"He is after the millions," thought La Briere, sadly; "and he can play
passion so well that Modeste will believe him."
Instead of endeavoring to appear more amiable and wittier than his
rival, Ernest imitated the Duc d'Herouville, and was gloomy, anxious,
and watchful; but whereas the courier studied the freaks of the young
heiress, Ernest simply fell a prey to the pains of dark and
concentrated jealousy. He had not yet been able to obtain a glance
from his idol. After a while he left the room with Butscha.
"It is all over!" he said; "she is caught by him; I am more
disagreeable to her, and moreover, she is right. Canalis is charming;
there's intellect in his silence, passion in his eyes, poetry in his
rhodomontades."
"Is he an honest man?" asked Butscha.
"Oh, yes," replied La Briere. "He is loyal and chivalrous, and capable
of getting rid, under Modeste's influence, of those affectations which
Madame de Chaulieu has taught him."
"You are a fine fellow," said the hunchback; "but is he capable of
loving,--will he love her?"
"I don't know," answered La Briere. "Has she said anything about me?"
he asked after a moment's silence.
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