drawer，Imighthavekeptsometreasure，thecomfortofpoorgirlsill—usedbylove，sad，poeticsouls，——butah！IhaveYOU，I
believeinYOU，myfriend。Thatbeliefstraightensallmythoughtsandfancies，eventhemostfantastic，andsometimes——seehowfarmyfranknessleadsme——IwishIwereinthemiddleofthebookwearejustbeginning;suchpersistencydoIfeelinmysentiments，suchstrengthinmyhearttolove，suchconstancysustainedbyreason，suchheroismforthedutiesforwhichIwascreated，——ifindeedlovecaneverbetransmutedintoduty。
IfyouwereabletofollowmetotheexquisiteretreatwhereI
fancyourselveshappy，ifyouknewmyplansandprojects，thedreadfulword\"folly！\"mightescapeyou，andIshouldbecruellypunishedforsendingpoetrytoapoet。Yes，Iwishtobeaspringofwatersinexhaustibleasafertilelandforthetwentyyearsthatnatureallowsmetoshine。Iwanttodriveawaysatietybycharm。Imeantobecourageousformyfriendasmostwomenarefortheworld。Iwishtovaryhappiness。Iwishtoputintelligenceintotenderness，andtogivepiquancytofidelity。Iamfilledwithambitiontokilltherivalsofthepast，toconjureawayalloutsidegriefsbyawife’sgentleness，byherproudabnegation，totakealifelongcareofthenest，——suchasbirdscanonlytakeforafewweeks。
Tellme，doyounowthinkmetoblameformyfirstletter？Themysteriouswindofwilldrovemetoyou，asthetempestbringsthelittlerose—treetothepollardwindow。Inyourletter，whichI
holdhereuponmyheart，youcriedout，likeyourancestorwhenhedepartedfortheCrusades，\"Godwillsit。\"
Ah！butyouwillcryout，\"Whatachatterbox！\"Allthepeopleroundmesay，onthecontrary，\"Mademoiselleisverytaciturn。\"
O。d’EsteM。
CHAPTERXI
WHATCOMESOFCORRESPONDENCE
Theforegoinglettersseemedveryoriginaltothepersonsfromwhomtheauthorofthe\"ComedyofHumanLife\"obtainedthem;buttheirinterestinthisduel，thiscrossingofpensbetweentwominds，maynotbeshared。Foreveryhundredreaders，eightymightwearyofthebattle。Therespectduetothemajorityineverynationunderaconstitutionalgovernment，leadsus，therefore，tosuppresselevenotherlettersexchangedbetweenErnestandModesteduringthemonthofSeptember。If，lateron，someflatteringmajorityshouldarisetoclaimthem，letushopethatwecanthenfindmeanstoinsertthemintheirproperplace。
Urgedbyamindthatseemedasaggressiveastheheartwaslovable，thetrulychivalrousfeelingsofthepoorsecretarygavethemselvesfreeplayinthesesuppressedletters，whichseem，perhaps，morebeautifulthantheyreallyare，becausetheimaginationischarmedbyasenseofthecommunionoftwofreesouls。Ernest’swholelifewasnowwrappedupinthesesweetscrapsofpaper;theyweretohimwhatbanknotesaretoamiser;whileinModeste’ssouladeeplovetooktheplaceofherdelightinagitatingagloriouslife，andbeing，inspiteofdistance，itsmainspring。Ernest’sheartwasthecomplementofCanalis’sglory。Alas！itoftentakestwomentomakeaperfectlover，justasinliteraturewecomposeatypebycollectingthepeculiaritiesofseveralsimilarcharacters。Howmanyatimeawomanhasbeenheardtosayinherownsalonaftercloseandintimateconversations:——
\"Suchaoneismyidealastosoul，andIlovetheotherwhoisonlyadreamofthesenses。\"
ThelastletterwrittenbyModeste，whichherefollows，givesusaglimpseoftheenchantedisletowhichthemeanderingsofthiscorrespondencehadledthetwolovers。
ToMonsieurdeCanalis，——BeatHavrenextSunday;gotochurch;
afterthemorningservice，walkonceortwiceroundthenave，andgooutwithoutspeakingtoanyone;butwearawhiteroseinyourbutton—hole。ThenreturntoParis，whereyoushallreceiveananswer。Iwarnyouthatthisanswerwillnotbewhatyouwish;
for，asItoldyou，thefutureisnotyetmine。ButshouldInotindeedbemadandfoolishtosayyeswithouthavingseenyou？WhenIhaveseenyouIcansaynowithoutwoundingyou;Icanmakesurethatyoushallnotseeme。
ThisletterhadbeensentofftheeveningbeforethedaywhentheabortivestrugglebetweenDumayandModestehadtakenplace。ThehappygirlwasimpatientlyawaitingSunday，whenhereyesweretovindicateorcondemnherheartandheractions，——asolemnmomentinthelifeofanywoman，andwhichthreemonthsofclosecommunionofsoulsnowrenderedasromanticasthemostimaginativemaidencouldhavewished。
Everyone，exceptthemother，hadtakenthistorporofexpectationforthecalmofinnocence。Nomatterhowfirmlyfamilylawsandreligiouspreceptsmaybind，therewillalwaysbetheClarissasandtheJulies，whosesoulslikeflowingcupso’erlapthebrimundersomespiritualpressure。Modestewasgloriousinthesavageenergywithwhichsherepressedherexuberantyouthfulhappinessandremaineddemurelyquiet。Letussayfranklythatthememoryofhersisterwasmorepotentuponherthananysocialconventions;herwillwasironintheresolvetobringnogriefuponherfatherandhermother。Butwhattumultuousheavingswerewithinherbreast！nowonderthatamotherguessedthem。
OnthefollowingdayModesteandMadameDumaytookMadameMignonaboutmid—daytoaseatinthesunamongtheflowers。Theblindwomanturnedherwanandblightedfacetowardtheocean;sheinhaledtheodorsoftheseaandtookthehandofherdaughterwhoremainedbesideher。Themotherhesitatedbetweenforgivenessandremonstranceeresheputtheimportantquestion;forshecomprehendedthegirl’sloveandrecognized，asthepretendedCanalishaddone，thatModestewasexceptionalinnature。
\"Godgrantthatyourfatherreturnintime！Ifhedelaysmuchlongerhewillfindnonebutyoutolovehim。Modeste，promisemeoncemorenevertoleavehim，\"shesaidinafondmaternaltone。
Modesteliftedhermother’shandstoherlipsandkissedthemgently，replying:\"NeedIsayitagain？\"
\"Ah，mychild！Ididthisthingmyself。Ileftmyfathertofollowmyhusband;andyetmyfatherwasallalone;Iwasallthechildhehad。
IsthatwhyGodhassopunishedme？WhatIaskofyouistomarryasyourfatherwishes，tocherishhiminyourheart，nottosacrificehimtoyourownhappiness，buttomakehimthecentreofyourhome。Beforelosingmysight，Iwrotehimallmywishes，andIknowhewillexecutethem。Ienjoinedhimtokeephispropertyintactandinhisownhands;
notthatIdistrustyou，myModeste，foramoment，butwhocanbesureofason—in—law？Ah！mydaughter，lookatme;wasIreasonable？Oneglanceoftheeyedecidedmylife。Beauty，sooftendeceitful，inmycasespoketrue;butevenwereitthesamewithyou，mypoorchild，sweartomethatyouwillletyourfatherinquireintothecharacter，thehabits，theheart，andthepreviouslifeofthemanyoudistinguishwithyourlove——if，bychance，thereissuchaman。\"
\"Iwillnevermarrywithouttheconsentofmyfather，\"answeredModeste。
\"Yousee，mydarling，\"saidMadameMignonafteralongpause，\"thatifIamdyingbyinchesthroughBettina’swrong—doing，yourfatherwouldnotsurviveyours，no，notforamoment。Iknowhim;hewouldputapistoltohishead，——therecouldbenolife，nohappinessonearthforhim。\"
Modestewalkedafewstepsawayfromhermother，butimmediatelycameback。
\"Whydidyouleaveme？\"demandedMadameMignon。
\"Youmademecry，mamma，\"answeredModeste。
\"Ah，mylittledarling，kissme。Youlovenoonehere？youhavenolover，haveyou？\"sheasked，holdingModesteonherlap，hearttoheart。
\"No，mydearmamma，\"saidthelittleJesuit。
\"Canyouswearit？\"
\"Oh，yes！\"criedModeste。
MadameMignonsaidnomore;butshestilldoubted。
\"Atleast，ifyoudochooseyourhusband，youwilltellyourfather？\"
sheresumed。
\"Ipromisedthattomysister，andtoyou，mother。WhatevildoyouthinkIcouldcommitwhileIwearthatringuponmyfingerandreadthosewords:’ThinkofBettina？’Poorsister！\"
Atthesewordsatruceofsilencecamebetweenthepair;themother’sblightedeyesrainedtearswhichModestecouldnotcheck，thoughshethrewherselfuponherknees，andcried:\"Forgiveme！oh，forgiveme，mother！\"
AtthisinstanttheexcellentDumaywascomingupthehillofIngouvilleonthedouble—quick，——afactquiteabnormalinthepresentlifeofthecashier。
ThreelettershadbroughtruintotheMignons;asingleletternowrestoredtheirfortunes。Dumayhadreceivedfromasea—captainjustarrivedfromtheChinaSeasthefollowinglettercontainingthefirstnewsofhispatronandfriend，CharlesMignon:——
ToMonsieurJeanDumay:
MyDearDumay，——Ishallquicklyfollow，barringthechancesofthevoyage，thevesselwhichcarriesthisletter。Infact，Ishouldhavetakenit，butIdidnotwishtoleavemyownshiptowhichI
amaccustomed。
Itoldyouthatnonewwastobegoodnews。Butthefirstwordsofthisletteroughttomakeyouahappyman。Ihavemadesevenmillionsattheleast。Iambringingbackalargepartofitinindigo，onethirdinsafeLondonsecurities，andanotherthirdingoodsolidgold。YourremittanceshelpedmetomakethesumIhadsettledinmyownmindmuchsoonerthanIexpected。Iwantedtwomillionsformydaughtersandacompetenceformyself。
IhavebeenengagedintheopiumtradewiththelargesthousesinCanton，alltentimesricherthaneverIwas。Youhavenoidea，inEurope，whattheserichEastIndiamerchantsare。IwenttoAsiaMinorandpurchasedopiumatlowprices，andfromthencetoCantonwhereIdeliveredmycargoestothecompanieswhocontrolthetrade。MylastexpeditionwastothePhilippineIslandswhereI
exchangedopiumforindigoofthefirstquality。Infact，ImayhavehalfamillionmorethanIstated，forIreckonedtheindigoatwhatitcostme。Ihavealwaysbeenwellinhealth;nottheslightestillness。Thatistheresultofworkingforone’schildren。SincethesecondyearIhaveownedaprettylittlebrigofsevenhundredtons，calledthe\"Mignon。\"Sheisbuiltofoak，double—planked，andcopper—fastened;andalltheinteriorfittingsweredonetosuitme。Sheis，infact，anadditionalpieceofproperty。
Asea—lifeandtheactivehabitsrequiredbymybusinesshavekeptmeingoodhealth。Totellyouallthisisthesameastellingittomytwodaughtersandmydearwife。ItrustthatthewretchedmanwhotookawaymyBettinadesertedherwhenheheardofmyruin;andthatIshallfindthepoorlostlambattheChalet。MythreedearwomenandmyDumay！Allfourofyouhavebeeneverpresentinmythoughtsforthelastthreeyears。Youarearichman，now，Dumay。Yourshare，outsideofmyownfortune，amountstofivehundredandsixtythousandfrancs，forwhichIsendyouherewithacheck，whichcanonlybepaidtoyouinpersonbytheMongenods，whohavebeendulyadvisedfromNewYork。
Afewshortmonths，andIshallseeyouallagain，andallwell，I
trust。MydearDumay，ifIwritethislettertoyouitisbecauseIamanxioustokeepmyfortuneasecretforthepresent。I
thereforeleavetoyouthehappinessofpreparingmydearangelsformyreturn。Ihavehadenoughofcommerce;andIamresolvedtoleaveHavre。MyintentionistobuybacktheestateofLaBastie，andtoentailit，soastoestablishanestateyieldingatleastahundredthousandfrancsayear，andthentoaskthekingtograntthatoneofmysons—in—lawmaysucceedtomynameandtitle。Youknow，mypoorDumay，whataterriblemisfortuneovertookusthroughthefatalreputationofalargefortune，——mydaughter’shonorwaslost。Ihavethereforeresolvedthattheamountofmypresentfortuneshallnotbeknown。IshallnotdisembarkatHavre，butatMarseilles。Ishallsellmyindigo，andnegotiateforthepurchaseofLaBastiethroughthehouseofMongenodinParis。IshallputmyfundsintheBankofFranceandreturntotheChaletgivingoutthatIhaveaconsiderablefortuneinmerchandise。Mydaughterswillbesupposedtohavetwoorthreehundredthousandfrancs。Tochoosewhichofmysons—in—lawisworthytosucceedtomytitleandestatesandtolivewithus，isnowtheobjectofmylife;butbothofthemmustbe，likeyouandme，honest，loyal，andfirmmen，andabsolutelyhonorable。
Mydearoldfellow，Ihaveneverdoubtedyouforamoment。Wehavegonethroughwarsandcommercetogetherandnowwewillundertakeagriculture;youshallbemybailiff。Youwilllikethat，willyounot？Andso，oldfriend，Ileaveittoyourdiscretiontotellwhatyouthinkbesttomywifeanddaughters;Irelyuponyourprudence。Infouryearsgreatchangesmayhavetakenplaceintheircharacters。
Adieu，myoldDumay。SaytomydaughtersandtomywifethatI
haveneverfailedtokisstheminmythoughtsmorningandeveningsinceIleftthem。Thesecondcheckforfortythousandfrancsherewithenclosedisformywifeandchildren。
Tillwemeet。——Yourcolonelandfriend，CharlesMignon。
\"Yourfatheriscoming，\"saidMadameMignontoherdaughter。
\"Whatmakesyouthinkso，mamma？\"askedModeste。
\"NothingelsecouldmakeDumayhurryhimself。\"
\"Victory！victory！\"criedthelieutenantassoonashereachedthegardengate。\"Madame，thecolonelhasnotbeenillamoment;heiscomingback——comingbackonthe’Mignon，’afineshipofhisown，whichtogetherwithitscargoisworth，hetellsme，eightorninehundredthousandfrancs。Butherequiressecrecyfromallofus;hisheartisstillwrungbythemisfortunesofourdeardepartedgirl。\"
\"Hehasstilltolearnherdeath，\"saidMadameMignon。
\"Heattributesherdisaster，andIthinkheisright，totherapacityofyoungmenaftergreatfortunes。Mypoorcolonelexpectstofindthelostsheephere。Letusbehappyamongourselvesbutsaynothingtoanyone，noteventoLatournelle，ifthatispossible。Mademoiselle，\"
hewhisperedinModeste’sear，\"writetoyourfatherandtellhimofhislossandalsotheterribleresultsonyourmother’shealthandeyesight;preparehimfortheshockhehastomeet。IwillengagetogettheletterintohishandsbeforehereachesHavre，forhewillhavetopassthroughParisonhisway。Writehimalongletter;youhaveplentyoftime。IwilltaketheletteronMonday;MondayIshallprobablygotoParis。\"
ModestewassoafraidthatCanalisandDumaywouldmeetthatshestartedhastilyforthehousetowritetoherpoetandputofftherendezvous。
\"Mademoiselle，\"saidDumay，inaveryhumblemannerandbarringModeste’sway，\"mayyourfatherfindhisdaughterwithnootherfeelingsinherheartthanthoseshehadforhimandforhermotherbeforehewasobligedtoleaveher。\"
\"Ihavesworntomyself，tomysister，andtomymothertobethejoy，theconsolation，andthegloryofmyfather，andISHALLKEEPMY
OATH！\"repliedModestewithahaughtyanddisdainfulglanceatDumay。
\"Donottroublemydelightinthethoughtofmyfather’sreturnwithinsultingsuspicions。Youcannotpreventagirl’sheartfrombeating——
youdon’twantmetobeamummy，doyou？\"shesaid。\"Myhandbelongstomyfamily，butmyheartismyown。IfIloveanyone，myfatherandmymotherwillknowit。Doesthatsatisfyyou，monsieur？\"
\"Thankyou，mademoiselle;yourestoremetolife，\"saidDumay，\"butyoumightstillcallmeDumay，evenwhenyouboxmyears！\"
\"Sweartome，\"saidhermother，\"thatyouhavenotengagedawordoralookwithanyyoungman。\"
\"Icanswearthat，mydearmother，\"saidModeste，laughing，andlookingatDumaywhowaswatchingherandsmilingtohimselflikeamischievousgirl。
\"Shemustbefalseindeedifyouareright，\"criedDumay，whenModestehadleftthemandgoneintothehouse。
\"MydaughterModestemayhavefaults，\"saidhermother，\"butfalsehoodisnotoneofthem;sheisincapableofsayingwhatisnottrue。\"
\"Well！thenletusfeeleasy，\"continuedDumay，\"andbelievethatmisfortunehasclosedhisaccountwithus。\"
\"Godgrantit！\"answeredMadameMignon。\"YouwillseeHIM，Dumay;butIshallonlyhearhim。Thereismuchofsadnessinmyjoy。\"
CHAPTERXII
ADECLARATIONOFLOVE，——SETTOMUSIC
AtthismomentModeste，happyasshewasinthereturnofherfather，was，nevertheless，pacingherroomdisconsolateasPerretteonseeinghereggsbroken。ShehadhopedherfatherwouldbringbackamuchlargerfortunethanDumayhadmentioned。Nothingcouldsatisfyhernew—foundambitiononbehalfofherpoetlessthanatleasthalfthesixmillionsshehadtalkedofinhersecondletter。Treblyagitatedbyhertwojoysandthegriefcausedbyhercomparativepoverty，sheseatedherselfatthepiano，thatconfidantofsomanyyounggirls，whotellouttheirwishesandprovocationsonthekeys，expressingthembythenotesandtonesoftheirmusic。Dumaywastalkingwithhiswifeinthegardenunderthewindows，tellingherthesecretoftheirownwealth，andquestioningherastoherdesiresandherintentions。
MadameDumayhad，likeherhusband，nootherfamilythantheMignons。
Husbandandwifeagreed，therefore，togoandliveinProvence，iftheComtedeLaBastiereallymeanttoliveinProvence，andtoleavetheirmoneytowhicheverofModeste’schildrenmightneeditmost。
\"ListentoModeste，\"saidMadameMignon，addressingthem。\"Nonebutagirlinlovecancomposesuchairswithouthavingstudiedmusic。\"
Housesmayburn，fortunesbeengulfed，fathersreturnfromdistantlands，empiresmaycrumbleaway，thecholeramayravagecities，butamaiden’slovewingsitswayasnaturepursueshers，orthatalarmingacidwhichchemistryhaslatelydiscovered，andwhichwillpresentlyeatthroughtheglobe，ifnothingstopsit。
Modeste，undertheinspirationofherpresentsituation，wasputtingtomusiccertainstanzaswhichwearecompelledtoquotehere——albeittheyareprintedinthesecondvolumeoftheeditionDauriathadmentioned——because，inordertoadaptthemtohermusic，whichhadtheinexpressiblecharmofsentimentsoadmiredingreatsingers，Modestehadtakenlibertieswiththelinesinamannerthatmayastonishtheadmirersofapoetsofamousforthecorrectness，sometimestooprecise，ofhismeasures。
THEMAIDEN’SSONG
Hear，arise！thelarkisshakingSunlitwingsthatheavenwardrise;
Sleepnomore;theviolet，waking，Waftsherincensetotheskies。
Flowersrevived，theireyesunclosing，SeethemselvesindropsofdewIneachcalyx—cupreposing，——
Pearlsofadaytheirmirrortrue。
Breezedivine，thegodofroses，Passedbynighttoblesstheirbloom;
See！forhimeachbuduncloses，Glows，andyieldsitsrichperfume。
Thenarise！thelarkisshakingSunlitwingsthatheavenwardrise;
Noughtissleeping——Heart，awaking，Liftthineincensetotheskies。
\"Itisverypretty，\"saidMadameDumay。\"Modesteisamusician，andthat’sthewholeofit。\"
\"Thedevilisinher！\"criedthecashier，intowhoseheartthesuspicionofthemotherforceditswayandmadehimshiver。
\"Sheloves，\"persistedMadameMignon。
Bysucceeding，throughtheundeniabletestimonyofthesong，inmakingthecashierasharerinherbeliefastothestateofModeste’sheart，MadameMignondestroyedthehappinessthereturnandtheprosperityofhismasterhadbroughthim。ThepoorBretonwentdownthehilltoHavreandtohisdeskinGobenheim’scounting—roomwithaheavyheart;
then，beforereturningtodinner，hewenttoseeLatournelle，totellhisfears，andbegoncemoreforthenotary’sadviceandassistance。
\"Yes，mydearfriend，\"saidDumay，whentheypartedonthestepsofthenotary’sdoor，\"Inowagreewithmadame;sheloves，——yes，Iamsureofit;andthedevilknowstherest。Iamdishonored。\"
\"Don’tmakeyourselfunhappy，Dumay，\"answeredthelittlenotary。
\"Amongusallwecansurelygetthebetterofthelittlepuss;soonerorlater，everygirlinlovebetraysherself，——youmaybesureofthat。Butwewilltalkaboutitthisevening。\"
ThusithappenedthatallthosedevotedtotheMignonfamilywerefullyasdisquietedanduncertainastheywerebeforetheoldsoldiertriedtheexperimentwhichheexpectedwouldbesodecisive。Theill—
successofhispasteffortssostimulatedDumay’ssenseofduty，thathedeterminednottogotoParistoseeafterhisownfortuneasannouncedbyhispatron，untilhehadguessedtheriddleofModeste’sheart。Thesefriends，towhomfeelingsweremorepreciousthaninterests，wellknewthatunlessthedaughterwerepureandinnocent，thefatherwoulddieofgriefwhenhecametoknowthedeathofBettinaandtheblindnessofhiswife。ThedistressofpoorDumaymadesuchanimpressionontheLatournellesthattheyevenforgottheirpartingwithExupere，whomtheyhadsentoffthatmorningtoParis。
Duringdinner，whilethethreewerealone，MonsieurandMadameLatournelleandButschaturnedtheproblemoverandoverintheirminds，anddiscussedeveryaspectofit。
\"IfModestelovedanyoneinHavreshewouldhaveshownsomefearyesterday，\"saidMadameLatournelle;\"herlover，therefore，livessomewhereelse。\"
\"Shesworetohermotherthismorning，\"saidthenotary，\"inpresenceofDumay，thatshehadnotexchangedalookorawordwithanylivingsoul。\"
\"Thenshelovesaftermyfashion！\"exclaimedButscha。
\"Andhowisthat，mypoorlad？\"askedMadameLatournelle。
\"Madame，\"saidthelittlecripple，\"Ilovealoneandafar——oh！asfarasfromheretothestars。\"
\"Howdoyoumanageit，yousillyfellow？\"saidMadameLatournelle，laughing。
\"Ah，madame！\"saidButscha，\"whatyoucallmyhumpisthesocketofmywings。\"
\"Sothatistheexplanationofyourseal，isit？\"criedthenotary。
Butscha’ssealwasastar，andunderitthewords\"Fulgens，sequar，\"——
\"ShiningOne，Ifollowthee，\"——themottoofthehouseofChastillonest。
\"Abeautifulwomanmayfeelasdistrustfulastheugliest，\"saidButscha，asifspeakingtohimself;\"Modesteiscleverenoughtofearshemaybelovedonlyforherbeauty。\"
Hunchbacksareextraordinarycreations，dueentirelytosocietyfor，accordingtoNature’splan，feebleorabortedbeingsoughttoperish。
Thecurvatureordistortionofthespinalcolumncreatesintheseoutwardlydeformedsubjectsasitwereastorage—battery，wherethenervecurrentsaccumulatemoreabundantlythanundernormalconditions，——wheretheydevelop，andwhencetheyareemitted，sotosay，inlightningflashes，toenergizetheinteriorbeing。Fromthis，forcesresultwhicharesometimesbroughttolightbymagnetism，thoughtheyarefarmorefrequentlylostinthevaguespacesofthespiritualworld。Itisraretofindadeformedpersonwhoisnotgiftedwithsomespecialfaculty，——awhimsicalorsparklinggaietyperhaps，anuttermalignity，oranalmostsublimegoodness。Likeinstrumentswhichthehandofartcanneverfullywaken，thesebeings，highlyprivilegedthoughtheyknowitnot，livewithinthemselves，asButschalived，providedtheirnaturalforcessomagnificentlyconcentratedhavenotbeenspentinthestruggletheyhavebeenforcedtomaintain，againsttremendousodds，tokeepalive。Thisexplainsmanysuperstitions，thepopularlegendsofgnomes，frightfuldwarfs，deformedfairies，——allthatraceofbottles，asRabelaiscalledthem，containingelixirsandpreciousbalms。
Butscha，therefore，hadverynearlyfoundthekeytothepuzzle。Withalltheanxioussolicitudeofahopelesslover，avassaleverreadytodie，——likethesoldiersaloneandabandonedinthesnowsofRussia，whostillcriedout，\"LonglivetheEmperor，\"——hemeditatedhowtocaptureModeste’ssecretforhisownprivateknowledge。Sothinking，hefollowedhispatronstotheChaletthatevening，withacloudofcareuponhisbrow:forheknewitwasmostimportanttohidefromallthesewatchfuleyesandearsthenet，whateveritmightbe，inwhichheshouldentraphislady。Itwouldhavetobe，hethought，bysomeinterceptedglance，somesuddenstartorquiver，aswhenasurgeonlayshisfingeronahiddensore。ThateveningGobenheimdidnotappear，andButschawasDumay’spartneragainstMonsieurandMadameLatournelle。Duringthefewmoment’sofModeste’sabsence，aboutnineo’clock，toprepareforhermother’sbedtime，MadameMignonandherfriendsspokeopenlytooneanother;butthepoorclerk，depressedbytheconvictionofModeste’slove，whichhadnowseizeduponhimasupontherest，seemedasremotefromthediscussionasGobenheimhadbeenthenightbefore。
\"Well，what’sthematterwithyou，Butscha？\"criedMadameLatournelle;
\"onewouldreallythinkyouhadn’tafriendintheworld。\"
Tearsshoneintheeyesofthepoorfellow，whowasthesonofaSwedishsailor，andwhosemotherwasdead。
\"Ihavenooneintheworldbutyou，\"heansweredwithatroubledvoice;\"andyourcompassionissomuchapartofyourreligionthatI
canneverloseit——andIwillneverdeservetoloseit。\"
Thisanswerstruckthesensitivechordoftruedelicacyinthemindsofallpresent。
\"Weloveyou，MonsieurButscha，\"saidMadameMignon，withmuchfeelinginhervoice。
\"I’vesixhundredthousandfrancsofmyown，thisday，\"criedDumay，\"andyoushallbeanotaryandthesuccessorofLatournelle。\"
TheAmericanwifetookthehandofthepoorhunchbackandpressedit。
\"What！youhavesixhundredthousandfrancs！\"exclaimedLatournelle，prickinguphisearsasDumayletfallthewords;\"andyouallowtheseladiestoliveastheydo！Modesteoughttohaveafinehorse;andwhydoesn’tshecontinuetotakelessonsinmusic，andpainting，and——\"
\"Why，hehasonlyhadthemoneyafewhours！\"criedthelittlewife。
\"Hush！\"murmuredMadameMignon。
Whilethesewordswereexchanged，Butscha’saugustmistressturnedtowardshim，preparingtomakeaspeech:——
\"Myson，\"shesaid，\"youaresosurroundedbytrueaffectionthatI
neverthoughthowmythoughtlessuseofthatfamiliarphrasemightbeconstrued;butyoumustthankmeformylittleblunder，becauseithasservedtoshowyouwhatfriendsyournoblequalitieshavewon。\"
\"ThenyoumusthavenewsfromMonsieurMignon，\"resumedthenotary。
\"Heisonhiswayhome，\"saidMadameMignon;\"butletuskeepthesecrettoourselves。WhenmyhusbandlearnshowfaithfulButschahasbeentous，howhehasshownusthewarmestandthemostdisinterestedfriendshipwhenothershavegivenusthecoldshoulder，hewillnotletyoualoneprovideforhim，Dumay。Andso，myfriend，\"sheadded，turningherblindfacetowardButscha;\"youcanbeginatoncetonegotiatewithLatournelle。\"
\"He’soflegalage，twenty—fiveandahalfyears。Asforme，itwillbepayingadebt，myboy，tomakethepurchaseeasyforyou，\"saidthenotary。
ButschawaskissingMadameMignon’shand，andhisfacewaswetwithtearsasModesteopenedthedoorofthesalon。
\"WhatareyoudoingtomyBlackDwarf？\"shedemanded。\"Whoismakinghimunhappy？\"
\"Ah！MademoiselleMignon，dowelucklessfellows，cradledinmisfortune，everweepforgrief？TheyhavejustshownmeasmuchaffectionasIcouldfeelforthemiftheywereindeedmyownrelations。I’mtobeanotary;Ishallberich。Ha！ha！thepoorButschamaybecometherichButscha。Youdon’tknowwhataudacitythereisinthisabortion，\"hecried。
