You already have a pretty horse, now order a
habit; you owe that amount of civility to the grand equerry."
"All the more because there will be a number of us to ride," said
Modeste, who was recovering the colors of health.
"The secretary did not say much," remarked Madame Mignon.
"A little fool," said Madame Latournelle; "the poet has an attentive
word for everybody. He thanked Monsieur Latournelle for his help in
choosing the house; and said he must have taken counsel with a woman
of good taste. But the other looked as gloomy as a Spaniard, and kept
his eyes fixed on Modeste as though he would like to swallow her
whole. If he had even looked at me I should have been afraid of him."
"He had a pleasant voice," said Madame Mignon.
"No doubt he came to Havre to inquire about the Mignons in the
interests of his friend the poet," said Modeste, looking furtively at
her father. "It was certainly he whom we saw in church."
Madame Dumay and Monsieur and Madame Latournelle, accepted this as the
natural explanation of Ernest's journey.
CHAPTER XIX
OF WHICH THE AUTHOR THINKS A GOOD DEAL
"Do you know, Ernest," cried Canalis, when they had driven a short
distance from the house, "I don't see any marriageable woman in
society in Paris who compares with that adorable girl.
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