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to a magnificent tirade on the Catholic religion and the happiness of
having a pious wife；served up in response to a remark by Madame
Mignon。
Modeste's eyes were blindfolded as it were； Canalis's elocution and
the close attention which she was predetermined to pay to him
prevented her from seeing that Butscha was carefully noting the
declamation； the want of simplicity； the emphasis that took the place
of feeling； and the curious incoherencies in the poet's speech which
led the dwarf to make his rather cruel comment。 At certain points of
Canalis's discourse； when Monsieur Mignon； Dumay； Butscha； and
Latournelle wondered at the man's utter want of logic； Modeste admired
his suppleness； and said to herself； as she dragged him after her
through the labyrinth of fancy； 〃He loves me！〃 Butscha； in common with
the other spectators of what we must call a stage scene； was struck
with the radiant defect of all egoists； which Canalis； like many men
accustomed to perorate； allowed to be too plainly seen。 Whether he
understood beforehand what the person he was speaking to meant to say；
whether he was not listening； or whether he had the faculty of
listening when he was thinking of something else； it is certain that
Melchior's face wore an absent…minded look in conversation； which
disconcerted the ideas of others and wounded their vanity。 Not to
listen is not merely a want of politeness； it is a mark of disrespect。
Canalis pushed this habit too far； for he often forgot to answer a
speech which required an answer； and passed； without the ordinary
transitions of courtesy； to the subject； whatever it was； that
preoccupied him。 Though such impertinence is accepted without protest
from a man of marked distinction； it stirs a leaven of hatred and
vengeance in many hearts； in those of equals it even goes so far as to
destroy a friendship。 If by chance Melchior was forced to listen； he
fell into another fault； he merely lent his attention； and never gave
it。 Though this may not be so mortifying； it shows a kind of semi…
concession which is almost as unsatisfactory to the hearer and leaves
him dissatisfied。 Nothing brings more profit in the commerce of
society than the small change of attention。 He that heareth let him
hear； is not only a gospel precept； it is an excellent speculation；
follow it； and all will be forgiven you； even vice。 Canalis took a
great deal of trouble in his anxiety to please Modeste； but though he
was compliant enough with her； he fell back into his natural self with
the others。
Modeste； pitiless for the ten martyrs she was making； begged Canalis
to read some of his poems； she wanted； she said； a specimen of his
gift for reading； of which she had heard so much。 Canalis took the
volume which she gave him； and cooed （for that is the proper word） a
poem which is generally considered his finest；an imitation of
Moore's 〃Loves of the Angels；〃 entitled 〃Vitalis；〃 which Monsieur and
Madame Dumay； Madame Latournelle； and Gobenheim welcomed with a few
yawns。
〃If you are a good whist…player； monsieur；〃 said Gobenheim；
flourishing five cards held like a fan； 〃I must say I have never met a
man as accomplished as you。〃
The remark raised a laugh； for it was the translation of everybody's
thought。
〃I play it sufficiently well to live in the provinces for the rest of
my days；〃 replied Canalis。 〃That； I think； is enough； and more than
enough literature and conversation for whist…players；〃 he added；
throwing the volume impatiently on a table。
This little incident serves to show what dangers environ a drawing…
room hero when he steps； like Canalis； out of his sphere； he is like
the favorite actor of a second…rate audience； whose talent is lost
when he leaves his own boards and steps upon those of an upper…class
theatre。
CHAPTER XXI
MODESTE PLAYS HER PART
The game opened with the baron and the duke； Gobenheim and Latournelle
as partners。 Modeste took a seat near the poet； to Ernest's deep
disappointment； he watched the face of the wayward girl； and marked
the progress of the fascination which Canalis exerted over her。 La
Briere had not the gift of seduction which Melchior possessed。 Nature
frequently denies it to true hearts； who are； as a rule； timid。 This
gift demands fearlessness； an alacrity of ways and means that might be
called the trapeze of the mind； a little mimicry goes with it； in fact
there is always； morally speaking； something of the comedian in a
poet。 There is a vast difference between expressing sentiments we do
not feel； though we may imagine all their variations； and feigning to
feel them when bidding for success on the theatre of private life。 And
yet； though the necessary hypocrisy of a man of the world may have
gangrened a poet； he ends by carrying the faculties of his talent into
the expression of any required sentiment； just as a great man doomed
to solitude ends by infusing his heart into his mind。
〃He is after the millions；〃 thought La Briere； sadly； 〃and he can play
passion so well that Modeste will believe him。〃
Instead of endeavoring to appear more amiable and wittier than his
rival； Ernest imitated the Duc d'Herouville； and was gloomy； anxious；
and watchful； but whereas the courier studied the freaks of the young
heiress； Ernest simply fell a prey to the pains of dark and
concentrated jealousy。 He had not yet been able to obtain a glance
from his idol。 After a while he left the room with Butscha。
〃It is all over！〃 he said； 〃she is caught by him； I am more
disagreeable to her； and moreover； she is right。 Canalis is charming；
there's intellect in his silence； passion in his eyes； poetry in his
rhodomontades。〃
〃Is he an honest man？〃 asked Butscha。
〃Oh； yes；〃 replied La Briere。 〃He is loyal and chivalrous； and capable
of getting rid； under Modeste's influence； of those affectations which
Madame de Chaulieu has taught him。〃
〃You are a fine fellow；〃 said the hunchback； 〃but is he capable of
loving；will he love her？〃
〃I don't know；〃 answered La Briere。 〃Has she said anything about me？〃
he asked after a moment's silence。
〃Yes；〃 said Butscha； and he repeated Modeste's speech about disguises。
Poor Ernest flung himself upon a bench and held his head in his hands。
He could not keep back his tears； and he did not wish Butscha to see
them； but the dwarf was the very man to guess his emotion。
〃What troubles you？〃 he asked。
〃She is right！〃 cried Ernest； springing up； 〃I am a wretch。〃
And he related the deception into which Canalis had led him when
Modeste's first letter was received； carefully pointing out to Butscha
that he had wished to undeceive the young girl before she herself took
off the mask； and apostrophizing； in rather juvenile fashion； his
luckless destiny。 Butscha sympathetically understood the love in the
flavor and vigor of his simple language； and in his deep and genuine
anxiety。
〃But why don't y