hich is the sweetest of
slumbers after that of the just.

At breakfast next morning, the friends agreed to spend the evening
of the following day at the Chalet and initiate themselves into the
delights of provincial whist. To get rid of the day they ordered their
horses, purchased by Germain at a large price, and started on a voyage
of discovery round the country, which was quite as unknown to them
as China; for the most foreign thing to Frenchmen in France is France
itself.

By dint of reflecting on his position as an unfortunate and despised
lover, Ernest went through something of the same process as Modeste's
first letter had forced upon him. Though sorrow is said to develop
virtue, it only develops it in virtuous persons; that cleaning-out of
the conscience takes place only in persons who are by nature clean.
La Briere vowed to endure his sufferings in Spartan silence, to act
worthily, and give way to no baseness; while Canalis, fascinated by the
enormous "dot," was telling himself to take every means of captivating
the heiress. Selfishness and devotion, the key-notes of the two
characters, therefore took, by the action of a moral law which is often
very odd in its effects, certain measures that were contrary to their
respective natures. The selfish man put on self-abnegation; the man who
thought chiefly of others took refuge on the Aventinus of pride. That
phenomenon is often seen in political life. Men frequently turn their
characters wrong side out, and it sometimes happens that the public is
unable to tell which is the right side.

After dinner the two friends heard of the arrival of the grand equerry,
who was presented at the Chalet the same evening by Latournelle.
Mademoiselle d'Herouville had contrived to wound that worthy man by
sending a footmen to tell him to come to her, instead of sending her
nephew in person; thus depriving the notary of a distinguished visit he
would certainly have talked about for the rest of his natural life. So
Latournelle curtly informed the grand equerry, when he proposed to
drive him to the Chalet, that he was engaged to take Madame Latournelle.
Guessing from the little man's sulky manner that there was some blunder
to repair, the duke said graciously:--

"Then I shall have the pleasure, if you will allow me, of taking Madame
Latournelle also."

Disregarding Mademoiselle d'Herouville's haughty shrug, the duke left
the room with the notary. Madame Latournelle, half-crazed wi