\"Thatiswhatabigamistshouldtellthejury，\"retortedLaBriere，laughing。
ThisepigrammadeanotherdisagreeableimpressiononCanalis。HebegantothinkLaBrieretoowittyandtoofreeforasecretary。
Thearrivalofanelegantcaleche，drivenbyacoachmanintheCanalislivery，madethemoreexcitementattheChaletbecausethetwosuitorswereexpected，andallthepersonagesofthishistorywereassembledtoreceivethem，exceptthedukeandButscha。
\"Whichisthepoet？\"askedMadameLatournelleofDumayintheembrasureofawindow，whereshestationedherselfassoonassheheardthewheels。
\"Theonewhowalkslikeadrum—major，\"answeredthelieutenant。
\"Ah！\"saidthenotary’swife，examiningCanalis，whowasswinginghisbodylikeamanwhoknowsheisbeinglookedat。Thefaultlaywiththegreatladywhoflatteredhimincessantlyandspoiledhim，——asallwomenolderthantheiradorersinvariablyspoilandflatterthem;
CanalisinhismoralbeingwasasortofNarcissus。Whenawomanofacertainagewishestoattachamanforever，shebeginsbydeifyinghisdefects，soastocutoffallpossibilityofrivalry;forarivalisnever，atthefirstapproach，awareofthesuper—fineflatterytowhichthemanisaccustomed。Coxcombsaretheproductofthisfemininemanoeuvre，whentheyarenotfopsbynature。Canalis，takenyoungbythehandsomeduchess，vindicatedhisaffectationstohisownmindbytellinghimselfthattheypleasedthat\"grandedame，\"whosetastewaslaw。Suchshadesofcharactermaybeexcessivelyfaint，butitisimproperforthehistoriannottopointthemout。Forinstance，Melchiorpossessedatalentforreadingwhichwasgreatlyadmired，andmuchinjudiciouspraisehadgivenhimahabitofexaggeration，whichneitherpoetsnoractorsarewillingtocheck，andwhichmadepeoplesayofhim（alwaysthroughDeMarsay）thathenolongerdeclaimed，hebellowedhisverses;lengtheningthesoundsthathemightlistentohimself。Intheslangofthegreen—room，Canalis\"draggedthetime。\"
Hewasfondofexchangingglanceswithhishearers，throwinghimselfintoposturesofself—complacencyandpractisingthosetricksofdemeanorwhichactorscall\"balancoires，\"——thepicturesquephraseofanartisticpeople。Canalishadhisimitators，andwasinfacttheheadofaschoolofhiskind。Thishabitofdeclamatorychantingslightlyaffectedhisconversation，aswehaveseeninhisinterviewwithDumay。Themomentthemindbecomesfinicalthemannersfollowsuit，andthegreatpoetendedbystudyinghisdemeanor，inventingattitudes，lookingfurtivelyathimselfinmirrors，andsuitinghisdiscoursetotheparticularposewhichhehappenedtohavetakenup。
Hewassopreoccupiedwiththeeffecthewishedtoproduce，thatapracticaljoke，Blondet，hadbetonceortwice，andwonthewager，thathecouldnonplushimatanymomentbymerelylookingfixedlyathishair，orhisboots，orthetailsofhiscoats。
Theseairsandgraces，whichstartedinlifewithapassportoffloweryyouth，nowseemedallthemorestaleandoldbecauseMelchiorhimselfwaswaning。Lifeintheworldoffashionisquiteasexhaustingtomenasitistowomen，andperhapsthetwentyyearsbywhichtheduchessexceededherlover’sage，weighedmoreheavilyuponhimthanuponher;fortotheeyesoftheworldshewasalwayshandsome，——withoutrouge，withoutwrinkles，andwithoutheart。Alas！
neithermennorwomenhavefriendswhoarefriendlyenoughtowarnthemofthemomentwhenthefragranceoftheirmodestygrowsstale，whenthecaressingglanceisbutanechoofthestage，whentheexpressionofthefacechangesfromsentimenttosentimentality，andtheartificesofthemindshowtheirrustyedges。Geniusalonerenewsitsskinlikeasnake;andinthematterofcharm，asineverythingelse，itisonlytheheartthatnevergrowsold。Peoplewhohaveheartsaresimpleinalltheirways。NowCanalis，asweknow，hadashrivelledheart。Hemisusedthebeautyofhisglancebygivingit，withoutadequatereason，thefixitythatcomestotheeyesinmeditation。Inshort，applausewastohimabusiness，inwhichhewasperpetuallyonthelookoutforgain。Hisstyleofpayingcompliments，charmingtosuperficialpeople，seemedinsultingtoothersofmoredelicacy，byitstritenessandthecoolassuranceofitscut—and—
driedflattery。Asamatteroffact，Melchiorliedlikeacourtier。HeremarkedwithoutblushingtotheDucdeChaulieu，whomadenoimpressionwhateverwhenhewasobligedtoaddresstheChamberasministerofforeignaffairs，\"Yourexcellencywastrulysublime！\"ManymenlikeCanalisarepurgedoftheiraffectationsbytheadministrationofnon—successinlittledoses。
Thesedefects，slightinthegildedsalonsofthefaubourgSaint—
Germain，whereeveryonecontributeshisorherquotaofabsurdity，andwheretheseparticularformsofexaggeratedspeechandaffecteddiction——magniloquence，ifyoupleasetocallitso——aresurroundedbyexcessiveluxuryandsumptuoustoilettes，whicharetosomeextenttheirexcuse，werecertaintobefarmorenoticedintheprovinces，whoseownabsurditiesareofatotallydifferenttype。Canalis，bynatureover—strainedandartificial，couldnotchangehisform;infact，hehadhadtimetogrowstiffinthemouldintowhichtheduchesshadpouredhim;moreover，hewasthoroughlyParisian，or，ifyoupreferit，trulyFrench。TheParisianisamazedthateverythingeverywhereisnotasitinParis;theFrenchman，asitisinFrance。
Goodtaste，onthecontrary，demandsthatweadaptourselvestothecustomsofforeignerswithoutlosingtoomuchofourowncharacter，——
asdidAlcibiades，thatmodelofagentleman。Truegraceiselastic;
itlendsitselftocircumstances;itisinharmonywithallsocialcentres;itwearsarobeofsimplematerialinthestreets，noticeableonlybyitscut，inpreferencetothefeathersandflouncesofmiddle—
classvulgarity。NowCanalis，instigatedbyawomanwholovedherselfmuchmorethanshelovedhim，wishedtolaydownthelawandbe，everywhere，suchashehimselfmightseefittobe。Hebelievedhecarriedhisownpublicwithhimwhereverhewent，——anerrorsharedbyseveralofthegreatmenofParis。
WhilethepoetmadeastudiedandeffectiveentranceintothesalonoftheChalet，LaBriereslippedinbehindhimlikeapersonofnoaccount。
\"Ha！doIseemysoldier？\"saidCanalis，perceivingDumay，afteraddressingacomplimenttoMadameMignon，andbowingtotheotherwomen。\"Youranxietiesarerelieved，aretheynot？\"hesaid，offeringhishandeffusively;\"Icomprehendthemtotheirfullestextentafterseeingmademoiselle。Ispoketoyouofterrestrialcreatures，notofangels。\"
Allpresentseemedbytheirattitudestoaskthemeaningofthisspeech。
\"Ishallalwaysconsideritatriumph，\"resumedthepoet，observingthateverybodywishedforanexplanation，\"tohavestirredtomentiononofthosemenofironwhomNapoleonhadtheeyetofindandmakethesupportingpilesonwhichhetriedtobuildanempire，toocolossaltobelasting:forsuchstructurestimealoneisthecement。Butthistriumph——whyshouldIbeproudofit？——Icountfornothing。Itwasthetriumphofideasoverfacts。Yourbattles，mydearMonsieurDumay，yourheroiccharges，Monsieurlecomte，nay，waritselfwastheforminwhichNapoleon’sideaclotheditself。Ofallofthesethings，whatremains？Thesodthatcoversthemknowsnothing;harvestscomeandgowithoutrevealingtheirresting—place;wereitnotforthehistorian，thewriter，futuritywouldhavenoknowledgeofthoseheroicdays。
Thereforeyourfifteenyearsofwararenowideasandnothingmore;
thatwhichpreservestheEmpireforeveristhepoemthatthepoetsmakeofthem。Anationthatcanwinsuchbattlesmustknowhowtosingthem。\"
Canalispaused，togatherbyaglancethatranroundthecirclethetributeofamazementwhichheexpectedofprovincials。
\"Youmustbeaware，monsieur，oftheregretIfeelatnotseeingyou，\"
saidMadameMignon，\"sinceyoucompensatemewiththepleasureofhearingyou。\"
Modeste，determinedtothinkCanalissublime，satmotionlesswithamazement;theembroideryslippedfromherfingers，whichhelditonlybytheneedlefulofthread。
\"Modeste，thisisMonsieurErnestdeLaBriere。MonsieurErnest，mydaughter，\"saidthecount，thinkingthesecretarytoomuchinthebackground。
Theyounggirlbowedcoldly，givingErnestaglancethatwasmeanttoprovetoeveryonepresentthatshesawhimforthefirsttime。
\"Pardonme，monsieur，\"shesaidwithoutblushing;\"thegreatadmirationIfeelforthegreatestofourpoetsis，intheeyesofmyfriends，asufficientexcuseforseeingonlyhim。\"
Thepure，freshvoice，withaccentslikethatofMademoiselleMars，charmedthepoorsecretary，alreadydazzledbyModeste’sbeauty，andinhissuddensurpriseheansweredbyaphrasethatwouldhavebeensublime，haditbeentrue。
\"Heismyfriend，\"hesaid。
\"Ah，thenyoudopardonme，\"shereplied。
\"Heismorethanafriend，\"criedCanalistakingErnestbytheshoulderandleaninguponitlikeAlexanderonHephaestion，\"weloveeachotherasthoughwewerebrothers——\"
MadameLatournellecutshortthepoet’sspeechbypointingtoErnestandsayingaloudtoherhusband，\"Surelythatisthegentlemanwesawatchurch。\"
\"Whynot？\"saidCharlesMignon，quickly，observingthatErnestreddened。
Modestecoldlytookupherembroidery。
\"Madamemayberight;IhavebeentwiceinHavrelately，\"repliedLaBriere，sittingdownbyDumay。
Canalis，charmedwithModeste’sbeauty，mistooktheadmirationsheexpressed，andflatteredhimselfhehadsucceededinproducinghisdesiredeffects。
\"Ishouldthinkamanwithoutheart，ifhehadnodevotedfriendnearhim，\"saidModeste，topickuptheconversationinterruptedbyMadameLatournelle’sawkwardness。
\"Mademoiselle，Ernest’sdevotionmakesmealmostthinkmyselfworthsomething，\"saidCanalis;\"formydearPyladesisfulloftalent;hewastherighthandofthegreatestministerwehavehadsincethepeace。Thoughheholdsafineposition，heisgoodenoughtobemytutorinthescienceofpolitics;heteachesmetoconductaffairsandfeedsmewithhisexperience，whenallthewhilehemightaspiretoamuchbettersituation。Oh！heisworthfarmorethanI。\"AtagesturefromModestehecontinuedgracefully:\"Yes，thepoetrythatIexpresshecarriesinhisheart;andifIspeakthusopenlybeforehimitisbecausehehasthemodestyofanun。\"
\"Enough，oh，enough！\"criedLaBriere，whohardlyknewwhichwaytolook。\"MydearCanalis，youremindmeofamotherwhoisseekingtomarryoffherdaughter。\"
\"Howisit，monsieur，\"saidCharlesMignon，addressingCanalis，\"thatyoucaneventhinkofbecomingapoliticalcharacter？\"
\"Itisabdication，\"saidModeste，\"forapoet;politicsaretheresourceofmatter—of—factmen。\"
\"Ah，mademoiselle，therostrumisto—daythegreatesttheatreoftheworld;ithassucceededthetournamentsofchivalry，itisnowthemeeting—placeforallintellects，justasthearmyhasbeentherallying—pointofcourage。\"
Canalisstuckspursintohischargerandtalkedfortenminutesonpoliticallife:\"Poetrywasbutaprefacetothestatesman。\"\"To—daytheoratorhasbecomeasublimereasoner，theshepherdofideas。\"\"A
poetmaypointthewaytonationsorindividuals，butcanheeverceasetobehimself？\"HequotedChateaubriandanddeclaredthathewouldonedaybegreateronthepoliticalsidethanontheliterary。
\"TheforumofFrancewastobethepharosofhumanity。\"\"Oralbattlessupplantedfieldsofbattle:thereweresessionsoftheChamberfinerthananyAusterlitz，andoratorswereseentobeasloftyasgenerals;
theyspenttheirlives，theircourage，theirstrength，asfreelyasthosewhowenttowar。\"\"Speechwassurelyoneofthemostprodigaloutletsofthevitalfluidthatmanhadeverknown，\"etc。
Thisimprovisationofmoderncommonplaces，clothedinsonorousphrasesandnewlyinventedwords，andintendedtoprovethattheComtedeCanaliswasbecomingoneofthegloriesoftheFrenchgovernment，madeadeepimpressionuponthenotaryandGobenheim，anduponMadameLatournelleandMadameMignon。Modestelookedasthoughshewereatthetheatre，inanattitudeofenthusiasmforanactor，——verymuchlikethatofErnesttowardherself;forthoughthesecretaryknewallthesehigh—soundingphrasesbyheart，helistenedthroughtheeyes，asitwere，oftheyounggirl，andgrewmoreandmoremadlyinlovewithher。Tothistruelover，ModestewaseclipsingalltheModesteshehadcreatedashereadherlettersandansweredthem。
Thisvisit，thelengthofwhichwaspredeterminedbyCanalis，carefulnottoallowhisadmirersachancetogetsurfeited，endedbyaninvitationtodinneronthefollowingMonday。
\"WeshallnotbeattheChalet，\"saidtheComtedeLaBastie。\"Dumaywillhavesolepossessionofit。Ireturntothevilla，havingboughtitbackunderadeedofredemptionwithinsixmonths，whichIhaveto—daysignedwithMonsieurVilquin。\"
\"Ihope，\"saidDumay，\"thatVilquinwillnotbeabletoreturntoyouthesumyouhavejustlenthim，andthatthevillawillremainyours。\"
\"Itisanabodeinkeepingwithyourfortune，\"saidCanalis。
\"YoumeanthefortunethatIamsupposedtohave，\"repliedCharlesMignon，hastily。
\"Itwouldbetoosad，\"saidCanalis，turningtoModestewithacharminglittlebow，\"ifthisMadonnawerenotframedinamannerworthyofherdivineperfections。\"
ThatwastheonlythingCanalissaidtoModeste。Heaffectednottolookather，andbehavedlikeamantowhomallideaofmarriagewasinterdicted。
\"Ah！mydearMadameMignon，\"criedthenotary’swife，assoonasthegravelwasheardtogritunderthefeetoftheParisians，\"whatanintellect！\"
\"Isherich？——thatisthequestion，\"saidGobenheim。
Modestewasatthewindow，notlosingasinglemovementofthegreatpoet，andpayingnoattentiontohiscompanion。WhenMonsieurMignonreturnedtothesalon，andModeste，havingreceivedalastbowfromthetwofriendsasthecarriageturned，wentbacktoherseat，aweightydiscussiontookplace，suchasprovincialsinvariablyholdoverParisiansafterafirstinterview。Gobenheimrepeatedhisphrase，\"Isherich？\"asachorustothesongsofpraisesungbyMadameLatournelle，Modeste，andhermother。
\"Rich！\"exclaimedModeste;\"whatcanthatsignify！DoyounotseethatMonsieurdeCanalisisoneofthosemenwhoaredestinedforthehighestplacesintheState。Hehasmorethanfortune;hepossessesthatwhichgivesfortune。\"
\"Hewillbeministerorambassador，\"saidMonsieurMignon。
\"Thatwon’thindertax—payersfromhavingtopaythecostsofhisfuneral，\"remarkedthenotary。
\"Howso？\"askedCharlesMignon。
\"HestrikesmeasamanwhowillwasteallthefortuneswithwhosegiftsMademoiselleModestesoliberallyendowshim，\"answeredLatournelle。
\"Modestecan’tavoidbeingliberaltoapoetwhocalledheraMadonna，\"saidDumay，sneering，andfaithfultotherepulsionwithwhichCanalishadoriginallyinspiredhim。
Gobenheimarrangedthewhist—tablewithallthemorepersistencybecause，sincethereturnofMonsieurMignon，LatournelleandDumayhadallowedthemselvestoplayfortensouspoints。
\"Well，mylittledarling，\"saidthefathertothedaughterintheembrasureofawindow。\"Admitthatpapathinksofeverything。IfyousendyourordersthiseveningtoyourformerdressmakerinParis，andallyourotherfurnishingpeople，youshallshowyourselfeightdayshenceinallthesplendorofanheiress。Meantimewewillinstallourselvesinthevilla。Youalreadyhaveaprettyhorse，noworderahabit;youowethatamountofcivilitytothegrandequerry。\"
\"Allthemorebecausetherewillbeanumberofustoride，\"saidModeste，whowasrecoveringthecolorsofhealth。
\"Thesecretarydidnotsaymuch，\"remarkedMadameMignon。
\"Alittlefool，\"saidMadameLatournelle;\"thepoethasanattentivewordforeverybody。HethankedMonsieurLatournelleforhishelpinchoosingthehouse;andsaidhemusthavetakencounselwithawomanofgoodtaste。ButtheotherlookedasgloomyasaSpaniard，andkepthiseyesfixedonModesteasthoughhewouldliketoswallowherwhole。IfhehadevenlookedatmeIshouldhavebeenafraidofhim。\"
\"Hehadapleasantvoice，\"saidMadameMignon。
\"NodoubthecametoHavretoinquireabouttheMignonsintheinterestsofhisfriendthepoet，\"saidModeste，lookingfurtivelyatherfather。\"Itwascertainlyhewhomwesawinchurch。\"
MadameDumayandMonsieurandMadameLatournelle，acceptedthisasthenaturalexplanationofErnest’sjourney。
CHAPTERXIX
OFWHICHTHEAUTHORTHINKSAGOODDEAL
\"Doyouknow，Ernest，\"criedCanalis，whentheyhaddrivenashortdistancefromthehouse，\"Idon’tseeanymarriageablewomaninsocietyinPariswhocompareswiththatadorablegirl。\"
\"Ah，thatendsit！\"repliedErnest。\"Shelovesyou，orshewillloveyouifyoudesireit。Yourfamewonhalfthebattle。Well，youmaynowhaveitallyourownway。Youshallgotherealoneinfuture。Modestedespisesme;sheisrighttodoso;andIdon’tseeanyreasonwhyI
shouldcondemnmyselftosee，tolove，desire，andadorethatwhichI
canneverpossess。\"
Afterafewconsolingremarks，dashedwithhisownsatisfactionathavingmadeanewversionofCaesar’sphrase，CanalisdivulgedadesiretobreakwiththeDuchessedeChaulieu。LaBriere，totallyunabletokeepuptheconversation，madethebeautyofthenightanexcusetobesetdown，andthenrushedlikeonepossessedtotheseashore，wherehestayedtillpastten，inahalf—dementedstate，walkinghurriedlyupanddown，talkingaloudinbrokensentences，sometimesstandingstillorsittingdown，withoutnoticingtheuneasinessoftwocustom—houseofficerswhowereonthewatch。AfterlovingModeste’switandintellectandheraggressivefrankness，henowjoinedadorationofherbeauty——thatistosay，lovewithoutreason，loveinexplicable——toalltheotherreasonswhichhaddrawnhimtendaysearlier，tothechurchinHavre。
HereturnedtotheChalet，wherethePyreneeshoundsbarkedathimtillhewasforcedtorelinquishthepleasureofgazingatModeste’swindows。Inlove，suchthingsareofnomoreaccounttotheloverthantheworkwhichiscoveredbythelastlayerofcoloristoanartist;
yettheymakeupthewholeoflove，justasthehiddentoilisthewholeofart。Outofthemarisethegreatpainterandthetrueloverwhomthewomanandthepublicend，sometimestoolate，byadoring。
\"Wellthen！\"hecriedaloud，\"Iwillstay，Iwillsuffer，Iwillloveherformyselfonly，insolitude。Modesteshallbemysun，mylife;I
willbreathewithherbreath，rejoiceinherjoysandbearhergriefs，besheeventhewifeofthategoist，Canalis。\"
\"That’swhatIcallloving，monsieur，\"saidavoicewhichcamefromashrubbythesideoftheroad。\"Ha，ha，soalltheworldisinlovewithMademoiselledeLaBastie？\"
AndButschasuddenlyappearedandlookedatLaBriere。LaBrierecheckedhisangerwhen，bythelightofthemoon，hesawthedwarf，andhemadeafewstepswithoutreplying。
\"Soldierswhoserveinthesamecompanyoughttobegoodcomrades，\"
remarkedButscha。\"Youdon’tloveCanalis;neitherdoI。\"
\"Heismyfriend，\"repliedErnest。
\"Ha，youarethelittlesecretary？\"
\"Youaretoknow，monsieur，thatIamnoman’ssecretary。Ihavethehonortobeofcounseltoasupremecourtofthiskingdom。\"
\"IhavethehonortosaluteMonsieurdeLaBriere，\"saidButscha。\"I
myselfhavethehonortobeheadclerktoLatournelle，chiefcouncillorofHavre，andmypositionisabetteronethanyours。Yes，IhavehadthehappinessofseeingMademoiselleModestedeLaBastienearlyeveryeveningforthelastfouryears，andIexpecttolivenearher，asaking’sservantlivesintheTuileries。IftheyofferedmethethroneofRussiaIshouldanswer，’Ilovethesuntoowell。’
Isn’tthattellingyou，monsieur，thatIcaremoreforherthanformyself？Iamlookingafterherinterestswiththemosthonorableintentions。DoyoubelievethattheproudDuchessedeChaulieuwouldcastafavorableeyeonthehappinessofMadamedeCanalisifherwaiting—woman，whoisinlovewithMonsieurGermain，notlikingthatcharmingvalet’sabsenceinHavre，weretosaytohermistresswhilebrushingherhair——\"
\"Whodoyouknowaboutallthis？\"saidLaBriere，interruptingButscha。
\"Inthefirstplace，Iamclerktoanotary，\"answeredButscha。\"Buthaven’tyouseenmyhump？Itisfullofresources，monsieur。IhavemademyselfcousintoMademoisellePhiloxeneJacmin，bornatHonfleur，wheremymotherwasborn，aJacmin，——thereareeightbranchesoftheJacminsatHonfleur。SomycousinPhiloxene，enticedbythebaitofahighlyimprobablefortune，hastoldmeagoodmanythings。\"
\"Theduchessisvindictive？\"saidLaBriere。
\"Vindictiveasaqueen，Philoxenesays;shehasneveryetforgiventhedukeforbeingnothingmorethanherhusband，\"repliedButscha。\"Shehatesassheloves。Iknowallabouthercharacter，hertastes，hertoilette，herreligion，andhermanners;forPhiloxenestrippedherforme，soulandcorset。Iwenttotheoperaexpresslytoseeher，andIdidn’tgrudgethetenfrancsitcostme——Idon’tmeantheplay。Ifmyimaginarycousinhadnottoldmetheduchesshadseenherfiftysummers，IshouldhavethoughtIwasover—generousingivingherthirty;shehasneverknownawinter，thatduchess！\"
\"Yes，\"saidLaBriere，\"sheisacameo——preservedbecauseitisstone。
Canaliswouldbeinabadwayiftheduchessweretofindoutwhatheisdoinghere;andIhope，monsieur，thatyouwillgonofurtherinthisbusinessofspying，whichisunworthyofanhonestman。\"
\"Monsieur，\"saidButscha，proudly;\"formeModesteismycountry。Idonotspy;Iforesee，Itakeprecautions。Theduchesswillcomehereifitisdesirable，orshewillstaytranquillywheresheis，accordingtowhatIjudgebest。\"
\"You？\"
\"I。\"
\"Andhow，pray？\"
\"Ha，that’sit！\"saidthelittlehunchback，pluckingabladeofgrass。
\"Seehere！thisherbbelievesthatmenbuildpalacesforittogrowin;itwedgesitswaybetweentheclosestblocksofmarble，andbringsthemdown，justasthemassesforcedintotheedificeoffeudalityhavebroughtittotheground。Thepowerofthefeeblelifethatcancreepeverywhereisgreaterthanthatofthemightybehindtheircannons。IamoneofthreewhohaveswornthatModesteshallbehappy，andwewouldsellourhonorforher。Adieu，monsieur。IfyoutrulyloveMademoiselledeLaBastie，forgetthisconversationandshakehandswithme，forIthinkyou’vegotaheart。IlongedtoseetheChalet，andIgotherejustasSHEwasputtingoutherlight。Isawthedogsrushatyou，andIoverheardyourwords，andthatiswhyI
takethelibertyofsayingweserveinthesameregiment——thatofloyaldevotion。\"
\"Monsieur，\"saidLaBriere，wringingthehunchback’shand，\"wouldyouhavethefriendlinesstotellmeifMademoiselleModesteeverlovedanyoneWITHLOVEbeforeshewrotetoCanalis？\"
\"Oh！\"exclaimedButschainanalteredvoice;\"thatthoughtisaninsult。Andevennow，whoknowsifshereallyloves？doessheknowherself？Sheisenamoredofgenius，ofthesoulandintellectofthatsellerofverses，thatliteraryquack;butshewillstudyhim，weshallallstudyhim;andIknowhowtomaketheman’srealcharacterpeepoutfromunderthatturtle—shelloffinemanners，——we’llsoonseethepettylittleheadofhisambitionandhisvanity！\"criedButscha，rubbinghishands。\"So，unlessmademoiselleisdesperatelytakenwithhim——\"
\"Oh！shewasseizedwithadmirationwhenshesawhim，asifheweresomethingmarvellous，\"exclaimedLaBriere，lettingthesecretofhisjealousyescapehim。
\"Ifheisaloyal，honestfellow，andlovesher;ifheisworthyofher;ifherenounceshisduchess，\"saidButscha，——\"thenI’llmanagetheduchess！Here，mydearsir，takethisroad，andyouwillgethomeintenminutes。\"
Butastheyparted，ButschaturnedbackandhailedpoorErnest，who，asatruelover，wouldgladlyhavestayedthereallnighttalkingofModeste。
\"Monsieur，\"saidButscha，\"Ihavenotyethadthehonorofseeingourgreatpoet。Iamverycurioustoobservethatmagnificentphenomenonintheexerciseofhisfunctions。DomethefavortobringhimtotheChaletto—morrowevening，andstayaslongaspossible;forittakesmorethananhourforamantoshowhimselfforwhatheis。Ishallbethefirsttoseeifheloves，ifhecanlove，orifheeverwillloveMademoiselleModeste。\"
\"Youareveryyoungto——\"
\"——tobeaprofessor，\"saidButscha，cuttingshortLaBriere。\"Ha，monsieur，deformedfolksarebornahundredyearsold。Andbesides，asickmanwhohaslongbeensick，knowsmorethanhisdoctor;heknowsthedisease，andthatismorethancanbesaidforthebestofdoctors。Well，soitiswithamanwhocherishesawomaninhisheartwhenthewomanisforcedtodisdainhimforhisuglinessorhisdeformity;heendsbyknowingsomuchoflovethathebecomesseductive，justasthesickmanrecovershishealth;stupidityaloneisincurable。IhavehadneitherfathernormothersinceIwassixyearsold;Iamnowtwenty—five。Publiccharityhasbeenmymother，theprocureurduroimyfather。Oh！don’tbetroubled，\"headded，seeingErnest’sgesture;\"Iammuchmorelivelythanmysituation。
Well，forthelastsixyears，eversinceawoman’seyefirsttoldmeI
hadnorighttolove，Idolove，andIstudywomen。Ibeganwiththeuglyones，foritisbesttotakethebullbythehorns。SoItookmymaster’swife，whohascertainlybeenanangeltome，formyfirststudy。PerhapsIdidwrong;butIcouldn’thelpit。IpassedherthroughmyalembicandwhatdidIfind？thisthought，crouchingatthebottomofherheart，’Iamnotsouglyastheythinkme’;andifamanweretoworkuponthatthoughthecouldbringhertotheedgeoftheabyss，piousassheis。\"
\"AndhaveyoustudiedModeste？\"
\"IthoughtItoldyou，\"repliedButscha，\"thatmylifebelongstoher，justasFrancebelongstotheking。DoyounowunderstandwhatyoucalledmyspyinginParis？Noonebutmereallyknowswhatnobility，whatpride，whatdevotion，whatmysteriousgrace，whatunwearyingkindness，whattruereligion，gaiety，wit，delicacy，knowledge，andcourtesythereareinthesoulandintheheartofthatadorablecreature！\"
Butschadrewouthishandkerchiefandwipedhiseyes，andLaBrierepressedhishandforalongtime。
\"Iliveinthesunbeamofherexistence;itcomesfromher，itisabsorbedinme;thatishowweareunited，——asnatureistoGod，bytheLightandbytheWord。Adieu，monsieur;neverinmylifehaveI
talkedinthisway;butseeingyoubeneathherwindows，IfeltinmyheartthatyoulovedherasIloveher。\"
WithoutwaitingforananswerButschaquittedthepoorlover，intowhosehearthiswordshadputaninexpressiblebalm。Ernestresolvedtomakeafriendofhim，notsuspectingthatthechiefobjectoftheclerk’sloquacitywastogaincommunicationwithsomeoneconnectedwithCanalis。Ernestwasrockedtosleepthatnightbytheebbandflowofthoughtsandresolutionsandplansforhisfutureconduct，whereasCanalissleptthesleepoftheconqueror，whichisthesweetestofslumbersafterthatofthejust。
Atbreakfastnextmorning，thefriendsagreedtospendtheeveningofthefollowingdayattheChaletandinitiatethemselvesintothedelightsofprovincialwhist。Togetridofthedaytheyorderedtheirhorses，purchasedbyGermainatalargeprice，andstartedonavoyageofdiscoveryroundthecountry，whichwasquiteasunknowntothemasChina;forthemostforeignthingtoFrenchmeninFranceisFranceitself。