Canalis，excessivelydelightedattheideaofarichmarriage，wasdeterminedtoneglectnothingthatmighthelphimtocutoutLaBriere，without，however，givingLaBriereachancetoreproachhimforhavingviolatedthelawsoffriendship。Thepoetfeltthatnothingwouldloweraloversomuchintheeyesofayounggirlastoexhibithiminasubordinateposition;andhethereforeproposedtoLaBriere，inthemostnaturalmanner，totakealittlecountry—houseatIngouvilleforamonth，andlivetheretogetheronpretenceofrequiringsea—air。AssoonasLaBriere，whoatfirstsawnothingamissintheproposal，hadconsented，Canalisdeclaredthatheshouldpayallexpenses，andhesenthisvalettoHavre，tellinghimtoseeMonsieurLatournelleandgethisassistanceinchoosingthehouse，——
wellawarethatthenotarywouldrepeatallparticularstotheMignons。ErnestandCanalishad，asmaywellbesupposed，talkedoveralltheaspectsoftheaffair，andtheratherprolixErnesthadgivenagoodmanyusefulhintstohisrival。Thevalet，understandinghismaster’swishes，fulfilledthemtotheletter;hetrumpetedthearrivalofthegreatpoet，forwhomthedoctorsadvisedsea—airtorestorehishealth，injuredasitwasbythedoubletoilsofliteratureandpolitics。Thisimportantpersonagewantedahouse，whichmusthaveatleastsuchandsuchanumberofrooms，ashewouldbringwithhimasecretary，cook，twoservants，andacoachman，notcountinghimself，GermainBonnet，thevalet。Thecarriage，selectedandhiredforamonthbyCanalis，wasaprettyone;andGermainsetaboutfindingapairoffinehorseswhichwouldalsoanswerassaddle—
horses，——for，ashesaid，monsieurlebaronandhissecretarytookhorsebackexercise。UndertheeyesoflittleLatournelle，whowentwithhimtovarioushouses，Germainmadeagooddealoftalkaboutthesecretary，rejectingtwoorthreebecausetherewasnosuitableroomforMonsieurdeLaBriere。
\"Monsieurlebaron，\"hesaidtothenotary，\"makeshissecretaryquitehisbestfriend。Ah！IshouldbewellscoldedifMonsieurdeLaBrierewasnotaswelltreatedasmonsieurlebaronhimself;andafterall，youknow，MonsieurdeLaBriereisalawyerinmymaster’scourt。\"
Germainneverappearedinpublicunlesspunctiliouslydressedinblack，withspotlessgloves，well—polishedboots，andotherwiseaswellapparelledasalawyer。ImaginetheeffectheproducedinHavre，andtheideapeopletookofthegreatpoetfromthissampleofhim！
Thevaletofamanofwitandintellectendsbygettingalittlewitandintellecthimselfwhichhasrubbedofffromhismaster。Germaindidnotoverplayhispart;hewassimpleandgood—humored，asCanalishadinstructedhimtobe。PoorLaBrierewasinblissfulignoranceoftheharmGermainwasdoingtohisprospects，andthedepreciationhisconsenttothearrangementhadbroughtuponhim;itis，however，truethatsomeinklingofthestateofthingsrosetoModeste’searsfromtheselowerregions。
Canalishadarrangedtobringhissecretaryinhisowncarriage，andErnest’sunsuspiciousnaturedidnotperceivethathewasputtinghimselfinafalsepositionuntiltoolatetoremedyit。ThedelayinthearrivalofthepairwhichhadtroubledCharlesMignonwascausedbythepaintingoftheCanalisarmsonthepanelsofthecarriage，andbycertainordersgiventoatailor;forthepoetneglectednoneoftheinnumerabledetailswhichmight，eventhesmallestofthem，influenceayounggirl。
\"Itisallright，\"saidLatournelletoMignononthesixthday。\"Thebaron’svalethashiredMadameAmaury’svillaatSanvic，allfurnished，forsevenhundredfrancs;hehaswrittentohismasterthathemaystart，andthatallwillbereadyonhisarrival。SothetwogentlemenwillbehereSunday。IhavealsohadaletterfromButscha;
hereitis;it’snotlong:’Mydearmaster，——IcannotgetbacktillSunday。BetweennowandthenIhavesomeveryimportantinquiriestomakewhichconcernthehappinessofapersoninwhomyoutakeaninterest。’\"
TheannouncementofthisarrivaldidnotrouseModestefromhergloom;
thesenseofherfallandthebewildermentofhermindwerestilltoogreat，andshewasnotnearlyasmuchofacoquetteasherfatherthoughthertobe。Thereis，intruth，acharmingandpermissiblecoquetry，thatofthesoul，whichmayclaimtobelove’spoliteness。
CharlesMignon，whenscoldinghisdaughter，failedtodistinguishbetweenthemeredesireofpleasingandtheloveofthemind，——thethirstforlove，andthethirstforadmiration。LikeeverytruecoloneloftheEmpirehesawinthiscorrespondence，rapidlyread，onlytheyounggirlwhohadthrownherselfattheheadofapoet;butintheletterswhichwewereforcedtolackofspacetosuppress，abetterjudgewouldhaveadmiredthedignifiedandgraciousreservewhichModestehadsubstitutedfortheratheraggressiveandlight—
mindedtoneofherfirstletters。Thefather，however，wasonlytoocruellyrightononepoint。Modeste’slastletter，whichwehaveread，hadindeedspokenasthoughthemarriagewereasettledfact，andtheremembranceofthatletterfilledherwithshame;shethoughtherfatherveryharshandcrueltoforcehertoreceiveamanunworthyofher，yettowhomhersoulhadflown，asitwere，bare。ShequestionedDumayabouthisinterviewwiththepoet，sheinveigledhimintorelatingitseverydetail，andshedidnotthinkCanalisasbarbarousasthelieutenanthaddeclaredhim。ThethoughtofthebeautifulcasketwhichheldthelettersofthethousandandonewomenofthisliteraryDonJuanmadehersmile，andshewasstronglytemptedtosaytoherfather:\"Iamnottheonlyonetowritetohim;theeliteofmysexsendtheirleavesforthelaurelwreathofthepoet。\"
DuringthisweekModeste’scharacterunderwentatransformation。Thecatastrophe——anditwasagreatonetoherpoeticnature——rousedafacultyofdiscernmentandalsothemalicelatentinhergirlishheart，inwhichhersuitorswereabouttoencounteraformidableadversary。Itisafactthatwhenayoungwoman’sheartischilledherheadbecomesclear;sheobserveswithgreatrapidityofjudgment，andwithatingeofpleasantrywhichShakespeare’sBeatricesoadmirablyrepresentsin\"MuchAdoaboutNothing。\"Modestewasseizedwithadeepdisgustformen，nowthatthemostdistinguishedamongthemhadbetrayedherhopes。Whenawomanloves，whatshetakesfordisgustissimplytheabilitytoseeclearly;butinmattersofsentimentsheisnever，especiallyifsheisayounggirl，inaconditiontoseeclearly。Ifshecannotadmire，shedespises。Andso，afterpassingthroughterriblestrugglesofthesoul，Modestenecessarilyputonthearmoronwhich，asshehadoncedeclared，theword\"Disdain\"wasengraved。Afterreachingthatpointshewasable，inthecharacterofuninterestedspectator，totakepartinwhatshewaspleasedtocallthe\"farceofthesuitors，\"aperformanceinwhichsheherselfwasabouttoplaytheroleofheroine。SheparticularlysetbeforehermindthesatisfactionofhumiliatingMonsieurdeLaBriere。
\"Modesteissaved，\"saidMadameMignontoherhusband;\"shewantstorevengeherselfonthefalseCanalisbytryingtolovetherealone。\"
SuchintruthwasModeste’splan。Itwassoutterlycommonplacethathermother，towhomsheconfidedhergriefs，advisedheronthecontrarytotreatMonsieurdeLaBrierewithextremepoliteness。
CHAPTERXVII
ATHIRDSUITOR
\"Thosetwoyoungmen，\"saidMadameLatournelle，ontheSaturdayevening，\"havenoideahowmanyspiestheyhaveontheirtracks。Weareeightinall，onthewatch。\"
\"Don’tsaytwoyoungmen，wife;saythree！\"criedlittleLatournelle，lookingroundhim。\"Gobenheimisnothere，soIcanspeakout。\"
Modesteraisedherhead，andeverybody，imitatingModeste，raisedtheirsandlookedatthenotary。
\"Yes，athirdlover——andheissomethinglikealover——offershimselfasacandidate。\"
\"Bah！\"exclaimedthecolonel。
\"Ispeakofnolessaperson，\"saidLatournelle，pompously，\"thanMonsieurleDucd’Herouville，MarquisdeSaint—Sever，DucdeNivron，ComtedeBayeux，Vicomted’Essigny，grandequerryandpeerofFrance，knightoftheSpurandtheGoldenFleece，grandeeofSpain，andsonofthelastgovernorofNormandy。HesawMademoiselleModesteatthetimewhenhewasstayingwiththeVilquins，andheregrettedthen——ashisnotary，whocamefromBayeuxyesterday，tellsme——thatshewasnotrichenoughforhim;forhisfatherrecoverednothingbuttheestateofHerouvilleonhisreturntoFrance，andthatissaddledwithasister。Theyoungdukeisthirty—threeyearsold。Iamdefinitivelychargedtolaytheseproposalsbeforeyou，Monsieurlecomte，\"addedthenotary，turningrespectfullytothecolonel。
\"AskModesteifshewantsanotherbirdinhercage，\"repliedthecount;\"asfarasIamconcerned，Iamwillingthatmylordthegrandequerryshallpayherattention。\"
NotwithstandingthecarewithwhichCharlesMignonavoidedseeingpeople，andthoughhestayedintheChaletandneverwentoutwithoutModeste，GobenheimhadreportedDumay’swealth;forDumayhadsaidtohimwhengivinguphispositionascashier:\"Iamtobebailiffformycolonel，andallmyfortune，exceptwhatmywifeneeds，istogotothechildrenofourlittleModeste。\"EveryoneinHavrehadthereforepropoundedthesamequestionthatthenotaryhadalreadyputtohimself:\"IfDumay’sshareintheprofitsissixhundredthousandfrancs，andheisgoingtobeMonsieurMignon’sbailiff，thenMonsieurMignonmustcertainlyhaveacolossalfortune。HearrivedatMarseillesonashipofhisown，loadedwithindigo;andtheysayattheBoursethatthecargo，notcountingtheship，isworthmorethanhegivesoutashiswholefortune。\"
Thecolonelwasunwillingtodismisstheservantshehadbroughtbackwithhim，whomhehadchosenwithcareduringhistravels;andhethereforehiredahousefortheminthelowerpartofIngouville，whereheinstalledhisvalet，cook，andcoachman，allNegroes，andthreemulattosonwhosefidelityhecouldrely。Thecoachmanwastoldtosearchforsaddle—horsesforMademoiselleandforhismaster，andforcarriage—horsesforthecalecheinwhichthecolonelandthelieutenanthadreturnedtoHavre。Thatcarriage，boughtinParis，wasofthelatestfashion，andborethearmsofLaBastie，surmountedbyacount’scoronet。Thesethings，insignificantintheeyesofamanwhoforfouryearshadbeenaccustomedtotheunbridledluxuryoftheIndiesandoftheEnglishmerchantsatCanton，werethesubjectofmuchcommentamongthebusinessmenofHavreandtheinhabitantsofIngouvilleandGraville。BeforefivedayshadelapsedtherumorofthemranfromoneendofNormandytotheotherlikeatrainofgunpowdertouchedbyfire。
\"MonsieurMignonhascomebackfromChinawithmillions，\"someonesaidinRouen;\"anditseemshewasmadeacountinmid—ocean。\"
\"ButhewastheComtedeLaBastiebeforetheRevolution，\"answeredanother。
\"SotheycallhimaliberaljustbecausehewasplainCharlesMignonfortwenty—fiveyears！Whatarewecomingto？\"saidathird。
Modestewasconsidered，therefore，notwithstandingthesilenceofherparentsandfriends，astherichestheiressinNormandy，andalleyesbeganoncemoretoseehermerits。TheauntandsisteroftheDucd’HerouvilleconfirmedinthearistocraticsalonsofBayeuxMonsieurCharlesMignon’srighttothetitleandarmsofcount，derivedfromCardinalMignon，forwhomtheCardinal’shatandtasselswereaddedasacrest。TheyhadseenMademoiselledeLaBastiewhentheywerestayingattheVilquins，andtheirsolicitudefortheimpoverishedheadoftheirhousenowbecameactive。
\"IfMademoiselledeLaBastieisreallyasrichassheisbeautiful，\"
saidtheauntoftheyoungduke，\"sheisthebestmatchintheprovince。SHEatleastisnoble。\"
ThelastwordswereaimedattheVilquins，withwhomtheyhadnotbeenabletocometoterms，afterincurringthehumiliationofstayinginthatbourgeoishousehold。
Suchwerethelittleeventswhich，contrarytotherulesofAristotleandofHorace，precedetheintroductionofanotherpersonintoourstory;buttheportraitandthebiographyofthispersonage，thislatearrival，shallnotbelong，takingintoconsiderationhisowndiminutiveness。Thegrandequerryshallnottakemorespaceherethanhewilltakeinhistory。MonsieurleDucd’Herouville，offspringofthematrimonialautumnofthelastgovernorofNormandy，wasbornduringtheemigrationin1799，atVienna。Theoldmarechal，fatherofthepresentduke，returnedwiththekingin1814，anddiedin1819，beforehewasabletomarryhisson。HecouldonlyleavehimthevastchateauofHerouville，thepark，afewdependencies，andafarmwhichhehadboughtbackwithsomedifficulty;allofwhichreturnedarentalofaboutfifteenthousandfrancsayear。LouisXVIII。gavethepostofgrandequerrytotheson，who，underCharlesX。，receivedtheusualpensionoftwelvethousandfrancswhichwasgrantedtothepauperpeersofFrance。Butwhatwerethesetwenty—seventhousandfrancsayearandthesalaryofgrandequerrytosuchafamily？InParis，ofcourse，theyoungdukeusedtheking’scoaches，andhadamansionprovidedforhimintherueSaint—Thomas—du—Louvre，neartheroyalstables;hissalarypaidforhiswintersinthecity，andhistwenty—seventhousandfrancsforthesummersinNormandy。Ifthisnoblepersonagewasstillabachelorhewaslesstoblamethanhisaunt，whowasnotversedinLaFontaine’sfables。Mademoiselled’Herouvillemadeenormouspretensionswhollyoutofkeepingwiththespiritofthetimes;forgreatnames，withoutthemoneytokeepthemup，canseldomwinrichheiressesamongthehigherFrenchnobility，whoarethemselvesembarrassedtoprovidefortheirsonsunderthenewlawoftheequaldivisionofproperty。TomarrytheyoungDucd’Herouville，itwasnecessarytoconciliatethegreatbanking—houses;
butthehaughtyprideofthedaughterofthehousealienatedthesepeoplebycuttingspeeches。DuringthefirstyearsoftheRestoration，from1817to1825，Mademoiselled’Herouville，thoughinquestofmillions，refused，amongothers，thedaughterofMongenodthebanker，withwhomMonsieurdeFontaineafterwardscontentedhimself。
Atlast，havinglostseveralgoodopportunitiestoestablishhernephew，entirelythroughherownfault，shewasjustconsideringwhetherthepropertyoftheNucingenswasnottoobaselyacquired，orwhethersheshouldlendherselftotheambitionofMadamedeNucingen，whowishedtomakeherdaughteraduchess。Theking，anxioustorestorethed’Herouvillestotheirformersplendor，hadalmostbroughtaboutthismarriage，andwhenitfailedheopenlyaccusedMademoiselled’Herouvilleoffolly。Inthiswaytheauntmadethenephewridiculous，andthenephew，inhisownway，wasnotlessabsurd。Whengreatthingsdisappeartheyleavecrumbs，\"frusteaux，\"Rabelaiswouldsay，behindthem;andtheFrenchnobilityofthiscenturyhasleftustoomanysuchfragments。Neithertheclergynorthenobilityhaveanythingtocomplainofinthislonghistoryofmannersandcustoms。
Thosegreatandmagnificentsocialnecessitieshavebeenwellrepresented;butweoughtsurelytorenouncethenobletitleofhistorianifwearenotimpartial，ifwedonotheredepictthepresentdegeneracyoftheraceofnobles，althoughwehavealreadydonesoelsewhere，——inthecharacteroftheComtedeMortsauf（in\"TheLilyoftheValley\"），inthe\"DuchessedeLangeais，\"andtheverynoblenessofthenobilityinthe\"Marquisd’Espard。\"HowthencoulditbethattheraceofheroesandvaliantmenbelongingtotheproudhouseofHerouville，whogavethefamousmarshaltothenation，cardinalstothechurch，greatleaderstotheValois，knightstoLouisXIV。，wasreducedtoalittlefragilebeingsmallerthanButscha？ThatisaquestionwhichweaskourselvesinmorethanonesaloninPariswhenwehearthegreatestnamesofFranceannounced，andseetheentranceofathin，pinched，undersizedyoungman，scarcelypossessingthebreathoflife，oraprematureoldone，orsomewhimsicalcreatureinwhomanobservercanwithgreatdifficultytracethesignsofapastgrandeur。ThedissipationsofthereignofLouisXV。，theorgiesofthatfatalandegotisticperiod，haveproducedaneffetegeneration，inwhichmannersalonesurvivethenoblervanishedqualities，——forms，whicharethesoleheritageournobleshavepreserved。TheabandonmentinwhichLouisXVI。wasallowedtoperishmaythusbeexplained，withsomeslightreservations，asawretchedresultofthereignofMadamedePompadour。
Thegrandequerry，afairyoungmanwithblueeyesandapallidface，wasnotwithoutacertaindignityofthought;buthisthin，undersizedfigure，andthefolliesofhisauntwhohadtakenhimtotheVilquinsandelsewheretopayhiscourt，renderedhimextremelydiffident。ThehouseofHerouvillehadalreadybeenthreatenedwithextinctionbythedeedofadeformedbeing（seethe\"EnfantMaudit\"in\"PhilosophicalStudies\"）。Thegrandmarshal，thatbeingthefamilytermforthememberwhowasmadedukebyLouisXIII。，marriedattheageofeighty。
Theyoungdukeadmiredwomen，butheplacedthemtoohighandrespectedthemtoomuch;infact，headoredthem，andwasonlyathiseasewiththosewhomhecouldnotrespect。Thischaracteristiccausedhimtoleadadoublelife。Hefoundcompensationwithwomenofeasyvirtuefortheworshiptowhichhesurrenderedhimselfinthesalons，or，ifyoulike，theboudoirs，ofthefaubourgSaint—Germain。Suchhabitsandhispunyfigure，hissufferingfacewithitsblueeyesturningupwardinecstasy，increasedtheridiculealreadybestoweduponhim，——veryunjustlybestowed，asithappened，forhewasfullofwitanddelicacy;buthiswit，whichneversparkled，onlyshoweditselfwhenhefeltatease。FannyBeaupre，anactresswhowassupposedtobehisnearestfriend（ataprice），calledhim\"asoundwinesocarefullycorkedthatyoubreakallyourcorkscrews。\"ThebeautifulDuchessedeMaufrigneuse，whomthegrandequerrycouldonlyworship，annihilatedhimwithaspeechwhich，unfortunately，wasrepeatedfrommouthtomouth，likeallsuchprettyandmalicioussayings。
\"Healwaysseemstome，\"shesaid，\"likeoneofthosejewelsoffineworkmanshipwhichweexhibitbutneverwear，andkeepincotton—wool。\"
Everythingabouthim，eventohisabsurdlycontrastingtitleofgrandequerry，amusedthegood—naturedking，CharlesX。，andmadehimlaugh，——althoughtheDucd’Herouvillejustifiedhisappointmentinthematterofbeingafinehorseman。Menarelikebooks，oftenunderstoodandappreciatedtoolate。ModestehadseenthedukeduringhisfruitlessvisittotheVilquins，andmanyofthesereflectionspassedthroughhermindasshewatchedhimcomeandgo。Butunderthecircumstancesinwhichshenowfoundherself，shesawplainlythatthecourtshipoftheDucd’HerouvillewouldsaveherfrombeingatthemercyofeitherCanalis。
\"Iseenoreason，\"shesaidtoLatournelle，\"whytheDucd’Herouvilleshouldnotbereceived。Ihavepassed，inspiteofourindigence，\"shecontinued，withamischievouslookatherfather，\"totheconditionofheiress。Haven’tyouobservedGobenheim’sglances？Theyhavequitechangedtheircharacterwithinaweek。Heisindespairatnotbeingabletomakehisgamesofwhistcountformuteadorationofmycharms。\"
\"Hush，mydarling！\"criedMadameLatournelle，\"herehecomes。\"
\"OldAlthorisindespair，\"saidGobenheimtoMonsieurMignonasheentered。
\"Why？\"askedthecount。
\"Vilquinisgoingtofail;andtheBoursethinksyouareworthseveralmillions。Whatill—luckforhisson！\"
\"Nooneknows，\"saidCharlesMignon，coldly，\"whatmyliabilitiesinIndiaare;andIdonotintendtotakethepublicintomyconfidenceastomyprivateaffairs。Dumay，\"hewhisperedtohisfriend，\"ifVilquinisembarrassedwecouldgetbackthevillabypayinghimwhathegaveforit。\"
Suchwasthegeneralstateofthings，duechieflytoaccident，whenonSundaymorningCanalisandLaBrierearrived，withacourierinadvance，atthevillaofMadameAmaury。ItwasknownthattheDucd’Herouville，hissister，andhisauntwerecomingthefollowingTuesdaytooccupy，alsounderpretextofill—health，ahiredhouseatGraville。ThisassemblageofsuitorsmadethewitsoftheBourseremarkthat，thankstoMademoiselleMignon，rentswouldriseatIngouville。\"Ifthisgoeson，shewillhaveahospitalhere，\"saidtheyoungerMademoiselleVilquin，vexedatnotbecomingaduchess。
Theeverlastingcomedyof\"TheHeiress，\"abouttobeplayedattheChalet，mightverywellbecalled，inviewofModeste’sframeofmind，\"TheDesignsofaYoungGirl\";forsincetheoverthrowofherillusionsshehadfullymadeuphermindtogiveherhandtonomanwhosequalificationsdidnotfullysatisfyher。
Thetworivals，stillintimatefriends，intendedtopaytheirfirstvisitattheChaletontheeveningofthedaysucceedingtheirarrival。TheyhadspentSundayandpartofMondayinunpackingandarrangingMadameAmaury’shouseforamonth’sstay。Thepoet，alwayscalculatingeffects，wishedtomakethemostoftheprobableexcitementwhichhisarrivalwouldcaseinHavre，andwhichwouldofcourseechouptotheMignons。Therefore，inhisroleofamanneedingrest，hedidnotleavethehouse。LaBrierewenttwicetowalkpasttheChalet，thoughalwayswithasenseofdespair，forhefearedtodispleaseModeste，andthefutureseemedtohimdarkwithclouds。ThetwofriendscamedowntodinneronMondaydressedforthemomentousvisit。LaBriereworethesameclotheshehadsocarefullyselectedforthefamousSunday;buthenowfeltlikethesatelliteofplanet，andresignedhimselftotheuncertaintiesofhissituation。Canalis，ontheotherhand，hadcarefullyattendedtohisblackcoat，hisorders，andallthoselittledrawing—roomelegancies，whichhisintimacywiththeDuchessedeChaulieuandthefashionableworldofthefaubourghadbroughttoperfection。Hehadgoneintotheminutiaeofdandyism，whilepoorLaBrierewasabouttopresenthimselfwiththenegligenceofamanwithouthope。Germain，ashewaitedatdinnercouldnothelpsmilingtohimselfatthecontrast。Afterthesecondcourse，however，thevaletcameinwithadiplomatic，thatistosay，uneasyair。
\"DoesMonsieurlebaronknow，\"hesaidtoCanalisinalowvoice，\"thatMonsieurthegrandequerryiscomingtoGravilletogetcuredofthesameillnesswhichhasbroughtMonsieurdeLaBriereandMonsieurlebarontothesea—shore？\"
\"What，thelittleDucd’Herouville？\"
\"Yes，monsieur。\"
\"IshecomingforMademoiselledeLaBastie？\"askedLaBriere，coloring。
\"Soitappears，monsieur。\"
\"Wearecheated！\"criedCanalislookingatLaBriere。
\"Ah！\"retortedErnestquickly，\"thatisthefirsttimeyouhavesaid，’we’sinceweleftParis:ithasbeen’I’allalong。\"
\"Youunderstoodme，\"criedCanalis，withaburstoflaughter。\"Butwearenotinapositiontostruggleagainstaducalcoronet，northeduke’stitle，noragainstthewastelandswhichtheCouncilofStatehavejustgranted，onmyreport，tothehouseofHerouville。\"
\"Hisgrace，\"saidLaBriere，withaspiceofmalicethatwasneverthelessserious，\"willfurnishyouwithcompensationinthepersonofhissister。\"
Atthisinstant，theComtedeLaBastiewasannounced;thetwoyoungmenroseatonce，andLaBrierehastenedforwardtopresentCanalis。
\"IwishedtoreturnthevisitthatyoupaidmeinParis，\"saidthecounttotheyounglawyer，\"andIknewthatbycominghereIshouldhavethedoublepleasureofgreetingoneofourgreatlivingpoets。\"
\"Great！——Monsieur，\"repliedthepoet，smiling，\"noonecanbegreatinacenturyprefacedbythereignofaNapoleon。Weareatribeofwould—begreatpoets;besides，second—ratetalentimitatesgeniusnowadays，andrendersrealdistinctionimpossible。\"
\"Isthatthereasonwhyyouhavethrownyourselfintopolitics？\"askedthecount。
\"Itisthesamethinginthatsphere，\"saidthepoet;\"therearenostatesmeninthesedays，onlymenwhohandleeventsmoreorless。Lookatit，monsieur;underthesystemofgovernmentthatwederivefromtheCharter，whichmakesatax—listofmoreimportancethanacoat—of—
arms，thereisabsolutelynothingsolidexceptthatwhichyouwenttoseekinChina，——wealth。\"
Satisfiedwithhimselfandwiththeimpressionhewasmakingontheprospectivefather—in—law，CanalisturnedtoGermain。
\"Servethecoffeeinthesalon，\"hesaid，invitingMonsieurdeLaBastietoleavethedining—room。
\"Ithankyouforthisvisit，monsieurlecomte，\"saidLaBriere;\"itsavesmefromtheembarrassmentofpresentingmyfriendtoyouinyourownhouse。Youhaveaheart，andyouhavealsoaquickmind。\"
\"Bah！thereadywitofProvence，thatisall，\"saidCharlesMignon。
\"Ah，doyoucomefromProvence？\"criedCanalis。
\"Youmustpardonmyfriend，\"saidLaBriere;\"hehasnotstudied，asI
have，thehistoryofLaBastie。\"
AtthewordFRIENDCanalisthrewasearchingglanceatErnest。
\"Ifyourhealthwillallow，\"saidthecounttothepoet，\"Ishallhopetoreceiveyouthiseveningundermyroof;itwillbeadaytomark，astheoldwritersaid’albonotandalapillo。’Thoughwecannotdulyreceivesogreatafameinourlittlehouse，yetyourvisitwillgratifymydaughter，whoseadmirationforyourpoemshasevenledhertosetthemtomusic。\"
\"Youhavesomethingbetterthanfameinyourhouse，\"saidCanalis;
\"youhavebeauty，ifIamtobelieveErnest。\"
\"Yes，agooddaughter;butyouwillfindherrathercountrified，\"saidCharlesMignon。
\"AcountrygirlsoughtbytheDucd’Herouville，\"remarkedCanalis，dryly。
\"Oh！\"repliedMonsieurMignon，withtheperfidiousgood—humorofaSoutherner，\"Ileavemydaughterfree。Dukes，princes，commoners，——
theyareallthesametome，evenmenofgenius。Ishallmakenopledges，andwhoevermyModestechooseswillbemyson—in—law，orrathermyson，\"headded，lookingatLaBriere。\"Itcouldnotbeotherwise。MadamedeLaBastieisGerman。Shehasneveradoptedouretiquette，andIletmytwowomenleadmetheirownway。Ihavealwayspreferredtositinthecarriageratherthanonthebox。Icanmakeajokeofallthisatpresent，forwehavenotyetseentheDucd’Herouville，andIdonotbelieveinmarriagesarrangedbyproxy，anymorethanIbelieveinchoosingmydaughter’shusband。\"
\"Thatdeclarationisequallyencouraginganddiscouragingtotwoyoungmenwhoaresearchingforthephilosopher’sstoneofhappinessinmarriage，\"saidCanalis。
\"Don’tyouconsiderituseful，necessary，andevenpolitictostipulateforperfectfreedomofactionforparents，daughters，andsuitors？\"askedCharlesMignon。
Canalis，atasignfromLaBriere，keptsilence。Theconversationpresentlybecameunimportant，andafterafewturnsroundthegardenthecountretired，urgingthevisitofthetwofriends。
\"That’sourdismissal，\"criedCanalis;\"yousawitasplainlyasI
did。Well，inhisplace，Ishouldnothesitatebetweenthegrandequerryandeitherofus，charmingasweare。\"
\"Idon’tthinkso，\"saidLaBriere。\"Ibelievethatfranksoldiercameheretosatisfyhisdesiretoseeyou，andtowarnusofhisneutralitywhilereceivingusinhishouse。Modeste，inlovewithyourfame，andmisledbymyperson，stands，asitwere，betweentherealandtheideal，betweenpoetryandprose。Iam，unfortunately，theprose。\"
\"Germain，\"saidCanalistothevalet，whocametotakeawaythecoffee，\"orderthecarriageinhalfanhour。WewilltakeadrivebeforewegototheChalet。\"
CHAPTERXVIII
ASPLENDIDFIRSTAPPEARANCE
ThetwoyoungmenwereequallyimpatienttoseeModeste，butLaBrieredreadedtheinterview，whileCanalisapproacheditwiththeconfidenceofself—conceit。TheeagernesswithwhichLaBrierehadmetthefather，andtheflatteryofhisattentiontothefamilyprideoftheex—merchant，showedCanalishisownmaladroitness，anddeterminedhimtoselectaspecialrole。Thegreatpoetresolvedtopretendindifference，thoughallthewhiledisplayinghisseductivepowers;toappeartodisdaintheyounglady，andthuspiqueherself—love。
TrainedbythehandsomeDuchessedeChaulieu，hewasboundtobeworthyofhisreputationasamanwhoknewwomen，when，infact，hedidnotknowthematall，——whichisoftenthecasewiththosewhoarethehappyvictimsofanexclusivepassion。WhilepoorErnest，gloomilyensconcedinhiscornerofthecaleche，gavewaytotheterrorsofgenuinelove，andforesawinstinctivelytheanger，contempt，anddisdainofaninjuredandoffendedyounggirl，Canaliswaspreparinghimself，notlesssilently，likeanactormakingreadyforanimportantpartinanewplay;certainlyneitherofthempresentedtheappearanceofahappyman。ImportantinterestswereinvolvedforCanalis。ThemeresuggestionofhisdesiretomarrywouldbringaboutaruptureofthetiewhichhadboundhimforthelasttenyearstotheDuchessedeChaulieu。Thoughhehadcoveredthepurposeofhisjourneywiththevulgarpretextofneedingrest，——inwhich，bythebye，womenneverbelieve，evenwhenitistrue，——hisconsciencetroubledhimsomewhat;buttheword\"conscience\"seemedsoJesuiticaltoLaBrierethatheshruggedhisshoulderswhenthepoetmentionedhisscruples。
\"Yourconscience，myfriend，strikesmeasnothingmorenorlessthanadreadoflosingthepleasuresofvanity，andsomeveryrealadvantagesandhabitsbysacrificingtheaffectionsofMadamedeChaulieu;for，ifyouweresureofsucceedingwithModeste，youwouldrenouncewithouttheslightestcompunctionthewiltedaftermathofapassionthathasbeenmownandwell—rakedforthelasteightyears。Ifyousimplymeanthatyouareafraidofdispleasingyourprotectress，shouldshefindouttheobjectofyourstayhere，Ibelieveyou。TorenouncetheduchessandyetnotsucceedattheChaletistooheavyarisk。Youtaketheanxietyofthisalternativeforremorse。\"
\"Youhavenocomprehensionoffeelings，\"saidthepoet，irritably，likeamanwhohearstruthwhenheexpectsacompliment。