One of us owes his rich marriage to an hydraulic piece of poetry,
while I, more seductive, more a woman's man than he, have missed mine,
--for, do you love her, poor girl?" he said, looking up at La Briere.
"Oh!" ejaculated the young man.
"Well then," said the poet, taking his secretary's arm and leaning
heavily upon it, "be happy, Ernest. By a mere accident I have been not
ungrateful to you. You are richly rewarded for your devotion, and I
will generously further your happiness."
Canalis was furious; but he could not behave otherwise than with
propriety, and he made the best of his disappointment by mounting it
as a pedestal.
"Ah, Canalis, I have never really known you till this moment."
"Did you expect to? It takes some time to go round the world," replied
the poet with his pompous irony.
"But think," said La Briere, "of this enormous fortune."
"Ah, my friend, is it not well invested in you?" cried Canalis,
accompanying the words with a charming gesture.
"Melchior," said La Briere, "I am yours for life and death."
He wrung the poet's hand and left him abruptly, for he was in haste to
meet Monsieur Mignon.
Pages:
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235