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。