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。