按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
with very great impatience。 The sale of my merchandise and my ship；
and the settlement of my affairs in China； are not yet concluded； and
I cannot know the full amount of my fortune for at least six months。 I
did； however； say to Monsieur de La Briere in Paris that I would
guarantee a 'dot' of two hundred thousand francs in ready money。 I
wish to entail my estates； and enable my grandchildren to inherit my
arms and title。〃
Canalis did not listen to this statement after the opening sentence。
The four riders； having now reached a wider road； went abreast and
soon reached a stretch of table…land； from which the eye took in on
one side the rich valley of the Seine toward Rouen； and on the other
an horizon bounded only by the sea。
〃Butscha was right； God is the greatest of all landscape painters；〃
said Canalis； contemplating the view； which is unique among the many
fine scenes that have made the shores of the Seine so justly
celebrated。
〃Above all do we feel that； my dear baron；〃 said the duke； 〃on
hunting…days； when nature has a voice； and a lively tumult breaks the
silence； at such times the landscape； changing rapidly as we ride
through it； seems really sublime。〃
〃The sun is the inexhaustible palette；〃 said Modeste； looking at the
poet in a species of bewilderment。
A remark that she presently made on his absence of mind gave him an
opportunity of saying that he was just then absorbed in his own
thoughts；an excuse that authors have more reason for giving than
other men。
〃Are we really made happy by carrying our lives into the midst of the
world； and swelling them with all sorts of fictitious wants and over…
excited vanities？〃 said Modeste； moved by the aspect of the fertile
and billowy country to long for a philosophically tranquil life。
〃That is a bucolic； mademoiselle； which is only written on tablets of
gold；〃 said the poet。
〃And sometimes under garret…roofs；〃 remarked the colonel。
Modeste threw a piercing glance at Canalis； which he was unable to
sustain； she was conscious of a ringing in her ears； darkness seemed
to spread before her； and then she suddenly exclaimed in icy tones：
〃Ah！ it is Wednesday！〃
〃I do not say this to flatter your passing caprice； mademoiselle；〃
said the duke； to whom the little scene； so tragical for Modeste； had
left time for thought； 〃but I declare I am so profoundly disgusted
with the world and the Court and Paris that had I a Duchesse
d'Herouville； gifted with the wit and graces of mademoiselle； I would
gladly bind myself to live like a philosopher at my chateau； doing
good around me； draining my marshes； educating my children〃
〃That； Monsieur le duc； will be set to the account of your great
goodness；〃 said Modeste； letting her eyes rest steadily on the noble
gentleman。 〃You flatter me in not thinking me frivolous； and in
believing that I have enough resources within myself to be able to
live in solitude。 It is perhaps my lot；〃 she added； glancing at
Canalis； with an expression of pity。
〃It is the lot of all insignificant fortunes；〃 said the poet。 〃Paris
demands Babylonian splendor。 Sometimes I ask myself how I have ever
managed to keep it up。〃
〃The king does that for both of us；〃 said the duke； candidly； 〃we live
on his Majesty's bounty。 If my family had not been allowed； after the
death of Monsieur le Grand； as they call Cinq…Mars； to keep his office
among us； we should have been obliged to sell Herouville to the Black
Brethren。 Ah； believe me； mademoiselle； it is a bitter humiliation to
me to have to think of money in marrying。〃
The simple honesty of this confession came from his heart； and the
regret was so sincere that it touched Modeste。
〃In these days；〃 said the poet； 〃no man in France； Monsieur le duc； is
rich enough to marry a woman for herself； her personal worth； her
grace； or her beauty〃
The colonel looked at Canalis with a curious eye； after first watching
Modeste； whose face no longer expressed the slightest astonishment。
〃For persons of high honor；〃 he said slowly； 〃it is a noble employment
of wealth to repair the ravages of time and destiny； and restore the
old historic families。〃
〃Yes； papa；〃 said Modeste； gravely。
The colonel invited the duke and Canalis to dine with him sociably in
their riding…dress； promising them to make no change himself。 When
Modeste went to her room to make her toilette； she looked at the
jewelled whip she had disdained in the morning。
〃What workmanship they put into such things nowadays！〃 she said to
Francoise Cochet； who had become her waiting…maid。
〃That poor young man； mademoiselle； who has got a fever〃
〃Who told you that？〃
〃Monsieur Butscha。 He came here this afternoon and asked me to say to
you that he hoped you would notice he had kept his word on the
appointed day。〃
Modeste came down into the salon dressed with royal simplicity。
〃My dear father；〃 she said aloud； taking the colonel by the arm；
〃please go and ask after Monsieur de La Briere's health； and take him
back his present。 You can say that my small means； as well as my
natural tastes； forbid my wearing ornaments which are only fit for
queens or courtesans。 Besides； I can only accept gifts from a
bridegroom。 Beg him to keep the whip until you know whether you are
rich enough to buy it back。〃
〃My little girl has plenty of good sense；〃 said the colonel； kissing
his daughter on the forehead。
Canalis took advantage of a conversation which began between the duke
and Madame Mignon to escape to the terrace； where Modeste joined him；
influenced by curiosity； though the poet believed her desire to become
Madame de Canalis had brought her there。 Rather alarmed at the
indecency with which he had just executed what soldiers call a 〃volte…
face；〃 and which； according to the laws of ambition； every man in his
position would have executed quite as brutally； he now endeavored； as
the unfortunate Modeste approached him； to find plausible excuses for
his conduct。
〃Dear Modeste；〃 he began； in a coaxing tone； 〃considering the terms on
which we stand to each other； shall I displease you if I say that your
replies to the Duc d'Herouville were very painful to a man in love；
above all； to a poet whose soul is feminine； nervous； full of the
jealousies of true passion。 I should make a poor diplomatist indeed if
I had not perceived that your first coquetries； your little
premeditated inconsistencies； were only assumed for the purpose of
studying our characters〃
Modeste raised her head with the rapid； intelligent； half…coquettish
motion of a wild animal； in whom instinct produces such miracles of
grace。
〃and therefore when I returned home and thought them over； they
never misled me。 I only marvelled at a cleverness so in harmony with
your character and your countenance。 Do not be uneasy； I never doubted
that your assumed duplicity covered an angelic candor。 No； your