Friendship is a
beautiful thing. I have kept him, but at what a price! Six millions,
that's the cost of it; we can't have many friends if we pay all that
for them."
La Briere entered the room as Canalis reached this point in his
meditations. He was gloom personified.
"Well, what's the matter?" said Canalis.
"The father exacts that his daughter shall choose between the two
Canalis--"
"Poor boy!" cried the poet, laughing, "he's a clever fellow, that
father."
"I have pledged my honor that I will take you to Havre," said La
Briere, piteously.
"My dear fellow," said Canalis, "if it is a question of your honor you
may count on me. I'll ask for leave of absence for a month."
"Modeste is so beautiful!" exclaimed La Briere, in a despairing tone.
"You will crush me out of sight. I wondered all along that fate should
be so kind to me; I knew it was all a mistake."
"Bah! we will see about that," said Canalis with inhuman gaiety.
That evening, after dinner, Charles Mignon and Dumay, were flying, by
virtue of three francs to each postilion, from Paris to Havre. The
father had eased the watch-dog's mind as to Modeste and her love
affairs; the guard was relieved, and Butscha's innocence established.
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