Which of these
celebrated men was free?--that was the question.
Modeste began by securing the co-operation of Francoise Cochet, a maid
taken from Havre and brought back again by poor Bettina, whom Madame
Mignon and Madame Dumay now employed by the day, and who lived in
Havre. Modeste took her to her own room and assured her that she would
never cause her parents any grief, never pass the bounds of a young
girl's propriety, and that as to Francoise herself she would be well
provided for after the return of Monsieur Mignon, on condition that
she would do a certain service and keep it an inviolable secret. What
was it? Why, a nothing--perfectly innocent. All that Modeste wanted of
her accomplice was to put certain letters into the post at Havre and
to bring some back which would be directed to herself, Francoise
Cochet. The treaty concluded, Modeste wrote a polite note to Dauriat,
publisher of the poems of Canalis, asking, in the interest of that
great poet, for some particulars about him, among others if he were
married. She requested the publisher to address his answer to
Mademoiselle Francoise, "poste restante," Havre.
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