第15章

Itisevidenttomymindthatnosuchperpetualworshipwillgiveyoutheinfinitedelightswhichyouaredreamingofinmarriage，——insomemarriagewhereobediencewillbeyourpride，wherenoblelittlesacrificescanbemadeandhidden，wheretheheartisfullofanxietieswithoutacause，andsuccessesareawaitedwitheagerhope，whereeachnewchanceformagnanimityishailedwithjoy，wheresoulsarecomprehendedtotheirinmostrecesses，andwherethewomanprotectswithherlovethemanwhoprotectsher。"

"Youareasorcerer！"exclaimedModeste。

"Neitherwillyoufindthatsweetequalityoffeeling，thatcontinualsharingofeachother’slife，thatcertaintyofpleasingwhichmakesmarriagetolerable，ifyoutakeCanalis，——amanwhothinksofhimselfonly，whose’I’istheonestringtohislute，whosemindissofixedonhimselfthathehashithertotakennonoticeofyourfatherortheduke，——amanofsecond—rateambitions，towhomyourdignityandyourdevotionwillmatternothing，whowillmakeyouamereappendagetohishousehold，andwhoalreadyinsultsyoubyhisindifferencetoyourbehavior;yes，ifyoupermittedyourselftogosofarastoboxyourmother’searsCanaliswouldshuthiseyestoit，anddenyyourcrimeeventohimself，becausehethirstsforyourmoney。Andso，mademoiselle，whenIspokeofthemanwhotrulylovesyouIwasnotthinkingofthegreatpoetwhoisnothingbutalittlecomedian，noroftheduke，whomightbeagoodmarriageforyou，butneverahusband——"

"Butscha，myheartisablankpageonwhichyouareyourselfwritingallthatyoureadthere，"criedModeste，interruptinghim。"Youarecarriedawaybyyourprovincialhatredforeverythingthatobligesyoutolookhigherthanyourownhead。Youcan’tforgiveapoetforbeingastatesman，forpossessingthegiftofspeech，forhavinganoblefuturebeforehim，——andyoucalumniatehisintentions。"

"His！——mademoiselle，hewillturnhisbackuponyouwiththebasenessofanAlthor。"

"Makehimplaythatprettylittlecomedy，and——"

"ThatIwill！heshallplayitthroughandthroughwithinthreedays，——onWednesday，——recollect，Wednesday！Untilthen，mademoiselle，amuseyourselfbylisteningtothelittletunesofthelyre，sothatthediscordsandthefalsenotesmaycomeoutallthemoredistinctly。"

Modesterangailybacktothesalon，whereLaBriere，whowassittingbythewindow，wherehehaddoubtlessbeenwatchinghisidol，rosetohisfeetasifagroomofthechambershadsuddenlyannounced，"TheQueen。"Itwasamovementofspontaneousrespect，fullofthatlivingeloquencethatliesingestureevenmorethaninspeech。Spokenlovecannotcomparewithactsoflove;andeveryyounggirloftwentyhasthewisdomoffiftyinapplyingtheaxiom。Initliesthegreatsecretofattraction。InsteadoflookingModesteintheface，asCanaliswhopaidherpublichomagewouldhavedone，theneglectedloverfollowedherwithafurtivelookbetweenhiseyelids，humbleafterthemannerofButscha，andalmosttimid。Theyoungheiressobservedit，asshetookherplacebyCanalis，towhosegamesheproceededtopayattention。Duringaconversationwhichensued，LaBriereheardModestesaytoherfatherthatsheshouldrideoutforthefirsttimeonthefollowingWednesday;andshealsoremindedhimthatshehadnowhipinkeepingwithhernewequipments。Theyoungmanflungalightningglanceatthedwarf，andafewminuteslaterthetwowerepacingtheterrace。

"Itisnineo’clock，"criedErnest。"IshallstartforParisatfullgallop;Icangetthereto—morrowmorningbyten。MydearButscha，fromyoushewillacceptanything，forsheisattachedtoyou;letmegiveherariding—whipinyourname。Ifyouwilldomethisimmensekindness，youshallhavenotonlymyfriendshipbutmydevotion。"

"Ah，youareveryhappy，"saidButscha，ruefully;"youhavemoney，you！"

"TellCanalisnottoexpectme，andthathemustfindsomepretexttoaccountformyabsence。"

AnhourlaterErnesthadriddenoutofHavre。HereachedParisintwelvehours，wherehisfirstactwastosecureaplaceinthemail—

coachforHavreonthefollowingevening。ThenhewenttothreeofthechiefjewellersinParisandcomparedallthewhip—handlesthattheycouldoffer;hewasinsearchofsomeartistictreasurethatwasregallysuperb。Hefoundoneatlast，madebyStidmannforaRussian，whowasunabletopayforitwhenfinished，——afox—headingold，witharubyofexorbitantvalue;allhissavingswentintothepurchase，thecostofwhichwasseventhousandfrancs。ErnestgaveadrawingofthearmsofLaBastie，andallowedtheshop—peopletwentyhourstoengravethem。Thehandle，amasterpieceofdelicateworkmanship，wasfittedtoanindia—rubberwhipandputintoamoroccocaselinedwithvelvet，onwhichtwoM。’sinterlacedwerestampedingold。

LaBrieregotbacktoHavrebythemail—coachWednesdaymorningintimetobreakfastwithCanalis。Thepoethadconcealedhissecretary’sabsencebydeclaringthathewasbusywithsomeworksentfromParis。

Butscha，whometLaBriereatthecoach—door，tooktheboxcontainingthepreciousworkofarttoFrancoiseCochet，withinstructionstoplaceitonModeste’sdressing—table。

"OfcourseyouwillaccompanyMademoiselleModesteonherrideto—day？"saidButscha，whowenttoCanalis’shousetoletLaBriereknowbyawinkthatthewhiphadgonetoitsdestination。

"I？"answeredErnest;"no，Iamgoingtobed。"

"Bah！"exclaimedCanalis，lookingathim。"Idon’tknowwhattomakeofyou。"

Breakfastwasthenserved，andthepoetnaturallyinvitedtheirvisitortostayandtakeit。Butschacomplied，havingseenintheexpressionofthevalet’sfacethesuccessofatrickinwhichweshallseethefirstfruitsofhispromisetoModeste。

"MonsieurisveryrighttodetaintheclerkofMonsieurLatournelle，"

whisperedGermaininhismaster’sear。

CanalisandGermainwentintothesalononasignthatpassedbetweenthem。

"Iwentoutthismorningtoseethemenfish，monsieur，"saidthevalet，——"anexcursionproposedtomebythecaptainofasmack，whoseacquaintanceIhavemade。"

Germaindidnotacknowledgethathehadthebadtastetoplaybilliardsinacafe，——afactofwhichButschahadtakenadvantagetosurroundhimwithfriendsofhisownandmanagehimashepleased。

"Well？"saidCanalis，"tothepoint，——quick！"

"Monsieurlebaron，IheardaconversationaboutMonsieurMignon，whichIencouragedasfarasIcould;fornoone，ofcourse，knewthatIbelongtoyou。Ah！monsieur，judgingbythetalkofthequays，youarerunningyourheadintoanoose。ThefortuneofMademoiselledeLaBastieis，likehername，modest。Thevesselonwhichthefatherreturneddoesnotbelongtohim，buttorichChinamerchantstowhomherendersanaccount。TheyevensaythingsthatarenotatallflatteringtoMonsieurMignon’shonor。HavingheardthatyouandMonsieurleducwererivalsforMademoiselledeLaBastie’shand，I

havetakenthelibertytowarnyou;ofthetwo，wouldn’titbebetterthathislordshipshouldgobbleher？AsIcamehomeIwalkedroundthequays，andintothattheatre—hallwherethemerchantsmeet;Islippedboldlyinandoutamongthem。Seeingawell—dressedstranger，thoseworthyfellowsbegantotalktomeofHavre，andIgotthem，littlebylittle，tospeakofColonelMignon。Whattheysaidonlyconfirmsthestoriesthefishermentoldme;andIfeelthatIshouldfailinmydutyifIkeepsilence。ThatiswhyIdidnotgethomeintimetodressmonsieurthismorning。"

"WhatamItodo？"criedCanalis，whorememberedhisproposalstoModestethenightbefore，anddidnotseehowhecouldgetoutofthem。

"Monsieurknowsmyattachmenttohim，"saidGermain，perceivingthatthepoetwasquitethrownoffhisbalance;"hewillnotbesurprisedifIgivehimawordofadvice。Thereisthatclerk;trytogetthetruthoutofhim。Perhapshe’llunbuttonafterabottleortwoofchampagne，oratanyrateathird。Itwouldbestrangeindeedifmonsieur，whowillonedaybeambassador，asPhiloxenehasheardMadameladuchessesaytimeandtimeagain，couldn’tturnalittlenotary’sclerkinsideout。"

CHAPTERXXIII

BUTSCHADISTINGUISHESHIMSELF

AtthisinstantButscha，thehiddenprompterofthefishingpart，wasrequestingthesecretarytosaynothingabouthistriptoParis，andnottointerfereinanywaywithwhathe，Butscha，mightdo。ThedwarfhadalreadymadeuseofanunfavorablefeelinglatelyrousedagainstMonsieurMignoninHavreinconsequenceofhisreserveandhisdeterminationtokeepsilenceastotheamountofhisfortune。ThepersonswhoweremostbitteragainsthimevendeclaredcalumniouslythathehadmadeoveralargeamountofpropertytoDumaytosaveitfromthejustdemandsofhisassociatesinChina。Butschatookadvantageofthisstateoffeeling。Heaskedthefishermen，whoowedhimmanyagoodturn，tokeepthesecretandlendhimtheirtongues。

Theyservedhimwell。Thecaptainofthefishing—smacktoldGermainthatoneofhiscousins，asailor，hadjustreturnedfromMarseilles，wherehehadbeenpaidofffromthebriginwhichMonsieurMignonreturnedtoFrance。ThebrighadbeensoldtotheaccountofsomeotherpersonthanMonsieurMignon，andthecargowasonlyworththreeorfourhundredthousandfrancsattheutmost。

"Germain，"saidCanalis，asthevaletwasleavingtheroom，"servechampagneandclaret。AmemberofthelegalfraternityofHavremustcarryawaywithhimproperideasofapoet’shospitality。Besides，hehasgotawitthatisequaltoFigaro’s，"addedCanalis，layinghishandonthedwarf’sshoulder，"andwemustmakeitfoamandsparklewithchampagne;youandI，Ernest，willnotsparethebottleeither。

Faith，itisovertwoyearssinceI’vebeendrunk，"headded，lookingatLaBriere。

"Notdrunkwithwine，youmean，"saidButscha，lookingkeenlyathim，"yes，Icanbelievethat。Yougetdrunkeverydayonyourself，youdrinkinsomuchpraise。Ha，youarehandsome，youareapoet，youarefamousinyourlifetime，youhavethegiftofaneloquencethatisequaltoyourgenius，andyoupleaseallwomen，——evenmymaster’swife。Admiredbythefinestsultana—validethatIeversawinmylife（andIneversawbuther）youcan，ifyouchoose，marryMademoiselledeLaBastie。Goodness！themereinventoryofyourpresentadvantages，nottospeakofthefuture（anobletitle，peerage，embassy！），isenoughtomakemedrunkalready，——likethemenwhobottleothermen’swine。"

"Allsuchsocialdistinctions，"saidCanalis，"areoflittleusewithouttheonethingthatgivesthemvalue，——wealth。Herewecantalkasmenwithmen;finesentimentsonlydoinverse。"

"Thatdependsoncircumstances，"saidthedwarf，withaknowinggesture。

"Ah！youwriterofconveyances，"saidthepoet，smilingattheinterruption，"youknowaswellasIdothat’cottage’rhymeswith’pottage，’——andwhowouldliketoliveonthatfortherestofhisdays？"

AttableButschaplayedthepartofTrigaudin，inthe"Maisonenloterie，"inawaythatalarmedErnest，whodidnotknowthewaggeryofalawyer’soffice，whichisquiteequaltothatofanatelier。

ButschapouredforththescandalousgossipofHavre，theprivatehistoryoffortuneandboudoirs，andthecrimescommittedcodeinhand，whicharecalledinNormandy，"gettingoutofathingasbestyoucan。"Hesparednoone;andhislivelinessincreasedwiththetorrentsofwinewhichpoureddownhisthroatlikerainthroughagutter。

"Doyouknow，LaBriere，"saidCanalis，fillingButscha’sglass，"thatthisfellowwouldmakeacapitalsecretarytotheembassy？"

"Andousthischief！"criedthedwarfflingingalookatCanaliswhoseinsolencewaslostinthegurglingofcarbonicacidgas。"I’velittleenoughgratitudeandquiteenoughschemingtogetastrideofyourshoulders。Ha，ha，apoetcarryingahunchback！that’sbeenseen，oftenseen——onbook—shelves。Come，don’tlookatmeasifIwereswallowingswords。Mydeargreatgenius，you’reasuperiorman;youknowthatgratitudeisthewordoffools;theystickitinthedictionary，butitisn’tinthehumanheart;pledgesareworthnothing，exceptonacertainmountthatisneitherPindusnorParnassus。YouthinkIoweagreatdealtomymaster’swife，whobroughtmeup。Blessyou，thewholetownhaspaidherforthatinpraises，respect，andadmiration，——theverybestofcoin。Idon’trecognizeanyservicethatisonlythecapitalofself—love。Menmakeacommerceoftheirservices，andgratitudegoesdownonthedebitside，——that’sall。Astoschemes，theyaremydivinity。What？"heexclaimed，atagestureofCanalis，"don’tyouadmirethefacultywhichenablesawilymantogetthebetterofamanofgenius？ittakestheclosestobservationofhisvices，andhisweaknesses，andthewittoseizethehappymoment。Askdiplomacyifitsgreatesttriumphsarenotthoseofcraftoverforce？IfIwereyoursecretary，Monsieurlebaron，you’dsoonbeprime—minister，becauseitwouldbemyinteresttohaveyouso。Doyouwantaspecimenofmytalentsinthatline？Wellthen，listen;youloveMademoiselleModestedistractedly，andyou’vegoodreasontodoso。Thegirlhasmyfullestesteem;sheisatrueParisian。SometimeswegetafewrealParisiansborndownhereintheprovinces。Well，Modesteisjustthewomantohelpaman’scareer。She’sgotTHATinher，"hecried，withaturnofhiswristintheair。"Butyou’veadangerouscompetitorintheduke;

whatwillyougivemetogethimoutofHavrewithinthreedays？"

"Finishthisbottle，"saidthepoet，refillingButscha’sglass。

"You’llmakemedrunk，"saidthedwarf，tossingoffhisninthglassofchampagne。"HaveyouabedwhereIcouldsleepitoff？Mymasterisassoberasthecamelthatheis，andMadameLatournelletoo。Theyarebrutalenough，bothofthem，toscoldme;andthey’dhavetherightsofittoo——therearethosedeedsIoughttobedrawing！——"Then，suddenlyreturningtohispreviousideas，afterthefashionofadrunkenman，heexclaimed，"andI’vesuchamemory;itisonaparwithmygratitude。"

"Butscha！"criedthepoet，"yousaidjustnowyouhadnogratitude;

youcontradictyourself。"

"Notatall，"hereplied。"Toforgetathingmeansalmostalwaysrecollectingit。Come，come，doyouwantmetogetridoftheduke？

I’mcutoutforasecretary。"

"Howcouldyoumanageit？"saidCanalis，delightedtofindtheconversationtakingthisturnofitsownaccord。

"That’snoneofyourbusiness，"saidthedwarf，withaportentoushiccough。

Butscha’sheadrolledbetweenhisshoulders，andhiseyesturnedfromGermaintoLaBriere，andfromLaBrieretoCanalis，afterthemannerofmenwho，knowingtheyaretipsy，wishtoseewhatothermenarethinkingofthem;forintheshipwreckofdrunkennessitisnoticeablethatself—loveisthelastthingthatgoestothebottom。

"Ha！mygreatpoet，you’reaprettygoodtricksteryourself;butyouarenotdeepenough。Whatdoyoumeanbytakingmeforoneofyourownreaders，——youwhosentyourfriendtoParis，fullgallop，toinquireintothepropertyoftheMignonfamily？Ha，ha！Ihoax，thouhoaxest，wehoax——Good！ButdomethehonortobelievethatI’mdeepenoughtokeepthesecretsofmyownbusiness。Asthehead—clerkofanotary，myheartisalockedbox，padlocked！Mymouthneveropenstoletoutanythingaboutaclient。Iknowall，andIknownothing。Besides，mypassioniswellknown。IloveModeste;sheismypupil，andshemustmakeagoodmarriage。I’llfooltheduke，ifneedbe;andyoushallmarry——"

"Germain，coffeeandliqueurs，"saidCanalis。

"Liqueurs！"repeatedButschawithawaveofhishand，andtheairofashamvirginrepellingseduction;"Ah，thosepoordeeds！oneof’emwasamarriagecontract;andthatsecondclerkofmineisasstupidas——as——anepithalamium，andhe’scapableofdigginghispenkniferightthroughthebride’sparaphernalia;hethinkshe’sahandsomemanbecausehe’sfivefeetsix，——idiot！"

"Hereissomecremedethe，aliqueuroftheWestIndies，"saidCanalis。"You，whomMademoiselleModesteconsults——"

"Yes，sheconsultsme。"

"Well，doyouthinkshelovesme？"askedthepoet。

"Lovesyou？yes，morethanshelovestheduke，answeredthedwarf，rousinghimselffromastuporwhichwasadmirablyplayed。"Shelovesyouforyourdisinterestedness。Shetoldmeshewasreadytomakethegreatestsacrificesforyoursake;togiveupdressandspendaslittleaspossibleonherself，anddevoteherlifetoshowingyouthatinmarryingheryouhadn’tdoneso"（hiccough）"badathingforyourself。She’sasrightasatrivet，——yes，andwellinformed。Sheknowseverything，thatgirl。"

"Andshehasthreehundredthousandfrancs？"

"Theremaybequiteasmuchasthat，"criedthedwarf，enthusiastically。"PapaMignon，——mignonbyname，mignonbynature，andthat’swhyIrespecthim，——well，hewouldrobhimselfofeverythingtomarryhisdaughter。YourRestoration"（hiccough）"hastaughthimhowtoliveonhalf—pay;he’dbequitecontenttolivewithDumayonnexttonothing，ifhecouldrakeandscrapeenoughtogethertogivethelittleonethreehundredthousandfrancs。Butdon’tlet’sforgetthatDumayisgoingtoleaveallhismoneytoModeste。Dumay，youknow，isaBreton，andthatfactclinchesthematter;hewon’tgobackfromhisword，andhisfortuneisequaltothecolonel’s。ButIdon’tapproveofMonsieurMignon’stakingbackthatvilla，and，astheyoftenaskmyadvice，Itoldthemso。’Yousinktoomuchinit，’Isaid;’ifVilquindoesnotbuyitbackthere’stwohundredthousandfrancswhichwon’tbringyouapenny;itonlyleavesyouahundredthousandtogetalongwith，anditisn’tenough。’ThecolonelandDumayareconsultingaboutitnow。Butnevertheless，betweenyouandme，Modesteissuretoberich。Iheartalkonthequaysagainstit;butthat’sallnonsense;

peoplearejealous。Why，there’snosuch’dot’inHavre，"criedButscha，beginningtocountonhisfingers。"Twotothreehundredthousandinreadymoney，"bendingbackthethumbofhislefthandwiththeforefingerofhisright，"that’soneitem;thereversionofthevillaMignon，that’sanother;’tertio，’Dumay’sproperty！"doublingdownhismiddlefinger。"Ha！littleModestemaycountuponhersixhundredthousandfrancsassoonasthetwooldsoldiershavegottheirmarchingordersforeternity。"

Thiscoarseandcandidstatement，intermingledwithavarietyofliqueurs，soberedCanalisasmuchasitappearedtobefuddleButscha。

Tothelatter，ayoungprovincial，suchafortunemustofcourseseemcolossal。Helethisheadfallintothepalmofhisrighthand，andputtinghiselbowsmajesticallyonthetable，blinkedhiseyesandcontinuedtalkingtohimself:——

"Intwentyyears，thankstothatCode，whichpillagesfortunesunderwhattheycall’Successions，’anheiressworthamillionwillbeasrareasgenerosityinamoney—lender。SupposeModestedoeswanttospendalltheinterestofherownmoney，——well，sheissopretty，sosweetandpretty;whyshe’s——youpoetsarealwaysaftermetaphors——

she’saweaselastrickyasamonkey。"

"Howcameyoutotellmeshehadsixmillions？"saidCanalistoLaBriere，inalowvoice。

"Myfriend，"saidErnest，"IdoassureyouthatIwasboundtosilencebyanoath;perhaps，evennow，Ioughtnottosayasmuchasthat。"

"Bound！towhom？"

"ToMonsieurMignon。"

"Ernest！youwhoknowhowessentialfortuneistome——"

Butschasnored。

"——whoknowmysituation，andallthatIshallloseintheDuchessedeChaulieu，bythisattemptatmarrying，YOUcouldcoldlyletmeplungeintosuchathingasthis？"exclaimedCanalis，turningpale。"Itwasaquestionoffriendship;andourswasacompactenteredintolongbeforeyoueversawthatcraftyMignon。"

"Mydearfellow，"saidErnest，"IloveModestetoowellto——"

"Fool！thentakeher，"criedthepoet，"andbreakyouroath。"

"WillyoupromisemeonyourwordofhonortoforgetwhatInowtellyou，andtobehavetomeasthoughthisconfidencehadneverbeenmade，whateverhappens？"

"I’llswearthat，bymymother’smemory。"

"Wellthen，"saidLaBriere，"MonsieurMignontoldmeinParisthathewasveryfarfromhavingthecolossalfortunewhichtheMongenodstoldmeaboutandwhichImentionedtoyou。Thecolonelintendstogivetwohundredthousandfrancstohisdaughter。Andnow，Melchior，Iaskyou，wasthefatherreallydistrustfulofus，asyouthought;orwashesincere？Itisnotformetoanswerthosequestions。IfModestewithoutafortunedeignstochooseme，shewillbemywife。"

"Ablue—stocking！educatedtillsheisaterror！agirlwhohasreadeverything，whoknowseverything，——intheory，"criedCanalis，hastily，noticingLaBriere’sgesture，"aspoiledchild，broughtupinluxuryinherchildhood，andweanedofitforfiveyears。Ah！mypoorfriend，takecarewhatyouareabout。"

"OdeandCode，"saidButscha，wakingup，"youdotheodeandIthecode;there’sonlyaC’sdifferencebetweenus。Well，now，codecomesfrom’coda，’atail，——markthatword！Seehere！abitofgoodadviceisworthyourwineandyourcreamoftea。FatherMignon——he’scream，too;thecreamofhonestmen——heisgoingwithhisdaughteronthisridingparty;doyougoupfranklyandtalk’dot’tohim。He’llanswerplainly，andyou’llgetatthetruth，justassurelyasI’mdrunk，andyou’reagreatpoet，——butnomatterforthat;wearetoleaveHavretogether，that’ssettled，isn’tit？I’mtobeyoursecretaryinplaceofthatlittlefellowwhositstheregrinningatmeandthinkingI’mdrunk。Come，let’sgo，andleavehimtomarrythegirl。"

Canalisrosetoleavetheroomtodressfortheexcursion。

"Hush，notaword，——heisgoingtocommitsuicide，"whisperedButscha，soberasajudge，toLaBriereashemadethegestureofastreetboyatCanalis’sback。"Adieu，mychief！"heshouted，instentoriantones，"willyouallowmetotakeasnoozeinthatkioskdowninthegarden？"

"Makeyourselfathome，"answeredthepoet。

Butscha，pursuedbythelaughterofthethreeservantsoftheestablishment，gainedthekioskbywalkingovertheflower—bedsandroundthevaseswiththeperversegraceofaninsectdescribingitsinterminablezig—zagsasittriestogetoutofaclosedwindow。Whenhehadclamberedintothekiosk，andtheservantshadretired，hesatdownonawoodenbenchandwallowedinthedelightsofhistriumph。Hehadcompletelyfooledagreatman;hehadnotonlytornoffhismask，buthehadmadehimuntiethestringshimself;andhelaughedlikeanauthoroverhisownplay，——thatistosay，withatruesenseoftheimmensevalueofhis"viscomica。"

"Menaretops！"hecried，"you’veonlytofindthetwinetowind’emupwith。ButI’mlikemyfellows，"headded，presently。"Ishouldfaintawayifanyonecameandsaidtome’MademoiselleModestehasbeenthrownfromherhorse，andhasbrokenherleg。’"

CHAPTERXXIV

THEPOETFEELSTHATHEISLOVEDTOOWELL

Anhourlater，Modeste，charminglyequippedinabottle—greencassimerehabit，asmallhatwithagreenveil，buckskingloves，andvelvetbootswhichmetthelacefrillsofherdrawers，andmountedonanelegantlycaparisonedlittlehorse，wasexhibitingtoherfatherandtheDucd’Herouvillethebeautifulpresentshehadjustreceived;

shewasevidentlydelightedwithanattentionofakindthatparticularlyflatterswomen。

"Diditcomefromyou，Monsieurleduc？"shesaid，holdingthesparklinghandletowardhim。"Therewasacardwithit，saying，’Guessifyoucan，’andsomeasterisks。FrancoiseandDumaycreditButschawiththischarmingsurprise;butmydearButschaisnotrichenoughtobuysuchrubies。Andasforpapa（towhomIsaid，asIremember，onSundayevening，thatIhadnowhip），hesenttoRouenforthisone，"——

pointingtoawhipinherfather’shand，withatoplikeaconeofturquoise，afashiontheninvoguewhichhassincebecomevulgar。

"Iwouldgivetenyearsofmyoldage，mademoiselle，tohavetherighttoofferyouthatbeautifuljewel，"saidtheduke，courteously。

"Ah，herecomestheaudaciousgiver！"criedModeste，asCanalisrodeup。"Itisonlyapoetwhoknowswheretofindsuchchoicethings。

Monsieur，"shesaidtoMelchior，"myfatherwillscoldyou，andsaythatyoujustifythosewhoaccuseyouofextravagance。"

"Oh！"exclaimedCanalis，withapparentsimplicity，"sothatiswhyLaBriererodeatfullgallopfromHavretoParis？"

"Doesyoursecretarytakesuchliberties？"saidModeste，turningpale，andthrowingthewhiptoFrancoisewithanimpetuositythatexpressedscorn。"Givemeyourwhip，papa。"

"PoorErnest，wholiesthereonhisbedhalf—deadwithfatigue！"saidCanalis，overtakingthegirl，whohadalreadystartedatagallop。

"Youarepitiless，mademoiselle。’Ihave’（thepoorfellowsaidtome）

’onlythisonechancetoremaininhermemory。’"

"Andshouldyouthinkwellofawomanwhocouldtakepresentsfromhalftheparish？"saidModeste。

Shewassurprisedtoreceivenoanswertothisinquiry，andattributedthepoet’sinattentiontothenoiseofthehorse’sfeet。

"Howyoudelightintormentingthosewholoveyou，"saidtheduke。

"YournobilityofsoulandyourpridearesoinconsistentwithyourfaultsthatIbegintosuspectyoucalumniateyourself，anddothosenaughtythingsonpurpose。"

"Ah！haveyouonlyjustfoundthatout，Monsieurleduc？"sheexclaimed，laughing。"Youhavethesagacityofahusband。"

Theyrodehalfamileinsilence。Modestewasagooddealastonishednottoreceivethefireofthepoet’seyes。Theeveningbefore，asshewaspointingouttohimanadmirableeffectofsettingsunlightacrossthewater，shehadsaid，remarkinghisinattention，"Well，don’tyouseeit？"——towhichhereplied，"Icanseeonlyyourhand";butnowhisadmirationforthebeautiesofnatureseemedalittletoointensetobenatural。

"DoesMonsieurdeLaBriereknowhowtoride？"sheasked，forthepurposeofteasinghim。

"Notverywell，buthegetsalong，"answeredthepoet，coldasGobenheimbeforethecolonel’sreturn。

Atacross—road，whichMonsieurMignonmadethemtakethroughalovelyvalleytoreachaheightoverlookingtheSeine，CanalisletModesteandthedukepasshim，andthenreineduptojointhecolonel。

"Monsieurlecomte，"hesaid，"youareanopen—heartedsoldier，andI

knowyouwillregardmyfranknessasatitletoyouresteem。Whenproposalsofmarriage，withalltheirbrutal，——or，ifyouplease，toocivilized——discussions，arecarriedonbythirdparties，itisaninjurytoall。Wearebothgentlemen，andbothdiscreet;andyou，likemyself，havepassedbeyondtheageofsurprises。Letusthereforespeakasintimates。Iwillsetyoutheexample。Iamtwenty—nineyearsold，withoutlandedestates，andfullofambition。MademoiselleModeste，asyoumusthaveperceived，pleasesmeextremely。Now，inspiteofthelittledefectswhichyourdeargirllikestoassume——"

"——notcountingthoseshereallypossesses，"saidthecolonel，smiling，——

"——Ishouldgladlymakehermywife，andIbelieveIcouldrenderherhappy。Thequestionofmoneyisoftheutmostimportancetomyfuture，whichhangsto—dayinthebalance。AllyounggirlsexpecttobelovedWHETHERORNO——fortuneornofortune。ButyouarenotthemantomarryyourdearModestewithouta’dot，’andmysituationdoesnotallowmetomakeamarriageofwhatiscalledloveunlesswithawomanwhohasafortuneatleastequaltomine。Ihave，frommyemolumentsandsinecures，fromtheAcademyandfrommyworks，aboutthirtythousandfrancsayear，alargeincomeforabachelor。Ifmywifebroughtmeasmuchmore，IshouldstillbeinaboutthesameconditionthatIamnow。ShallyougiveMademoiselleamillion？"

"Ah，monsieur，wehavenotreachedthatpointasyet，"saidthecolonel，Jesuitically。

"Thensuppose，"saidCanalis，quickly，"thatwegonofurther;wewillletthematterdrop。Youshallhavenocausetocomplainofme，Monsieurlecomte;theworldshallconsidermeamongtheunfortunatesuitorsofyourcharmingdaughter。Givemeyourwordofhonortosaynothingonthesubjecttoanyone，noteventoMademoiselleModeste，because，"headded，throwingawordofpromisetotheear，"mycircumstancesmaysochangethatIcanaskyouforherwithout’dot。’"

"Ipromiseyouthat，"saidthecolonel。"Youknow，monsieur，withwhatassurancethepublic，bothinParisandtheprovinces，talkoffortunesthattheymakeandunmake。Peopleexaggeratebothhappinessandunhappiness;weareneversofortunatenorsounfortunateaspeoplesayweare。Thereisnothingsureandcertaininbusinessexceptinvestmentsinland。Iamawaitingtheaccountsofmyagentswithverygreatimpatience。Thesaleofmymerchandiseandmyship，andthesettlementofmyaffairsinChina，arenotyetconcluded;andIcannotknowthefullamountofmyfortuneforatleastsixmonths。I

did，however，saytoMonsieurdeLaBriereinParisthatIwouldguaranteea’dot’oftwohundredthousandfrancsinreadymoney。I

wishtoentailmyestates，andenablemygrandchildrentoinheritmyarmsandtitle。"

Canalisdidnotlistentothisstatementaftertheopeningsentence。