"Monsieur," said Modeste, after listening with delight to the melody
of this concerto; "the freedom granted to me by my parents has allowed
me to listen to you; but it is to them that you must address
yourself."
"But," exclaimed Canalis, "tell me that if I obtain their consent, you
will ask nothing better than to obey them."
"I know beforehand," she replied, "that my father has certain fancies
which may wound the proper pride of an old family like yours. He
wishes to have his own title and name borne by his grandsons."
"Ah! dear Modeste, what sacrifices would I not make to commit my life
to the guardian care of an angel like you."
"You will permit me not to decide in a moment the fate of my whole
life," she said, turning to rejoin the demoiselles d'Herouville.
Those noble ladies were just then engaged in flattering the vanity of
little Latournelle, intending to win him over to their interests.
Mademoiselle d'Herouville, to whom we shall in future confine the
family name, to distinguish her from her niece Helene, was giving the
notary to understand that the post of judge of the Supreme Court in
Havre, which Charles X.
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