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〃I shall never；〃 she said； the evening before the day on which the
family were to move into the villa； 〃find a husband who will put up
with my caprices as my father does； his kindness never flags。 I am
sure no one will ever be as indulgent to me as my precious mother。〃
〃They know that you love them； mademoiselle；〃 said La Briere。
〃You may be very sure； mademoiselle； that your husband will know the
full value of his treasure；〃 added the duke。
〃You have spirit and resolution enough to discipline a husband；〃 cried
Canalis； laughing。
Modeste smiled as Henri IV。 must have smiled after drawing out the
characters of his three principal ministers； for the benefit of a
foreign ambassador； by means of three answers to an insidious
question。
On the day of the dinner； Modeste； led away by the preference she
bestowed on Canalis； walked alone with him up and down the gravelled
space which lay between the house and the lawn with its flower…beds。
From the gestures of the poet； and the air and manner of the young
heiress； it was easy to see that she was listening favorably to him。
The two demoiselles d'Herouville hastened to interrupt the scandalous
tete…a…tete； and with the natural cleverness of women under such
circumstances； they turned the conversation on the court； and the
distinction of an appointment under the crown；pointing out the
difference that existed between appointments in the household of the
king and those of the crown。 They tried to intoxicate Modeste's mind
by appealing to her pride； and describing one of the highest stations
to which a woman could aspire。
〃To have a duke for a son；〃 said the elder lady； 〃is an actual
advantage。 The title is a fortune that we secure to our children
without the possibility of loss。〃
〃How is it； then；〃 said Canalis； displeased at his tete…a…tete being
thus broken in upon； 〃that Monsieur le duc has had so little success
in a matter where his title would seem to be of special service to
him？〃
The two ladies cast a look at Canalis as full of venom as the tooth of
a snake； and they were so disconcerted by Modeste's amused smile that
they were actually unable to reply。
〃Monsieur le duc has never blamed you；〃 she said to Canalis； 〃for the
humility with which you bear your fame； why should you attack him for
his modesty？〃
〃Besides； we have never yet met a woman worthy of my nephew's rank；〃
said Mademoiselle d'Herouville。 〃Some had only the wealth of the
position； others； without fortune； had the wit and birth。 I must admit
that we have done well to wait till God granted us an opportunity to
meet one in whom we find the noble blood； the mind； and fortune of a
Duchesse d'Herouville。〃
〃My dear Modeste；〃 said Helene d'Herouville； leading her new friend
apart； 〃there are a thousand barons in the kingdom； just as there are
a hundred poets in Paris； who are worth as much as he； he is so little
of a great man that even I； a poor girl forced to take the veil for
want of a 'dot；' I would not take him。 You don't know what a young man
is who has been for ten years in the hands of a Duchesse de Chaulieu。
None but an old woman of sixty could put up with the little ailments
of which； they say； the great poet is always complaining；a habit in
Louis XIV。 that became a perfectly insupportable annoyance。 It is true
the duchess does not suffer from it as much as a wife； who would have
him always about her。〃
Then； practising a well…known manoeuvre peculiar to her sex； Helene
d'Herouville repeated in a low voice all the calumnies which women
jealous of the Duchesse de Chaulieu were in the habit of spreading
about the poet。 This little incident； common as it is in the
intercourse of women； will serve to show with what fury the hounds
were after Modeste's wealth。
Ten days saw a great change in the opinions at the Chalet as to the
three suitors for Mademoiselle de La Bastie's hand。 This change； which
was much to the disadvantage of Canalis； came about through
considerations of a nature which ought to make the holders of any kind
of fame pause； and reflect。 No one can deny； if we remember the
passion with which people seek for autographs； that public curiosity
is greatly excited by celebrity。 Evidently most provincials never form
an exact idea in their own minds of how illustrious Parisians put on
their cravats； walk on the boulevards； stand gaping at nothing； or eat
a cutlet； because； no sooner do they perceive a man clothed in the
sunbeams of fashion or resplendent with some dignity that is more or
less fugitive （though always envied）； than they cry out； 〃Look at
that！〃 〃How queer！〃 and other depreciatory exclamations。 In a word；
the mysterious charm that attaches to every kind of fame； even that
which is most justly due； never lasts。 It is； and especially with
superficial people who are envious or sarcastic； a sensation which
passes off with the rapidity of lightning； and never returns。 It would
seem as though fame； like the sun； hot and luminous at a distance； is
cold as the summit of an alp when you approach it。 Perhaps man is only
really great to his peers； perhaps the defects inherent in his
constitution disappear sooner to the eyes of his equals than to those
of vulgar admirers。 A poet； if he would please in ordinary life； must
put on the fictitious graces of those who are able to make their
insignificances forgotten by charming manners and complying speeches。
The poet of the faubourg Saint…Germain； who did not choose to bow
before this social dictum； was made before long to feel that an
insulting provincial indifference had succeeded to the dazed
fascination of the earlier evenings。 The prodigality of his wit and
wisdom had produced upon these worthy souls somewhat the effect which
a shopful of glass…ware produces on the eye； in other words； the fire
and brilliancy of Canalis's eloquence soon wearied people who； to use
their own words； 〃cared more for the solid。〃
Forced after a while to behave like an ordinary man； the poet found an
unexpected stumbling…block on ground where La Briere had already won
the suffrage of the worthy people who at first had thought him sulky。
They felt the need of compensating themselves for Canalis's reputation
by preferring his friend。 The best of men are influenced by such
feelings as these。 The simple and straightforward young fellow jarred
no one's self…love； coming to know him better they discovered his
heart； his modesty； his silent and sure discretion； and his excellent
bearing。 The Duc d'Herouville considered him； as a political element；
far above Canalis。 The poet； ill…balanced； ambitious； and restless as
Tasso； loved luxury； grandeur； and ran into debt； while the young
lawyer； whose character was equable and well…balanced； lived soberly；
was useful without proclaiming it； awaited rewards without begging for
them； and laid by his money。
Canalis had moreover laid himself open in a special way to the
bo