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