，and——"
"Why，hehasonlyhadthemoneyafewhours！"criedthelittlewife。
"Hush！"murmuredMadameMignon。
Whilethesewordswereexchanged，Butscha’saugustmistressturnedtowardshim，preparingtomakeaspeech:——
"Myson，"shesaid，"youaresosurroundedbytrueaffectionthatI
neverthoughthowmythoughtlessuseofthatfamiliarphrasemightbeconstrued;butyoumustthankmeformylittleblunder，becauseithasservedtoshowyouwhatfriendsyournoblequalitieshavewon。"
"ThenyoumusthavenewsfromMonsieurMignon，"resumedthenotary。
"Heisonhiswayhome，"saidMadameMignon;"butletuskeepthesecrettoourselves。WhenmyhusbandlearnshowfaithfulButschahasbeentous，howhehasshownusthewarmestandthemostdisinterestedfriendshipwhenothershavegivenusthecoldshoulder，hewillnotletyoualoneprovideforhim，Dumay。Andso，myfriend，"sheadded，turningherblindfacetowardButscha;"youcanbeginatoncetonegotiatewithLatournelle。"
"He’soflegalage，twenty—fiveandahalfyears。Asforme，itwillbepayingadebt，myboy，tomakethepurchaseeasyforyou，"saidthenotary。
ButschawaskissingMadameMignon’shand，andhisfacewaswetwithtearsasModesteopenedthedoorofthesalon。
"WhatareyoudoingtomyBlackDwarf？"shedemanded。"Whoismakinghimunhappy？"
"Ah！MademoiselleMignon，dowelucklessfellows，cradledinmisfortune，everweepforgrief？TheyhavejustshownmeasmuchaffectionasIcouldfeelforthemiftheywereindeedmyownrelations。I’mtobeanotary;Ishallberich。Ha！ha！thepoorButschamaybecometherichButscha。Youdon’tknowwhataudacitythereisinthisabortion，"hecried。