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itself。
By dint of reflecting on his position as an unfortunate and despised
lover； Ernest went through something of the same process as Modeste's
first letter had forced upon him。 Though sorrow is said to develop
virtue； it only develops it in virtuous persons； that cleaning…out of
the conscience takes place only in persons who are by nature clean。 La
Briere vowed to endure his sufferings in Spartan silence； to act
worthily； and give way to no baseness； while Canalis； fascinated by
the enormous 〃dot；〃 was telling himself to take every means of
captivating the heiress。 Selfishness and devotion； the key…notes of
the two characters； therefore took； by the action of a moral law which
is often very odd in its effects； certain measures that were contrary
to their respective natures。 The selfish man put on self…abnegation；
the man who thought chiefly of others took refuge on the Aventinus of
pride。 That phenomenon is often seen in political life。 Men frequently
turn their characters wrong side out； and it sometimes happens that
the public is unable to tell which is the right side。
After dinner the two friends heard of the arrival of the grand
equerry； who was presented at the Chalet the same evening by
Latournelle。 Mademoiselle d'Herouville had contrived to wound that
worthy man by sending a footmen to tell him to come to her； instead of
sending her nephew in person； thus depriving the notary of a
distinguished visit he would certainly have talked about for the rest
of his natural life。 So Latournelle curtly informed the grand equerry；
when he proposed to drive him to the Chalet； that he was engaged to
take Madame Latournelle。 Guessing from the little man's sulky manner
that there was some blunder to repair； the duke said graciously：
〃Then I shall have the pleasure； if you will allow me； of taking
Madame Latournelle also。〃
Disregarding Mademoiselle d'Herouville's haughty shrug； the duke left
the room with the notary。 Madame Latournelle； half…crazed with joy at
seeing the gorgeous carriage at her door； with footmen in royal livery
letting down the steps； was too agitated on hearing that the grand
equerry had called for her； to find her gloves； her parasol； her
absurdity； or her usual air of pompous dignity。 Once in the carriage；
however； and while expressing confused thanks and civilities to the
little duke； she suddenly exclaimed； from a thought in her kind
heart；
〃But Butscha； where is he？〃
〃Let us take Butscha；〃 said the duke； smiling。
When the people on the quays； attracted in groups by the splendor of
the royal equipage； saw the funny spectacle； the three little men with
the spare gigantic woman； they looked at one another and laughed。
〃If you melt all three together； they might make one man fit to mate
with that big cod…fish；〃 said a sailor from Bordeaux。
〃Is there any other thing you would like to take with you； madame？〃
asked the duke； jestingly； while the footman awaited his orders。
〃No； monseigneur；〃 she replied； turning scarlet and looking at her
husband as much as to say； 〃What did I do wrong？〃
〃Monsieur le duc honors me by considering that I am a thing；〃 said
Butscha； 〃a poor clerk is usually thought to be a nonentity。〃
Though this was said with a laugh； the duke colored and did not
answer。 Great people are to blame for joking with their social
inferiors。 Jesting is a game； and games presuppose equality； it is to
obviate any inconvenient results of this temporary equality that
players have the right； after the game is over； not to recognize each
other。
The visit of the grand equerry had the ostensible excuse of an
important piece of business； namely； the retrieval of an immense tract
of waste land left by the sea between the mouths of the two rivers；
which tract had just been adjudged by the Council of State to the
house of Herouville。 The matter was nothing less than putting flood…
gates with double bridges； draining three or four hundred acres；
cutting canals； and laying out roadways。 When the duke had explained
the condition of the land； Charles Mignon remarked that time must be
allowed for the soil； which was still moving； to settle and grow solid
in a natural way。
〃Time； which has providentially enriched your house； Monsieur le duc；
can alone complete the work；〃 he said； in conclusion。 〃It would be
prudent to let fifty years elapse before you reclaim the land。〃
〃Do not let that be your final word； Monsieur le comte；〃 said the
duke。 〃Come to Herouville and see things for yourself。〃
Charles Mignon replied that every capitalist should take time to
examine into such matters with a cool head； thus giving the duke a
pretext for his visits to the Chalet。 The sight of Modeste made a
lively impression on the young man； and he asked the favor of
receiving her at Herouville with her father； saying that his sister
and his aunt had heard much of her； and wished to make her
acquaintance。 On this the count proposed to present his daughter to
those ladies himself； and invited the whole party to dinner on the day
of his return to the villa。 The duke accepted the invitation。 The blue
ribbon； the title； and above all； the ecstatic glances of the noble
gentleman had an effect upon Modeste； but she appeared to great
advantage in carriage； dignity； and conversation。 The duke withdrew
reluctantly； carrying with him an invitation to visit the Chalet every
evening；an invitation based on the impossibility of a courtier of
Charles X。 existing for a single evening without his rubber。
The following evening； therefore； Modeste was to see all three of her
lovers。 No matter what young girls may say； and though the logic of
the heart may lead them to sacrifice everything to preference； it is
extremely flattering to their self…love to see a number of rival
adorers around them；distinguished or celebrated men； or men of
ancient lineage；all endeavoring to shine and to please。 Suffer as
Modeste may in general estimation； it must be told she subsequently
admitted that the sentiments expressed in her letters paled before the
pleasure of seeing three such different minds at war with one another；
three men who； taken separately； would each have done honor to the
most exacting family。 Yet this luxury of self…love was checked by a
misanthropical spitefulness； resulting from the terrible wound she had
received；although by this time she was beginning to think of that
wound as a disappointment only。 So when her father said to her；
laughing； 〃Well； Modeste； do you want to be a duchess？〃 she answered；
with a mocking curtsey；
〃Sorrows have made me philosophical。〃
〃Do you mean to be only a baroness？〃 asked Butscha。
〃Or a viscountess？〃 said her father。
〃How could that be？〃 she asked quickly。
〃If you accept Monsieur de La Briere； he has enough merit and
influence to obtain permission from the king to bear my titles and
arms。〃
〃Oh； if it comes to disguising