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full…face； and profile attitude before the glass； he tried to
criticise himself； but a voice； diabolically persuasive； whispered to
him； 〃Modeste is right。〃 He took up her letter and re…read it； he saw
his fairest of the fair； he talked with her； then； in the midst of his
ecstacy； a dreadful thought came to him：
〃She thinks me Canalis； and she has a million of money！〃
Down went his happiness； just as a somnambulist； having attained the
peak of a roof； hears a voice； awakes； and falls crushed upon the
pavement。
〃Without the halo of fame I shall be hideous in her eyes；〃 he cried；
〃what a maddening situation I have put myself in！〃
La Briere was too much the man of his letters which we have read； his
heart was too noble and pure to allow him to hesitate at the call of
honor。 He at once resolved to find Modeste's father； if he were in
Paris； and confess all to him； and to let Canalis know the serious
results of their Parisian jest。 To a sensitive nature like his；
Modeste's large fortune was in itself a determining reason。 He could
not allow it to be even suspected that the ardor of the
correspondence； so sincere on his part； had in view the capture of a
〃dot。〃 Tears were in his eyes as he made his way to the rue
Chantereine to find the banker Mongenod； whose fortune and business
connections were partly the work of the minister to whom Ernest owed
his start in life。
At the hour when La Briere was inquiring about the father of his
beloved from the head of the house of Mongenod； and getting
information that might be useful to him in his strange position； a
scene was taking place in Canalis's study which the ex…lieutenant's
hasty departure from Havre may have led the reader to foresee。
Like a true soldier of the imperial school； Dumay； whose Breton blood
had boiled all the way to Paris； considered a poet to be a poor stick
of a fellow； of no consequence whatever；a buffoon addicted to
choruses； living in a garret； dressed in black clothes that were white
at every seam； wearing boots that were occasionally without soles； and
linen that was unmentionable； and whose fingers knew more about ink
than soap； in short； one who looked always as if he had tumbled from
the moon； except when scribbling at a desk； like Butscha。 But the
seething of the Breton's heart and brain received a violent
application of cold water when he entered the courtyard of the pretty
house occupied by the poet and saw a groom washing a carriage； and
also； through the windows of a handsome dining…room； a valet dressed
like a banker； to whom the groom referred him； and who answered；
looking the stranger over from head to foot； that Monsieur le baron
was not visible。 〃There is；〃 added the man； 〃a meeting of the council
of state to…day； at which Monsieur le baron is obliged to be present。〃
〃Is this really the house of Monsieur Canalis；〃 said Dumay； 〃a writer
of poetry？〃
〃Monsieur le baron de Canalis；〃 replied the valet； 〃is the great poet
of whom you speak； but he is also the president of the court of Claims
attached to the ministry of foreign affairs。〃
Dumay； who had come to box the ears of a scribbling nobody； found
himself confronted by a high functionary of the state。 The salon where
he was told to wait offered； as a topic for his meditations； the
insignia of the Legion of honor glittering on a black coat which the
valet had left upon a chair。 Presently his eyes were attracted by the
beauty and brilliancy of a silver…gilt cup bearing the words 〃Given by
MADAME。〃 Then he beheld before him； on a pedestal； a Sevres vase on
which was engraved； 〃The gift of Madame la DAUPHINE。〃
These mute admonitions brought Dumay to his senses while the valet
went to ask his master if he would receive a person who had come from
Havre expressly to see him；a stranger named Dumay。
〃What sort of a man？〃 asked Canalis。
〃He is well…dressed； and wears the ribbon of the Legion of honor。〃
Canalis made a sign of assent； and the valet retreated； and then
returned and announced； 〃Monsieur Dumay。〃
When he heard himself announced； when he was actually in presence of
Canalis； in a study as gorgeous as it was elegant； with his feet on a
carpet far handsomer than any in the house of Mignon； and when he met
the studied glance of the poet who was playing with the tassels of a
sumptuous dressing…gown； Dumay was so completely taken aback that he
allowed the great poet to have the first word。
〃To what do I owe the honor of your visit； monsieur？〃
〃Monsieur；〃 began Dumay； who remained standing。
〃If you have a good deal to say；〃 interrupted Canalis； 〃I must ask you
to be seated。〃
And Canalis himself plunged into an armchair a la Voltaire； crossed
his legs； raised the upper one to the level of his eye and looked
fixedly at Dumay； who became； to use his own martial slang；
〃bayonetted。〃
〃I am listening； monsieur；〃 said the poet； 〃my time is precious；the
ministers are expecting me。〃
〃Monsieur；〃 said Dumay； 〃I shall be brief。 You have seducedhow； I do
not knowa young lady in Havre； young； beautiful； and rich； the last
and only hope of two noble families； and I have come to ask your
intentions。〃
Canalis； who had been busy during the last three months with serious
matters of his own； and was trying to get himself made commander of
the Legion of honor and minister to a German court； had completely
forgotten Modeste's letter。〃
〃I！〃 he exclaimed。
〃You！〃 repeated Dumay。
〃Monsieur；〃 answered Canalis； smiling； 〃I know no more of what you are
talking about than if you had said it in Hebrew。 I seduce a young
girl！ I； who〃 and a superb smile crossed his features。 〃Come； come；
monsieur； I'm not such a child as to steal fruit over the hedges when
I have orchards and gardens of my own where the finest peaches ripen。
All Paris knows where my affections are set。 Very likely there may be
some young girl in Havre full of enthusiasm for my verses；of which
they are not worthy； that would not surprise me at all； nothing is
more common。 See！ look at that lovely coffer of ebony inlaid with
mother…of…pearl； and edged with that iron…work as fine as lace。 That
coffer belonged to Pope Leo X。； and was given to me by the Duchesse de
Chaulieu； who received it from the king of Spain。 I use it to hold the
letters I receive from ladies and young girls living in every quarter
of Europe。 Oh！ I assure you I feel the utmost respect for these
flowers of the soul； cut and sent in moments of enthusiasm that are
worthy of all reverence。 Yes； to me the impulse of a heart is a noble
and sublime thing！ Othersscofferslight their cigars with such
letters； or give them to their wives for curl…papers； but I； who am a
bachelor； monsieur； I have too much delicacy not to preserve these
artless offeringsso fresh； so disinterestedin a tabernacle of
their own。 In fact； I guard them with a species of veneration； and at
my death they will be burned before