第9章

Love，pure，andsanctioned，thelovemyfather，nowreturningrichandprosperous，willauthorize，hasraisedmewithitspowerfulyetchildlikehandfromthegraveinwhichIslept。Youhavewakenedmeasthesunwakenstheflowers。TheeyesofyourbelovedarenolongerthoseofthelittleModestesodaringinherignorance，——no，theyaredimmedwiththesightofhappiness，andthelidscloseoverthem。To—dayItremblelestIcanneverdeservemyfate。Thekinghascomeinhisglory;mylordhasnowasubjectwhoaskspardonforthelibertiesshehastaken，likethegamblerwithloadeddiceaftercheatingMonsieurdeGrammont。

Mycherishedpoet！IwillbethyMignon——happierfarthantheMignonofGoethe，forthouwiltleavemeinmineownland，——inthyheart。JustasIwritethispledgeofourbetrothalanightingaleintheVilquinparkanswersforthee。Ah，tellmequickthathisnote，sopure，soclear，sofull，whichfillsmyheartwithjoyandlovelikeanAnnunciation，doesnotlietome。

MyfatherwillpassthroughParisonhiswayfromMarseilles;thehouseofMongenod，withwhomhecorresponds，willknowhisaddress。Gotohim，myMelchior，tellhimthatyouloveme;butdonottrytotellhimhowIloveyou，——letthatbeforeverbetweenourselvesandGod。I，mydearone，amabouttotelleverythingtomymother。Herheartwilljustifymyconduct;shewillrejoiceinoursecretpoem，soromantic，humananddivineinone。

Youhavetheconfessionofthedaughter;youmustnowobtaintheconsentoftheComtedeLaBastie，fatherofyourModeste。

P。S。——Aboveall，donotcometoHavrewithouthavingfirstobtainedmyfather’sconsent。IfyoulovemeyouwillnotfailtofindhimonhiswaythroughParis。

"Whatareyoudoing，upatthishour，MademoiselleModeste？"saidthevoiceofDumayatherdoor。

"Writingtomyfather，"sheanswered;"didyounottellmeyoushouldstartinthemorning？"

Dumayhadnothingtosaytothat，andhewenttobed，whileModestewroteanotherlongletter，thistimetoherfather。

Onthemorrow，FrancoisCochet，terrifiedatseeingtheHavrepostmarkontheenvelopewhichErnesthadmailedthenightbefore，broughtheryoungmistressthefollowingletterandtookawaytheonewhichModestehadwritten:——

ToMademoiselleO。d’EsteM。，——Myhearttellsmethatyouwerethewomansocarefullyveiledanddisguised，andseatedbetweenMonsieurandMadameLatournelle，whohavebutonechild，ason。

Ah，mylove，ifyouhaveonlyamodeststation，withoutdistinction，withoutimportance，withoutmoneyeven，youdonotknowhowhappythatwouldmakeme。Yououghttounderstandmebythistime;whywillyounottellmethetruth？Iamnopoet，——

exceptinheart，throughlove，throughyou。Oh！whatpowerofaffectionthereisinmetokeepmehereinthishotel，insteadofmountingtoIngouvillewhichIcanseefrommywindows。WillyoueverlovemeasIloveyou？ToleaveHavreinsuchuncertainty！AmInotpunishedforlovingyouasifIhadcommittedacrime？ButI

obeyyoublindly。Letmehavealetterquickly，forifyouhavebeenmysterious，Ihavereturnedyoumysteryformystery，andI

mustatlastthrowoffmydisguise，showyouthepoetthatIam，andabdicatemyborrowedglory。

ThislettermadeModesteterriblyuneasy。ShecouldnotgetbacktheonewhichFrancoisehadcarriedawaybeforeshecametothelastwords，whosemeaningshenowsoughtbyreadingthemagainandagain;

butshewenttoherownroomandwroteananswerinwhichshedemandedanimmediateexplanation。

CHAPTERXIV

MATTERSGROWNCOMPLICATED

DuringtheselittleeventsotherlittleeventsweregoingoninHavre，whichcausedModestetoforgetherpresentuneasiness。DumaywentdowntoHavreearlyinthemorning，andsoondiscoveredthatnoarchitecthadbeenintownthedaybefore。FuriousatButscha’slie，whichrevealedaconspiracyofwhichhewasresolvedtoknowthemeaning，herushedfromthemayor’sofficetohisfriendLatournelle。

"Where’syourMasterButscha？"hedemandedofthenotary，whenhesawthattheclerkwasnotinhisplace。

"Butscha，mydearfellow，hasgonetoParis。Heheardsomenewsofhisfatherthismorningonthequays，fromaSwedishsailor。ItseemsthefatherwenttotheIndiesandservedaprince，orsomething，andheisnowinParis。"

"Lies！it’sallatrick！infamous！I’llfindthatdamnedcrippleifI’vegottogoexpresstoParisforhim，"criedDumay。"Butschaisdeceivingus;heknowssomethingaboutModeste，andhasn’ttoldus。Ifhemeddlesinthisthingheshallneverbeanotary。I’llrollhiminthemudfromwhichhecame，I’ll——"

"Come，come，myfriend;neverhangamanbeforeyoutryhim，"saidLatournelle，frightenedatDumay’srage。

Afterstatingthefactsonwhichhissuspicionswerefounded，DumaybeggedMadameLatournelletogoandstayattheChaletduringhisabsence。

"YouwillfindthecolonelinParis，"saidthenotary。"IntheshippingnewsquotedthismorningintheJournalofCommerce，IfoundundertheheadofMarseilles——here，seeforyourself，"hesaid，offeringthepaper。"’TheBettinaMignon，CaptainMignon，arrivedOctober6’;itisnowthe17th，andthecolonelissuretobeinParis。"

DumayrequestedGobenheimtodowithouthiminfuture，andthenwentbacktotheChalet，whichhereachedjustasModestewassealinghertwoletters，toherfatherandCanalis。Exceptfortheaddresstheletterswerepreciselyalikebothinweightandappearance。ModestethoughtshehadlaidthattoherfatheroverthattoherMelchior，buthad，infact，doneexactlythereverse。Thismistake，sooftenmadeinthelittlethingsoflife，occasionedthediscoveryofhersecretbyDumayandhermother。TheformerwastalkingvehementlytoMadameMignoninthesalon，andrevealingtoherhisfreshfearscausedbyModeste’sduplicityandButscha’sconnivance。

"Madame，"hecried，"heisaserpentwhomwehavewarmedinourbosoms;there’snoplaceinhiscontortedlittlebodyforasoul！"

Modesteputtheletterforherfatherintothepocketofherapron，supposingittobethatforCanalis，andcamedownstairswiththeletterforherloverinherhand，toseeDumaybeforehestartedforParis。

"WhathashappenedtomyBlackDwarf？whyareyoutalkingsoloud！"

shesaid，appearingatthedoor。

"Mademoiselle，ButschahasgonetoParis，andyou，nodoubt，knowwhy，——tocarryonthataffairofthelittlearchitectwiththesulphurwaistcoat，who，unluckilyforthehunchback’slies，hasneverbeenhere。"

Modestewasstruckdumb;feelingsurethatthedwarfhaddepartedonamissionofinquiryastoherpoet’smorals，sheturnedpale，andsatdown。

"I’mgoingafterhim;Ishallfindhim，"continuedDumay。"Isthattheletterforyourfather，mademoiselle？"headded，holdingouthishand。

"IwilltakeittotheMongenods。GodgrantthecolonelandImaynotpasseachotherontheroad。"

Modestegavehimtheletter。Dumaylookedmechanicallyattheaddress。

"’MonsieurleBarondeCanalis，ruedeParadis—Poissoniere，No。29’！"

hecriedout;"whatdoesthatmean？"

"Ah，mydaughter！thatisthemanyoulove，"exclaimedMadameMignon;

"thestanzasyousettomusicwerehis——"

"Andthat’shisportraitthatyouhaveinaframeupstairs，"addedDumay。

"Givemebackthatletter，MonsieurDumay，"saidModeste，erectingherselflikealionessdefendinghercubs。

"Thereitis，mademoiselle，"hereplied。

Modesteputitintothebosomofherdress，andgaveDumaytheoneintendedforherfather。

"Iknowwhatyouarecapableof，Dumay，"shesaid;"andifyoutakeonestepagainstMonsieurdeCanalis，Ishalltakeanotheroutofthishouse，towhichIwillneverreturn。"

"Youwillkillyourmother，mademoiselle，"repliedDumay，wholefttheroomandcalledhiswife。

Thepoormotherwasindeedhalf—fainting，——strucktotheheartbyModeste’swords。

"Good—bye，wife，"saidtheBreton，kissingtheAmerican。"Takecareofthemother;Igotosavethedaughter。"

Hemadehispreparationsforthejourneyinafewminutes，andstartedforHavre。AnhourlaterhewastravellingposttoParis，withthehastethatnothingbutpassionorspeculationcangetoutofwheels。

RecoveringherselfunderModeste’stendercare，MadameMignonwentuptoherbedroomleaningonthearmofherdaughter，towhomshesaid，ashersolereproach，whentheywerealone:——

"Myunfortunatechild，seewhatyouhavedone！Whydidyouconcealanythingfromme？AmIsoharsh？"

"Oh！Iwasjustgoingtotellittoyoucomfortably，"sobbedModeste。

Shethereuponrelatedeverythingtohermother，readherthelettersandtheiranswers，andshedtheroseofherpoempetalbypetalintotheheartofthekindGermanwoman。Whenthisconfidence，whichtookhalftheday，wasover，whenshesawsomethingthatwasalmostasmileonthelipsofthetooindulgentmother，Modestefelluponherbreastintears。

"Oh，mother！"shesaidamidhersobs，"you，whoseheart，allgoldandpoetry，isachosenvessel，chosenofGodtoholdasacredlove，asingleandcelestiallovethatenduresforlife;you，whomIwishtoimitatebylovingnoonebutmyhusband，——youwillsurelyunderstandwhatbittertearsIamnowshedding。Thisbutterfly，thisPsycheofmythoughts，thisdualsoulwhichIhavenurturedwithmaternalcare，mylove，mysacredlove，thislivingmysteryofmysteries——itisabouttofallintovulgarhands，andtheywilltearitsdiaphanouswingsandrenditsveilunderthemiserablepretextofenlighteningme，ofdiscoveringwhethergeniusisasprudentasabanker，whethermyMelchiorhassavedhismoney，orwhetherhehassomeentanglementtoshakeoff;theywanttofindoutifheisguiltytobourgeoiseyesofyouthfulindiscretions，——whichtothesunofourlovearelikethecloudsofthedawn。Oh！whatwillcomeofit？whatwilltheydo？See！

feelmyhand，itburnswithfever。Ah！Ishallneversurviveit。"

AndModeste，reallytakenwithachill，wasforcedtogotobed，causingseriousuneasinesstohermother，MadameLatournelle，andMadameDumay，whotookgoodcareofherduringthejourneyofthelieutenanttoParis，——towhichcitythelogicofeventscompelsustotransportourdramaforamoment。

Trulymodestminds，likethatofErnestdeLaBriere，butespeciallythosewho，knowingtheirownvalue，alsoknowthattheyareneitherlovednorappreciated，canunderstandtheinfinitejoytowhichtheyoungsecretaryabandonedhimselfonreadingModeste’sletter。Coulditbethatafterthinkinghimloftyandwittyinsoul，hisyoung，hisartless，histricksomemistressnowthoughthimhandsome？Thisflatteryistheflatterysupreme。Andwhy？Beautyis，undoubtedly，thesignatureofthemastertotheworkintowhichhehasputhissoul;itisthedivinespiritmanifested。Andtoseeitwhereitisnot，tocreateitbythepowerofaninwardlook，——isnotthatthehighestreachoflove？Andsothepooryouthcriedaloudwithalltheraptureofanapplaudedauthor，"AtlastIambeloved！"Whenawoman，beshemaid，wife，orwidow，letsthecharmingwordsescapeher，"Thouarthandsome，"thewordsmaybefalse，butthemanopenshisthickskulltotheirsubtlepoison，andthenceforthheisattachedbyaneverlastingtietotheprettyflatterer，thetrueorthedeceivedjudge;shebecomeshisparticularworld，hethirstsforhercontinualtestimony，andheneverweariesofit，evenifheisacrownedprince。

Ernestwalkedproudlyupanddownhisroom;hestruckathree—quarter，full—face，andprofileattitudebeforetheglass;hetriedtocriticisehimself;butavoice，diabolicallypersuasive，whisperedtohim，"Modesteisright。"Hetookupherletterandre—readit;hesawhisfairestofthefair;hetalkedwithher;then，inthemidstofhisecstacy，adreadfulthoughtcametohim:——

"ShethinksmeCanalis，andshehasamillionofmoney！"

Downwenthishappiness，justasasomnambulist，havingattainedthepeakofaroof，hearsavoice，awakes，andfallscrusheduponthepavement。

"WithoutthehalooffameIshallbehideousinhereyes，"hecried;

"whatamaddeningsituationIhaveputmyselfin！"

LaBrierewastoomuchthemanofhisletterswhichwehaveread，hisheartwastoonobleandpuretoallowhimtohesitateatthecallofhonor。HeatonceresolvedtofindModeste’sfather，ifhewereinParis，andconfessalltohim，andtoletCanalisknowtheseriousresultsoftheirParisianjest。Toasensitivenaturelikehis，Modeste’slargefortunewasinitselfadeterminingreason。Hecouldnotallowittobeevensuspectedthattheardorofthecorrespondence，sosincereonhispart，hadinviewthecaptureofa"dot。"TearswereinhiseyesashemadehiswaytotherueChantereinetofindthebankerMongenod，whosefortuneandbusinessconnectionswerepartlytheworkoftheministertowhomErnestowedhisstartinlife。

AtthehourwhenLaBrierewasinquiringaboutthefatherofhisbelovedfromtheheadofthehouseofMongenod，andgettinginformationthatmightbeusefultohiminhisstrangeposition，ascenewastakingplaceinCanalis’sstudywhichtheex—lieutenant’shastydeparturefromHavremayhaveledthereadertoforesee。

Likeatruesoldieroftheimperialschool，Dumay，whoseBretonbloodhadboiledallthewaytoParis，consideredapoettobeapoorstickofafellow，ofnoconsequencewhatever，——abuffoonaddictedtochoruses，livinginagarret，dressedinblackclothesthatwerewhiteateveryseam，wearingbootsthatwereoccasionallywithoutsoles，andlinenthatwasunmentionable，andwhosefingersknewmoreaboutinkthansoap;inshort，onewholookedalwaysasifhehadtumbledfromthemoon，exceptwhenscribblingatadesk，likeButscha。ButtheseethingoftheBreton’sheartandbrainreceivedaviolentapplicationofcoldwaterwhenheenteredthecourtyardoftheprettyhouseoccupiedbythepoetandsawagroomwashingacarriage，andalso，throughthewindowsofahandsomedining—room，avaletdressedlikeabanker，towhomthegroomreferredhim，andwhoanswered，lookingthestrangeroverfromheadtofoot，thatMonsieurlebaronwasnotvisible。"Thereis，"addedtheman，"ameetingofthecouncilofstateto—day，atwhichMonsieurlebaronisobligedtobepresent。"

"IsthisreallythehouseofMonsieurCanalis，"saidDumay，"awriterofpoetry？"

"MonsieurlebarondeCanalis，"repliedthevalet，"isthegreatpoetofwhomyouspeak;butheisalsothepresidentofthecourtofClaimsattachedtotheministryofforeignaffairs。"

Dumay，whohadcometoboxtheearsofascribblingnobody，foundhimselfconfrontedbyahighfunctionaryofthestate。Thesalonwherehewastoldtowaitoffered，asatopicforhismeditations，theinsigniaoftheLegionofhonorglitteringonablackcoatwhichthevalethadleftuponachair。Presentlyhiseyeswereattractedbythebeautyandbrilliancyofasilver—giltcupbearingthewords"GivenbyMADAME。"Thenhebeheldbeforehim，onapedestal，aSevresvaseonwhichwasengraved，"ThegiftofMadamelaDAUPHINE。"

ThesemuteadmonitionsbroughtDumaytohissenseswhilethevaletwenttoaskhismasterifhewouldreceiveapersonwhohadcomefromHavreexpresslytoseehim，——astrangernamedDumay。

"Whatsortofaman？"askedCanalis。

"Heiswell—dressed，andwearstheribbonoftheLegionofhonor。"

Canalismadeasignofassent，andthevaletretreated，andthenreturnedandannounced，"MonsieurDumay。"

Whenheheardhimselfannounced，whenhewasactuallyinpresenceofCanalis，inastudyasgorgeousasitwaselegant，withhisfeetonacarpetfarhandsomerthananyinthehouseofMignon，andwhenhemetthestudiedglanceofthepoetwhowasplayingwiththetasselsofasumptuousdressing—gown，Dumaywassocompletelytakenabackthatheallowedthegreatpoettohavethefirstword。

"TowhatdoIowethehonorofyourvisit，monsieur？"

"Monsieur，"beganDumay，whoremainedstanding。

"Ifyouhaveagooddealtosay，"interruptedCanalis，"Imustaskyoutobeseated。"

AndCanalishimselfplungedintoanarmchairalaVoltaire，crossedhislegs，raisedtheupperonetothelevelofhiseyeandlookedfixedlyatDumay，whobecame，tousehisownmartialslang，"bayonetted。"

"Iamlistening，monsieur，"saidthepoet;"mytimeisprecious，——theministersareexpectingme。"

"Monsieur，"saidDumay，"Ishallbebrief。Youhaveseduced——how，Idonotknow——ayoungladyinHavre，young，beautiful，andrich;thelastandonlyhopeoftwonoblefamilies;andIhavecometoaskyourintentions。"

Canalis，whohadbeenbusyduringthelastthreemonthswithseriousmattersofhisown，andwastryingtogethimselfmadecommanderoftheLegionofhonorandministertoaGermancourt，hadcompletelyforgottenModeste’sletter。"

"I！"heexclaimed。

"You！"repeatedDumay。

"Monsieur，"answeredCanalis，smiling;"IknownomoreofwhatyouaretalkingaboutthanifyouhadsaiditinHebrew。Iseduceayounggirl！I，who——"andasuperbsmilecrossedhisfeatures。"Come，come，monsieur，I’mnotsuchachildastostealfruitoverthehedgeswhenIhaveorchardsandgardensofmyownwherethefinestpeachesripen。

AllParisknowswheremyaffectionsareset。VerylikelytheremaybesomeyounggirlinHavrefullofenthusiasmformyverses，——ofwhichtheyarenotworthy;thatwouldnotsurprisemeatall;nothingismorecommon。See！lookatthatlovelycofferofebonyinlaidwithmother—of—pearl，andedgedwiththatiron—workasfineaslace。ThatcofferbelongedtoPopeLeoX。，andwasgiventomebytheDuchessedeChaulieu，whoreceiveditfromthekingofSpain。IuseittoholdthelettersIreceivefromladiesandyounggirlslivingineveryquarterofEurope。Oh！IassureyouIfeeltheutmostrespectfortheseflowersofthesoul，cutandsentinmomentsofenthusiasmthatareworthyofallreverence。Yes，tometheimpulseofaheartisanobleandsublimething！Others——scoffers——lighttheircigarswithsuchletters，orgivethemtotheirwivesforcurl—papers;butI，whoamabachelor，monsieur，Ihavetoomuchdelicacynottopreservetheseartlessofferings——sofresh，sodisinterested——inatabernacleoftheirown。Infact，Iguardthemwithaspeciesofveneration，andatmydeaththeywillbeburnedbeforemyeyes。Peoplemaycallthatridiculous，butIdonotcare。Iamgrateful;theseproofsofdevotionenablemetobearthecriticismsandannoyancesofaliterarylife。

WhenIreceiveashotinthebackfromsomeenemylurkingundercoverofadailypaper，Ilookatthatcasketandthink，——hereandthereinthiswideworldthereareheartswhosewoundshavebeenhealed，orsoothed，ordressedbyme！"

Thisbitofpoetry，declaimedwithallthetalentofagreatactor，petrifiedthelieutenant，whoseeyesopenedtotheirutmostextent，andwhoseastonishmentdelightedthepoet。

"Iwillpermityou，"continuedthepeacock，spreadinghistail，"outofrespectforyourposition，whichIfullyappreciate，toopenthatcofferandlookfortheletterofyouryounglady。ThoughIknowIamright，Iremembernames，andIassureyouyouaremistakeninthinking——"

"AndthisiswhatapoorchildcomestointhisgulfofParis！"criedDumay，——"thedarlingofherparents，thejoyofherfriends，thehopeofall，pettedbyall，theprideofafamily，whohassixpersonssodevotedtoherthattheywouldwillinglymakearampartoftheirlivesandfortunesbetweenherandsorrow。Monsieur，"Dumayremarkedafterapause，"youareagreatpoet，andIamonlyapoorsoldier。ForfifteenyearsIservedmycountryintheranks;Ihavehadthewindofmanyabulletinmyface;IhavecrossedSiberiaandbeenaprisonerthere;theRussiansflungmeonakibitka，andGodknowswhatI

suffered。Ihaveseenthousandsofmycomradesdie，——butyou，youhavegivenmeachilltothemarrowofmybones，suchasIneverfeltbefore。"

Dumayfanciedthathiswordsmovedthepoet，butinfacttheyonlyflatteredhim，——athingwhichatthisperiodofhislifehadbecomealmostanimpossibility;forhisambitiousmindhadlongforgottenthefirstperfumedphialthatpraisehadbrokenoverhishead。

"Ah，mysoldier！"hesaidsolemnly，layinghishandonDumay’sshoulder，andthinkingtohimselfhowdrollitwastomakeasoldieroftheempiretremble，"thisyounggirlmaybeallinalltoyou，buttosocietyatlargewhatisshe？nothing。AtthismomentthegreatestmandarininChinamaybeyieldinguptheghostandputtinghalftheuniverseinmourning，andwhatisthattoyou？TheEnglisharekillingthousandsofpeopleinIndiamoreworthythanweare;why，atthisverymomentwhileIamspeakingtoyousomeravishingwomanisbeingburnedalive，——didthatmakeyoucarelessforyourcupofcoffeethismorningatbreakfast？NotadaypassesinParisthatsomemotherinragsdoesnotcastherinfantontheworldtobepickedupbywhoeverfindsit;andyetsee！hereisthisdeliciousteainacupthatcostfivelouis，andIwriteverseswhichParisianwomenrushtobuy，exclaiming，’Divine！delicious！charming！foodforthesoul！’Socialnature，likeNatureherself，isagreatforgetter。Youwillbequitesurprisedtenyearshenceatwhatyouhavedoneto—day。Youarehereinacitywherepeopledie，wheretheymarry，wheretheyadoreeachotheratanassignation，whereyounggirlssuffocatethemselves，wherethemanofgeniuswithhiscargoofthoughtsteemingwithhumanebeneficencegoestothebottom，——allsidebyside，sometimesunderthesameroof，andyetignorantofeachother，ignorantandindifferent。

Andhereyoucomeamongusandaskustoexpirewithgriefatthiscommonplaceaffair。"

"Youcallyourselfapoet！"criedDumay，"butdon’tyoufeelwhatyouwrite？"

"Goodheavens！ifweenduredthejoysorthewoeswesingweshouldbeaswornoutinthreemonthsasapairofoldboots，"saidthepoet，smiling。"Butstay，youshallnotcomefromHavretoParistoseeCanaliswithoutcarryingsomethingbackwithyou。Warrior！"（CanalishadtheformandactionofanHomerichero）"learnthisfromthepoet:

Everynoblesentimentinmanisapoemsoexclusivelyindividualthathisnearestfriend，hisotherself，caresnothingforit。Itisatreasurewhichishisalone，itis——"

"Forgivemeforinterruptingyou，"saidDumay，whowasgazingatthepoetwithhorror，"butdidyouevercometoHavre？"

"Iwasthereforadayandanightinthespringof1824onmywaytoLondon。"

"Youareamanofhonor，"continuedDumay;"willyougivemeyourwordthatyoudonotknowMademoiselleModesteMignon？"

"Thisisthefirsttimethatnameeverstruckmyear，"repliedCanalis。

"Ah，monsieur！"saidDumay，"intowhatdarkintrigueamIabouttoplunge？CanIcountuponyoutohelpmeinmyinquiries？——forIamcertainthatsomeonehasbeenusingyourname。YououghttohavehadaletteryesterdayfromHavre。"

"Ireceivednone。Besure，monsieur，thatIwillhelpyou，"saidCanalis，"sofarasIhavetheopportunityofdoingso。"

Dumaywithdrew，hishearttornwithanxiety，believingthatthewretchedButschahadworntheskinofthepoettodeceiveModeste;

whereasButschahimself，keen—wittedasaprinceseekingrevenge，andfarclevererthananypaidspy，wasferrettingoutthelifeandactionsofCanalis，escapingnoticebyhisinsignificance，likeaninsectthatboresitswayintothesapofatree。

TheBretonhadscarcelyleftthepoet’shousewhenLaBriereenteredhisfriend’sstudy。Naturally，CanalistoldhimofthevisitofthemanfromHavre。

"Ha！"saidErnest，"ModesteMignon;thatisjustwhatIhavecometospeakof。"

"Ah，bah！"criedCanalis;"haveIhadatriumphbyproxy？"

"Yes;andhereisthekeytoit。Myfriend，Iamlovedbythesweetestgirlinalltheworld，——beautifulenoughtoshinebesidethegreatestbeautiesinParis，withaheartandmindworthyofClarissa。Shehasseenme;Ihavepleasedher，andshethinksmethegreatCanalis。Butthatisnotall。ModesteMignonisofhighbirth，andMongenodhasjusttoldmethatherfather，theComtedeLaBastie，hassomethinglikesixmillions。Thefatherisherenow，andIhaveaskedhimthroughMongenodforaninterviewattwoo’clock。Mongenodistogivehimahint，justaword，thatitconcernsthehappinessofhisdaughter。ButyouwillreadilyunderstandthatbeforeseeingthefatherIfeelIoughttomakeacleanbreastofittoyou。"

"Amongtheplantswhoseflowersbloominthesunshineoffame，"saidCanalis，impressively，"thereisone，andthemostmagnificent，whichbearsliketheorange—treeagoldenfruitamidthemingledperfumesofbeautyandofmind;alovelyplant，atruetenderness，aperfectbliss，and——iteludesme。"CanalislookedatthecarpetthatErnestmightnotreadhiseyes。"CouldI，"hecontinuedafterapausetoregainhisself—possession，"howcouldIhavedivinedthatflowerfromaprettysheetofperfumedpaper，thattrueheart，thatyounggirl，thatwomaninwhomlovewearstheliveryofflattery，wholovesusforourselves，whooffersusfelicity？Itneededbutanangelorademontoperceiveher;andwhatamIbuttheambitiousheadofaCourtofClaims！Ah，myfriend，famemakesusthetargetofathousandarrows。

Oneofusoweshisrichmarriagetoanhydraulicpieceofpoetry，whileI，moreseductive，moreawoman’smanthanhe，havemissedmine，——for，doyouloveher，poorgirl？"hesaid，lookingupatLaBriere。

"Oh！"ejaculatedtheyoungman。

"Wellthen，"saidthepoet，takinghissecretary’sarmandleaningheavilyuponit，"behappy，Ernest。ByamereaccidentIhavebeennotungratefultoyou。Youarerichlyrewardedforyourdevotion，andI

willgenerouslyfurtheryourhappiness。"

Canaliswasfurious;buthecouldnotbehaveotherwisethanwithpropriety，andhemadethebestofhisdisappointmentbymountingitasapedestal。

"Ah，Canalis，Ihaveneverreallyknownyoutillthismoment。"

"Didyouexpectto？Ittakessometimetogoroundtheworld，"repliedthepoetwithhispompousirony。

"Butthink，"saidLaBriere，"ofthisenormousfortune。"

"Ah，myfriend，isitnotwellinvestedinyou？"criedCanalis，accompanyingthewordswithacharminggesture。

"Melchior，"saidLaBriere，"Iamyoursforlifeanddeath。"

Hewrungthepoet’shandandlefthimabruptly，forhewasinhastetomeetMonsieurMignon。

CHAPTERXV

AFATHERSTEPSIN

TheComtedeLaBastiewasatthismomentoverwhelmedwiththesorrowswhichlayinwaitforhimastheirprey。Hehadlearnedfromhisdaughter’sletterofBettina’sdeathandofhiswife’sinfirmity，andDumayrelatedtohim，whentheymet，histerribleperplexityastoModeste’sloveaffairs。

"Leavemetomyself，"hesaidtohisfaithfulfriend。

Asthelieutenantclosedthedoor，theunhappyfatherthrewhimselfonasofa，withhisheadinhishands，weepingthoseslow，scantytearswhichsuffusetheeyesofamanofsixty，butdonotfall，——tearssoondried，yetquicktostartagain，——thelastdewsofthehumanautumn。

"Tohavechildren，tohaveawife，toadorethem——whatisitbuttohavemanyheartsandbarethemtoadagger？"hecried，springingupwiththeboundofatigerandwalkingupanddowntheroom。"Tobeafatheristogiveone’sselfover，boundhandandfoottosorrow。IfI

meetthatD’EstournyIwillkillhim。Tohavedaughters！——onegivesherlifetoascoundrel，theother，myModeste，fallsavictimtowhom？acoward，whodeceivesherwiththegildedpaperofapoet。IfitwereCanalishimselfitmightnotbesobad;butthatScapinofalover！——Iwillstranglehimwithmytwohands，"hecried，makinganinvoluntarygestureoffuriousdetermination。"Andwhatthen？supposemyModesteweretodieofgrief？"

HegazedmechanicallyoutofthewindowsofthehoteldesPrinces，andthenreturnedtothesofa，wherehesatmotionless。ThefatiguesofsixvoyagestoIndia，theanxietiesofspeculation，thedangershehadencounteredandevaded，andhismanygriefs，hadsilveredCharlesMignon’shead。Hishandsomesoldierlyface，sopureinoutlineandnowbronzedbythesunsofChinaandthesouthernseas，hadacquiredanairofdignitywhichhispresentgriefrenderedalmostsublime。

"Mongenodtoldmehefeltconfidenceintheyoungmanwhoiscomingtoaskmeformydaughter，"hethoughtatlast;andatthismomentErnestdeLaBrierewasannouncedbyoneoftheservantswhomMonsieurdeLaBastiehadattachedtohimselfduringthelastfouryears。