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them。〃
Canalis paused； to gather by a glance that ran round the circle the
tribute of amazement which he expected of provincials。
〃You must be aware； monsieur； of the regret I feel at not seeing you；〃
said Madame Mignon； 〃since you compensate me with the pleasure of
hearing you。〃
Modeste； determined to think Canalis sublime； sat motionless with
amazement； the embroidery slipped from her fingers； which held it only
by the needleful of thread。
〃Modeste； this is Monsieur Ernest de La Briere。 Monsieur Ernest； my
daughter；〃 said the count； thinking the secretary too much in the
background。
The young girl bowed coldly； giving Ernest a glance that was meant to
prove to every one present that she saw him for the first time。
〃Pardon me； monsieur；〃 she said without blushing； 〃the great
admiration I feel for the greatest of our poets is； in the eyes of my
friends； a sufficient excuse for seeing only him。〃
The pure； fresh voice； with accents like that of Mademoiselle Mars；
charmed the poor secretary； already dazzled by Modeste's beauty； and
in his sudden surprise he answered by a phrase that would have been
sublime； had it been true。
〃He is my friend；〃 he said。
〃Ah； then you do pardon me；〃 she replied。
〃He is more than a friend；〃 cried Canalis taking Ernest by the
shoulder and leaning upon it like Alexander on Hephaestion； 〃we love
each other as though we were brothers〃
Madame Latournelle cut short the poet's speech by pointing to Ernest
and saying aloud to her husband； 〃Surely that is the gentleman we saw
at church。〃
〃Why not？〃 said Charles Mignon； quickly； observing that Ernest
reddened。
Modeste coldly took up her embroidery。
〃Madame may be right； I have been twice in Havre lately；〃 replied La
Briere； sitting down by Dumay。
Canalis； charmed with Modeste's beauty； mistook the admiration she
expressed； and flattered himself he had succeeded in producing his
desired effects。
〃I should think a man without heart； if he had no devoted friend near
him；〃 said Modeste； to pick up the conversation interrupted by Madame
Latournelle's awkwardness。
〃Mademoiselle； Ernest's devotion makes me almost think myself worth
something；〃 said Canalis； 〃for my dear Pylades is full of talent； he
was the right hand of the greatest minister we have had since the
peace。 Though he holds a fine position； he is good enough to be my
tutor in the science of politics； he teaches me to conduct affairs and
feeds me with his experience； when all the while he might aspire to a
much better situation。 Oh！ he is worth far more than I。〃 At a gesture
from Modeste he continued gracefully： 〃Yes； the poetry that I express
he carries in his heart； and if I speak thus openly before him it is
because he has the modesty of a nun。〃
〃Enough； oh； enough！〃 cried La Briere； who hardly knew which way to
look。 〃My dear Canalis； you remind me of a mother who is seeking to
marry off her daughter。〃
〃How is it； monsieur；〃 said Charles Mignon； addressing Canalis； 〃that
you can even think of becoming a political character？〃
〃It is abdication；〃 said Modeste； 〃for a poet； politics are the
resource of matter…of…fact men。〃
〃Ah； mademoiselle； the rostrum is to…day the greatest theatre of the
world； it has succeeded the tournaments of chivalry； it is now the
meeting…place for all intellects； just as the army has been the
rallying…point of courage。〃
Canalis stuck spurs into his charger and talked for ten minutes on
political life： 〃Poetry was but a preface to the statesman。〃 〃To…day
the orator has become a sublime reasoner； the shepherd of ideas。〃 〃A
poet may point the way to nations or individuals； but can he ever
cease to be himself？〃 He quoted Chateaubriand and declared that he
would one day be greater on the political side than on the literary。
〃The forum of France was to be the pharos of humanity。〃 〃Oral battles
supplanted fields of battle： there were sessions of the Chamber finer
than any Austerlitz； and orators were seen to be as lofty as generals；
they spent their lives； their courage； their strength； as freely as
those who went to war。〃 〃Speech was surely one of the most prodigal
outlets of the vital fluid that man had ever known；〃 etc。
This improvisation of modern commonplaces； clothed in sonorous phrases
and newly invented words； and intended to prove that the Comte de
Canalis was becoming one of the glories of the French government； made
a deep impression upon the notary and Gobenheim； and upon Madame
Latournelle and Madame Mignon。 Modeste looked as though she were at
the theatre； in an attitude of enthusiasm for an actor；very much
like that of Ernest toward herself； for though the secretary knew all
these high…sounding phrases by heart； he listened through the eyes； as
it were； of the young girl； and grew more and more madly in love with
her。 To this true lover； Modeste was eclipsing all the Modestes he had
created as he read her letters and answered them。
This visit； the length of which was predetermined by Canalis； careful
not to allow his admirers a chance to get surfeited； ended by an
invitation to dinner on the following Monday。
〃We shall not be at the Chalet；〃 said the Comte de La Bastie。 〃Dumay
will have sole possession of it。 I return to the villa； having bought
it back under a deed of redemption within six months； which I have
to…day signed with Monsieur Vilquin。〃
〃I hope；〃 said Dumay； 〃that Vilquin will not be able to return to you
the sum you have just lent him； and that the villa will remain yours。〃
〃It is an abode in keeping with your fortune；〃 said Canalis。
〃You mean the fortune that I am supposed to have；〃 replied Charles
Mignon； hastily。
〃It would be too sad；〃 said Canalis； turning to Modeste with a
charming little bow； 〃if this Madonna were not framed in a manner
worthy of her divine perfections。〃
That was the only thing Canalis said to Modeste。 He affected not to
look at her； and behaved like a man to whom all idea of marriage was
interdicted。
〃Ah！ my dear Madame Mignon；〃 cried the notary's wife； as soon as the
gravel was heard to grit under the feet of the Parisians； 〃what an
intellect！〃
〃Is he rich？that is the question；〃 said Gobenheim。
Modeste was at the window； not losing a single movement of the great
poet； and paying no attention to his companion。 When Monsieur Mignon
returned to the salon； and Modeste； having received a last bow from
the two friends as the carriage turned； went back to her seat； a
weighty discussion took place； such as provincials invariably hold
over Parisians after a first interview。 Gobenheim repeated his phrase；
〃Is he rich？〃 as a chorus to the songs of praise sung by Madame
Latournelle； Modeste； and her mother。
〃Rich！〃 exclaimed Modeste； 〃what can that signify！ Do you not see that
Monsieur de Canalis is one of those men who are destined for the
highest places in the State。 H