should have the
double pleasure of greeting one of our great living poets."

"Great!--Monsieur," replied the poet, smiling, "no one can be great in a
century prefaced by the reign of a Napoleon. We are a tribe of would-be
great poets; besides, second-rate talent imitates genius nowadays, and
renders real distinction impossible."

"Is that the reason why you have thrown yourself into politics?" asked
the count.

"It is the same thing in that sphere," said the poet; "there are no
statesmen in these days, only men who handle events more or less. Look
at it, monsieur; under the system of government that we derive from the
Charter, which makes a tax-list of more importance than a coat-of-arms,
there is absolutely nothing solid except that which you went to seek in
China,--wealth."

Satisfied with himself and with the impression he was making on the
prospective father-in-law, Canalis turned to Germain.

"Serve the coffee in the salon," he said, inviting Monsieur de La Bastie
to leave the dining-room.

"I thank you for this visit, monsieur le comte," said La Briere; "it
saves me from the embarrassment of presenting my friend to you in your
own house. You have a heart, and you have also a quick mind."

"Bah! the ready wit of Provence, that is all," said Charles Mignon.

"Ah, do you come from Provence?" cried Canalis.

"You must pardon my friend," said La Briere; "he has not studied, as I
have, the history of La Bastie."

At the word _friend_ Canalis threw a searching glance at Ernest.

"If your health will allow," said the count to the poet, "I shall hope
to receive you this evening under my roof; it will be a day to mark,
as the old writer said 'albo notanda lapillo.' Though we cannot duly
receive so great a fame in our little house, yet your visit will gratify
my daughter, whose admiration for your poems has even led her to set
them to music."

"You have something better than fame in your house," said Canalis; "you
have beauty, if I am to believe Ernest."

"Yes, a good daughter; but you will find her rather countrified," said
Charles Mignon.

"A country girl sought by the Duc d'Herouville," remarked Canalis,
dryly.

"Oh!" replied Monsieur Mignon, with the perfidious good-humor of a
Southerner, "I leave my daughter free. Dukes, princes, commoners,--they
are all the same to me, even men of genius. I shall make no pledges, and
whoever my Modeste chooses will be my son-in-law, or rather my son," he
added, look