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them； and laid by his money。
Canalis had moreover laid himself open in a special way to the
bourgeois eyes that were watching him。 For two or three days he had
shown signs of impatience； he had given way to depression； to states
of melancholy without apparent reason； to those capricious changes of
temper which are the natural results of the nervous temperament of
poets。 These originalities （we use the provincial word） came from the
uneasiness that his conduct toward the Duchesse de Chaulieu which grew
daily less explainable； caused him。 He knew he ought to write to her；
but could not resolve on doing so。 All these fluctuations were
carefully remarked and commented on by the gentle American； and the
excellent Madame Latournelle； and they formed the topic of many a
discussion between these two ladies and Madame Mignon。 Canalis felt
the effects of these discussions without being able to explain them。
The attention paid to him was not the same； the faces surrounding him
no longer wore the entranced look of the earlier days； while at the
same time Ernest was evidently gaining ground。
For the last two days the poet had endeavored to fascinate Modeste
only； and he took advantage of every moment when he found himself
alone with her； to weave the web of passionate language around his
love。 Modeste's blush； as she listened to him on the occasion we have
just mentioned； showed the demoiselles d'Herouville the pleasure with
which she was listening to sweet conceits that were sweetly said； and
they； horribly uneasy at the sight； had immediate recourse to the
〃ultima ratio〃 of women in such cases； namely； those calumnies which
seldom miss their object。 Accordingly； when the party met at the
dinner…table the poet saw a cloud on the brow of his idol； he knew
that Mademoiselle d'Herouville's malignity allowed him to lose no
time； and he resolved to offer himself as a husband at the first
moment when he could find himself alone with Modeste。
Overhearing a few acid though polite remarks exchanged between the
poet and the two noble ladies； Gobenheim nudged Butscha with his
elbow； and said in an undertone； motioning towards the poet and the
grand equerry；
〃They'll demolish one another！〃
〃Canalis has genius enough to demolish himself all alone；〃 answered
the dwarf。
CHAPTER XXII
A RIDDLE GUESSED
During the dinner； which was magnificent and admirably well served；
the duke obtained a signal advantage over Canalis。 Modeste； who had
received her habit and other equestrian equipments the night before；
spoke of taking rides about the country。 A turn of the conversation
led her to express the wish to see a hunt with hounds； a pleasure she
had never yet enjoyed。 The duke at once proposed to arrange a hunt in
one of the crown forests； which lay a few leagues from Havre。 Thanks
to his intimacy with the Prince de Cadignan； Master of the Hunt； he
saw his chance of displaying an almost regal pomp before Modeste's
eyes； and alluring her with a glimpse of court fascinations； to which
she could be introduced by marriage。 Glances were exchanged between
the duke and the two demoiselles d'Herouville； which plainly said；
〃The heiress is ours！〃 and the poet； who detected them； and who had
nothing but his personal splendors to depend on； determined all the
more firmly to obtain some pledge of affection at once。 Modeste； on
the other hand； half…frightened at being thus pushed beyond her
intentions by the d'Herouvilles； walked rather markedly apart with
Melchior； when the company adjourned to the park after dinner。 With
the pardonable curiosity of a young girl； she let him suspect the
calumnies which Helene had poured into her ears； but on Canalis's
exclamation of anger； she begged him to keep silence about them； which
he promised。
〃These stabs of the tongue；〃 he said； 〃are considered fair in the
great world。 They shock your upright nature； but as for me； I laugh at
them； I am even pleased。 These ladies must feel that the duke's
interests are in great peril； when they have recourse to such
warfare。〃
Making the most of the advantage Modeste had thus given him； Canalis
entered upon his defence with such warmth； such eagerness； and with a
passion so exquisitely expressed； as he thanked her for a confidence
in which he could venture to see the dawn of love； that she found
herself suddenly as much compromised with the poet as she feared to be
with the grand equerry。 Canalis； feeling the necessity of prompt
action； declared himself plainly。 He uttered vows and protestations in
which his poetry shone like a moon； invoked for the occasion； and
illuminating his allusions to the beauty of his mistress and the
charms of her evening dress。 This counterfeit enthusiasm； in which the
night； the foliage； the heavens and the earth； and Nature herself
played a part； carried the eager lover beyond all bounds； for he dwelt
on his disinterestedness； and revamped in his own charming style；
Diderot's famous apostrophe to 〃Sophie and fifteen hundred francs！〃
and the well…worn 〃love in a cottage〃 of every lover who knows
perfectly well the length of the father…in…law's purse。
〃Monsieur；〃 said Modeste； after listening with delight to the melody
of this concerto； 〃the freedom granted to me by my parents has allowed
me to listen to you； but it is to them that you must address
yourself。〃
〃But；〃 exclaimed Canalis； 〃tell me that if I obtain their consent； you
will ask nothing better than to obey them。〃
〃I know beforehand；〃 she replied； 〃that my father has certain fancies
which may wound the proper pride of an old family like yours。 He
wishes to have his own title and name borne by his grandsons。〃
〃Ah！ dear Modeste； what sacrifices would I not make to commit my life
to the guardian care of an angel like you。〃
〃You will permit me not to decide in a moment the fate of my whole
life；〃 she said； turning to rejoin the demoiselles d'Herouville。
Those noble ladies were just then engaged in flattering the vanity of
little Latournelle； intending to win him over to their interests。
Mademoiselle d'Herouville； to whom we shall in future confine the
family name； to distinguish her from her niece Helene； was giving the
notary to understand that the post of judge of the Supreme Court in
Havre； which Charles X。 would bestow as she desired； was an office
worthy of his legal talent and his well…known probity。 Butscha；
meanwhile； who had been walking about with La Briere； was greatly
alarmed at the progress Canalis was evidently making； and he waylaid
Modeste at the lower step of the portico when the whole party returned
to the house to endure the torments of their inevitable whist。
〃Mademoiselle；〃 he said； in a low whisper； 〃I do hope you don't call
him Melchior。〃
〃I'm very near it； my Black Dwarf；〃 she said； with a smile that might
have made an angel swear。
〃Good God！〃 exclaimed Butscha； letting fall his hands； which