首页 >出版文学> Modeste Mignon>第18章

第18章

  CHAPTERXXVIII
  MODESTEBEHAVESWITHDIGNITY
  Onre—enteringthesalonErnestdeLaBrierefoundayoungofficerofthecompanyoftheguardd’Havre,theVicomtedeSerizy,whohadjustarrivedfromRosnytoannouncethatMADAMEwasobligedtobepresentattheopeningoftheChambers。Weknowtheimportancethenattachedtothisconstitutionalsolemnity,atwhichCharlesX。deliveredhisspeech,surroundedbytheroyalfamily,——MadamelaDauphineandMADAME
  beingpresentintheirgallery。Thechoiceoftheemissarychargedwiththedutyofexpressingtheprincess’sregretswasanattentiontoDiane,whowasthenanobjectofadorationtothischarmingyoungman,sonofaministerofstate,gentlemaninordinaryofthechamber,onlysonandheirtoanimmensefortune。TheDuchessedeMaufrigneusepermittedhisattentionssolelyforthepurposeofattractingnoticetotheageofhismother,MadamedeSerizy,whowassaid,inthosechroniclesthatarewhisperedbehindthefans,tohavedeprivedheroftheheartofthehandsomeLuciendeRubempre。
  "Youwilldousthepleasure,Ihope,toremainatRosembray,"saidthesevereduchesstotheyoungofficer。
  Whilegivingeartoeveryscandal,thedevoutladyshuthereyestothederelictionsofherguestswhohadbeencarefullyselectedbytheduke;indeed,itissurprisinghowmuchtheseexcellentwomenwilltolerateunderpretenceofbringingthelostsheepbacktothefoldbytheirindulgence。
  "Wereckonedwithoutourconstitutionalgovernment,"saidthegrandequerry;"andRosembray,Madameladuchesse,willloseagreathonor。"
  "Weshallbemoreatourease,"saidatallthinoldman,aboutseventy—fiveyearsofage,dressedinbluecloth,andwearinghishunting—capbypermissionoftheladies。Thispersonage,whocloselyresembledtheDucdeBourbon,wasnolessthanthePrincedeCadignan,MasteroftheHunt,andoneofthelastofthegreatFrenchlords。
  JustasLaBrierewasendeavoringtoslipbehindthesofaandobtainamoment’sintercoursewithModeste,amanofthirty—eight,short,fat,andverycommoninappearance,enteredtheroom。
  "Myson,thePrincedeLoudon,"saidtheDuchessedeVerneuiltoModeste,whocouldnotrestraintheexpressionofamazementthatoverspreadheryoungfaceonseeingthemanwhoborethehistoricalnamethattheheroofLaVendeehadrenderedfamousbyhisbraveryandthemartyrdomofhisdeath。
  "Gaspard,"saidtheduchess,callinghersontoher。Theyoungprincecameatonce,andhismothercontinued,motioningtoModeste,"MademoiselledeLaBastie,myfriend。"
  Theheirpresumptive,whosemarriagewithDesplein’sonlydaughterhadlatelybeenarranged,bowedtotheyounggirlwithoutseemingstruck,ashisfatherhadbeen,withherbeauty。Modestewasthusenabledtocomparetheyouthofto—daywiththeoldageofapastepoch;fortheoldPrincedeCadignanhadalreadysaidafewwordswhichmadeherfeelthatherenderedastrueahomagetowomanhoodastoroyalty。TheDucdeRhetore,theeldestsonoftheDuchessedeChaulieu,chieflyremarkableformannersthatwereequallyimpertinentandfreeandeasy,bowedtoModesterathercavalierly。Thereasonofthiscontrastbetweenthefathersandthesonsistobefound,probably,inthefactthatyoungmennolongerfeelthemselvesgreatbeings,astheirforefathersdid,andtheydispensewiththedutiesofgreatness,knowingwellthattheyarenowbuttheshadowofit。Thefathersretaintheinherentpolitenessoftheirvanishedgrandeur,likethemountain—topsstillgildedbythesunwhenallistwilightinthevalley。
  ErnestwasatlastabletoslipawordintoModeste’sear,andsheroseimmediately。
  "Mydear,"saidtheduchesse,thinkingshewasgoingtodress,andpullingabell—rope,"theyshallshowyouyourapartment。"
  ErnestaccompaniedModestetothefootofthegrandstaircase,presentingtherequestofthelucklesspoet,andendeavoringtotouchherfeelingsbydescribingMelchior’sagony。
  "Yousee,heloves——heisacaptivewhothoughthecouldbreakhischain。"
  "Loveinsucharapidseekerafterfortune!"retortedModeste。
  "Mademoiselle,youareattheentranceoflife;youdonotknowitsdefiles。Theinconsistenciesofamanwhofallsunderthedominionofawomanmucholderthanhimselfshouldbeforgiven,forheisreallynotaccountable。ThinkhowmanysacrificesCanalishasmadetoher。Hehassowntoomuchseedofthatkindtoresigntheharvest;theduchessrepresentstohimtenyearsofdevotionandhappiness。Youmadehimforgetallthat,andunfortunately,hehasmorevanitythanpride;hedidnotreflectonwhathewaslosinguntilhemetMadameChaulieuhereto—day。Ifyoureallyunderstoodhim,youwouldhelphim。Heisachild,alwaysmismanaginghislife。Youcallhimaseekerafterfortune,butheseeksverybadly;likeallpoets,heisavictimofsensations;heischildish,easilydazzledlikeachildbyanythingthatshines,andpursuingitsglitter。Heusedtolovehorsesandpictures,andhecravedfame,——well,hesoldhispicturestobuyarmorandoldfurnitureoftheRenaissanceandLouisXV。;justnowheisseekingpoliticalpower。Admitthathishobbiesarenoblethings。"
  "Youhavesaidenough,"repliedModeste;"come,"sheadded,seeingherfather,whomshecalledwithamotionofherheadtogiveherhisarm;
  "comewithme,andIwillgiveyouthatscrapofpaper;youshallcarryittothegreatmanandassurehimofmycondescensiontohiswishes,butononecondition,——youmustthankhiminmynameforthepleasureIhavetakeninseeingoneofthefinestoftheGermanplaysperformedinmyhonor。IhavelearnedthatGoethe’smasterpieceisneitherFaustnorEgmont——"andthen,asErnestlookedatthemaliciousgirlwithapuzzledair,sheadded:"ItisTorquatoTasso!
  TellMonsieurdeCanalistore—readit,"sheaddedsmiling;"I
  particularlydesirethatyouwillrepeattoyourfriendwordforwordwhatIsay;foritisnotanepigram,itisthejustificationofhisconduct,——withthistriflingdifference,thathewill,Itrust,becomemoreandmorereasonable,thankstothefollyofhisEleonore。"
  Theduchess’shead—womanconductedModesteandherfathertotheirapartment,whereFrancoiseCochethadalreadyputeverythinginorder,andthechoiceeleganceofwhichastoundedthecolonel,moreespeciallyafterheheardfromFrancoisethattherewerethirtyotherapartmentsinthechateaudecoratedwiththesametaste。
  "ThisiswhatIcallapropercountry—house,"saidModeste。
  "TheComtedeLaBastiemustbuildyouonelikeit,"repliedherfather。
  "Here,monsieur,"saidModeste,givingthebitofpapertoErnest;
  "carryittoourfriendandputhimoutofhismisery。"
  ThewordOURfriendstrucktheyoungman’sheart。HelookedatModestetoseeiftherewasanythingrealinthecommunityofinterestswhichsheseemedtoadmit,andshe,understandingperfectlywhathislookmeant,added,"Come,goatonce,yourfriendiswaiting。"
  LaBrierecoloredexcessively,andlefttheroominastateofdoubtandanxietylessendurablethandespair。Thepaththatapproacheshappinessis,tothetruelover,likethenarrowwaywhichCatholicpoetryhascalledtheentrancetoParadise,——expressingthusadarkandgloomypassage,echoingwiththelastcriesofearthlyanguish。
  Anhourlaterthisillustriouscompanywereallassembledinthesalon;somewereplayingwhist,othersconversing;thewomenhadtheirembroideriesinhand,andallwerewaitingtheannouncementofdinner。
  ThePrincedeCadignanwasdrawingMonsieurMignonoutuponChina,andhiscampaignsundertheempire,andmakinghimtalkaboutthePortendueres,theL’Estorades,andtheMaucombes,Provencalfamilies;
  heblamedhimfornotseekingservice,andassuredhimthatnothingwouldbeeasierthantorestorehimtohisrankascoloneloftheGuard。
  "AmanofyourbirthandyourfortuneoughtnottobelongtothepresentOpposition,"saidtheprince,smiling。
  ThissocietyofdistinguishedpersonsnotonlypleasedModeste,butitenabledhertoacquire,duringherstay,aperfectionofmannerswhichwithoutthisrevelationshewouldhavelackedallherlife。Showaclocktoanembryomechanic,andyourevealtohimthewholemechanism;hethusdevelopsthegermsofhisfacultywhichliedormantwithinhim。InlikemannerModestehadtheinstincttoappropriatethedistinctivequalitiesofMadamedeMaufrigneuseandMadamedeChaulieu。Forher,thesightofthesewomenwasaneducation;whereasabourgeoiswouldmerelyhaveridiculedtheirwaysormadethemabsurdbyclumsyimitation。Awell—born,well—educated,andright—mindedyoungwomanlikeModestefellnaturallyintoconnectionwiththesepeople,andsawatoncethedifferencesthatseparatethearistocraticworldfromthebourgeoisworld,theprovincesfromthefaubourgSaint—
  Germain;shecaughtthealmostimperceptibleshadings;inshort,sheperceivedthegraceofthe"grandedame"withoutdoubtingthatshecouldherselfacquireit。ShenoticedalsothatherfatherandLaBriereappearedinfinitelybetterinthisOlympusthanCanalis。Thegreatpoet,abdicatinghisrealandincontestablepower,thatofthemind,becamenothingmorethanacourtierseekingaministry,intriguingforanorder,andforcedtopleasethewholegalaxy。ErnestdeLaBriere,withoutambitions,wasabletobehimself;whileMelchiorbecame,touseavulgarexpression,ameretoady,andcourtedthePrincedeLoudon,theDucdeRhetore,theVicomtedeSerizy,ortheDucdeMaufrigneuse,likeamannotfreetoasserthimself,asdidColonelMignon,whowasjustlyproudofhiscampaigns,andoftheconfidenceoftheEmperorNapoleon。Modestetooknoteofthestrainedeffortsofthemanofrealtalent,seekingsomewitticismthatshouldraisealaugh,somecleverspeech,somecomplimentwithwhichtoflatterthesegrandpersonages,whomitwashisinteresttoplease。Inaword,toModeste’seyesthepeacockpluckedouthistail—feathers。
  Towardthemiddleoftheeveningtheyounggirlsatdownwiththegrandequerryinacornerofthesalon。Sheledhimtherepurposelytoendasuitwhichshecouldnolongerencourageifshewishedtoretainherself—respect。
  "Monsieurleduc,ifyoureallyknewme,"shesaid,"youwouldunderstandhowdeeplyIamtouchedbyyourattentions。ItisbecauseoftheprofoundrespectIfeelforyourcharacter,andthefriendshipwhichasoullikeyoursinspiresinmine,thatIcannotenduretowoundyourself—love。BeforeyourarrivalinHavreIlovedsincerely,deeply,andforever,onewhoisworthyofbeingloved,andmyaffectionforwhomisstillasecret;butIwishyoutoknow——andinsayingthisIammoresincerethanmostyounggirls——thathadInotalreadyformedthisvoluntaryattachment,youwouldhavebeenmychoice,forIrecognizeyournobleandbeautifulqualities。Afewwordswhichyourauntandsisterhavesaidtomeastoyourintentionsleadmetomakethisfrankavowal。Ifyouthinkitdesirable,aletterfrommymothershallrecallme,onpretenceofherillness,to—morrowmorningbeforethehuntbegins。WithoutyourconsentIdonotchoosetobepresentatafetewhichIowetoyourkindness,andwhere,ifmysecretshouldescapeme,youmightfeelhurtanddefrauded。YouwillaskmewhyIhavecomehereatall。Icouldnotwithstandtheinvitation。Begenerousenoughnottoreproachmeforwhatwasalmostanecessarycuriosity。Butthisisnotthechief,notthemostdelicatethingIhavetosaytoyou。Youhavefirmfriendsinmyfatherandmyself,——moresothanperhapsyourealize;andasmyfortunewasthefirstcausethatbroughtyoutome,Iwishtosay——butwithoutintendingtouseitasasedativetocalmthegriefwhichgallantryrequiresyoutotestify——thatmyfatherhasthoughtovertheaffairofthemarshes,hisfriendDumaythinksyourprojectfeasible,andtheyhavealreadytakenstepstoformacompany。Gobenheim,Dumay,andmyfatherhavesubscribedfifteenhundredthousandfrancs,andundertaketogettherestfromcapitalists,whowillfeelitintheirinteresttotakeupthematter。IfIhavenotthehonorofbecomingtheDuchessed’Herouville,Ihavealmostthecertaintyofenablingyoutochooseher,freefromalltrammelsinyourchoice,andinahigherspherethanmine。Oh!letmefinish,"shecried,atagesturefromtheduke。
  "Judgingbymynephew’semotion,"whisperedMademoiselled’Herouvilletoherniece,"itiseasytoseeyouhaveasister。"
  "Monsieurleduc,allthiswassettledinmymindthedayofourfirstride,whenIheardyoudeploreyoursituation。ThisiswhatIhavewishedtosaytoyou。Thatdaydeterminedmyfuturelife。Thoughyoudidnotmaketheconquestofawoman,youhaveatleastgainedfaithfulfriendsatIngouville——ifyouwilldeigntoaccordusthattitle。"
  Thislittlediscourse,whichModestehadcarefullythoughtover,wassaidwithsomuchcharmofsoulthatthetearscametothegrandequerry’seyes;heseizedherhandandkissedit。
  "Stayduringthehunt,"hesaid;"mywantofmerithasaccustomedmetotheserefusals;butwhileacceptingyourfriendshipandthatofthecolonel,youmustletmesatisfymyselfbythejudgmentofcompetentscientificmen,thatthedrainingofthosemarsheswillbenorisktothecompanyyouspeakof,beforeIagreetothegenerousofferofyourfriends。Youareanoblegirl,andthoughmyheartachestothinkI
  canonlybeyourfriend,Iwillgloryinthattitle,andproveittoyouatalltimesandinallseasons。"
  "Inthatcase,Monsieurleduc,letuskeepoursecret。Mychoicewillnotbeknown,atleastIthinknot,untilaftermymother’scompleterecovery。Ishouldlikeourfirstblessingtocomefromhereyes。"
  CHAPTERXXIX
  CONCLUSION
  "Ladies,"saidthePrincedeCadignan,astheguestswereabouttoseparateforthenight,"Iknowthatseveralofyouproposetofollowthehoundswithusto—morrow,anditbecomesmydutytotellyouthatifyouwillbeDianasyoumustrise,likeDiana,withthedawn。Themeetisforhalf—pasteighto’clock。Ihaveinthecourseofmylifeseenmanywomendisplaygreatercouragethanmen,butforafewsecondsonly;andyouwillneedastrongdoseofresolutiontokeepyouonhorsebackthewholeday,barringahaltforbreakfast,whichweshalltake,liketruehuntersandhuntresses,onthenail。Areyoustilldeterminedtoshowyourselvestrainedhorse—women?"
  "Prince,itisnecessaryformetodoso,"saidModeste,adroitly。
  "Ianswerformyself,"saidtheDuchessedeChaulieu。
  "AndIformydaughterDiane;sheisworthyofhername,"addedtheprince。"So,then,youallpersistinyourintentions?However,I
  shallarrange,forthesakeofMadameandMademoiselledeVerneuilandothersofthepartywhostayathome,todrivethestagtothefurtherendofthepond。"
  "Makeyourselfquiteeasy,mesdames,"saidthePrincedeLoudon,whentheRoyalHuntsmanhadlefttheroom;"thatbreakfast’onthenail’
  willtakeplaceunderacomfortabletent。"
  Thenextday,atdawn,allsignsgavepromiseofagloriousday。Theskies,veiledbyaslightgrayvapor,showedspacesofpurestblue,andwouldsurelybesweptclearbeforemid—daybythenorthwestwind,whichwasalreadyplayingwiththefleecycloudlets。Asthehuntingpartyleftthechateau,theMasteroftheHunt,theDucdeRhetore,andthePrincedeLoudon,whohadnoladiestoescort,rodeintheadvance,noticingthewhitemassesofthechateau,withitsrisingchimneysrelievedagainstthebrilliantred—brownfoliagewhichthetreesinNormandyputonatthecloseofafineautumn。
  "Theladiesarefortunateintheirweather,"remarkedtheDucdeRhetore。
  "Oh,inspiteofalltheirboasting,"repliedthePrincedeCadignan,"Ithinktheywillletushuntwithoutthem!"
  "Sotheymight,ifeachhadnotasquire,"saidtheduke。
  Atthismomenttheattentionofthesedeterminedhuntsmen——forthePrincedeLoudonandtheDucdeRhetoreareoftheraceofNimrod,andthebestshotsofthefaubourgSaint—Germain——wasattractedbyaloudaltercation;andtheyspurredtheirhorsestoanopenspaceattheentrancetotheforestofRosembray,famousforitsmossyturf,whichwasappointedforthemeet。Thecauseofthequarrelwassoonapparent。ThePrincedeLoudon,afflictedwithanglomania,hadbroughtouthisownhuntingestablishment,whichwasexclusivelyBritannic,andplaceditunderordersoftheMasteroftheHunt。Now,oneofhismen,alittleEnglishman,——fair,pale,insolent,andphlegmatic,scarcelyabletospeakawordofFrench,anddressedwithaneatnesswhichdistinguishesallBritons,eventhoseofthelowerclasses,——hadpostedhimselfononesideofthisopenspace。JohnBarryworeashortfrock—coat,buttonedtightlyatthewaist,madeofscarletcloth,withbuttonsbearingtheDeVerneuilarms,whiteleatherbreeches,top—
  boots,astripedwaistcoat,andacollarandcapeofblackvelvet。Heheldinhishandasmallhunting—whip,andhangingtohiswristbyasilkencordwasabrasshorn。Thisman,thefirstwhipper—in,wasaccompaniedbytwothorough—breddogs,——fox—hounds,white,withliverspots,longintheleg,fineinthemuzzle,withslenderheads,andlittleearsattheircrests。Thehuntsman——famousintheEnglishcountyfromwhichthePrincedeLoudonhadobtainedhimatgreatcost——wasinchargeofanestablishmentoffifteenhorsesandsixtyEnglishhounds,whichcosttheDucdeVerneuil,whowasnothingofahuntsman,butchosetoindulgehissoninthisessentiallyroyaltaste,anenormoussumofmoneytokeepup。
  Now,whenJohnarrivedontheground,hefoundhimselfforestalledbythreeotherwhippers—in,inchargeoftwooftheroyalpacksofhoundswhichhadbeenbroughtthereincarts。TheywerethethreebesthuntsmenofthePrincedeCadignan,andpresented,bothincharacterandintheirdistinctivelyFrenchcostume,amarkedcontrasttotherepresentativeofinsolentAlbion。ThesefavoritesofthePrince,eachwearingfull—brimmed,three—corneredhats,veryflatandverywide—
  spreading,beneathwhichgrinnedtheirswarthy,tanned,andwrinkledfaces,lightedbythreepairsoftwinklingeyes,werenoticeablylean,sinewy,andvigorous,likemeninwhomsporthadbecomeapassion。AllthreeweresuppliedwithimmensehornsofDampierre,woundwithgreenworstedcords,leavingonlythebrasstubesvisible;buttheycontrolledtheirdogsbytheeyeandvoice。Thosenobleanimalswerefarmorefaithfulandsubmissivesubjectsthanthehumanliegeswhomthekingwasatthatmomentaddressing;allweremarkedwithwhite,black,orliverspots,eachhavingasdistinctiveacountenanceasthesoldiersofNapoleon,theireyesflashinglikediamondsattheslightestnoise。Oneofthem,broughtfromPoitou,wasshortintheback,deepintheshoulder,low—jointed,andlop—eared;theother,fromEngland,white,fineasagreyhoundwithnobelly,smallears,andbuiltforrunning。Bothwereyoung,impatient,andyelpingeagerly,whiletheoldhounds,onthecontrary,coveredwithscars,layquietlywiththeirheadsontheirforepaws,andtheirearstotheearthlikesavages。
  AstheEnglishmancameup,theroyaldogsandhuntsmenlookedateachotherasthoughtheysaid,"IfwecannothuntbyourselveshisMajesty’sserviceisinsulted。"
  Beginningwithjests,thequarrelpresentlygrewfiercerbetweenMonsieurJacquinLaRoulie,theoldFrenchwhipper—in,andJohnBarry,theyoungislander。Thetwoprincesguessedfromafarthesubjectofthealtercation,andtheMasteroftheHunt,settingspurstohishorse,broughtittoanendbysaying,inavoiceofauthority:——
  "Whodrewthewood?"
  "I,monseigneur,"saidtheEnglishman。
  "Verygood,"saidthePrincedeCadignan,proceedingtotakeBarry’sreport。
  DogsandmenbecamesilentandrespectfulbeforetheRoyalHuntsman,asthougheachrecognizedhisdignityassupreme。Theprincelaidouttheday’swork;foritiswithahuntasitiswithabattle,andtheMasterofCharlesX。’shoundswastheNapoleonofforests。ThankstotheadmirablesystemwhichhehasintroducedintoFrenchvenery,hewasabletoturnhisthoughtsexclusivelytothescienceandstrategyofit。HenowquietlyassignedaspecialdutytothePrincedeLoudon’sestablishment,thatofdrivingthestagtowater,when,asheexpected,theroyalhoundshadsentitintotheCrownforestwhichoutlinedthehorizondirectlyinfrontofthechateau。Theprinceknewwellhowtosoothetheself—loveofhisoldhuntsmenbygivingthemthemostarduouspartofthework,andalsothatoftheEnglishman,whomheemployedathisownspeciality,affordinghimachancetoshowthefleetnessofhishorsesanddogsintheopen。Thetwonationalsystemswerethusfacetofaceandallowedtodotheirbestundereachother’seyes。
  "Doesmonseigneurwishustowaitanylonger?"saidLaRoulie,respectfully。
  "Iknowwhatyoumean,oldfriend,"saidtheprince。"Itislate,but——"
  "Herecometheladies,"saidthesecondwhipper—in。
  Atthatmomentthecavalcadeofsixteenriderswasseentoapproachattheheadofwhichwerethegreenveilsofthefourladies。Modeste,accompaniedbyherfather,thegrandequerry,andLaBriere,wasintheadvance,besidetheDuchessedeMaufrigneusewhomtheVicomtedeSerizyescorted。BehindthemrodetheDuchessedeChaulieu,flankedbyCanalis,onwhomshewassmilingwithoutatraceofrancor。Whentheyhadreachedtheopenspacewherethehuntsmenwiththeirredcoatsandbrassbugles,surroundedbythehounds,madeapictureworthyofVanderMeulen,theDuchessedeChaulieu,who,inspiteofherembonpoint,satherhorseadmirably,rodeuptoModeste,findingitmoreforherdignitynottoavoidthatyoungperson,towhomtheeveningbeforeshehadnotsaidasingleword。
  WhentheMasteroftheHuntfinishedhiscomplimentstotheladiesontheiramazingpunctuality,EleonoredeignedtoobservethemagnificentwhipwhichsparkedinModeste’slittlehand,andgraciouslyaskedleavetolookatit。
  "Ihaveneverseenanythingofthekindmorebeautiful,"shesaid,showingittoDianedeMaufrigneuse。"Itisinkeepingwithitspossessor,"sheadded,returningittoModeste。
  "Youmustadmit,Madameladuchesse,"answeredMademoiselledeLaBastie,withatenderandmaliciousglanceatLaBriere,"thatitisaratherstrangegiftfromthehandofafuturehusband。"
  "Ishouldtakeit,"saidMadamedeMaufrigneuse,"asadeclarationofmyrights,inremembranceofLouisXIV。"
  LaBriere’seyesweresuffused,andforamomenthedroppedhisreins;
  butasecondglancefromModesteorderedhimnottobetrayhishappiness。Thehuntnowbegan。
  TheDucd’Herouvilletookoccasiontosayinalowvoicetohisfortunaterival;"Monsieur,Ihopethatyouwillmakeyourwifehappy;
  ifIcanbeusefultoyouinanyway,commandmyservices;Ishouldbeonlytoogladtocontributetothehappinessofsocharmingapair。"
  Thisgreatday,inwhichsuchvastinterestsofheartandfortuneweredecided,causedbutoneanxietytotheMasteroftheHunt,——namely,whetherornotthestagwouldcrossthepondandbekilledonthelawnbeforethehouse;forhuntsmenofhiscalibrearelikegreatchess—
  playerswhocanpredictacheckmateundercertaincircumstances。Thehappyoldmansucceededtotheheightofhiswishes;therunwasmagnificent,andtheladiesreleasedhimfromhisattendanceuponthemforthehuntofthenextdaybutone,——which,however,turnedouttoberainy。
  TheDucdeVerneuil’sguestsstayedfivedaysatRosembray。OnthelastdaytheGazettedeFranceannouncedtheappointmentofMonsieurleBarondeCanalistotherankofcommanderoftheLegionofhonor,andtothepostofministeratCarlsruhe。
  When,earlyinthemonthofDecember,MadamedeLaBastie,operateduponbyDesplein,recoveredhersightandsawErnestdeLaBriereforthefirsttime,shepressedModeste’shandandwhisperedinherear,"Ishouldhavechosenhimmyself。"
  TowardthelastofFebruaryallthedeedsfortheestatesinProvenceweresignedbyLatournelle,andaboutthattimethefamilyofLaBastieobtainedthemarkedhonoroftheking’ssignaturetothemarriagecontractandtotheordinancetransmittingtheirtitleandarmstoLaBriere,whohenceforthtookthenameofLaBriere—LaBastie。TheestateofLaBastiewasentailedbyletters—patentissuedabouttheendofApril。LaBriere’switnessesontheoccasionofhismarriagewereCanalisandtheministerwhomhehadservedforfiveyearsassecretary。ThoseofthebrideweretheDucd’HerouvilleandDesplein,whomtheMignonslongheldingratefulremembrance,aftergivinghimmagnificentandsubstantialproofsoftheirregard。
  Later,inthecourseofthislonghistoryofourmannersandcustoms,wemayagainmeetMonsieurandMadamedeLaBriere—LaBastie;andthosewhohavetheeyestosee,willthenbeholdhowsweet,howeasy,isthemarriageyokewithaneducatedandintelligentwoman;forModeste,whohadthewittoavoidthefolliesofpedantry,istheprideandhappinessofherhusband,assheisofherfamilyandofallthosewhosurroundher。
  ADDENDUM
  ThefollowingpersonagesappearinotherstoriesoftheHumanComedy。
  Beaupre,FannyAStartinLifeTheMuseoftheDepartmentScenesfromaCourtesan’sLifeBixiou,Jean—JacquesThePurseABachelor’sEstablishmentTheGovernmentClerksScenesfromaCourtesan’sLifeTheFirmofNucingenTheMuseoftheDepartmentCousinBettyTheMemberforArcisBeatrixAManofBusinessGaudissartII。
  TheUnconsciousHumoristsCousinPonsBlondet,EmileJealousiesofaCountryTownADistinguishedProvincialatParisScenesfromaCourtesan’sLifeAnotherStudyofWomanTheSecretsofaPrincessADaughterofEveTheFirmofNucingenThePeasantryBridau,JosephThePurseABachelor’sEstablishmentADistinguishedProvincialatParisAStartinLifeAnotherStudyofWomanPierreGrassouLettersofTwoBridesCousinBettyTheMemberforArcisCadignan,PrincedeTheSecretsofaPrincessCanalis,Constant—Cyr—Melchior,BarondeLettersofTwoBridesADistinguishedProvincialatParisTheMagicSkinAnotherStudyofWomanAStartinLifeBeatrixTheUnconsciousHumoristsTheMemberforArcisChatillonest,DeAWomanofThirtyChaulieu,Henri,DucdeLettersofTwoBridesABachelor’sEstablishmentScenesfromaCourtesan’sLifeTheThirteenDauriatADistinguishedProvincialatParisScenesfromaCourtesan’sLifeDespleinTheAtheist’sMassCousinPonsLostIllusionsTheThirteenTheGovernmentClerksPierretteABachelor’sEstablishmentTheSeamySideofHistoryScenesfromaCourtesan’sLifeHonorineEstourny,Charlesd’
  ScenesfromaCourtesan’sLifeAManofBusinessFontaine,ComtedeTheChouansTheBallatSceauxCesarBirotteauTheGovernmentClerksGrandlieu,DucFerdinanddeTheGondrevilleMysteryTheThirteenABachelor’sEstablishmentScenesfromaCourtesan’sLifeHerouville,Ducd’
  TheHatedSonJealousiesofaCountryTownCousinBettyLaBastielaBriere,ErnestdeTheGovernmentClerksLaBastielaBriere,MadameErnestde(Modeste)
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