"You don't love Canalis; neither do I."
"He is my friend," replied Ernest.
"Ha, you are the little secretary?"
"You are to know, monsieur, that I am no man's secretary. I have the
honor to be of counsel to a supreme court of this kingdom."
"I have the honor to salute Monsieur de La Briere," said Butscha. "I
myself have the honor to be head clerk to Latournelle, chief
councillor of Havre, and my position is a better one than yours. Yes,
I have had the happiness of seeing Mademoiselle Modeste de La Bastie
nearly every evening for the last four years, and I expect to live
near her, as a king's servant lives in the Tuileries. If they offered
me the throne of Russia I should answer, 'I love the sun too well.'
Isn't that telling you, monsieur, that I care more for her than for
myself? I am looking after her interests with the most honorable
intentions. Do you believe that the proud Duchesse de Chaulieu would
cast a favorable eye on the happiness of Madame de Canalis if her
waiting-woman, who is in love with Monsieur Germain, not liking that
charming valet's absence in Havre, were to say to her mistress while
brushing her hair--"
"Who do you know about all this?" said La Briere, interrupting
Butscha.
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