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〃One thing is evident；〃 he said to himself； 〃she hasn't six millions；
but that's not the point〃
Six days later； Modeste received the following letter：
Mademoiselle；You are not a D'Este。 The name is a feigned one to
conceal your own。 Do I owe the revelations which you solicit to a
person who is untruthful about herself？ Question for question： Are
you of an illustrious family？ or a noble family？ or a middle…class
family？ Undoubtedly ethics and morality cannot change； they are
one： but obligations vary in the different states of life。 Just as
the sun lights up a scene diversely and produces differences which
we admire； so morality conforms social duty to rank； to position。
The peccadillo of a soldier is a crime in a general； and vice…
versa。 Observances are not alike in all cases。 They are not the
same for the gleaner in the field； for the girl who sews at
fifteen sous a day； for the daughter of a petty shopkeeper； for
the young bourgoise； for the child of a rich merchant； for the
heiress of a noble family； for a daughter of the house of Este。 A
king must not stoop to pick up a piece of gold； but a laborer
ought to retrace his steps to find ten sous； though both are
equally bound to obey the laws of economy。 A daughter of Este； who
is worth six millions； has the right to wear a broad…brimmed hat
and plume； to flourish her whip； press the flanks of her barb； and
ride like an amazon decked in gold lace； with a lackey behind her；
into the presence of a poet and say： 〃I love poetry； and I would
fain expiate Leonora's cruelty to Tasso！〃 but a daughter of the
people would cover herself with ridicule by imitating her。 To what
class do you belong？ Answer sincerely； and I will answer the
question you have put to me。
As I have not the honor of knowing you personally； and yet am
bound to you； in a measure； by the ties of poetic communion； I am
unwilling to offer any commonplace compliments。 Perhaps you have
already won a malicious victory by thus embarrassing a maker of
books。
The young man was certainly not wanting in the sort of shrewdness
which is permissible to a man of honor。 By return courier he received
an answer：
To Monsieur de Canalis；You grow more and more sensible； my dear
poet。 My father is a count。 The chief glory of our house was a
cardinal； in the days when cardinals walked the earth by the side
of kings。 I am the last of our family； which ends in me； but I
have the necessary quarterings to make my entry into any court or
chapter…house in Europe。 We are quite the equals of the Canalis。
You will be so kind as to excuse me from sending you our arms。
Endeavor to answer me as truthfully as I have now answered you。 I
await your response to know if I can then sign myself as I do now；
Your servant； O。 d'Este M。
〃The little mischief！ how she abuses her privileges；〃 cried La Briere；
〃but isn't she frank！〃
No young man can be four years private secretary to a cabinet
minister； and live in Paris and observe the carrying on of many
intrigues； with perfect impunity； in fact； the purest soul is more or
less intoxicated by the heady atmosphere of the imperial city。 Happy
in the thought that he was not Canalis； our young secretary engaged a
place in the mail…coach for Havre； after writing a letter in which he
announced that the promised answer would be sent a few days later；
excusing the delay on the ground of the importance of the confession
and the pressure of his duties at the ministry。
He took care to get from the director…general of the post…office a
note to the postmaster at Havre； requesting secrecy and attention to
his wishes。 Ernest was thus enabled to see Francoise Cochet when she
came for the letters； and to follow her without exciting observation。
Guided by her； he reached Ingouville and saw Modeste Mignon at the
window of the Chalet。
〃Well； Francoise？〃 he heard the young girl say； to which the maid
responded；
〃Yes； mademoiselle； I have one。〃
Struck by the girl's great beauty； Ernest retraced his steps and asked
a man on the street the name of the owner of that magnificent estate。
〃That？〃 said the man； nodding to the villa。
〃Yes； my friend。〃
〃Oh； that belongs to Monsieur Vilquin； the richest shipping merchant
in Havre； so rich he doesn't know what he is worth。〃
〃There is no Cardinal Vilquin that I know of in history；〃 thought
Ernest； as he walked back to Havre for the night mail to Paris。
Naturally he questioned the postmaster about the Vilquin family； and
learned that it possessed an enormous fortune。 Monsieur Vilquin had a
son and two daughters； one of whom was married to Monsieur Althor；
junior。 Prudence kept La Briere from seeming anxious about the
Vilquins； the postmaster was already looking at him slyly。
〃Is there there any one staying with them at the present moment；〃 he
asked； 〃besides the family？〃
〃The d'Herouville family is there just now。 They do talk of a marriage
between the young duke and the remaining Mademoiselle Vilquin。〃
〃Ha！〃 thought Ernest； 〃there was a celebrated Cardinal d'Herouville
under the Valois； and a terrible marshal whom they made a duke in the
time of Henri IV。〃
Ernest returned to Paris having seen enough of Modeste to dream of
her； and to think that； whether she were rich or whether she were
poor； if she had a noble soul he would like to make her Madame de La
Briere； and so thinking； he resolved to continue the correspondence。
Ah！ you poor women of France； try to remain hidden if you can； try to
weave the least little romance about your lives in the midst of a
civilization which posts in the public streets the hours when the
coaches arrive and depart； which counts all letters and stamps them
twice over； first with the hour when they are thrown into the boxes；
and next with that of their delivery； which numbers the houses； prints
the tax of every tenant on a metal register at the doors （after
verifying its particulars）； and will soon possess one vast register of
every inch of its territory down to the smallest parcel of land； and
the most insignificant features of it；a giant work ordained by a
giant。 Try； imprudent young ladies； to escape not only the eye of the
police； but the incessant chatter which takes place in a country town
about the veriest trifles；how many dishes the prefect has at his
dessert； how many slices of melon are left at the door of some small
householder；which strains its ear to catch the chink of the gold a
thrifty man lays by； and spends its evenings in calculating the
incomes of the village and the town and the department。 It was mere
chance that enabled Modeste to escape discovery through Ernest's
reconnoitring expedition；a step which he already regretted； but what
Parisian can allow himself to be the dupe of a little country girl？
Incapable of being duped！ that horrid maxim is