d by what means Thought produces the same internal disorganization as
poison; and how it is that despair affects the appetite, destroys the
pylorus, and changes all the physical conditions of the strongest life.
Such was the case with Modeste. In three short days she became the image
of morbid melancholy; she did not sing, she could not be made to smile.
Charles Mignon, becoming uneasy at the non-arrival of the two friends,
thought of going to fetch them, when, on the evening of the fifth day,
he received news of their movements through Latournelle.

Canalis, excessively delighted at the idea of a rich marriage, was
determined to neglect nothing that might help him to cut out La Briere,
without, however, giving La Briere a chance to reproach him for having
violated the laws of friendship. The poet felt that nothing would lower
a lover so much in the eyes of a young girl as to exhibit him in a
subordinate position; and he therefore proposed to La Briere, in the
most natural manner, to take a little country-house at Ingouville for a
month, and live there together on pretence of requiring sea-air. As
soon as La Briere, who at first saw nothing amiss in the proposal, had
consented, Canalis declared that he should pay all expenses, and he sent
his valet to Havre, telling him to see Monsieur Latournelle and get
his assistance in choosing the house,--well aware that the notary would
repeat all particulars to the Mignons. Ernest and Canalis had, as may
well be supposed, talked over all the aspects of the affair, and the
rather prolix Ernest had given a good many useful hints to his rival.
The valet, understanding his master's wishes, fulfilled them to the
letter; he trumpeted the arrival of the great poet, for whom the doctors
advised sea-air to restore his health, injured as it was by the double
toils of literature and politics. This important personage wanted a
house, which must have at least such and such a number of rooms, as he
would bring with him a secretary, cook, two servants, and a coachman,
not counting himself, Germain Bonnet, the valet. The carriage, selected
and hired for a month by Canalis, was a pretty one; and Germain
set about finding a pair of fine horses which would also answer as
saddle-horses,--for, as he said, monsieur le baron and his secretary
took horseback exercise. Under the eyes of little Latournelle, who went
with him to various houses, Germain made a good deal of talk about the
secretary, rejecting