, and made him laugh,
--although the Duc d'Herouville justified his appointment in the
matter of being a fine horseman. Men are like books, often understood
and appreciated too late. Modeste had seen the duke during his
fruitless visit to the Vilquins, and many of these reflections passed
through her mind as she watched him come and go. But under the
circumstances in which she now found herself, she saw plainly that the
courtship of the Duc d'Herouville would save her from being at the
mercy of either Canalis.
"I see no reason," she said to Latournelle, "why the Duc d'Herouville
should not be received. I have passed, in spite of our indigence," she
continued, with a mischievous look at her father, "to the condition of
heiress. Haven't you observed Gobenheim's glances? They have quite
changed their character within a week. He is in despair at not being
able to make his games of whist count for mute adoration of my
charms."
"Hush, my darling!" cried Madame Latournelle, "here he comes."
"Old Althor is in despair," said Gobenheim to Monsieur Mignon as he
entered.
"Why?" asked the count.
"Vilquin is going to fail; and the Bourse thinks you are worth several
millions.
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