Bydintofreflectingonhispositionasanunfortunateanddespisedlover，ErnestwentthroughsomethingofthesameprocessasModeste’sfirstletterhadforceduponhim。Thoughsorrowissaidtodevelopvirtue，itonlydevelopsitinvirtuouspersons;thatcleaning—outoftheconsciencetakesplaceonlyinpersonswhoarebynatureclean。LaBrierevowedtoendurehissufferingsinSpartansilence，toactworthily，andgivewaytonobaseness;whileCanalis，fascinatedbytheenormous\"dot，\"wastellinghimselftotakeeverymeansofcaptivatingtheheiress。Selfishnessanddevotion，thekey—notesofthetwocharacters，thereforetook，bytheactionofamorallawwhichisoftenveryoddinitseffects，certainmeasuresthatwerecontrarytotheirrespectivenatures。Theselfishmanputonself—abnegation;
themanwhothoughtchieflyofotherstookrefugeontheAventinusofpride。Thatphenomenonisoftenseeninpoliticallife。Menfrequentlyturntheircharacterswrongsideout，anditsometimeshappensthatthepublicisunabletotellwhichistherightside。
Afterdinnerthetwofriendsheardofthearrivalofthegrandequerry，whowaspresentedattheChaletthesameeveningbyLatournelle。Mademoiselled’Herouvillehadcontrivedtowoundthatworthymanbysendingafootmentotellhimtocometoher，insteadofsendinghernephewinperson;thusdeprivingthenotaryofadistinguishedvisithewouldcertainlyhavetalkedaboutfortherestofhisnaturallife。SoLatournellecurtlyinformedthegrandequerry，whenheproposedtodrivehimtotheChalet，thathewasengagedtotakeMadameLatournelle。Guessingfromthelittleman’ssulkymannerthattherewassomeblundertorepair，thedukesaidgraciously:——
\"ThenIshallhavethepleasure，ifyouwillallowme，oftakingMadameLatournellealso。\"
DisregardingMademoiselled’Herouville’shaughtyshrug，thedukelefttheroomwiththenotary。MadameLatournelle，half—crazedwithjoyatseeingthegorgeouscarriageatherdoor，withfootmeninroyalliverylettingdownthesteps，wastooagitatedonhearingthatthegrandequerryhadcalledforher，tofindhergloves，herparasol，herabsurdity，orherusualairofpompousdignity。Onceinthecarriage，however，andwhileexpressingconfusedthanksandcivilitiestothelittleduke，shesuddenlyexclaimed，fromathoughtinherkindheart，——
\"ButButscha，whereishe？\"
\"LetustakeButscha，\"saidtheduke，smiling。
Whenthepeopleonthequays，attractedingroupsbythesplendoroftheroyalequipage，sawthefunnyspectacle，thethreelittlemenwiththesparegiganticwoman，theylookedatoneanotherandlaughed。
\"Ifyoumeltallthreetogether，theymightmakeonemanfittomatewiththatbigcod—fish，\"saidasailorfromBordeaux。
\"Isthereanyotherthingyouwouldliketotakewithyou，madame？\"
askedtheduke，jestingly，whilethefootmanawaitedhisorders。
\"No，monseigneur，\"shereplied，turningscarletandlookingatherhusbandasmuchastosay，\"WhatdidIdowrong？\"
\"MonsieurleduchonorsmebyconsideringthatIamathing，\"saidButscha;\"apoorclerkisusuallythoughttobeanonentity。\"
Thoughthiswassaidwithalaugh，thedukecoloredanddidnotanswer。Greatpeoplearetoblameforjokingwiththeirsocialinferiors。Jestingisagame，andgamespresupposeequality;itistoobviateanyinconvenientresultsofthistemporaryequalitythatplayershavetheright，afterthegameisover，nottorecognizeeachother。
Thevisitofthegrandequerryhadtheostensibleexcuseofanimportantpieceofbusiness;namely，theretrievalofanimmensetractofwastelandleftbytheseabetweenthemouthsofthetworivers，whichtracthadjustbeenadjudgedbytheCouncilofStatetothehouseofHerouville。Thematterwasnothinglessthanputtingflood—
gateswithdoublebridges，drainingthreeorfourhundredacres，cuttingcanals，andlayingoutroadways。Whenthedukehadexplainedtheconditionoftheland，CharlesMignonremarkedthattimemustbeallowedforthesoil，whichwasstillmoving，tosettleandgrowsolidinanaturalway。
\"Time，whichhasprovidentiallyenrichedyourhouse，Monsieurleduc，canalonecompletethework，\"hesaid，inconclusion。\"Itwouldbeprudenttoletfiftyyearselapsebeforeyoureclaimtheland。\"
\"Donotletthatbeyourfinalword，Monsieurlecomte，\"saidtheduke。\"CometoHerouvilleandseethingsforyourself。\"
CharlesMignonrepliedthateverycapitalistshouldtaketimetoexamineintosuchmatterswithacoolhead，thusgivingthedukeapretextforhisvisitstotheChalet。ThesightofModestemadealivelyimpressionontheyoungman，andheaskedthefavorofreceivingheratHerouvillewithherfather，sayingthathissisterandhisaunthadheardmuchofher，andwishedtomakeheracquaintance。Onthisthecountproposedtopresenthisdaughtertothoseladieshimself，andinvitedthewholepartytodinneronthedayofhisreturntothevilla。Thedukeacceptedtheinvitation。Theblueribbon，thetitle，andaboveall，theecstaticglancesofthenoblegentlemanhadaneffectuponModeste;butsheappearedtogreatadvantageincarriage，dignity，andconversation。Thedukewithdrewreluctantly，carryingwithhimaninvitationtovisittheChaleteveryevening，——aninvitationbasedontheimpossibilityofacourtierofCharlesX。existingforasingleeveningwithouthisrubber。
Thefollowingevening，therefore，Modestewastoseeallthreeofherlovers。Nomatterwhatyounggirlsmaysay，andthoughthelogicoftheheartmayleadthemtosacrificeeverythingtopreference，itisextremelyflatteringtotheirself—lovetoseeanumberofrivaladorersaroundthem，——distinguishedorcelebratedmen，ormenofancientlineage，——allendeavoringtoshineandtoplease。SufferasModestemayingeneralestimation，itmustbetoldshesubsequentlyadmittedthatthesentimentsexpressedinherletterspaledbeforethepleasureofseeingthreesuchdifferentmindsatwarwithoneanother，——threemenwho，takenseparately，wouldeachhavedonehonortothemostexactingfamily。Yetthisluxuryofself—lovewascheckedbyamisanthropicalspitefulness，resultingfromtheterriblewoundshehadreceived，——althoughbythistimeshewasbeginningtothinkofthatwoundasadisappointmentonly。Sowhenherfathersaidtoher，laughing，\"Well，Modeste，doyouwanttobeaduchess？\"sheanswered，withamockingcurtsey，——
\"Sorrowshavemademephilosophical。\"
\"Doyoumeantobeonlyabaroness？\"askedButscha。
\"Oraviscountess？\"saidherfather。
\"Howcouldthatbe？\"sheaskedquickly。
\"IfyouacceptMonsieurdeLaBriere，hehasenoughmeritandinfluencetoobtainpermissionfromthekingtobearmytitlesandarms。\"
\"Oh，ifitcomestodisguisinghimself，HEwillnotmakeanydifficulty，\"saidModeste，scornfully。
Butschadidnotunderstandthisepigram，whosemeaningcouldonlybeguessedbyMonsieurandMadameMignonandDumay。
\"Whenitisaquestionofmarriage，allmendisguisethemselves，\"
remarkedLatournelle，\"andwomensetthemtheexample。I’vehearditsaideversinceIcameintotheworldthat’MonsieurthisorMademoisellethathasmadeagoodmarriage，’——meaningthattheothersidehadmadeabadone。\"
\"Marriage，\"saidButscha，\"islikealawsuit;there’salwaysonesidediscontented。Ifonedupestheother，certainlyhalfthehusbandsintheworldareplayingacomedyattheexpenseoftheotherhalf。\"
\"Fromwhichyouconclude，SieurButscha？\"inquiredModeste。
\"Topaytheutmostattentiontothemanoeuvresoftheenemy，\"answeredtheclerk。
\"WhatdidItellyou，mydarling？\"saidCharlesMignon，alludingtotheirconversationontheseashore。
\"Menplayasmanypartstogetmarriedasmothersmaketheirdaughtersplaytogetridofthem，\"saidLatournelle。
\"Thenyouapproveofstratagems？\"saidModeste。
\"Onbothsides，\"criedGobenheim，\"andthatbringsiteven。\"
Thisconversationwascarriedonbyfitsandstarts，astheysay，intheintervalsofcuttinganddealingthecards;anditsoonturnedchieflyonthemeritsoftheDucd’Herouville，whowasthoughtverygood—lookingbylittleLatournelle，littleDumay，andlittleButscha。
Withouttheforegoingdiscussiononthelawfulnessofmatrimonialtricks，thereadermightpossiblyfindtheforthcomingaccountoftheeveningsoimpatientlyawaitedbyButscha，somewhattoolong。
Desplein，thefamoussurgeon，arrivedthenextmorning，andstayedonlylongenoughtosendtoHavreforfreshhorsesandhavethemput—
to，whichtookaboutanhour。AfterexaminingMadameMignon’seyes，hedecidedthatshecouldrecoverhersight，andfixedasuitabletime，amonthlater，toperformtheoperation。ThisimportantconsultationtookplacebeforetheassembledmembersoftheChalet，whostoodtremblingandexpectanttoheartheverdictoftheprinceofscience。
ThatillustriousmemberoftheAcademyofSciencesputaboutadozenbriefquestionstotheblindwomanasheexaminedhereyesinthestronglightfromawindow。Modestewasamazedatthevaluewhichamansocelebratedattachedtotime，whenshesawthetravelling—
carriagepiledwithbookswhichthegreatsurgeonproposedtoreadduringthejourney;forhehadleftParistheeveningbefore，andhadspentthenightinsleepingandtravelling。TherapidityandclearnessofDesplein’sjudgmentoneachanswermadebyMadameMignon，hissuccincttone，hisdecisivemanner，gaveModesteherfirstrealideaofamanofgenius。Sheperceivedtheenormousdifferencebetweenasecond—rateman，likeCanalis，andDesplein，whowasevenmorethanasuperiorman。Amanofgeniusfindsintheconsciousnessofhistalentandinthesolidityofhisfameanarenaofhisown，wherehislegitimatepridecanexpandandexerciseitselfwithoutinterferingwithothers。Moreover，hisperpetualstrugglewithmenandthingsleavethemnotimeforthecoxcombryoffashionablegenius，whichmakeshastetogatherintheharvestsofafugitiveseason，andwhosevanityandself—loveareaspettyandexactingasacustom—housewhichleviestithesonallthatcomesinitsway。
Modestewasthemoreenchantedbythisgreatpracticalgenius，becausehewasevidentlycharmedwiththeexquisitebeautyofModeste，——he，throughwhosehandssomanywomenhadpassed，andwhohadlongsinceexaminedthesex，asitwere，withmagnifierandscalpel。
\"Itwouldbeasadpity，\"hesaid，withanairofgallantrywhichheoccasionallyputon，andwhichcontrastedwithhisassumedbrusqueness，\"ifamotherweredeprivedofthesightofsocharmingadaughter。\"
Modesteinsistedonservingthesimplebreakfastwhichwasallthegreatsurgeonwouldaccept。SheaccompaniedherfatherandDumaytothecarriagestationedatthegarden—gate，andsaidtoDespleinatparting，hereyesshiningwithhope，——
\"Andwillmydearmammareallyseeme？\"
\"Yes，mylittlesprite，I’llpromiseyouthat，\"heanswered，smiling;
\"andIamincapableofdeceivingyou，forI，too，haveadaughter。\"
Thehorsesstartedandcarriedhimoffasheutteredthelastwordswithunexpectedgraceandfeeling。Nothingismorecharmingthanthepeculiarunexpectednessofpersonsoftalent。
CHAPTERXX
THEPOETDOESHISEXERCISES
Thisvisitofthegreatsurgeonwastheeventoftheday，anditleftaluminoustraceinModeste’ssoul。Theyoungenthusiastardentlyadmiredthemanwhoselifebelongedtoothers，andinwhomthehabitofstudyingphysicalsufferinghaddestroyedthemanifestationsofegoism。Thatevening，whenGobenheim，theLatournelles，andButscha，Canalis，Ernest，andtheDucd’Herouvilleweregatheredinthesalon，theyallcongratulatedtheMignonfamilyonthehopeswhichDespleinencouraged。Theconversation，inwhichtheModesteofherletterswasoncemoreintheascendant，turnednaturallyonthemanwhosegenius，unfortunatelyforhisfame，wasappreciableonlybythefacultyandmenofscience。Gobenheimcontributedaphrasewhichisthesacredchrismofgeniusasinterpretedinthesedaysbypubliceconomistsandbankers，——
\"Hemakesamintofmoney。\"
\"Theysayheisverygrasping，\"addedCanalis。
ThepraiseswhichModesteshoweredonDespleinhadannoyedthepoet。
Vanityactslikeawoman，——theyboththinktheyaredefraudedwhenloveorpraiseisbestowedonothers。VoltairewasjealousofthewitofarouewhomParisadmiredfortwodays;andevenaduchesstakesoffenceatalookbestoweduponhermaid。Theavariceexcitedbythesetwosentimentsissuchthatafractionofthemgiventothepooristhoughtrobbery。
\"Doyouthink，monsieur，\"saidModeste，smiling，\"thatweshouldjudgegeniusbyordinarystandards？\"
\"Perhapsweoughtfirstofalltodefinethemanofgenius，\"repliedCanalis。\"Oneoftheconditionsofgeniusisinvention，——inventionofaform，asystem，aforce。Napoleonwasaninventor，apartfromhisotherconditionsofgenius。Heinventedhismethodofmakingwar。
WalterScottisaninventor，Linnaeusisaninventor，GeoffreySaint—
HilaireandCuvierareinventors。Suchmenaremenofgeniusofthefirstrank。Theyrenew，increase，ormodifybothscienceandart。ButDespleinismerelyamanwhosevasttalentconsistsinproperlyapplyinglawsalreadyknown;inobserving，bymeansofanaturalgift，thelimitslaiddownforeachtemperament，andthetimeappointedbyNatureforanoperation。Hehasnotfounded，likeHippocrates，thescienceitself。Hehasinventednosystem，asdidGalen，Broussais，andRasori。Heismerelyanexecutivegenius，likeMoschelesonthepiano，Paganiniontheviolin，orFarinellionhisownlarynx，——menwhohavedevelopedenormousfaculties，butwhohavenotcreatedmusic。
YoumustpermitmetodiscriminatebetweenBeethovenandlaCatalani:
toonebelongstheimmortalcrownofgeniusandofmartyrdom，totheotherinnumerablefive—francpieces;onewecanpayincoin，buttheworldremainsthroughoutalltimeadebtortotheother。EachdayincreasesourdebttoMoliere，butBaron’scomedieshavebeenoverpaid。\"
\"Ithinkyoumaketheprerogativeofideastooexclusive，\"saidErnestdeLaBriere，inaquietandmelodiousvoice，whichformedasuddencontrasttotheperemptorytonesofthepoet，whoseflexibleorganhadabandoneditscaressingnotesforthestridentandmagisterialvoiceoftherostrum。\"Geniusmustbeestimatedaccordingtoitsutility;
andParmentier，whobroughtpotatoesintogeneraluse，Jacquart，theinventorofsilklooms;Papin，whofirstdiscoveredtheelasticqualityofsteam，aremenofgenius，towhomstatueswillsomedaybeerected。Theyhavechanged，ortheywillchangeinacertainsense，thefaceoftheState。ItisinthatsensethatDespleinwillalwaysbeconsideredamanofgeniusbythinkers;theyseehimattendedbyagenerationofsuffererswhosepainsarestifledbyhishand。\"
ThatErnestshouldgiveutterancetothisopinionwasenoughtomakeModesteopposeit。
\"Ifthatbeso，monsieur，\"shesaid，\"thenthemanwhocoulddiscoverawaytomowwheatwithoutinjuringthestraw，byamachinethatcoulddotheworkoftenmen，wouldbeamanofgenius。\"
\"Yes，mydaughter，\"saidMadameMignon;\"andthepoorwouldblesshimforcheaperbread，——hethatisblessedbythepoorisblessedofGod。\"
\"Thatisputtingutilityaboveart，\"saidModeste，shakingherhead。
\"Withoututilitywhatwouldbecomeofart？\"saidCharlesMignon。\"Whatwoulditreston？whatwoulditliveon？Wherewouldyoulodge，andhowwouldyoupaythepoet？\"
\"Oh！mydearpapa，suchopinionsarefearfullyflatandantediluvian！
IamnotsurprisedthatGobenheimandMonsieurdeLaBriere，whoareinterestedinthesolutionofsocialproblemsshouldthinkso;butyou，whoselifehasbeenthemostuselesspoetryofthecentury，——
uselessbecausethebloodyoushedalloverEurope，andthehorriblesufferingsexactedbyyourcolossus，didnotpreventFrancefromlosingtendepartmentsacquiredundertheRevolution，——howcanYOU
giveintosuchexcessivelypig—tailnotions，astheidealistssay？Itisplainyou’vejustcomefromChina。\"
TheimpertinenceofModeste’sspeechwasheightenedbyalittleairofcontemptuousdisdainwhichshepurposelyputon，andwhichfairlyastoundedMadameMignon，MadameLatournelle，andDumay。AsforMadameLatournelle，sheopenedhereyessowideshenolongersawanything。
Butscha，whosealertattentionwascomparabletothatofaspy，lookedatMonsieurMignon，expectingtoseehimflushwithsuddenandviolentindignation。
\"Alittlemore，younglady，andyouwillbewantinginrespectforyourfather，\"saidthecolonel，smiling，andnoticingButscha’slook。
\"Seewhatitistospoilone’schildren！\"
\"Iamyouronlychild，\"shesaidsaucily。
\"Child，indeed，\"remarkedthenotary，significantly。
\"Monsieur，\"saidModeste，turninguponhim，\"myfatherisdelightedtohavemeforhisgoverness;hegavemelifeandIgivehimknowledge;
hewillsoonowemesomething。\"
\"Thereseemsoccasionforit，\"saidMadameMignon。
\"Butmademoiselleisright，\"saidCanalis，risingandstandingbeforethefireplaceinoneofthefinestattitudesofhiscollection。\"God，inhisprovidence，hasgivenfoodandclothingtoman，buthehasnotdirectlygivenhimart。Hesaystoman:’Tolive，thoumustbowthyselftoearth;tothink，thoushaltliftthyselftoMe。’Wehaveasmuchneedofthelifeofthesoulasofthelifeofthebody，——hence，therearetwoutilities。Itistruewecannotbeshodbybooksorclothedbypoems。Anepicsongisnot，ifyoutaketheutilitarianview，asusefulasthebrothofacharitykitchen。Thenoblestideaswillnotsailavesselinplaceofcanvas。Itisquitetruethatthecotton—gingivesuscalicoesforthirtysousayardlessthanweeverpaidbefore;butthatmachineandallotherindustrialperfectionswillnotbreathethebreathoflifeintoapeople，willnottellfuturityofacivilizationthatonceexisted。Art，onthecontrary，Egyptian，Mexican，Grecian，Romanart，withtheirmasterpieces——nowcalleduseless！——revealtheexistenceofracesbackinthevagueimmenseoftime，beyondwherethegreatintermediarynations，denudedofmenofgenius，havedisappeared，leavingnotalinenoratracebehindthem！Theworksofgeniusarethe’summum’ofcivilization，andpresupposeutility。Surelyapairofbootsarenotasagreeabletoyoureyesasafineplayatthetheatre;andyoudon’tpreferawindmilltothechurchofSaint—Ouen，doyou？Wellthen，nationsareimbuedwiththesamefeelingsastheindividualman，andtheman’scherisheddesireistosurvivehimselfmorallyjustashepropagateshimselfphysically。Thesurvivalofapeopleistheworkofitsmenofgenius。AtthisverymomentFranceisproving，energetically，thetruthofthattheory。Sheis，undoubtedly，excelledbyEnglandincommerce，industry，andnavigation，andyetsheis，Ibelieve，attheheadoftheworld，——byreasonofherartists，hermenoftalent，andthegoodtasteofherproducts。ThereisnoartistandnosuperiorintellectthatdoesnotcometoParisforadiploma。ThereisnoschoolofpaintingatthismomentbutthatofFrance;andweshallreignfarlongerandperhapsmoresecurelybyourbooksthanbyourswords。InLaBriere’ssystem，ontheotherhand，allthatisgloriousandlovelymustbesuppressed，——woman’sbeauty，music，painting，poetry。Societywillnotbeoverthrown，thatistrue，but，Iaskyou，whowouldwillinglyacceptsuchalife？Allusefulthingsareuglyandforbidding。Akitchenisindispensable，butyoutakecarenottositthere;youliveinthesalon，whichyouadorn，likethis，withsuperfluousthings。OfwhatUSE，letmeaskyou，arethesecharmingwall—paintings，thiscarvedwood—work？Thereisnothingbeautifulbutthatwhichseemstoususeless。WecalledthesixteenthcenturytheRenascencewithadmirabletruthoflanguage。Thatcenturywasthedawnofanewera。Menwillcontinuetospeakofitwhenallremembranceofanteriorcenturieshadpassedaway，——theironlymeritbeingthattheyonceexisted，likethemillionbeingswhocountastherubbishofageneration。\"
\"Rubbish！yes，thatmaybe，butmyrubbishisdeartome，\"saidtheDucd’Herouville，laughing，duringthesilentpausewhichfollowedthepoet’spompousoration。
\"Letmeask，\"saidButscha，attackingCanalis，\"doesart，thesphereinwhich，accordingtoyou，geniusisrequiredtoevolveitself，existatall？Isitnotasplendidlie，adelusion，ofthesocialman？DoI
wantalandscapesceneofNormandyinmybedroomwhenIcanlookoutandseeabetteronedonebyGodhimself？OurdreamsmakepoemsmoregloriousthanIliads。ForaninsignificantsumofmoneyIcanfindatValogne，atCarentan，inProvence，atArles，manyaVenusasbeautifulasthoseofTitian。Thepolicegazettepublishestales，differingsomewhatfromthoseofWalterScott，butendingtragicallywithblood，notink。Happinessandvirtueexistaboveandbeyondbothartandgenius。\"
\"Bravo，Butscha！\"criedMadameLatournelle。
\"Whatdidhesay？\"askedCanalisofLaBriere，failingtogatherfromtheeyesandattitudeofMademoiselleMignontheusualsignsofartlessadmiration。
ThecontemptuousindifferencewhichModestehadexhibitedtowardLaBriere，andaboveall，herdisrespectfulspeechestoherfather，sodepressedtheyoungmanthathemadenoanswertoCanalis;hiseyes，fixedsorrowfullyonModeste，werefullofdeepmeditation。TheDucd’HerouvilletookupButscha’sargumentandreproduceditwithmuchintelligence，sayingfinallythattheecstasiesofSaint—TheresawerefarsuperiortothecreationsofLordByron。
\"Oh，Monsieurleduc，\"exclaimedModeste，\"herswasapurelypersonalpoetry，whereasthegeniusofLordByronandMolierebenefittheworld。\"
\"HowdoyousquarethatopinionwiththoseofMonsieurlebaron？\"
criedCharlesMignon，quickly。\"Nowyouareinsistingthatgeniusmustbeuseful，andbenefittheworldasthoughitwerecotton，——butperhapsyouthinklogicasantediluvianasyourpooroldfather。\"
Butscha，LaBriere，andMadameLatournelleexchangedglancesthatweremorethanhalfderisive，anddroveModestetoapitchofirritationthatkepthersilentforamoment。
\"Mademoiselle，donotmindthem，\"saidCanalis，smilinguponher，\"weareneitherbeaten，norcaughtinacontradiction。Everyworkofart，letitbeinliterature，music，painting，sculpture，orarchitecture，impliesapositivesocialutility，equaltothatofallothercommercialproducts。Artispre—eminentlycommerce;presupposesit，inshort。Anauthorpocketstenthousandfrancsforhisbook;themakingofbooksmeansthemanufactoryofpaper，afoundry，aprinting—office，abookseller，——inotherwords，theemploymentofthousandsofmen。TheexecutionofasymphonyofBeethovenoranoperabyRossinirequireshumanarmsandmachineryandmanufactures。Thecostofamonumentisanalmostbrutalcaseinpoint。Inshort，Imaysaythattheworksofgeniushaveanextremelycostlybasisandare，necessarily，usefultotheworkingman。\"
Astrideofthattheme，Canalisspokeforsomeminuteswithafineluxuryofmetaphor，andmuchinwardcomplacencyastohisphrases;butithappenedwithhim，aswithmanyanothergreatspeaker，thathefoundhimselfatlastatthepointfromwhichtheconversationstarted，andinfullagreementwithLaBrierewithoutperceivingit。
\"Iseewithmuchpleasure，mydearbaron，\"saidthelittleduke，slyly，\"thatyouwillmakeanadmirableconstitutionalminister。\"
\"Oh！\"saidCanalis，withthegestureofagreatman，\"whatistheuseofallthesediscussions？Whatdotheyprove？——theeternalverityofoneaxiom:Allthingsaretrue，allthingsarefalse。Moraltruthsaswellashumanbeingschangetheiraspectaccordingtotheirsurroundings，tothepointofbeingactuallyunrecognizable。\"
\"Societyexiststhroughsettledopinions，\"saidtheDucd’Herouville。
\"Whatlaxity！\"whisperedMadameLatournelletoherhusband。
\"Heisapoet，\"saidGobenheim，whooverheardher。
Canalis，whowastenleaguesabovetheheadsofhisaudience，andwhomayhavebeenrightinhislastphilosophicalremark，tookthesortofcoldnesswhichnowoverspreadthesurroundingfacesofasymptomofprovincialignorance;butseeingthatModesteunderstoodhim，hewascontent，beingwhollyunawarethatmonologueisparticularlydisagreeabletocountry—folk，whoseprincipaldesireitistoexhibitthemanneroflifeandthewitandwisdomoftheprovincestoParisians。
\"ItislongsinceyouhaveseentheDuchessedeChaulieu？\"askedtheduke，addressingCanalis，asiftochangetheconversation。
\"Ileftheraboutsixdaysago。\"
\"Isshewell？\"persistedtheduke。
\"Perfectlywell。\"
\"Havethekindnesstoremembermetoherwhenyouwrite。\"
\"Theysaysheischarming，\"remarkedModeste，addressingtheduke。
\"MonsieurlebaroncanspeakmoreconfidentlythanI，\"repliedthegrandequerry。
\"Morethancharming，\"saidCanalis，makingthebestoftheduke’sperfidy;\"butIampartial，mademoiselle;shehasbeenafriendtomeforthelasttenyears;Ioweallthatisgoodinmetoher;shehassavedmefromthedangersoftheworld。Moreover，MonsieurleDucdeChaulieulaunchedmeinmypresentcareer。Withouttheinfluenceofthatfamilythekingandtheprincesseswouldhaveforgottenapoorpoetlikeme;thereforemyaffectionfortheduchessmustalwaysbefullofgratitude。\"
Hisvoicequivered。
\"Weoughttolovethewomanwhohasledyoutowritethosesublimepoems，andwhoinspiresyouwithsuchnoblefeelings，\"saidModeste，quiteaffected。\"Whocanthinkofapoetwithoutamuse！\"
\"Hewouldbewithoutaheart，\"repliedCanalis。\"HewouldwritebarrenverseslikeVoltaire，whoneverlovedanyonebutVoltaire。\"
\"Ithoughtyoudidmethehonortosay，inParis，\"interruptedDumay，\"thatyouneverfeltthesentimentsyouexpressed。\"
\"Theshoefits，mysoldier，\"repliedthepoet，smiling;\"butletmetellyouthatitisquitepossibletohaveagreatdealoffeelingbothintheintellectuallifeandinreallife。Mygoodfriendhere，LaBriere，ismadlyinlove，\"continuedCanalis，withafineshowofgenerosity，lookingatModeste。\"I，whocertainlyloveasmuchashe，——thatis，IthinksounlessIdeludemyself，——well，Icangivetomylovealiteraryforminharmonywithitscharacter。ButIdarenotsay，mademoiselle，\"headded，turningtoModestewithtoostudiedagrace，\"thatto—morrowImaynotbewithoutinspiration。\"
Thusthepoettriumphedoverallobstacles。Inhonorofhisloveherodea—tiltatthehindrancesthatwerethrowninhisway，andModesteremainedwonder—struckattheParisianwitthatscintillatedinhisdeclamatorydiscourse，ofwhichshehadhithertoknownlittleornothing。
\"Whatanacrobat！\"whisperedButschatoLatournelle，afterlisteningtoamagnificenttiradeontheCatholicreligionandthehappinessofhavingapiouswife，——servedupinresponsetoaremarkbyMadameMignon。
Modeste’seyeswereblindfoldedasitwere;Canalis’selocutionandthecloseattentionwhichshewaspredeterminedtopaytohimpreventedherfromseeingthatButschawascarefullynotingthedeclamation，thewantofsimplicity，theemphasisthattooktheplaceoffeeling，andthecuriousincoherenciesinthepoet’sspeechwhichledthedwarftomakehisrathercruelcomment。AtcertainpointsofCanalis’sdiscourse，whenMonsieurMignon，Dumay，Butscha，andLatournellewonderedattheman’sutterwantoflogic，Modesteadmiredhissuppleness，andsaidtoherself，asshedraggedhimafterherthroughthelabyrinthoffancy，\"Helovesme！\"Butscha，incommonwiththeotherspectatorsofwhatwemustcallastagescene，wasstruckwiththeradiantdefectofallegoists，whichCanalis，likemanymenaccustomedtoperorate，allowedtobetooplainlyseen。Whetherheunderstoodbeforehandwhatthepersonhewasspeakingtomeanttosay，whetherhewasnotlistening，orwhetherhehadthefacultyoflisteningwhenhewasthinkingofsomethingelse，itiscertainthatMelchior’sfaceworeanabsent—mindedlookinconversation，whichdisconcertedtheideasofothersandwoundedtheirvanity。Nottolistenisnotmerelyawantofpoliteness，itisamarkofdisrespect。
