like　myself；　who　has　suffered；　who　knows　what　misery　is。　I　will　write
  to　her　and　console　her；　and　be　her　guardian　spirit；　she　shall　read　my
  heart；　my　soul；　she　shall　possess　by　double　wealth；　my　two　wealths；
  my　gold；　delicately　offered；　and　my　thought　robed　in　all　the　splendor
  which　the　accident　of　birth　has　denied　to　my　grotesque　body。　But　I
  myself　shall　remain　hidden　like　the　cause　that　science　seeks。　God
  himself　may　not　be　glorious　to　the　eye。　Well；　naturally；　the　maiden
  will　be　curious；　she　will　wish　to　see　me；　but　I　shall　tell　her　that　I
  am　a　monster　of　ugliness；　I　shall　picture　myself　hideous。〃
  At　these　words　Modeste　gave　Butscha　a　glance　that　looked　him　through
  and　through。　If　she　had　said　aloud；　〃What　do　you　know　of　my　love？〃　she
  could　not　have　been　more　explicit。
  〃If　I　have　the　honor　of　being　loved　for　the　poem　of　my　heart；　if　some
  day　such　love　may　make　a　woman　think　me　only　slightly　deformed；　I　ask
  you；　mademoiselle；　shall　I　not　be　happier　than　the　handsomest　of　men；
  as　happy　as　a　man　of　genius　beloved　by　some　celestial　being　like
  yourself。〃
  The　color　which　suffused　the　young　girl's　face　told　the　cripple　nearly
  all　he　sought　to　know。
  〃Well；　if　that　be　so；〃　he　went　on；　〃if　we　enrich　the　one　we　love；　if
  we　please　the　spirit　and　withdraw　the　body；　is　not　that　the　way　to
  make　one's　self　beloved？　At　any　rate　it　is　the　dream　of　your　poor
  dwarf；a　dream　of　yesterday；　for　to…day　your　mother　gives　me　the　key
  to　future　wealth　by　promising　me　the　means　of　buying　a　practice。　But
  before　I　become　another　Gobenheim；　I　seek　to　know　whether　this　dream
  could　be　really　carried　out。　What　do　you　say；　mademoiselle；　YOU？〃
  Modeste　was　so　astonished　that　she　did　not　notice　the　question。　The
  trap　of　the　lover　was　much　better　baited　than　that　of　the　soldier；　for
  the　poor　girl　was　rendered　speechless。
  〃Poor　Butscha！〃　whispered　Madame　Latournelle　to　her　husband。　〃Do　you
  think　he　is　going　mad？〃
  〃You　want　to　realize　the　story　of　Beauty　and　the　Beast；〃　said　Modeste
  at　length；　〃but　you　forget　that　the　Beast　turned　into　Prince
  Charming。〃
  〃Do　you　think　so？〃　said　the　dwarf。　〃Now　I　have　always　thought　that
  that　transformation　meant　the　phenomenon　of　the　soul　made　visible；
  obliterating　the　form　under　the　light　of　the　spirit。　If　I　were　not
  loved　I　should　stay　hidden；　that　is　all。　You　and　yours；　madame；〃　he
  continued；　addressing　his　mistress；　〃instead　of　having　a　dwarf　at　your
  service；　will　now　have　a　life　and　a　fortune。〃
  So　saying；　Butscha　resumed　his　seat；　remarking　to　the　three　whist…
  players　with　an　assumption　of　calmness；　〃Whose　deal　is　it？〃　but　within
  his　soul　he　whispered　sadly　to　himself：　〃She　wants　to　be　loved　for
  herself；　she　corresponds　with　some　pretended　great　man；　how　far　has　it
  gone？〃
  〃Dear　mamma；　it　is　nearly　ten　o'clock；〃　said　Modeste。
  Madame　Mignon　said　good…night　to　her　friends；　and　went　to　bed。
  They　who　wish　to　love　in　secret　may　have　Pyrenean　hounds；　mothers；
  Dumays；　and　Latournelles　to　spy　upon　them；　and　yet　not　be　in　any
  danger；　but　when　it　comes　to　a　lover！ah！　that　is　diamond　cut
  diamond；　flame　against　flame；　mind　to　mind；　an　equation　whose　terms
  are　mutual。
  On　Sunday　morning　Butscha　arrived　at　the　Chalet　before　Madame
  Latournelle；　who　always　came　to　take　Modeste　to　church；　and　he
  proceeded　to　blockade　the　house　in　expectation　of　the　postman。
  〃Have　you　a　letter　for　Mademoiselle　Mignon？〃　he　said　to　that　humble
  functionary　when　he　appeared。
  〃No；　monsieur；　none。〃
  〃This　house　has　been　a　good　customer　to　the　post　of　late；〃　remarked
  the　clerk。
  〃You　may　well　say　that；〃　replied　the　man。
  Modeste　both　heard　and　saw　the　little　colloquy　from　her　chamber
  window；　where　she　always　posted　herself　behind　the　blinds　at　this
  particular　hour　to　watch　for　the　postman。　She　ran　downstairs；　went
  into　the　little　garden；　and　called　in　an　imperative　voice：
  〃Monsieur　Butscha！〃
  〃Here　am　I；　mademoiselle；〃　said　the　cripple；　reaching　the　gate　as
  Modeste　herself　opened　it。
  〃Will　you　be　good　enough　to　tell　me　whether　among　your　various　titles
  to　a　woman's　affection　you　count　that　of　the　shameless　spying　in　which
  you　are　now　engaged？〃　demanded　the　girl；　endeavoring　to　crush　her
  slave　with　the　glance　and　gesture　of　a　queen。
  〃Yes；　mademoiselle；〃　he　answered　proudly。　〃Ah！　I　never　expected；〃　he
  continued　in　a　low　tone；　〃that　the　grub　could　be　of　service　to　a　star；
  but　so　it　is。　Would　you　rather　that　your　mother　and　Monsieur　Dumay
  and　Madame　Latournelle　had　guessed　your　secret　than　one；　excluded　as
  it　were　from　life；　who　seeks　to　be　to　you　one　of　those　flowers　that
  you　cut　and　wear　for　a　moment？　They　all　know　you　love；　but　I；　I　alone；
  KNOW　HOW。　Use　me　as　you　would　a　vigilant　watch…dog；　I　will　obey　you；
  protect　you；　and　never　bark；　neither　will　I　condemn　you。　I　ask　only　to
  be　of　service　to　you。　Your　father　has　made　Dumay　keeper　of　the　hen…
  roost；　take　Butscha　to　watch　outside；poor　Butscha；　who　doesn't　ask
  for　anything；　not　so　much　as　a　bone。〃
  〃Well；　I've　give　you　a　trial；〃　said　Modeste；　whose　strongest　desire
  was　to　get　rid　of　so　clever　a　watcher。　〃Please　go　at　once　to　all　the
  hotels　in　Graville　and　in　Havre；　and　ask　if　a　gentleman　has　arrived
  from　England　named　Monsieur　Arthur〃
  〃Listen　to　me；　mademoiselle；〃　said　Butscha；　interrupting　Modeste
  respectfully。　〃I　will　go　and　take　a　walk　on　the　seashore；　for　you
  don't　want　me　to　go　to　church　to…day；　that's　what　it　is。〃
  Modeste　looked　at　her　dwarf　with　a　perfectly　stupid　astonishment。
  〃Mademoiselle；　you　have　wrapped　your　face　in　cotton…wool　and　a　silk
  handkerchief；　but　there's　nothing　the　matter　with　you；　and　you　have
  put　that　thick　veil　on　your　bonnet　to　see　some　one　yourself　without
  being　seen。〃
  〃Where　did　you　acquire　all　that　perspicacity？〃　cried　Modeste；
  blushing。
  〃Moreover；　mademoiselle；　you　have　not　put　on　your　corset；　a　cold　in
  the　head　wouldn't　oblige　you　to　disfigure　your　waist　and　wear　half　a
  dozen　petticoats；　nor　hide　your　hands　in　these　old　gloves；　and　your
  pretty　feet　in　those　hideous　shoes；　nor　dress　yourself　like　a　beggar…
  woman；　nor〃
  〃That's　enough；〃　she　said。　〃How　am　I　to　be　certain　that　you　will　obey
  me？〃
  〃My　master　is　obliged　to　go　to　Sainte…Adresse。　He　does　not　like　it；
  but　he　is　so　truly　good　he　won't　deprive　me　of　my　Sunday；　I　will　offer
  to　go　for　him。〃
  〃Go；　and　I　will　trust　you。〃
  〃You　are　sure　I　can　do　nothing　for　you　in　Havre？〃
  〃Nothing。　Hear　me；　mysterious　dwarf；look；〃　she　continued；　pointing
  to　the　cloudless　sky；　〃can　you　see　a　single　trace　of　that　bird　that
  flew　by　just　now？　No；　well　then；　my　actions　are　pure　as　the　air　is
  pure；　and　leave　no　stain　behind　them。　You　may　reassure　Dumay　and　the
  Latournelles；　and　my　mother。　That　hand；〃　she　said；　holding　up　a　pretty
  delicate　hand；　with　the　points　of　the　rosy　fingers；　through　which　the
  light　shone；　slightly　turning　back；　〃will　never　be　given；　it　will
  never　even　be　kissed　by　what　people　call　a　lover　until　my　father　has
  returned。〃
  〃Why　don't　you　want　me　in　the　church　to…day？〃
  〃Do　you　venture　to　question　me　after　all　I　have　done　you　the　honor　to
  say；　and　to　ask　of　you？〃
  Butscha　bowed　without　another　word；　and　departed　to　find　his　master；
  in　all　the　rapture　of　being　taken　into　the　service　of　his　goddess。
  Half　an　hour　later；　Monsieur　and　Madame　Latournelle　came　to　fetch
  Modeste；　who　complained　of　a　horrible　toothache。
  〃I　really　have　not　had　the　courage　to　dress　myself；〃　she　said。
  〃Well　then；〃　replied　the　worthy　chaperone；　〃stay　at　home。〃
  〃Oh；　no！〃　said　Modeste。　〃I　would　rather　not。　I　have　bundled　myself　up；
  and　I　don't　think　it　will　do　me　any　harm　to　go　out。〃
  And　Mademoiselle　Mignon　marched　off　beside　Latournelle；　refusing　to
  take　his　arm　lest　she　should　be　questioned　about　the　outward　trembling
  which　betrayed　her　inward　agitation　at　the　thought　of　at　last　seeing
  her　great　poet。　One　look；　the　first；was　it　not　about　to　decide　her
  fate？
  CHAPTER　XIII
  A　FULL…LENGTH　PORTRAIT　OF　MONSIEUR　DE　LA　BRIERE
  Is　there　in　the　life　of　man　a　more　delightful　moment　than　that　of　a
  first　rendezvous？　Are　the　sensations　then　hidden　at　the　bottom　of　our
  hearts　and　finding　their　first　expression　ever　renewed？　Can　we　feel
  again　the　nameless　pleasures　that　we　felt　when；　like　Ernest　de　La
  Briere；　we　looked　up　our　sharpest　razors；　our　finest　shirt；　an
  irreproachable　collar；　and　our　best　clothes？　We　deify　the　garments
  associated　with　that　all…supreme　moment。　We　weave　within　us　poetic
  fancies　quite　equal　to　those　of　the　woman；　and　the　day　when　either
  party　guesses　them　they　take　wings　to　themselves　and　fly　away。　Are　not
  such　things　like　the　flower　of　wild　fruits；　bitter…sweet；　grown　in　the
  heart　of　a　forest；　the　joy　of　the　scant　sun…rays；　the　joy；　as　Canalis
  says　in　the　〃Maiden's　Song；〃　of　the　plant　itself　whose　eyes　unclosing
  see　its　own　image　within　its　breast？
  Such　emotions；　now