[Modeste Mignon by Honore de Balzac]@TWC D-Link book
Modeste Mignon

CHAPTER XXIV
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THE POET FEELS THAT HE IS LOVED TOO WELL.
An hour later, Modeste, charmingly equipped in a bottle-green cassimere habit, a small hat with a green veil, buckskin gloves, and velvet boots which met the lace frills of her drawers, and mounted on an elegantly caparisoned little horse, was exhibiting to her father and the Duc d'Herouville the beautiful present she had just received; she was evidently delighted with an attention of a kind that particularly flatters women.
"Did it come from you, Monsieur le duc ?" she said, holding the sparkling handle toward him.

"There was a card with it, saying, 'Guess if you can,' and some asterisks.

Francoise and Dumay credit Butscha with this charming surprise; but my dear Butscha is not rich enough to buy such rubies.

And as for papa (to whom I said, as I remember, on Sunday evening, that I had no whip), he sent to Rouen for this one,"-- pointing to a whip in her father's hand, with a top like a cone of turquoise, a fashion then in vogue which has since become vulgar.
"I would give ten years of my old age, mademoiselle, to have the right to offer you that beautiful jewel," said the duke, courteously.
"Ah, here comes the audacious giver!" cried Modeste, as Canalis rode up.


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