and　in　their　distinctively　French　costume；　a　marked　contrast　to　the
  representative　of　insolent　Albion。　These　favorites　of　the　Prince；　each
  wearing　full…brimmed；　three…cornered　hats；　very　flat　and　very　wide…
  spreading；　beneath　which　grinned　their　swarthy；　tanned；　and　wrinkled
  faces；　lighted　by　three　pairs　of　twinkling　eyes；　were　noticeably　lean；
  sinewy；　and　vigorous；　like　men　in　whom　sport　had　become　a　passion。　All
  three　were　supplied　with　immense　horns　of　Dampierre；　wound　with　green
  worsted　cords；　leaving　only　the　brass　tubes　visible；　but　they
  controlled　their　dogs　by　the　eye　and　voice。　Those　noble　animals　were
  far　more　faithful　and　submissive　subjects　than　the　human　lieges　whom
  the　king　was　at　that　moment　addressing；　all　were　marked　with　white；
  black；　or　liver　spots；　each　having　as　distinctive　a　countenance　as　the
  soldiers　of　Napoleon；　their　eyes　flashing　like　diamonds　at　the
  slightest　noise。　One　of　them；　brought　from　Poitou；　was　short　in　the
  back；　deep　in　the　shoulder；　low…jointed；　and　lop…eared；　the　other；
  from　England；　white；　fine　as　a　greyhound　with　no　belly；　small　ears；
  and　built　for　running。　Both　were　young；　impatient；　and　yelping
  eagerly；　while　the　old　hounds；　on　the　contrary；　covered　with　scars；
  lay　quietly　with　their　heads　on　their　forepaws；　and　their　ears　to　the
  earth　like　savages。
  As　the　Englishman　came　up；　the　royal　dogs　and　huntsmen　looked　at　each
  other　as　though　they　said；　〃If　we　cannot　hunt　by　ourselves　his
  Majesty's　service　is　insulted。〃
  Beginning　with　jests；　the　quarrel　presently　grew　fiercer　between
  Monsieur　Jacquin　La　Roulie；　the　old　French　whipper…in；　and　John　Barry；
  the　young　islander。　The　two　princes　guessed　from　afar　the　subject　of
  the　altercation；　and　the　Master　of　the　Hunt；　setting　spurs　to　his
  horse；　brought　it　to　an　end　by　saying；　in　a　voice　of　authority：
  〃Who　drew　the　wood？〃
  〃I；　monseigneur；〃　said　the　Englishman。
  〃Very　good；〃　said　the　Prince　de　Cadignan；　proceeding　to　take　Barry's
  report。
  Dogs　and　men　became　silent　and　respectful　before　the　Royal　Huntsman；
  as　though　each　recognized　his　dignity　as　supreme。　The　prince　laid　out
  the　day's　work；　for　it　is　with　a　hunt　as　it　is　with　a　battle；　and　the
  Master　of　Charles　X。's　hounds　was　the　Napoleon　of　forests。　Thanks　to
  the　admirable　system　which　he　has　introduced　into　French　venery；　he
  was　able　to　turn　his　thoughts　exclusively　to　the　science　and　strategy
  of　it。　He　now　quietly　assigned　a　special　duty　to　the　Prince　de
  Loudon's　establishment；　that　of　driving　the　stag　to　water；　when；　as　he
  expected；　the　royal　hounds　had　sent　it　into　the　Crown　forest　which
  outlined　the　horizon　directly　in　front　of　the　chateau。　The　prince　knew
  well　how　to　soothe　the　self…love　of　his　old　huntsmen　by　giving　them
  the　most　arduous　part　of　the　work；　and　also　that　of　the　Englishman；
  whom　he　employed　at　his　own　speciality；　affording　him　a　chance　to　show
  the　fleetness　of　his　horses　and　dogs　in　the　open。　The　two　national
  systems　were　thus　face　to　face　and　allowed　to　do　their　best　under　each
  other's　eyes。
  〃Does　monseigneur　wish　us　to　wait　any　longer？〃　said　La　Roulie；
  respectfully。
  〃I　know　what　you　mean；　old　friend；〃　said　the　prince。　〃It　is　late；
  but〃
  〃Here　come　the　ladies；〃　said　the　second　whipper…in。
  At　that　moment　the　cavalcade　of　sixteen　riders　was　seen　to　approach　at
  the　head　of　which　were　the　green　veils　of　the　four　ladies。　Modeste；
  accompanied　by　her　father；　the　grand　equerry；　and　La　Briere；　was　in
  the　advance；　beside　the　Duchesse　de　Maufrigneuse　whom　the　Vicomte　de
  Serizy　escorted。　Behind　them　rode　the　Duchesse　de　Chaulieu；　flanked　by
  Canalis；　on　whom　she　was　smiling　without　a　trace　of　rancor。　When　they
  had　reached　the　open　space　where　the　huntsmen　with　their　red　coats　and
  brass　bugles；　surrounded　by　the　hounds；　made　a　picture　worthy　of　Van
  der　Meulen；　the　Duchesse　de　Chaulieu；　who；　in　spite　of　her　embonpoint；
  sat　her　horse　admirably；　rode　up　to　Modeste；　finding　it　more　for　her
  dignity　not　to　avoid　that　young　person；　to　whom　the　evening　before　she
  had　not　said　a　single　word。
  When　the　Master　of　the　Hunt　finished　his　compliments　to　the　ladies　on
  their　amazing　punctuality；　Eleonore　deigned　to　observe　the　magnificent
  whip　which　sparked　in　Modeste's　little　hand；　and　graciously　asked
  leave　to　look　at　it。
  〃I　have　never　seen　anything　of　the　kind　more　beautiful；〃　she　said；
  showing　it　to　Diane　de　Maufrigneuse。　〃It　is　in　keeping　with　its
  possessor；〃　she　added；　returning　it　to　Modeste。
  〃You　must　admit；　Madame　la　duchesse；〃　answered　Mademoiselle　de　La
  Bastie；　with　a　tender　and　malicious　glance　at　La　Briere；　〃that　it　is　a
  rather　strange　gift　from　the　hand　of　a　future　husband。〃
  〃I　should　take　it；〃　said　Madame　de　Maufrigneuse；　〃as　a　declaration　of
  my　rights；　in　remembrance　of　Louis　XIV。〃
  La　Briere's　eyes　were　suffused；　and　for　a　moment　he　dropped　his　reins；
  but　a　second　glance　from　Modeste　ordered　him　not　to　betray　his
  happiness。　The　hunt　now　began。
  The　Duc　d'Herouville　took　occasion　to　say　in　a　low　voice　to　his
  fortunate　rival；　〃Monsieur；　I　hope　that　you　will　make　your　wife　happy；
  if　I　can　be　useful　to　you　in　any　way；　command　my　services；　I　should　be
  only　too　glad　to　contribute　to　the　happiness　of　so　charming　a　pair。〃
  This　great　day；　in　which　such　vast　interests　of　heart　and　fortune　were
  decided；　caused　but　one　anxiety　to　the　Master　of　the　Hunt；namely；
  whether　or　not　the　stag　would　cross　the　pond　and　be　killed　on　the　lawn
  before　the　house；　for　huntsmen　of　his　calibre　are　like　great　chess…
  players　who　can　predict　a　checkmate　under　certain　circumstances。　The
  happy　old　man　succeeded　to　the　height　of　his　wishes；　the　run　was
  magnificent；　and　the　ladies　released　him　from　his　attendance　upon　them
  for　the　hunt　of　the　next　day　but　one；which；　however；　turned　out　to
  be　rainy。
  The　Duc　de　Verneuil's　guests　stayed　five　days　at　Rosembray。　On　the
  last　day　the　Gazette　de　France　announced　the　appointment　of　Monsieur
  le　Baron　de　Canalis　to　the　rank　of　commander　of　the　Legion　of　honor；
  and　to　the　post　of　minister　at　Carlsruhe。
  When；　early　in　the　month　of　December；　Madame　de　La　Bastie；　operated
  upon　by　Desplein；　recovered　her　sight　and　saw　Ernest　de　La　Briere　for
  the　first　time；　she　pressed　Modeste's　hand　and　whispered　in　her　ear；
  〃I　should　have　chosen　him　myself。〃
  Toward　the　last　of　February　all　the　deeds　for　the　estates　in　Provence
  were　signed　by　Latournelle；　and　about　that　time　the　family　of　La
  Bastie　obtained　the　marked　honor　of　the　king's　signature　to　the
  marriage　contract　and　to　the　ordinance　transmitting　their　title　and
  arms　to　La　Briere；　who　henceforth　took　the　name　of　La　Briere…La
  Bastie。　The　estate　of　La　Bastie　was　entailed　by　letters…patent　issued
  about　the　end　of　April。　La　Briere's　witnesses　on　the　occasion　of　his
  marriage　were　Canalis　and　the　minister　whom　he　had　served　for　five
  years　as　secretary。　Those　of　the　bride　were　the　Duc　d'Herouville　and
  Desplein；　whom　the　Mignons　long　held　in　grateful　remembrance；　after
  giving　him　magnificent　and　substantial　proofs　of　their　regard。
  Later；　in　the　course　of　this　long　history　of　our　manners　and　customs；
  we　may　again　meet　Monsieur　and　Madame　de　La　Briere…La　Bastie；　and
  those　who　have　the　eyes　to　see；　will　then　behold　how　sweet；　how　easy；
  is　the　marriage　yoke　with　an　educated　and　intelligent　woman；　for
  Modeste；　who　had　the　wit　to　avoid　the　follies　of　pedantry；　is　the
  pride　and　happiness　of　her　husband；　as　she　is　of　her　family　and　of　all
  those　who　surround　her。
  ADDENDUM
  The　following　personages　appear　in　other　stories　of　the　Human　Comedy。
  Beaupre；　Fanny
  A　Start　in　Life
  The　Muse　of　the　Department
  Scenes　from　a　Courtesan's　Life
  Bixiou；　Jean…Jacques
  The　Purse
  A　Bachelor's　Establishment
  The　Government　Clerks
  Scenes　from　a　Courtesan's　Life
  The　Firm　of　Nucingen
  The　Muse　of　the　Department
  Cousin　Betty
  The　Member　for　Arcis
  Beatrix
  A　Man　of　Business
  Gaudissart　II。
  The　Unconscious　Humorists
  Cousin　Pons
  Blondet；　Emile
  Jealousies　of　a　Country　Town
  A　Distinguished　Provincial　at　Paris
  Scenes　from　a　Courtesan's　Life
  Another　Study　of　Woman
  The　Secrets　of　a　Princess
  A　Daughter　of　Eve
  The　Firm　of　Nucingen
  The　Peasantry
  Bridau；　Joseph
  The　Purse
  A　Bachelor's　Establishment
  A　Distinguished　Provincial　at　Paris
  A　Start　in　Life
  Another　Study　of　Woman
  Pierre　Grassou
  Letters　of　Two　Brides
  Cousin　Betty
  The　Member　for　Arcis
  Cadignan；　Prince　de
  The　Secrets　of　a　Princess
  Canalis；　Constant…Cyr…Melchior；　Baron　de
  Letters　of　Two　Brides
  A　Distinguished　Provincial　at　Paris
  The　Magic　Skin
  Another　Study　of　Woman
  A　Start　in　Life
  Beatrix
  The　Unconscious　Humorists
  The　Member　for　Arcis
  Chatillonest；　De
  A　Woman　of　Thirty
  Chaulieu；　Henri；　Duc　de
  Letters　of　Two　Brides
  A　Bachelor's　Establ