modeste mignon-第55节
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！
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 himself is quite indignant at your
proceedings； he thinks you less than a gentleman； which casts some
reflections on your mother's honor。
Now； I intend to see things for myself。 I shall； I believe； have
the honor of accompanying MADAME to the hunt which the Duc
d'Herouville proposes to give for Mademoiselle de La Bastie。 I
will manage to have you invited to Rosembray； for the meet will
probably take place in Duc de Verneuil's park。
Pray believe； my dear poet； that I am none the less； for life；
Your friend； Eleonore de M。
〃There； Ernest； just look at that！〃 cried Canalis； tossing the letter
at Ernest's nose across the breakfast…table； 〃that's the two
thousandth love…letter I have had from that woman； and there isn't
even a 'thou' in it。 The illustrious Eleonore has never compromised
herself more than she does there。 Marry； and try your luck！ The worst
marriage in the world is better than this sort of halter。 Ah； I am the
greatest Nicodemus that ever tumbled out of the moon！ Modeste has
millions； and I've lost her； for we can't get back from the poles；
where we are to…day； to the tropics； where we were three days ago！
Well； I am all the more anxious for your triumph over the grand
equerry； because I told the duchess I came here only for your sake；
and so I shall do my best for you。〃
〃Alas； Melchior； Modeste must needs have so noble； so grand； so well…
balanced a nature to resist the glories of the Court； and all these
splendors cleverly displayed for her honor and glory by the duke； that
I cannot believe in the existence of such perfection；and yet； if she
is still the Modeste of her letters； there might be hope！〃
〃Well； well； you are a happy fellow； you young Boniface； to see the
world and your mistress through green spectacles！〃 cried Canalis；
marching off to pace up and down the garden。
Caught between two lies； the poet was at a loss what to do。
〃Play by rule； and you lose！〃 he cried presently； sitting down in the
kiosk。 〃Every man of sense would have acted as I did four days ago；
and got himself out of the net in which I saw myself。 At such times
people don't disentangle nets； they break through them！ Come； let us
be calm； cold； dignified； affronted。 Honor requires it； English
stiffness is the only way to win her back。 After all； if I have to
retire finally； I can always fall back on my old happiness； a fidelity
of ten years can't go unrewarded。 Eleonore will arrange me some good
marriage。〃
CHAPTER XXVI
TRUE LOVE
The hunt was destined to be not only a meet of the hounds； but a
meeting of all the passions excited by the colonel's millions and
Modeste's beauty； and while it was in prospect there was truce between
the adversaries。 During the days required for the arrangement of this
forestrial solemnity； the salon of the villa Mignon presented the
tranquil picture of a united family。 Canalis； cut short in his role of
injured love by Modeste's quick perceptions； wished to appear
courteous； he laid aside his pretensions； gave no further specimens of
his oratory； and became； what all men of intellect can be when they
renounce affectation； perfectly charming。 He talked finances with
Gobenheim； and war with the colonel； Germany with Madame Mignon； and
housekeeping with Madame Latournelle；endeavoring to bias them all in
favor of La Briere。 The Duc d'Herouville left the field to his rivals；
for he was obliged to go to Rosembray to consult with the Duc de
Verneuil； and see that the orders of the Royal Huntsman； the Prince de
Cadignan； were carried out。 And yet the comic element was not
altogether wanting。 Modeste found herself between the depreciatory
hints of Canalis as to the gallantry of the grand equerry； and the
exaggerations of the two Mesdemoiselles d'Herouville； who passed every
evening at the villa。 Canalis made Modeste take notice that； instead
of being the heroine of the hunt； she would be scarcely noticed。
MADAME would be attended by the Duchesse de Maufrigneuse； daughter…in…
law of the Prince de Cadignan； by the Duchesse de Chaulieu； and other
great ladies of the Court； among whom she could produce no sensation；
no doubt the officers in garrison at Rouen would be invited； etc。
Helene； on the other hand； was incessantly telling her new friend；
whom she already looked upon as a sister…in…law； that she was to be
presented to MADAME； undoubtedly the Duc de Verneuil would invite her
father and herself to stay at Rosembray； if the colonel wished to
obtain a favor of the king；a peerage； for instance；the opportunity
was unique； for there was hope of the king himself being present on
the third day； she would be delighted with the charming welcome with
which the beauties of the Court； the Duchesses de Chaulieu； de
Maufrigneuse； de Lenoncourt…Chaulieu； and other ladies； were prepared
to meet her。 It was in fact an excessivel
