I have, from my emoluments and
sinecures, from the Academy and from my works, about thirty thousand
francs a year, a large income for a bachelor. If my wife brought me as
much more, I should still be in about the same condition that I am
now. Shall you give Mademoiselle a million?"
"Ah, monsieur, we have not reached that point as yet," said the
colonel, Jesuitically.
"Then suppose," said Canalis, quickly, "that we go no further; we will
let the matter drop. You shall have no cause to complain of me,
Monsieur le comte; the world shall consider me among the unfortunate
suitors of your charming daughter. Give me your word of honor to say
nothing on the subject to any one, not even to Mademoiselle Modeste,
because," he added, throwing a word of promise to the ear, "my
circumstances may so change that I can ask you for her without 'dot.'"
"I promise you that," said the colonel. "You know, monsieur, with what
assurance the public, both in Paris and the provinces, talk of
fortunes that they make and unmake. People exaggerate both happiness
and unhappiness; we are never so fortunate nor so unfortunate as
people say we are.
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