modeste mignon-第18章
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more perhaps by the dangerous meditations of her solitary life；was
suddenly caught by a ray of sunshine flickering across her face。 She
had been standing for three hours on the shores of the vast sea of
Doubt。 Nights like these are never forgotten。 Modeste walked straight
to her little Chinese table； a gift from her father； and wrote a
letter dictated by the infernal spirit of vengeance which palpitates
in the hearts of young girls。
CHAPTER VIII
BLADE TO BLADE
To Monsieur de Canalis：
Monsieur；You are certainly a great poet； and you are something
more；an honest man。 After showing such loyal frankness to a
young girl who was stepping to the verge of an abyss； have you
enough left to answer without hypocrisy or evasion the following
question？
Would you have written the letter I now hold in answer to mine；
would your ideas； your language have been the same；had some one
whispered in your ear （what may prove true）； Mademoiselle O。
d'Este M。 has six millions and does intend to have a dunce for a
master？
Admit the supposition for a moment。 Be with me what you are with
yourself； fear nothing。 I am wiser than my twenty years； nothing
that is frank can hurt you in my mind。 When I have read your
confidence； if you deign to make it； you shall receive from me an
answer to your first letter。
Having admired your talent； often so sublime； permit me to do
homage to your delicacy and your integrity； which force me to
remain always；
Your humble servant；
O。 d'Este M。
When Ernest de La Briere had held this letter in his hands for some
little time he went to walk along the boulevards； tossed in mind like
a tiny vessel by a tempest when the wind is blowing from all points of
the compass。 Most young men； specially true Parisians； would have
settled the matter in a single phrase； 〃The girl is a little hussy。〃
But for a youth whose soul was noble and true； this attempt to put
him； as it were； upon his oath； this appeal to truth； had the power to
awaken the three judges hidden in the conscience of every man。 Honor；
Truth； and Justice； getting on their feet； cried out in their several
ways energetically。
〃Ah； my dear Ernest；〃 said Truth； 〃you never would have read that
lesson to a rich heiress。 No； my boy； you would have gone in hot haste
to Havre to find out if the girl were handsome； and you would have
been very unhappy indeed at her preference for genius； and if you
could have tripped up your friend and supplanted him in her
affections； Mademoiselle d'Este would have been a divinity。〃
〃What？〃 cried Justice； 〃are you not always bemoaning yourselves； you
penniless men of wit and capacity； that rich girls marry beings whom
you wouldn't take as your servants？ You rail against the materialism
of the century which hastens to join wealth to wealth； and never
marries some fine young man with brains and no money to a rich girl。
What an outcry you make about it； and yet here is a young woman who
revolts against that very spirit of the age； and behold！ the poet
replies with a blow at her heart！〃
〃Rich or poor； young or old； ugly or handsome； the girl is right； she
has sense and judgment； she has tripped you over into the slough of
self…interest and lets you know it；〃 cried Honor。 〃She deserves an
answer； a sincere and loyal and frank answer； and； above all； the
honest expression of your thought。 Examine yourself！ sound your heart
and purge it of its meannesses。 What would Moliere's Alceste say？〃
And La Briere； having started from the boulevard Poissoniere； walked
so slowly； absorbed in these reflections； that he was more than an
hour in reaching the boulevard des Capucines。 Then he followed the
quays； which led him to the Cour des Comptes； situated in that time
close to the Saint…Chapelle。 Instead of beginning on the accounts as
he should have done； he remained at the mercy of his perplexities。
〃One thing is evident；〃 he said to himself； 〃she hasn't six millions；
but that's not the point〃
Six days later； Modeste received the following letter：
Mademoiselle；You are not a D'Este。 The name is a feigned one to
conceal your own。 Do I owe the revelations which you solicit to a
person who is untruthful about herself？ Question for question： Are
you of an illustrious family？ or a noble family？ or a middle…class
family？ Undoubtedly ethics and morality cannot change； they are
one： but obligations vary in the different states of life。 Just as
the sun lights up a scene diversely and produces differences which
we admire； so morality conforms social duty to rank； to position。
The peccadillo of a soldier is a crime in a general； and vice…
versa。 Observances are not alike in all cases。 They are not the
same for the gleaner in the field； for the girl who sews at
fifteen sous a day； for the daughter of a petty shopkeeper； for
the young bourgoise； for the child of a rich merchant； for the
heiress of a noble family； for a daughter of the house of Este。 A
king must not stoop to pick up a piece of gold； but a laborer
ought to retrace his steps to find ten sous； though both are
equally bound to obey the laws of economy。 A daughter of Este； who
is worth six millions； has the right to wear a broad…brimmed hat
and plume； to flourish her whip； press the flanks of her barb； and
ride like an amazon decked in gold lace； with a lackey behind her；
into the presence of a poet and say： 〃I love poetry； and I would
fain expiate Leonora's cruelty to Tasso！〃 but a daughter of the
people would cover herself with ridicule by imitating her。 To what
class do you belong？ Answer sincerely； and I will answer the
question you have put to me。
As I have not the honor of knowing you personally； and yet am
bound to you； in a measure； by the ties of poetic communion； I am
unwilling to offer any commonplace compliments。 Perhaps you have
already won a malicious victory by thus embarrassing a maker of
books。
The young man was certainly not wanting in the sort of shrewdness
which is permissible to a man of honor。 By return courier he received
an answer：
To Monsieur de Canalis；You grow more and more sensible； my dear
poet。 My father is a count。 The chief glory of our house was a
cardinal； in the days when cardinals walked the earth by the side
of kings。 I am the last of our family； which ends in me； but I
have the necessary quarterings to make my entry into any court or
chapter…house in Europe。 We are quite the equals of the Canalis。
You will be so kind as to excuse me from sending you our arms。
Endeavor to answer me as truthfully as I have now answered you。 I
await your response to know if I can then sign myself as I do now；
Your servant； O。 d'Este M。
〃The little mischief！ how she abuses her privileges；〃 cried La Briere；
〃but isn't she frank！〃
No young man can be four years private secretary to a cabinet
minister； and live in Paris and observe the carrying on of many
intrigues； with perfect impunity； in fact； the purest soul is more or
less intoxicated by the heady atmosphere of the imperial city。 Happy
in the thought that he was not Canalis； our young secretary engaged a
place in the mail…coach for Havre； after writing a letter in which he
announced that the promised answer would be sent a few days later；
excusing the delay on the ground of the importance of the confession
and the pressure of his duties at the ministry。
He took care to get from the director…general of the post…office a
note to the postmaster at Havre； requesting secrecy and attention to
his wishes。 Ernest was thus enabled to see Francoise Cochet when she
came for the letters； and to follow her without exciting observation。
Guided by her； he reached Ingouville and saw Modeste Mignon at the
window of the Chalet。
〃Well； Francoise？〃 he heard the yo
