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,