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。