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her self…respect。
〃Monsieur le duc； if you really knew me；〃 she said； 〃you would
understand how deeply I am touched by your attentions。 It is because
of the profound respect I feel for your character； and the friendship
which a soul like yours inspires in mine； that I cannot endure to
wound your self…love。 Before your arrival in Havre I loved sincerely；
deeply； and forever； one who is worthy of being loved； and my
affection for whom is still a secret； but I wish you to knowand in
saying this I am more sincere than most young girlsthat had I not
already formed this voluntary attachment； you would have been my
choice； for I recognize your noble and beautiful qualities。 A few
words which your aunt and sister have said to me as to your intentions
lead me to make this frank avowal。 If you think it desirable； a letter
from my mother shall recall me； on pretence of her illness； to…morrow
morning before the hunt begins。 Without your consent I do not choose
to be present at a fete which I owe to your kindness； and where； if my
secret should escape me； you might feel hurt and defrauded。 You will
ask me why I have come here at all。 I could not withstand the
invitation。 Be generous enough not to reproach me for what was almost
a necessary curiosity。 But this is not the chief； not the most
delicate thing I have to say to you。 You have firm friends in my
father and myself；more so than perhaps you realize； and as my
fortune was the first cause that brought you to me； I wish to saybut
without intending to use it as a sedative to calm the grief which
gallantry requires you to testifythat my father has thought over the
affair of the marshes； his friend Dumay thinks your project feasible；
and they have already taken steps to form a company。 Gobenheim； Dumay；
and my father have subscribed fifteen hundred thousand francs； and
undertake to get the rest from capitalists； who will feel it in their
interest to take up the matter。 If I have not the honor of becoming
the Duchesse d'Herouville； I have almost the certainty of enabling you
to choose her； free from all trammels in your choice； and in a higher
sphere than mine。 Oh！ let me finish；〃 she cried； at a gesture from the
duke。
〃Judging by my nephew's emotion；〃 whispered Mademoiselle d'Herouville
to her niece； 〃it is easy to see you have a sister。〃
〃Monsieur le duc； all this was settled in my mind the day of our first
ride； when I heard you deplore your situation。 This is what I have
wished to say to you。 That day determined my future life。 Though you
did not make the conquest of a woman； you have at least gained
faithful friends at Ingouvilleif you will deign to accord us that
title。〃
This little discourse； which Modeste had carefully thought over； was
said with so much charm of soul that the tears came to the grand
equerry's eyes； he seized her hand and kissed it。
〃Stay during the hunt；〃 he said； 〃my want of merit has accustomed me
to these refusals； but while accepting your friendship and that of the
colonel； you must let me satisfy myself by the judgment of competent
scientific men； that the draining of those marshes will be no risk to
the company you speak of； before I agree to the generous offer of your
friends。 You are a noble girl； and though my heart aches to think I
can only be your friend； I will glory in that title； and prove it to
you at all times and in all seasons。〃
〃In that case； Monsieur le duc； let us keep our secret。 My choice will
not be known； at least I think not； until after my mother's complete
recovery。 I should like our first blessing to come from her eyes。〃
CHAPTER XXIX
CONCLUSION
〃Ladies；〃 said the Prince de Cadignan； as the guests were about to
separate for the night； 〃I know that several of you propose to follow
the hounds with us to…morrow； and it becomes my duty to tell you that
if you will be Dianas you must rise； like Diana； with the dawn。 The
meet is for half…past eight o'clock。 I have in the course of my life
seen many women display greater courage than men； but for a few
seconds only； and you will need a strong dose of resolution to keep
you on horseback the whole day； barring a halt for breakfast； which we
shall take； like true hunters and huntresses； on the nail。 Are you
still determined to show yourselves trained horse…women？〃
〃Prince； it is necessary for me to do so；〃 said Modeste； adroitly。
〃I answer for myself；〃 said the Duchesse de Chaulieu。
〃And I for my daughter Diane； she is worthy of her name；〃 added the
prince。 〃So； then； you all persist in your intentions？ However； I
shall arrange； for the sake of Madame and Mademoiselle de Verneuil and
others of the party who stay at home； to drive the stag to the further
end of the pond。〃
〃Make yourself quite easy； mesdames；〃 said the Prince de Loudon； when
the Royal Huntsman had left the room； 〃that breakfast 'on the nail'
will take place under a comfortable tent。〃
The next day； at dawn； all signs gave promise of a glorious day。 The
skies； veiled by a slight gray vapor； showed spaces of purest blue；
and would surely be swept clear before mid…day by the northwest wind；
which was already playing with the fleecy cloudlets。 As the hunting
party left the chateau； the Master of the Hunt； the Duc de Rhetore；
and the Prince de Loudon； who had no ladies to escort； rode in the
advance； noticing the white masses of the chateau； with its rising
chimneys relieved against the brilliant red…brown foliage which the
trees in Normandy put on at the close of a fine autumn。
〃The ladies are fortunate in their weather；〃 remarked the Duc de
Rhetore。
〃Oh； in spite of all their boasting；〃 replied the Prince de Cadignan；
〃I think they will let us hunt without them！〃
〃So they might； if each had not a squire；〃 said the duke。
At this moment the attention of these determined huntsmenfor the
Prince de Loudon and the Duc de Rhetore are of the race of Nimrod； and
the best shots of the faubourg Saint…Germainwas attracted by a loud
altercation； and they spurred their horses to an open space at the
entrance to the forest of Rosembray； famous for its mossy turf； which
was appointed for the meet。 The cause of the quarrel was soon
apparent。 The Prince de Loudon； afflicted with anglomania； had brought
out his own hunting establishment； which was exclusively Britannic；
and placed it under orders of the Master of the Hunt。 Now； one of his
men； a little Englishman；fair； pale； insolent； and phlegmatic；
scarcely able to speak a word of French； and dressed with a neatness
which distinguishes all Britons； even those of the lower classes；had
posted himself on one side of this open space。 John Barry wore a short
frock…coat； buttoned tightly at the waist； made of scarlet cloth； with
buttons bearing the De Verneuil arms； white leather breeches； top…
boots； a striped waistcoat； and a collar and cape of black velvet。 He
held in his hand a small hunting…whip； and hanging to