"
The pure, fresh voice, with accents like that of Mademoiselle Mars,
charmed the poor secretary, already dazzled by Modeste's beauty, and
in his sudden surprise he answered by a phrase that would have been
sublime, had it been true.
"He is my friend," he said.
"Ah, then you do pardon me," she replied.
"He is more than a friend," cried Canalis taking Ernest by the
shoulder and leaning upon it like Alexander on Hephaestion, "we love
each other as though we were brothers--"
Madame Latournelle cut short the poet's speech by pointing to Ernest
and saying aloud to her husband, "Surely that is the gentleman we saw
at church."
"Why not?" said Charles Mignon, quickly, observing that Ernest
reddened.
Modeste coldly took up her embroidery.
"Madame may be right; I have been twice in Havre lately," replied La
Briere, sitting down by Dumay.
Canalis, charmed with Modeste's beauty, mistook the admiration she
expressed, and flattered himself he had succeeded in producing his
desired effects.
"I should think a man without heart, if he had no devoted friend near
him," said Modeste, to pick up the conversation interrupted by Madame
Latournelle's awkwardness.
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