第17章
CHAPTERXXVI
TRUELOVE
Thehuntwasdestinedtobenotonlyameetofthehounds，butameetingofallthepassionsexcitedbythecolonel’smillionsandModeste’sbeauty;andwhileitwasinprospecttherewastrucebetweentheadversaries。Duringthedaysrequiredforthearrangementofthisforestrialsolemnity，thesalonofthevillaMignonpresentedthetranquilpictureofaunitedfamily。Canalis，cutshortinhisroleofinjuredlovebyModeste’squickperceptions，wishedtoappearcourteous;helaidasidehispretensions，gavenofurtherspecimensofhisoratory，andbecame，whatallmenofintellectcanbewhentheyrenounceaffectation，perfectlycharming。HetalkedfinanceswithGobenheim，andwarwiththecolonel，GermanywithMadameMignon，andhousekeepingwithMadameLatournelle，——endeavoringtobiasthemallinfavorofLaBriere。TheDucd’Herouvilleleftthefieldtohisrivals，forhewasobligedtogotoRosembraytoconsultwiththeDucdeVerneuil，andseethattheordersoftheRoyalHuntsman，thePrincedeCadignan，werecarriedout。Andyetthecomicelementwasnotaltogetherwanting。ModestefoundherselfbetweenthedepreciatoryhintsofCanalisastothegallantryofthegrandequerry，andtheexaggerationsofthetwoMesdemoisellesd’Herouville，whopassedeveryeveningatthevilla。CanalismadeModestetakenoticethat，insteadofbeingtheheroineofthehunt，shewouldbescarcelynoticed。
MADAMEwouldbeattendedbytheDuchessedeMaufrigneuse，daughter—in—
lawofthePrincedeCadignan，bytheDuchessedeChaulieu，andothergreatladiesoftheCourt，amongwhomshecouldproducenosensation;
nodoubttheofficersingarrisonatRouenwouldbeinvited，etc。
Helene，ontheotherhand，wasincessantlytellinghernewfriend，whomshealreadylookeduponasasister—in—law，thatshewastobepresentedtoMADAME;undoubtedlytheDucdeVerneuilwouldinviteherfatherandherselftostayatRosembray;ifthecolonelwishedtoobtainafavoroftheking，——apeerage，forinstance，——theopportunitywasunique，fortherewashopeofthekinghimselfbeingpresentonthethirdday;shewouldbedelightedwiththecharmingwelcomewithwhichthebeautiesoftheCourt，theDuchessesdeChaulieu，deMaufrigneuse，deLenoncourt—Chaulieu，andotherladies，werepreparedtomeether。Itwasinfactanexcessivelyamusinglittlewarfare，withitsmarchesandcountermarchesandstratagems，——allofwhichwerekeenlyenjoyedbytheDumays，theLatournelles，Gobenheim，andButscha，who，inconclaveassembled，saidhorriblethingsofthesenoblepersonages，cruellynotingandintelligentlystudyingalltheirlittlemeannesses。
Thepromisesonthed’Herouvillesidewere，however，confirmedbythearrivalofaninvitation，couchedinflatteringterms，fromtheDucdeVerneuilandtheMasteroftheHunttoMonsieurleComtedeLaBastieandhisdaughter，tostayatRosembrayandbepresentatagrandhuntontheseventh，eighth，ninth，andtenth，ofNovemberfollowing。
LaBriere，fullofdarkpresentiments，cravedthepresenceofModestewithaneagernesswhosebitterjoysareknownonlytoloverswhofeelthattheyareparted，andpartedfatallyfromthosetheylove。Flashesofjoycametohimintermingledwithmelancholymeditationsontheonetheme，"Ihavelosther，"andmadehimallthemoreinterestingtothosewhowatchedhim，becausehisfaceandhiswholepersonwereinkeepingwithhisprofoundfeeling。Thereisnothingmorepoeticthanalivingelegy，animatedbyapairofeyes，walkingabout，andsighingwithoutrhymes。
TheDucd’HerouvillearrivedatlasttoarrangeforModeste’sdeparture;aftercrossingtheSeineshewastobeconveyedintheduke’scaleche，accompaniedbytheDemoisellesd’Herouville。Thedukewascharminglycourteous，hebeggedCanalisandLaBrieretobeoftheparty，assuringthem，ashedidthecolonel，thathehadtakenparticularcarethathuntersshouldbeprovidedforthem。Thecolonelinvitedthethreeloverstobreakfastonthemorningofthestart。
Canalisthenbegantoputintoexecutionaplanthathehadbeenmaturinginhisownmindforthelastfewdays;namely，toquietlyreconquerModeste，andthrowovertheduchess，LaBriere，andtheduke。Agraduateofdiplomacycouldhardlyremainstuckinthepositioninwhichhefoundhimself。OntheotherhandLaBrierehadcometotheresolutionofbiddingModesteaneternalfarewell。Eachsuitorwasthereforeonthewatchtoslipinalastword，likethedefendant’scounseltothecourtbeforejudgmentispronounced;forallfeltthatthethreeweeks’strugglewasapproachingitsconclusion。Afterdinnerontheeveningbeforethestartwastobemade，thecolonelhadtakenhisdaughterbythearmandmadeherfeelthenecessityofdeciding。
"Ourpositionwiththed’HerouvillefamilywillbequiteintolerableatRosembray，"hesaidtoher。"Doyoumeantobeaduchess？"
"No，father，"sheanswered。
"ThendoyouloveCanalis？"
"No，papa，athousandtimesno！"sheexclaimedwiththeimpatienceofachild。
Thecolonellookedatherwithasortofjoy。
"Ah，Ihavenotinfluencedyou，"criedthetruefather，"andIwillnowconfessthatIchosemyson—in—lawinPariswhen，havingmadehimbelievethatIhadbutlittlefortune，hegraspedmyhandandtoldmeItookaweightfromhismind——"
"Whoisityoumean？"askedModeste，coloring。
"THEMANOFFIXEDPRINCIPLESANDSOUNDMORALITIES，"saidherfather，slyly，repeatingthewordswhichhaddissolvedpoorModeste’sdreamonthedayafterhisreturn。
"Iwasnoteventhinkingofhim，papa。Pleaseleavemeatlibertytorefusethedukemyself;Iunderstandhim，andIknowhowtosoothehim。"
"Thenyourchoiceisnotmade？"
"Notyet;thereisanothersyllableortwointhecharadeofmydestinystilltobeguessed;butafterIhavehadaglimpseofcourtlifeatRosembrayIwilltellyoumysecret。"
"Ah！MonsieurdeLaBriere，"criedthecolonel，astheyoungmanapproachedthemalongthegardenpathinwhichtheywerewalking，"I
hopeyouaregoingtothishunt？"
"No，colonel，"answeredErnest。"Ihavecometotakeleaveofyouandofmademoiselle;IreturntoParis——"
"Youhavenocuriosity，"saidModeste，interrupting，andlookingathim。
"Awish——thatIcannotexpect——wouldsufficetokeepme，"hereplied。
"Ifthatisall，youmuststaytopleaseme;Iwishit，"saidthecolonel，goingforwardtomeetCanalis，andleavinghisdaughterandLaBrieretogetherforamoment。
"Mademoiselle，"saidtheyoungman，raisinghiseyestoherswiththeboldnessofamanwithouthope，"Ihaveanentreatytomaketoyou。"
"Tome？"
"Letmecarryawaywithmeyourforgiveness。Mylifecanneverbehappy;itmustbefullofremorseforhavinglostmyhappiness——nodoubtbymyownfault;but，atleast，——"
"Beforewepartforever，"saidModeste，interruptingalaCanalis，andspeakinginavoiceofsomeemotion，"Iwishtoaskyouonething;andthoughyouoncedisguisedyourself，Ithinkyoucannotbesobaseastodeceivemenow。"
Thetauntmadehimturnpale，andhecriedout，"Oh，youarepitiless！"
"Willyoubefrank？"
"Youhavetherighttoaskmethatdegradingquestion，"hesaid，inavoiceweakenedbytheviolentpalpitationofhisheart。
"Well，then，didyoureadmyletterstoMonsieurdeCanalis？"
"No，mademoiselle;andIallowedyourfathertoreadthemitwastojustifymylovebyshowinghimhowitwasborn，andhowsinceremyeffortsweretocureyouofyourfancy。"
"Buthowcametheideaofthatunworthymasqueradeevertoarise？"shesaid，withasortofimpatience。
LaBriererelatedtruthfullythesceneinthepoet’sstudywhichModeste’sfirstletterhadoccasioned，andthesortofchallengethatresultedfromhisexpressingafavorableopinionofayounggirlthusledtowardapoet’sfame，asaplantseeksitsshareofthesun。
"Youhavesaidenough，"saidModeste，restrainingsomeemotion。"Ifyouhavenotmyheart，monsieur，youhaveatleastmyesteem。"
Thesesimplewordsgavetheyoungmanaviolentshock;feelinghimselfstagger，heleanedagainstatree，likeamandeprivedforamomentofreason。Modest，whohadlefthim，turnedherheadandcamehastilyback。
"Whatisthematter？"sheasked，takinghishandtopreventhimfromfalling。
"Forgiveme——Ithoughtyoudespisedme。"
"But，"sheanswered，withadistantanddisdainfulmanner，"IdidnotsaythatIlovedyou。"
Andshelefthimagain。Butthistime，inspiteofherharshness，LaBrierethoughthewalkedonair;theearthsoftenedunderhisfeet，thetreesboreflowers;theskieswererosy，theaircerulean，astheyareinthetemplesofHymeninthosefairypantomimeswhichfinishhappily。InsuchsituationseverywomanisaJanus，andseesbehindherwithoutturninground;andthusModesteperceivedonthefaceofherlovertheindubitablesymptomsofalovelikeButscha’s，——surelythe"neplusultra"ofawoman’shope。Moreover，thegreatvaluewhichLaBriereattachedtoheropinionfilledModestewithanemotionthatwasinestimablysweet。
"Mademoiselle，"saidCanalis，leavingthecolonelandwaylayingModeste，"inspiteofthelittlevalueyouattachtomysentiments，myhonorisconcernedineffacingastainunderwhichIhavesufferedtoolong。HereisaletterwhichIreceivedfromtheDuchessedeChaulieufivedaysaftermyarrivalinHavre。"
HeletModestereadthefirstlinesoftheletterwehaveseen，whichtheduchessbeganbysayingthatshehadseenMongenod，andnowwishedtomarryherpoettoModeste;thenhetorethatpassagefromthebodyoftheletter，andplacedthefragmentinherhand。
"Icannotletyoureadtherest，"hesaid，puttingthepaperinhispocket;"butIconfidethesefewlinestoyourdiscretion，sothatyoumayverifythewriting。Ayounggirlwhocouldaccusemeofignoblesentimentsisquitecapableofsuspectingsomecollusion，sometrickery。Ah，Modeste，"hesaid，withtearsinhisvoice，"yourpoet，thepoetofMadamedeChaulieu，hasnolesspoetryinhisheartthaninhismind。Youareabouttoseetheduchess;suspendyourjudgmentofmetillthen。"
HeleftModestehalfbewildered。
"Oh，dear！"shesaidtoherself;"itseemstheyareallangels——andnotmarriageable;thedukeistheonlyonethatbelongstohumanity。"
"MademoiselleModeste，"saidButscha，appearingwithaparcelunderhisarm，"thishuntmakesmeveryuneasy。Idreamedyourhorseranawaywithyou，andIhavebeentoRouentoseeifIcouldgetaSpanishbitwhich，theytellme，ahorsecan’ttakebetweenhisteeth。
Ientreatyoutouseit。Ihaveshownittothecolonel，andhehasthankedmemorethanthereisanyoccasionfor。"
"Poor，dearButscha！"criedModeste，movedtotearsbythismaternalcare。
Butschawentskippingofflikeamanwhohasjustheardofthedeathofarichuncle。
"Mydearfather，"saidModeste，returningtothesalon;"Ishouldliketohavethatbeautifulwhip，——supposeyouweretoaskMonsieurdeLaBrieretoexchangeitforyourpicturebyVanOstade。"
ModestelookedfurtivelyatErnest，whilethecolonelmadehimthisproposition，standingbeforethepicturewhichwasthesolethinghepossessedinmemoryofhiscampaigns，havingboughtitofaburgheratRabiston;andshesaidtoherselfasLaBrierelefttheroomprecipitately，"Hewillbeatthehunt。"
Acuriousthinghappened。Modeste’sthreeloverseachandallwenttoRosembraywiththeirheartsfullofhope，andcaptivatedbyhermanyperfections。
Rosembray，——anestatelatelypurchasedbytheDucdeVerneuil，withthemoneywhichfelltohimashisshareofthethousandmillionsvotedasindemnityforthesaleofthelandsoftheemigres，——isremarkableforitschateau，whosemagnificencecomparesonlywiththatofMesniereorofBalleroy。Thisimposingandnobleedificeisapproachedbyawideavenueoffourrowsofvenerableelms，fromwhichthevisitorentersanimmenserisingcourt—yard，likethatatVersailles，withmagnificentironrailingsandtwolodges，andadornedwithrowsoflargeorange—treesintheirtubs。Facingthiscourt—yard，thechateaupresents，betweentwofrontsofthemainbuildingwhichretreatoneithersideofthisprojection，adoublerowofnineteentallwindows，withcarvedarchesanddiamondpanes，dividedfromeachotherbyaseriesofflutedpilasterssurmountedbyanentablaturewhichhidesanItalianroof，fromwhichriseseveralstonechimneysmaskedbycarvedtrophiesofarms。Rosembraywasbuilt，underLouisXIV。，bya"fermier—general"namedCottin。Thefacadetowardtheparkdiffersfromthatonthecourt—yardbyhavinganarrowerprojectioninthecentre，withcolumnsbetweenfivewindows，abovewhichrisesamagnificentpediment。ThefamilyofMarigny，towhomtheestatesofthisCottinwerebroughtinmarriagebyMademoiselleCottin，herfather’ssoleheiress，orderedasunrisetobecarvedonthispedimentbyCoysevox。Beneathitaretwoangelsunwindingascroll，onwhichiscutthismottoinhonoroftheGrandMonarch，"Solnobisbenignus。"
Fromtheportico，reachedbytwograndcircularandbalustradedflightsofsteps，theviewextendsoveranimmensefish—pond，aslongandwideasthegrandcanalatVersailles，beginningatthefootofagrass—plotwhichcompareswellwiththefinestEnglishlawns，andborderedwithbedsandbasketsnowfilledwiththebrilliantflowersofautumn。Oneithersideofthepieceofwatertwogardens，laidoutintheFrenchstyle，displaytheirsquaresandlongstraightpaths，likebrilliantpageswrittenintheciphersofLenotre。Thesegardensarebackedtotheirwholelengthbyaborderofnearlythirtyacresofwoodland。FromtheterracetheviewisboundedbyaforestbelongingtoRosembrayandcontiguoustotwootherforests，oneofwhichbelongstotheCrown，theothertotheState。Itwouldbedifficulttofindanoblerlandscape。
CHAPTERXXVII
AGIRL’SREVENGE
Modeste’sarrivalatRosembraymadeacertainsensationintheavenuewhenthecarriagewiththeliveriesofFrancecameinsight，accompaniedbythegrandequerry，thecolonel，Canalis，andLaBriereonhorseback，precededbyanoutriderinfulldress，andfollowedbysixservants，——amongwhomweretheNegroesandthemulatto，——andthebritzkaofthecolonelforthetwowaiting—womenandtheluggage。Thecarriagewasdrawnbyfourhorses，riddenbypostilionsdressedwithanelegancespeciallycommandedbythegrandequerry，whowasoftenbetterservedthanthekinghimself。AsModeste，dazzledbythemagnificenceofthegreatlords，enteredandbeheldthislesserVersailles，shesuddenlyrememberedherapproachinginterviewwiththecelebratedduchesses，andbegantofearthatshemightseemawkward，orprovincial，orparvenue;infact，shelostherself—possession，andheartilyrepentedhavingwishedforahunt。
Fortunately，however，asthecarriagedrewup，Modestesawanoldman，inablondwigfrizzedintolittlecurls，whosecalm，plump，smoothfaceworeafatherlysmileandanexpressionofmonasticcheerfulnesswhichthehalf—veiledglanceoftheeyerenderedalmostnoble。ThiswastheDucdeVerneuil，masterofRosembray。Theduchess，awomanofextremepiety，theonlydaughterofarichanddeceasedchief—justice，spareanderect，andthemotheroffourchildren，resembledMadameLatournelle，——iftheimaginationcangosofarastoadornthenotary’swifewiththegracesofabearingthatwastrulyabbatial。
"Ah，goodmorning，dearHortense！"saidMademoiselled’Herouville，kissingtheduchesswiththesympathythatunitedtheirhaughtynatures;"letmepresenttoyouandtothedeardukeourlittleangel，MademoiselledeLaBastie。"
"Wehaveheardsomuchofyou，mademoiselle，"saidtheduchess，"thatwewereinhastetoreceiveyou。"
"Andregretthetimelost，"addedtheDucdeVerneuil，withcourteousadmiration。
"MonsieurleComtedeLaBastie，"saidthegrandequerry，takingthecolonelbythearmandpresentinghimtothedukeandduchess，withanairofrespectinhistoneandgesture。
"Iamgladtowelcomeyou，Monsieurlecomte！"saidMonsieurdeVerneuil。"Youpossessmorethanonetreasure，"headded，lookingatModeste。
TheduchesstookModesteunderherarmandledherintoanimmensesalon，whereadozenormorewomenweregroupedaboutthefireplace。
Themenofthepartyremainedwiththedukeontheterrace，exceptCanalis，whorespectfullymadehiswaytothesuperbEleonore。TheDuchessedeChaulieu，seatedatanembroidery—frame，wasshowingMademoiselledeVerneuilhowtoshadeaflower。
IfModestehadrunaneedlethroughherfingerwhenhandlingapin—
cushionshecouldnothavefeltasharperprickthanshereceivedfromthecoldandhaughtyandcontemptuousstarewithwhichMadamedeChaulieufavoredher。Foraninstantshesawnothingbutthatonewoman，andshesawthroughher。Tounderstandthedepthsofcrueltytowhichthesecharmingcreatures，whomourpassionsdeify，cango，wemustseewomenwitheachother。ModestewouldhavedisarmedalmostanyotherthanEleonorebytheperfectlystupidandinvoluntaryadmirationwhichherfacebetrayed。Hadshenotknowntheduchess’sageshewouldhavethoughtherawomanofthirty—six;butotherandgreaterastonishmentsawaitedher。
Thepoethadrunplumpagainstagreatlady’sanger。Suchangeristheworstofsphinxes;thefaceisradiant，alltherestmenacing。Kingsthemselvescannotmaketheexquisitepolitenessofamistress’scoldangercapitulatewhensheguardsitwithsteelarmor。Canalistriedtoclingtothesteel，buthisfingersslippedonthepolishedsurface，likehiswordsontheheart;andthegraciousface，thegraciouswords，thegraciousbearingoftheduchesshidthesteelofherwrath，nowfallentotwenty—fivebelowzero，fromallobservers。TheappearanceofModesteinhersublimebeauty，anddressedaswellasDianedeMaufrigneuseherself，hadfiredthetrainofgunpowderwhichreflectionhadbeenlayinginEleonore’smind。
Allthewomenhadgonetothewindowstoseethenewwondergetoutoftheroyalcarriage，attendedbyherthreesuitors。
"Donotletusseemsocurious，"MadamedeChaulieuhadsaid，cuttotheheartbyDiane’sexclamation，——"Sheisdivine！whereintheworlddoesshecomefrom？"——andwiththatthebevyflewbacktotheirseats，resumingtheircomposure，thoughEleonore’sheartwasfullofhungryvipersallclamorousforameal。
Mademoiselled’HerouvillesaidinalowvoiceandwithmuchmeaningtotheDuchessedeVerneuil，"EleonorereceivesherMelchiorveryungraciously。"
"TheDuchessedeMaufrigneusethinksthereisacoolnessbetweenthem，"saidLauredeVerneuil，withsimplicity。
Charmingphrase！sooftenusedintheworldofsociety，——howthenorthwindblowsthroughit。
"Whyso？"askedModesteoftheprettyyounggirlwhohadlatelylefttheSacre—Coeur。
"Thegreatpoet，"saidthepiousduchess——makingasigntoherdaughtertobesilent——"leftMadamedeChaulieuwithoutaletterformorethantwoweeksafterhewenttoHavre，havingtoldherthathewentthereforhishealth——"
Modestemadeahastymovement，whichcaughttheattentionofLaure，Helene，andMademoiselled’Herouville。
"——andduringthattime，"continuedthedevoutduchess，"shewasendeavoringtohavehimappointedcommanderoftheLegionofhonor，andministeratBaden。"
"Oh，thatwasshamefulinCanalis;heoweseverythingtoher，"
exclaimedMademoiselled’Herouville。
"WhydidnotMadamedeChaulieucometoHavre？"askedModesteofHelene，innocently。
"Mydear，"saidtheDuchessedeVerneuil，"shewouldletherselfbecutinlittlepieceswithoutsayingaword。Lookather，——sheisregal;herheadwouldsmile，likeMaryStuart’s，afteritwascutoff;
infact，shehassomeofthatbloodinherveins。"
"Didshenotwritetohim？"askedModeste。
"Dianetellsme，"answeredtheduchess，promptedbyanudgefromMademoiselled’Herouville，"thatinanswertoCanalis’sfirstlettershemadeacuttingreplyafewdaysago。"
ThisexplanationmadeModesteblushwithshameforthemanbeforeher;
shelonged，nottocrushhimunderherfeet，buttorevengeherselfbyoneofthosemaliciousactsthataresharperthanadagger’sthrust。
ShelookedhaughtilyattheDuchessedeChaulieu——
"MonsieurMelchior！"shesaid。
Allthewomensnuffedtheairandlookedalternatelyattheduchess，whowastalkinginanundertonetoCanalisovertheembroidery—frame，andthenattheyounggirlsoillbroughtupastodisturbalovers’
meeting，——athinknotpermissibleinanysociety。DianedeMaufrigneusenodded，however，asmuchastosay，"Thechildisintherightofit。"Allthewomenendedbysmilingateachother;theywereenragedwithawomanwhowasfifty—sixyearsoldandstillhandsomeenoughtoputherfingersintothetreasuryandstealtheduesofyouth。MelchiorlookedatModestewithfeverishimpatience，andmadethegestureofamastertoavalet，whiletheduchessloweredherheadwiththemovementofalionessdisturbedatameal;hereyes，fastenedonthecanvas，emittedredflamesinthedirectionofthepoet，whichstabbedlikeepigrams，foreachwordrevealedtoheratripleinsult。
"MonsieurMelchior！"saidModesteagaininavoicethatasserteditsrighttobeheard。
"What，mademoiselle？"demandedthepoet。
Forcedtorise，heremainedstandinghalf—waybetweentheembroideryframe，whichwasnearawindow，andthefireplacewhereModestewasseatedwiththeDuchessedeVerneuilonasofa。Whatbitterreflectionscameintohisambitiousmind，ashecaughtaglancefromEleonore。IfheobeyedModesteallwasover，andforever，betweenhimselfandhisprotectress。Nottoobeyherwastoavowhisslavery，tolosethechancesofhistwenty—fivedaysofbasemanoeuvring，andtodisregardtheplainestlawsofdecencyandcivility。Thegreaterthefolly，themoreimperativelytheduchessexactedit。Modeste’sbeautyandmoneythuspittedagainstEleonore’srightsandinfluencemadethishesitationbetweenthemanandhishonorasterribletowitnessastheperilofamatadorinthearena。AmanseldomfeelssuchpalpitationsasthosewhichnowcamenearcausingCanalisananeurism，except，perhaps，beforethegreentable，wherehisfortuneorhisruinisabouttobedecided。
"Mademoiselled’Herouvillehurriedmefromthecarriage，andIleftbehindme，"saidModestetoCanalis，"myhandkerchief——"
Canalisshruggedhisshoulderssignificantly。
"And，"continuedModeste，takingnonoticeofhisgesture，"Ihadtiedintoonecornerofitthekeyofadeskwhichcontainsthefragmentofanimportantletter;havethekindness，MonsieurMelchior，togetitforme。"
BetweenanangelandatigerequallyenragedCanalis，whohadturnedlivid，nolongerhesitated，——thetigerseemedtohimtheleastdangerousofthetwo;andhewasabouttodoashewastold，andcommithimselfirretrievably，whenLaBriereappearedatthedoorofthesalon，seemingtohisanguishedmindlikethearchangelGabrieltumblingfromheaven。
"Ernest，here，MademoiselledeLaBastiewantsyou，"saidthepoet，hastilyreturningtohischairbytheembroideryframe。
ErnestrushedtoModestewithoutbowingtoanyone;hesawonlyher，tookhiscommissionwithundisguisedjoy，anddartedfromtheroom，withthesecretapprobationofeverywomanpresent。
"Whatanoccupationforapoet！"saidModestetoHelened’Herouville，glancingtowardtheembroideryatwhichtheduchesswasnowworkingsavagely。
"Ifyouspeaktoher，ifyoueverlookather，allisoverbetweenus，"saidtheduchesstothepoetinalowvoice，notatallsatisfiedwiththeverydoubtfulterminationwhichErnest’sarrivalhadputtothescene;"andremember，ifIamnotpresent，Ileavebehindmeeyesthatwillwatchyou。"
Sosaying，theduchess，awomanofmediumheight，butalittletoostout，likeallwomenoverfiftywhoretaintheirbeauty，roseandwalkedtowardthegroupwhichsurroundedDianedeMaufrigneuse，steppingdaintilyonlittlefeetthatwereasslenderandnervousasadeer’s。Beneathherplumpnesscouldbeseentheexquisitedelicacyofsuchwomen，whichcomesfromthevigoroftheirnervoussystemscontrollingandvitalizingthedevelopmentofflesh。Thereisnootherwaytoexplainthelightnessofherstep，andtheincomparablenobilityofherbearing。NonebutthewomenwhosequarteringsbeginwithNoahknow，asEleonoredid，howtobemajesticinspiteofabuxomtendency。AphilosophermighthavepitiedPhiloxene，whileadmiringthegracefullinesofthebustandtheminutecarebestoweduponamorningdress，whichwaswornwiththeeleganceofaqueenandtheeasygraceofayounggirl。Herabundanthair，stillundyed，wassimplywoundaboutherheadinplaits;shebaredhersnowythroatandshoulders，exquisitelymodelled，andhercelebratedhandandarm，withpardonablepride。Modeste，togetherwithallotherantagonistsoftheduchess，recognizedinherawomanofwhomtheywereforcedtosay，"Sheeclipsesus。"Infact，Eleonorewasoneofthe"grandesdames"
nowsorare。Toendeavortoexplainwhataugustqualitytherewasinthecarriageofthehead，whatrefinementanddelicacyinthecurveofthethroat，whatharmonyinhermovements，andnobilityinherbearing，whatgrandeurintheperfectaccordofdetailswiththewholebeing，andinthearts，nowasecondnature，whichrenderawomangrandandevensacred，——toexplainallthesethingswouldsimplybetoattempttoanalyzethesublime。PeopleenjoysuchpoetryastheyenjoythatofPaganini;theydonotexplaintothemselvesthemedium，theyknowthecauseisinthespiritthatremainsinvisible。
MadamedeChaulieubowedherheadinsalutationofHeleneandheraunt;then，sayingtoDiane，inapureandequabletoneofvoice，withoutatraceofemotion，"Isitnottimetodress，duchess？"shemadeherexit，accompaniedbyherdaughter—in—lawandMademoiselled’Herouville。Asshelefttheroomshespokeinanundertonetotheoldmaid，whopressedherarm，saying，"Youarecharming，"——whichmeant，"Iamallgratitudefortheserviceyouhavejustdoneus。"
Afterthat，Mademoiselled’Herouvillereturnedtothesalontoplayherpartofspy，andherfirstglanceapprisedCanalisthattheduchesshadmadehimnoemptythreat。Thatapprenticeindiplomacybecameawarethathissciencewasnotsufficientforastruggleofthiskind，andhiswitservedhimtotakeamorehonestposition，ifnotaworthierone。WhenErnestreturned，bringingModeste’shandkerchief，thepoetseizedhisarmandtookhimoutontheterrace。
"Mydearfriend，"hesaid，"Iamnotonlythemostunfortunatemanintheworld，butIamalsothemostridiculous;andIcometoyoutogetmeoutofthehornet’snestintowhichIhaverunmyself。Modesteisademon;sheseesmydifficultyandshelaughsatit;shehasjustspokentomeofafragmentofaletterofMadamedeChaulieu，whichI
hadthefollytogiveher;ifsheshowsitIcannevermakemypeacewithEleonore。Therefore，willyouatonceaskModestetosendmebackthatpaper，andtellher，fromme，thatImakenopretensionstoherhand。SayIcountuponherdelicacy，uponherproprietyasayounggirl，tobehavetomeasifwehadneverknowneachother。Ibeghernottospeaktome;Iimplorehertotreatmeharshly，——thoughI
hardlydareaskhertofeignajealousanger，whichwouldhelpmyinterestsamazingly。Go，Iwillwaithereforananswer。"