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controlling and vitalizing the development of flesh。 There is no other
way to explain the lightness of her step； and the incomparable
nobility of her bearing。 None but the women whose quarterings begin
with Noah know； as Eleonore did； how to be majestic in spite of a
buxom tendency。 A philosopher might have pitied Philoxene； while
admiring the graceful lines of the bust and the minute care bestowed
upon a morning dress； which was worn with the elegance of a queen and
the easy grace of a young girl。 Her abundant hair； still undyed； was
simply wound about her head in plaits； she bared her snowy throat and
shoulders； exquisitely modelled； and her celebrated hand and arm； with
pardonable pride。 Modeste； together with all other antagonists of the
duchess； recognized in her a woman of whom they were forced to say；
〃She eclipses us。〃 In fact； Eleonore was one of the 〃grandes dames〃
now so rare。 To endeavor to explain what august quality there was in
the carriage of the head； what refinement and delicacy in the curve of
the throat； what harmony in her movements； and nobility in her
bearing； what grandeur in the perfect accord of details with the whole
being； and in the arts； now a second nature； which render a woman
grand and even sacred；to explain all these things would simply be to
attempt to analyze the sublime。 People enjoy such poetry as they enjoy
that of Paganini； they do not explain to themselves the medium； they
know the cause is in the spirit that remains invisible。
Madame de Chaulieu bowed her head in salutation of Helene and her
aunt； then； saying to Diane； in a pure and equable tone of voice；
without a trace of emotion； 〃Is it not time to dress； duchess？〃 she
made her exit； accompanied by her daughter…in…law and Mademoiselle
d'Herouville。 As she left the room she spoke in an undertone to the
old maid； who pressed her arm； saying； 〃You are charming；〃which
meant； 〃I am all gratitude for the service you have just done us。〃
After that； Mademoiselle d'Herouville returned to the salon to play
her part of spy； and her first glance apprised Canalis that the
duchess had made him no empty threat。 That apprentice in diplomacy
became aware that his science was not sufficient for a struggle of
this kind； and his wit served him to take a more honest position； if
not a worthier one。 When Ernest returned； bringing Modeste's
handkerchief； the poet seized his arm and took him out on the terrace。
〃My dear friend；〃 he said； 〃I am not only the most unfortunate man in
the world； but I am also the most ridiculous； and I come to you to get
me out of the hornet's nest into which I have run myself。 Modeste is a
demon； she sees my difficulty and she laughs at it； she has just
spoken to me of a fragment of a letter of Madame de Chaulieu； which I
had the folly to give her； if she shows it I can never make my peace
with Eleonore。 Therefore； will you at once ask Modeste to send me back
that paper； and tell her； from me； that I make no pretensions to her
hand。 Say I count upon her delicacy； upon her propriety as a young
girl； to behave to me as if we had never known each other。 I beg her
not to speak to me； I implore her to treat me harshly；though I
hardly dare ask her to feign a jealous anger； which would help my
interests amazingly。 Go； I will wait here for an answer。〃
CHAPTER XXVIII
MODESTE BEHAVES WITH DIGNITY
On re…entering the salon Ernest de La Briere found a young officer of
the company of the guard d'Havre； the Vicomte de Serizy； who had just
arrived from Rosny to announce that MADAME was obliged to be present
at the opening of the Chambers。 We know the importance then attached
to this constitutional solemnity； at which Charles X。 delivered his
speech； surrounded by the royal family；Madame la Dauphine and MADAME
being present in their gallery。 The choice of the emissary charged
with the duty of expressing the princess's regrets was an attention to
Diane； who was then an object of adoration to this charming young man；
son of a minister of state； gentleman in ordinary of the chamber； only
son and heir to an immense fortune。 The Duchesse de Maufrigneuse
permitted his attentions solely for the purpose of attracting notice
to the age of his mother； Madame de Serizy； who was said； in those
chronicles that are whispered behind the fans； to have deprived her of
the heart of the handsome Lucien de Rubempre。
〃You will do us the pleasure； I hope； to remain at Rosembray；〃 said
the severe duchess to the young officer。
While giving ear to every scandal； the devout lady shut her eyes to
the derelictions of her guests who had been carefully selected by the
duke； indeed； it is surprising how much these excellent women will
tolerate under pretence of bringing the lost sheep back to the fold by
their indulgence。
〃We reckoned without our constitutional government；〃 said the grand
equerry； 〃and Rosembray； Madame la duchesse； will lose a great honor。〃
〃We shall be more at our ease；〃 said a tall thin old man； about
seventy…five years of age； dressed in blue cloth； and wearing his
hunting…cap by permission of the ladies。 This personage； who closely
resembled the Duc de Bourbon； was no less than the Prince de Cadignan；
Master of the Hunt； and one of the last of the great French lords。
Just as La Briere was endeavoring to slip behind the sofa and obtain a
moment's intercourse with Modeste； a man of thirty…eight； short； fat；
and very common in appearance； entered the room。
〃My son； the Prince de Loudon；〃 said the Duchesse de Verneuil to
Modeste； who could not restrain the expression of amazement that
overspread her young face on seeing the man who bore the historical
name that the hero of La Vendee had rendered famous by his bravery and
the martyrdom of his death。
〃Gaspard；〃 said the duchess； calling her son to her。 The young prince
came at once； and his mother continued； motioning to Modeste；
〃Mademoiselle de La Bastie； my friend。〃
The heir presumptive； whose marriage with Desplein's only daughter had
lately been arranged； bowed to the young girl without seeming struck；
as his father had been； with her beauty。 Modeste was thus enabled to
compare the youth of to…day with the old age of a past epoch； for the
old Prince de Cadignan had already said a few words which made her
feel that he rendered as true a homage to womanhood as to royalty。 The
Duc de Rhetore； the eldest son of the Duchesse de Chaulieu； chiefly
remarkable for manners that were equally impertinent and free and
easy； bowed to Modeste rather cavalierly。 The reason of this contrast
between the fathers and the sons is to be found； probably； in the fact
that young men no longer feel themselves great beings； as their
forefathers did； and they dispense with the duties of greatness；
knowing well that they are now but the shadow of it。 The fathers
retain the inherent politeness of their vanished grandeur； like the
mountain…tops still gilded by the sun wh