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ten years！have given me a great contempt for marriage。 I had
never seen the thing so near。 Ah； dearest！ what the world calls a
〃false step〃 brings two beings nearer together than the lawdoes
it not？
The concluding idea served as a text for two pages of reminiscences
and aspirations a little too confidential for publication。
The evening before the day on which Canalis put the above epistle into
the post； Butscha； under the name of Jean Jacmin； had received a
letter from his fictitious cousin； Philoxene； and had mailed his
answer； which thus preceded the letter of the poet by about twelve
hours。 Terribly anxious for the last two weeks； and wounded by
Melchior's silence； the duchess herself dictated Philoxene's letter to
her cousin； and the moment she had read the answer； rather too
explicit for her quinquagenary vanity； she sent for the banker and
made close inquiries as to the exact fortune of Monsieur Mignon。
Finding herself betrayed and abandoned for the millions； Eleonore gave
way to a paroxysm of anger； hatred； and cold vindictiveness。 Philoxene
knocked at the door of the sumptuous room； and entering found her
mistress with her eyes full of tears；so unprecedented a phenomenon
in the fifteen years she had waited upon her that the woman stopped
short stupefied。
〃We expiate the happiness of ten years in ten minutes；〃 she heard the
duchess say。
〃A letter from Havre； madame。〃
Eleonore read the poet's prose without noticing the presence of
Philoxene； whose amazement became still greater when she saw the dawn
of fresh serenity on the duchess's face as she read further and
further into the letter。 Hold out a pole no thicker than a walking…
stick to a drowning man； and he will think it a high…road of safety。
The happy Eleonore believed in Canalis's good faith when she had read
through the four pages in which love and business； falsehood and
truth； jostled each other。 She who； a few moments earlier； had sent
for her husband to prevent Melchior's appointment while there was
still time； was now seized with a spirit of generosity that amounted
almost to the sublime。
〃Poor fellow！〃 she thought； 〃he has not had one faithless thought； he
loves me as he did on the first day； he tells me allPhiloxene！〃 she
cried； noticing her maid； who was standing near and pretending to
arrange the toilet…table。
〃Madame la duchesse？〃
〃A mirror； child！〃
Eleonore looked at herself； saw the fine razor…like lines traced on
her brow； which disappeared at a little distance； she sighed； and in
that sigh she felt she bade adieu to love。 A brave thought came into
her mind； a manly thought； outside of all the pettiness of women；a
thought which intoxicates for a moment； and which explains； perhaps；
the clemency of the Semiramis of Russia when she married her young and
beautiful rival to Momonoff。
〃Since he has not been faithless； he shall have the girl and her
millions；〃 she thought；〃provided Mademoiselle Mignon is as ugly as
he says she is。〃
Three raps； circumspectly given； announced the duke； and his wife went
herself to the door to let him in。
〃Ah！ I see you are better； my dear；〃 he cried； with the counterfeit
joy that courtiers assume so readily； and by which fools are so
readily taken in。
〃My dear Henri；〃 she answered； 〃why is it you have not yet obtained
that appointment for Melchior；you who sacrificed so much to the king
in taking a ministry which you knew could only last one year。〃
The duke glanced at Philoxene； who showed him by an almost
imperceptible sign the letter from Havre on the dressing…table。
〃You would be terribly bored at Baden and come back at daggers drawn
with Melchior；〃 said the duke。
〃Pray why？〃
〃Why； you would always be together；〃 said the former diplomat； with
comic good…humor。
〃Oh； no；〃 she said； 〃I am going to marry him。〃
〃If we can believe d'Herouville； our dear Canalis stands in no need of
your help in that direction；〃 said the duke； smiling。 〃Yesterday
Grandlieu read me some passages from a letter the grand equerry had
written him。 No doubt they were dictated by the aunt for the express
purpose of their reaching you； for Mademoiselle d'Herouville； always
on the scent of a 'dot；' knows that Grandlieu and I play whist nearly
every evening。 That good little d'Herouville wants the Prince de
Cadignan to go down and give a royal hunt in Normandy； and endeavor to
persuade the king to be present； so as to turn the head of the damozel
when she sees herself the object of such a grand affair。 In short； two
words from Charles X。 would settle the matter。 D'Herouville says the
girl has incomparable beauty〃
〃Henri； let us go to Havre！〃 cried the duchess； interrupting him。
〃Under what pretext？〃 said her husband； gravely； he was one of the
confidants of Louis XVIII。
〃I never saw a hunt。〃
〃It would be all very well if the king went； but it is a terrible bore
to go so far； and he will not do it； I have just been speaking with
him about it。〃
〃Perhaps MADAME would go？〃
〃That would be better；〃 returned the duke； 〃I dare say the Duchesse de
Maufrigneuse would help you to persuade her from Rosny。 If she goes
the king will not be displeased at the use of his hunting equipage。
Don't go to Havre； my dear；〃 added the duke； paternally； 〃that would
be giving yourself away。 Come； here's a better plan； I think。
Gaspard's chateau of Rosembray is on the other side of the forest of
Brotonne； why not give him a hint to invite the whole party？〃
〃He invite them？〃 said Eleonore。
〃I mean； of course； the duchess； she is always engaged in pious works
with Mademoiselle d'Herouville； give that old maid a hint； and get her
to speak to Gaspard。〃
〃You are a love of a man；〃 cried Eleonore； 〃I'll write to the old maid
and to Diane at once； for we must get hunting things made；a riding
hat is so becoming。 Did you win last night at the English embassy？〃
〃Yes；〃 said the duke； 〃I cleared myself。〃
〃Henri； above all things； stop proceedings about Melchior's two
appointments。〃
After writing half a dozen lines to the beautiful Diane de
Maufrigneuse； and a short hint to Mademoiselle d'Herouville； Eleonore
sent the following answer like the lash of a whip through the poet's
lies。
To Monsieur le Baron de Canalis：
My dear poet；Mademoiselle de La Bastie is very beautiful；
Mongenod has proved to me that her father has millions。 I did
think of marrying you to her； I am therefore much displeased at
your want of confidence。 If you had any intention of marrying La
Briere when you went to Havre it is surprising that you said
nothing to me about it before you started。 And why have you
omitted writing to a friend who is so easily made anxious as I？
Your letter arrived a trifle late； I had already seen the banker。
You are a child； Melchior； and you are playing tricks with us。 It
is not right。 The duke h