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。
