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mountain…tops still gilded by the sun when all is twilight in the
valley。
Ernest was at last able to slip a word into Modeste's ear； and she
rose immediately。
〃My dear；〃 said the duchesse； thinking she was going to dress； and
pulling a bell…rope； 〃they shall show you your apartment。〃
Ernest accompanied Modeste to the foot of the grand staircase；
presenting the request of the luckless poet； and endeavoring to touch
her feelings by describing Melchior's agony。
〃You see； he loveshe is a captive who thought he could break his
chain。〃
〃Love in such a rapid seeker after fortune！〃 retorted Modeste。
〃Mademoiselle； you are at the entrance of life； you do not know its
defiles。 The inconsistencies of a man who falls under the dominion of
a woman much older than himself should be forgiven； for he is really
not accountable。 Think how many sacrifices Canalis has made to her。 He
has sown too much seed of that kind to resign the harvest； the duchess
represents to him ten years of devotion and happiness。 You made him
forget all that； and unfortunately； he has more vanity than pride； he
did not reflect on what he was losing until he met Madame Chaulieu
here to…day。 If you really understood him； you would help him。 He is a
child； always mismanaging his life。 You call him a seeker after
fortune； but he seeks very badly； like all poets； he is a victim of
sensations； he is childish； easily dazzled like a child by anything
that shines； and pursuing its glitter。 He used to love horses and
pictures； and he craved fame；well； he sold his pictures to buy armor
and old furniture of the Renaissance and Louis XV。； just now he is
seeking political power。 Admit that his hobbies are noble things。〃
〃You have said enough；〃 replied Modeste； 〃come；〃 she added； seeing her
father； whom she called with a motion of her head to give her his arm；
〃come with me； and I will give you that scrap of paper； you shall
carry it to the great man and assure him of my condescension to his
wishes； but on one condition；you must thank him in my name for the
pleasure I have taken in seeing one of the finest of the German plays
performed in my honor。 I have learned that Goethe's masterpiece is
neither Faust nor Egmont〃 and then； as Ernest looked at the
malicious girl with a puzzled air； she added： 〃It is Torquato Tasso！
Tell Monsieur de Canalis to re…read it；〃 she added smiling； 〃I
particularly desire that you will repeat to your friend word for word
what I say； for it is not an epigram； it is the justification of his
conduct；with this trifling difference； that he will； I trust； become
more and more reasonable； thanks to the folly of his Eleonore。〃
The duchess's head…woman conducted Modeste and her father to their
apartment； where Francoise Cochet had already put everything in order；
and the choice elegance of which astounded the colonel； more
especially after he heard from Francoise that there were thirty other
apartments in the chateau decorated with the same taste。
〃This is what I call a proper country…house；〃 said Modeste。
〃The Comte de La Bastie must build you one like it；〃 replied her
father。
〃Here； monsieur；〃 said Modeste； giving the bit of paper to Ernest；
〃carry it to our friend and put him out of his misery。〃
The word OUR friend struck the young man's heart。 He looked at Modeste
to see if there was anything real in the community of interests which
she seemed to admit； and she； understanding perfectly what his look
meant； added； 〃Come； go at once； your friend is waiting。〃
La Briere colored excessively； and left the room in a state of doubt
and anxiety less endurable than despair。 The path that approaches
happiness is； to the true lover； like the narrow way which Catholic
poetry has called the entrance to Paradise；expressing thus a dark
and gloomy passage； echoing with the last cries of earthly anguish。
An hour later this illustrious company were all assembled in the
salon； some were playing whist； others conversing； the women had their
embroideries in hand； and all were waiting the announcement of dinner。
The Prince de Cadignan was drawing Monsieur Mignon out upon China； and
his campaigns under the empire； and making him talk about the
Portendueres； the L'Estorades； and the Maucombes； Provencal families；
he blamed him for not seeking service； and assured him that nothing
would be easier than to restore him to his rank as colonel of the
Guard。
〃A man of your birth and your fortune ought not to belong to the
present Opposition；〃 said the prince； smiling。
This society of distinguished persons not only pleased Modeste； but it
enabled her to acquire； during her stay； a perfection of manners which
without this revelation she would have lacked all her life。 Show a
clock to an embryo mechanic； and you reveal to him the whole
mechanism； he thus develops the germs of his faculty which lie dormant
within him。 In like manner Modeste had the instinct to appropriate the
distinctive qualities of Madame de Maufrigneuse and Madame de
Chaulieu。 For her； the sight of these women was an education； whereas
a bourgeois would merely have ridiculed their ways or made them absurd
by clumsy imitation。 A well…born； well…educated； and right…minded
young woman like Modeste fell naturally into connection with these
people； and saw at once the differences that separate the aristocratic
world from the bourgeois world； the provinces from the faubourg Saint…
Germain； she caught the almost imperceptible shadings； in short； she
perceived the grace of the 〃grande dame〃 without doubting that she
could herself acquire it。 She noticed also that her father and La
Briere appeared infinitely better in this Olympus than Canalis。 The
great poet； abdicating his real and incontestable power； that of the
mind； became nothing more than a courtier seeking a ministry；
intriguing for an order； and forced to please the whole galaxy。 Ernest
de La Briere； without ambitions； was able to be himself； while
Melchior became； to use a vulgar expression； a mere toady； and courted
the Prince de Loudon； the Duc de Rhetore； the Vicomte de Serizy； or
the Duc de Maufrigneuse； like a man not free to assert himself； as did
Colonel Mignon； who was justly proud of his campaigns； and of the
confidence of the Emperor Napoleon。 Modeste took note of the strained
efforts of the man of real talent； seeking some witticism that should
raise a laugh； some clever speech； some compliment with which to
flatter these grand personages； whom it was his interest to please。 In
a word； to Modeste's eyes the peacock plucked out his tail…feathers。
Toward the middle of the evening the young girl sat down with the
grand equerry in a corner of the salon。 She led him there purposely to
end a suit which she could no longer encourage if she wished to retain
her self…respect。
〃Monsieur le duc； if you really knew me；〃 she said； 〃you would
understand how deeply I am touched by your attention