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Title:Camille(LaDameauxCamilias)
Author:AlexandreDumas,fils
PostingDate:September26,2008[EBook#1608]
ReleaseDate:January,1999
Language:English
Charactersetencoding:ASCII
***STARTOFTHISPROJECTGUTENBERGEBOOKCAMILLE(LA
DAMEAUXCAMILIAS)***

ProducedbyDianneBean

CAMILLE(LADAMEAUXCAMILIAS)
ByAlexandreDumas,fils

Chapter1
Inmyopinion,itisimpossibletocreatecharacters
untilonehasspent
alongtimeinstudyingmen,asitisimpossibleto
speakalanguage
untilithasbeenseriouslyacquired.Notbeingold
enoughtoinvent,I
contentmyselfwithnarrating,andIbegthereaderto
assurehimselfof
thetruthofastoryinwhichallthecharacters,with
theexceptionof
theheroine,arestillalive.Eyewitnessesofthe
greaterpartofthe
factswhichIhavecollectedaretobefoundinParis,
andImightcall
uponthemtoconfirmmeifmytestimonyisnotenough.
And,thankstoa
particularcircumstance,Ialonecanwritethese
things,forIalone
amabletogivethefinaldetails,withoutwhichit
wouldhavebeen
impossibletomakethestoryatonceinterestingand
complete.
Thisishowthesedetailscametomyknowledge.Onthe
12thofMarch,
1847,IsawintheRueLafitteagreatyellowplacard
announcingasale
offurnitureandcuriosities.Thesalewastotake
placeonaccountof
thedeathoftheowner.Theowner'snamewasnot
mentioned,butthesale
wastobeheldat9,Rued'Antin,onthe16th,from12
to5.Theplacard
furtherannouncedthattheroomsandfurniturecouldbe
seenonthe13th
and14th.
Ihavealwaysbeenveryfondofcuriosities,andImade

upmymindnot
tomisstheoccasion,ifnotofbuyingsome,atall
eventsofseeing
them.NextdayIcalledat9,Rued'Antin.
Itwasearlyintheday,andyettherewerealreadya
numberof
visitors,bothmenandwomen,andthewomen,though
theyweredressed
incashmereandvelvet,andhadtheircarriageswaiting
forthematthe
door,gazedwithastonishmentandadmirationatthe
luxurywhichthey
sawbeforethem.
Iwasnotlongindiscoveringthereasonofthis
astonishmentand
admiration,for,havingbeguntoexaminethingsa
littlecarefully,I
discoveredwithoutdifficultythatIwasinthehouse
ofakeptwoman.
Now,ifthereisonethingwhichwomeninsocietywould
liketosee(and
thereweresocietywomenthere),itisthehomeof
thosewomenwhose
carriagessplashtheirowncarriagesdaybyday,who,
likethem,sideby
sidewiththem,havetheirboxesattheOperaandat
theItaliens,
andwhoparadeinParistheopulentinsolenceoftheir
beauty,their
diamonds,andtheirscandal.
Thisonewasdead,sothemostvirtuousofwomencould
enterevenher
bedroom.Deathhadpurifiedtheairofthisabodeof
splendidfoulness,
andifmoreexcusewereneeded,theyhadtheexcuse
thattheyhadmerely
cometoasale,theyknewnotwhose.Theyhadreadthe
placards,they

wishedtoseewhattheplacardshadannounced,andto
maketheirchoice
beforehand.Whatcouldbemorenatural?Yet,allthe
same,inthemidst
ofallthesebeautifulthings,theycouldnothelp
lookingaboutfor
sometracesofthiscourtesan'slife,ofwhichtheyhad
heard,nodoubt,
strangeenoughstories.
Unfortunatelythemysteryhadvanishedwiththe
goddess,and,for
alltheirendeavours,theydiscoveredonlywhatwason
salesince
theowner'sdecease,andnothingofwhathadbeenon
saleduringher
lifetime.Fortherest,therewereplentyofthings
worthbuying.The
furniturewassuperb;therewererosewoodandbuhl
cabinetsandtables,
SevresandChinesevases,Saxestatuettes,satin,
velvet,lace;there
wasnothinglacking.
Isaunteredthroughtherooms,followingthe
inquisitiveladiesof
distinction.TheyenteredaroomwithPersianhangings,
andIwasjust
goingtoenterinturn,whentheycameoutagainalmost
immediately,
smiling,andasifashamedoftheirowncuriosity.I
wasallthemore
eagertoseetheroom.Itwasthedressingroom,laid
outwithallthe
articlesoftoilet,inwhichthedeadwoman's
extravaganceseemedtobe
seenatitsheight.
Onalargetableagainstthewall,atablethreefeet
inwidthandsix
inlength,glitteredallthetreasuresofAucocand

Odiot.Itwasa
magnificentcollection,andtherewasnotoneofthose
thousandlittle
thingssonecessarytothetoiletofawomanofthe
kindwhichwasnot
ingoldorsilver.Suchacollectioncouldonlyhave
beengottogether
littlebylittle,andthesameloverhadcertainlynot
begunandended
it.
Notbeingshockedatthesightofakeptwoman's
dressingroom,I
amusedmyselfwithexaminingeverydetail,andI
discoveredthatthese
magnificentlychiselledobjectsboredifferentinitials
anddifferent
coronets.Ilookedatoneafteranother,eachrecalling
aseparate
shame,andIsaidthatGodhadbeenmercifultothe
poorchild,innot
havinglefthertopaytheordinarypenalty,butrather
todiein
themidstofherbeautyandluxury,beforethecoming
ofoldage,the
courtesan'sfirstdeath.
Isthereanythingsadderintheworldthantheoldage
ofvice,
especiallyinwoman?Shepreservesnodignity,she
inspiresnointerest.
Theeverlastingrepentance,notoftheevilways
followed,butofthe
plansthathavemiscarried,themoneythathasbeen
spentinvain,is
assaddeningathingasonecanwellmeetwith.Iknew
anagedwomanwho
hadoncebeen"gay,"whoseonlylinkwiththepastwas
adaughteralmost
asbeautifulassheherselfhadbeen.Thispoor
creaturetowhomher

motherhadneversaid,"Youaremychild,"exceptto
bidhernourishher
oldageassheherselfhadnourishedheryouth,was
calledLouise,and,
beingobedienttohermother,sheabandonedherself
withoutvolition,
withoutpassion,withoutpleasure,asshewouldhave
workedatanyother
professionthatmighthavebeentaughther.
Theconstantsightofdissipation,precocious
dissipation,inaddition
toherconstantsicklystate,hadextinguishedinher
mindallthe
knowledgeofgoodandevilthatGodhadperhapsgiven
her,butthatno
onehadeverthoughtofdeveloping.Ishallalways
rememberher,as
shepassedalongtheboulevardsalmosteverydayatthe
samehour,
accompaniedbyhermotherasassiduouslyasareal
mothermighthave
accompaniedherdaughter.Iwasveryyoungthen,and
readytoacceptfor
myselftheeasymoralityoftheage.Iremember,
however,the
contemptanddisgustwhichawokeinmeatthesightof
thisscandalous
chaperoning.Herface,too,wasinexpressiblyvirginal
initsexpression
ofinnocenceandofmelancholysuffering.Shewaslike
afigureof
Resignation.
Onedaythegirl'sfacewastransfigured.Inthemidst
ofallthe
debauchesmappedoutbyhermother,itseemedtoheras
ifGodhadleft
overforheronehappiness.AndwhyindeedshouldGod,
whohadmadeher
withoutstrength,haveleftherwithoutconsolation,

underthesorrowful
burdenofherlife?Oneday,then,sherealizedthat
shewastohavea
child,andallthatremainedtoherofchastityleaped
forjoy.Thesoul
hasstrangerefuges.Louiserantotellthegoodnews
tohermother.
Itisashamefulthingtospeakof,butwearenot
tellingtalesof
pleasantsins;wearetellingoftruefacts,whichit
wouldbebetter,
nodoubt,topassoverinsilence,ifwedidnot
believethatitis
needfulfromtimetotimetorevealthemartyrdomof
thosewhoare
condemnedwithoutbearing,scornedwithoutjudging;
shamefulitis,but
thismotheransweredthedaughterthattheyhadalready
scarceenough
fortwo,andwouldcertainlynothaveenoughforthree;
thatsuch
childrenareuseless,andalyinginissomuchtime
lost.
Nextdayamidwife,ofwhomallwewillsayisthatshe
wasafriendof
themother,visitedLouise,whoremainedinbedfora
fewdays,andthen
gotuppalerandfeeblerthanbefore.
Threemonthsafterwardamantookpityonherandtried
tohealher,
morallyandphysically;butthelastshockhadbeentoo
violent,and
Louisediedofit.Themotherstilllives;how?God
knows.
ThisstoryreturnedtomymindwhileIlookedatthe
silvertoilet
things,andacertainspaceoftimemusthaveelapsed
duringthese

reflections,fornoonewasleftintheroombutmyself
andan
attendant,who,standingnearthedoor,wascarefully
watchingmetosee
thatIdidnotpocketanything.
Iwentuptotheman,towhomIwascausingsomuch
anxiety."Sir,"I
said,"canyoutellmethenameofthepersonwho
formerlylivedhere?"
"MademoiselleMargueriteGautier."
Iknewherbynameandbysight.
"What!"Isaidtotheattendant;"MargueriteGautieris
dead?"
"Yes,sir."
"Whendidshedie?"
"Threeweeksago,Ibelieve."
"Andwhyaretheroomsonview?"
"Thecreditorsbelievethatitwillsenduptheprices.
Peoplecansee
beforehandtheeffectofthethings;youseethat
inducesthemtobuy."
"Shewasindebt,then?"
"Toanyextent,sir."
"Butthesalewillcoverit?"
"Andmoretoo."
"Whowillgetwhatremainsover?"

"Herfamily."
"Shehadafamily?"
"Itseemsso."
"Thanks."
Theattendant,reassuredastomyintentions,touched
hishat,andI
wentout.
"Poorgirl!"IsaidtomyselfasIreturnedhome;"she
musthavehada
saddeath,for,inherworld,onehasfriendsonlywhen
oneisperfectly
well."AndinspiteofmyselfIbegantofeel
melancholyoverthefate
ofMargueriteGautier.
Itwillseemabsurdtomanypeople,butIhavean
unboundedsympathy
forwomenofthiskind,andIdonotthinkitnecessary
toapologizefor
suchsympathy.
Oneday,asIwasgoingtothePrefecturefora
passport,Isawinone
oftheneighbouringstreetsapoorgirlwhowasbeing
marchedalongby
twopolicemen.Idonotknowwhatwasthematter.AllI
knowisthatshe
wasweepingbitterlyasshekissedaninfantonlyafew
monthsold,from
whomherarrestwastoseparateher.SincethatdayI
haveneverdared
todespiseawomanatfirstsight.

Chapter2

Thesalewastotakeplaceonthe16th.Aday's
intervalhadbeenleft
betweenthevisitingdaysandthesale,inorderto
givetimefortaking
downthehangings,curtains,etc.Ihadjustreturned
fromabroad.It
wasnaturalthatIhadnotheardofMarguerite'sdeath
amongthepieces
ofnewswhichone'sfriendsalwaystellonreturning
afteranabsence.
Margueritewasaprettywoman;butthoughthelifeof
suchwomenmakes
sensationenough,theirdeathmakesverylittle.They
aresunswhichset
astheyrose,unobserved.Theirdeath,whentheydie
young,isheard
ofbyalltheirloversatthesamemoment,forinParis
almostall
theloversofawellknownwomanarefriends.Afew
recollectionsare
exchanged,andeverybody'slifegoesonasifthe
incidenthadnever
occurred,withoutsomuchasatear.
Nowadays,attwentyfive,tearshavebecomesorarea
thingthatthey
arenottobesquanderedindiscriminately.Itisthe
mostthatcanbe
expectediftheparentswhopayforbeingweptoverare
weptoverin
returnforthepricetheypay.
Asforme,thoughmyinitialsdidnotoccuronanyof
Marguerite's
belongings,thatinstinctiveindulgence,thatnatural
pitythatIhave
alreadyconfessed,setmethinkingoverherdeath,more
perhapsthanit
wasworththinkingover.Irememberedhavingoftenmet
Margueriteinthe

Bois,whereshewentregularlyeverydayinalittle
bluecoupedrawnby
twomagnificentbays,andIhadnoticedinhera
distinctionquiteapart
fromotherwomenofherkind,adistinctionwhichwas
enhancedbya
reallyexceptionalbeauty.
Theseunfortunatecreatureswhenevertheygooutare
alwaysaccompanied
bysomebodyorother.Asnomancarestomakehimself
conspicuousby
beingseenintheircompany,andastheyareafraidof
solitude,they
takewiththemeitherthosewhoarenotwellenoughoff
tohavea
carriage,oroneoranotherofthoseelegant,ancient
ladies,whose
eleganceisalittleinexplicable,andtowhomonecan
alwaysgofor
informationinregardtothewomenwhomtheyaccompany.
InMarguerite'scaseitwasquitedifferent.Shewas
alwaysalonewhen
shedroveintheChampsElysees,lyingbackinher
carriageasmuchas
possible,dressedinfursinwinter,andinsummer
wearingverysimple
dresses;andthoughsheoftenpassedpeoplewhomshe
knew,hersmile,
whenshechosetosmile,wasseenonlybythem,anda
duchessmight
havesmiledinjustsuchamanner.Shedidnotdriveto
andfrolikethe
others,fromtheRondPointtotheendoftheChamps
Elysees.Shedrove
straighttotheBois.Thereshelefthercarriage,
walkedforanhour,
returnedtohercarriage,anddroverapidlyhome.
AllthesecircumstanceswhichIhadsooftenwitnessed

camebacktomy
memory,andIregrettedherdeathasonemightregret
thedestructionof
abeautifulworkofart.
Itwasimpossibletoseemorecharminbeautythanin
thatof
Marguerite.Excessivelytallandthin,shehadinthe
fullestdegreethe
artofrepairingthisoversightofNaturebythemere
arrangementofthe
thingsshewore.Hercashmerereachedtotheground,
andshowedoneach
sidethelargeflouncesofasilkdress,andtheheavy
muffwhichshe
heldpressedagainstherbosomwassurroundedbysuch
cunninglyarranged
foldsthattheeye,howeverexacting,couldfindno
faultwiththe
contourofthelines.Herhead,amarvel,wasthe
objectofthemost
coquettishcare.Itwassmall,andhermother,as
Mussetwouldsay,
seemedtohavemadeitsoinordertomakeitwith
care.
Set,inanovalofindescribablegrace,twoblackeyes,
surmountedby
eyebrowsofsopureacurvethatitseemedasif
painted;veilthese
eyeswithlovelylashes,which,whendrooped,cast
theirshadowonthe
rosyhueofthecheeks;traceadelicate,straight
nose,thenostrils
alittleopen,inanardentaspirationtowardthelife
ofthesenses;
designaregularmouth,withlipspartedgraciously
overteethaswhite
asmilk;colourtheskinwiththedownofapeachthat
nohand
hastouched,andyouwillhavethegeneralaspectof

thatcharming
countenance.Thehair,blackasjet,wavingnaturally
ornot,was
partedontheforeheadintwolargefoldsanddraped
backoverthehead,
leavinginsightjustthetipoftheears,inwhich
thereglitteredtwo
diamonds,worthfourtofivethousandfrancseach.How
itwasthather
ardentlifehadleftonMarguerite'sfacethevirginal,
almostchildlike
expression,whichcharacterizedit,isaproblemwhich
wecanbutstate,
withoutattemptingtosolveit.
Margueritehadamarvellousportraitofherself,by
Vidal,theonlyman
whosepencilcoulddoherjustice.Ihadthisportrait
bymeforafew
daysafterherdeath,andthelikenesswasso
astonishingthatithas
helpedtorefreshmymemoryinregardtosomepoints
whichImightnot
otherwisehaveremembered.
Someamongthedetailsofthischapterdidnotreachme
untillater,
butIwritethemheresoasnottobeobligedtoreturn
tothemwhenthe
storyitselfhasbegun.
Margueritewasalwayspresentateveryfirstnight,and
passedevery
eveningeitheratthetheatreortheball.Whenever
therewasanew
pieceshewascertaintobeseen,andsheinvariably
hadthreethings
withherontheledgeofhergroundfloorbox:her
operaglass,abagof
sweets,andabouquetofcamellias.

Fortwentyfivedaysofthemonththecamelliaswere
white,andforfive
theywerered;nooneeverknewthereasonofthis
changeofcolour,
whichImentionthoughIcannotexplainit;itwas
noticedbothbyher
friendsandbythehabitue'softhetheatrestowhich
shemostoften
went.Shewasneverseenwithanyflowersbut
camellias.Atthe
florist's,MadameBarjon's,shehadcometobecalled
"theLadyofthe
Camellias,"andthenamestucktoher.
LikeallthosewhomoveinacertainsetinParis,I
knewthat
Margueritehadlivedwithsomeofthemostfashionable
youngmenin
society,thatshespokeofitopenly,andthatthey
themselves
boastedofit;sothatallseemedequallypleasedwith
oneanother.
Nevertheless,foraboutthreeyears,afteravisitto
Bagnees,shewas
saidtobelivingwithanoldduke,aforeigner,
enormouslyrich,who
hadtriedtoremoveherasfaraspossiblefromher
formerlife,and,as
itseemed,entirelytoherownsatisfaction.
ThisiswhatIwastoldonthesubject.Inthespring
of1847Marguerite
wassoillthatthedoctorsorderedhertotakethe
waters,andshewent
toBagneres.Amongtheinvalidswasthedaughterof
thisduke;she
wasnotonlysufferingfromthesamecomplaint,butshe
wassolike
Margueriteinappearancethattheymighthavebeen
takenforsisters;
theyoungduchesswasinthelaststageofconsumption,

andafewdays
afterMarguerite'sarrivalshedied.Onemorning,the
duke,whohad
remainedatBagnerestobenearthesoilthathad
buriedapartofhis
heart,caughtsightofMargueriteataturnofthe
road.Heseemedto
seetheshadowofhischild,andgoinguptoher,he
tookherhands,
embracedandweptoverher,andwithoutevenaskingher
whoshewas,
beggedhertolethimloveinherthelivingimageof
hisdeadchild.
Marguerite,aloneatBagnereswithhermaid,andnot
beinginanyfear
ofcompromisingherself,grantedtheduke'srequest.
Somepeoplewho
knewher,happeningtobeatBagneres,tookupon
themselvestoexplain
MademoiselleGautier'struepositiontotheduke.It
wasablowto
theoldman,fortheresemblancewithhisdaughterwas
endedinone
direction,butitwastoolate.Shehadbecomea
necessitytohisheart,
hisonlypretext,hisonlyexcuse,forliving.Hemade
noreproaches,
hehadindeednorighttodoso,butheaskedherif
shefeltherself
capableofchanginghermodeoflife,offeringherin
returnforthe
sacrificeeverycompensationthatshecoulddesire.She
consented.
ItmustbesaidthatMargueritewasjustthenveryill.
Thepastseemed
tohersensitivenatureasifitwereoneofthemain
causesofher
illness,andasortofsuperstitionledhertohope
thatGodwould
restoretoherbothhealthandbeautyinreturnforher

repentanceand
conversion.Bytheendofthesummer,thewaters,
sleep,thenatural
fatigueoflongwalks,hadindeedmoreorlessrestored
herhealth.The
dukeaccompaniedhertoParis,wherehecontinuedto
seeherashehad
doneatBagneres.
Thisliaison,whosemotiveandoriginwerequite
unknown,causedagreat
sensation,fortheduke,alreadyknownforhisimmense
fortune,
nowbecameknownforhisprodigality.Allthiswasset
downtothe
debaucheryofaricholdman,andeverythingwas
believedexceptthe
truth.Thefather'ssentimentforMargueritehad,in
truth,sopurea
causethatanythingbutacommunionofheartswould
haveseemedtohima
kindofincest,andhehadneverspokentoheraword
whichhisdaughter
mightnothaveheard.
Farbeitfrommetomakeoutourheroinetobe
anythingbutwhatshe
was.AslongassheremainedatBagneres,thepromise
shehadmadeto
thedukehadnotbeenhardtokeep,andshehadkept
it;but,onceback
inParis,itseemedtoher,accustomedtoalifeof
dissipation,of
balls,oforgies,asifthesolitude,onlyinterrupted
bytheduke's
statedvisits,wouldkillherwithboredom,andthehot
breathofher
oldlifecamebackacrossherheadandheart.
WemustaddthatMargueritehadreturnedmorebeautiful
thanshehad

everbeen;shewasbuttwenty,andhermalady,sleeping
butnotsubdued,
continuedtogiveherthosefeverishdesireswhichare
almostalwaysthe
resultofdiseasesofthechest.
Itwasagreatgrieftothedukewhenhisfriends,
alwaysonthelookout
forsomescandalonthepartofthewomanwithwhom,it
seemedtothem,
hewascompromisinghimself,cametotellhim,indeed
toprovetohim,
thatattimeswhenshewassureofnotseeinghimshe
receivedother
visits,andthatthesevisitswereoftenprolongedtill
thefollowing
day.Onbeingquestioned,Margueriteadmitted
everythingtotheduke,
andadvisedhim,withoutarrierepensee,toconcern
himselfwithherno
longer,forshefeltincapableofcarryingoutwhatshe
hadundertaken,
andshedidnotwishtogoonacceptingbenefitsfroma
manwhomshewas
deceiving.Thedukedidnotreturnforaweek;itwas
allhecoulddo,
andontheeighthdayhecametobegMargueritetolet
himstillvisit
her,promisingthathewouldtakeherasshewas,so
longashemight
seeher,andswearingthathewouldneveruttera
reproachagainsther,
notthoughheweretodieofit.
This,then,wasthestateofthingsthreemonthsafter
Marguerite's
return;thatistosay,inNovemberorDecember,1842.

Chapter3

Atoneo'clockonthe16thIwenttotheRued'Antin.
Thevoiceofthe
auctioneercouldbeheardfromtheouterdoor.The
roomswerecrowded
withpeople.Therewereallthecelebritiesofthemost
elegant
impropriety,furtivelyexaminedbycertaingreatladies
whohadagain
seizedtheopportunityofthesaleinordertobeable
tosee,closeat
hand,womenwhomtheymightneverhaveanotheroccasion
ofmeeting,and
whomtheyenviedperhapsinsecretfortheireasy
pleasures.TheDuchess
ofF.elbowedMlle.A.,oneofthemostmelancholy
examplesofour
moderncourtesan;theMarquisdeT.hesitatedovera
pieceoffurniture
thepriceofwhichwasbeingrunhighbyMme.D.,the
mostelegantand
famousadulteressofourtime;theDukeofY.,whoin
Madridissupposed
toberuininghimselfinParis,andinParistobe
ruininghimselfin
Madrid,andwho,asamatteroffact,nevereven
reachesthelimitof
hisincome,talkedwithMme.M.,oneofourwittiest
storytellers,who
fromtimetotimewriteswhatshesaysandsignswhat
shewrites,while
atthesametimeheexchangedconfidentialglanceswith
Mme.deN.,a
fairornamentoftheChampsElysees,almostalways
dressedinpink
orblue,anddrivingtwobigblackhorseswhichTony
hadsoldherfor
10,000francs,andforwhichshehadpaid,afterher
fashion;finally,
Mlle.R.,whomakesbyhermeretalenttwicewhatthe
womenoftheworld

makebytheirdotandthreetimesasmuchastheothers
makebytheir
amours,hadcome,inspiteofthecold,tomakesome
purchases,andwas
nottheleastlookedatamongthecrowd.
Wemightcitetheinitialsofmanymoreofthosewho
foundthemselves,
notwithoutsomemutualsurprise,sidebysideinone
room.Butwefear
towearythereader.Wewillonlyaddthateveryonewas
inthehighest
spirits,andthatmanyofthosepresenthadknownthe
deadwoman,and
seemedquiteobliviousofthefact.Therewasasound
ofloudlaughter;
theauctioneersshoutedatthetopoftheirvoices;the
dealerswhohad
filledthebenchesinfrontoftheauctiontabletried
invaintoobtain
silence,inordertotransacttheirbusinessinpeace.
Neverwastherea
noisieroramorevariedgathering.
Islippedquietlyintothemidstofthistumult,sadto
thinkofwhen
onerememberedthatthepoorcreaturewhosegoodswere
beingsoldtopay
herdebtshaddiedinthenextroom.Havingcomerather
toexaminethan
tobuy,Iwatchedthefacesoftheauctioneers,
noticinghowthey
beamedwithdelightwheneveranythingreachedaprice
beyondtheir
expectations.Honestcreatures,whohadspeculatedupon
thiswoman's
prostitution,whohadgainedtheirhundredpercentout
ofher,whohad
plaguedwiththeirwritsthelastmomentsofherlife,
andwhocamenow
afterherdeathtogatherinatoncethefruitsof

theirdishonourable
calculationsandtheinterestontheirshamefulcredit,
Howwisewere
theancientsinhavingonlyoneGodfortradersand
robbers!
Dresses,cashmeres,jewels,weresoldwithincredible
rapidity.There
wasnothingthatIcaredfor,andIstillwaited.All
atonceIheard:
"Avolume,beautifullybound,giltedged,entitled
ManonLescaut.There
issomethingwrittenonthefirstpage.Tenfrancs."
"Twelve,"saidavoiceafteralongishsilence.
"Fifteen,"Isaid.
Why?Ididnotknow.Doubtlessforthesomething
written.
"Fifteen,"repeatedtheauctioneer.
"Thirty,"saidthefirstbidderinatonewhichseemed
todefyfurther
competition.
Ithadnowbecomeastruggle."Thirtyfive,"Icriedin
thesametone.
"Forty."
"Fifty."
"Sixty."
"Ahundred."
IfIhadwishedtomakeasensationIshouldcertainly
havesucceeded,
foraprofoundsilencehadensued,andpeoplegazedat

measiftosee
whatsortofapersonitwas,whoseemedtobeso
determinedtopossess
thevolume.
TheaccentwhichIhadgiventomylastwordseemedto
convincemy
adversary;hepreferredtoabandonaconflictwhich
couldonlyhave
resultedinmakingmepaytentimesitspriceforthe
volume,and,
bowing,hesaidverygracefully,thoughindeedalittle
late:
"Igiveway,sir."
Nothingmorebeingoffered,thebookwasassignedto
me.
AsIwasafraidofsomenewfitofobstinacy,whichmy
amourpropre
mighthavesustainedsomewhatbetterthanmypurse,I
wrotedownmy
name,hadthebookputononeside,andwentout.I
musthavegiven
considerablefoodforreflectiontothewitnessesof
thisscene,who
wouldnodoubtaskthemselveswhatmypurposecould
havebeeninpaying
ahundredfrancsforabookwhichIcouldhavehad
anywhereforten,or,
attheoutside,fifteen.
Anhourafter,Isentformypurchase.Onthefirst
pagewaswritten
inink,inaneleganthand,aninscriptiononthepart
ofthegiver.It
consistedofthesewords:
ManontoMarguerite.

Humility.
ItwassignedArmandDuval.
WhatwasthemeaningofthewordHumility?WasManonto
recognisein
Marguerite,intheopinionofM.ArmandDuval,her
superiorinviceor
inaffection?Thesecondinterpretationseemedthemore
probable,for
thefirstwouldhavebeenanimpertinentpieceofplain
speakingwhich
Marguerite,whateverheropinionofherself,would
neverhaveaccepted.
Iwentoutagain,andthoughtnomoreofthebookuntil
atnight,whenI
wasgoingtobed.
ManonLescautisatouchingstory.Iknoweverydetail
ofit,andyet
wheneverIcomeacrossthevolumethesamesympathy
alwaysdrawsmeto
it;Iopenit,andforthehundredthtimeIliveover
againwiththe
heroineoftheAbbePrevost.Nowthisheroineisso
truetolifethatI
feelasifIhadknownher;andthusthesortof
comparisonbetween
herandMargueritegavemeanunusualinclinationto
readit,andmy
indulgencepassedintopity,almostintoakindoflove
forthepoor
girltowhomIowedthevolume.Manondiedinthe
desert,itistrue,
butinthearmsofthemanwholovedherwiththewhole
energyofhis
soul;who,whenshewasdead,dugagraveforher,and
watereditwith
histears,andburiedhisheartinit;while
Marguerite,asinnerlike

Manon,andperhapsconvertedlikeher,haddiedina
sumptuousbed(it
seemed,afterwhatIhadseen,thebedofherpast),
butinthatdesert
oftheheart,amorebarren,avaster,amorepitiless
desertthanthat
inwhichManonhadfoundherlastrestingplace.
Marguerite,infact,asIhadfoundfromsomefriends
whoknewofthe
lastcircumstancesofherlife,hadnotasinglereal
friendbyher
bedsideduringthetwomonthsofherlongandpainful
agony.
ThenfromManonandMargueritemymindwanderedto
thosewhomIknew,
andwhomIsawsingingalongthewaywhichledtojust
suchanother
death.Poorsouls!ifitisnotrighttolovethem,is
itnotwellto
pitythem?Youpitytheblindmanwhohasneverseen
thedaylight,the
deafwhohasneverheardtheharmoniesofnature,the
dumbwhohasnever
foundavoiceforhissoul,and,underafalsecloakof
shame,youwill
notpitythisblindnessofheart,thisdeafnessof
soul,thisdumbness
ofconscience,whichsetsthepoorafflictedcreature
besideherself
andmakesher,inspiteofherself,incapableofseeing
whatisgood,of
bearingtheLord,andofspeakingthepurelanguageof
loveandfaith.
HugohaswrittenMarionDelorme,Mussethaswritten
Bernerette,
AlexandreDumashaswrittenFernande,thethinkersand
poetsofalltime
havebroughttothecourtesantheofferingoftheir

pity,andattimes
agreatmanhasrehabilitatedthemwithhisloveand
evenwithhisname.
IfIinsistonthispoint,itisbecausemanyamong
thosewhohavebegun
toreadmewillbereadytothrowdownabookinwhich
theywillfearto
findanapologyforviceandprostitution;andthe
author'sagewilldo
something,nodoubt,toincreasethisfear.Letme
undeceivethose
whothinkthus,andletthemgoonreading,ifnothing
butsuchafear
hindersthem.
Iamquitesimplyconvincedofacertainprinciple,
whichis:Forthe
womanwhoseeducationhasnottaughtherwhatisright,
Godalmost
alwaysopenstwowayswhichleadthitherthewaysof
sorrowandoflove.
Theyarehard;thosewhowalkinthemwalkwith
bleedingfeetandtorn
hands,buttheyalsoleavethetrappingsofviceupon
thethornsof
thewayside,andreachthejourney'sendinanakedness
whichisnot
shamefulinthesightoftheLord.
Thosewhomeettheseboldtravellersoughttosuccour
them,andtotell
allthattheyhavemetthem,forinsodoingtheypoint
outtheway.It
isnotaquestionofsettingattheoutsetoflifetwo
signposts,one
bearingtheinscription"TheRightWay,"theotherthe
inscription"The
WrongWay,"andofsayingtothosewhocomethere,
"Choose."Onemust
needs,likeChrist,pointoutthewayswhichleadfrom
thesecond

roadtothefirst,tothosewhohavebeeneasilyled
astray;anditis
needfulthatthebeginningofthesewaysshouldnotbe
toopainfulnor
appeartooimpenetrable.
HereisChristianitywithitsmarvellousparableofthe
ProdigalSonto
teachusindulgenceandpardon.Jesuswasfulloflove
forsoulswounded
bythepassionsofmen;helovedtobinduptheir
woundsandtofindin
thoseverywoundsthebalmwhichshouldhealthem.Thus
hesaidtothe
Magdalen:"Muchshallbeforgiventheebecausethou
hastlovedmuch,"a
sublimityofpardonwhichcanonlyhavecalledfortha
sublimefaith.
WhydowemakeourselvesmorestrictthanChrist?Why,
holding
obstinatelytotheopinionsoftheworld,whichhardens
itselfin
orderthatitmaybethoughtstrong,dowereject,as
itrejects,souls
bleedingatwoundsbywhich,likeasickman'sbad
blood,theevilof
theirpastmaybehealed,ifonlyafriendlyhandis
stretchedoutto
lavethemandsetthemintheconvalescenceofthe
heart?
ItistomyowngenerationthatIspeak,tothosefor
whomthetheories
ofM.deVoltairehappilyexistnolonger,tothose
who,likemyself,
realizethathumanity,fortheselastfifteenyears,
hasbeeninoneof
itsmostaudaciousmomentsofexpansion.Thescienceof
goodandevil
isacquiredforever;faithisrefashioned,respectfor

sacredthingshas
returnedtous,andiftheworldhasnotallatonce
becomegood,ithas
atleastbecomebetter.Theeffortsofevery
intelligentmantendin
thesamedirection,andeverystrongwillisharnessed
tothesame
principle:Begood,beyoung,betrue!Evilisnothing
butvanity,let
ushavetheprideofgood,andaboveallletusnever
despair.Donot
letusdespisethewomanwhoisneithermother,sister,
maid,norwife.
Donotletuslimitesteemtothefamilynorindulgence
toegoism.Since
"thereismorejoyinheavenoveronesinnerthat
repenteththanover
ninetyandninejustpersonsthatneednorepentance,"
letusgivejoy
toheaven.Heavenwillrenderitbacktouswithusury.
Letusleaveon
ourwaythealmsofpardonforthosewhomearthly
desireshavedriven
astray,whomadivinehopeshallperhapssave,and,as
oldwomensay
whentheyofferyousomehomelyremedyoftheirown,if
itdoesnogood
itwilldonoharm.
Doubtlessitmustseemaboldthingtoattemptto
deducethesegrand
resultsoutofthemeagresubjectthatIdealwith;but
Iamoneof
thosewhobelievethatallisinlittle.Thechildis
small,andhe
includestheman;thebrainisnarrow,anditharbours
thought;theeye
isbutapoint,anditcoversleagues.

Chapter4
Twodaysafter,thesalewasended.Ithadproduced
3.50,000francs.The
creditorsdividedamongthemtwothirds,andthe
family,asisteranda
grandnephew,receivedtheremainder.
Thesisteropenedhereyesverywidewhenthelawyer
wrotetoherthat
shehadinherited50,000francs.Thegirlhadnotseen
hersisterfor
sixorsevenyears,anddidnotknowwhathadbecomeof
herfromthe
momentwhenshehaddisappearedfromhome.Shecameup
toParisin
haste,andgreatwastheastonishmentofthosewhohad
knownMarguerite
whentheysawasheronlyheirafine,fatcountry
girl,whountilthen
hadneverlefthervillage.Shehadmadethefortuneat
asinglestroke,
withoutevenknowingthesourceofthatfortune.She
wentback,Iheard
afterward,tohercountryside,greatlysaddenedbyher
sister'sdeath,
butwithasadnesswhichwassomewhatlightenedbythe
investmentat
fourandahalfpercentwhichshehadbeenableto
make.
Allthesecircumstances,oftenrepeatedinParis,the
mothercityof
scandal,hadbeguntobeforgotten,andIwaseven
littlebylittle
forgettingthepartIhadtakeninthem,whenanew
incidentbroughtto
myknowledgethewholeofMarguerite'slife,and
acquaintedmewith
suchpatheticdetailsthatIwastakenwiththeideaof
writingdownthe

storywhichInowwrite.
Therooms,nowemptiedofalltheirfurniture,hadbeen
toletforthree
orfourdayswhenonemorningtherewasaringatmy
door.
Myservant,or,rather,myporter,whoactedasmy
servant,wenttothe
doorandbroughtmeacard,sayingthatthepersonwho
hadgivenitto
himwishedtoseeme.
Iglancedatthecardandtherereadthesetwowords:
ArmandDuval.
ItriedtothinkwhereIhadseenthename,and
rememberedthefirst
leafofthecopyofManonLescaut.Whatcouldthe
personwhohadgiven
thebooktoMargueritewantofme?Igaveorderstoask
himinatonce.
Isawayoungman,blond,tall,pale,dressedina
travellingsuitwhich
lookedasifhehadnotchangeditforsomedays,and
hadnoteventaken
thetroubletobrushitonarrivingatParis,forit
wascoveredwith
dust.
M.Duvalwasdeeplyagitated;hemadenoattemptto
concealhis
agitation,anditwaswithtearsinhiseyesanda
tremblingvoicethat
hesaidtome:
"Sir,Ibegyoutoexcusemyvisitandmycostume;but
youngpeopleare
notveryceremoniouswithoneanother,andIwasso
anxioustoseeyou

todaythatIhavenotevengonetothehoteltowhich
Ihavesentmy
luggage,andhaverushedstraighthere,fearingthat,
afterall,Imight
missyou,earlyasitis."
IbeggedM.Duvaltositdownbythefire;hedidso,
and,takinghis
handkerchieffromhispocket,hidhisfaceinitfora
moment.
"Youmustbeatalosstounderstand,"hewenton,
sighingsadly,"for
whatpurposeanunknownvisitor,atsuchanhour,in
suchacostume,and
intears,canhavecometoseeyou.Ihavesimplycome
toaskofyoua
greatservice."
"Speakon,sir,Iamentirelyatyourdisposal."
"YouwerepresentatthesaleofMargueriteGautier?"
Atthiswordtheemotion,whichhehadgotthebetter
offoraninstant,
wastoomuchforhim,andhewasobligedtocoverhis
eyeswithhis
hand.
"Imustseemtoyouveryabsurd,"headded,"butpardon
me,andbelieve
thatIshallneverforgetthepatiencewithwhichyou
havelistenedto
me."
"Sir,"Ianswered,"iftheservicewhichIcanrender
youisableto
lessenyourtroublealittle,tellmeatoncewhatI
candoforyou,and
youwillfindmeonlytoohappytoobligeyou."

M.Duval'ssorrowwassympathetic,andinspiteof
myselfIfeltthe
desireofdoinghimakindness.Thereuponhesaidto
me:
"YouboughtsomethingatMarguerite'ssale?"
"Yes,abook."
"ManonLescaut?"
"Precisely."
"Haveyouthebookstill?"
"Itisinmybedroom."
Onhearingthis,ArmandDuvalseemedtoberelievedof
agreatweight,
andthankedmeasifIhadalreadyrenderedhima
servicemerelyby
keepingthebook.
Igotupandwentintomyroomtofetchthebook,which
Ihandedtohim.
"Thatisitindeed,"hesaid,lookingatthe
inscriptiononthefirst
pageandturningovertheleaves;"thatisitindeed,"
andtwobig
tearsfellonthepages."Well,sir,"saidhe,lifting
hishead,andno
longertryingtohidefrommethathehadweptandwas
eventhenonthe
pointofweeping,"doyouvaluethisbookvery
greatly?"
"Why?"
"BecauseIhavecometoaskyoutogiveituptome."

"Pardonmycuriosity,butwasityou,then,whogaveit
toMarguerite
Gautier?"
"Itwas!"
"Thebookisyours,sir;takeitback.Iamhappytobe
abletohandit
overtoyou."
"But,"saidM.Duvalwithsomeembarrassment,"the
leastIcandoisto
giveyouinreturnthepricewhichyoupaidforit."
"Allowmetoofferittoyou.Thepriceofasingle
volumeinasaleof
thatkindisamerenothing,andIdonotrememberhow
muchIgavefor
it."
"Yougaveonehundredfrancs."
"True,"Isaid,embarrassedinmyturn,"howdoyou
know?"
"Itisquitesimple.IhopedtoreachParisintimefor
thesale,andI
onlymanagedtogetherethismorning.Iwasabsolutely
resolvedtohave
somethingwhichhadbelongedtoher,andIhastenedto
theauctioneer
andaskedhimtoallowmetoseethelistofthethings
soldandof
thebuyers'names.Isawthatthisvolumehadbeen
boughtbyyou,and
Idecidedtoaskyoutogiveituptome,thoughthe
priceyouhad
setuponitmademefearthatyoumightyourselfhave
somesouvenirin
connectionwiththepossessionofthebook."

Ashespoke,itwasevidentthathewasafraidIhad
knownMargueriteas
hehadknownher.Ihastenedtoreassurehim.
"IknewMlle.Gautieronlybysight,"Isaid;"her
deathmadeonmethe
impressionthatthedeathofaprettywomanmustalways
makeonayoung
manwhohadlikedseeingher.Iwishedtobuysomething
athersale,and
Ibidhigherandhigherforthisbookoutofmere
obstinacyandtoannoy
someoneelse,whowasequallykeentoobtainit,and
whoseemedtodefy
metothecontest.Irepeat,then,thatthebookis
yours,andoncemore
Ibegyoutoacceptit;donottreatmeasifIwerean
auctioneer,
andletitbethepledgebetweenusofalongerand
moreintimate
acquaintance."
"Good,"saidArmand,holdingouthishandandpressing
mine;"Iaccept,
andIshallbegratefultoyouallmylife."
IwasveryanxioustoquestionArmandonthesubjectof
Marguerite,for
theinscriptioninthebook,theyoungman'shurried
journey,hisdesire
topossessthevolume,piquedmycuriosity;butI
fearedifIquestioned
myvisitorthatImightseemtohaverefusedhismoney
onlyinorderto
havetherighttopryintohisaffairs.
Itwasasifheguessedmydesire,forhesaidtome:
"Haveyoureadthevolume?"
"Allthrough."

"WhatdidyouthinkofthetwolinesthatIwrotein
it?"
"Irealizedatoncethatthewomantowhomyouhad
giventhevolume
musthavebeenquiteoutsidetheordinarycategory,for
Icouldnottake
thosetwolinesasamereemptycompliment."
"Youwereright.Thatwomanwasanangel.See,read
thisletter."Andhe
handedtomeapaperwhichseemedtohavebeenmany
timesreread.
Iopenedit,andthisiswhatitcontained:
"MYDEARARMAND:Ihavereceivedyourletter.Youare
stillgood,and
IthankGodforit.Yes,myfriend,Iamill,andwith
oneofthose
diseasesthatneverrelent;buttheinterestyoustill
takeinmemakes
mysufferingless.Ishallnotlivelongenough,I
expect,tohavethe
happinessofpressingthehandwhichhaswrittenthe
kindletterIhave
justreceived;thewordsofitwouldbeenoughtocure
me,ifanything
couldcureme.Ishallnotseeyou,forIamquitenear
death,andyou
arehundredsofleaguesaway.Mypoorfriend!your
Margueriteofold
timesissadlychanged.Itisbetterperhapsforyou
nottoseeher
againthantoseeherassheis.YouaskifIforgive
you;oh,withall
myheart,friend,forthewayyouhurtmewasonlya
wayofprovingthe
loveyouhadforme.Ihavebeeninbedforamonth,
andIthinksomuch

ofyouresteemthatIwriteeverydaythejournalofmy
life,fromthe
momentwelefteachothertothemomentwhenIshallbe
abletowrite
nolonger.Iftheinterestyoutakeinmeisreal,
Armand,whenyoucome
backgoandseeJulieDuprat.Shewillgiveyoumy
journal.Youwill
findinitthereasonandtheexcuseforwhathas
passedbetweenus.
Julieisverygoodtome;weoftentalkofyou
together.Shewasthere
whenyourlettercame,andwebothcriedoverit.
"Ifyouhadnotsentmeanyword,Ihadtoldherto
giveyouthose
paperswhenyoureturnedtoFrance.Donotthankmefor
it.Thisdaily
lookingbackontheonlyhappymomentsofmylifedoes
meanimmense
amountofgood,andifyouwillfindinreadingitsome
excuseforthe
past.I,formypart,findacontinualsolaceinit.I
shouldliketo
leaveyousomethingwhichwouldalwaysremindyouof
me,buteverything
herehasbeenseized,andIhavenothingofmyown.
"Doyouunderstand,myfriend?Iamdying,andfrommy
bedIcanhear
amanwalkingtoandfrointhedrawingroom;my
creditorshaveputhim
theretoseethatnothingistakenaway,andthat
nothingremainsto
meincaseIdonotdie.Ihopetheywillwaittillthe
endbeforethey
begintosell.
"Oh,menhavenopity!orrather,Iamwrong,itisGod
whoisjustand
inflexible!

"Andnow,dearlove,youwillcometomysale,andyou
willbuy
something,forifIputasidetheleastthingforyou,
theymightaccuse
youofembezzlingseizedgoods.
"ItisasadlifethatIamleaving!
"ItwouldbegoodofGodtoletmeseeyouagainbefore
Idie.According
toallprobability,goodbye,myfriend.PardonmeifI
donotwritea
longerletter,butthosewhosaytheyaregoingtocure
mewearmeout
withbloodletting,andmyhandrefusestowriteany
more.
"MARGUERITEGAUTIER."

Thelasttwowordswerescarcelylegible.Ireturned
theletterto
Armand,whohad,nodoubt,readitoveragaininhis
mindwhileIwas
readingitonpaper,forhesaidtomeashetookit:
"Whowouldthinkthatakeptwomancouldhavewritten
that?"And,
overcomebyrecollections,hegazedforsometimeat
thewritingofthe
letter,whichhefinallycarriedtohislips.
"AndwhenIthink,"hewenton,"thatshediedbeforeI
couldseeher,
andthatIshallneverseeheragain,whenIthinkthat
shedidforme
whatnosisterwouldeverhavedone,Icannotforgive
myselfforhaving
lefthertodielikethat.Dead!Deadandthinkingof
me,writingand

repeatingmyname,poordearMarguerite!"
AndArmand,givingfreeoutlettohisthoughtsandhis
tears,heldout
hishandtome,andcontinued:
"Peoplewouldthinkitchildishenoughiftheysawme
lamentlikethis
overadeadwomansuchasshe;noonewilleverknow
whatImadethat
womansuffer,howcruelIhavebeentoher!howgood,
howresigned
shewas!IthoughtitwasIwhohadtoforgiveher,and
todayIfeel
unworthyoftheforgivenesswhichshegrantsme.Oh,I
wouldgiveten
yearsofmylifetoweepatherfeetforanhour!"
Itisalwaysdifficulttoconsoleasorrowthatis
unknowntoone,and
neverthelessIfeltsolivelyasympathyfortheyoung
man,hemademe
sofranklytheconfidantofhisdistress,thatI
believedawordfromme
wouldnotbeindifferenttohim,andIsaid:
"Haveyounoparents,nofriends?Hope.Goandsee
them;theywill
consoleyou.Asforme,Icanonlypityyou."
"Itistrue,"hesaid,risingandwalkingtoandfroin
theroom,"I
amwearyingyou.Pardonme,Ididnotreflecthow
littlemysorrowmust
meantoyou,andthatIamintrudinguponyousomething
whichcannot
andoughtnottointerestyouatall."
"Youmistakemymeaning.Iamentirelyatyourservice;
onlyIregret
myinabilitytocalmyourdistress.Ifmysocietyand

thatofmyfriends
cangiveyouanydistraction,if,inshort,youhave
needofme,no
matterinwhatway,Ihopeyouwillrealizehowmuch
pleasureitwill
givemetodoanythingforyou."
"Pardon,pardon,"saidhe;"sorrowsharpensthe
sensations.Letmestay
hereforafewminuteslonger,longenoughtodrymy
eyes,sothatthe
idlersinthestreetmaynotlookuponitasa
curiositytoseeabig
fellowlikemecrying.Youhavemademeveryhappyby
givingmethis
book.IdonotknowhowIcaneverexpressmygratitude
toyou."
"Bygivingmealittleofyourfriendship,"saidI,
"andbytellingme
thecauseofyoursuffering.Onefeelsbetterwhile
tellingwhatone
suffers."
"Youareright.ButtodayIhavetoomuchneedof
tears;Icannotvery
welltalk.OnedayIwilltellyouthewholestory,and
youwillseeif
Ihavereasonforregrettingthepoorgirl.Andnow,"
headded,rubbing
hiseyesforthelasttime,andlookingathimselfin
theglass,"say
thatyoudonotthinkmetooabsolutelyidiotic,and
allowmetocome
backandseeyouanothertime."
Hecastonmeagentleandamiablelook.Iwasnear
embracinghim.
Asforhim,hiseyesagainbegantofillwithtears;he
sawthatI
perceiveditandturnedawayhishead.

"Come,"Isaid,"courage."
"Goodbye,"hesaid.
And,makingadesperateefforttorestrainhistears,
herushedrather
thanwentoutoftheroom.
Iliftedthecurtainofmywindow,andsawhimgetinto
thecabriolet
whichawaitedhimatthedoor;butscarcelywashe
seatedbeforehe
burstintotearsandhidhisfaceinhispocket
handkerchief.

Chapter5
AgoodwhileelapsedbeforeIheardanythingmoreof
Armand,but,onthe
otherhand,IwasconstantlyhearingofMarguerite.
Idonotknowifyouhavenoticed,ifoncethenameof
anybodywhomight
inthenaturalcourseofthingshavealwaysremained
unknown,oratall
eventsindifferenttoyou,shouldbementionedbefore
you,immediately
detailsbegintogroupthemselvesaboutthename,and
youfindallyour
friendstalkingtoyouaboutsomethingwhichtheyhave
nevermentioned
toyoubefore.Youdiscoverthatthispersonwasalmost
touchingyouand
haspassedclosetoyoumanytimesinyourlifewithout
yournoticing
it;youfindcoincidencesintheeventswhicharetold
you,areal
affinitywithcertaineventsofyourownexistence.I

wasnotabsolutely
atthatpointinregardtoMarguerite,forIhadseen
andmether,I
knewherbysightandbyreputation;nevertheless,
sincethemoment
ofthesale,hernamecametomyearssofrequently,
and,owingtothe
circumstancethatIhavementionedinthelastchapter,
thatnamewas
associatedwithsoprofoundasorrow,thatmycuriosity
increasedin
proportionwithmyastonishment.Theconsequencewas
thatwheneverImet
friendstowhomIhadneverbreathedthenameof
Marguerite,Ialways
beganbysaying:
"DidyoueverknowacertainMargueriteGautier?"
"TheLadyoftheCamellias?"
"Exactly."
"Oh,verywell!"
Thewordwassometimesaccompaniedbyasmilewhich
couldleavenodoubt
astoitsmeaning.
"Well,whatsortofagirlwasshe?"
"Agoodsortofgirl."
"Isthatall?"
"Oh,yes;moreintelligenceandperhapsalittlemore
heartthanmost."
"Doyouknowanythingparticularabouther?"
"SheruinedBarondeG."

"Nomorethanthat?"
"ShewasthemistressoftheoldDukeof..."
"Wasshereallyhismistress?"
"Sotheysay;atallevents,hegaveheragreatdeal
ofmoney."
Thegeneraloutlineswerealwaysthesame.Nevertheless
Iwasanxious
tofindoutsomethingabouttherelationsbetween
MargueriteandArmand.
Meetingonedayamanwhowasconstantlyaboutwith
knownwomen,Iasked
him:"DidyouknowMargueriteGautier?"
Theanswerwastheusual:"Verywell."
"Whatsortofagirlwasshe?"
"Afine,goodgirl.Iwasverysorrytohearofher
death."
"HadshenotalovercalledArmandDuval?"
"Tallandblond?"
"Yes.
"Itisquitetrue."
"WhowasthisArmand?"
"Afellowwhosquanderedonherthelittlemoneyhe
had,andthenhadto
leaveher.Theysayhewasquitewildaboutit."
"Andshe?"

"Theyalwayssayshewasverymuchinlovewithhim,
butasgirlslike
thatareinlove.Itisnogoodtoaskthemforwhat
theycannotgive."
"WhathasbecomeofArmand?"
"Idon'tknow.Weknewhimverylittle.Hewaswith
Margueriteforfive
orsixmonthsinthecountry.Whenshecameback,he
hadgone."
"Andyouhaveneverseenhimsince?"
"Never."
I,too,hadnotseenArmandagain.Iwasbeginningto
askmyselfif,
whenhehadcometoseeme,therecentnewsof
Marguerite'sdeathhad
notexaggeratedhisformerlove,andconsequentlyhis
sorrow,andI
saidtomyselfthatperhapshehadalreadyforgotten
thedeadwoman,and
alongwithherhispromisetocomeandseemeagain.
Thissupposition
wouldhaveseemedprobableenoughinmostinstances,
butinArmand's
despairtherehadbeenanaccentofrealsincerity,
and,goingfromone
extremetoanother,Iimaginedthatdistresshad
broughtonanillness,
andthatmynotseeinghimwasexplainedbythefact
thathewasill,
perhapsdead.
Iwasinterestedintheyoungmaninspiteofmyself.
Perhapstherewas
someselfishnessinthisinterest;perhapsIguessedat
somepathetic
lovestoryunderallthissorrow;perhapsmydesireto

knowallaboutit
hadmuchtodowiththeanxietywhichArmand'ssilence
causedme.
SinceM.Duvaldidnotreturntoseeme,Idecidedto
goandseehim.A
pretextwasnotdifficulttofind;unluckilyIdidnot
knowhisaddress,
andnooneamongthosewhomIquestionedcouldgiveit
tome.
IwenttotheRued'Antin;perhapsMarguerite'sporter
wouldknowwhere
Armandlived.Therewasanewporter;heknewaslittle
aboutitasI.
IthenaskedinwhatcemeteryMlle.Gautierhadbeen
buried.Itwas
theMontmartreCemetery.ItwasnowthemonthofApril;
theweatherwas
fine,thegraveswerenotlikelytolookassadand
desolateastheydo
inwinter;inshort,itwaswarmenoughfortheliving
tothinkalittle
ofthedead,andpaythemavisit.Iwenttothe
cemetery,sayingto
myself:"OneglanceatMarguerite'sgrave,andIshall
knowifArmand's
sorrowstillexists,andperhapsImayfindoutwhat
hasbecomeofhim."
Ienteredthekeeper'slodge,andaskedhimifonthe
22ndofFebruary
awomannamedMargueriteGautierhadnotbeenburiedin
theMontmartre
Cemetery.Heturnedoverthepagesofabigbookin
whichthosewho
enterthislastrestingplaceareinscribedand
numbered,andreplied
thatonthe22ndofFebruary,at12o'clock,awomanof
thatnamehad
beenburied.

Iaskedhimtoshowmethegrave,forthereisno
findingone'sway
withoutaguideinthiscityofthedead,whichhasits
streetslikea
cityoftheliving.Thekeepercalledoveragardener,
towhomhegave
thenecessaryinstructions;thegardenerinterrupted
him,saying:
"Iknow,Iknow.Itisnotdifficulttofindthat
grave,"headded,
turningtome.
"Why?"
"Becauseithasverydifferentflowersfromthe
others."
"Isityouwholookafterit?"
"Yes,sir;andIwishallrelationstookasmuch
troubleaboutthedead
astheyoungmanwhogavememyorders."
Afterseveralturnings,thegardenerstoppedandsaid
tome:"Herewe
are."
Isawbeforemeasquareofflowerswhichonewould
neverhavetakenfor
agrave,ifithadnotbeenforawhitemarbleslab
bearinganame.
Themarbleslabstoodupright,anironrailingmarked
thelimitsofthe
groundpurchased,andtheearthwascoveredwithwhite
camellias."What
doyousaytothat?"saidthegardener.
"Itisbeautiful."
"Andwheneveracamelliafades,Ihaveordersto

replaceit."
"Whogaveyoutheorder?"
"Ayounggentleman,whocriedthefirsttimehecame
here;anoldpal
ofhers,Isuppose,fortheysayshewasagayone.
Verypretty,too,I
believe.Didyouknowher,sir?""Yes."
"Liketheother?"saidthegardener,withaknowing
smile."No,Inever
spoketoher."
"Andyoucomehere,too!Itisverygoodofyou,for
thosethatcometo
seethepoorgirldon'texactlycumberthecemetery."
"Doesn'tanybodycome?"
"Nobody,exceptthatyounggentlemanwhocameonce."
"Onlyonce?"
"Yes,sir."
"Henevercamebackagain?"
"No,buthewillwhenhegetshome."
"Heisawaysomewhere?"
"Yes."
"Doyouknowwhereheis?"
"IbelievehehasgonetoseeMlle.Gautier'ssister."
"Whatdoeshewantthere?"
"Hehasgonetogetherauthoritytohavethecorpse

dugupagainand
putsomewhereelse."
"Whywon'theletitremainhere?"
"Youknow,sir,peoplehavequeernotionsaboutdead
folk.Wesee
somethingofthateveryday.Thegroundherewasonly
boughtforfive
years,andthisyounggentlemanwantsaperpetuallease
andabigger
plotofground;itwillbebetterinthenewpart."
"Whatdoyoucallthenewpart?"
"Thenewplotsofgroundthatareforsale,thereto
theleft.Ifthe
cemeteryhadalwaysbeenkeptlikeitisnow,there
wouldn'tbethelike
ofitintheworld;butthereisstillplentytodo
beforeitwillbe
quiteallitshouldbe.Andthenpeoplearesoqueer!"
"Whatdoyoumean?"
"Imeanthattherearepeoplewhocarrytheirpride
evenhere.Now,this
DemoiselleGautier,itappearsshelivedabitfree,if
you'llexcusemy
sayingso.Poorlady,she'sdeadnow;there'snomore
ofherleftthan
ofthemthatnoonehasawordtosayagainst.Wewater
themeveryday.
Well,whentherelativesofthefolkthatareburied
besideherfound
outthesortofpersonshewas,whatdoyouthinkthey
said?Thatthey
wouldtrytokeepheroutfromhere,andthatthere
oughttobeapiece
ofgroundsomewhereapartforthesesortofwomen,like
thereisforthe

poor.Didyoueverhearofsuchathing?Igaveitto
themstraight,I
did:welltodofolkwhocometoseetheirdeadfour
timesayear,and
bringtheirflowersthemselves,andwhatflowers!and
looktwiceatthe
keepofthemtheypretendtocryover,andwriteon
theirtombstonesall
aboutthetearstheyhaven'tshed,andcomeandmake
difficultiesabout
theirneighbours.Youmaybelievemeornot,sir,I
neverknewtheyoung
lady;Idon'tknowwhatshedid.Well,I'mquitein
lovewiththepoor
thing;Ilookafterherwell,andIletherhaveher
camelliasatan
honestprice.SheisthedeadbodythatIlikethe
best.Yousee,sir,
weareobligedtolovethedead,forwearekeptso
busy,wehavehardly
timetoloveanythingelse."
Ilookedattheman,andsomeofmyreaderswill
understand,withoutmy
needingtoexplainittothem,theemotionwhichIfelt
onhearinghim.
Heobservedit,nodoubt,forhewenton:
"Theytellmetherewerepeoplewhoruinedthemselves
overthatgirl,
andloversthatworshippedher;well,whenIthink
thereisn'toneof
themthatsomuchasbuysheraflowernow,that's
queer,sir,and
sad.And,afterall,sheisn'tsobadlyoff,forshe
hashergraveto
herself,andifthereisonlyonewhoremembersher,he
makesupforthe
others.Butwehaveotherpoorgirlshere,justlike
herandjusther
age,andtheyarejustthrownintoapauper'sgrave,

anditbreaksmy
heartwhenIheartheirpoorbodiesdropintothe
earth.Andnotasoul
thinksaboutthemanymore,oncetheyaredead!'Tisn't
amerrytrade,
ours,especiallywhenwehavealittleheartleft.What
doyouexpect?I
can'thelpit.Ihaveafine,strappinggirlmyself;
she'sjusttwenty,
andwhenagirlofthatagecomeshereIthinkofher,
andIdon'tcare
ifit'sagreatladyoravagabond,Ican'thelp
feelingitabit.But
Iamtakingupyourtime,sir,withmytales,andit
wasn'ttohearthem
youcamehere.IwastoldtoshowyouMlle.Gautier's
grave;hereyou
haveit.IsthereanythingelseIcandoforyou?"
"DoyouknowM.ArmandDuval'saddress?"Iasked.
"Yes;helivesatRuede;atleast,that'swhereI
alwaysgotoget
mymoneyfortheflowersyouseethere."
"Thanks,mygoodman."
Igaveonemorelookatthegravecoveredwithflowers,
halflongingto
penetratethedepthsoftheearthandseewhatthe
earthhadmadeofthe
faircreaturethathadbeencasttoit;thenIwalked
sadlyaway.
"DoyouwanttoseeM.Duval,sir?"saidthegardener,
whowaswalking
besideme.
"Yes."
"Well,Iamprettysureheisnotbackyet,orhewould

havebeenhere
already."
"Youdon'tthinkhehasforgottenMarguerite?"
"Iamnotonlysurehehasn't,butIwouldwagerthat
hewantstochange
hergravesimplyinordertohaveonemorelookat
her."
"Whydoyouthinkthat?"
"Thefirstwordhesaidtomewhenhecametothe
cemeterywas:'Howcan
Iseeheragain?'Thatcan'tbedoneunlessthereisa
changeofgrave,
andItoldhimallabouttheformalitiesthathaveto
beattendedtoin
gettingitdone;for,yousee,ifyouwanttomovea
bodyfromonegrave
toanotheryoumusthaveitidentified,andonlythe
familycangive
leaveforitunderthedirectionofapoliceinspector.
ThatiswhyM.
DuvalhasgonetoseeMlle.Gautier'ssister,andyou
maybesurehis
firstvisitwillbeforme."
Wehadcometothecemeterygate.Ithankedthe
gardeneragain,putting
afewcoinsintohishand,andmademywaytothe
addresshehadgiven
me.
Armandhadnotyetreturned.Ileftwordforhim,
begginghimtocome
andseemeassoonashearrived,ortosendmeword
whereIcouldfind
him.
Nextday,inthemorning,Ireceivedaletterfrom

Duval,tellingme
ofhisreturn,andaskingmetocallonhim,ashewas
sowornoutwith
fatiguethatitwasimpossibleforhimtogoout.

Chapter6
IfoundArmandinbed.Onseeingmeheheldouta
burninghand."You
arefeverish,"Isaidtohim."Itisnothing,the
fatigueofarapid
journey;thatisall.""Youhavebeentosee
Marguerite'ssister?""Yes;
whotoldyou?""Iknewit.Didyougetwhatyou
wanted?"
"Yes;butwhotoldyouofmyjourney,andofmyreason
fortakingit?"
"Thegardenerofthecemetery."
"Youhaveseenthetomb?"
Iscarcelydaredreply,forthetoneinwhichthewords
werespoken
provedtomethatthespeakerwasstillpossessedby
theemotionwhich
Ihadwitnessedbefore,andthateverytimehis
thoughtsorspeech
travelledbacktothatmournfulsubjectemotionwould
still,foralong
timetocome,provestrongerthanhiswill.Icontented
myselfwitha
nodofthehead.
"Hehaslookedafteritwell?"continuedArmand.Two
bigtearsrolled
downthecheeksofthesickman,andheturnedawayhis
headtohide

themfromme.Ipretendednottoseethem,andtriedto
changethe
conversation."Youhavebeenawaythreeweeks,"Isaid.
Armandpassedhishandacrosshiseyesandreplied,
"Exactlythree
weeks."
"Youhadalongjourney."
"Oh,Iwasnottravellingallthetime.Iwasillfora
fortnightorI
shouldhavereturnedlongago;butIhadscarcelygot
therewhenItook
thisfever,andIwasobligedtokeepmyroom."
"Andyoustartedtocomebackbeforeyouwerereally
well?"
"IfIhadremainedintheplaceforanotherweek,I
shouldhavedied
there."
"Well,nowyouarebackagain,youmusttakecareof
yourself;your
friendswillcomeandlookafteryou;myself,firstof
all,ifyouwill
allowme."
"Ishallgetupinacoupleofhours."
"Itwouldbeveryunwise."
"Imust."
"Whathaveyoutodoinsuchagreathurry?"
"Imustgototheinspectorofpolice."
"Whydoyounotgetoneofyourfriendstoseeafter
thematter?Itis

likelytomakeyouworsethanyouarenow."
"Itismyonlychanceofgettingbetter.Imustsee
her.EversinceI
heardofherdeath,especiallysinceIsawhergrave,I
havenotbeen
abletosleep.Icannotrealizethatthiswoman,so
youngandso
beautifulwhenIlefther,isreallydead.Imust
convincemyselfofit.
ImustseewhatGodhasdonewithabeingthatIhave
lovedsomuch,
andperhapsthehorrorofthesightwillcuremeofmy
despair.Willyou
accompanyme,ifitwon'tbetroublingyoutoomuch?"
"Whatdidhersistersayaboutit?"
"Nothing.Sheseemedgreatlysurprisedthatastranger
wantedtobuy
aplotofgroundandgiveMargueriteanewgrave,and
sheimmediately
signedtheauthorizationthatIaskedherfor."
"Believeme,itwouldbebettertowaituntilyouare
quitewell."
"Havenofear;Ishallbequitecomposed.Besides,I
shouldsimplygo
outofmymindifIwerenottocarryoutaresolution
whichIhaveset
myselftocarryout.IsweartoyouthatIshallnever
bemyselfagain
untilIhaveseenMarguerite.Itisperhapsthethirst
ofthefever,
asleeplessnight'sdream,amoment'sdelirium;but
thoughIwereto
becomeaTrappist,likeM.deRance',afterhaving
seen,Iwillsee."
"Iunderstand,"IsaidtoArmand,"andIamatyour

service.Haveyou
seenJulieDuprat?"
"Yes,IsawherthedayIreturned,forthefirst
time."
"DidshegiveyouthepapersthatMargueritehadleft
foryou?"
Armanddrewarollofpapersfromunderhispillow,and
immediatelyput
themback.
"Iknowallthatisinthesepapersbyheart,"hesaid.
"Forthreeweeks
Ihavereadthemtentimesovereveryday.Youshall
readthem,too,but
lateron,whenIamcalmer,andcanmakeyouunderstand
alltheloveand
tendernesshiddenawayinthisconfession.Forthe
momentIwantyouto
domeaservice."
"Whatisit?"
"Yourcabisbelow?"
"Yes.
"Well,willyoutakemypassportandaskifthereare
anylettersforme
attheposterestante?Myfatherandsistermusthave
writtentomeat
Paris,andIwentawayinsuchhastethatIdidnotgo
andseebefore
leaving.Whenyoucomebackwewillgotogethertothe
inspectorof
police,andarrangefortomorrow'sceremony."
Armandhandedmehispassport,andIwenttoRueJean
JacquesRousseau.

ThereweretwolettersaddressedtoDuval.Itookthem
andreturned.
WhenIreenteredtheroomArmandwasdressedandready
togoout.
"Thanks,"hesaid,takingtheletters."Yes,"headded,
afterglancing
attheaddresses,"theyarefrommyfatherandsister.
Theymusthave
beenquiteatalosstounderstandmysilence."
Heopenedtheletters,guessedatratherthanread
them,foreachwasof
fourpages;andamomentafterfoldedthemup."Come,"
hesaid,"Iwill
answertomorrow."
Wewenttothepolicestation,andArmandhandedinthe
permission
signedbyMarguerite'ssister.Hereceivedinreturna
lettertothe
keeperofthecemetery,anditwassettledthatthe
disintermentwasto
takeplacenextday,atteno'clock,thatIshouldcall
forhimanhour
before,andthatweshouldgotothecemeterytogether.
IconfessthatIwascurioustobepresent,andIdid
notsleepall
night.Judgingfromthethoughtswhichfilledmybrain,
itmusthave
beenalongnightforArmand.WhenIenteredhisroom
atnineonthe
followingmorninghewasfrightfullypale,butseemed
calm.Hesmiled
andheldouthishand.Hiscandleswereburnedout;and
beforeleaving
hetookaveryheavyletteraddressedtohisfather,
andnodoubt
containinganaccountofthatnight'simpressions.

HalfanhourlaterwewereatMontmartre.Thepolice
inspectorwasthere
already.Wewalkedslowlyinthedirectionof
Marguerite'sgrave.The
inspectorwentinfront;ArmandandIfollowedafew
stepsbehind.
FromtimetotimeIfeltmycompanion'sarmtremble
convulsively,asif
heshiveredfromheadtofeet.Ilookedathim.He
understoodthelook,
andsmiledatme;wehadnotexchangedawordsince
leavingthehouse.
Justbeforewereachedthegrave,Armandstoppedto
wipehisface,which
wascoveredwithgreatdropsofsweat.Itookadvantage
ofthepause
todrawinalongbreath,forI,too,feltasifIhad
aweightonmy
chest.
Whatistheoriginofthatmournfulpleasurewhichwe
findinsightsof
thiskind?Whenwereachedthegravethegardenerhad
removedallthe
flowerpots,theironrailinghadbeentakenaway,and
twomenwere
turningupthesoil.
Armandleanedagainstatreeandwatched.Allhislife
seemedtopass
beforehiseyes.Suddenlyoneofthetwopickaxes
struckagainsta
stone.AtthesoundArmandrecoiled,asatanelectric
shock,andseized
myhandwithsuchforceastogivemepain.
Oneofthegravediggerstookashovelandbegan
emptyingouttheearth;
then,whenonlythestonescoveringthecoffinwere

left,hethrewthem
outonebyone.
IscrutinizedArmand,foreverymomentIwasafraid
lesttheemotions
whichhewasvisiblyrepressingshouldprovetoomuch
forhim;buthe
stillwatched,hiseyesfixedandwideopen,likethe
eyesofamadman,
andaslighttremblingofthecheeksandlipswerethe
onlysignsofthe
violentnervouscrisisunderwhichhewassuffering.
Asforme,allIcansayisthatIregrettedhaving
come.
Whenthecoffinwasuncoveredtheinspectorsaidtothe
gravedigger:
"Openit."Theyobeyed,asifitwerethemostnatural
thinginthe
world.
Thecoffinwasofoak,andtheybegantounscrewthe
lid.Thehumidity
oftheearthhadrustedthescrews,anditwasnot
withoutsome
difficultythatthecoffinwasopened.Apainfulodour
aroseinspiteof
thearomaticplantswithwhichitwascovered.
"OmyGod,myGod!"murmuredArmand,andturnedpaler
thanbefore.
Eventhegravediggerdrewback.
Agreatwhiteshroudcoveredthecorpse,closely
outliningsomeofits
contours.Thisshroudwasalmostcompletelyeatenaway
atoneend,and
leftoneofthefeetvisible.

Iwasnearlyfainting,andatthemomentofwriting
theselinesIsee
thewholesceneoveragaininallitsimposingreality.
"Quick,"saidtheinspector.Thereupononeofthemen
putouthishand,
begantounsewtheshroud,andtakingholdofitbyone
endsuddenly
laidbarethefaceofMarguerite.
Itwasterribletosee,itishorribletorelate.The
eyeswerenothing
buttwoholes,thelipshaddisappeared,vanished,and
thewhiteteeth
weretightlyset.Theblackhair,longanddry,was
pressedtightly
abouttheforehead,andhalfveiledthegreenhollows
ofthecheeks;and
yetIrecognisedinthisfacethejoyouswhiteandrose
facethatIhad
seensooften.
Armand,unabletoturnawayhiseyes,hadputthe
handkerchieftohis
mouthandbitit.
Formypart,itwasasifacircleofirontightened
aboutmyhead,a
veilcoveredmyeyes,arumblingfilledmyears,and
allIcoulddowas
tounstopasmellingbottlewhichIhappenedtohave
withme,andto
drawinlongbreathsofit.
ThroughthisbewildermentIheardtheinspectorsayto
Duval,"Doyou
identify?"
"Yes,"repliedtheyoungmaninadullvoice.
"Thenfastenitupandtakeitaway,"saidthe

inspector.
Thegravediggersputbacktheshroudoverthefaceof
thecorpse,
fastenedupthecoffin,tookholdofeachendofit,
andbegantocarry
ittowardtheplacewheretheyhadbeentoldtotake
it.
Armanddidnotmove.Hiseyeswerefixedupontheempty
grave;hewasas
whiteasthecorpsewhichwehadjustseen.Helooked
asifhehadbeen
turnedtostone.
Isawwhatwascomingassoonasthepaincausedbythe
spectacleshould
haveabatedandthusceasedtosustainhim.Iwentup
totheinspector.
"Isthisgentleman'spresencestillnecessary?"Isaid,
pointingto
Armand.
"No,"hereplied,"andIshouldadviseyoutotakehim
away.Helooks
ill."
"Come,"IsaidtoArmand,takinghimbythearm.
"What?"hesaid,lookingatmeasifhedidnot
recogniseme.
"Itisallover,"Iadded."Youmustcome,myfriend;
youarequite
white;youarecold.Theseemotionswillbetoomuch
foryou."
"Youareright.Letusgo,"heansweredmechanically,
butwithoutmoving
astep.

Itookhimbythearmandledhimalong.Helethimself
beguidedlikea
child,onlyfromtimetotimemurmuring,"Didyousee
hereyes?"andhe
turnedasifthevisionhadrecalledher.
Nevertheless,hisstepsbecamemoreirregular;he
seemedtowalkbya
seriesofjerks;histeethchattered;hishandswere
cold;aviolent
agitationranthroughhisbody.Ispoketohim;hedid
notanswer.He
wasjustabletolethimselfbeledalong.Acabwas
waitingatthe
gate.Itwasonlyjustintime.Scarcelyhadheseated
himself,whenthe
shiveringbecamemoreviolent,andhehadanactual
attackofnerves,in
themidstofwhichhisfearoffrighteningmemadehim
pressmyhandand
whisper:"Itisnothing,nothing.Iwanttoweep."
Hischestlaboured,hiseyeswereinjectedwithblood,
butnotears
came.ImadehimsmellthesaltswhichIhadwithme,
andwhenwe
reachedhishouseonlytheshiveringremained.
WiththehelpofhisservantIputhimtobed,lita
bigfirein
hisroom,andhurriedofftomydoctor,towhomItold
allthathad
happened.Hehastenedwithme.
Armandwasflushedanddelirious;hestammeredout
disconnectedwords,
inwhichonlythenameofMargueritecouldbe
distinctlyheard.
"Well?"Isaidtothedoctorwhenhehadexaminedthe
patient.

"Well,hehasneithermorenorlessthanbrainfever,
andveryluckyit
isforhim,forIfirmlybelieve(Godforgiveme!)that
hewouldhave
goneoutofhismind.Fortunately,thephysicalmalady
willkillthe
mentalone,andinamonth'stimehewillbefreefrom
theoneand
perhapsfromtheother."

Chapter7
IllnesseslikeArmand'shaveonefortunatethingabout
them:theyeither
killoutrightorareverysoonovercome.Afortnight
aftertheevents
whichIhavejustrelatedArmandwasconvalescent,and
wehadalready
becomegreatfriends.Duringthewholecourseofhis
illnessIhad
hardlylefthisside.
Springwasprofuseinitsflowers,itsleaves,its
birds,itssongs;and
myfriend'swindowopenedgailyuponhisgarden,from
whichareviving
breathofhealthseemedtocometohim.Thedoctorhad
allowedhimto
getup,andweoftensattalkingattheopenwindow,at
thehourwhen
thesunisatitsheight,fromtwelvetotwo.Iwas
carefulnottorefer
toMarguerite,fearinglestthenameshouldawakensad
recollections
hiddenundertheapparentcalmoftheinvalid;but
Armand,onthe
contrary,seemedtodelightinspeakingofher,notas
formerly,with

tearsinhiseyes,butwithasweetsmilewhich
reassuredmeastothe
stateofhismind.
Ihadnoticedthateversincehislastvisittothe
cemetery,andthe
sightwhichhadbroughtonsoviolentacrisis,sorrow
seemedtohave
beenovercomebysickness,andMarguerite'sdeathno
longerappearedto
himunderitsformeraspect.Akindofconsolationhad
sprungfromthe
certaintyofwhichhewasnowfullypersuaded,andin
ordertobanish
thesombrepicturewhichoftenpresenteditselftohim,
hereturned
uponthehappyrecollectionsofhisliaisonwith
Marguerite,andseemed
resolvedtothinkofnothingelse.
Thebodywastoomuchweakenedbytheattackoffever,
andevenby
theprocessofitscure,topermithimanyviolent
emotions,andthe
universaljoyofspringwhichwrappedhimroundcarried
histhoughts
instinctivelytoimagesofjoy.Hehadalways
obstinatelyrefusedto
tellhisfamilyofthedangerwhichhehadbeenin,and
whenhewaswell
againhisfatherdidnotevenknowthathehadbeen
ill.
Oneeveningwehadsatatthewindowlaterthanusual;
theweatherhad
beensuperb,andthesunsanktosleepinatwilight
dazzlingwithgold
andazure.ThoughwewereinParis,theverdurewhich
surroundedus
seemedtoshutusofffromtheworld,andour
conversationwasonlynow

andagaindisturbedbythesoundofapassingvehicle.
"Itwasaboutthistimeoftheyear,ontheeveningof
adaylikethis,
thatIfirstmetMarguerite,"saidArmandtome,asif
hewerelistening
tohisownthoughtsratherthantowhatIwassaying.I
didnotanswer.
Thenturningtowardme,hesaid:
"Imusttellyouthewholestory;youwillmakeabook
outofit;noone
willbelieveit,butitwillperhapsbeinterestingto
do."
"Youwilltellmeallaboutitlateron,myfriend,"I
saidtohim;"you
arenotstrongenoughyet."
"Itisawarmevening,Ihaveeatenmyrationof
chicken,"hesaidto
me,smiling;"Ihavenofever,wehavenothingtodo,I
willtellitto
younow."
"Sinceyoureallywishit,Iwilllisten."
Thisiswhathetoldme,andIhavescarcelychangeda
wordofthe
touchingstory.
Yes(Armandwenton,lettinghisheadsinkbackonthe
chair),yes,it
wasjustsuchaneveningasthis.Ihadspenttheday
inthecountry
withoneofmyfriends,GastonR.Wereturnedto
Parisintheevening,
andnotknowingwhattodowewenttotheVarietes.We
wentoutduring
oneoftheentr'actes,andatallwomanpassedusin
thecorridor,to

whommyfriendbowed.
"Whomareyoubowingto?"Iasked.
"MargueriteGautier,"hesaid.
"Sheseemsmuchchanged,forIdidnotrecogniseher,"
Isaid,withan
emotionthatyouwillsoonunderstand.
"Shehasbeenill;thepoorgirlwon'tlastlong."
Irememberthewordsasiftheyhadbeenspokentome
yesterday.
Imusttellyou,myfriend,thatfortwoyearsthe
sightofthisgirl
hadmadeastrangeimpressiononmewheneverIcame
acrossher.Without
knowingwhy,Iturnedpaleandmyheartbeatviolently.
Ihaveafriend
whostudiestheoccultsciences,andhewouldcallwhat
Iexperienced
"theaffinityoffluids";asforme,IonlyknowthatI
wasfatedto
fallinlovewithMarguerite,andthatIforesawit.
Itiscertainlythefactthatshemadeaverydefinite
impressionupon
me,thatmanyofmyfriendshadnoticeditandthat
theyhadbeenmuch
amusedwhentheysawwhoitwasthatmadethis
impressionuponme.
ThefirsttimeIeversawherwasinthePlacedela
Bourse,outside
Susse's;anopencarriagewasstationedthere,anda
womandressed
inwhitegotdownfromit.Amurmurofadmiration
greetedherasshe
enteredtheshop.Asforme,Iwasrivettedtothespot

fromthemoment
shewentintillthemomentwhenshecameoutagain.I
couldseeher
throughtheshopwindowsselectingwhatshehadcometo
buy.Imight
havegonein,butIdarednot.Ididnotknowwhoshe
was,andI
wasafraidlestsheshouldguesswhyIhadcomeinand
beoffended.
Nevertheless,IdidnotthinkIshouldeverseeher
again.
Shewaselegantlydressed;sheworeamuslindresswith
manyflounces,
anIndianshawlembroideredatthecornerswithgold
andsilkflowers,
astrawhat,asinglebracelet,andaheavygoldchain,
suchaswasjust
thenbeginningtobethefashion.
Shereturnedtohercarriageanddroveaway.Oneofthe
shopmenstoodat
thedoorlookingafterhiselegantcustomer'scarriage.
Iwentuptohim
andaskedhimwhatwasthelady'sname.
"MademoiselleMargueriteGautier,"hereplied.Idared
notaskhimfor
heraddress,andwentonmyway.
Therecollectionofthisvision,foritwasreallya
vision,wouldnot
leavemymindlikesomanyvisionsIhadseen,andI
lookedeverywhere
forthisroyallybeautifulwomaninwhite.
Afewdayslatertherewasagreatperformanceatthe
OperaComique.The
firstpersonIsawinoneoftheboxeswasMarguerite
Gautier.

TheyoungmanwhomIwaswithrecognisedher
immediately,forhesaidto
me,mentioninghername:"Lookatthatprettygirl."
AtthatmomentMargueriteturnedheroperaglassinour
directionand,
seeingmyfriend,smiledandbeckonedtohimtocometo
her.
"Iwillgoandsay'Howdoyoudo?'toher,"hesaid,
"andwillbeback
inamoment."
"Icouldnothelpsaying'Happyman!'"
"Why?"
"Togoandseethatwoman."
"Areyouinlovewithher?"
"No,"Isaid,flushing,forIreallydidnotknowwhat
tosay;"butI
shouldverymuchliketoknowher."
"Comewithme.Iwillintroduceyou."
"Askherifyoumay."
"Really,thereisnoneedtobeparticularwithher;
come."
Whathesaidtroubledme.Ifearedtodiscoverthat
Margueritewasnot
worthyofthesentimentwhichIfeltforher.
InabookofAlphonseKarrentitlesAmRauchen,there
isamanwhoone
eveningfollowsaveryelegantwoman,withwhomhehad
falleninlove
withatfirstsightonaccountofherbeauty.Onlyto

kissherhandhe
feltthathehadthestrengthtoundertakeanything,
thewilltoconquer
anything,thecouragetoachieveanything.Hescarcely
daresglanceat
thetrimanklewhichsheshowsassheholdsherdress
outofthemud.
Whileheisdreamingofallthathewoulddotopossess
thiswoman,she
stopsatthecornerofthestreetandasksifhewill
comehomewith
her.Heturnshishead,crossesthestreet,andgoes
sadlybacktohis
ownhouse.
Irecalledthestory,and,havinglongedtosufferfor
thiswoman,Iwas
afraidthatshewouldacceptmetoopromptlyandgive
meatoncewhat
Ifainwouldhavepurchasedbylongwaitingorsome
greatsacrifice.We
menarebuiltlikethat,anditisveryfortunatethat
theimagination
lendssomuchpoetrytothesenses,andthatthe
desiresofthebody
makethussuchconcessiontothedreamsofthesoul.If
anyonehad
saidtome,Youshallhavethiswomantonightandbe
killedtomorrow,I
wouldhaveaccepted.Ifanyonehadsaidtome,youcan
beherloverfor
tenpounds,Iwouldhaverefused.Iwouldhavecried
likeachildwho
seesthecastlehehasbeendreamingaboutvanishaway
asheawakens
fromsleep.
Allthesame,Iwishedtoknowher;itwasmyonly
meansofmakingupmy
mindabouther.IthereforesaidtomyfriendthatI
insistedonhaving

herpermissiontobeintroducedtoher,andIwandered
toandfrointhe
corridors,sayingtomyselfthatinamoment'stimeshe
wasgoingto
seeme,andthatIshouldnotknowwhichwaytolook.I
tried(sublime
childishnessoflove!)tostringtogetherthewordsI
shouldsaytoher.
Amomentaftermyfriendreturned."Sheisexpecting
us,"hesaid.
"Isshealone?"Iasked.
"Withanotherwoman."
"Therearenomen?"
"No."
"Come,then."
Myfriendwenttowardthedoorofthetheatre.
"Thatisnottheway,"Isaid.
"Wemustgoandgetsomesweets.Sheaskedmefor
some."
Wewentintoaconfectioner'sinthepassagede
l'Opera.Iwouldhave
boughtthewholeshop,andIwaslookingabouttosee
whatsweetsto
choose,whenmyfriendaskedforapoundofraisins
glaces.
"Doyouknowifshelikesthem?"
"Sheeatsnootherkindofsweets;everybodyknowsit.
"Ah,"hewentonwhenwehadlefttheshop,"doyou

knowwhatkindof
womanitisthatIamgoingtointroduceyouto?Don't
imagineitis
aduchess.Itissimplyakeptwoman,verymuchkept,
mydearfellow;
don'tbeshy,sayanythingthatcomesintoyourhead."
"Yes,yes,"Istammered,andIfollowedhim,sayingto
myselfthatI
shouldsooncuremyselfofmypassion.
WhenIenteredtheboxMargueritewasinfitsof
laughter.Iwould
ratherthatshehadbeensad.Myfriendintroducedme;
Margueritegave
mealittlenod,andsaid,"Andmysweets?"
"Heretheyare."
Shelookedatmeasshetookthem.Idroppedmyeyes
andblushed.
Sheleanedacrosstoherneighbourandsaidsomething
inherear,at
whichbothlaughed.EvidentlyIwasthecauseoftheir
mirth,and
myembarrassmentincreased.AtthattimeIhadas
mistressavery
affectionateandsentimentallittleperson,whose
sentimentandwhose
melancholylettersamusedmegreatly.Irealizedthe
painImusthave
givenherbywhatInowexperienced,andforfive
minutesIlovedheras
nowomanwaseverloved.
Margueriteateherraisinsglaceswithouttakingany
morenoticeofme.
Thefriendwhohadintroducedmedidnotwishtoletme
remaininso
ridiculousaposition.

"Marguerite,"hesaid,"youmustnotbesurprisedifM.
Duvalsays
nothing:youoverwhelmhimtosuchadegreethathecan
notfindaword
tosay."
"Ishouldsay,onthecontrary,thathehasonlycome
withyoubecause
itwouldhaveboredyoutocomeherebyyourself."
"Ifthatweretrue,"Isaid,"Ishouldnothavebegged
Ernesttoask
yourpermissiontointroduceme."
"Perhapsthatwasonlyinordertoputoffthefatal
moment."
Howeverlittleonemayhaveknownwomenlike
Marguerite,onecannotbut
knowthedelighttheytakeinpretendingtobewitty
andinteasingthe
peoplewhomtheymeetforthefirsttime.Itisno
doubtareturnfor
thehumiliationswhichtheyoftenhavetosubmittoon
thepartofthose
whomtheyseeeveryday.
Toanswerthemproperly,onerequiresacertainknack,
andIhadnothad
theopportunityofacquiringit;besides,theideathat
Ihadformed
ofMargueriteaccentuatedtheeffectsofhermockery.
Nothingthatdame
fromherwasindifferenttome.Irosetomyfeet,
sayinginanaltered
voice,whichIcouldnotentirelycontrol:
"Ifthatiswhatyouthinkofme,madame,Ihaveonly
toaskyourpardon
formyindiscretion,andtotakeleaveofyouwiththe

assurancethatit
shallnotoccuragain."
ThereuponIbowedandquittedthebox.Ihadscarcely
closedthedoor
whenIheardathirdpealoflaughter.Itwouldnot
havebeenwellfor
anybodywhohadelbowedmeatthatmoment.
Ireturnedtomyseat.Thesignalforraisingthe
curtainwasgiven.
Ernestcamebacktohisplacebesideme.
"Whatawayyoubehaved!"hesaid,ashesatdown.
"Theywillthinkyou
aremad."
"WhatdidMargueritesayafterIhadgone?"
"Shelaughed,andsaidshehadneverseenanyoneso
funny.Butdon't
lookuponitasalostchance;onlydonotdothese
womenthehonour
oftakingthemseriously.Theydonotknowwhat
politenessandceremony
are.Itisasifyouweretoofferperfumestodogs
theywouldthinkit
smelledbad,andgoandrollinthegutter."
"Afterall,whatdoesitmattertome?"Isaid,
affectingtospeakina
nonchalantway."Ishallneverseethiswomanagain,
andifIlikedher
beforemeetingher,itisquitedifferentnowthatI
knowher."
"Bah!Idon'tdespairofseeingyouonedayattheback
ofherbox,
andofbearingthatyouareruiningyourselfforher.
However,youare
right,shehasn'tbeenwellbroughtup;butshewould

beacharming
mistresstohave."
Happily,thecurtainroseandmyfriendwassilent.I
couldnotpossibly
tellyouwhattheywereacting.AllthatIrememberis
thatfromtimeto
timeIraisedmyeyestotheboxIhadquittedso
abruptly,andthatthe
facesoffreshvisitorssucceededoneanotherallthe
time.
Iwasfarfromhavinggivenupthinkingabout
Marguerite.Another
feelinghadtakenpossessionofme.Itseemedtome
thatIhadher
insultandmyabsurditytowipeout;Isaidtomyself
thatifIspent
everypennyIhad,Iwouldwinherandwinmyrightto
theplaceIhad
abandonedsoquickly.
BeforetheperformancewasoverMargueriteandher
friendleftthebox.
Irosefrommyseat.
"Areyougoing?"saidErnest.
"Yes."
"Why?"
Atthatmomenthesawthattheboxwasempty.
"Go,go,"hesaid,"andgoodluck,orratherbetter
luck."
Iwentout.
Iheardtherustleofdresses,thesoundofvoices,on
thestaircase.

Istoodaside,and,withoutbeingseen,sawthetwo
womenpassme,
accompaniedbytwoyoungmen.Attheentrancetothe
theatretheywere
metbyafootman.
"TellthecoachmantowaitatthedooroftheCafe'
Anglais,"said
Marguerite."Wewillwalkthere."
AfewminutesafterwardIsawMargueritefromthe
streetatawindowof
oneofthelargeroomsoftherestaurant,pullingthe
camelliasofher
bouquettopieces,onebyone.Oneofthetwomenwas
leaningover
hershoulderandwhisperinginherear.Itookupmy
positionatthe
Maisond'or,inoneofthefirstfloorrooms,anddid
notlosesightof
thewindowforaninstant.Atoneinthemorning
Margueritegotinto
hercarriagewithherthreefriends.Itookacaband
followedthem.The
carriagestoppedatNo.9,Rued'Antin.Margueritegot
outandwent
inalone.Itwasnodoubtamerechance,butthechance
filledmewith
delight.
Fromthattimeforward,IoftenmetMargueriteatthe
theatreorin
theChampsElysees.Alwaystherewasthesamegaietyin
her,thesame
emotioninme.
Atlastafortnightpassedwithoutmymeetingher.I
metGastonand
askedafterher.
"Poorgirl,sheisveryill,"heanswered.

"Whatisthematter?"
"Sheisconsumptive,andthesortoflifesheleads
isn'texactlythe
thingtocureher.Shehastakentoherbed;sheis
dying."
Theheartisastrangething;Iwasalmostgladat
hearingit.
EverydayIwenttoaskafterher,withoutleavingmy
nameormycard.I
heardshewasconvalescentandhadgonetoBagneres.
Timewentby,theimpression,ifnotthememory,faded
graduallyfrommy
mind.Itravelled;loveaffairs,habits,work,tookthe
placeofother
thoughts,andwhenIrecalledthisadventureIlooked
uponitasoneof
thosepassionswhichonehaswhenoneisveryyoung,
andlaughsatsoon
afterward.
Fortherest,itwasnocredittometohavegotthe
betterofthis
recollection,forIhadcompletelylostsightof
Marguerite,and,asI
toldyou,whenshepassedmeinthecorridorofthe
Varietes,Ididnot
recogniseher.Shewasveiled,itistrue;but,veiled
thoughshemight
havebeentwoyearsearlier,Ishouldnothaveneeded
toseeherin
ordertorecogniseher:Ishouldhaveknownher
intuitively.Allthe
same,myheartbegantobeatwhenIknewthatitwas
she;andthetwo
yearsthathadpassedsinceIsawher,andwhathad
seemedtobethe

resultsofthatseparation,vanishedinsmokeatthe
meretouchofher
dress.

Chapter8
However(continuedArmandafterapause),whileIknew
myselftobe
stillinlovewithher,Ifeltmoresureofmyself,and
partofmy
desiretospeaktoMargueriteagainwasawishtomake
herseethatI
wasstrongerthanshe.
Howmanywaysdoesthehearttake,howmanyreasons
doesitinventfor
itself,inordertoarriveatwhatitwants!
Icouldnotremaininthecorridor,andIreturnedto
myplaceinthe
stalls,lookinghastilyaroundtoseewhatboxshewas
in.Shewasina
groundfloorbox,quitealone.Shehadchanged,asI
havetoldyou,and
nolongerworeanindifferentsmileonherlips.She
hadsuffered;she
wasstillsuffering.ThoughitwasApril,shewasstill
wearingawinter
costume,allwrappedupinfurs.
Igazedathersofixedlythatmyeyesattractedhers.
Shelookedatme
forafewseconds,putupheroperaglasstoseeme
better,andseemed
tothinksherecognisedme,withoutbeingquitesure
whoIwas,forwhen
sheputdownherglasses,asmile,thatcharming,
femininesalutation,
flittedacrossherlips,asiftoanswerthebowwhich

sheseemedto
expect;butIdidnotrespond,soastohavean
advantageoverher,as
ifIhadforgotten,whilesheremembered.Supposing
herselfmistaken,
shelookedaway.
Thecurtainwentup.IhaveoftenseenMargueriteat
thetheatre.I
neversawherpaytheslightestattentiontowhatwas
beingacted.As
forme,theperformanceinterestedmeequallylittle,
andIpaidno
attentiontoanythingbuther,thoughdoingmyutmost
tokeepherfrom
noticingit.
PresentlyIsawherglancingacrossatthepersonwho
wasinthe
oppositebox;onlooking,IsawawomanwithwhomIwas
quitefamiliar.
Shehadoncebeenakeptwoman,andhadtriedtogoon
thestage,had
failed,and,relyingonheracquaintancewith
fashionablepeoplein
Paris,hadgoneintobusinessandtakenamilliner's
shop.Isawinher
ameansofmeetingwithMarguerite,andprofitedbya
momentinwhich
shelookedmywaytowavemyhandtoher.AsI
expected,shebeckonedto
metocometoherbox.
PrudenceDuvernoy(thatwasthemilliner'sauspicious
name)wasoneof
thosefatwomenoffortywithwhomonerequiresvery
littlediplomacy
tomakethemunderstandwhatonewantstoknow,
especiallywhenwhatone
wantstoknowisassimpleaswhatIhadtoaskofher.

Itookadvantageofamomentwhenshewassmiling
acrossatMarguerite
toaskher,"Whomareyoulookingat?"
"MargueriteGautier."
"Youknowher?"
"Yes,Iamhermilliner,andsheisaneighbourof
mine."
"DoyouliveintheRued'Antin?"
"No.7.Thewindowofherdressingroomlooksontothe
windowofmine."
"Theysaysheisacharminggirl."
"Don'tyouknowher?"
"No,butIshouldliketo."
"ShallIaskhertocomeovertoourbox?"
"No,Iwouldratherforyoutointroducemetoher."
"Atherownhouse?"
"Yes.
"Thatismoredifficult."
"Why?"
"Becausesheisundertheprotectionofajealousold
duke."
"'Protection'ischarming."
"Yes,protection,"repliedPrudence."Pooroldman,he
wouldbegreatly

embarrassedtoofferheranythingelse."
PrudencethentoldmehowMargueritehadmadethe
acquaintanceofthe
dukeatBagneres.
"That,then,"Icontinued,"iswhysheisalonehere?"
"Precisely."
"Butwhowillseeherhome?"
"Hewill."
"Hewillcomeforher?"
"Inamoment."
"Andyou,whoisseeingyouhome?"
"Noone."
"MayIoffermyself?"
"Butyouarewithafriend,areyounot?"
"Mayweoffer,then?"
"Whoisyourfriend?"
"Acharmingfellow,veryamusing.Hewillbedelighted
tomakeyour
acquaintance."
"Well,allright;wewillgoafterthispieceisover,
forIknowthe
lastpiece."
"Withpleasure;Iwillgoandtellmyfriend."
"Go,then.Ah,"addedPrudence,asIwasgoing,"there

isthedukejust
comingintoMarguerite'sbox."
Ilookedathim.Amanofaboutseventyhadsatdown
behindher,andwas
givingherabagofsweets,intowhichshedippedat
once,smiling.Then
shehelditouttowardPrudence,withagesturewhich
seemedtosay,
"Willyouhavesome?"
"No,"signalledPrudence.
Margueritedrewbackthebag,and,turning,beganto
talkwiththeduke.
Itmaysoundchildishtotellyouallthesedetails,
buteverything
relatingtoMargueriteissofreshinmymemorythatI
cannothelp
recallingthemnow.
IwentbacktoGastonandtoldhimofthearrangementI
hadmadefor
himandforme.Heagreed,andweleftourstallstogo
roundtoMme.
Duvernoy'sbox.Wehadscarcelyopenedthedoorleading
intothestalls
whenwehadtostandasidetoallowMargueriteandthe
duketopass.
Iwouldhavegiventenyearsofmylifetohavebeenin
theoldman's
place.
Whentheywereonthestreethehandedherintoa
phaeton,whichhe
drovehimself,andtheywerewhirledawaybytwosuperb
horses.
WereturnedtoPrudence'sbox,andwhentheplaywas
overwetookacab

anddroveto7,Rued'Antin.Atthedoor,Prudence
askedustocomeup
andseehershowrooms,whichwehadneverseen,andof
whichsheseemed
veryproud.YoucanimaginehoweagerlyIaccepted.It
seemedtome
asifIwascomingnearerandnearertoMarguerite.I
soonturnedthe
conversationinherdirection.
"Theolddukeisatyourneighbours,"Isaidto
Prudence.
"Oh,no;sheisprobablyalone."
"Butshemustbedreadfullybored,"saidGaston.
"Wespendmostofoureveningtogether,orshecallsto
mewhenshe
comesin.Shenevergoestobedbeforetwointhe
morning.Shecan't
sleepbeforethat."
"Why?"
"Becauseshesuffersinthechest,andisalmostalways
feverish."
"Hasn'tsheanylovers?"Iasked.
"IneverseeanyoneremainafterIleave;Idon'tsay
nooneevercomes
whenIamgone.OftenintheeveningImeettherea
certainComtedeN.,
whothinksheismakingsomeheadwaybycallingonher
ateleveninthe
evening,andbysendingherjewelstoanyextent;but
shecan'tstand
him.Shemakesamistake;heisveryrich.Itisin
vainthatIsayto
herfromtimetotime,'Mydearchild,there'stheman

foryou.'She,
whogenerallylistenstome,turnsherbackandreplies
thatheistoo
stupid.Stupid,indeed,heis;butitwouldbea
positionforher,while
thisolddukemightdieanyday.Oldmenareegoists;
hisfamilyare
alwaysreproachinghimforhisaffectionfor
Marguerite;therearetwo
reasonswhyheislikelytoleavehernothing.Igive
hergoodadvice,
andsheonlysaysitwillbeplentyoftimetotakeon
thecountwhen
thedukeisdead.Itisn'tallfun,"continued
Prudence,"tolivelike
that.Iknowverywellitwouldn'tsuitme,andI
shouldsoonsendthe
oldmanabouthisbusiness.Heissodull;hecallsher
hisdaughter;
looksafterherlikeachild;andisalwaysintheway.
Iamsureat
thisverymomentoneofhisservantsisprowlingabout
inthestreetto
seewhocomesout,andespeciallywhogoesin."
"Ah,poorMarguerite!"saidGaston,sittingdowntothe
pianoand
playingawaltz."Ihadn'tanotionofit,butIdid
noticeshehasn't
beenlookingsogaylately."
"Hush,"saidPrudence,listening.Gastonstopped.
"Sheiscallingme,Ithink."
Welistened.Avoicewascalling,"Prudence!"
"Come,now,youmustgo,"saidMme.Duvernoy.
"Ah,thatisyourideaofhospitality,"saidGaston,
laughing;"wewon't

gotillweplease."
"Whyshouldwego?"
"IamgoingovertoMarguerite's."
"Wewillwaithere."
"Youcan't."
"Thenwewillgowithyou."
"Thatstillless."
"IknowMarguerite,"saidGaston;"Icanverywellpay
heracall."
"ButArmanddoesn'tknowher."
"Iwillintroducehim."
"Impossible."
WeagainheardMarguerite'svoicecallingtoPrudence,
whorushedtoher
dressingroomwindow.IfollowedwithGastonasshe
openedthewindow.
Wehidourselvessoasnottobeseenfromoutside.
"Ihavebeencallingyoufortenminutes,"said
Margueritefromher
window,inalmostanimperioustoneofvoice.
"Whatdoyouwant?"
"Iwantyoutocomeoveratonce."
"Why?"
"BecausetheComtedeN.isstillhere,andheis
boringmetodeath."

"Ican'tnow."
"Whatishinderingyou?"
"Therearetwoyoungfellowsherewhowon'tgo."
"Tellthemthatyoumustgoout."
"Ihavetoldthem."
"Well,then,leavetheminthehouse.Theywillsoongo
whentheysee
youhavegone."
"Theywillturneverythingupsidedown."
"Butwhatdotheywant?"
"Theywanttoseeyou."
"Whataretheycalled?"
"Youknowone,M.GastonR."
"Ah,yes,Iknowhim.Andtheother?"
"M.ArmandDuval;andyoudon'tknowhim."
"No,butbringthemalong.Anythingisbetterthanthe
count.Iexpect
you.Comeatonce."
MargueriteclosedherwindowandPrudencehers.
Marguerite,whohad
rememberedmyfaceforamoment,didnotremembermy
name.Iwould
ratherhavebeenrememberedtomydisadvantagethan
thusforgotten.
"Iknew,"saidGaston,"thatshewouldbedelightedto

seeus."
"Delightedisn'ttheword,"repliedPrudence,asshe
putonherhatand
shawl."Shewillseeyouinordertogetridofthe
count.Trytobe
moreagreeablethanheis,or(IknowMarguerite)she
willputitall
downtome."
WefollowedPrudencedownstairs.Itrembled;itseemed
tomethat
thisvisitwastohaveagreatinfluenceonmylife.I
wasstillmore
agitatedthanontheeveningwhenIwasintroducedin
theboxatthe
OperaComique.Aswereachedthedoorthatyouknow,my
heartbeatso
violentlythatIwashardlyabletothink.
Weheardthesoundofapiano.Prudencerang.Thepiano
wassilent.A
womanwholookedmorelikeacompanionthanaservant
openedthedoor.
Wewentintothedrawingroom,andfromthattothe
boudoir,whichwas
thenjustasyouhaveseenitsince.Ayoungmanwas
leaningagainstthe
mantelpiece.Marguerite,seatedatthepiano,lether
fingerswander
overthenotes,beginningscrapsofmusicwithout
finishingthem.The
wholescenebreathedboredom,themanembarrassedby
theconsciousness
ofhisnullity,thewomantiredofherdismalvisitor.
Atthevoiceof
Prudence,Margueriterose,andcomingtowarduswitha
lookofgratitude
toMme.Duvernoy,said:
"Comein,andwelcome."

Chapter9
"Goodevening,mydearGaston,"saidMargueritetomy
companion."Iam
verygladtoseeyou.Whydidn'tyoucometoseemein
myboxatthe
Varietes?"
"Iwasafraiditwouldbeindiscreet."
"Friends,"andMargueritelingeredovertheword,asif
tointimateto
thosewhowerepresentthatinspiteofthefamiliar
wayinwhichshe
greetedhim,Gastonwasnotandneverhadbeenanything
morethana
friend,"friendsarealwayswelcome."
"Then,willyoupermitmetointroduceM.Armand
Duval?"
"IhadalreadyauthorizedPrudencetodoso."
"Asfarasthatgoes,madame,"Isaid,bowing,and
succeedingingetting
moreorlessintelligiblesoundsoutofmythroat,"I
havealreadyhad
thehonourofbeingintroducedtoyou."
Marguerite'sbeautifuleyesseemedtobelookingback
inmemory,butshe
couldnot,orseemednotto,remember.
"Madame,"Icontinued,"Iamgratefultoyouforhaving
forgottenthe
occasionofmyfirstintroduction,forIwasvery
absurdandmusthave
seemedtoyouverytiresome.ItwasattheOpera

Comique,twoyearsago;
IwaswithErnestde."
"Ah,Iremember,"saidMarguerite,withasmile."It
wasnotyouwho
wereabsurd;itwasIwhowasmischievous,asIstill
am,butsomewhat
less.Youhaveforgivenme?"
Andsheheldoutherhand,whichIkissed.
"Itistrue,"shewenton;"youknowIhavethebad
habitoftrying
toembarrasspeoplethefirsttimeImeetthem.Itis
verystupid.
MydoctorsaysitisbecauseIamnervousandalways
ill;believemy
doctor."
"Butyouseemquitewell."
"Oh!Ihavebeenveryill."
"Iknow."
"Whotoldyou?"
"Everyoneknewit;Ioftencametoinquireafteryou,
andIwashappy
tohearofyourconvalescence."
"Theynevergavemeyourcard."
"Ididnotleaveit."
"Wasityou,then,whocalledeverydaywhileIwas
ill,andwouldnever
leaveyourname?"
"Yes,itwasI."

"Thenyouaremorethanindulgent,youaregenerous.
You,count,
wouldn'thavedonethat,"saidshe,turningtowardM.
deN.,after
givingmeoneofthoselooksinwhichwomensumup
theiropinionofa
man.
"Ihaveonlyknownyoufortwomonths,"repliedthe
count.
"Andthisgentlemanonlyforfiveminutes.Youalways
saysomething
ridiculous."
Womenarepitilesstowardthosewhomtheydonotcare
for.Thecount
reddenedandbithislips.
Iwassorryforhim,forheseemed,likemyself,tobe
inlove,and
thebitterfranknessofMargueritemusthavemadehim
veryunhappy,
especiallyinthepresenceoftwostrangers.
"Youwereplayingthepianowhenwecamein,"Isaid,
inorderto
changetheconversation."Won'tyoubesogoodasto
treatmeasanold
acquaintanceandgoon?"
"Oh,"saidshe,flingingherselfonthesofaand
motioningtoustosit
down,"Gastonknowswhatmymusicislike.Itisall
verywellwhenIam
alonewiththecount,butIwon'tinflictsucha
punishmentonyou."
"Youshowmethatpreference?"saidM.deN.,witha
smilewhichhe
triedtorenderdelicatelyironical.

"Don'treproachmeforit.Itistheonlyone."Itwas
fatedthatthe
poormanwasnottosayasingleword.Hecastareally
supplicating
glanceatMarguerite.
"Well,Prudence,"shewenton,"haveyoudonewhatI
askedyoutodo?"
"Yes.
"Allright.Youwilltellmeaboutitlater.Wemust
talkoverit;don't
gobeforeIcanspeakwithyou."
"Wearedoubtlessintruders,"Isaid,"andnowthatwe,
orratherI,
havehadasecondintroduction,toblotoutthefirst,
itistimefor
Gastonandmetobegoing."
"Notintheleast.Ididn'tmeanthatforyou.Iwant
youtostay."
Thecounttookaveryelegantwatchoutofhispocket
andlookedatthe
time."Imustbegoingtomyclub,"hesaid.Marguerite
didnotanswer.
Thecountthereuponlefthispositionbythefireplace
andgoingupto
her,said:"Adieu,madame."
Margueriterose."Adieu,mydearcount.Areyougoing
already?"
"Yes,IfearIamboringyou."
"Youarenotboringmetodaymorethananyotherday.
WhenshallIbe
seeingyou?"

"Whenyoupermitme."
"Goodbye,then."
Itwascruel,youwilladmit.Fortunately,thecount
hadexcellent
mannersandwasverygoodtempered.Hemerelykissed
Marguerite'shand,
whichsheheldouttohimcarelesslyenough,and,
bowingtous,went
out.
Ashecrossedthethreshold,hecastaglanceat
Prudence.Sheshrugged
hershoulders,asmuchastosay:
"Whatdoyouexpect?IhavedoneallIcould."
"Nanine!"criedMarguerite."LightM.leComtetothe
door."
Weheardthedooropenandshut.
"Atlast,"criedMarguerite,comingback,"hehasgone!
Thatmangets
frightfullyonmynerves!"
"Mydearchild,"saidPrudence,"youreallytreathim
toobadly,andhe
issogoodandkindtoyou.Lookatthiswatchonthe
mantelpiece,that
hegaveyou:itmusthavecosthimatleastthree
thousandfrancs,Iam
sure."
AndMme.Duvernoybegantoturnitover,asitlayon
themantelpiece,
lookingatitwithcovetouseyes.
"Mydear,"saidMarguerite,sittingdowntothepiano,

"whenIputon
onesidewhathegivesmeandontheotherwhathesays
tome,itseems
tomethathebuyshisvisitsverycheap."
"Thepoorfellowisinlovewithyou."
"IfIhadtolistentoeverybodywhowasinlovewith
me,Ishouldn't
havetimeformydinner."
Andshebegantorunherfingersoverthepiano,and
then,turningto
us,shesaid:
"Whatwillyoutake?IthinkIshouldlikealittle
punch."
"AndIcouldeatalittlechicken,"saidPrudence.
"Supposewehave
supper?"
"That'sit,let'sgoandhavesupper,"saidGaston.
"No,wewillhavesupperhere."
Sherang,andNanineappeared.
"Sendforsomesupper."
"WhatmustIget?"
"Whateveryoulike,butatonce,atonce."
Naninewentout.
"That'sit,"saidMarguerite,jumpinglikeachild,
"we'llhavesupper.
Howtiresomethatidiotofacountis!"
ThemoreIsawher,themoresheenchantedme.Shewas

exquisitely
beautiful.Herslendernesswasacharm.Iwaslostin
contemplation.
WhatwaspassinginmymindIshouldhavesome
difficultyinexplaining.
Iwasfullofindulgenceforherlife,fullof
admirationforher
beauty.Theproofofdisinterestednessthatshegavein
notacceptinga
richandfashionableyoungman,readytowasteallhis
moneyuponher,
excusedherinmyeyesforallherfaultsinthepast.
Therewasakindofcandourinthiswoman.Youcould
seeshewasstill
inthevirginityofvice.Herfirmwalk,hersupple
figure,herrosy,
opennostrils,herlargeeyes,slightlytingedwith
blue,indicated
oneofthoseardentnatureswhichshedaroundthema
sortofvoluptuous
perfume,likeEasternvials,which,closethemas
tightlyasyouwill,
stillletsomeoftheirperfumeescape.Finally,
whetheritwassimple
natureorabreathoffever,therepassedfromtimeto
timeintheeyes
ofthiswomanaglimmerofdesire,givingpromiseofa
veryheavenfor
onewhomsheshouldlove.Butthosewhohadloved
Margueritewerenotto
becounted,northosewhomshehadloved.
Inthisgirltherewasatoncethevirginwhomamere
nothinghadturned
intoacourtesan,andthecourtesanwhomamerenothing
wouldhave
turnedintothemostlovingandthepurestofvirgins.
Margueritehad
stillprideandindependence,twosentimentswhich,if

theyarewounded,
canbetheequivalentofasenseofshame.Ididnot
speakaword;my
soulseemedtohavepassedintomyheartandmyheart
intomyeyes.
"So,"saidsheallatonce,"itwasyouwhocameto
inquireafterme
whenIwasill?"
"Yes."
"Doyouknow,itwasquitesplendidofyou!HowcanI
thankyouforit?"
"Byallowingmetocomeandseeyoufromtimetotime."
"Asoftenasyoulike,fromfivetosix,andfrom
eleventotwelve.Now,
Gaston,playtheInvitationAlaValse."
"Why?"
"Topleaseme,firstofall,andthenbecauseInever
canmanagetoplay
itmyself."
"Whatpartdoyoufinddifficult?"
"Thethirdpart,thepartinsharps."
Gastonroseandwenttothepiano,andbegantoplay
thewonderful
melodyofWeber,themusicofwhichstoodopenbefore
him.
Marguerite,restingonehandonthepiano,followed
everynoteonthe
music,accompanyingitinalowvoice,andwhenGaston
hadcometo
thepassagewhichshehadmentionedtohim,shesang

out,runningher
fingersalongthetopofthepiano:
"Do,re,mi,do,re,fa,mi,re;thatiswhatIcannot
do.Overagain."
Gastonbeganoveragain,afterwhichMargueritesaid:
"Now,letmetry."
Shetookherplaceandbegantoplay;buther
rebelliousfingersalways
cametogriefoveroneofthenotes.
"Isn'titincredible,"shesaid,exactlylikeachild,
"thatIcannot
succeedinplayingthatpassage?Wouldyoubelievethat
Isometimes
spendtwohoursofthemorningoverit?AndwhenI
thinkthatthatidiot
ofacountplaysitwithouthismusic,andbeautifully,
Ireallybelieve
itisthatthatmakesmesofuriouswithhim."Andshe
beganagain,
alwayswiththesameresult.
"ThedeviltakeWeber,music,andpianos!"shecried,
throwingthemusic
totheotherendoftheroom."HowcanIplayeight
sharpsoneafter
another?"Shefoldedherarmsandlookedatus,
stampingherfoot.The
bloodflewtohercheeks,andherlipshalfopenedina
slightcough.
"Come,come,"saidPrudence,whohadtakenoffherhat
andwassmoothing
herhairbeforetheglass,"youwillworkyourselfinto
arageanddo
yourselfharm.Bettercomeandhavesupper;formy
part,Iamdyingof

hunger."
Margueriterangthebell,satdowntothepianoagain,
andbegantohum
overaveryriskysong,whichsheaccompaniedwithout
difficulty.Gaston
knewthesong,andtheygaveasortofduet.
"Don'tsingthosebeastlythings,"Isaidto
Marguerite,imploringly.
"Oh,howproperyouare!"shesaid,smilingandgiving
meherhand."It
isnotformyself,butforyou."
Margueritemadeagestureasiftosay,"Oh,itislong
sincethatI
havedonewithpropriety!"AtthatmomentNanine
appeared.
"Issupperready?"askedMarguerite."Yes,madame,in
onemoment."
"Apropos,"saidPrudencetome,"youhavenotlooked
round;come,andI
willshowyou."Asyouknow,thedrawingroomwasa
marvel.
Margueritewentwithusforamoment;thenshecalled
Gastonandwent
intothediningroomwithhimtoseeifsupperwas
ready.
"Ah,"saidPrudence,catchingsightofalittleSaxe
figureona
sidetable,"Ineverknewyouhadthislittle
gentleman."
"Which?"
"Alittleshepherdholdingabirdcage."

"Takeit,ifyoulikeit."

"Iwon'tdepriveyouofit."
"Iwasgoingtogiveittomymaid.Ithinkithideous;
butifyoulike
it,takeit."
Prudenceonlysawthepresent,notthewayinwhichit
wasgiven.She
putthelittlefigureononeside,andtookmeintothe
dressingroom,
wheresheshowedmetwominiatureshangingsideby
side,andsaid:
"ThatistheComtedeG.,whowasverymuchinlove
withMarguerite;it
washewhobroughtherout.Doyouknowhim?"
"No.Andthisone?"Iinquired,pointingtotheother
miniature.
"ThatisthelittleVicomtedeL.Hewasobligedto
disappear."
"Why?"
"Becausehewasallbutruined.That'sone,ifyou
like,wholoved
Marguerite."
"Andshelovedhim,too,nodoubt?"
"Sheissuchaqueergirl,oneneverknows.Thenight
hewentaway
shewenttothetheatreasusual,andyetshehadcried
whenhesaid
goodbyetoher."

JustthenNanineappeared,totellusthatsupperwas
served.
Whenweenteredthediningroom,Margueritewasleaning
againstthe
wall,andGaston,holdingherhands,wasspeakingto
herinalowvoice.
"Youaremad,"repliedMarguerite."Youknowquitewell
thatIdon't
wantyou.Itisnogoodattheendoftwoyearstomake
lovetoawoman
likeme.Withus,itisatonce,ornever.Come,
gentlemen,supper!"
And,slippingawayfromGaston,Margueritemadehimsit
onherrightat
table,meonherleft,thencalledtoNanine:
"Beforeyousitdown,telltheminthekitchennotto
opentoanybodyif
thereisaring."
Thisorderwasgivenatoneo'clockinthemorning.
Welaughed,drank,andatefreelyatthissupper.Ina
shortwhilemirth
hadreacheditslastlimit,andthewordsthatseem
funnytoacertain
classofpeople,wordsthatdegradethemouththat
uttersthem,were
heardfromtimetotime,amidsttheapplauseofNanine,
ofPrudence,and
ofMarguerite.Gastonwasthoroughlyamused;hewasa
verygoodsortof
fellow,butsomewhatspoiledbythehabitsofhis
youth.Foramoment
Itriedtoforgetmyself,toforcemyheartandmy
thoughtstobecome
indifferenttothesightbeforeme,andtotakemy
shareofthatgaiety

whichseemedlikeoneofthecoursesofthemeal.But
littlebylittle
Iwithdrewfromthenoise;myglassremainedfull,and
Ifeltalmost
sadasIsawthisbeautifulcreatureoftwenty
drinking,talkinglikea
porter,andlaughingthemoreloudlythemore
scandalouswasthejoke.
Nevertheless,thishilarity,thiswayoftalkingand
drinking,which
seemedtomeintheothersthemereresultsofbad
companyorofbad
habits,seemedinMargueriteanecessityofforgetting,
afever,a
nervousirritability.Ateveryglassofchampagneher
cheekswouldflush
withafeverishcolour,andacough,hardlyperceptible
atthebeginning
ofsupper,becameatlastsoviolentthatshewas
obligedtoleanher
headonthebackofherchairandholdherchestinher
handseverytime
thatshecoughed.Isufferedatthethoughtofthe
injurytosofraila
constitutionwhichmustcomefromdailyexcesseslike
this.Atlength,
somethingwhichIhadfearedandforeseenhappened.
Towardtheendof
supperMargueritewasseizedbyamoreviolentfitof
coughingthanany
shehadhadwhileIwasthere.Itseemedasifher
chestwerebeingtorn
intwo.Thepoorgirlturnedcrimson,closedhereyes
underthepain,
andputhernapkintoherlips.Itwasstainedwitha
dropofblood.She
roseandranintoherdressingroom.
"WhatisthematterwithMarguerite?"askedGaston.

"Shehasbeenlaughingtoomuch,andsheisspitting
blood.Oh,itis
nothing;ithappenstohereveryday.Shewillbeback
inaminute.
Leaveheralone.Sheprefersit."
Icouldnotstaystill;and,totheconsternationof
Prudenceand
Nanine,whocalledtometocomeback,Ifollowed
Marguerite.

Chapter10
Theroomtowhichshehadfledwaslitonlybyasingle
candle.Shelay
backonagreatsofa,herdressundone,holdingone
handonherheart,
andlettingtheotherhangbyherside.Onthetable
wasabasinhalf
fullofwater,andthewaterwasstainedwithstreaks
ofblood.
Verypale,hermouthhalfopen,Margueritetriedto
recoverbreath.Now
andagainherbosomwasraisedbyalongsigh,which
seemedto
relieveheralittle,andforafewsecondsshewould
seemtobequite
comfortable.
Iwentuptoher;shemadenomovement,andIsatdown
andtookthehand
whichwaslyingonthesofa.
"Ah!itisyou,"shesaid,withasmile.
Imusthavelookedgreatlyagitated,forsheadded:
"Areyouunwell,too?"

"No,butyou:doyoustillsuffer?"
"Verylittle;"andshewipedoffwithherhandkerchief
thetearswhich
thecoughinghadbroughttohereyes;"Iamusedtoit
now."
"Youarekillingyourself,madame,"Isaidtoherina
movedvoice."I
wishIwereafriend,arelationofyours,thatImight
keepyoufrom
doingyourselfharmlikethis."
"Ah!itisreallynotworthyourwhiletoalarm
yourself,"shereplied
inasomewhatbittertone;"seehowmuchnoticethe
otherstakeofme!
Theyknowtoowellthatthereisnothingtobedone."
Thereuponshegotup,and,takingthecandle,putiton
themantelpiece
andlookedatherselfintheglass.
"HowpaleIam!"shesaid,asshefastenedherdress
andpassedher
fingersoverherloosenedhair."Come,letusgoback
tosupper.Areyou
coming?"
Isatstillanddidnotmove.
ShesawhowdeeplyIhadbeenaffectedbythewhole
scene,and,coming
uptome,heldoutherhand,saying:
"Comenow,letusgo."
Itookherhand,raisedittomylips,andinspiteof
myselftwotears
felluponit.

"Why,whatachildyouare!"shesaid,sittingdownby
mysideagain.
"Youarecrying!Whatisthematter?"
"Imustseemverysillytoyou,butIamfrightfully
troubledbywhatI
havejustseen."
"Youareverygood!Whatwouldyouhaveofme?Ican
notsleep.Imust
amusemyselfalittle.Andthen,girlslikeme,what
doesitmatter,one
moreorless?ThedoctorstellmethatthebloodIspit
upcomesfrommy
throat;Ipretendtobelievethem;itisallIcando
forthem."
"Listen,Marguerite,"Isaid,unabletocontainmyself
anylonger;"Ido
notknowwhatinfluenceyouaregoingtohaveovermy
life,butatthis
presentmomentthereisnoone,notevenmysister,in
whomIfeelthe
interestwhichIfeelinyou.Ithasbeenjustthesame
eversinceIsaw
you.Well,forHeaven'ssake,takecareofyourself,
anddonotliveas
youarelivingnow."
"IfItookcareofmyselfIshoulddie.Allthat
supportsmeisthe
feverishlifeIlead.Then,asfortakingcareof
oneself,thatis
allverywellforwomenwithfamiliesandfriends;as
forus,fromthe
momentwecannolongerservethevanityorthe
pleasureofourlovers,
theyleaveus,andlongnightsfollowlongdays.Iknow
it.Iwasinbed
fortwomonths,andafterthreeweeksnoonecameto

seeme."
"ItistrueIamnothingtoyou,"Iwenton,"butif
youwillletme,I
willlookafteryoulikeabrother,Iwillneverleave
yourside,andI
willcureyou.Then,whenyouarestrongagain,youcan
gobacktothe
lifeyouareleading,ifyouchoose;butIamsureyou
willcometo
preferaquietlife,whichwillmakeyouhappierand
keepyourbeauty
unspoiled."
"Youthinklikethattonightbecausethewinehasmade
yousad,butyou
wouldneverhavethepatiencethatyoupretendto."
"Permitmetosay,Marguerite,thatyouwereillfor
twomonths,and
thatfortwomonthsIcametoaskafteryoueveryday."
"Itistrue,butwhydidyounotcomeup?"
"BecauseIdidnotknowyouthen."
"Needyouhavebeensoparticularwithagirllikeme?"
"Onemustalwaysbeparticularwithawoman;itiswhat
Ifeel,at
least."
"Soyouwouldlookafterme?"
"Yes."
"Youwouldstaybymeallday?"
"Yes.
"Andevenallnight?"

"AslongasIdidnotwearyyou."
"Andwhatdoyoucallthat?"
"Devotion."
"Andwhatdoesthisdevotioncomefrom?"
"TheirresistiblesympathywhichIhaveforyou."
"Soyouareinlovewithme?Sayitstraightout,itis
muchmore
simple."
"Itispossible;butifIamtosayittoyouoneday,
itisnot
today."
"Youwilldobetternevertosayit."
"Why?"
"Becauseonlyoneoftwothingscancomeofit."
"What?"
"EitherIshallnotaccept:thenyouwillhaveagrudge
againstme;or
Ishallaccept:thenyouwillhaveasorrymistress;a
womanwhois
nervous,ill,sad,orgaywithagaietysadderthan
grief,awomanwho
spitsbloodandspendsahundredthousandfrancsa
year.Thatisall
verywellforaricholdmanliketheduke,butitis
verybadfora
youngmanlikeyou,andtheproofofitisthatallthe
younglovers
Ihavehadhaveverysoonleftme."Ididnotanswer;I
listened.This

frankness,whichwasalmostakindofconfession,the
sadlife,ofwhich
Icaughtsomeglimpsethroughthegoldenveilwhich
coveredit,and
whoserealitythepoorgirlsoughttoescapein
dissipation,drink,
andwakefulness,impressedmesodeeplythatIcould
notutterasingle
word.
"Come,"continuedMarguerite,"wearetalkingmere
childishness.Giveme
yourarmandletusgobacktothediningroom.They
won'tknowwhatwe
meanbyourabsence."
"Goin,ifyoulike,butallowmetostayhere."
"Why?"
"Becauseyourmirthhurtsme."
"Well,Iwillbesad."
"Marguerite,letmesaytoyousomethingwhichyouhave
nodoubtoften
heard,sooftenthatthehabitofhearingithasmade
youbelieveitno
longer,butwhichisnonethelessreal,andwhichI
willneverrepeat."
"Andthatis...?"shesaid,withthesmileofayoung
motherlistening
tosomefoolishnotionofherchild.
"Itisthis,thateversinceIhaveseenyou,Iknow
notwhy,youhave
takenaplaceinmylife;that,ifIdrivethethought
ofyououtofmy
mind,italwayscomesback;thatwhenImetyoutoday,
afternothaving

seenyoufortwoyears,youmadeadeeperimpressionon
myheartand
mindthanever;that,nowthatyouhaveletmecometo
seeyou,nowthat
Iknowyou,nowthatIknowallthatisstrangeinyou,
youhavebecome
anecessityofmylife,andyouwilldrivememad,not
onlyifyouwill
notloveme,butifyouwillnotletmeloveyou."
"But,foolishcreaturethatyouare,Ishallsayto
you,likeMme.D.,
'Youmustbeveryrich,then!'Why,youdon'tknowthat
Ispendsixor
seventhousandfrancsamonth,andthatIcouldnot
livewithoutit;you
don'tknow,mypoorfriend,thatIshouldruinyouin
notime,andthat
yourfamilywouldcastyouoffifyouweretolivewith
awomanlikeme.
Letusbefriends,goodfriends,butnomore.Comeand
seeme,wewill
laughandtalk,butdon'texaggeratewhatIamworth,
forIamworth
verylittle.Youhaveagoodheart,youwantsomeone
toloveyou,you
aretooyoungandtoosensitivetoliveinaworldlike
mine.Takea
marriedwoman.Yousee,Ispeaktoyoufrankly,likea
friend."
"Butwhatthedevilareyoudoingthere?"cried
Prudence,whohadcome
inwithoutourbearingher,andwhonowstoodjust
insidethedoor,with
herhairhalfcomingdownandherdressundone.I
recognisedthehandof
Gaston.
"Wearetalkingsense,"saidMarguerite;"leaveus
alone;wewillbe

backsoon."
"Good,good!Talk,mychildren,"saidPrudence,going
outandclosing
thedoorbehindher,asiftofurtheremphasizethe
toneinwhichshe
hadsaidthesewords.
"Well,itisagreed,"continuedMarguerite,whenwe
werealone,"you
won'tfallinlovewithme?"
"Iwillgoaway."
"Somuchasthat?"
Ihadgonetoofartodrawback;andIwasreally
carriedaway.This
minglingofgaiety,sadness,candour,prostitution,her
verymalady,
whichnodoubtdevelopedinherasensitivenessto
impressions,aswell
asanirritabilityofnerves,allthismadeitclearto
methatiffrom
theverybeginningIdidnotcompletelydominateher
lightandforgetful
nature,shewaslosttome.
"Come,now,doyouseriouslymeanwhatyousay?"she
said.
"Seriously."
"Butwhydidn'tyousayittomesooner?"
"WhencouldIhavesaidit?"
"Thedayafteryouhadbeenintroducedtomeatthe
OperaComique."
"IthoughtyouwouldhavereceivedmeverybadlyifI

hadcometosee
you."
"Why?"
"BecauseIhadbehavedsostupidly."
"That'strue.Andyetyouwerealreadyinlovewith
me."
"Yes."
"Andthatdidn'thinderyoufromgoingtobedand
sleepingquite
comfortably.Oneknowswhatthatsortoflovemeans."
"Thereyouaremistaken.DoyouknowwhatIdidthat
evening,afterthe
OperaComique?"
"No."
"IwaitedforyouatthedooroftheCafeAnglais.I
followedthe
carriageinwhichyouandyourthreefriendswere,and
whenIsawyou
weretheonlyonetogetdown,andthatyouwentin
alone,Iwasvery
happy."
Margueritebegantolaugh.
"Whatareyoulaughingat?"
"Nothing."
"Tellme,Ibegofyou,orIshallthinkyouarestill
laughingatme."
"Youwon'tbecross?"

"WhatrighthaveItobecross?"
"Well,therewasasufficientreasonwhyIwentin
alone."
"What?"
"Someonewaswaitingformehere."
Ifshehadthrustaknifeintomeshewouldnothave
hurtmemore.I
rose,andholdingoutmyhand,"Goodbye,"saidI.
"Iknewyouwouldbecross,"shesaid;"menarefrantic
toknowwhatis
certaintogivethempain."
"ButIassureyou,"Iaddedcoldly,asifwishingto
provehow
completelyIwascuredofmypassion,"Iassureyou
thatIamnotcross.
Itwasquitenaturalthatsomeoneshouldbewaiting
foryou,justasit
isquitenaturalthatIshouldgofromhereatthreein
themorning."
"Haveyou,too,someonewaitingforyou?"
"No,butImustgo."
"Goodbye,then."
"Yousendmeaway?"
"Nottheleastintheworld."
"Whyareyousounkindtome?"
"HowhaveIbeenunkindtoyou?"
"Intellingmethatsomeonewaswaitingforyou."

"Icouldnothelplaughingattheideathatyouhad
beensohappytosee
mecomeinalonewhentherewassuchagoodreasonfor
it."
"Onefindspleasureinchildishenoughthings,andit
istoobadto
destroysuchapleasurewhen,bysimplyleavingit
alone,onecanmake
somebodysohappy."
"ButwhatdoyouthinkIam?Iamneithermaidnor
duchess.Ididn't
knowyoutilltoday,andIamnotresponsibletoyou
formyactions.
SupposingonedayIshouldbecomeyourmistress,you
areboundtoknow
thatIhavehadotherloversbesidesyou.Ifyoumake
scenesofjealousy
likethisbefore,whatwillitbeafter,ifthatafter
shouldever
exist?Inevermetanyonelikeyou."
"ThatisbecausenoonehaseverlovedyouasIlove
you."
"Frankly,then,youreallyloveme?"
"Asmuchasitispossibletolove,Ithink."
"Andthathaslastedsince?"
"SincethedayIsawyougointoSusse's,threeyears
ago.
"Doyouknow,thatistremendouslyfine?Well,whatam
todoinreturn?"
"Lovemealittle,"Isaid,myheartbeatingsothatI
couldhardly

speak;for,inspiteofthehalfmockingsmileswith
whichshehad
accompaniedthewholeconversation,itseemedtome
thatMarguerite
begantosharemyagitation,andthatthehoursolong
awaitedwas
drawingnear.
"Well,buttheduke?"
"Whatduke?"
"Myjealousoldduke."
"Hewillknownothing."
"Andifheshould?"
"Hewouldforgiveyou."
"Ah,no,hewouldleaveme,andwhatwouldbecomeof
me?"
"Youriskthatforsomeoneelse."
"Howdoyouknow?""Bytheorderyougavenottoadmit
anyone
tonight.""Itistrue;butthatisaseriousfriend."
"Forwhomyoucarenothing,asyouhaveshutyourdoor
againsthimat
suchanhour."
"Itisnotforyoutoreproachme,sinceitwasin
ordertoreceiveyou,
youandyourfriend."
LittlebylittleIhaddrawnnearertoMarguerite.I
hadputmyarms
aboutherwaist,andIfelthersupplebodyweigh
lightlyonmyclasped

hands.
"IfyouknewhowmuchIloveyou!"Isaidinalow
voice."Reallytrue?"
"Iswearit."
"Well,ifyouwillpromisetodoeverythingItellyou,
withoutaword,
withoutanopinion,withoutaquestion,perhapsIwill
sayyes."
"Iwilldoeverythingthatyouwish!"
"ButIforewarnyouImustbefreetodoasIplease,
withoutgivingyou
theslightestdetailswhatIdo.Ihavelongwishedfor
ayounglover,
whoshouldbeyoungandnotselfwilled,lovingwithout
distrust,loved
withoutclaimingtherighttoit.Ihaveneverfound
one.Men,instead
ofbeingsatisfiedinobtainingforalongtimewhat
theyscarcely
hopedtoobtainonce,exactfromtheirmistressesa
fullaccountofthe
present,thepast,andeventhefuture.Astheyget
accustomedtoher,
theywanttoruleher,andthemoreonegivesthemthe
moreexacting
theybecome.IfIdecidenowontakinganewlover,he
musthavethree
veryrarequalities:hemustbeconfiding,submissive,
anddiscreet."
"Well,Iwillbeallthatyouwish."
"Weshallsee."
"Whenshallwesee?"

"Lateron."
"Why?"
"Because,"saidMarguerite,releasingherselffrommy
arms,and,taking
fromagreatbunchofredcamelliasasinglecamellia,
sheplaceditin
mybuttonhole,"becauseonecannotalwayscarryout
agreementstheday
theyaresigned."
"AndwhenshallIseeyouagain?"Isaid,claspingher
inmyarms.
"Whenthiscamelliachangescolour."
"Whenwillitchangecolour?"
"Tomorrownightbetweenelevenandtwelve.Areyou
satisfied?"
"Needyouaskme?"
"Notawordofthiseithertoyourfriendorto
Prudence,ortoanybody
whatever."
"Ipromise."
"Now,kissme,andwewillgobacktothediningroom."
Sheheldupherlipstome,smoothedherhairagain,
andwewentoutof
theroom,shesinging,andIalmostbesidemyself.
Inthenextroomshestoppedforamomentandsaidto
meinalowvoice:
"ItmustseemstrangetoyouthatIamreadytotake
youatamoment's

notice.ShallItellyouwhy?Itis,"shecontinued,
takingmyhand
andplacingitagainstherheartsothatIcouldfeel
howrapidlyand
violentlyitpalpitated;"itisbecauseIshallnot
liveaslongas
others,andIhavepromisedmyselftolivemore
quickly."
"Don'tspeaktomelikethat,Ientreatyou."
"Oh,makeyourselfeasy,"shecontinued,laughing;
"howevershortatime
Ihavetolive,Ishalllivelongerthanyouwilllove
me!"
Andshewentsingingintothediningroom.
"WhereisNanine?"shesaid,seeingGastonandPrudence
alone.
"Sheisasleepinyourroom,waitingtillyouareready
togotobed,"
repliedPrudence.
"Poorthing,Iamkillingher!Andnowgentlemen,itis
timetogo."
Tenminutesafter,GastonandIleftthehouse.
Margueriteshookhands
withmeandsaidgoodbye.Prudenceremainedbehind.
"Well,"saidGaston,whenwewereinthestreet,"what
doyouthinkof
Marguerite?"
"Sheisanangel,andIammadlyinlovewithher.""So
Iguessed;did
youtellherso?"
"Yes."

"Anddidshepromisetobelieveyou?"
"No."
"SheisnotlikePrudence."
"Didshepromiseto?"
"Betterstill,mydearfellow.Youwouldn'tthinkit;
butsheisstill
nothalfbad,pooroldDuvernoy!"

Chapter11
AtthispointArmandstopped.
"Wouldyouclosethewindowforme?"hesaid."Iam
beginningtofeel
cold.Meanwhile,Iwillgetintobed."
Iclosedthewindow.Armand,whowasstillveryweak,
tookoffhis
dressinggownandlaydowninbed,restinghisheadfor
afewmoments
onthepillow,likeamanwhoistiredbymuchtalking
ordisturbedby
painfulmemories.
"Perhapsyouhavebeentalkingtoomuch,"Isaidto
him."Wouldyou
ratherformetogoandleaveyoutosleep?Youcan
tellmetherestof
thestoryanotherday."
"Areyoutiredoflisteningtoit?"
"Quitethecontrary."

"ThenIwillgoon.Ifyouleftmealone,Ishouldnot
sleep."
WhenIreturnedhome(hecontinued,withoutneedingto
pauseand
recollecthimself,sofreshwereallthedetailsinhis
mind),Ididnot
gotobed,butbegantoreflectovertheday's
adventure.Themeeting,
theintroduction,thepromiseofMarguerite,had
followedoneanotherso
rapidly,andsounexpectedly,thatthereweremoments
whenitseemedto
meIhadbeendreaming.Nevertheless,itwasnotthe
firsttimethata
girllikeMargueritehadpromisedherselftoamanon
themorrowofthe
dayonwhichhehadaskedforthepromise.
Though,indeed,Imadethisreflection,thefirst
impressionproduced
onmebymyfuturemistresswassostrongthatitstill
persisted.I
refusedobstinatelytoseeinherawomanlikeother
women,and,with
thevanitysocommontoallmen,Iwasreadytobelieve
thatshecould
notbutsharetheattractionwhichdrewmetoher.
Yet,Ihadbeforemeplentyofinstancestothe
contrary,andIhad
oftenheardthattheaffectionofMargueritewasa
thingtobehadmore
orlessdear,accordingtotheseason.
But,ontheotherhand,howwasItoreconcilethis
reputationwithher
constantrefusaloftheyoungcountwhomwehadfound
atherhouse?You
maysaythathewasunattractivetoher,andthat,as
shewassplendidly

keptbytheduke,shewouldbemorelikelytochoosea
manwhowas
attractivetoher,ifsheweretotakeanotherlover.
Ifso,whydidshe
notchooseGaston,whowasrich,witty,andcharming,
andwhydidshe
careforme,whomshehadthoughtsoridiculousthe
firsttimeshehad
seenme?
Itistruethatthereareeventsofamomentwhichtell
morethanthe
courtshipofayear.Ofthosewhowereatthesupper,I
wastheonlyone
whohadbeenconcernedatherleavingthetable.Ihad
followedher,I
hadbeensoaffectedastobeunabletohideitfrom
her,Ihadweptas
Ikissedherhand.Thiscircumstance,addedtomydaily
visitsduring
thetwomonthsofherillness,mighthaveshownher
thatIwassomewhat
differentfromtheothermensheknew,andperhapsshe
hadsaidto
herselfthatforalovewhichcouldthusmanifest
itselfshemightwell
dowhatshehaddonesooftenthatithadnomore
consequenceforher.
Allthesesuppositions,asyoumaysee,wereimprobable
enough;but
whatevermighthavebeenthereasonofherconsent,one
thingwas
certain,shehadconsented.
Now,IwasinlovewithMarguerite.Ihadnothingmore
toaskofher.
Nevertheless,thoughshewasonlyakeptwoman,Ihad
soanticipatedfor
myself,perhapstopoetizeitalittle,ahopeless
love,thatthenearer

themomentapproachedwhenIshouldhavenothingmore
tohope,themore
Idoubted.Ididnotclosemyeyesallnight.
Iscarcelyknewmyself.Iwashalfdemented.Now,I
seemedtomyselfnot
handsomeorrichorelegantenoughtopossesssucha
woman,nowIwas
filledwithvanityatthethoughtofit;thenIbegan
tofearlest
Margueritehadnomorethanafewdays'capriceforme,
andIsaidto
myselfthatsinceweshouldsoonhavetopart,itwould
bebetternotto
keepherappointment,buttowriteandtellhermy
fearsandleaveher.
FromthatIwentontounlimitedhope,unbounded
confidence.Idreamed
incredibledreamsofthefuture;Isaidtomyselfthat
sheshouldowe
tomehermoralandphysicalrecovery,thatIshould
spendmywholelife
withher,andthatherloveshouldmakemehappierthan
allthemaidenly
lovesintheworld.
ButIcannotrepeattoyouthethousandthoughtsthat
rosefrommy
hearttomyhead,andthatonlyfadedawaywiththe
sleepthatcameto
meatdaybreak.
WhenIawokeitwastwoo'clock.Theweatherwas
superb.Idon'tthink
lifeeverseemedtomesobeautifulandsofullof
possibilities.The
memoriesofthenightbeforecametomewithoutshadow
orhindrance,
escortedgailybythehopesofthenighttocome.From
timetotimemy
heartleapedwithloveandjoyinmybreast.Asweet

feverthrilled
me.Ithoughtnomoreofthereasonswhichhadfilled
mymindbeforeI
slept.Isawonlytheresult,Ithoughtonlyofthe
hourwhenIwasto
seeMargueriteagain.
Itwasimpossibletostayindoors.Myroomseemedtoo
smalltocontain
myhappiness.Ineededthewholeofnaturetounbosom
myself.
Iwentout.PassingbytheRued'Antin,Isaw
Marguerite'scoupe'
waitingforheratthedoor.IwenttowardtheChamps
Elysees.Iloved
allthepeoplewhomImet.Lovegivesoneakindof
goodness.
AfterIhadbeenwalkingforanhourfromtheMarly
horsestothe
RondPoint,IsawMarguerite'scarriageinthe
distance;Idivined
ratherthanrecognisedit.Asitwasturningthecorner
ofthe
ChampsElyseesitstopped,andatallyoungmanlefta
groupofpeople
withwhomhewastalkingandcameuptoher.They
talkedforafew
moments;theyoungmanreturnedtohisfriends,the
horsessetout
again,andasIcamenearthegroupIrecognisedthe
onewhohadspoken
toMargueriteastheComtedeG.,whoseportraitIhad
seenandwhom
Prudencehadindicatedtomeasthemantowhom
Margueriteowedher
position.Itwastohimthatshehadclosedherdoors
thenightbefore;
Iimaginedthatshehadstoppedhercarriageinorder
toexplaintohim

whyshehaddoneso,andIhopedthatatthesametime
shehadfound
somenewpretextfornotreceivinghimonthefollowing
night.
HowIspenttherestofthedayIdonotknow;I
walked,smoked,talked,
butwhatIsaid,whomImet,Ihadutterlyforgottenby
teno'clockin
theevening.
AllIrememberisthatwhenIreturnedhome,Ispent
threehoursover
mytoilet,andIlookedatmywatchandmyclocka
hundredtimes,which
unfortunatelybothpointedtothesamehour.
Whenitstruckhalfpastten,Isaidtomyselfthatit
wastimetogo.
IlivedatthattimeintheRuedeProvence;Ifollowed
theRuedu
MontBlanc,crossedtheBoulevard,wentuptheRue
LouisleGrand,the
RuedePortMahon,andtheRued'Antin.Ilookedupat
Marguerite's
windows.Therewasalight.Irang.Iaskedtheporter
ifMlle.Gautier
wasathome.Herepliedthatshenevercameinbefore
elevenora
quarterpasteleven.Ilookedatmywatch.Iintended
tocomequite
slowly,andIhadcomeinfiveminutesfromtheRuede
Provencetothe
Rued'Antin.
Iwalkedtoandfrointhestreet;therearenoshops,
andatthathour
itisquitedeserted.Inhalfanhour'stimeMarguerite
arrived.She
lookedaroundherasshegotdownfromhercoupe,asif

shewere
lookingforsomeone.Thecarriagedroveoff;the
stableswerenotat
thehouse.JustasMargueritewasgoingtoring,Iwent
uptoherand
said,"Goodevening."
"Ah,itisyou,"shesaid,inatonethatbynomeans
reassuredmeasto
herpleasureinseeingme.
"DidyounotpromisemethatImightcomeandseeyou
today?"
"Quiteright.Ihadforgotten."
ThiswordupsetallthereflectionsIhadhadduring
theday.
Nevertheless,Iwasbeginningtogetusedtoherways,
andIdidnot
leaveher,asIshouldcertainlyhavedoneonce.We
entered.Naninehad
alreadyopenedthedoor.
"HasPrudencecome?"saidMarguerite.
"No,madame."
"Saythatsheistobeadmittedassoonasshecomes.
Butfirstputout
thelampinthedrawingroom,andifanyonecomes,say
thatIhavenot
comebackandshallnotbecomingback."
Shewaslikeawomanwhoispreoccupiedwithsomething,
andperhaps
annoyedbyanunwelcomeguest.Ididnotknowwhatto
doorsay.
Margueritewenttowardherbedroom;IremainedwhereI
was.

"Come,"shesaid.
Shetookoffherhatandhervelvetcloakandthrew
themonthebed,
thenletherselfdropintoagreatarmchairbesidethe
fire,whichshe
kepttilltheverybeginningofsummer,andsaidtome
asshefingered
herwatchchain:
"Well,whatnewshaveyougotforme?"
"None,exceptthatIoughtnottohavecometonight."
"Why?"
"Becauseyouseemvexed,andnodoubtIamboringyou."
"Youarenotboringme;onlyIamnotwell;Ihavebeen
sufferingall
day.Icouldnotsleep,andIhaveafrightful
headache."
"ShallIgoawayandletyougotobed?"
"Oh,youcanstay.IfIwanttogotobedIdon'tmind
yourbeinghere."
Atthatmomenttherewasaring.
"Whoiscomingnow?"shesaid,withanimpatient
movement.
Afewminutesaftertherewasanotherring.
"Isn'tthereanyonetogotothedoor?Ishallhaveto
go."Shegotup
andsaidtome,"Waithere."
Shewentthroughtherooms,andIheardheropenthe
outerdoor.I

listened.
Thepersonwhomshehadadmitteddidnotcomefarther
thanthe
diningroom.AtthefirstwordIrecognisedthevoice
oftheyoungComte
deN.
"Howareyouthisevening?"hesaid.
"Notwell,"repliedMargueritedrily.
"AmIdisturbingyou?"
"Perhaps.
"Howyoureceiveme!WhathaveIdone,mydear
Marguerite?"
"Mydearfriend,youhavedonenothing.Iamill;I
mustgotobed,so
youwillbegoodenoughtogo.Itissickeningnotto
beabletoreturn
atnightwithoutyourmakingyourappearancefive
minutesafterward.
Whatisityouwant?Formetobeyourmistress?Well,
Ihavealready
toldyouahundredtimes,No;yousimplyworryme,and
youmightaswell
gosomewhereelse.Irepeattoyoutoday,forthelast
time,Idon't
wanttohaveanythingtodowithyou;that'ssettled.
Goodbye.Here's
Naninecomingin;shecanlightyoutothedoor.Good
night."
Withoutaddinganotherword,orlisteningtowhatthe
youngman
stammeredout,Margueritereturnedtotheroomand
slammedthedoor.
Nanineenteredamomentafter.

"Nowunderstand,"saidMarguerite,"youarealwaysto
saytothatidiot
thatIamnotin,orthatIwillnotseehim.Iam
tiredoutwithseeing
peoplewhoalwayswantthesamething;whopaymefor
it,andthenthink
theyarequitofme.Ifthosewhoaregoingtogoin
forourhateful
businessonlyknewwhatitreallywastheywouldsooner
bechambermaids.
Butno,vanity,thedesireofhavingdressesand
carriagesanddiamonds
carriesusaway;onebelieveswhatonehears,forhere,
aselsewhere,
thereissuchathingasbelief,andoneusesupone's
heart,one's
body,one'sbeauty,littlebylittle;oneisfeared
likeabeastof
prey,scornedlikeapariah,surroundedbypeoplewho
alwaystakemore
thantheygive;andonefinedayonedieslikeadogin
aditch,after
havingruinedothersandruinedone'sself."
"Come,come,madame,becalm,"saidNanine;"your
nervesareabitupset
tonight."
"Thisdressworriesme,"continuedMarguerite,
unhookingherbodice;
"givemeadressinggown.Well,andPrudence?"
"Shehasnotcomeyet,butIwillsendhertoyou,
madame,themoment
shecomes."
"There'sone,now,"Margueritewenton,asshetookoff
herdressand
putonawhitedressinggown,"there'sonewhoknows
verywellhowto

findmewhensheisinwantofme,andyetshecan'tdo
measervice
decently.SheknowsIamwaitingforananswer.She
knowshowanxiousI
am,andIamsuresheisgoingaboutonherown
account,withoutgiving
athoughttome."
"Perhapsshehadtowait."
"Letushavesomepunch."
"Itwilldoyounogood,madame,"saidNanine.
"Somuchthebetter.Bringsomefruit,too,andapate
orawingof
chicken;somethingorother,atonce.Iamhungry."
NeedItellyoutheimpressionwhichthisscenemade
uponme,orcanyou
notimagineit?
"Youaregoingtohavesupperwithme,"shesaidtome;
"meanwhile,take
abook.Iamgoingintomydressingroomforamoment."
Shelitthecandlesofacandelabra,openedadoorat
thefootofthe
bed,anddisappeared.
Ibegantothinkoverthispoorgirl'slife,andmy
loveforherwas
mingledwithagreatpity.Iwalkedtoandfrointhe
room,thinking
overthings,whenPrudenceentered.
"Ah,youhere?"'shesaid,"whereisMarguerite?"
"Inherdressingroom."
"Iwillwait.Bytheway,doyouknowshethinksyou

charming?"
"No."
"Shehasn'ttoldyou?"
"Notatall."
"Howareyouhere?"
"Ihavecometopayheravisit."
"Atmidnight?"
"Whynot?"
"Farceur!"
"Shehasreceivedme,asamatteroffact,verybadly."
"Shewillreceiveyoubetterbyandbye."
"Doyouthinkso?"
"Ihavesomegoodnewsforher."
"Noharminthat.Soshehasspokentoyouaboutme?"
"Lastnight,orrathertonight,whenyouandyour
friendwent.Bythe
way,whatisyourfriendcalled?GastonR.,hisname
is,isn'tit?"
"Yes,"saidI,notwithoutsmiling,asIthoughtof
whatGastonhad
confidedtome,andsawthatPrudencescarcelyeven
knewhisname.
"Heisquitenice,thatfellow;whatdoeshedo?"
"Hehastwentyfivethousandfrancsayear."

"Ah,indeed!Well,toreturntoyou.Margueriteasked
meallabout
you:whoyouwere,whatyoudid,whatmistressesyou
hadhad;inshort,
everythingthatonecouldaskaboutamanofyourage.
ItoldherallI
knew,andaddedthatyouwereacharmingyoungman.
That'sall."
"Thanks.Nowtellmewhatitwasshewantedtosayto
youlastnight."
"Nothingatall.Itwasonlytogetridofthecount;
butIhavereally
somethingtoseeherabouttoday,andIambringing
herananswernow."
AtthismomentMargueritereappearedfromherdressing
room,wearinga
coquettishlittlenightcapwithbunchesofyellow
ribbons,technically
knownas"cabbages."Shelookedravishing.Shehad
satinslippersonher
barefeet,andwasintheactofpolishinghernails.
"Well,"shesaid,seeingPrudence,"haveyouseenthe
duke?"
"Yes,indeed."
"Andwhatdidhesaytoyou?"
"Hegaveme"
"Howmuch?"
"Sixthousand."
"Haveyougotit?"

"Yes.
"Didheseemputout?"
"No."
"Poorman!"
This"Poorman!"wassaidinatoneimpossibleto
render.Marguerite
tookthesixnotesofathousandfrancs.
"Itwasquitetime,"shesaid."MydearPrudence,are
youinwantofany
money?"
"Youknow,mychild,itisthe15thinacoupleof
days,soifyoucould
lendmethreeorfourhundredfrancs,youwoulddomea
realservice."
"Sendovertomorrow;itistoolatetogetchange
now."
"Don'tforget."
"Nofear.Willyouhavesupperwithus?"
"No,Charlesiswaitingforme."
"Youarestilldevotedtohim?"
"Crazy,mydear!Iwillseeyoutomorrow.Goodbye,
Armand."
Mme.Duvernoywentout.
Margueriteopenedthedrawerofasidetableandthrew
thebanknotes
intoit.

"Willyoupermitmetogetintobed?"shesaidwitha
smile,asshe
movedtowardthebed.
"Notonlypermit,butIbegofyou."
Sheturnedbackthecoveringandgotintobed.
"Now,"saidshe,"comeandsitdownbyme,andlet's
haveatalk."
Prudencewasright:theanswerthatshehadbroughtto
Margueritehad
putherintoagoodhumour.
"Willyouforgivemeformybadtempertonight?"she
said,takingmy
hand.
"Iamreadytoforgiveyouasoftenasyoulike."
"Andyouloveme?"
"Madly."
"Inspiteofmybaddisposition?"
"Inspiteofall."
"Youswearit?"
"Yes,"Isaidinawhisper.
Nanineentered,carryingplates,acoldchicken,a
bottleofclaret,and
somestrawberries.
"Ihaven'thadanypunchmade,"saidNanine;"claretis
betterforyou.
Isn'tit,sir?"

"Certainly,"Ireplied,stillundertheexcitementof
Marguerite'slast
words,myeyesfixedardentlyuponher.
"Good,"saidshe;"putitallonthelittletable,and
drawituptothe
bed;wewillhelpourselves.Thisisthethirdnight
youhavesatup,
andyoumustbeinwantofsleep.Gotobed.Idon't
wantanything
more."
"ShallIlockthedoor?"
"Ishouldthinkso!Andaboveall,tellthemnotto
admitanybodybefore
midday."

Chapter12
Atfiveo'clockinthemorning,asthelightbeganto
appearthroughthe
curtains,Margueritesaidtome:"ForgivemeifIsend
youaway;butI
must.Thedukecomeseverymorning;theywilltellhim,
whenhecomes,
thatIamasleep,andperhapshewillwaituntilI
wake."
ItookMarguerite'sheadinmyhands;herloosenedhair
streamedabout
her;Igaveheralastkiss,saying:"WhenshallIsee
youagain?"
"Listen,"shesaid;"takethelittlegiltkeyonthe
mantelpiece,open
thatdoor;bringmebackthekeyandgo.Inthecourse
oftheday
youshallhavealetter,andmyorders,foryouknow

youaretoobey
blindly."
"Yes;butifIshouldalreadyaskforsomething?"
"What?"
"Letmehavethatkey."
"WhatyouaskisathingIhaveneverdoneforany
one."
"Well,doitforme,forIsweartoyouthatIdon't
loveyouasthe
othershavelovedyou."
"Well,keepit;butitonlydependsonmetomakeit
uselesstoyou,
afterall."
"How?"
"Thereareboltsonthedoor."
"Wretch!"
"Iwillhavethemtakenoff."
"Youlove,then,alittle?"
"Idon'tknowhowitis,butitseemstomeasifIdo!
Now,go;Ican't
keepmyeyesopen."
Iheldherinmyarmsforafewsecondsandthenwent.
Thestreetswereempty,thegreatcitywasstill
asleep,asweet
freshnesscirculatedinthestreetsthatafewhours
laterwouldbe
filledwiththenoiseofmen.Itseemedtomeasif

thissleeping
citybelongedtome;Isearchedmymemoryforthenames
ofthosewhose
happinessIhadonceenvied;andIcouldnotrecallone
withoutfinding
myselfthehappier.
Tobelovedbyapureyounggirl,tobethefirstto
revealtoherthe
strangemysteryoflove,isindeedagreathappiness,
butitisthe
simplestthingintheworld.Totakecaptiveaheart
whichhashadno
experienceofattack,istoenteranunfortifiedand
ungarrisonedcity.
Education,familyfeeling,thesenseofduty,the
family,arestrong
sentinels,buttherearenosentinelssovigilantas
nottobedeceived
byagirlofsixteentowhomnature,bythevoiceof
themansheloves,
givesthefirstcounselsoflove,allthemoreardent
becausetheyseem
sopure.
Themoreagirlbelievesingoodness,themoreeasily
willshegiveway,
ifnottoherlover,atleasttolove,forbeing
withoutmistrustshe
iswithoutforce,andtowinherloveisatriumphthat
canbegained
byanyyoungmanoffiveandtwenty.Seehowyoung
girlsarewatched
andguarded!Thewallsofconventsarenothighenough,
mothershave
nolocksstrongenough,religionhasnodutiesconstant
enough,toshut
thesecharmingbirdsintheircages,cagesnoteven
strewnwithflowers.
Thenhowsurelymusttheydesiretheworldwhichis
hiddenfromthem,

howsurelymusttheyfindittempting,howsurelymust
theylistento
thefirstvoicewhichcomestotellitssecretsthrough
theirbars,and
blessthehandwhichisthefirsttoraiseacornerof
themysterious
veil!
Buttobereallylovedbyacourtesan:thatisa
victoryofinfinitely
greaterdifficulty.Withthemthebodyhaswornoutthe
soul,thesenses
haveburneduptheheart,dissipationhasbluntedthe
feelings.They
havelongknownthewordsthatwesaytothem,the
meansweuse;they
havesoldthelovethattheyinspire.Theyloveby
profession,andnot
byinstinct.Theyareguardedbetterbytheir
calculationsthanavirgin
byhermotherandherconvent;andtheyhaveinvented
thewordcaprice
forthatunbarteredlovewhichtheyallowthemselves
fromtimetotime,
forarest,foranexcuse,foraconsolation,like
usurers,whocheat
athousand,andthinktheyhaveboughttheirown
redemptionbyonce
lendingasovereigntoapoordevilwhoisdyingof
hungerwithout
askingforinterestorareceipt.
Then,whenGodallowslovetoacourtesan,thatlove,
whichatfirst
seemslikeapardon,becomesforheralmostwithout
penitence.Whena
creaturewhohasallherpasttoreproachherselfwith
istakenallat
oncebyaprofound,sincere,irresistiblelove,of
whichshehadnever
feltherselfcapable;whenshehasconfessedherlove,

howabsolutely
themanwhomshelovesdominatesher!Howstronghe
feelswithhiscruel
righttosay:Youdonomoreforlovethanyouhave
doneformoney.
Theyknownotwhatprooftogive.Achild,saysthe
fable,having
oftenamusedhimselfbycrying"Help!awolf!"inorder
todisturbthe
labourersinthefield,wasonedaydevouredbyaWolf,
becausethose
whomhehadsooftendeceivednolongerbelievedinhis
criesforhelp.
Itisthesamewiththeseunhappywomenwhentheylove
seriously.They
haveliedsooftenthatnoonewillbelievethem,and
inthemidstof
theirremorsetheyaredevouredbytheirlove.
Hencethosegreatdevotions,thoseaustereretreats
fromtheworld,of
whichsomeofthemhavegivenanexample.
Butwhenthemanwhoinspiresthisredeemingloveis
greatenoughin
soultoreceiveitwithoutrememberingthepast,when
hegiveshimself
uptoit,when,inshort,helovesasheisloved,this
mandrainsat
onedraughtallearthlyemotions,andaftersuchalove
hisheartwill
beclosedtoeveryother.
IdidnotmakethesereflectionsonthemorningwhenI
returnedhome.
Theycouldbuthavebeenthepresentimentofwhatwas
tohappento
me,and,despitemyloveforMarguerite,Ididnot
foreseesuch
consequences.Imakethesereflectionstoday.Nowthat
allis

irrevocablyended,theyarisenaturallyoutofwhat
hastakenplace.
Buttoreturntothefirstdayofmyliaison.WhenI
reachedhomeI
wasinastateofmadgaiety.AsIthoughtofhowthe
barrierswhichmy
imaginationhadplacedbetweenMargueriteandmyself
haddisappeared,of
howshewasnowmine;oftheplaceInowhadinher
thoughts,ofthekey
toherroomwhichIhadinmypocket,andofmyright
tousethiskey,I
wassatisfiedwithlife,proudofmyself,andIloved
Godbecausehehad
letsuchthingsbe.
Onedayayoungmanispassinginthestreet,he
brushesagainsta
woman,looksather,turns,goesonhisway.Hedoes
notknowthewoman,
andshehaspleasures,griefs,loves,inwhichhehas
nopart.Hedoes
notexistforher,andperhaps,ifhespoketoher,she
wouldonlylaugh
athim,asMargueritehadlaughedatme.Weeks,months,
yearspass,and
allatonce,whentheyhaveeachfollowedtheirfate
alongadifferent
path,thelogicofchancebringsthemfacetoface.The
womanbecomes
theman'smistressandloveshim.How?why?Theirtwo
existencesare
henceforthone;theyhavescarcelybeguntoknowone
anotherwhenit
seemsasiftheyhadknownoneanotheralways,andall
thathadgone
beforeiswipedoutfromthememoryofthetwolovers.
Itiscurious,
onemustadmit.

Asforme,InolongerrememberedhowIhadlived
beforethatnight.
Mywholebeingwasexaltedintojoyatthememoryof
thewordswehad
exchangedduringthatfirstnight.EitherMarguerite
wasveryclever
indeception,orshehadconceivedformeoneofthose
suddenpassions
whicharerevealedinthefirstkiss,andwhichdie,
oftenenough,as
suddenlyastheywereborn.
ThemoreIreflectedthemoreIsaidtomyselfthat
Margueritehadno
reasonforfeigningalovewhichshedidnotfeel,and
Isaidtomyself
alsothatwomenhavetwowaysofloving,oneofwhich
mayarisefromthe
other:theylovewiththeheartorwiththesenses.
Oftenawomantakes
aloverinobediencetothemerewillofthesenses,
andlearnswithout
expectingitthemysteryofimmateriallove,andlives
henceforthonly
throughherheart;oftenagirlwhohassoughtin
marriageonlythe
unionoftwopureaffectionsreceivesthesudden
revelationofphysical
love,thatenergeticconclusionofthepurest
impressionsofthesoul.
InthemidstofthesethoughtsIfellasleep;Iwas
awakenedbyaletter
fromMargueritecontainingthesewords:
"Herearemyorders:TonightattheVaudeville.
"Comeduringthethirdentr'acte."
Iputtheletterintoadrawer,sothatImightalways
haveitatband

incaseIdoubteditsreality,asIdidfromtimeto
time.
Shedidnottellmetocometoseeherduringtheday,
andIdarednot
go;butIhadsogreatadesiretoseeherbeforethe
eveningthatI
wenttotheChampsElysees,whereIagainsawherpass
andrepass,asI
hadonthepreviousday.
Atseveno'clockIwasattheVaudeville.NeverhadI
gonetoatheatre
soearly.Theboxesfilledoneafteranother.Onlyone
remainedempty,
thestagebox.AtthebeginningofthethirdactI
heardthedoorof
thebox,onwhichmyeyeshadbeenalmostconstantly
fixed,open,and
Margueriteappeared.Shecametothefrontatonce,
lookedaroundthe
stalls,sawme,andthankedmewithalook.
Thatnightshewasmarvellouslybeautiful.WasIthe
causeofthis
coquetry?Didshelovemeenoughtobelievethatthe
morebeautifulshe
lookedthehappierIshouldbe?Ididnotknow,butif
thathadbeen
herintentionshecertainlysucceeded,forwhenshe
appearedallheads
turned,andtheactorwhowasthenonthestagelooked
toseewhohad
producedsuchaneffectontheaudiencebyhermere
presencethere.
AndIhadthekeyofthiswoman'sroom,andinthreeor
fourhoursshe
wouldagainbemine!
Peopleblamethosewholetthemselvesberuinedby

actressesandkept
women;whatastonishesmeisthattwentytimesgreater
folliesarenot
committedforthem.Onemusthavelivedthatlife,asI
have,toknow
howmuchthelittlevanitieswhichtheyaffordtheir
loverseveryday
helptofastendeeperintotheheart,sincewehaveno
otherwordfor
it,thelovewhichhehasforthem.
Prudencenexttookherplaceinthebox,andaman,
whomIrecognisedas
theComtedeG.,seatedhimselfattheback.AsIsaw
him,acoldshiver
wentthroughmyheart.
DoubtlessMargueriteperceivedtheimpressionmadeon
mebythepresence
ofthisman,forshesmiledtomeagain,and,turning
herbacktothe
count,appearedtobeveryattentivetotheplay.At
thethirdentr'acte
sheturnedandsaidtwowords:thecountleftthebox,
andMarguerite
beckonedtometocometoher.
"Goodevening,"shesaidasIentered,holdingouther
hand.
"Goodevening,"IrepliedtobothMargueriteand
Prudence.
"Sitdown."
"ButIamtakingsomeone'splace.Isn'ttheComtede
G.comingback?"
"Yes;Isenthimtofetchsomesweets,sothatwecould
talkby
ourselvesforamoment.Mme.Duvernoyisinthe

secret."
"Yes,mychildren,"saidshe;"havenofear.Ishall
saynothing."
"Whatisthematterwithyoutonight?"said
Marguerite,risingand
comingtothebackoftheboxandkissingmeonthe
forehead.
"Iamnotverywell."
"Youshouldgotobed,"shereplied,withthatironical
airwhichwent
sowellwithherdelicateandwittyface.
"Where?"
"Athome."
"YouknowthatIshouldn'tbeabletosleepthere."
"Well,then,itwon'tdoforyoutocomeandbepettish
herebecauseyou
haveseenamaninmybox."
"Itisnotforthatreason."
"Yes,itis.Iknow;andyouarewrong,soletussay
nomoreabout
it.YouwillgobackwithPrudenceafterthetheatre,
andyouwillstay
theretillIcall.Doyouunderstand?"
"Yes."
HowcouldIdisobey?
"Youstillloveme?"
"Canyouask?"

"Youhavethoughtofme?"
"Alldaylong."
"DoyouknowthatIamreallyafraidthatIshallget
veryfondofyou?
AskPrudence."
"Ah,"saidshe,"itisamazing!"
"Now,youmustgobacktoyourseat.Thecountwillbe
comingback,and
thereisnothingtobegainedbyhisfindingyouhere."
"Becauseyoudon'tlikeseeinghim."
"No;onlyifyouhadtoldmethatyouwantedtocometo
theVaudeville
tonightIcouldhavegotthisboxforyouaswellas
he."
"Unfortunately,hegotitformewithoutmyaskinghim,
andheaskedme
togowithhim;youknowwellenoughthatIcouldn't
refuse.AllIcould
dowastowriteandtellyouwhereIwasgoing,sothat
youcouldsee
me,andbecauseIwantedtoseeyoumyself;butsince
thisistheway
youthankme,Ishallprofitbythelesson."
"Iwaswrong;forgiveme."
"Wellandgood;andnowgobacknicelytoyourplace,
and,aboveall,no
morejealousy."
Shekissedmeagain,andIleftthebox.Inthepassage
Imetthecount
comingback.Ireturnedtomyseat.

Afterall,thepresenceofM.deG.inMarguerite'sbox
wasthemost
naturalthingintheworld.Hehadbeenherlover,he
sentherabox,he
accompaniedhertothetheatre;itwasallquite
natural,andifIwas
tohaveamistresslikeMargueriteIshouldhavetoget
usedtoher
ways.
Nonetheless,Iwasveryunhappyalltherestofthe
evening,andwent
awayverysadlyafterhavingseenPrudence,thecount,
andMarguerite
getintothecarriage,whichwaswaitingforthemat
thedoor.
However,aquarterofanhourlaterIwasat
Prudence's.Shehadonly
justgotin.

Chapter13
"Youhavecomealmostasquicklyaswe,"saidPrudence.
"Yes,"Iansweredmechanically."WhereisMarguerite?"
"Athome."
"Alone?"
"WithM.deG."
Iwalkedtoandfrointheroom.
"Well,whatisthematter?"
"DoyouthinkitamusesmetowaitheretillM.deG.

leaves
Marguerite's?"
"Howunreasonableyouare!Don'tyouseethat
Margueritecan'tturnthe
countoutofdoors?M.deG.hasbeenwithherfora
longtime;hehas
alwaysgivenheralotofmoney;hestilldoes.
Margueritespendsmore
thanahundredthousandfrancsayear;shehasheapsof
debts.Theduke
givesherallthatsheasksfor,butshedoesnot
alwaysventuretoask
himforallthatsheisinwantof.Itwouldneverdo
forhertoquarrel
withthecount,whoisworthtoheratleastten
thousandfrancsayear.
Margueriteisveryfondofyou,mydearfellow,but
yourliaisonwith
her,inherinterestsandinyours,oughtnottobe
serious.Youwith
yoursevenoreightthousandfrancsayear,whatcould
youdotoward
supplyingalltheluxurieswhichagirllikethatisin
needof?It
wouldnotbeenoughtokeephercarriage.Take
Margueriteforwhat
sheis,foragood,bright,prettygirl;beherlover
foramonth,two
months;giveherflowers,sweets,boxesatthetheatre;
butdon't
getanyotherideasintoyourhead,anddon'tmake
absurdscenesof
jealousy.Youknowwhomyouhavetodowith;Marguerite
isn'tasaint.
Shelikesyou,youareveryfondofher;lettherest
alone.Youamaze
mewhenIseeyousotouchy;youhavethemostcharming
mistressin
Paris.Shereceivesyouinthegreateststyle,sheis
coveredwith

diamonds,sheneedn'tcostyouapenny,unlessyou
like,andyouarenot
satisfied.Mydearfellow,youasktoomuch!"
"Youareright,butIcan'thelpit;theideathatthat
manisherlover
hurtsmehorribly."
"Inthefirstplace,"repliedPrudence;"ishestill
herlover?Heisa
manwhoisusefultoher,nothingmore.Shehasclosed
herdoorstohim
fortwodays;hecamethismorningshecouldnotbut
accepttheboxand
lethimaccompanyher.Hesawherhome;hehasgonein
foramoment,he
isnotstaying,becauseyouarewaitinghere.Allthat,
itseemstome,
isquitenatural.Besides,youdon'tmindtheduke."
"Yes;butheisanoldman,andIamsurethat
Margueriteisnothis
mistress.Then,itisallverywelltoacceptone
liaison,butnottwo.
Sucheasinessinthematterisverylikecalculation,
andputstheman
whoconsentstoit,evenoutoflove,verymuchinthe
categoryofthose
who,inalowerstageofsociety,makeatradeoftheir
connivance,and
aprofitoftheirtrade."
"Ah,mydearfellow,howoldfashionedyouare!How
manyoftherichest
andmostfashionablemenofthebestfamiliesIhave
seenquiteready
todowhatIadviseyoutodo,andwithoutaneffort,
withoutshame,
withoutremorse,Why,oneseesiteveryday.Howdoyou
supposethekept
womeninPariscouldliveinthestyletheydo,ifthey

hadnotthreeor
fourloversatonce?Nosinglefortune,howeverlarge,
couldsuffice
fortheexpensesofawomanlikeMarguerite.Afortune
offivehundred
thousandfrancsayearis,inFrance,anenormous
fortune;well,mydear
friend,fivehundredthousandfrancsayearwouldstill
betoolittle,
andforthisreason:amanwithsuchanincomehasa
largehouse,
horses,servants,carriages;heshoots,hasfriends,
oftenheis
married,hehaschildren,heraces,gambles,travels,
andwhatnot.All
thesehabitsaresomuchapartofhispositionthathe
cannotforego
themwithoutappearingtohavelostallhismoney,and
withoutcausing
scandal.Takingitallround,withfivehundred
thousandfrancsayear
hecannotgiveawomanmorethanfortyorfifty
thousandfrancsinthe
year,andthatisalreadyagooddeal.Well,other
loversmakeupfor
therestofherexpenses.WithMarguerite,itisstill
moreconvenient;
shehaschancedbyamiracleonanoldmanworthten
millions,whose
wifeanddaughteraredead;whohasonlysomenephews,
themselvesrich,
andwhogivesherallshewantswithoutaskinganything
inreturn.But
shecannotaskhimformorethanseventythousand
francsayear;and
Iamsurethatifshedidaskformore,despitehis
healthandthe
affectionhehasforherhewouldnotgiveittoher.
"Alltheyoungmenoftwentyorthirtythousandfrancs
ayearatParis,

thatistosay,menwhohaveonlyjustenoughtolive
oninthesociety
inwhichtheymix,knowperfectlywell,whentheyare
theloversofa
womanlikeMarguerite,thatshecouldnotsomuchas
payfortherooms
shelivesinandtheservantswhowaituponherwith
whattheygive
her.Theydonotsaytoherthattheyknowit;they
pretendnottosee
anything,andwhentheyhavehadenoughofittheygo
theirway.Ifthey
havethevanitytowishtopayforeverythingtheyget
ruined,likethe
foolstheyare,andgoandgetkilledinAfrica,after
leavingahundred
thousandfrancsofdebtinParis.Doyouthinkawoman
isgrateful
tothemforit?Farfromit.Shedeclaresthatshehas
sacrificedher
positionforthem,andthatwhileshewaswiththemshe
waslosing
money.Thesedetailsseemtoyoushocking?Well,they
aretrue.Youare
averynicefellow;Ilikeyouverymuch.Ihavelived
withthesewomen
fortwentyyears;Iknowwhattheyareworth,andI
don'twanttosee
youtakethecapricethataprettygirlhasforyoutoo
seriously.
"Then,besidesthat,"continuedPrudence;"admitthat
Margueriteloves
youenoughtogiveupthecountortheduke,incase
oneofthemwereto
discoveryourliaisonandtotellhertochoosebetween
himandyou,
thesacrificethatshewouldmakeforyouwouldbe
enormous,youcannot
denyit.Whatequalsacrificecouldyoumakeforher,
onyourpart,and

whenyouhadgottiredofher,whatcouldyoudoto
makeupforwhatyou
hadtakenfromher?Nothing.Youwouldhavecutheroff
fromtheworld
inwhichherfortuneandherfutureweretobefound;
shewouldhave
givenyouherbestyears,andshewouldbeforgotten.
Eitheryouwould
beanordinaryman,and,castingherpastinherteeth,
youwouldleave
her,tellingherthatyouwereonlydoinglikeher
otherlovers,andyou
wouldabandonhertocertainmisery;oryouwouldbean
honestman,and,
feelingboundtokeepherbyyou,youwouldbring
inevitabletrouble
uponyourself,foraliaisonwhichisexcusableina
youngman,isno
longerexcusableinamanofmiddleage.Itbecomesan
obstacletoevery
thing;itallowsneitherfamilynorambition,man's
secondandlast
loves.Believeme,then,myfriend,takethingsfor
whattheyareworth,
anddonotgiveakeptwomantherighttocallherself
yourcreditor,no
matterinwhat."
Itwaswellargued,withalogicofwhichIshouldhave
thoughtPrudence
incapable.Ihadnothingtoreply,exceptthatshewas
right;Itookher
handandthankedherforhercounsels.
"Come,come,"saidshe,"putthesefoolishtheoriesto
flight,and
laughoverthem.Lifeispleasant,mydearfellow;it
alldependsonthe
colouroftheglassthroughwhichoneseesit.Askyour
friendGaston;
there'samanwhoseemstometounderstandloveasI

understandit.All
thatyouneedthinkof,unlessyouarequiteafool,is
thatcloseby
thereisabeautifulgirlwhoiswaitingimpatiently
forthemanwhois
withhertogo,thinkingofyou,keepingthewhole
nightforyou,and
wholovesyou,Iamcertain.Now,cometothewindow
withme,andletus
watchforthecounttogo;hewon'tbelonginleaving
thecoastclear."
Prudenceopenedthewindow,andweleanedsidebyside
overthebalcony.
Shewatchedthefewpassers,Ireflected.Allthatshe
hadsaidbuzzed
inmyhead,andIcouldnothelpfeelingthatshewas
right;but
thegenuinelovewhichIhadforMargueritehadsome
difficultyin
accommodatingitselftosuchabelief.Isighedfrom
timetotime,at
whichPrudenceturned,andshruggedhershoulderslike
aphysicianwho
hasgivenuphispatient.
"Howonerealizestheshortnessoflife,"Isaidto
myself,"bythe
rapidityofsensations!IhaveonlyknownMarguerite
fortwodays,
shehasonlybeenmymistresssinceyesterday,andshe
hasalreadyso
completelyabsorbedmythoughts,myheart,andmylife
thatthevisitof
theComtedeG.isamisfortuneforme."
Atlastthecountcameout,gotintohiscarriageand
disappeared.
Prudenceclosedthewindow.Atthesameinstant
Margueritecalledtous:

"Comeatonce,"shesaid;"theyarelayingthetable,
andwe'llhave
supper."
WhenIentered,Margueriterantome,threwherarms
aroundmyneckand
kissedmewithallhermight.
"Arewestillsulky?"shesaidtome.
"No,itisallover,"repliedPrudence."Ihavegiven
himatalkingto,
andhehaspromisedtobereasonable."
"Wellandgood."
InspiteofmyselfIglancedatthebed;itwasnot
unmade.Asfor
Marguerite,shewasalreadyinherwhitedressinggown.
Wesatdownto
table.
Charm,sweetness,spontaneity,Margueritehadthemall,
andIwasforced
fromtimetotimetoadmitthatIhadnorighttoask
ofheranything
else;thatmanypeoplewouldbeveryhappytobeinmy
place;andthat,
likeVirgil'sshepherd,Ihadonlytoenjoythe
pleasuresthatagod,or
ratheragoddess,setbeforeme.
ItriedtoputinpracticethetheoriesofPrudence,
andtobeasgay
asmytwocompanions;butwhatwasnaturalinthemwas
onmypartan
effort,andthenervouslaughter,whosesourcetheydid
notdetect,was
nearertotearsthantomirth.
AtlastthesupperwasoverandIwasalonewith

Marguerite.Shesat
downasusualonthehearthrugbeforethefireand
gazedsadlyintothe
flames.Whatwasshethinkingof?Iknownot.Asfor
me,Ilookedather
withaminglingofloveandterror,asIthoughtofall
thatIwasready
tosufferforhersake.
"DoyouknowwhatIamthinkingof?"
"No."
"Ofaplanthathascomeintomyhead."
"Andwhatisthisplan?"
"Ican'ttellyouyet,butIcantellyouwhatthe
resultwouldbe.The
resultwouldbethatinamonthIshouldbefree,I
shouldhavenomore
debts,andwecouldgoandspendthesummerinthe
country."
"Andyoucan'ttellmebywhatmeans?"
"No,onlylovemeasIloveyou,andallwillsucceed."
"Andhaveyoumadethisplanallbyyourself?"
"Yes."
"Andyouwillcarryitoutallbyyourself?"
"Ialoneshallhavethetroubleofit,"said
Marguerite,withasmile
whichIshallneverforget,"butweshallbothpartake
itsbenefits."
Icouldnothelpflushingatthewordbenefits;I
thoughtofManon

LescautsquanderingwithDesgrieuxthemoneyofM.de
B.
Irepliedinahardvoice,risingfrommyseat:
"Youmustpermitme,mydearMarguerite,toshareonly
thebenefitsof
thoseenterpriseswhichIhaveconceivedandcarried
outmyself."
"Whatdoesthatmean?"
"ItmeansthatIhaveastrongsuspicionthatM.deG.
istobeyour
associateinthisprettyplan,ofwhichIcanaccept
neitherthecost
northebenefits."
"Whatachildyouare!Ithoughtyoulovedme.Iwas
mistaken;all
right."
Sherose,openedthepianoandbegantoplaythe
"InvitationalaValse",
asfarasthefamouspassageinthemajorwhichalways
stoppedher.Was
itthroughforceofhabit,orwasittoremindmeof
thedaywhenwe
firstmet?AllIknowisthatthemelodybroughtback
thatrecollection,
and,cominguptoher,Itookherheadbetweenmyhands
andkissedher.
"Youforgiveme?"Isaid.
"YouseeIdo,"sheanswered;"butobservethatweare
onlyatour
secondday,andalreadyIhavehadtoforgiveyou
something.Isthishow
youkeepyourpromiseofblindobedience?"
"WhatcanIdo,Marguerite?IloveyoutoomuchandI

amjealousofthe
leastofyourthoughts.Whatyouproposedtomejust
nowmademefrantic
withdelight,butthemysteryinitscarryingouthurts
medreadfully."
"Come,letusreasonitout,"shesaid,takingbothmy
handsandlooking
atmewithacharmingsmilewhichitwasimpossibleto
resist,"Youlove
me,doyounot?andyouwouldgladlyspendtwoorthree
monthsalone
withmeinthecountry?Itooshouldbegladofthis
solitudeadeux,
andnotonlygladofit,butmyhealthrequiresit.I
cannotleave
Parisforsuchalengthoftimewithoutputtingmy
affairsinorder,and
theaffairsofawomanlikemearealwaysingreat
confusion;well,I
havefoundawaytoreconcileeverything,mymoney
affairsandmylove
foryou;yes,foryou,don'tlaugh;Iamsillyenough
toloveyou!And
hereyouaretakinglordlyairsandtalkingbigwords.
Child,thrice
child,onlyrememberthatIloveyou,anddon'tlet
anythingdisturb
you.Now,isitagreed?"
"Iagreetoallyouwish,asyouknow."
"Then,inlessthanamonth'stimeweshallbeinsome
village,
walkingbytheriverside,anddrinkingmilk.Doesit
seemstrange
thatMargueriteGautiershouldspeaktoyoulikethat?
Thefactis,
myfriend,thatwhenthisParislife,whichseemsto
makemesohappy,
doesn'tburnme,itweariesme,andthenIhavesudden

aspirations
towardacalmerexistencewhichmightrecallmy
childhood.Onehas
alwayshadachildhood,whateveronebecomes.Don'tbe
alarmed;Iamnot
goingtotellyouthatIamthedaughterofacolonel
onhalfpay,and
thatIwasbroughtupatSaintDenis.Iamapoor
countrygirl,andsix
yearsagoIcouldnotwritemyownname.Youare
relieved,aren'tyou?
WhyisityouarethefirstwhomIhaveeveraskedto
sharethejoy
ofthisdesireofmine?IsupposebecauseIfeelthat
youlovemefor
myselfandnotforyourself,whilealltheothershave
onlylovedmefor
themselves.
"Ihaveoftenbeeninthecountry,butneverasI
shouldliketogo
there.Icountonyouforthiseasyhappiness;donot
beunkind,let
mehaveit.Saythistoyourself:'Shewillneverlive
tobeold,andI
shouldsomedaybesorryfornothavingdoneforher
thefirstthingshe
askedofme,suchaneasythingtodo!'"
WhatcouldIreplytosuchwords,especiallywiththe
memoryofafirst
nightoflove,andintheexpectationofasecond?
AnhourlaterIheldMargueriteinmyarms,and,ifshe
hadaskedmeto
commitacrime,Iwouldhaveobeyedher.
AtsixinthemorningIlefther,andbeforeleaving
herIsaid:"Till
tonight!"Shekissedmemorewarmlythanever,but
saidnothing.

DuringthedayIreceivedanotecontainingthese
words:
"DEARCHILD:Iamnotverywell,andthedoctorhas
orderedquiet.I
shallgotobedearlytonightandshallnotseeyou.
But,tomakeup,I
shallexpectyoutomorrowattwelve.Iloveyou."
Myfirstthoughtwas:Sheisdeceivingme!
Acoldsweatbrokeoutonmyforehead,forIalready
lovedthiswoman
toomuchnottobeoverwhelmedbythesuspicion.And
yet,Iwasboundto
expectsuchathingalmostanydaywithMarguerite,and
ithadhappened
tomeoftenenoughwithmyothermistresses,withoutmy
takingmuch
noticeofit.Whatwasthemeaningoftheholdwhich
thiswomanhad
takenuponmylife?
Thenitoccurredtome,sinceIhadthekey,togoand
seeherasusual.
InthiswayIshouldsoonknowthetruth,andifI
foundamanthereI
wouldstrikehimintheface.
MeanwhileIwenttotheChampsElysees.Iwaitedthere
fourhours.She
didnotappear.AtnightIwentintoallthetheatres
whereshewas
accustomedtogo.Shewasinnoneofthem.
Ateleveno'clockIwenttotheRued'Antin.Therewas
nolightin
Marguerite'swindows.Allthesame,Irang.Theporter
askedmewhereI
wasgoing.

"ToMlle.Gautier's,"Isaid.
"Shehasnotcomein."
"Iwillgoupandwaitforher."
"Thereisnoonethere."
EvidentlyIcouldgetin,sinceIhadthekey,but,
fearingfoolish
scandal,Iwentaway.OnlyIdidnotreturnhome;I
couldnotleavethe
street,andInevertookmyeyesoffMarguerite's
house.Itseemedto
methattherewasstillsomethingtobefoundout,or
atleastthatmy
suspicionswereabouttobeconfirmed.
AboutmidnightacarriagethatIknewwellstopped
beforeNo.9.The
ComtedeG.gotdownandenteredthehouse,after
sendingawaythe
carriage.ForamomentIhopedthatthesameanswer
wouldbegivento
himastome,andthatIshouldseehimcomeout;but
atfouro'clockin
themorningIwasstillawaitinghim.
Ihavesuffereddeeplyduringtheselastthreeweeks,
butthatis
nothing,Ithink,incomparisonwithwhatIsuffered
thatnight.

Chapter14
WhenIreachedhomeIbegantocrylikeachild.There
isnomantowhom
awomanhasnotbeenunfaithful,onceatleast,andwho

willnotknow
whatIsuffered.
Isaidtomyself,undertheweightofthesefeverish
resolutionswhich
onealwaysfeelsasifonehadtheforcetocarryout,
thatImustbreak
withmyamouratonce,andIwaitedimpatientlyfor
daylightinorder
tosetoutforthwithtorejoinmyfatherandmysister,
ofwhoseloveat
leastIwascertain,andcertainthatthatlovewould
neverbebetrayed.
However,Ididnotwishtogoawaywithoutletting
Margueriteknowwhy
Iwent.Onlyamanwhoreallycaresnomoreforhis
mistressleavesher
withoutwritingtoher.Imadeandremadetwenty
lettersinmyhead.I
hadhadtodowithawomanlikeallotherwomenofthe
kind.Ihadbeen
poetizingtoomuch.Shehadtreatedmelikeaschool
boy,shehadused
indeceivingmeatrickwhichwasinsultinglysimple.
Myselfesteem
gottheupperhand.Imustleavethiswomanwithout
givingherthe
satisfactionofknowingthatshehadmademesuffer,
andthisiswhatI
wrotetoherinmymosteleganthandwritingandwith
tearsofrageand
sorrowinmyeyes:
"MYDEARMARGUERITE:Ihopethatyourindisposition
yesterdaywasnot
serious.Icame,atelevenatnight,toaskafteryou,
andwastold
thatyouhadnotcomein.M.deG.wasmorefortunate,
forhepresented
himselfshortlyafterward,andatfourinthemorning

hehadnotleft.
"ForgivemeforthefewtedioushoursthatIhavegiven
you,andbe
assuredthatIshallneverforgetthehappymoments
whichIowetoyou.
"Ishouldhavecalledtodaytoaskafteryou,butI
intendgoingback
tomyfather's.
"Goodbye,mydearMarguerite.Iamnotrichenoughto
loveyouasI
wouldnorpoorenoughtoloveyouasyouwould.Letus
thenforget,you
anamewhichmustbeindifferentenoughtoyou,Ia
happinesswhichhas
becomeimpossible.
"Isendbackyourkey,whichIhaveneverused,and
whichmightbe
usefultoyou,ifyouareoftenillasyouwere
yesterday."
Asyouwillsee,Iwasunabletoendmyletterwithout
atouchof
impertinentirony,whichprovedhowmuchinloveI
stillwas.
Ireadandrereadthislettertentimesover;thenthe
thoughtofthe
painitwouldgivetoMargueritecalmedmealittle.I
triedtopersuade
myselfofthefeelingswhichitprofessed;andwhenmy
servantcameto
myroomateighto'clock,Igaveittohimandtoldhim
totakeitat
once.
"ShallIwaitforananswer?"askedJoseph(myservant,
likeall

servants,wascalledJoseph).
"Iftheyaskwhetherthereisareply,youwillsay
thatyoudon'tknow,
andwait."
Ibuoyedmyselfupwiththehopethatshewouldreply.
Poor,feeble
creaturesthatweare!Allthetimethatmyservantwas
awayIwasina
stateofextremeagitation.AtonemomentIwould
recallhowMarguerite
hadgivenherselftome,andaskmyselfbywhatrightI
wroteheran
impertinentletter,whenshecouldreplythatitwas
notM.deG.who
supplantedme,butIwhohadsupplantedM.deG.:a
modeofreasoning
whichpermitsmanywomentohavemanylovers.At
anothermomentIwould
recallherpromises,andendeavourtoconvincemyself
thatmyletterwas
onlytoogentle,andthattherewerenotexpressions
forcibleenoughto
punishawomanwholaughedatalovelikemine.ThenI
saidtomyself
thatIshouldhavedonebetternottohavewrittento
her,buttohave
gonetoseeher,andthatthenIshouldhavehadthe
pleasureofseeing
thetearsthatshewouldshed.Finally,Iaskedmyself
whatshewould
replytome;alreadypreparedtobelievewhatever
excuseshemade.
Josephreturned.
"Well?"Isaidtohim.
"Sir,"saidhe,"madamewasnotup,andstillasleep,
butassoonasshe

ringstheletterwillbetakentoher,andifthereis
anyreplyitwill
besent."
Shewasasleep!
TwentytimesIwasonthepointofsendingtogetthe
letterback,but
everytimeIsaidtomyself:"Perhapsshewillhavegot
italready,and
itwouldlookasifIhaverepentedofsendingit."
Asthehouratwhichitseemedlikelythatshewould
replycamenearer,
IregrettedmoreandmorethatIhadwritten.Theclock
struck,ten,
eleven,twelve.AttwelveIwasonthepointofkeeping
theappointment
asifnothinghadhappened.IntheendIcouldseeno
wayoutofthe
circleoffirewhichcloseduponme.
ThenIbegantobelieve,withthesuperstitionwhich
peoplehavewhen
theyarewaiting,thatifIwentoutforalittle
while,Ishouldfind
ananswerwhenIgotback.Iwentoutunderthepretext
ofgoingto
lunch.
InsteadoflunchingattheCafeFoy,atthecornerof
theBoulevard,as
Iusuallydid,IpreferredtogotothePalaisRoyal
andsopassthrough
theRued'Antin.EverytimethatIsawawomanata
distance,Ifancied
itwasNaninebringingmeananswer.Ipassedthrough
theRued'Antin
withoutevencomingacrossacommissionaire.Iwentto
Very'sinthe
PalaisRoyal.Thewaitergavemesomethingtoeat,or

ratherservedup
tomewhateverheliked,forIatenothing.Inspiteof
myself,myeyes
wereconstantlyfixedontheclock.Ireturnedhome,
certainthatI
shouldfindaletterfromMarguerite.
Theporterhadreceivednothing,butIstillhopedin
myservant.Hehad
seennoonesinceIwentout.
IfMargueritehadbeengoingtoanswermeshewould
haveansweredlong
before.
ThenIbegantoregretthetermsofmyletter;Ishould
havesaid
absolutelynothing,andthatwouldundoubtedlyhave
arousedher
suspicions,for,findingthatIdidnotkeepmy
appointment,shewould
haveinquiredthereasonofmyabsence,andonlythenI
shouldhave
givenittoher.Thus,shewouldhavehadtoexculpate
herself,andwhat
Iwantedwasforhertoexculpateherself.Ialready
realizedthatI
shouldhavebelievedwhateverreasonsshehadgivenme,
andanythingwas
betterthannottoseeheragain.
AtlastIbegantobelievethatshewouldcometosee
meherself;but
hourfollowedhour,andshedidnotcome.
DecidedlyMargueritewasnotlikeotherwomen,for
therearefew
whowouldhavereceivedsuchaletterasIhadjust
writtenwithout
answeringitatall.

Atfive,IhastenedtotheChampsElysees."IfImeet
her,"Ithought,
"Iwillputonanindifferentair,andshewillbe
convincedthatIno
longerthinkabouther."
AsIturnedthecorneroftheRueRoyale,Isawher
passinher
carriage.ThemeetingwassosuddenthatIturnedpale.
Idonotknowif
shesawmyemotion;asforme,IwassoagitatedthatI
sawnothingbut
thecarriage.
Ididnotgoanyfartherinthedirectionofthe
ChampsElysees.I
lookedattheadvertisementsofthetheatres,forIhad
stillachance
ofseeingher.TherewasafirstnightatthePalais
Royal.Marguerite
wassuretobethere.Iwasatthetheatrebyseven.
Theboxesfilled
oneafteranother,butMargueritewasnotthere.Ileft
thePalaisRoyal
andwenttoallthetheatreswhereshewasmostoften
tobeseen:tothe
Vaudeville,theVarietes,theOperaComique.Shewas
nowhere.
Eithermyletterhadtroubledhertoomuchforherto
caretogoto
thetheatre,orshefearedtocomeacrossme,andso
wishedtoavoidan
explanation.Somyvanitywaswhisperingtomeonthe
boulevards,whenI
metGaston,whoaskedmewhereIhadbeen.
"AtthePalaisRoyal."
"AndIattheOpera,"saidhe;"Iexpectedtoseeyou
there."

"Why?"
"BecauseMargueritewasthere."
"Ah,shewasthere?"
"Yes.
"Alone?"
"No;withanotherwoman."
"Thatall?"
"TheComtedeG.cametoherboxforaninstant;but
shewentoffwith
theduke.Iexpectedtoseeyoueverymoment,forthere
wasastallat
mysidewhichremainedemptythewholeevening,andI
wassureyouhad
takenit."
"ButwhyshouldIgowhereMargueritegoes?"
"Becauseyouareherlover,surely!"
"Whotoldyouthat?"
"Prudence,whomImetyesterday.Igiveyoumy
congratulations,mydear
fellow;sheisacharmingmistress,anditisn't
everybodywhohasthe
chance.Sticktoher;shewilldoyoucredit."
ThesesimplereflectionsofGastonshowedmehowabsurd
hadbeenmy
susceptibilities.IfIhadonlymethimthenight
beforeandhehad
spokentomelikethat,Ishouldcertainlynothave
writtenthefoolish

letterwhichIhadwritten.
IwasonthepointofcallingonPrudence,andof
sendinghertotell
MargueritethatIwantedtospeaktoher;butIfeared
thatshewould
revengeherselfonmebysayingthatshecouldnotsee
me,andI
returnedhome,afterpassingthroughtheRued'Antin.
AgainIaskedmy
porteriftherewasaletterforme.Nothing!Sheis
waitingtoseeifI
shalltakesomefreshstep,andifIretractmyletter
oftoday,Isaid
tomyselfasIwenttobed;but,seeingthatIdonot
write,shewill
writetometomorrow.
Thatnight,morethanever,Ireproachedmyselffor
whatIhaddone.I
wasalone,unabletosleep,devouredbyrestlessness
andjealousy,when
bysimplylettingthingstaketheirnaturalcourseI
shouldhavebeen
withMarguerite,hearingthedeliciouswordswhichI
hadheardonly
twice,andwhichmademyearsburninmysolitude.
Themostfrightfulpartofthesituationwasthatmy
judgmentwas
againstme;asamatteroffact,everythingwentto
provethat
Margueritelovedme.First,herproposaltospendthe
summerwithmein
thecountry,thenthecertaintythattherewasno
reasonwhysheshould
bemymistress,sincemyincomewasinsufficientfor
herneedsandeven
forhercaprices.Therecouldnotthenhavebeenonher
partanything
butthehopeoffindinginmeasincereaffection,able

togiveher
restfromthemercenarylovesinwhosemidstshelived;
andonthevery
seconddayIhaddestroyedthishope,andpaidby
impertinentironyfor
thelovewhichIhadacceptedduringtwonights.WhatI
haddonewas
thereforenotmerelyridiculous,itwasindelicate.I
hadnoteven
paidthewoman,thatImighthavesomerighttofind
faultwithher;
withdrawingaftertwodays,wasInotlikeaparasite
oflove,afraidof
havingtopaythebillofthebanquet?What!Ihadonly
knownMarguerite
forthirtysixhours;Ihadbeenherloverforonly
twentyfour;and
insteadofbeingtoohappythatsheshouldgrantmeall
thatshedid,
Iwantedtohaveheralltomyself,andtomakeher
severatonestroke
allherpastrelationswhichweretherevenueofher
future.WhathadI
toreproachinher?Nothing.Shehadwrittentosayshe
wasunwell,when
shemighthavesaidtomequitecrudely,withthe
hideousfranknessof
certainwomen,thatshehadtoseealover;and,
insteadofbelieving
herletter,insteadofgoingtoanystreetinParis
excepttheRue
d'Antin,insteadofspendingtheeveningwithmy
friends,andpresenting
myselfnextdayattheappointedhour,Iwasactingthe
Othello,spying
uponher,andthinkingtopunishherbyseeingherno
more.But,onthe
contrary,sheoughttobeenchantedatthisseparation.
Sheoughtto
findmesupremelyfoolish,andhersilencewasnoteven
thatofrancour;

itwascontempt.
ImighthavemadeMargueriteapresentwhichwould
leavenodoubtasto
mygenerosityandpermitmetofeelproperlyquitsof
her,asofa
keptwoman,butIshouldhavefeltthatIwasoffending
bytheleast
appearanceoftrafficking,ifnotthelovewhichshe
hadforme,atall
eventsthelovewhichIhadforher,andsincethis
lovewassopure
thatitcouldadmitnodivision,itcouldnotpaybya
present,however
generous,thehappinessthatithadreceived,however
shortthat
happinesshadbeen.
ThatiswhatIsaidtomyselfallnightlong,andwhat
Iwasevery
momentpreparedtogoandsaytoMarguerite.Whenthe
daydawnedI
wasstillsleepless.Iwasinafever.Icouldthinkof
nothingbut
Marguerite.
Asyoucanimagine,itwastimetotakeadecidedstep,
andfinish
eitherwiththewomanorwithone'sscruples,if,that
is,shewould
stillbewillingtoseeme.Butyouknowwell,oneis
alwaysslowin
takingadecidedstep;so,unabletoremainwithin
doorsandnotdaring
tocallonMarguerite,Imadeoneattemptinher
direction,anattempt
thatIcouldalwayslookuponasamerechanceifit
succeeded.
Itwasnineo'clock,andIwentatoncetocallupon
Prudence,whoasked

towhatsheowedthisearlyvisit.Idarednottellher
franklywhat
broughtme.IrepliedthatIhadgoneoutearlyin
ordertoreservea
placeinthediligenceforC.,wheremyfatherlived.
"Youarefortunate,"shesaid,"inbeingabletoget
awayfromParisin
thisfineweather."
IlookedatPrudence,askingmyselfwhethershewas
laughingatme,but
herfacewasquiteserious.
"ShallyougoandsaygoodbyetoMarguerite?"she
continued,as
seriouslyasbefore.
"No."
"Youarequiteright."
"Youthinkso?"
"Naturally.Sinceyouhavebrokenwithher,whyshould
youseeher
again?"
"Youknowitisbrokenoff?"
"Sheshowedmeyourletter."
"Whatdidshesayaboutit?"
"Shesaid:'MydearPrudence,yourprotegeisnot
polite;onethinks
suchletters,onedoesnotwritethem."'
"Inwhattonedidshesaythat?"
"Laughingly,"andsheadded:"Hehashadsupperwithme

twice,andhasn't
evencalled."
That,then,wastheeffectproducedbymyletterandmy
jealousy.Iwas
cruellyhumiliatedinthevanityofmyaffection.
"Whatdidshedolastnight?"
"Shewenttotheopera."
"Iknow.Andafterward?"
"Shehadsupperathome."
"Alone?"
"WiththeComtedeG.,Ibelieve."
Somybreakingwithherhadnotchangedoneofher
habits.Itisfor
suchreasonsasthisthatcertainpeoplesaytoyou:
Don'thaveanything
moretodowiththewoman;shecaresnothingaboutyou.
"Well,IamverygladtofindthatMargueritedoesnot
putherselfout
forme,"Isaidwithaforcedsmile.
"Shehasverygoodreasonnotto.Youhavedonewhat
youwereboundto
do.Youhavebeenmorereasonablethanshe,forshewas
reallyinlove
withyou;shedidnothingbuttalkofyou.Idon'tknow
whatshewould
nothavebeencapableofdoing."
"Whyhasn'tsheansweredme,ifshewasinlovewith
me?"
"Becausesherealizesshewasmistakeninletting

herselfloveyou.
Womensometimesallowyoutobeunfaithfultotheir
love;theynever
allowyoutowoundtheirselfesteem;andonealways
woundsthe
selfesteemofawomanwhen,twodaysafteronehas
becomeherlover,
oneleavesher,nomatterforwhatreason.Iknow
Marguerite;shewould
diesoonerthanreply."
"WhatcanIdo,then?"
"Nothing.Shewillforgetyou,youwillforgether,and
neitherwill
haveanyreproachtomakeagainsttheother."
"ButifIwriteandaskherforgiveness?"
"Don'tdothat,forshewouldforgiveyou."
IcouldhaveflungmyarmsroundPrudence'sneck.
AquarterofanhourlaterIwasoncemoreinmyown
quarters,andI
wrotetoMarguerite:
"Someone,whorepentsofaletterthathewrote
yesterdayandwhowill
leaveParistomorrowifyoudonotforgivehim,wishes
toknowatwhat
hourhemightlayhisrepentanceatyourfeet.
"Whencanhefindyoualone?for,youknow,confessions
mustbemade
withoutwitnesses."
Ifoldedthiskindofmadrigalinprose,andsentitby
Joseph,who
handedittoMargueriteherself;sherepliedthatshe
wouldsendthe

answerlater.
Ionlywentouttohaveahastydinner,andateleven
intheeveningno
replyhadcome.Imadeupmymindtoendureitno
longer,andtosetout
nextday.Inconsequenceofthisresolution,and
convincedthatIshould
notsleepifIwenttobed,Ibegantopackupmy
things.

Chapter15
ItwashardlyanhourafterJosephandIhadbegun
preparingformy
departure,whentherewasaviolentringatthedoor.
"ShallIgotothedoor?"saidJoseph.
"Go,"Isaid,askingmyselfwhoitcouldbeatsuchan
hour,andnot
daringtobelievethatitwasMarguerite.
"Sir,"saidJosephcomingbacktome,"itistwo
ladies."
"Itiswe,Armand,"criedavoicethatIrecognisedas
thatofPrudence.
Icameoutofmyroom.Prudencewasstandinglooking
aroundtheplace;
Marguerite,seatedonthesofa,wasmeditating.Iwent
toher,knelt
down,tookhertwohands,and,deeplymoved,saidto
her,"Pardon."
Shekissedmeontheforehead,andsaid:
"ThisisthethirdtimethatIhaveforgivenyou."

"Ishouldhavegoneawaytomorrow."
"Howcanmyvisitchangeyourplans?Ihavenotcometo
hinderyoufrom
leavingParis.IhavecomebecauseIhadnotimeto
answeryouduring
theday,andIdidnotwishtoletyouthinkthatIwas
angrywithyou.
Prudencedidn'twantmetocome;shesaidthatImight
beintheway."
"Youintheway,Marguerite!Buthow?"
"Well,youmighthavehadawomanhere,"saidPrudence,
"anditwould
hardlyhavebeenamusingforhertoseetwomore
arrive."
DuringthisremarkMargueritelookedatmeattentively.
"MydearPrudence,"Ianswered,"youdonotknowwhat
youaresaying."
"Whataniceplaceyou'vegot!"Prudencewenton."May
weseethe
bedroom?"
"Yes."
Prudencewentintothebedroom,notsomuchtoseeit
astomakeupfor
thefoolishthingwhichshehadjustsaid,andtoleave
Margueriteand
mealone.
"WhydidyoubringPrudence?"Iaskedher.
"Becauseshewasatthetheatrewithme,andbecause
whenIleavehereI
wanttohavesomeonetoseemehome."

"CouldnotIdo?"
"Yes,but,besidesnotwishingtoputyouout,Iwas
surethatifyou
cameasfarasmydooryouwouldwanttocomeup,and
asIcouldnotlet
you,Ididnotwishtoletyougoawayblamingmefor
saying'No.'"
"Andwhycouldyounotletmecomeup?"
"BecauseIamwatched,andtheleastsuspicionmightdo
methegreatest
harm."
"Isthatreallytheonlyreason?"
"Iftherewereanyother,Iwouldtellyou;forweare
nottohaveany
secretsfromoneanothernow."
"Come,Marguerite,Iamnotgoingtotakearoundabout
wayofsaying
whatIreallywanttosay.Honestly,doyoucareforme
alittle?"
"Agreatdeal."
"Thenwhydidyoudeceiveme?"
"Myfriend,ifIweretheDuchessSoandSo,ifIhad
twohundred
thousandfrancsayear,andifIwereyourmistressand
hadanother
lover,youwouldhavetherighttoaskme;butIam
Mlle.Marguerite
Gautier,Iamfortythousandfrancsindebt,Ihavenot
apennyofmy
own,andIspendahundredthousandfrancsayear.Your
questionbecomes

unnecessaryandmyansweruseless."
"Youareright,"Isaid,lettingmyheadsinkonher
knees;"butIlove
youmadly."
"Well,myfriend,youmusteitherlovemealittleless
orunderstandme
alittlebetter.Yourlettergavemeagreatdealof
pain.IfIhad
beenfree,firstofallIwouldnothaveseenthecount
thedaybefore
yesterday,or,ifIhad,Ishouldhavecomeandasked
yourforgiveness
asyouaskmenow,andinfutureIshouldhavehadno
otherloverbut
you.IfanciedforamomentthatImightgivemyself
thathappinessfor
sixmonths;youwouldnothaveit;youinsistedon
knowingthemeans.
Well,goodheavens,themeanswereeasyenoughto
guess!Inemploying
themIwasmakingagreatersacrificeforyouthanyou
imagine.Imight
havesaidtoyou,'Iwanttwentythousandfrancs';you
wereinlovewith
meandyouwouldhavefoundthem,attheriskof
reproachingmeforit
lateron.Ipreferredtooweyounothing;youdidnot
understandthe
scruple,forsuchitwas.Thoseofuswhoarelikeme,
whenwehaveany
heartatall,wegiveameaningandadevelopmentto
wordsandthings
unknowntootherwomen;Irepeat,then,thatonthe
partofMarguerite
Gautierthemeanswhichsheusedtopayherdebts
withoutaskingyoufor
themoneynecessaryforit,wasascruplebywhichyou
oughttoprofit,
withoutsayinganything.Ifyouhadonlymetmetoday,

youwouldbetoo
delightedwithwhatIpromisedyou,andyouwouldnot
questionmeasto
whatIdidthedaybeforeyesterday.Wearesometimes
obligedtobuythe
satisfactionofoursoulsattheexpenseofourbodies,
andwesuffer
stillmore,when,afterward,thatsatisfactionis
deniedus."
Ilistened,andIgazedatMargueritewithadmiration.
WhenIthought
thatthismarvellouscreature,whosefeetIhadonce
longedtokiss,was
willingtoletmetakemyplaceinherthoughts,my
partinherlife,
andthatIwasnotyetcontentwithwhatshegaveme,I
askedifman's
desirehasindeedlimitswhen,satisfiedaspromptlyas
minehadbeen,
itreachedaftersomethingfurther.
"Truly,"shecontinued,"wepoorcreaturesofchance
havefantastic
desiresandinconceivableloves.Wegiveourselvesnow
foronething,
nowforanother.Therearemenwhoruinthemselves
withoutobtaining
theleastthingfromus;thereareotherswhoobtainus
forabouquetof
flowers.Ourheartshavetheircaprices;itistheir
onedistraction
andtheironeexcuse.Igavemyselftoyousoonerthan
Ieverdidto
anyman,Isweartoyou;anddoyouknowwhy?Because
whenyousawme
spittingbloodyoutookmyhand;becauseyouwept;
becauseyouarethe
onlyhumanbeingwhohaseverpitiedme.Iamgoingto
sayamadthing
toyou:Ioncehadalittledogwholookedatmewitha

sadlookwhen
Icoughed;thatistheonlycreatureIeverloved.When
hediedIcried
morethanwhenmymotherdied.Itistruethatfor
twelveyearsofher
lifesheusedtobeatme.Well,Ilovedyouallat
once,asmuchasmy
dog.Ifmenknewwhattheycanhaveforatear,they
wouldbebetter
lovedandweshouldbelessruinoustothem.
"Yourletterundeceivedme;itshowedmethatyou
lackedthe
intelligenceoftheheart;itdidyoumoreharmwithme
thananything
youcouldpossiblyhavedone.Itwasjealousy
certainly,butironical
andimpertinentjealousy.Iwasalreadyfeelingsad
whenIreceivedyour
letter.Iwaslookingforwardtoseeingyouattwelve,
tohavinglunch
withyou,andwipingout,byseeingyou,athought
whichwaswith
meincessantly,andwhich,beforeIknewyou,Ihadno
difficultyin
tolerating.
"Then,"continuedMarguerite,"youweretheonlyperson
beforewhomit
seemedtome,fromthefirst,thatIcouldthinkand
speakfreely.All
thosewhocomeaboutwomenlikemehaveaninterestin
calculating
theirslightestwords,inthinkingoftheconsequences
oftheirmost
insignificantactions.Naturallywehavenofriends.We
haveselfish
loverswhospendtheirfortunes,riotonus,asthey
say,butontheir
ownvanity.Forthesepeoplewehavetobemerrywhen
theyaremerry,

wellwhentheywanttosup,scepticslikethemselves.
Wearenotallowed
tohavehearts,underpenaltyofbeinghooteddownand
ofruiningour
credit.
"Wenolongerbelongtoourselves.Wearenolonger
beings,butthings.
Westandfirstintheirselfesteem,lastintheir
esteem.Wehavewomen
whocallthemselvesourfriends,buttheyarefriends
likePrudence,
womenwhowereoncekeptandwhohavestillthecostly
tastesthattheir
agedoesnotallowthemtogratify.Thentheybecome
ourfriends,or
ratherourguestsattable.Theirfriendshipiscarried
tothepointof
servility,nevertothatofdisinterestedness.Neverdo
theygiveyou
advicewhichisnotlucrative.Itmeanslittleenough
tothemthatwe
shouldhavetenloversextra,aslongastheyget
dressesorabracelet
outofthem,andthattheycandriveinourcarriage
fromtimetotime
orcometoourboxatthetheatre.Theyhaveourlast
night'sbouquets,
andtheyborrowourshawls.Theyneverrenderusa
service,however
slight,withoutseeingthattheyarepaidtwiceits
value.Youyourself
sawwhenPrudencebroughtmethesixthousandfrancs
thatIhadasked
hertogetfromtheduke,howsheborrowedfivehundred
francs,which
shewillneverpaymeback,orwhichshewillpaymein
hats,whichwill
neverbetakenoutoftheirboxes.
"Wecannot,then,have,orratherIcannothavemore

thanonepossible
kindofhappiness,andthisis,sadasIsometimesam,
sufferingasI
alwaysam,tofindamansuperiorenoughnottoask
questionsaboutmy
life,andtobetheloverofmyimpressionsratherthan
ofmybody.
SuchamanIfoundintheduke;butthedukeisold,
andoldageneither
protectsnorconsoles.IthoughtIcouldacceptthe
lifewhichhe
offeredme;butwhatwouldyouhave?Iwasdyingof
ennui,andifoneis
boundtobeconsumed,itisaswelltothrowoneself
intotheflamesas
tobeasphyxiatedwithcharcoal.
"ThenImetyou,young,ardent,happy,andItriedto
makeyouthemanI
hadlongedforinmynoisysolitude.WhatIlovedin
youwasnotthe
manwhowas,butthemanwhowasgoingtobe.Youdo
notacceptthe
position,yourejectitasunworthyofyou;youarean
ordinarylover.
Doliketheothers;payme,andsaynomoreaboutit."
Marguerite,tiredoutwiththislongconfession,threw
herselfbackon
thesofa,andtostifleaslightcoughputupher
handkerchieftoher
lips,andfromthattohereyes.
"Pardon,pardon,"Imurmured."Iunderstooditall,but
Iwantedto
haveitfromyourownlips,mybelovedMarguerite.
Forgettherestand
rememberonlyonething:thatwebelongtooneanother,
thatweare
young,andthatwelove.Marguerite,dowithmeasyou
will;Iamyour

slave,yourdog,butinthenameofheaventearupthe
letterwhichI
wrotetoyouanddonotmakemeleaveyoutomorrow;it
wouldkillme."
Margueritedrewtheletterfromherbosom,andhanding
ittomewitha
smileofinfinitesweetness,said:
"Hereitis.Ihavebroughtitback."
Itoretheletterintofragmentsandkissedwithtears
thehandthat
gaveittome.
AtthismomentPrudencereappeared.
"Lookhere,Prudence;doyouknowwhathewants?"said
Marguerite.
"Hewantsyoutoforgivehim."
"Precisely."
"Andyoudo?"
"Onehasto;buthewantsmorethanthat."
"What,then?"
"Hewantstohavesupperwithus."
"Anddoyouconsent?"
"Whatdoyouthink?"
"Ithinkthatyouaretwochildrenwhohaven'tanatom
ofsensebetween
you;butIalsothinkthatIamveryhungry,andthat
thesooneryou
consentthesoonerweshallhavesupper."

"Come,"saidMarguerite,"thereisroomforthethree
ofusinmy
carriage."
"Bytheway,"sheadded,turningtome,"Naninewillbe
gonetobed.You
mustopenthedoor;takemykey,andtrynottoloseit
again."
IembracedMargueriteuntilshewasalmoststifled.
ThereuponJosephentered.
"Sir,"hesaid,withtheairofamanwhoisverywell
satisfiedwith
himself,"theluggageispacked."
"Allofit?"
"Yes,sir."
"Well,then,unpackitagain;Iamnotgoing."

Chapter16
Imighthavetoldyouofthebeginningofthisliaison
inafewlines,
butIwantedyoutoseeeverystepbywhichwecame,I
toagreeto
whateverMargueritewished,Margueritetobeunableto
liveapartfrom
me.
Itwasthedayaftertheeveningwhenshecametosee
methatIsenther
ManonLescaut.
Fromthattime,seeingthatIcouldnotchangemy

mistress'slife,I
changedmyown.Iwishedaboveallnottoleavemyself
timetothink
overthepositionIhadaccepted,for,inspiteof
myself,itwasa
greatdistresstome.Thusmylife,generallysocalm,
assumedall
atonceanappearanceofnoiseanddisorder.Never
believe,however
disinterestedtheloveofakeptwomanmaybe,thatit
willcostone
nothing.Nothingissoexpensiveastheircaprices,
flowers,boxesat
thetheatre,suppers,daysinthecountry,whichone
canneverrefuseto
one'smistress.
AsIhavetoldyou,Ihadlittlemoney.Myfatherwas,
andstillis,
receveurgeneralatC.Hehasagreatreputationthere
forloyalty,
thankstowhichhewasabletofindthesecuritywhich
heneededin
ordertoattainthisposition.
Itisworthfortythousandfrancsayear,andduring
thetenyearsthat
hehashadit,hehaspaidoffthesecurityandput
asideadowryfor
mysister.Myfatheristhemosthonourablemaninthe
world.When
mymotherdied,sheleftsixthousandfrancsayear,
whichhedivided
betweenmysisterandmyselfontheverydaywhenhe
receivedhis
appointment;then,whenIwastwentyone,headdedto
thislittleincome
anannualallowanceoffivethousandfrancs,assuring
methatwith
eightthousandfrancsayearImightliveveryhappily
atParis,if,in

additiontothis,Iwouldmakeapositionformyself
eitherinlawor
medicine.IcametoParis,studiedlaw,wascalledto
thebar,and,like
manyotheryoungmen,putmydiplomainmypocket,and
letmyselfdrift,
asonesoeasilydoesinParis.
Myexpenseswereverymoderate;onlyIusedupmy
year'sincomein
eightmonths,andspentthefoursummermonthswithmy
father,which
practicallygavemetwelvethousandfrancsayear,and,
inaddition,the
reputationofagoodson.Fortherest,notapennyof
debt.
This,then,wasmypositionwhenImadethe
acquaintanceofMarguerite.
Youcanwellunderstandthat,inspiteofmyself,my
expensessoon
increased.Marguerite'snaturewasverycapricious,
and,likesomany
women,sheneverregardedasaseriousexpensethose
thousandandone
distractionswhichmadeupherlife.So,wishingto
spendasmuchtime
withmeaspossible,shewouldwritetomeinthe
morningthatshewould
dinewithme,notathome,butatsomerestaurantin
Parisorinthe
country.Iwouldcallforher,andwewoulddineandgo
ontothe
theatre,oftenhavingsupperaswell;andbytheendof
theeveningI
hadspentfourorfivelouis,whichcametotwoor
threethousandfrancs
amonth,whichreducedmyyeartothreemonthsanda
half,andmadeit
necessaryformeeithertogointodebtortoleave
Marguerite.Iwould

haveconsentedtoanythingexceptthelatter.
ForgivemeifIgiveyouallthesedetails,butyou
willseethatthey
werethecauseofwhatwastofollow.WhatItellyou
isatrueand
simplestory,andIleavetoitallthenaiveteofits
detailsandall
thesimplicityofitsdevelopments.
Irealizedthenthatasnothingintheworldwouldmake
meforgetmy
mistress,itwasneedfulformetofindsomewayof
meetingtheexpenses
intowhichshedrewme.Then,too,myloveforherhad
sodisturbing
aninfluenceuponmethateverymomentIspentaway
fromMargueritewas
likeayear,andthatIfelttheneedofconsuming
thesemomentsinthe
fireofsomesortofpassion,andoflivingthemso
swiftlyasnotto
knowthatIwaslivingthem.
Ibeganbyborrowingfiveorsixthousandfrancsonmy
littlecapital,
andwiththisItooktogambling.Sincegamblinghouses
weredestroyed
gamblinggoesoneverywhere.Formerly,whenonewentto
Frascati,one
hadthechanceofmakingafortune;oneplayedagainst
money,andif
onelost,therewasalwaystheconsolationofsaying
thatonemighthave
gained;whereasnow,exceptintheclubs,wherethere
isstillacertain
rigourinregardtopayments,oneisalmostcertain,
themomentone
gainsaconsiderablesum,nottoreceiveit.Youwill
readilyunderstand
why.Gamblingisonlylikelytobecarriedonbyyoung

peopleverymuch
inneedofmoneyandnotpossessingthefortune
necessaryforsupporting
thelifetheylead;theygamble,then,andwiththis
result;orelse
theygain,andthenthosewholoseservetopayfor
theirhorses
andmistresses,whichisverydisagreeable.Debtsare
contracted,
acquaintancesbegunaboutagreentableendbyquarrels
inwhichlife
orhonourcomestogrief;andthoughonemaybean
honestman,onefinds
oneselfruinedbyveryhonestmen,whoseonlydefectis
thattheyhave
nottwohundredthousandfrancsayear.
Ineednottellyouofthosewhocheatatplay,andof
howonehearsone
finedayoftheirhastydisappearanceandtardy
condemnation.
Iflungmyselfintothisrapid,noisy,andvolcanic
life,whichhad
formerlyterrifiedmewhenIthoughtofit,andwhich
hadbecomefor
methenecessarycomplementofmyloveforMarguerite.
WhatelsecouldI
havedone?
ThenightsthatIdidnotspendintheRued'Antin,if
Ihadspentthem
aloneinmyownroom,Icouldnothaveslept.Jealousy
wouldhavekept
meawake,andinflamedmybloodandmythoughts;while
gamblinggavea
newturntothefeverwhichwouldotherwisehavepreyed
uponmyheart,
andfixedituponapassionwhichlaidholdonmein
spiteofmyself,
untilthehourstruckwhenImightgotomymistress.

Then,andbythis
Iknewtheviolenceofmylove,Ileftthetable
withoutamoment's
hesitation,whetherIwaswinningorlosing,pitying
thosewhomIleft
behindbecausetheywouldnot,likeme,findtheirreal
happinessin
leavingit.Forthemostofthem,gamblingwasa
necessity;forme,it
wasaremedy.FreeofMarguerite,Ishouldhavebeen
freeofgambling.
Thus,inthemidstofallthat,Ipreserveda
considerableamountof
selfpossession;IlostonlywhatIwasabletopay,
andgainedonly
whatIshouldhavebeenabletolose.
Fortherest,chancewasonmyside.Imadenodebts,
andIspentthree
timesasmuchmoneyaswhenIdidnotgamble.Itwas
impossibleto
resistanexistencewhichgavemeaneasymeansof
satisfyingthe
thousandcapricesofMarguerite.Asforher,she
continuedtolovemeas
much,orevenmorethanever.
AsItoldyou,Ibeganbybeingallowedtostayonly
frommidnightto
sixo'clock,thenIwasaskedsometimestoaboxinthe
theatre,then
shesometimescametodinewithme.OnemorningIdid
notgotilleight,
andtherecameadaywhenIdidnotgotilltwelve.
But,soonerthanthemoralmetamorphosis,aphysical
metamorphosiscame
aboutinMarguerite.Ihadtakenhercureinhand,and
thepoor
girl,seeingmyaim,obeyedmeinordertoproveher

gratitude.Ihad
succeededwithouteffortortroubleinalmostisolating
herfromher
formerhabits.Mydoctor,whomIhadmadehermeet,had
toldmethat
onlyrestandcalmcouldpreserveherhealth,sothat
inplaceofsupper
andsleeplessnights,Isucceededinsubstitutinga
hygienicregimeand
regularsleep.Inspiteofherself,Margueritegot
accustomedtothis
newexistence,whosesalutaryeffectsshealready
realized.Shebegan
tospendsomeofhereveningsathome,or,ifthe
weatherwasfine,she
wrappedherselfinashawl,putonaveil,andwewent
onfoot,like
twochildren,inthedimalleysoftheChampsElysees.
Shewouldcome
intired,takealightsupper,andgotobedaftera
littlemusicor
reading,whichshehadneverbeenusedtodo.The
cough,which
everytimethatIhearditseemedtogothroughmy
chest,hadalmost
completelydisappeared.
Attheendofsixweeksthecountwasentirelygiven
up,andonlythe
dukeobligedmetoconcealmyliaisonwithMarguerite,
andevenhewas
sentawaywhenIwasthere,underthepretextthatshe
wasasleepand
hadgivenordersthatshewasnottobeawakened.
ThehabitortheneedofseeingmewhichMargueritehad
nowcontracted
hadthisgoodresult:thatitforcedmetoleavethe
gamingtablejust
atthemomentwhenanadroitgamblerwouldhaveleft
it.Settlingone

thingagainstanother,Ifoundmyselfinpossessionof
sometenthousand
francs,whichseemedtomeaninexhaustiblecapital.
ThetimeoftheyearwhenIwasaccustomedtojoinmy
fatherandsister
hadnowarrived,andIdidnotgo;bothofthemwrote
tomefrequently,
beggingmetocome.TotheselettersIrepliedasbest
Icould,always
repeatingthatIwasquitewellandthatIwasnotin
needofmoney,two
thingswhich,Ithought,wouldconsolemyfatherformy
delayinpaying
himmyannualvisit.
Justthen,onefinedayinsummer,Margueritewas
awakenedbythe
sunlightpouringintoherroom,and,jumpingoutof
bed,askedmeifI
wouldtakeherintothecountryforthewholeday.
WesentforPrudence,andallthreesetoff,after
Margueritehadgiven
Nanineorderstotellthedukethatshehadtaken
advantageofthefine
daytogointothecountrywithMme.Duvernoy.
BesidesthepresenceofMme.Duvernoybeingneedfulon
accountofthe
oldduke,Prudencewasoneofthosewomenwhoseemmade
onpurposefor
daysinthecountry.Withherunchanginggoodhumour
andhereternal
appetite,sheneverleftadullmomenttothosewhom
shewaswith,and
wasperfectlyhappyinorderingeggs,cherries,milk,
stewedrabbit,and
alltherestofthetraditionallunchinthecountry.
Wehadnowonlytodecidewhereweshouldgo.Itwas

oncemorePrudence
whosettledthedifficulty.
"Doyouwanttogototherealcountry?"sheasked.
"Yes."
"Well,letusgotoBougival,atthePointduJour,at
WidowArnould's.
Armand,orderanopencarriage."
AnhourandahalflaterwewereatWidowArnould's.
Perhapsyouknowtheinn,whichisahotelonweekdays
andateagarden
onSundays.Thereisamagnificentviewfromthe
garden,whichisat
theheightofanordinaryfirstfloor.Ontheleftthe
AqueductofMarly
closesinthehorizon,ontherightonelooksacross
billafterhill;
theriver,almostwithoutcurrentatthatspot,unrolls
itselflikea
largewhitewateredribbonbetweentheplainofthe
Gabillonsandthe
islandofCroissy,lulledeternallybythetremblingof
itshighpoplars
andthemurmurofitswillows.Beyond,distinctinthe
sunlight,rise
littlewhitehouses,withredroofs,andmanufactories,
which,atthat
distance,putanadmirablefinishtothelandscape.
Beyondthat,Paris
inthemist!AsPrudencehadtoldus,itwasthereal
country,and,I
mustadd,itwasareallunch.
ItisnotonlyoutofgratitudeforthehappinessIowe
it,but
Bougival,inspiteofitshorriblename,isoneofthe
prettiestplaces

thatitispossibletoimagine.Ihavetravelledagood
deal,andseen
muchgranderthings,butnonemorecharmingthanthis
littlevillage
gailyseatedatthefootofthehillwhichprotectsit.
Mme.Arnouldaskedusifwewouldtakeaboat,and
Margueriteand
Prudenceacceptedjoyously.
Peoplehavealwaysassociatedthecountrywithlove,
andtheyhavedone
well;nothingaffordssofineaframeforthewoman
whomonelovesas
thebluesky,theodours,theflowers,thebreeze,the
shiningsolitude
offields,orwoods.Howevermuchonelovesawoman,
whateverconfidence
onemayhaveinher,whatevercertaintyherpastmay
offerusastoher
future,oneisalwaysmoreorlessjealous.Ifyouhave
beeninlove,
youmusthavefelttheneedofisolatingfromthis
worldthebeingin
whomyouwouldlivewholly.Itseemsasif,however
indifferentshemay
betohersurroundings,thewomanwhomonelovesloses
somethingofher
perfumeandofherunityatthecontactofmenand
things.Asforme,I
experiencedthatmorethanmost.Minewasnotan
ordinarylove;Iwas
asmuchinloveasanordinarycreaturecouldbe,but
withMarguerite
Gautier;thatistosay,thatatParis,ateverystep,
Imightelbow
themanwhohadalreadybeenherloverorwhowasabout
to,whilein
thecountry,surroundedbypeoplewhomwehadnever
seenandwhohadno
concernwithus,alonewithnatureinthespringtime

oftheyear,that
annualpardon,andshutofffromthenoiseofthecity,
Icouldhidemy
love,andlovewithoutshameorfear.
Thecourtesandisappearedlittlebylittle.Ihadbyme
ayoungand
beautifulwoman,whomIloved,andwholovedme,and
whowascalled
Marguerite;thepasthadnomorerealityandthefuture
nomoreclouds.
Thesunshoneuponmymistressasitmighthaveshone
uponthepurest
bride.Wewalkedtogetherinthosecharmingspotswhich
seemedtohave
beenmadeonpurposetorecalltheversesofLamartine
ortosingthe
melodiesofScudo.Margueritewasdressedinwhite,she
leanedonmy
arm,sayingovertomeagainunderthestarryskythe
wordsshehadsaid
tomethedaybefore,andfarofftheworldwentonits
way,without
darkeningwithitsshadowtheradiantpictureofour
youthandlove.
Thatwasthedreamthatthehotsunbroughttomethat
daythroughthe
leavesofthetrees,as,lyingonthegrassofthe
islandonwhichwe
hadlanded,Iletmythoughtwander,freefromthe
humanlinksthathad
boundit,gatheringtoitselfeveryhopethatcamein
itsway.
AddtothisthatfromtheplacewhereIwasIcouldsee
ontheshore
acharminglittlehouseoftwostories,witha
semicircularrailing;
throughtherailing,infrontofthehouse,agreen
lawn,smoothas

velvet,andbehindthehousealittlewoodfullof
mysteriousretreats,
wherethemossmusteffaceeachmorningthepathway
thathadbeen
madethedaybefore.Climbingflowersclungaboutthe
doorwayofthis
uninhabitedhouse,mountingashighasthefirststory.
IlookedatthehousesolongthatIbeganbythinking
ofitasmine,so
perfectlydiditembodythedreamthatIwasdreaming;
IsawMarguerite
andmyselfthere,bydayinthelittlewoodthat
coveredthehillside,
intheeveningseatedonthegrass,andIaskedmyself
ifearthly
creatureshadeverbeensohappyasweshouldbe.
"Whataprettyhouse!"Margueritesaidtome,asshe
followedthe
directionofmygazeandperhapsofmythought.
"Where?"askedPrudence.
"Yonder,"andMargueritepointedtothehousein
question.
"Ah,delicious!"repliedPrudence."Doyoulikeit?"
"Verymuch."
"Well,telltheduketotakeitforyou;hewoulddo
so,Iamsure.I'll
seeaboutitifyoulike."
Margueritelookedatme,asiftoaskmewhatI
thought.Mydream
vanishedatthelastwordsofPrudence,andbroughtme
backtoreality
sobrutallythatIwasstillstunnedwiththefall.

"Yes,yes,anexcellentidea,"Istammered,notknowing
whatIwas
saying.
"Well,Iwillarrangethat,"saidMarguerite,freeing
myhand,and
interpretingmywordsaccordingtoherowndesire."Let
usgoandseeif
itistolet."
Thehousewasempty,andtoletfortwothousand
francs.
"Wouldyoubehappyhere?"shesaidtome.
"AmIsureofcominghere?"
"AndforwhomelseshouldIburymyselfhere,ifnot
foryou?"
"Well,then,Marguerite,letmetakeitmyself."
"Youaremad;notonlyisitunnecessary,butitwould
bedangerous.You
knowperfectlywellthatIhavenorighttoacceptit
savefromoneman.
Letmealone,bigbaby,andsaynothing."
"Thatmeans,"saidPrudence,"thatwhenIhavetwodays
freeIwillcome
andspendthemwithyou."
Weleftthehouse,andstartedonourreturntoParis,
talkingover
thenewplan.IheldMargueriteinmyarms,andasI
gotdownfromthe
carriage,Ihadalreadybeguntolookuponher
arrangementwithless
criticaleyes.

Chapter17
NextdayMargueritesentmeawayveryearly,saying
thatthedukewas
comingatanearlyhour,andpromisingtowritetome
themomenthe
went,andtomakeanappointmentfortheevening.In
thecourseofthe
dayIreceivedthisnote:
"IamgoingtoBougivalwiththeduke;beatPrudence's
tonightat
eight."
AttheappointedhourMargueritecametomeatMme.
Duvernoy's."Well,
itisallsettled,"shesaid,assheentered."The
houseistaken?"
askedPrudence."Yes;heagreedatonce."
Ididnotknowtheduke,butIfeltashamedof
deceivinghim.
"Butthatisnotall,"continuedMarguerite.
"Whatelseisthere?"
"IhavebeenseeingaboutaplaceforArmandtostay."
"Inthesamehouse?"askedPrudence,laughing.
"No,atPointduJour,wherewehaddinner,theduke
andI.Whilehe
wasadmiringtheview,IaskedMme.Arnould(sheis
calledMme.Arnould,
isn'tshe?)iftherewereanysuitablerooms,andshe
showedmejustthe
verything:salon,anteroom,andbedroom,atsixty
francsamonth;the
wholeplacefurnishedinawaytodiverta

hypochondriac.Itookit.Was
Iright?"Iflungmyarmsaroundherneckandkissed
her.
"Itwillbecharming,"shecontinued."Youhavethekey
ofthelittle
door,andIhavepromisedthedukethekeyofthefront
door,which
hewillnottake,becausehewillcomeduringtheday
whenhecomes.I
think,betweenourselves,thatheisenchantedwitha
capricewhichwill
keepmeoutofParisforatime,andsosilencethe
objectionsofhis
family.However,hehasaskedmehowI,lovingParisas
Ido,couldmake
upmymindtoburymyselfinthecountry.Itoldhim
thatIwasill,and
thatIwantedrest.Heseemedtohavesomedifficulty
inbelievingme.
Thepooroldmanisalwaysonthewatch.Wemusttake
everyprecaution,
mydearArmand,forhewillhavemewatchedwhileIam
there;andit
isn'tonlythequestionofhistakingahouseforme,
buthehasmy
debtstopay,andunluckilyIhaveplenty.Doesall
thatsuityou?"
"Yes,"Ianswered,tryingtoquietthescrupleswhich
thiswayofliving
awokeinmefromtimetotime.
"Wewentalloverthehouse,andweshallhave
everythingperfect.The
dukeisgoingtolookaftereverysinglething.Ah,my
dear,"sheadded,
kissingme,"you'reinluck;it'samillionairewho
makesyourbedfor
you."

"Andwhenshallyoumoveintothehouse?"inquired
Prudence.
"Assoonaspossible."
"Willyoutakeyourhorsesandcarriage?"
"Ishalltakethewholehouse,andyoucanlookafter
myplacewhileI
amaway."
AweeklaterMargueritewassettledinhercountry
house,andIwas
installedatPointduJour.
ThenbegananexistencewhichIshallhavesome
difficultyindescribing
toyou.AtfirstMargueritecouldnotbreakentirely
withherformer
habits,and,asthehousewasalwaysenfete,allthe
womenwhom
sheknewcametoseeher.Forawholemonththerewas
notadaywhen
Margueritehadnoteightortenpeopletomeals.
Prudence,onherside,
broughtdownallthepeoplesheknew,anddidthe
honoursofthehouse
asifthehousebelongedtoher.
Theduke'smoneypaidforallthat,asyoumayimagine;
butfromtime
totimePrudencecametome,askingforanotefora
thousandfrancs,
professedlyonbehalfofMarguerite.YouknowIhadwon
somemoneyat
gambling;Ithereforeimmediatelyhandedoverto
Prudencewhatshe
askedforMarguerite,andfearinglestsheshould
requiremorethanI
possessed,IborrowedatParisasumequaltothat
whichIhadalready

borrowedandpaidback.Iwasthenoncemorein
possessionofsometen
thousandfrancs,withoutreckoningmyallowance.
However,Marguerite's
pleasureinseeingherfriendswasalittlemoderated
whenshesawthe
expensewhichthatpleasureentailed,andespecially
thenecessityshe
wassometimesinofaskingmeformoney.Theduke,who
hadtakenthe
houseinorderthatMargueritemightrestthere,no
longervisitedit,
fearingtofindhimselfinthemidstofalargeand
merrycompany,by
whomhedidnotwishtobeseen.Thiscameabout
throughhishavingonce
arrivedtodineteteatetewithMarguerite,andhaving
fallenupon
apartyoffifteen,whowerestillatlunchatanhour
whenhewas
preparedtositdowntodinner.Hehadunsuspectingly
openedthe
diningroomdoor,andhadbeengreetedbyaburstof
laughter,andhad
hadtoretireprecipitatelybeforetheimpertinent
mirthofthewomen
whowereassembledthere.
Margueriterosefromtable,andjoinedthedukeinthe
nextroom,where
shetried,asfaraspossible,toinducehimtoforget
theincident,but
theoldman,woundedinhisdignity,boreheragrudge
forit,andcould
notforgiveher.Hesaidtoher,somewhatcruelly,that
hewastiredof
payingforthefolliesofawomanwhocouldnoteven
havehimtreated
withrespectunderhisownroof,andhewentawayin
greatindignation.

Sincethatdayhehadneverbeenheardof.
InvainMargueritedismissedherguests,changedher
wayoflife;
thedukewasnottobeheardof.Iwasthegainerin
so,farthatmy
mistressnowbelongedtomemorecompletely,andmy
dreamwasatlength
realized.Margueritecouldnotbewithoutme.Not
caringwhattheresult
mightbe,shepubliclyproclaimedourliaison,andI
hadcometolive
entirelyatherhouse.Theservantsaddressedme
officiallyastheir
master.
PrudencehadstrictlysermonizedMargueriteinregard
tohernewmanner
oflife;butshehadrepliedthatshelovedme,that
shecouldnotlive
withoutme,andthat,happenwhatmight,shewouldnot
sacrificethe
pleasureofhavingmeconstantlywithher,addingthat
thosewhowere
notsatisfiedwiththisarrangementwerefreetostay
away.Somuch
IhadheardonedaywhenPrudencehadsaidto
Margueritethatshehad
somethingveryimportanttotellher,andIhad
listenedatthedoorof
theroomintowhichtheyhadshutthemselves.
Notlongafter,Prudencereturnedagain.Iwasatthe
otherendofthe
gardenwhenshearrived,andshedidnotseeme.Ihad
nodoubt,from
thewayinwhichMargueritecametomeether,that
anothersimilar
conversationwasgoingtotakeplace,andIwasanxious
tohearwhat
itwasabout.Thetwowomenshutthemselvesintoa

boudoir,andIput
myselfwithinhearing.
"Well?"saidMarguerite.
"Well,Ihaveseentheduke."
"Whatdidhesay?"
"Thathewouldgladlyforgiveyouinregardtothe
scenewhichtook
place,butthathehaslearnedthatyouarepublicly
livingwithM.
ArmandDuval,andthathewillneverforgivethat.'Let
Margueriteleave
theyoungman,'hesaidtome,'and,asinthepast,I
willgiveherall
thatsherequires;ifnot,letherasknothingmore
fromme.'"
"Andyoureplied?"
"ThatIwouldreporthisdecisiontoyou,andI
promisedhimthatI
wouldbringyouintoamorereasonableframeofmind.
Onlythink,my
dearchild,ofthepositionthatyouarelosing,and
thatArmandcan
nevergiveyou.Helovesyouwithallhissoul,buthe
hasnofortune
capableofsupplyingyourneeds,andhewillbebound
toleaveyouone
day,whenitwillbetoolateandwhenthedukewill
refusetodoany
moreforyou.WouldyoulikemetospeaktoArmand?"
Margueriteseemedtobethinking,forsheanswered
nothing.Myheart
beatviolentlywhileIwaitedforherreply.
"No,"sheanswered,"IwillnotleaveArmand,andI

willnotconcealthe
factthatIamlivingwithhim.Itisfollynodoubt,
butIlovehim.
Whatwouldyouhavemedo?Andthen,nowthathehas
gotaccustomedto
bealwayswithme,hewouldsuffertoocruellyifhe
hadtoleavemeso
muchasanhouraday.Besides,Ihavenotsuchalong
timetolivethat
Ineedmakemyselfmiserableinordertopleaseanold
manwhosevery
sightmakesmefeelold.Lethimkeephismoney;Iwill
dowithoutit."
"Butwhatwillyoudo?"
"Idon'tintheleastknow."
Prudencewasnodoubtgoingtomakesomereply,butI
enteredsuddenly
andflungmyselfatMarguerite'sfeet,coveringher
handswithtearsin
myjoyatbeingthusloved.
"Mylifeisyours,Marguerite;youneedthismanno
longer.AmInot
here?ShallIeverleaveyou,andcanIeverrepayyou
forthehappiness
thatyougiveme?Nomorebarriers,myMarguerite;we
love;whatmatters
alltherest?"
"Ohyes,Iloveyou,myArmand,"shemurmured,putting
hertwoarms
aroundmyneck."IloveyouasIneverthoughtIshould
everlove.We
willbehappy;wewilllivequietly,andIwillsay
goodbyeforeverto
thelifeforwhichInowblush.Youwon'teverreproach
meforthepast?
Tellme!"

Tearschokedmyvoice.Icouldonlyreplybyclasping
Margueritetomy
heart.
"Well,"saidshe,turningtoPrudence,andspeakingin
abrokenvoice,
"youcanreportthisscenetotheduke,andyoucanadd
thatwehaveno
longerneedofhim."
Fromthatdayforththedukewasneverreferredto.
Margueritewasno
longerthesamewomanthatIhadknown.Sheavoided
everythingthat
mightrecalltomethelifewhichshehadbeenleading
whenIfirst
mether.Neverdidwifeorsistersurroundhusbandor
brotherwith
suchlovingcareasshehadforme.Hernaturewas
morbidlyopentoall
impressionsandaccessibletoallsentiments.Shehad
brokenequally
withherfriendsandwithherways,withherwordsand
withher
extravagances.Anyonewhohadseenusleavingthe
housetogoonthe
riverinthecharminglittleboatwhichIhadbought
wouldneverhave
believedthatthewomandressedinwhite,wearinga
strawhat,and
carryingonherarmalittlesilkpelissetoprotect
heragainstthe
dampoftheriver,wasthatMargueriteGautierwho,
onlyfourmonths
ago,hadbeenthetalkofthetownfortheluxuryand
scandalofher
existence.
Alas,wemadehastetobehappy,asifweknewthatwe
werenottobe

happylong.
FortwomonthswehadnotevenbeentoParis.Noone
cametoseeus,
exceptPrudenceandJulieDuprat,ofwhomIhavespoken
toyou,andto
whomMargueritewasafterwardtogivethetouching
narrativethatIhave
there.
Ipassedwholedaysatthefeetofmymistress.We
openedthewindows
uponthegarden,and,aswewatchedthesummerripening
initsflowers
andundertheshadowofthetrees,webreathedtogether
thattruelife
whichneitherMargueritenorIhadeverknownbefore.
Herdelightinthesmallestthingswaslikethatofa
child.Therewere
dayswhensheraninthegarden,likeachildoften,
afterabutterfly
oradragonfly.Thiscourtesanwhohadcostmoremoney
inbouquetsthan
wouldhavekeptawholefamilyincomfort,would
sometimessitonthe
grassforanhour,examiningthesimpleflowerwhose
nameshebore.
ItwasatthistimethatshereadManonLescaut,over
andoveragain.
Ifoundherseveraltimesmakingnotesinthebook,and
shealways
declaredthatwhenawomanloves,shecannotdoas
Manondid.
Thedukewrotetohertwoorthreetimes.She
recognisedthewritingand
gavemetheletterswithoutreadingthem.Sometimesthe
termsofthese
lettersbroughttearstomyeyes.Hehadimaginedthat

byclosinghis
pursetoMarguerite,hewouldbringherbacktohim;
butwhenhehad
perceivedtheuselessnessofthesemeans,hecouldhold
outnolonger;
hewroteandaskedthathemightseeheragain,as
before,nomatteron
whatconditions.
Ireadtheseurgentandrepeatedletters,andtorethem
inpieces,
withouttellingMargueritewhattheycontainedand
withoutadvisingher
toseetheoldmanagain,thoughIwashalfinclined
to,somuchdidI
pityhim,butIwasafraidlest,ifIsoadvisedher
sheshouldthink
thatIwishedtheduke,notmerelytocomeandseeher
again,butto
takeovertheexpensesofthehouse;Ifeared,above
all,thatshemight
thinkmecapableofshirkingtheresponsibilitiesof
everyconsequence
towhichherloveformemightleadher.
Itthuscameaboutthattheduke,receivingnoreply,
ceasedtowrite,
andthatMargueriteandIcontinuedtolivetogether
withoutgivinga
thoughttothefuture.

Chapter18
Itwouldbedifficulttogiveyouallthedetailsof
ournewlife.It
wasmadeupofaseriesoflittlechildishevents,
charmingforusbut
insignificanttoanyoneelse.Youknowwhatitisto
beinlovewith

awoman,youknowhowitcutsshortthedays,andwith
whatloving
listlessnessonedriftsintothemorrow.Youknowthat
forgetfulnessof
everythingwhichcomesofaviolentconfident,
reciprocatedlove.Every
beingwhoisnotthebelovedoneseemsauselessbeing
increation.One
regretshavingcastscrapsofone'shearttoother
women,andonecan
notbelieveinthepossibilityofeverpressinganother
handthanthat
whichoneholdsbetweenone'shands.Themindadmits
neitherworknor
remembrance;nothing,inshort,whichcandistractit
fromtheone
thoughtinwhichitisceaselesslyabsorbed.Everyday
onediscoversin
one'smistressanewcharmandunknowndelights.
Existenceitselfisbut
theunceasingaccomplishmentofanunchangingdesire;
thesoulisbut
thevestalchargedtofeedthesacredfireoflove.
Weoftenwentatnighttimetositinthelittlewood
abovethehouse;
therewelistenedtothecheerfulharmoniesofevening,
bothofus
thinkingofthecominghourswhichshouldleaveusto
oneanothertill
thedawnofday.Atothertimeswedidnotgetupall
day;wedidnot
evenletthesunlightenterourroom.
Thecurtainswerehermeticallyclosed,andforamoment
theexternal
worlddidnotexistforus.Naninealonehadtheright
toopenourdoor,
butonlytobringinourmealsandeventhesewetook
withoutgetting
up,interruptingthemwithlaughterandgaiety.Tothat

succeededa
briefsleep,for,disappearingintothedepthsofour
love,wewerelike
twodiverswhoonlycometothesurfacetotakebreath.
Nevertheless,Isurprisedmomentsofsadness,even
tears,inMarguerite;
Iaskedherthecauseofhertrouble,andsheanswered:
"Ourloveisnotlikeotherloves,myArmand.Youlove
measifIhad
neverbelongedtoanother,andItremblelestlateron,
repentingof
yourlove,andaccusingmeofmypast,youshouldlet
mefallbackinto
thatlifefromwhichyouhavetakenme.Ithinkthat
nowthatIhave
tastedofanotherlife,IshoulddieifIwentbackto
theoldone.Tell
methatyouwillneverleaveme!"
"Iswearit!"
Atthesewordsshelookedatmeasiftoreadinmy
eyeswhethermyoath
wassincere;thenflungherselfintomyarms,and,
hidingherheadinmy
bosom,saidtome:"Youdon'tknowhowmuchIlove
you!"
Oneevening,seatedonthebalconyoutsidethewindow,
welookedatthe
moonwhichseemedtorisewithdifficultyoutofits
bedofclouds,
andwelistenedtothewindviolentlyrustlingthe
trees;weheldeach
other'shands,andforawholequarterofanhourwe
hadnotspoken,
whenMargueritesaidtome:
"Winterisathand.Wouldyoulikeforustogo

abroad?"
"Where?"
"ToItaly."
"Youaretiredofhere?"
"Iamafraidofthewinter;Iamparticularlyafraidof
yourreturnto
Paris."
"Why?"
"Formanyreasons."
Andshewentonabruptly,withoutgivingmeherreasons
forfears:
"Willyougoabroad?IwillsellallthatIhave;we
willgoandlive
there,andtherewillbenothingleftofwhatIwas;no
onewillknow
whoIam.Willyou?"
"Byallmeans,ifyoulike,Marguerite,letustravel,"
Isaid."But
whereisthenecessityofsellingthingswhichyouwill
begladofwhen
wereturn?Ihavenotalargeenoughfortunetoaccept
suchasacrifice;
butIhaveenoughforustobeabletotravel
splendidlyforfiveorsix
months,ifthatwillamuseyoutheleastintheworld."
"Afterall,no,"shesaid,leavingthewindowandgoing
tositdown
onthesofaattheotherendoftheroom."Whyshould
wespendmoney
abroad?Icostyouenoughalready,here."

"Youreproachme,Marguerite;itisn'tgenerous."
"Forgiveme,myfriend,"shesaid,givingmeherhand.
"Thisthunder
weathergetsonmynerves;IdonotsaywhatIintend
tosay."
Andafterembracingmeshefellintoalongreverie.
Scenesofthiskindoftentookplace,andthoughI
couldnotdiscover
theircause,IcouldnotfailtoseeinMarguerite
signsofdisquietude
inregardtothefuture.Shecouldnotdoubtmylove,
whichincreased
daybyday,andyetIoftenfoundhersad,without
beingabletogetany
explanationofthereason,exceptsomephysicalcause.
Fearingthatso
monotonousalifewasbeginningtowearyher,I
proposedreturningto
Paris;butshealwaysrefused,assuringmethatshe
couldnotbeso
happyanywhereasinthecountry.
Prudencenowcamebutrarely;butsheoftenwrote
letterswhichInever
askedtosee,though,everytimetheycame,theyseemed
topreoccupy
Margueritedeeply.Ididnotknowwhattothink.
OnedayMargueritewasinherroom.Ientered.Shewas
writing."Towhom
areyouwriting?"Iasked."ToPrudence.Doyouwantto
seewhatIam
writing?"
Ihadahorrorofanythingthatmightlooklike
suspicion,andI
answeredthatIhadnodesiretoknowwhatshewas
writing;andyet

Iwascertainthatletterwouldhaveexplainedtome
thecauseofher
sadness.
Nextdaytheweatherwassplendid.'Margueriteproposed
tometo
taketheboatandgoasfarastheislandofCroissy.
Sheseemedvery
cheerful;whenwegotbackitwasfiveo'clock.
"Mme.Duvernoyhasbeenhere,"saidNanine,asshesaw
usenter."She
hasgoneagain?"askedMarguerite.
"Yes,madame,inthecarriage;shesaiditwas
arranged."
"Quiteright,"saidMargueritesharply."Servethe
dinner."
TwodaysafterwardtherecamealetterfromPrudence,
andfora
fortnightMargueriteseemedtohavegotridofher
mysteriousgloom,
forwhichsheconstantlyaskedmyforgiveness,nowthat
itnolonger
existed.Still,thecarriagedidnotreturn.
"HowisitthatPrudencedoesnotsendyoubackyour
carriage?"Iasked
oneday.
"Oneofthehorsesisill,andtherearesomerepairs
tobedone.Itis
bettertohavethatdonewhilewearehere,anddon't
needacarriage,
thantowaittillwegetbacktoParis."
Prudencecametwodaysafterward,andconfirmedwhat
Margueritehad
said.Thetwowomenwentforawalkinthegarden,and

whenIjoined
themtheychangedtheconversation.Thatnight,asshe
wasgoing,
PrudencecomplainedofthecoldandaskedMargueriteto
lendhera
shawl.
Soamonthpassed,andallthetimeMargueritewasmore
joyousandmore
affectionatethansheeverhadbeen.Nevertheless,the
carriagedidnot
return,theshawlhadnotbeensentback,andIbegan
tobeanxiousin
spiteofmyself,andasIknewinwhichdrawer
MargueriteputPrudence's
letters,Itookadvantageofamomentwhenshewasat
theotherendof
thegarden,wenttothedrawer,andtriedtoopenit;
invain,forit
waslocked.WhenIopenedthedrawerinwhichthe
trinketsanddiamonds
wereusuallykept,theseopenedwithoutresistance,but
thejewelcases
haddisappeared,alongwiththeircontentsnodoubt.
Asharpfearpenetratedmyheart.Imightindeedask
Margueriteforthe
truthinregardtothesedisappearances,butitwas
certainthatshe
wouldnotconfessit.
"MygoodMarguerite,"Isaidtoher,"Iamgoingtoask
yourpermission
togotoParis.Theydonotknowmyaddress,andI
expectthereare
lettersfrommyfatherwaitingforme.Ihavenodoubt
heisconcerned;
Ioughttoanswerhim."
"Go,myfriend,"shesaid;"butbebackearly."Iwent
straightto

Prudence.
"Come,"saidI,withoutbeatingaboutthebush,"tell
mefrankly,where
areMarguerite'shorses?"
"Sold."
"Theshawl?"
"Sold."
"Thediamonds?"
"Pawned."
"Andwhohassoldandpawnedthem?"
"Whydidyounottellme?"
"BecauseMargueritemademepromisenotto."
"Andwhydidyounotaskmeformoney?"
"Becauseshewouldn'tletme."
"Andwherehasthismoneygone?"
"Inpayments."
"Isshemuchindebt?"
"Thirtythousandfrancs,orthereabouts.Ah,mydear
fellow,didn't
Itellyou?Youwouldn'tbelieveme;nowyouare
convinced.The
upholstererwhomthedukehadagreedtosettlewithwas
shownoutofthe
housewhenhepresentedhimself,andthedukewrote
nextdaytosaythat
hewouldanswerfornothinginregardtoMlle.Gautier.

Thismanwanted
hismoney;hewasgivenpartpaymentoutofthefew
thousandfrancsthat
Igotfromyou;thensomekindsoulswarnedhimthat
hisdebtorhadbeen
abandonedbythedukeandwaslivingwithapenniless
youngman;the
othercreditorsweretoldthesame;theyaskedfor
theirmoney,and
seizedsomeofthegoods.Margueritewantedtosell
everything,butit
wastoolate,andbesidesIshouldhaveopposedit.But
itwasnecessary
topay,andinordernottoaskyouformoney,shesold
herhorsesand
hershawls,andpawnedherjewels.Wouldyouliketo
seethereceipts
andthepawntickets?"
AndPrudenceopenedthedrawerandshowedmethe
papers.
"Ah,youthink,"shecontinued,withtheinsistenceof
awomanwhocan
say,Iwasrightafterall,"ah,youthinkitisenough
tobeinlove,
andtogointothecountryandleadadreamy,pastoral
life.No,my
friend,no.Bythesideofthatideallife,thereisa
materiallife,
andthepurestresolutionsareheldtoearthbythreads
whichseem
slightenough,butwhichareofiron,noteasilytobe
broken.If
Margueritehasnotbeenunfaithfultoyoutwentytimes,
itisbecause
shehasanexceptionalnature.Itisnotmyfaultfor
notadvising
herto,forIcouldn'tbeartoseethepoorgirl
strippingherself
ofeverything.Shewouldn't;sherepliedthatsheloved

you,andshe
wouldn'tbeunfaithfultoyouforanythinginthe
world.Allthatis
verypretty,verypoetical,butonecan'tpayone's
creditorsinthat
coin,andnowshecan'tfreeherselffromdebt,unless
shecanraise
thirtythousandfrancs."
"Allright,Iwillprovidethatamount."
"Youwillborrowit?"
"Goodheavens!Why,yes!"
"Afinethingthatwillbetodo;youwillfallout
withyourfather,
crippleyourresources,andonedoesn'tfindthirty
thousandfrancsfrom
onedaytoanother.Believeme,mydearArmand,Iknow
womenbetterthan
youdo;donotcommitthisfolly;youwillbesorryfor
itoneday.Be
reasonable.Idon'tadviseyoutoleaveMarguerite,but
livewithher
asyoudidatthebeginning.Letherfindthemeansto
getoutofthis
difficulty.Thedukewillcomebackinalittlewhile.
TheComtede
N.,ifshewouldtakehim,hetoldmeyesterdayeven,
wouldpayallher
debts,andgiveherfourorfivethousandfrancsa
month.Hehastwo
hundredthousandayear.Itwouldbeapositionfor
her,whileyou
willcertainlybeobligedtoleaveher.Don'twaittill
youareruined,
especiallyastheComtedeN.isafool,andnothing
wouldpreventyour
stillbeingMarguerite'slover.Shewouldcryalittle
atthebeginning,

butshewouldcometoaccustomherselftoit,andyou
wouldthankme
onedayforwhatyouhaddone.ImaginethatMarguerite
ismarried,and
deceivethehusband;thatisall.Ihavealreadytold
youallthis
once,onlyatthattimeitwasmerelyadvice,andnow
itisalmosta
necessity."
WhatPrudencesaidwascruellytrue.
"Thisishowitis,"shewenton,puttingawaythe
papersshehadjust
shownme;"womenlikeMargueritealwaysforeseethat
someonewilllove
them,neverthattheywilllove;otherwisetheywould
putasidemoney,
andatthirtytheycouldaffordtheluxuryofhavinga
loverfor
nothing.IfIhadonlyknownoncewhatIknownow!In
short,saynothing
toMarguerite,andbringherbacktoParis.Youhave
livedwithher
aloneforfourorfivemonths;thatisquiteenough.
Shutyoureyesnow;
thatisallthatanyoneasksofyou.Attheendofa
fortnightshewill
taketheComtedeN.,andshewillsaveupduringthe
winter,andnext
summeryouwillbeginoveragain.Thatishowthings
aredone,mydear
fellow!"
AndPrudenceappearedtobeenchantedwithheradvice,
whichIrefused
indignantly.
Notonlymyloveandmydignitywouldnotletmeact
thus,butIwas
certainthat,feelingasshedidnow,Margueritewould

dieratherthan
acceptanotherlover.
"Enoughjoking,"IsaidtoPrudence;"tellmeexactly
howmuch
Margueriteisinneedof."
"Ihavetoldyou:thirtythousandfrancs."
"Andwhendoessherequirethissum?"
"Beforetheendoftwomonths."
"Sheshallhaveit."
Prudenceshruggedhershoulders.
"Iwillgiveittoyou,"Icontinued,"butyoumust
sweartomethatyou
willnottellMargueritethatIhavegivenittoyou."
"Don'tbeafraid."
"Andifshesendsyouanythingelsetosellorpawn,
letmeknow."
"Thereisnodanger.Shehasnothingleft."
Iwentstraighttomyownhousetoseeiftherewere
anylettersfrommy
father.Therewerefour.

Chapter19
Inhisfirstthreelettersmyfatherinquiredthecause
ofmysilence;
inthelastheallowedmetoseethathehadheardof
mychangeoflife,
andinformedmethathewasabouttocomeandseeme.

Ihavealwayshadagreatrespectandasincere
affectionformyfather.
IrepliedthatIhadbeentravellingforashorttime,
andbeggedhim
toletmeknowbeforehandwhatdayhewouldarrive,so
thatIcouldbe
theretomeethim.
Igavemyservantmyaddressinthecountry,telling
himtobringme
thefirstletterthatcamewiththepostmarkofC.,
thenIreturnedto
Bougival.
Margueritewaswaitingformeatthegardengate.She
lookedatme
anxiously.Throwingherarmsroundmyneck,shesaidto
me:"Haveyou
seenPrudence?"
"No."
"YouwerealongtimeinParis."
"IfoundlettersfrommyfathertowhichIhadto
reply."
AfewminutesafterwardNanineentered,alloutof
breath.Marguerite
roseandtalkedwithherinwhispers.WhenNaninehad
goneout
Margueritesatdownbymeagainandsaid,takingmy
hand:
"Whydidyoudeceiveme?YouwenttoseePrudence."
"Whotoldyou?"
"Nanine."

"Andhowdidsheknow?"
"Shefollowedyou."
"Youtoldhertofollowme?"
"Yes.Ithoughtthatyoumusthavehadaverystrong
motiveforgoingto
Paris,afternotleavingmeforfourmonths.Iwas
afraidthatsomething
mighthappentoyou,orthatyouwereperhapsgoingto
seeanother
woman."
"Child!"
"NowIamrelieved.Iknowwhatyouhavedone,butI
don'tyetknowwhat
youhavebeentold."
IshowedMargueritemyfather'sletters.
"ThatisnotwhatIamaskingyouabout.WhatIwantto
knowiswhyyou
wenttoseePrudence."
"Toseeher."
"That'salie,myfriend."
"Well,Iwenttoaskherifthehorsewasanybetter,
andifshewanted
yourshawlandyourjewelsanylonger."
Margueriteblushed,butdidnotanswer.
"And,"Icontinued,"Ilearnedwhatyouhaddonewith
yourhorses,
shawls,andjewels."
"Andyouarevexed?"

"Iamvexedthatitneveroccurredtoyoutoaskmefor
whatyouwerein
wantof."
"Inaliaisonlikeours,ifthewomanhasanysenseof
dignityatall,
sheoughttomakeeverypossiblesacrificeratherthan
askherloverfor
moneyandsogiveavenalcharactertoherlove.You
loveme,Iamsure,
butyoudonotknowonhowslightathreaddependsthe
loveonehas
forawomanlikeme.Whoknows?Perhapssomedaywhen
youwerebored
orworriedyouwouldfancyyousawacarefully
concertedplaninour
liaison.Prudenceisachatterbox.WhatneedhadIof
thehorses?Itwas
aneconomytosellthem.Idon'tusethemandIdon't
spendanything
ontheirkeep;ifyouloveme,Iasknothingmore,and
youwillloveme
justasmuchwithouthorses,orshawls,ordiamonds."
Allthatwassaidsonaturallythatthetearscameto
myeyesasI
listened.
"But,mygoodMarguerite,"Ireplied,pressingher
handslovingly,"you
knewthatonedayIshoulddiscoverthesacrificeyou
hadmade,andthat
themomentIdiscovereditIshouldallowitno
longer."
"Butwhy?"
"Because,mydearchild,Icannotallowyouraffection
formeto
depriveyouofevenatrinket.Itooshouldnotlike

youtobeable,
inamomentwhenyouwereboredorworried,tothink
thatifyouwere
livingwithsomebodyelsethosemomentswouldnot
exist;andtorepent,
ifonlyforaminute,oflivingwithme.Inafewdays
yourhorses,
yourdiamonds,andyourshawlsshallbereturnedto
you.Theyareas
necessarytoyouasairistolife,anditmaybe
absurd,butIlikeyou
bettershowythansimple."
"Thenyounolongerloveme."
"Foolishcreature!"
"Ifyoulovedme,youwouldletmeloveyoumyownway;
onthe
contrary,youpersistinonlyseeinginmeawomanto
whomluxuryis
indispensable,andwhomyouthinkyouarealways
obligedtopay.Youare
ashamedtoaccepttheproofofmylove.Inspiteof
yourself,youthink
ofleavingmesomeday,andyouwanttoputyour
disinterestedness
beyondriskofsuspicion.Youareright,myfriend,but
Ihadbetter
hopes."
AndMargueritemadeamotiontorise;Iheldher,and
saidtoher:
"Iwantyoutobehappyandtohavenothingtoreproach
mefor,thatis
all."
"Andwearegoingtobeseparated!"
"Why,Marguerite,whocanseparateus?"Icried.

"You,whowillnotletmetakeyouonyourownlevel,
butinsiston
takingmeonmine;you,whowishmetokeeptheluxury
inthemidstof
whichIhavelived,andsokeepthemoraldistance
whichseparatesus;
you,whodonotbelievethatmyaffectionis
sufficientlydisinterested
tosharewithmewhatyouhave,thoughwecouldlive
happilyenoughon
ittogether,andwouldratherruinyourself,because
youarestill
boundbyafoolishprejudice.Doyoureallythinkthat
Icouldcompare
acarriageanddiamondswithyourlove?Doyouthink
thatmyreal
happinessliesinthetriflesthatmeansomuchwhen
onehasnothing
tolove,butwhichbecometriflingindeedwhenonehas?
Youwillpaymy
debts,realizeyourestate,andthenkeepme?Howlong
willthatlast?
Twoorthreemonths,andthenitwillbetoolateto
livethelifeI
propose,forthenyouwillhavetotakeeverythingfrom
me,andthat
iswhatamanofhonourcannotdo;whilenowyouhave
eightorten
thousandfrancsayear,onwhichweshouldbeableto
live.Iwillsell
therestofwhatIdonotwant,andwiththisaloneI
willmaketwo
thousandfrancsayear.Wewilltakeanicelittleflat
inwhichwecan
bothlive.Inthesummerwewillgointothecountry,
nottoahouse
likethis,buttoahousejustbigenoughfortwo
people.Youare
independent,Iamfree,weareyoung;inheaven'sname,
Armand,donot

drivemebackintothelifeIhadtoleadonce!"
Icouldnotanswer.Tearsofgratitudeandlovefilled
myeyes,andI
flungmyselfintoMarguerite'sarms.
"Iwanted,"shecontinued,"toarrangeeverything
withouttellingyou,
payallmydebts,andtakeanewflat.InOctoberwe
shouldhavebeen
backinParis,andallwouldhavecomeout;butsince
Prudencehas
toldyouall,youwillhavetoagreebeforehand,
insteadofagreeing
afterward.Doyoulovemeenoughforthat?"
Itwasimpossibletoresistsuchdevotion.Ikissedher
handsardently,
andsaid:
"Iwilldowhateveryouwish."
Itwasagreedthatweshoulddoasshehadplanned.
Thereupon,shewent
wildwithdelight;danced,sang,amusedherselfwith
callinguppictures
ofhernewflatinallitssimplicity,andbeganto
consultmeasto
itspositionandarrangement.Isawhowhappyandproud
shewasofthis
resolution,whichseemedasifitwouldbringusinto
closerandcloser
relationship,andIresolvedtodomyownshare.Inan
instantIdecided
thewholecourseofmylife.Iputmyaffairsinorder,
andmadeover
toMargueritetheincomewhichhadcometomefrommy
mother,andwhich
seemedlittleenoughinreturnforthesacrificewhich
Iwasaccepting.
Thereremainedthefivethousandfrancsayearfrommy

father;and,
whateverhappened,Ihadalwaysenoughtoliveon.I
didnottell
MargueritewhatIhaddone,certainasIwasthatshe
wouldrefusethe
gift.Thisincomecamefromamortgageofsixty
thousandfrancsona
housethatIhadneverevenseen.AllthatIknewwas
thateverythree
monthsmyfather'ssolicitor,anoldfriendofthe
family,handedover
tomesevenhundredandfiftyfrancsinreturnformy
receipt.
ThedaywhenMargueriteandIcametoParistolookfor
aflat,Iwent
tothissolicitorandaskedhimwhathadtobedonein
ordertomake
overthisincometoanotherperson.Thegoodman
imaginedIwasruined,
andquestionedmeastothecauseofmydecision.AsI
knewthatI
shouldbeobliged,soonerorlater,tosayinwhose
favourImadethis
transfer,Ithoughtitbesttotellhimthetruthat
once.Hemadenone
oftheobjectionsthathispositionasfriendand
solicitorauthorized
himtomake,andassuredmethathewouldarrangethe
wholeaffairin
thebestwaypossible.Naturally,Ibeggedhimto
employthegreatest
discretioninregardtomyfather,andonleavinghimI
rejoined
Marguerite,whowaswaitingformeatJulieDuprat's,
whereshehadgone
inpreferencetogoingtolistentothemoralizingsof
Prudence.
Webegantolookoutforflats.Allthosethatwesaw
seemedto

Margueritetoodear,andtometoosimple.However,we
finallyfound,
inoneofthequietestpartsofParis,alittlehouse,
isolatedfrom
themainpartofthebuilding.Behindthislittlehouse
wasa
charminggarden,surroundedbywallshighenoughto
screenusfromour
neighbours,andlowenoughnottoshutoffourown
view.Itwasbetter
thanourexpectations.
WhileIwenttogivenoticeatmyownflat,Marguerite
wenttosee
abusinessagent,who,shetoldme,hadalreadydone
foroneofher
friendsexactlywhatshewantedhimtodoforher.She
cameontothe
RuedeProvenceinastateofgreatdelight.Theman
hadpromisedtopay
allherdebts,togiveherareceiptfortheamount,
andtohandover
tohertwentythousandfrancs,inreturnforthewhole
ofherfurniture.
Youhaveseenbytheamounttakenatthesalethatthis
honestmanwould
havegainedthirtythousandfrancsoutofhisclient.
WewentbackjoyouslytoBougival,talkingoverour
projectsforthe
future,which,thankstoourheedlessness,and
especiallytoourlove,
wesawintherosiestlight.
Aweeklater,aswewerehavinglunch,Naninecameto
tellusthatmy
servantwasaskingforme."Lethimcomein,"Isaid.
"Sir,"saidhe,"yourfatherhasarrivedinParis,and
begsyouto
returnatoncetoyourrooms,whereheiswaitingfor

you."
Thispieceofnewswasthemostnaturalthinginthe
world,yet,aswe
heardit,MargueriteandIlookedatoneanother.We
foresawtrouble.
Beforeshehadspokenaword,Irepliedtoherthought,
and,takingher
hand,Isaid,"Fearnothing."
"Comebackassoonaspossible,"whisperedMarguerite,
embracingme;"I
willwaitforyouatthewindow."
IsentonJosephtotellmyfatherthatIwasonmy
way.Twohourslater
IwasattheRuedeProvence.

Chapter20
Myfatherwasseatedinmyroominhisdressinggown;
hewaswriting,
andIsawatonce,bythewayinwhichheraisedhis
eyestomewhenI
camein,thattherewasgoingtobeaserious
discussion.Iwentupto
him,allthesame,asifIhadseennothinginhis
face,embracedhim,
andsaid:
"Whendidyoucome,father?"
"Lastnight."
"Didyoucomestraighthere,asusual?"
"Yes."
"Iamverysorrynottohavebeenheretoreceiveyou."

Iexpectedthatthesermonwhichmyfather'scoldface
threatenedwould
beginatonce;buthesaidnothing,sealedtheletter
whichhehadjust
written,andgaveittoJosephtopost.
Whenwewerealone,myfatherrose,andleaningagainst
the
mantelpiece,saidtome:
"MydearArmand,wehaveseriousmatterstodiscuss."
"Iamlistening,father."
"Youpromisemetobefrank?"
"AmInotaccustomedtobeso?"
"Isitnottruethatyouarelivingwithawomancalled
Marguerite
Gautier?"
"Yes."
"Doyouknowwhatthiswomanwas?"
"Akeptwoman."
"Anditisforherthatyouhaveforgottentocomeand
seeyoursister
andmethisyear?"
"Yes,father,Iadmitit."
"Youareverymuchinlovewiththiswoman?"
"Youseeit,father,sinceshehasmademefailinduty
towardyou,for
whichIhumblyaskyourforgivenesstoday."

Myfather,nodoubt,wasnotexpectingsuchcategorical
answers,forhe
seemedtoreflectamoment,andthensaidtome:
"Youhave,ofcourse,realizedthatyoucannotalways
livelikethat?"
"Ifearso,father,butIhavenotrealizedit."
"Butyoumustrealize,"continuedmyfather,inadryer
tone,"thatI,
atallevents,shouldnotpermitit."
"IhavesaidtomyselfthataslongasIdidnothing
contrarytothe
respectwhichIowetothetraditionalprobityofthe
familyIcould
liveasIamliving,andthishasreassuredmesomewhat
inregardtothe
fearsIhavehad."
Passionsareformidableenemiestosentiment.Iwas
preparedforevery
struggle,evenwithmyfather,inorderthatImight
keepMarguerite.
"Then,themomentiscomewhenyoumustlive
otherwise."
"Why,father?"
"Becauseyouaredoingthingswhichoutragetherespect
thatyouimagine
youhaveforyourfamily."
"Idon'tfollowyourmeaning."
"Iwillexplainittoyou.Haveamistressifyouwill;
payherasa
manofhonourisboundtopaythewomanwhomhekeeps,
byallmeans;but

thatyoushouldcometoforgetthemostsacredthings
forher,that
youshouldletthereportofyourscandalouslifereach
myquiet
countryside,andsetablotonthehonourablenamethat
Ihavegiven
you,itcannot,itshallnotbe."
"Permitmetotellyou,father,thatthosewhohave
givenyou
informationaboutmehavebeenillinformed.Iamthe
loverofMlle.
Gautier;Ilivewithher;itisthemostnaturalthing
intheworld.
IdonotgiveMlle.Gautierthenameyouhavegivenme;
Ispendonher
accountwhatmymeansallowmetospend;Ihaveno
debts;and,inshort,
Iamnotinapositionwhichauthorizesafathertosay
tohissonwhat
youhavejustsaidtome."
"Afatherisalwaysauthorizedtorescuehissonoutof
evilpaths.You
havenotdoneanyharmyet,butyouwilldoit."
"Father!"
"Sir,Iknowmoreoflifethanyoudo.Thereareno
entirelypure
sentimentsexceptinperfectlychastewomen.Every
Manoncanhaveher
ownDesGrieux,andtimesarechanged.Itwouldbe
uselessforthe
worldtogrowolderifitdidnotcorrectitsways.You
willleaveyour
mistress."
"Iamverysorrytodisobeyyou,father,butitis
impossible."

"Iwillcompelyoutodoso."
"Unfortunately,father,therenolongerexistsaSainte
Margueriteto
whichcourtesanscanbesent,and,eveniftherewere,
Iwouldfollow
Mlle.Gautierifyousucceededinhavinghersent
there.Whatwouldyou
have?Perhapsaminthewrong,butIcanonlybehappy
aslongasIam
theloverofthiswoman."
"Come,Armand,openyoureyes.Recognisethatitis
yourfatherwho
speakstoyou,yourfatherwhohasalwayslovedyou,
andwhoonly
desiresyourhappiness.Isithonourableforyouto
livelikehusband
andwifewithawomanwhomeverybodyhashad?"
"Whatdoesitmatter,father,ifnoonewillanymore?
Whatdoesit
matter,ifthiswomanlovesme,ifherwholelifeis
changedthroughthe
lovewhichshehasformeandthelovewhichIhavefor
her?Whatdoes
itmatter,ifshehasbecomeadifferentwoman?"
"Doyouthink,then,sir,thatthemissionofamanof
honouristo
goaboutconvertinglostwomen?DoyouthinkthatGod
hasgivensuch
agrotesqueaimtolife,andthattheheartshouldhave
anyroomfor
enthusiasmofthatkind?Whatwillbetheendofthis
marvellouscure,
andwhatwillyouthinkofwhatyouaresayingtoday
bythetimeyou
areforty?Youwilllaughatthisloveofyours,ifyou
canstilllaugh,
andifithasnotlefttooseriousatraceinyour

past.Whatwouldyou
benowifyourfatherhadhadyourideasandhadgiven
uphislife
toeveryimpulseofthiskind,insteadofrooting
himselffirmlyin
convictionsofhonourandsteadfastness?Thinkitover,
Armand,anddo
nottalkanymoresuchabsurdities.Come,leavethis
woman;yourfather
entreatsyou."
Ianswerednothing.
"Armand,"continuedmyfather,"inthenameofyour
saintedmother,
abandonthislife,whichyouwillforgetmoreeasily
thanyouthink.You
aretiedtoitbyanimpossibletheory.Youaretwenty
four;thinkof
thefuture.Youcannotalwayslovethiswoman,who
alsocannotalways
loveyou.Youbothexaggerateyourlove.Youputanend
toyourwhole
career.Onestepfurther,andyouwillnolongerbe
abletoleavethe
pathyouhavechosen,andyouwillsufferallyourlife
forwhatyou
havedoneinyouryouth.LeaveParis.Comeandstayfor
amonthortwo
withyoursisterandme.Restinourquietfamily
affectionwillsoon
healyouofthisfever,foritisnothingelse.
Meanwhile,yourmistress
willconsoleherself;shewilltakeanotherlover;and
whenyouseewhat
itisforwhichyouhaveallbutbrokenwithyour
father,andallbut
losthislove,youwilltellmethatIhavedonewell
tocomeand
seekyouout,andyouwillthankmeforit.Come,you
willgowithme,

Armand,willyounot?"Ifeltthatmyfatherwouldbe
rightifithad
beenanyotherwoman,butIwasconvincedthathewas
wrongwithregard
toMarguerite.Nevertheless,thetoneinwhichhesaid
theselastwords
wassokind,soappealing,thatIdarednotanswer.
"Well?"saidheinatremblingvoice.
"Well,father,Icanpromisenothing,"Isaidatlast;
"whatyouask
ofmeisbeyondmypower.Believeme,"Icontinued,
seeinghimmake
animpatientmovement,"youexaggeratetheeffectsof
thisliaison.
Margueriteisadifferentkindofawomanfromwhatyou
think.This
love,farfromleadingmeastray,iscapable,onthe
contrary,of
settingmeintherightdirection.Lovealwaysmakesa
manbetter,
nomatterwhatwomaninspiresit.Ifyouknew
Marguerite,youwould
understandthatIaminnodanger.Sheisasnobleas
thenoblestof
women.Thereisasmuchdisinterestednessinheras
thereiscupidityin
others."
"Allofwhichdoesnotpreventherfromacceptingthe
wholeofyour
fortune,forthesixtythousandfrancswhichcometo
youfromyour
mother,andwhichyouaregivingher,are,understand
mewell,your
wholefortune."
Myfatherhadprobablykeptthisperorationandthis
threatforthelast
stroke.Iwasfirmerbeforethesethreatsthanbefore

hisentreaties.
"WhotoldyouthatIwashandingthissumtoher?"I
asked.
"Mysolicitor.Couldanhonestmancarryoutsucha
procedurewithout
warningme?Well,itistopreventyoufromruining
yourselffora
prostitutethatIamnowinParis.Yourmother,when
shedied,leftyou
enoughtoliveonrespectably,andnottosquanderon
yourmistresses."
"Isweartoyou,father,thatMargueriteknewnothing
ofthistransfer."
"Why,then,doyoumakeit?"
"BecauseMarguerite,thewomanyoucalumniate,andwhom
youwishmeto
abandon,issacrificingallthatshepossessesinorder
tolivewith
me."
"Andyouacceptthissacrifice?Whatsortofamanare
you,sir,to
allowMlle.Gautiertosacrificeanythingforyou?
Come,enoughofthis.
Youwillleavethiswoman.JustnowIbeggedyou;nowI
commandyou.I
willhavenosuchscandalousdoingsinmyfamily.Pack
upyourthings
andgetreadytocomewithme."
"Pardonme,father,"Isaid,"butIshallnotcome."
"Andwhy?"
"BecauseIamatanagewhennooneanylongerobeysa
command."

Myfatherturnedpaleatmyanswer.
"Verywell,sir,"hesaid,"Iknowwhatremainstobe
done."
HerangandJosephappeared.
"HavemythingstakentotheHoteldeParis,"hesaid
tomyservant.And
thereuponhewenttohisroomandfinisheddressing.
Whenhereturned,I
wentuptohim.
"Promiseme,father,"Isaid,"thatyouwilldonothing
togive
Margueritepain?"
Myfatherstopped,lookedatmedisdainfully,and
contentedhimselfwith
saying,"Ibelieveyouaremad."Afterthishewent
out,shuttingthe
doorviolentlyafterhim.
Iwentdownstairs,tookacab,andreturnedto
Bougival.
Margueritewaswaitingformeatthewindow.

Chapter21
"Atlastyouhavecome,"shesaid,throwingherarms
roundmyneck."But
howpaleyouare!"
Itoldherofthescenewithmyfather.
"MyGod!Iwasafraidofit,"shesaid."WhenJoseph
cametotellyou

ofyourfather'sarrivalItrembledasifhehad
broughtnewsofsome
misfortune.Mypoorfriend,Iamthecauseofallyour
distress.You
willbebetteroff,perhaps,ifyouleavemeanddonot
quarrel
withyourfatheronmyaccount.Heknowsthatyouare
suretohavea
mistress,andheoughttobethankfulthatitisI,
sinceIloveyouand
donotwantmoreofyouthanyourpositionallows.Did
youtellhimhow
wehadarrangedourfuture?"
"Yes;thatiswhatannoyedhimthemost,forhesawhow
muchwereally
loveoneanother."
"Whatarewetodo,then?"
"Holdtogether,mygoodMarguerite,andletthestorm
passover."
"Willitpass?"
"Itwillhaveto."
"Butyourfatherwillnotstopthere."
"Whatdoyousupposehecando?"
"HowdoIknow?Everythingthatafathercandotomake
hissonobey
him.Hewillremindyouofmypastlife,andwill
perhapsdomethe
honourofinventingsomenewstory,sothatyoumay
givemeup."
"YouknowthatIloveyou."
"Yes,butwhatIknow,too,isthat,soonerorlater,

youwillhaveto
obeyyourfather,andperhapsyouwillendbybelieving
him."
"No,Marguerite.ItisIwhowillmakehimbelieveme.
Someofhis
friendshavebeentellinghimtaleswhichhavemadehim
angry;butheis
goodandjust,hewillchangehisfirstimpression;and
then,afterall,
whatdoesitmattertome?"
"Donotsaythat,Armand.Iwouldratheranything
shouldhappenthan
thatyoushouldquarrelwithyourfamily;waittill
aftertoday,and
tomorrowgobacktoParis.Yourfather,too,willhave
thoughtitover
onhisside,andperhapsyouwillbothcometoabetter
understanding.
Donotgoagainsthisprinciples,pretendtomakesome
concessionsto
whathewants;seemnottocaresoverymuchaboutme,
andhewilllet
thingsremainastheyare.Hope,myfriend,andbesure
ofonething,
thatwhateverhappens,Margueritewillalwaysbe
yours."
"Youswearit?"
"DoIneedtoswearit?"
Howsweetitistoletoneselfbepersuadedbythe
voicethatoneloves!
MargueriteandIspentthewholedayintalkingover
ourprojectsfor
thefuture,asifwefelttheneedofrealizingthemas
quicklyas
possible.Ateverymomentweawaitedsomeevent,but
thedaypassed

withoutbringingusanynewtidings.
NextdayIleftatteno'clock,andreachedthehotel
abouttwelve.My
fatherhadgoneout.
Iwenttomyownrooms,hopingthathehadperhapsgone
there.Noone
hadcalled.Iwenttothesolicitor's.Noonewas
there.Iwentbackto
thehotel,andwaitedtillsix.M.Duvaldidnot
return,andIwentback
toBougival.
IfoundMargueritenotwaitingforme,asshehadbeen
thedaybefore,
butsittingbythefire,whichtheweatherstillmade
necessary.Shewas
soabsorbedinherthoughtsthatIcameclosetoher
chairwithouther
hearingme.WhenIputmylipstoherforeheadshe
startedasifthe
kisshadsuddenlyawakenedher.
"Youfrightenedme,"shesaid."Andyourfather?"
"Ihavenotseenhim.Idonotknowwhatitmeans.He
wasnotathis
hotel,noranywherewheretherewasachanceofmy
findinghim."
"Well,youmusttryagaintomorrow."
"Iamverymuchinclinedtowaittillhesendsforme.
IthinkIhave
doneallthatcanbeexpectedofme."
"No,myfriend,itisnotenough;youmustcallonyour
fatheragain,
andyoumustcalltomorrow."

"Whytomorrowratherthananyotherday?"
"Because,"saidMarguerite,anditseemedtomethat
sheblushed
slightlyatthisquestion,"becauseitwillshowthat
youarethemore
keenaboutit,andhewillforgiveusthesooner."
FortheremainderofthedayMargueritewassadand
preoccupied.Ihad
torepeattwiceovereverythingIsaidtohertoobtain
ananswer.She
ascribedthispreoccupationtoheranxietyinregardto
theeventswhich
hadhappenedduringthelasttwodays.Ispentthe
nightinreassuring
her,andshesentmeawayinthemorningwithan
insistentdisquietude
thatIcouldnotexplaintomyself.
Againmyfatherwasabsent,buthehadleftthisletter
forme:
"Ifyoucallagaintoday,waitformetillfour.IfI
amnotinby
four,comeanddinewithmetomorrow.Imustseeyou."
Iwaitedtillthehourhehadnamed,buthedidnot
appear.Ireturned
toBougival.
ThenightbeforeIhadfoundMargueritesad;thatnight
Ifoundher
feverishandagitated.Onseeingme,sheflungherarms
aroundmyneck,
butshecriedforalongtimeinmyarms.Iquestioned
herastothis
suddendistress,whichalarmedmebyitsviolence.She
gavemeno
positivereason,butputmeoffwiththoseevasions
whichawoman

resortstowhenshewillnottellthetruth.
Whenshewasalittlecalmeddown,Itoldherthe
resultofmyvisit,
andIshowedhermyfather'sletter,fromwhich,I
said,wemightaugur
well.Atthesightoftheletterandonhearingmy
comment,hertears
begantoflowsocopiouslythatIfearedanattackof
nerves,and,
callingNanine,Iputhertobed,whereshewept
withoutaword,but
heldmyhandsandkissedthemeverymoment.
IaskedNanineif,duringmyabsence,hermistresshad
receivedany
letterorvisitwhichcouldaccountforthestatein
whichIfoundher,
butNaninerepliedthatnoonehadcalledandnothing
hadbeensent.
Something,however,hadoccurredsincethedaybefore,
somethingwhich
troubledmethemorebecauseMargueriteconcealedit
fromme.
Intheeveningsheseemedalittlecalmer,and,making
mesitatthe
footofthebed,shetoldmemanytimeshowmuchshe
lovedme.She
smiledatme,butwithaneffort,forinspiteof
herselfhereyeswere
veiledwithtears.
Iusedeverymeanstomakeherconfesstherealcause
ofherdistress,
butshepersistedingivingmenothingbutvague
reasons,asIhave
toldyou.Atlastshefellasleepinmyarms,butit
wasthesleepwhich
tiresratherthanreststhebody.Fromtimetotimeshe

utteredacry,
startedup,and,afterassuringherselfthatIwas
besideher,mademe
swearthatIwouldalwaysloveher.
Icouldmakenothingoftheseintermittentparoxysmsof
distress,which
wentontillmorning.ThenMargueritefellintoakind
ofstupor.She
hadnotsleptfortwonights.
Herrestwasofshortduration,fortowardelevenshe
awoke,and,seeing
thatIwasup,shelookedabouther,crying:
"Areyougoingalready?"
"No,"saidI,holdingherhands;"butIwantedtolet
yousleepon.It
isstillearly."
"WhattimeareyougoingtoParis?"
"Atfour."
"Sosoon?Butyouwillstaywithmetillthen?"
"Ofcourse.DoInotalways?"
"Iamsoglad!Shallwehavelunch?"shewenton
absentmindedly.
"Ifyoulike."
"Andthenyouwillbenicetometilltheverymoment
yougo?"
"Yes;andIwillcomebackassoonasIcan."
"Youwillcomeback?"shesaid,lookingatmewith
haggardeyes.

"Naturally."
"Oh,yes,youwillcomebacktonight.Ishallwaitfor
you,asIalways
do,andyouwillloveme,andweshallbehappy,aswe
havebeenever
sincewehaveknowneachother."
Allthesewordsweresaidinsuchastrainedvoice,
theyseemedtohide
sopersistentandsosorrowfulathought,thatI
trembledeverymoment
lestMargueriteshouldbecomedelirious.
"Listen,"Isaid."Youareill.Icannotleaveyou
likethis.Iwill
writeandtellmyfathernottoexpectme."
"No,no,"shecriedhastily,"don'tdothat.Your
fatherwillaccuseme
ofhinderingyouagainfromgoingtoseehimwhenhe
wantstoseeyou;
no,no,youmustgo,youmust!Besides,Iamnotill.I
amquitewell.I
hadabaddreamandamnotyetfullyawake."
FromthatmomentMargueritetriedtoseemmore
cheerful.Therewereno
moretears.
Whenthehourcameformetogo,Iembracedherand
askedherifshe
wouldcomewithmeasfarasthetrain;Ihopedthat
thewalkwould
distractherandthattheairwoulddohergood.I
wantedespeciallyto
bewithheraslongaspossible.
Sheagreed,putonhercloakandtookNaninewithher,
soasnotto

returnalone.TwentytimesIwasonthepointofnot
going.Butthe
hopeofaspeedyreturn,andthefearofoffendingmy
fatherstillmore,
sustainedme,andItookmyplaceinthetrain.
"Tillthisevening!"IsaidtoMarguerite,asIleft
her.Shedidnot
reply.
Oncealreadyshehadnotrepliedtothesamewords,and
theComtedeG.,
youwillremember,hadspentthenightwithher;but
thattimewasso
farawaythatitseemedtohavebeeneffacedfrommy
memory,andifI
hadanyfear,itwascertainlynotofMargueritebeing
unfaithfultome.
ReachingParis,IhastenedofftoseePrudence,
intendingtoaskher
togoandkeepMargueritecompany,inthehopethather
mirthand
livelinesswoulddistracther.Ienteredwithoutbeing
announced,and
foundPrudenceathertoilet.
"Ah!"shesaid,anxiously;"isMargueritewithyou?"
"No."
"Howisshe?"
"Sheisnotwell."
"Isshenotcoming?"
"Didyouexpecther?"
MadameDuvernoyreddened,andreplied,withacertain
constraint:

"IonlymeantthatsinceyouareatParis,isshenot
comingtojoin
you?"
"No."
IlookedatPrudence;shecastdownhereyes,andI
readinherfacethe
fearofseeingmyvisitprolonged.
"Ievencametoaskyou,mydearPrudence,ifyouhave
nothingtodo
thisevening,togoandseeMarguerite;youwillbe
companyforher,
andyoucanstaythenight.Ineversawherasshewas
today,andIam
afraidsheisgoingtobeill."
"Iamdiningintown,"repliedPrudence,"andIcan't
goandsee
Margueritethisevening.Iwillseehertomorrow."
ItookleaveofMme.Duvernoy,whoseemedalmostas
preoccupiedas
Marguerite,andwentontomyfather's;hisfirst
glanceseemedtostudy
meattentively.Heheldouthishand.
"Yourtwovisitshavegivenmepleasure,Armand,"he
said;"theymakeme
hopethatyouhavethoughtoverthingsonyoursideas
Ihaveonmine."
"MayIaskyou,father,whatwastheresultofyour
reflection?"
"Theresult,mydearboy,isthatIhaveexaggerated
theimportanceof
thereportsthathadbeenmadetome,andthatIhave
madeupmymindto
belessseverewithyou."

"Whatareyousaying,father?"Icriedjoyously.
"Isay,mydearchild,thateveryyoungmanmusthave
hismistress,and
that,fromthefreshinformationIhavehad,Iwould
ratherseeyouthe
loverofMlle.Gautierthanofanyoneelse."
"Mydearfather,howhappyyoumakeme!"
Wetalkedinthismannerforsomemoments,andthensat
downtotable.
Myfatherwascharmingalldinnertime.
IwasinahurrytogetbacktoBougivaltotell
Margueriteaboutthis
fortunatechange,andIlookedattheclockevery
moment.
"Youarewatchingthetime,"saidmyfather,"andyou
areimpatientto
leaveme.Oyoungpeople,howyoualwayssacrifice
sinceretodoubtful
affections!"
"Donotsaythat,father;Margueritelovesme,Iam
sureofit."
Myfatherdidnotanswer;heseemedtosayneitheryes
norno.
HewasveryinsistentthatIshouldspendthewhole
eveningwithhimand
notgotillthemorning;butMargueritehadnotbeen
wellwhenIleft
her.Itoldhimofit,andbeggedhispermissiontogo
backtoher
early,promisingtocomeagainonthemorrow.
Theweatherwasfine;hewalkedwithmeasfarasthe

station.Neverhad
Ibeensohappy.ThefutureappearedasIhadlong
desiredtoseeit.I
hadneverlovedmyfatherasIlovedhimatthat
moment.
JustasIwasleavinghim,heoncemorebeggedmeto
stay.Irefused.
"Youarereallyverymuchinlovewithher?"heasked.
"Madly."
"Go,then,"andhepassedhishandacrosshisforehead
asiftochase
athought,thenopenedhismouthasiftosay
something;butheonly
pressedmyhand,andleftmehurriedly,saying:
"Tilltomorrow,then!"

Chapter22
Itseemedtomeasifthetraindidnotmove.Ireached
Bougivalat
eleven.
Notawindowinthehousewaslightedup,andwhenI
rangnoone
answeredthebell.Itwasthefirsttimethatsucha
thinghadoccurred
tome.Atlastthegardenercame.Ientered.Naninemet
mewithalight.
IwenttoMarguerite'sroom.
"Whereismadame?"
"GonetoParis,"repliedNanine.

"ToParis!"
"Yes,sir."
"When?"
"Anhourafteryou."
"Sheleftnowordforme?"
"Nothing."
Nanineleftme.
Perhapsshehadsomesuspicionorother,Ithought,and
wenttoParis
tomakesurethatmyvisittomyfatherwasnotan
excuseforaday
off.PerhapsPrudencewrotetoheraboutsomething
important.Isaidto
myselfwhenIwasalone;butIsawPrudence;shesaid
nothingtomakeme
supposethatshehadwrittentoMarguerite.
AllatonceIrememberedMme.Duvernoy'squestion,
"Isn'tshecoming
today?"whenIhadsaidthatMargueritewasill.I
rememberedatthe
sametimehowembarrassedPrudencehadappearedwhenI
lookedat
herafterthisremark,whichseemedtoindicatean
appointment.I
remembered,too,Marguerite'stearsalldaylong,which
myfather's
kindreceptionhadratherputoutofmymind.Fromthis
momentallthe
incidentsgroupedthemselvesaboutmyfirstsuspicion,
andfixeditso
firmlyinmymindthateverythingservedtoconfirmit,
evenmyfather's
kindness.

MargueritehadalmostinsistedonmygoingtoParis;
shehadpretended
tobecalmerwhenIhadproposedstayingwithher.Had
Ifalleninto
sometrap?WasMargueritedeceivingme?Hadshecounted
onbeingback
intimeformenottoperceiveherabsence,andhadshe
beendetainedby
chance?WhyhadshesaidnothingtoNanine,orwhyhad
shenotwritten?
Whatwasthemeaningofthosetears,thisabsence,this
mystery?
ThatiswhatIaskedmyselfinaffright,asIstoodin
thevacantroom,
gazingattheclock,whichpointedtomidnight,and
seemedtosaytome
thatitwastoolatetohopeformymistress'sreturn.
Yet,afterall
thearrangementswehadjustmade,afterthesacrifices
thathadbeen
offeredandaccepted,wasitlikelythatshewas
deceivingme?No.I
triedtogetridofmyfirstsupposition.
Probablyshehadfoundapurchaserforherfurniture,
andshehad
gonetoParistoconcludethebargain.Shedidnotwish
totellme
beforehand,forsheknewthat,thoughIhadconsented
toit,thesale,
sonecessarytoourfuturehappiness,waspainfulto
me,andshefeared
towoundmyselfrespectinspeakingtomeaboutit.
Shewouldrather
notseemetillthewholethingwasdone,andthatwas
evidentlywhy
Prudencewasexpectingherwhensheletoutthesecret.
Margueritecould
notfinishthewholebusinesstoday,andwasstaying

thenightwith
Prudence,orperhapsshewouldcomeevennow,forshe
mustknowbow
anxiousIshouldbe,andwouldnotwishtoleavemein
thatcondition.
But,ifso,whythosetears?Nodoubt,despiteherlove
forme,thepoor
girlcouldnotmakeuphermindtogiveupallthe
luxuryinwhich
shehadliveduntilnow,andforwhichshehadbeenso
envied,without
cryingoverit.Iwasquitereadytoforgiveherfor
suchregrets.I
waitedforherimpatiently,thatImightsaytoher,as
Icoveredher
withkisses,thatIhadguessedthereasonofher
mysteriousabsence.
Nevertheless,thenightwenton,andMargueritedidnot
return.
Myanxietytighteneditscirclelittlebylittle,and
begantooppress
myheadandheart.Perhapssomethinghadhappenedto
her.Perhapsshe
wasinjured,ill,dead.Perhapsamessengerwould
arrivewiththenews
ofsomedreadfulaccident.Perhapsthedaylightwould
findmewiththe
sameuncertaintyandwiththesamefears.
TheideathatMargueritewasperhapsunfaithfultome
attheverymoment
whenIwaitedforherinterroratherabsencedidnot
returntomy
mind.Theremustbesomecause,independentofher
will,tokeepher
awayfromme,andthemoreIthought,themore
convincedIwasthatthis
causecouldonlybesomemishaporother.Ovanityof
man,comingback

tousineveryform!
Oneo'clockstruck.IsaidtomyselfthatIwouldwait
anotherhour,but
thatattwoo'clock,ifMargueritehadnotreturned,I
wouldsetoutfor
Paris.MeanwhileIlookedaboutforabook,forIdared
notthink.Manon
Lescautwasopenonthetable.Itseemedtomethat
hereandthere
thepageswerewetasifwithtears.Iturnedthe
leavesoverandthen
closedthebook,forthelettersseemedtomevoidof
meaningthrough
theveilofmydoubts.
Timewentslowly.Theskywascoveredwithclouds.An
autumnrainlashed
thewindows.Theemptybedseemedatmomentstoassume
theaspectofa
tomb.Iwasafraid.
Iopenedthedoor.Ilistened,andheardnothingbut
thevoiceofthe
windinthetrees.Notavehiclewastobeseenonthe
road.Thehalf
hoursoundedsadlyfromthechurchtower.
Ibegantofearlestsomeoneshouldenter.Itseemed
tomethatonlya
disastercouldcomeatthathourandunderthatsombre
sky.
Twoo'clockstruck.Istillwaitedalittle.Onlythe
soundofthebell
troubledthesilencewithitsmonotonousandrhythmical
stroke.
AtlastIlefttheroom,whereeveryobjecthadassumed
thatmelancholy
aspectwhichtherestlesssolitudeoftheheartgives

toallits
surroundings.
InthenextroomIfoundNaninesleepingoverherwork.
Atthesoundof
thedoor,sheawokeandaskedifhermistresshadcome
in.
"No;butifshecomesin,tellherthatIwasso
anxiousthatIhadto
gotoParis."
"Atthishour?"
"Yes.
"Buthow?Youwon'tfindacarriage."
"Iwillwalk."
"Butitisraining."
"Nomatter."
"Butmadamewillbecomingback,orifshedoesn'tcome
itwillbe
timeenoughinthemorningtogoandseewhathaskept
her.Youwillbe
murderedontheway."
"Thereisnodanger,mydearNanine;Iwillseeyouto
morrow."
Thegoodgirlwentandgotmeacloak,putitovermy
shoulders,and
offeredtowakeupMme.Arnouldtoseeifavehicle
couldbeobtained;
butIwouldhearofnothing,convincedasIwasthatI
shouldlose,in
aperhapsfruitlessinquiry,moretimethanIshould
taketocoverhalf

theroad.Besides,Ifelttheneedofairandphysical
fatigueinorder
tocooldowntheoverexcitementwhichpossessedme.
ItookthekeyoftheflatintheRued'Antin,and
aftersayinggoodbye
toNanine,whocamewithmeasfarasthegate,Iset
out.
AtfirstIbegantorun,buttheearthwasmuddywith
rain,andI
fatiguedmyselfdoubly.AttheendofhalfanhourI
wasobligedto
stop,andIwasdrenchedwithsweat.Irecoveredmy
breathandwenton.
ThenightwassodarkthatateverystepIfearedto
dashmyselfagainst
oneofthetreesontheroadside,whichroseupsharply
beforemelike
greatphantomsrushinguponme.
Iovertookoneortwowagons,whichIsoonleftbehind.
Acarriagewas
goingatfullgalloptowardBougival.Asitpassedme
thehopecame
tomethatMargueritewasinit.Istoppedandcried
out,"Marguerite!
Marguerite!"Butnooneansweredandthecarriage
continueditscourse.
Iwatcheditfadeawayinthedistance,andthen
startedonmyway
again.ItooktwohourstoreachtheBarrierede
l'Etoile.Thesightof
Parisrestoredmystrength,andIranthewholelength
ofthealleyI
hadsooftenwalked.
Thatnightnoonewaspassing;itwaslikegoing
throughthemidstofa
deadcity.Thedawnbegantobreak.WhenIreachedthe
Rued'Antinthe

greatcitystirredalittlebeforequiteawakening.
Fiveo'clockstruck
atthechurchofSaintRochatthemomentwhenI
enteredMarguerite's
house.Icalledoutmynametotheporter,whohadhad
frommeenough
twentyfrancpiecestoknowthatIhadtherightto
callonMlle.
Gautieratfiveinthemorning.Ipassedwithout
difficulty.Imight
haveaskedifMargueritewasathome,buthemighthave
said"No,"and
Ipreferredtoremainindoubttwominuteslonger,for,
aslongasI
doubted,therewasstillhope.
Ilistenedatthedoor,tryingtodiscoverasound,a
movement.Nothing.
Thesilenceofthecountryseemedtobecontinuedhere.
Iopenedthe
doorandentered.Allthecurtainswerehermetically
closed.Idrew
thoseofthediningroomandwenttowardthebedroom
andpushedopen
thedoor.Isprangatthecurtaincordanddrewit
violently.The
curtainopened,afaintlightmadeitswayin.Irushed
tothebed.It
wasempty.
Iopenedthedoorsoneafteranother.Ivisitedevery
room.Noone.It
wasenoughtodriveonemad.
Iwentintothedressingroom,openedthewindow,and
calledPrudence
severaltimes.Mme.Duvernoy'swindowremainedclosed.
IwentdownstairstotheporterandaskedhimifMlle.
Gautierhadcome
homeduringtheday.

"Yes,"answeredtheman;"withMme.Duvernoy."
"Sheleftnowordforme?"
"No."
"Doyouknowwhattheydidafterward?"
"Theywentawayinacarriage."
"Whatsortofacarriage?"
"Aprivatecarriage."
Whatcoulditallmean?
Irangatthenextdoor.
"Whereareyougoing,sir?"askedtheporter,whenhe
hadopenedtome.
"ToMme.Duvernoy's."
"Shehasnotcomeback."
"Youaresure?"
"Yes,sir;here'salettereven,whichwasbroughtfor
herlastnight
andwhichIhavenotyetgivenher."
AndtheportershowedmealetterwhichIglancedat
mechanically.I
recognisedMarguerite'swriting.Itooktheletter.It
wasaddressed,
"ToMme.Duvernoy,toforwardtoM.Duval."
"Thisletterisforme,"Isaidtotheporter,asI
showedhimthe
address.

"YouareM.Duval?"hereplied.
"Yes.
"Ah!Iremember.YouoftencametoseeMme.Duvernoy."
WhenIwasinthestreetIbrokethesealofthe
letter.Ifa
thunderbolthadfallenatmyfeetIshouldhavebeen
lessstartledthan
IwasbywhatIread.
"Bythetimeyoureadthisletter,Armand,Ishallbe
themistressof
anotherman.Allisoverbetweenus.
"Gobacktoyourfather,myfriend,andtoyoursister,
andthere,by
thesideofapureyounggirl,ignorantofallour
miseries,youwill
soonforgetwhatyouwouldhavesufferedthroughthat
lostcreaturewho
iscalledMargueriteGautier,whomyouhavelovedfor
aninstant,and
whoowestoyoutheonlyhappymomentsofalifewhich,
shehopes,will
notbeverylongnow."
WhenIhadreadthelastword,IthoughtIshouldhave
gonemad.For
amomentIwasreallyafraidoffallinginthestreet.
Acloudpassed
beforemyeyesandmybloodbeatinmytemples.Atlast
Icametomyself
alittle.Ilookedaboutme,andwasastonishedtosee
thelifeof
otherscontinuewithoutpausingatmydistress.
Iwasnotstrongenoughtoenduretheblowalone.Then
Irememberedthat

myfatherwasinthesamecity,thatImightbewith
himintenminutes,
andthat,whatevermightbethecauseofmysorrow,he
wouldshareit.
Iranlikeamadman,likeathief,totheHotelde
Paris;Ifoundthe
keyinthedoorofmyfather'sroom;Ientered.Hewas
reading.He
showedsolittleastonishmentatseeingme,thatitwas
asifhewas
expectingme.Iflungmyselfintohisarmswithout
sayingaword.Igave
himMarguerite'sletter,and,fallingonmyknees
besidehisbed,Iwept
hottears.

Chapter23
Whenthecurrentoflifehadresumeditscourse,I
couldnotbelieve
thatthedaywhichIsawdawningwouldnotbelike
thosewhichhad
precededit.ThereweremomentswhenIfanciedthat
somecircumstance,
whichIcouldnotrecollect,hadobligedmetospend
thenightawayfrom
Marguerite,butthat,ifIreturnedtoBougival,I
shouldfindheragain
asanxiousasIhadbeen,andthatshewouldaskme
whathaddetainedme
awayfromhersolong.
Whenone'sexistencehascontractedahabit,suchas
thatofthislove,
itseemsimpossiblethatthehabitshouldbebroken
withoutatthesame
timebreakingalltheotherspringsoflife.Iwas
forcedfromtimeto

timetorereadMarguerite'sletter,inorderto
convincemyselfthatI
hadnotbeendreaming.
Mybody,succumbingtothemoralshock,wasincapable
ofmovement.
Anxiety,thenightwalk,andthemorning'snewshad
prostratedme.My
fatherprofitedbythistotalprostrationofallmy
facultiestodemand
ofmeaformalpromisetoaccompanyhim.Ipromisedall
thatheasked,
forIwasincapableofsustainingadiscussion,andI
neededsome
affectiontohelpmetolive,afterwhathadhappened.
Iwastoo
thankfulthatmyfatherwaswillingtoconsolemeunder
suchacalamity.
AllthatIrememberisthatonthatday,aboutfive
o'clock,hetookme
withhiminapostchaise.Withoutawordtome,hehad
hadmyluggage
packedandputupbehindthechaisewithhisown,and
sohecarriedme
off.IdidnotrealizewhatIwasdoinguntilthetown
haddisappeared
andthesolitudeoftheroadrecalledtomethe
emptinessofmyheart.
Thenmytearsagainbegantoflow.
Myfatherhadrealizedthatwords,evenfromhim,would
donothingto
consoleme,andheletmeweepwithoutsayingaword,
onlysometimes
pressingmyhand,asiftoremindmethatIhada
friendatmyside.
AtnightIsleptalittle.IdreamedofMarguerite.
Iwokewithastart,notrecallingwhyIwasinthe

carriage.Thenthe
truthcamebackuponme,andIletmyheadsinkonmy
breast.Idared
notsayanythingtomyfather.Iwasafraidhewould
say,"YouseeIwas
rightwhenIdeclaredthatthiswomandidnotlove
you."Buthedidnot
usehisadvantage,andwereachedC.withouthishaving
saidanything
tomeexcepttospeakofmattersquiteapartfromthe
eventwhichhad
occasionedmyleavingParis.
WhenIembracedmysister,IrememberedwhatMarguerite
hadsaidabout
herinherletter,andIsawatoncehowlittlemy
sister,goodasshe
was,wouldbeabletomakemeforgetmymistress.
Shootinghadbegun,andmyfatherthoughtthatitwould
beadistraction
forme.Hegotupshootingpartieswithfriendsand
neighbours.Iwent
withouteitherreluctanceorenthusiasm,withthatsort
ofapathyinto
whichIhadsunksincemydeparture.
WewerebeatingaboutforgameandIwasgivenmypost.
Iputdownmy
unloadedgunatmyside,andmeditated.Iwatchedthe
cloudspass.I
letmythoughtwanderoverthesolitaryplains,and
fromtimetotimeI
heardsomeonecalltomeandpointtoaharenotten
pacesoff.Noneof
thesedetailsescapedmyfather,andhewasnot
deceivedbymyexterior
calm.Hewaswellawarethat,brokenasInowwas,I
shouldsomeday
experienceaterriblereaction,whichmightbe
dangerous,and,without

seemingtomakeanyefforttoconsoleme,hedidhis
utmosttodistract
mythoughts.
Mysister,naturally,knewnothingofwhathad
happened,andshecould
notunderstandhowitwasthatI,whohadformerlybeen
solighthearted,
hadsuddenlybecomesosadanddreamy.
Sometimes,surprisinginthemidstofmysadnessmy
father'sanxious
scrutiny,Ipressedhishandasiftoaskhimtacitly
toforgivemefor
thepainwhich,inspiteofmyself,Iwasgivinghim.
Thusamonthpassed,butattheendofthattimeI
couldendureitno
longer.ThememoryofMargueritepursuedme
unceasingly.Ihadloved,
IstilllovedthiswomansomuchthatIcouldnot
suddenlybecome
indifferenttoher.Ihadtoloveortohateher.Above
all,whateverI
feltforher,Ihadtoseeheragain,andatonce.This
desirepossessed
mymind,andwithalltheviolenceofawillwhichhad
beguntoreassert
itselfinabodysolonginert.
ItwasnotenoughformetoseeMargueriteinamonth,
aweek.Ihadto
seehertheverynextdayafterthedaywhenthe
thoughthadoccurredto
me;andIwenttomyfatherandtoldhimthatIhad
beencalledtoParis
onbusiness,butthatIshouldreturnpromptly.No
doubtheguessedthe
reasonofmydeparture,forheinsistedthatIshould
stay,but,seeing
thatifIdidnotcarryoutmyintentionthe

consequences,inthestate
inwhichIwas,mightbefatal,heembracedme,and
beggedme,almost,
withtears,toreturnwithoutdelay.
IdidnotsleeponthewaytoParis.Oncethere,what
wasIgoingto
do?Ididnotknow;Ionlyknewthatitmustbe
somethingconnectedwith
Marguerite.Iwenttomyroomstochangemyclothes,
and,astheweather
wasfineanditwasstillearly,Imademywaytothe
ChampsElysees.At
theendofhalfanhourIsawMarguerite'scarriage,at
somedistance,
comingfromtheRondPointtothePlacedelaConcorde.
Shehad
repurchasedherhorses,forthecarriagewasjustasI
wasaccustomed
toseeit,butshewasnotinit.ScarcelyhadI
noticedthisfact,when
lookingaroundme,IsawMargueriteonfoot,
accompaniedbyawomanwhom
Ihadneverseen.
Asshepassedmesheturnedpale,andanervoussmile
tightenedabout
herlips.Formypart,myheartbeatviolentlyinmy
breast;butI
succeededingivingacoldexpressiontomyface,asI
bowedcoldlyto
myformermistress,whojustthenreachedhercarriage,
intowhichshe
gotwithherfriend.
IknewMarguerite:thisunexpectedmeetingmust
certainlyhaveupset
her.NodoubtshehadheardthatIhadgoneaway,and
hadthusbeen
reassuredastotheconsequencesofourrupture;but,
seeingmeagain

inParis,findingherselffacetofacewithme,paleas
Iwas,shemust
haverealizedthatIhadnotreturnedwithoutpurpose,
andshemusthave
askedherselfwhatthatpurposewas.
IfIhadseenMargueriteunhappy,if,inrevenging
myselfuponher,
Icouldhavecometoheraid,Ishouldperhapshave
forgivenher,and
certainlyIshouldhaveneverdreamtofdoingheran
injury.ButIfound
herapparentlyhappy,someoneelsehadrestoredtoher
theluxurywhich
Icouldnotgiveher;herbreakingwithmeseemedto
assumeacharacter
ofthebasestselfinterest;Iwasloweredinmyown
esteemaswellas
inmylove.IresolvedthatsheshouldpayforwhatI
hadsuffered.
Icouldnotbeindifferenttowhatshedid,
consequentlywhatwouldhurt
herthemostwouldbemyindifference;itwas,
therefore,thissentiment
whichImustaffect,notonlyinhereyes,butinthe
eyesofothers.
Itriedtoputonasmilingcountenance,andIwentto
callon
Prudence.Themaidannouncedme,andIhadtowaita
fewminutesin
thedrawingroom.AtlastMme.Duvernoyappearedand
askedmeintoher
boudoir;asIseatedmyselfIheardthedrawingroom
dooropen,alight
footstepmadethefloorcreakandthefrontdoorwas
closedviolently.
"Iamdisturbingyou,"IsaidtoPrudence.

"Notintheleast.Margueritewasthere.Whensheheard
youannounced,
shemadeherescape;itwasshewhohasjustgoneout."
"Issheafraidofmenow?"
"No,butsheisafraidthatyouwouldnotwishtosee
her."
"Butwhy?"Isaid,drawingmybreathwithdifficulty,
forIwaschoked
withemotion."Thepoorgirlleftmeforhercarriage,
herfurniture,
andherdiamonds;shedidquiteright,andIdon'tbear
heranygrudge.
Imethertoday,"Icontinuedcarelessly.
"Where?"askedPrudence,lookingatmeandseemingto
askherselfif
thiswasthesamemanwhomshehadknownsomadlyin
love.
"IntheChampsElysees.Shewaswithanotherwoman,
verypretty.Whois
she?"
"Whatwasshelike?"
"Blonde,slender,withsidecurls;blueeyes;very
elegant."
"Ali!ItwasOlympe;sheisreallyverypretty."
"Whomdoesshelivewith?"
"Withnobody;withanybody."
"Wheredoesshelive?"
"RueTroncliet,No..Doyouwanttomakeloveto
her?"

"Oneneverknows."
"AndMarguerite?"
"IshouldhardlytellyouthetruthifIsaidIthink
nomoreabouther;
butIamoneofthosewithwhomeverythingdependson
thewayinwhich
onebreakswiththem.NowMargueriteendedwithmeso
lightlythatI
realizeIwasagreatfooltohavebeenasmuchinlove
withherasI
was,forIwasreallyverymuchinlovewiththat
girl."
YoucanimaginethewayinwhichIsaidthat;thesweat
brokeoutonmy
forehead.
"Shewasveryfondofyou,youknow,andshestillis;
theproofis,
thataftermeetingyoutoday,shecamestraightto
tellmeaboutit.
Whenshegothereshewasallofatremble;Ithought
shewasgoingto
faint."
"Well,whatdidshesay?"
"Shesaid,'Heissuretocomehere,'andshebeggedme
toaskyouto
forgiveher."
"Ihaveforgivenher,youmaytellher.Shewasagood
girl;but,after
all,liketheothers,andIoughttohaveexpectedwhat
happened.Iam
evengratefultoher,forIseenowwhatwouldhave
happenedifIhad
livedwithheraltogether.Itwasridiculous."

"Shewillbeverygladtofindthatyoutakeitso
well.Itwasquite
timesheleftyou,mydearfellow.Therascalofan
agenttowhomshe
hadofferedtosellherfurniturewentaroundtoher
creditorstofind
outhowmuchsheowed;theytookfright,andintwo
daysshewouldhave
beensoldup."
"Andnowitisallpaid?"
"Moreorless."
"Andwhohassuppliedthemoney?"
"TheComtedeN.Ah,mydearfriend,therearemenmade
onpurposefor
suchoccasions.Tocutalongstoryshorthegaveher
twentythousand
francs,buthehashadhiswayatlast.Heknowsquite
wellthat
Margueriteisnotinlovewithhim;butheisverynice
withherallthe
same.Asyouhaveseen,hehasrepurchasedherhorses,
hehastakenher
jewelsoutofpawn,andhegivesherasmuchmoneyas
thedukeusedto
giveher;ifshelikestolivequietly,hewillstay
withheralong
time."
"Andwhatisshedoing?IsshelivinginParis
altogether?"
"ShewouldnevergobacktoBougivalafteryouwent.I
hadtogomyself
andseeafterallherthings,andyours,too.Imadea
packageofthem
andyoucansendhereforthem.Youwillfind

everything,excepta
littlecasewithyourinitials.Margueritewantedto
keepit.Ifyou
reallywantit,Iwillaskherforit."
"Letherkeepit,"Istammered,forIfeltthetears
risefrommyheart
tomyeyesattherecollectionofthevillagewhereI
hadbeensohappy,
andatthethoughtthatMargueritecaredtokeep
somethingwhichhad
belongedtomeandwouldrecallmetoher.Ifshehad
enteredatthat
momentmythoughtsofvengeancewouldhavedisappeared,
andIshould
havefallenatherfeet.
"Fortherest,"continuedPrudence,"Ineversawheras
sheisnow;she
hardlytakesanysleep,shegoestoalltheballs,she
goestosuppers,
sheevendrinks.Theotherday,afterasupper,shehad
tostayinbed
foraweek;andwhenthedoctorlethergetup,she
beganagainatthe
riskofherlife.Shallyougoandseeher?"
"Whatisthegood?Icametoseeyou,becauseyouhave
alwaysbeen
charmingtome,andIknewyoubeforeIeverknew
Marguerite.Iowe
ittoyouthatIhavebeenherlover,andalso,don't
I,thatIamher
lovernolonger?"
"Well,IdidallIcouldtogetherawayfromyou,and
Ibelieveyou
willbethankfultomelateron."
"Ioweyouadoublegratitude,"Iadded,rising,forI
wasdisgusted

withthewoman,seeinghertakeeverywordIsaidto
herasifitwere
serious.
"Youaregoing?"
"Yes."
Ihadlearnedenough.
"WhenshallIbeseeingyou?"
"Soon.Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
Prudencesawmetothedoor,andIwentbacktomyown
roomswithtears
ofrageinmyeyesandadesireforvengeanceinmy
heart.
SoMargueritewasnodifferentfromtheothers;sothe
steadfastlove
thatshehadhadformecouldnotresistthedesireof
returningto
herformerlife,andtheneedofhavingacarriageand
plunginginto
dissipation.SoIsaidtomyself,asIlayawakeat
nightthoughifI
hadreflectedascalmlyasIprofessedtoIshouldhave
seeninthis
newandturbulentlifeofMargueritetheattemptto
silenceaconstant
thought,aceaselessmemory.Unfortunately,evil
passionhadtheupper
hand,andIonlysoughtforsomemeansofavenging
myselfonthepoor
creature.Oh,howpettyandvileismanwhenheis
woundedinoneofhis
narrowpassions!

ThisOlympewhomIhadseenwas,ifnotafriendof
Marguerite,atall
eventsthewomanwithwhomshewasmostoftenseen
sinceherreturnto
Paris.Shewasgoingtogiveaball,and,asItookit
forgrantedthat
Margueritewouldbethere,Itriedtogetaninvitation
andsucceeded.
When,fullofmysorrowfulemotions,Iarrivedatthe
ball,itwas
alreadyveryanimated.Theyweredancing,shouting
even,andinoneof
thequadrillesIperceivedMargueritedancingwiththe
ComtedeN.,who
seemedproudofshowingheroff,asifhesaidto
everybody:"Thiswoman
ismine."
Ileanedagainstthemantelpiecejustopposite
Margueriteandwatched
herdancing.Herfacechangedthemomentshecaught
sightofme.I
salutedhercasuallywithaglanceoftheeyesanda
waveofthehand.
WhenIreflectedthataftertheballshewouldgohome,
notwithmebut
withthatrichfool,whenIthoughtofwhatwould
followtheirreturn,
thebloodrosetomyface,andIfelttheneedofdoing
somethingto
troubletheirrelations.
AfterthecontredanseIwentuptothemistressofthe
house,who
displayedforthebenefitofherguestsadazzling
bosomandmagnificent
shoulders.Shewasbeautiful,and,fromthepointof
viewoffigure,
morebeautifulthanMarguerite.Irealizedthisfact

stillmoreclearly
fromcertainglanceswhichMargueritebestoweduponher
whileIwas
talkingwithher.Themanwhowastheloverofsucha
womanmightwell
beasproudasM.deN.,andshewasbeautifulenough
toinspirea
passionnotlessgreatthanthatwhichMargueritehad
inspiredinme.At
thatmomentshehadnolover.Itwouldnotbedifficult
tobecomeso;it
dependedonlyonshowingenoughmoneytoattracther
attention.
Imadeupmymind.Thatwomanshouldbemymistress.I
beganbydancing
withher.Halfanhourafterward,Marguerite,paleas
death,putonher
pelisseandlefttheball.

Chapter24
Itwassomethingalready,butitwasnotenough.Isaw
theholdwhichI
haduponthiswoman,andItookacowardlyadvantageof
it.
WhenIthinkthatsheisdeadnow,IaskmyselfifGod
willeverforgive
meforthewrongIdidher.
Afterthesupper,whichwasnoisyascouldbe,there
wasgambling.Isat
bythesideofOlympeandputdownmymoneyso
recklesslythatshecould
notbutnoticeme.InaninstantIhadgainedone
hundredandfiftyor
twohundredlouis,whichIspreadoutbeforemeonthe
table,andon

whichshefastenedhereyesgreedily.
Iwastheonlyonenotcompletelyabsorbedbythegame,
andabletopay
hersomeattention.AlltherestofthenightIgained,
anditwasI
whogavehermoneytoplay,forshehadlostallshe
hadbeforeherand
probablyallshehadinthehouse.
Atfiveinthemorning,theguestsdeparted.Ihad
gainedthreehundred
louis.
Alltheplayerswerealreadyontheirwaydownstairs;I
wastheonly
onewhohadremainedbehind,andasIdidnotknowany
ofthem,noone
noticedit.Olympeherselfwaslightingtheway,andI
wasgoingto
followtheothers,when,turningback,Isaidtoher:
"Imustspeaktoyou."
"Tomorrow,"shesaid.
"No,now."
"Whathaveyoutosay?"
"Youwillsee."
AndIwentbackintotheroom.
"Youhavelost,"Isaid.
"Yes.
"Allthatyouhadinthehouse?"
Shehesitated.

"Befrank."
"Well,itistrue."
"Ihavewonthreehundredlouis.Heretheyare,ifyou
willletmestay
heretonight."
AndIthrewthegoldonthetable.
"Andwhythisproposition?"
"BecauseIaminlovewithyou,ofcourse."
"No,butbecauseyouloveMarguerite,andyouwantto
haveyourrevenge
uponherbybecomingmylover.Youdon'tdeceivea
womanlikeme,my
dearfriend;unluckily,Iamstilltooyoungandtoo
goodlookingto
acceptthepartthatyouofferme."
"Soyourefuse?"
"Yes.
"Wouldyourathertakemefornothing?ItisIwho
wouldn'tacceptthen.
Thinkitover,mydearOlympe;ifIhadsentsomeone
toofferyouthese
threehundredlouisonmybehalf,ontheconditionsI
attachtothem,
youwouldhaveaccepted.Ipreferredtospeaktoyou
myself.Accept
withoutinquiringintomyreasons;saytoyourselfthat
youare
beautiful,andthatthereisnothingsurprisinginmy
beinginlovewith
you."

MargueritewasawomaninthesamepositionasOlympe,
andyetIshould
neverhavedaredsaytoherthefirsttimeImether
whatIhadsaidto
theotherwoman.IlovedMarguerite.Isawinher
instinctswhichwere
lackingintheother,andattheverymomentinwhichI
mademybargain,
IfeltadisgusttowardthewomanwithwhomIwas
makingit.
Sheaccepted,ofcourse,intheend,andatmiddayI
leftherhouseas
herlover;butIquittedherwithoutarecollectionof
thecaresses
andofthewordsoflovewhichshehadfeltboundto
showeruponmein
returnforthesixthousandfrancswhichIleftwith
her.Andyetthere
weremenwhohadruinedthemselvesforthatwoman.
FromthatdayIinflictedonMargueriteacontinual
persecution.Olympe
andshegaveupseeingoneanother,asyoumight
imagine.Igavemy
newmistressacarriageandjewels.Igambled,I
committedevery
extravagancewhichcouldbeexpectedofamaninlove
withsuchawoman
asOlympe.Thereportofmynewinfatuationwas
immediatelyspread
abroad.
Prudenceherselfwastakenin,andfinallythoughtthat
Ihadcompletely
forgottenMarguerite.Margueriteherself,whethershe
guessedmymotive
orwasdeceivedlikeeverybodyelse,preserveda
perfectdignityin
responsetotheinsultswhichIheapeduponherdaily.
Only,sheseemed

tosuffer,forwheneverImethershewasmoreandmore
pale,more
andmoresad.Myloveforher,carriedtothepointat
whichitwas
transformedintohatred,rejoicedatthesightofher
dailysorrow.
Often,whenmycrueltytowardherbecameinfamous,
Margueritelifted
uponmesuchappealingeyesthatIblushedforthepart
Iwasplaying,
andwasreadytoimploreherforgiveness.
Butmyrepentancewasonlyofamoment'sduration,and
Olympe,whohad
finallyputasideallselfrespect,anddiscoveredthat
byannoying
Margueriteshecouldgetfrommewhatevershewanted,
constantlystirred
upmyresentmentagainsther,andinsultedherwhenever
shefoundan
opportunity,withthecowardlypersistenceofawoman
licensedbythe
authorityofaman.
AtlastMargueritegaveupgoingtoballsortheatres,
forfearof
meetingOlympeandme.Thendirectimpertinencesgave
waytoanonymous
letters,andtherewasnotashamefulthingwhichIdid
notencourage
mymistresstorelateandwhichIdidnotmyselfrelate
inreferenceto
Marguerite.
ToreachsuchapointImusthavebeenliterallymad.I
waslikeaman
drunkuponbadwine,whofallsintooneofthose
nervousexaltationsin
whichthehandiscapableofcommittingacrimewithout
theheadknowing
anythingaboutit.InthemidstofitallIendureda

martyrdom.The
notdisdainfulcalm,thenotcontemptuousdignitywith
whichMarguerite
respondedtoallmyattacks,andwhichraisedherabove
meinmyown
eyes,enragedmestillmoreagainsther.
OneeveningOlympehadgonesomewhereorother,andhad
metMarguerite,
whoforoncehadnotsparedthefoolishcreature,so
thatshehadhadto
retireinconfusion.Olympereturnedinafury,and
Margueritefainted
andhadtobecarriedout.Olymperelatedtomewhat
hadhappened,
declaredthatMarguerite,seeingheralone,had
revengedherselfupon
herbecauseshewasmymistress,andthatImustwrite
andtellherto
respectthewomanwhomIloved,whetherIwaspresent
orabsent.
IneednottellyouthatIconsented,andthatIput
intotheletter
whichIsenttoheraddressthesameday,everything
bitter,shameful,
andcruelthatIcouldthinkof.
Thistimetheblowwasmorethantheunhappycreature
couldendure
withoutreplying.Ifeltsurethatananswerwould
come,andIresolved
nottogooutallday.Abouttwotherewasaring,and
Prudenceentered.
ItriedtoassumeanindifferentairasIaskedher
whathadbrought
her;butthatdayMme.Duvernoywasnotinalaughing
humour,andina
reallymovedvoiceshesaidtomethatsincemyreturn,
thatistosay

foraboutthreeweeks,Ihadleftnooccasionuntried
whichcouldgive
paintoMarguerite,thatshewascompletelyupsetby
it,andthatthe
sceneoflastnightandmyangryletterofthemorning
hadforcedherto
taketoherbed.Inshort,withoutmakinganyreproach,
Marguerite
senttoaskmeforalittlepity,sinceshehadno
longerthemoralor
physicalstrengthtoendurewhatIwasmakingher
suffer.
"ThatMlle.Gautier,"IsaidtoPrudence,"shouldturn
meoutofherown
houseisquitereasonable,butthatsheshouldinsult
thewomanwhomI
love,underthepretencethatthiswomanismy
mistress,isathingI
willneverpermit."
"Myfriend,"saidPrudence,"youareunderthe
influenceofawomanwho
hasneitherheartnorsense;youareinlovewithher,
itistrue,but
thatisnotareasonfortorturingawomanwhocannot
defendherself."
"LetMlle.GautiersendmeherComtedeN.andthe
sideswillbeequal."
"Youknowverywellthatshewillnotdothat.So,my
dearArmand,let
heralone.Ifyousawheryouwouldbeashamedofthe
wayinwhichyou
aretreatingher.Sheiswhite,shecoughsshewon't
lastlongnow."
AndPrudenceheldoutherhandtome,adding:
"Comeandseeher;itwillmakeherveryhappy."

"IhavenodesiretomeetM.deN."
"M.deN.isneverthere.Shecannotendurehim."
"IfMargueritewishestoseeme,sheknowswhereI
live;lethercometo
seeme,but,formypart,Iwillneverputfootinthe
Rued'Antin."
"Willyoureceiveherwell?"
"Certainly."
"Well,Iamsurethatshewillcome."
"Lethercome."
"Shallyoubeouttoday?"
"Ishallbeathomealltheevening."
"Iwilltellher."
AndPrudenceleftme.
IdidnotevenwritetotellOlympenottoexpectme.I
nevertroubled
muchabouther,scarcelygoingtoseeheronenighta
week.Sheconsoled
herself,Ibelieve,withanactorfromsometheatreor
other.
Iwentoutfordinnerandcamebackalmostimmediately.
Ihadafirelit
inmyroomandItoldJosephhecouldgoout.
Icangiveyounoideaofthedifferentimpressions
whichagitatedme
duringthehourinwhichIwaited;butwhen,toward
nineo'clock,I

heardaring,theythrongedtogetherintoonesuch
emotion,that,asI
openedthedoor,Iwasobligedtoleanagainstthewall
tokeepmyself
fromfalling.
Fortunatelytheanteroomwasinhalfdarkness,andthe
changeinmy
countenancewaslessvisible.Margueriteentered.
Shewasdressedinblackandveiled.Icouldscarcely
recogniseherface
throughtheveil.Shewentintothedrawingroomand
raisedherveil.
Shewaspaleasmarble.
"Iamhere,Armand,"shesaid;"youwishedtoseeme
andIhavecome."
Andlettingherheadfallonherhands,sheburstinto
tears.
Iwentuptoher.
"Whatisthematter?"Isaidtoherinalowvoice.
Shepressedmyhandwithoutaword,fortearsstill
veiledhervoice.
Butafterafewminutes,recoveringherselfalittle,
shesaidtome:
"Youhavebeenveryunkindtome,Armand,andIhave
donenothingto
you."
"Nothing?"Ianswered,withabittersmile.
"Nothingbutwhatcircumstancesforcedmetodo."
Idonotknowifyouhaveeverinyourlife
experienced,orifyouwill

everexperience,whatIfeltatthesightof
Marguerite.
Thelasttimeshehadcometoseemeshehadsatinthe
sameplacewhere
shewasnowsitting;only,sincethen,shehadbeenthe
mistressof
anotherman,otherkissesthanminehadtouchedher
lips,towardwhich,
inspiteofmyself,myownreachedout,andyetIfelt
thatIlovedthis
womanasmuch,moreperhaps,thanIhadeverlovedher.
Itwasdifficultformetobegintheconversationon
thesubjectwhich
broughther.Margueritenodoubtrealizedit,forshe
wenton:
"Ihavecometotroubleyou,Armand,forIhavetwo
thingstoask:
pardonforwhatIsaidyesterdaytoMlle.Olympe,and
pityforwhatyou
areperhapsstillreadytodotome.Intentionallyor
not,sinceyour
returnyouhavegivenmesomuchpainthatIshouldbe
incapablenowof
enduringafourthpartofwhatIhaveenduredtillnow.
Youwillhave
pityonme,won'tyou?Andyouwillunderstandthata
manwhoisnot
heartlesshasothernoblerthingstodothantotake
hisrevengeupona
sickandsadwomanlikeme.See,takemyhand.Iamin
afever.Ileft
mybedtocometoyou,andask,notforyour
friendship,butforyour
indifference."
ItookMarguerite'shand.Itwasburning,andthepoor
womanshivered
underherfurcloak.

Irolledthearmchairinwhichshewassittingupto
thefire.
"Doyouthink,then,thatIdidnotsuffer,"saidI,
"onthatnight
when,afterwaitingforyouinthecountry,Icameto
lookforyouin
Paris,andfoundnothingbuttheletterwhichnearly
drovememad?How
couldyouhavedeceivedme,Marguerite,whenIloved
yousomuch?
"Donotspeakofthat,Armand;Ididnotcometospeak
ofthat.Iwanted
toseeyouonlynotanenemy,andIwantedtotakeyour
handoncemore.
Youhaveamistress;sheisyoung,pretty,youloveher
theysay.Be
happywithherandforgetme."
"Andyou.Youarehappy,nodoubt?"
"HaveIthefaceofahappywoman,Armand?Donotmock
mysorrow,you,
whoknowbetterthananyonewhatitscauseandits
depthare."
"Itonlydependedonyounottohavebeenunhappyat
all,ifyouareas
yousay."
"No,myfriend;circumstanceswerestrongerthanmy
will.Iobeyed,
nottheinstinctsofalightwoman,asyouseemtosay,
butaserious
necessity,andreasonswhichyouwillknowoneday,and
whichwillmake
youforgiveme."
"Whydoyounottellmethosereasonstoday?"

"Becausetheywouldnotbringaboutanimpossible
reunionbetweenus,
andtheywouldseparateyouperhapsfromthosefrom
whomyoumustnotbe
separated."
"Whodoyoumean?"
"Icannottellyou."
"Thenyouarelyingtome."
Margueriteroseandwenttowardthedoor.Icouldnot
beholdthissilent
andexpressivesorrowwithoutbeingtouched,whenI
comparedinmymind
thispaleandweepingwomanwiththemadcapwhohad
madefunofmeat
theOperaComique.
"Youshallnotgo,"Isaid,puttingmyselfinfrontof
thedoor.
"Why?"
"Because,inspiteofwhatyouhavedonetome,Ilove
youalways,andI
wantyoutostayhere."
"Toturnmeouttomorrow?No;itisimpossible.Our
destiniesare
separate;donottrytoreunitethem.Youwilldespise
meperhaps,while
nowyoucanonlyhateme."
"No,Marguerite,"Icried,feelingallmyloveandall
mydesire
reawakenatthecontactofthiswoman."No,Iwill
forgeteverything,
andwewillbehappyaswepromisedoneanotherthatwe

wouldbe."
Margueriteshookherheaddoubtfully,andsaid:
"AmInotyourslave,yourdog?Dowithmewhatyou
will.Takeme;Iam
yours."
Andthrowingoffhercloakandhat,sheflungthemon
thesofa,and
beganhurriedlytoundothefrontofherdress,for,by
oneofthose
reactionssofrequentinhermalady,thebloodrushed
toherheadand
stifledher.Ahard,drycoughfollowed.
"Tellmycoachman,"shesaid,"togobackwiththe
carriage."
Iwentdownmyselfandsenthimaway.WhenIreturned
Margueritewas
lyinginfrontofthefire,andherteethchattered
withthecold.
Itookherinmyarms.Iundressedher,withouther
makingamovement,
andcarriedher,icycold,tothebed.ThenIsat
besideherandtried
towarmherwithmycaresses.Shedidnotspeakaword,
butsmiledat
me.
Itwasastrangenight.AllMarguerite'slifeseemedto
havepassedinto
thekisseswithwhichshecoveredme,andIlovedher
somuchthatin
mytransportsoffeverishloveIaskedmyselfwhetherI
shouldnotkill
her,sothatshemightneverbelongtoanother.
Amonthoflovelikethat,andtherewouldhave

remainedonlythecorpse
ofheartorbody.
Thedawnfoundusbothawake.Margueritewaslivid
white.Shedidnot
speakaword.Fromtimetotime,bigtearsrolledfrom
hereyes,and
stayeduponhercheeks,shininglikediamonds.Herthin
armsopened,
fromtimetotime,toholdmefast,andfellback
helplesslyuponthe
bed.
ForamomentitseemedtomeasifIcouldforgetall
thathadpassed
sinceIhadleftBougival,andIsaidtoMarguerite:
"ShallwegoawayandleaveParis?"
"No,no!"shesaid,almostwithaffright;"weshouldbe
toounhappy.I
candonomoretomakeyouhappy,butwhilethereisa
breathoflifein
me,Iwillbetheslaveofyourfancies.Atwhatever
hourofthedayor
nightyouwill,come,andIwillbeyours;butdonot
linkyourfuture
anymorewithmine,youwouldbetoounhappyandyou
wouldmakemetoo
unhappy.Ishallstillbeprettyforawhile;makethe
mostofit,but
asknothingmore."
Whenshehadgone,Iwasfrightenedatthesolitudein
whichsheleft
me.TwohoursafterwardIwasstillsittingontheside
ofthebed,
lookingatthepillowwhichkepttheimprintofher
form,andasking
myselfwhatwastobecomeofme,betweenmyloveandmy
jealousy.

Atfiveo'clock,withoutknowingwhatIwasgoingto
do,Iwenttothe
Rued'Antin.
Nanineopenedtome.
"Madamecannotreceiveyou,"shesaidinan
embarrassedway.
"Why?"
"BecauseM.leComtedeN.isthere,andhehasgiven
orderstoletno
onein."
"Quiteso,"Istammered;"Iforgot."
Iwenthomelikeadrunkenman,anddoyouknowwhatI
didduringthe
momentofjealousdeliriumwhichwaslongenoughfor
theshamefulthing
Iwasgoingtodo?Isaidtomyselfthatthewomanwas
laughingatme;I
sawheralonewiththecount,sayingovertohimthe
samewordsthatshe
hadsaidtomeinthenight,andtakingafivehundred
francnoteIsent
ittoherwiththesewords:
"YouwentawaysosuddenlythatIforgottopayyou.
Hereistheprice
ofyournight."
ThenwhentheletterwassentIwentoutasiftofree
myselffromthe
instantaneousremorseofthisinfamousaction.
IwenttoseeOlympe,whomIfoundtryingondresses,
andwhenwewere
aloneshesangobscenesongstoamuseme.Shewasthe

verytypeofthe
shameless,heartless,senselesscourtesan,formeat
least,forperhaps
somemenmighthavedreamedofherasIdreamedof
Marguerite.Sheasked
meformoney.Igaveittoher,and,freethentogo,I
returnedhome.
Margueritehadnotanswered.
IneednottellyouinwhatstateofagitationIspent
thenextday.At
halfpastnineamessengerbroughtmeanenvelope
containingmyletter
andthefivehundredfrancnote,notawordmore.
"Whogaveyouthis?"Iaskedtheman.
"Aladywhowasstartingwithhermaidinthenextmail
forBoulogne,
andwhotoldmenottotakeituntilthecoachwasout
ofthe
courtyard."
IrushedtotheRued'Antin.
"MadameleftforEnglandatsixo'clock,"saidthe
porter.
TherewasnothingtoholdmeinParisanylonger,
neitherhatenorlove.
Iwasexhaustedbythisseriesofshocks.Oneofmy
friendswassetting
outonatourintheEast.ItoldmyfatherIshould
liketoaccompany
him;myfathergavemedraftsandlettersof
introduction,andeightor
tendaysafterwardIembarkedatMarseilles.
ItwasatAlexandriathatIlearnedfromanattacheat
theembassy,whom

IhadsometimesseenatMarguerite's,thatthepoor
girlwasseriously
ill.
Ithenwrotehertheletterwhichsheansweredinthe
wayyouknow;I
receiveditatToulon.
Istartedatonce,andyouknowtherest.
NowyouhaveonlytoreadafewsheetswhichJulie
Dupratgaveme;they
arethebestcommentaryonwhatIhavejusttoldyou.

Chapter25
Armand,tiredbythislongnarrative,ofteninterrupted
byhistears,
puthistwohandsoverhisforeheadandclosedhiseyes
tothink,or
totrytosleep,aftergivingmethepageswrittenby
thehandof
Marguerite.Afewminutesafter,amorerapidbreathing
toldmethat
Armandslept,butthatlightsleepwhichtheleast
soundbanishes.
ThisiswhatIread;Icopyitwithoutaddingor
omittingasyllable:
Todayisthe15thDecember.Ihavebeenillthreeor
fourdays.This
morningIstayedinbed.Theweatherisdark,Iamsad;
thereisnoone
byme.Ithinkofyou,Armand.Andyou,whereareyou,
whileIwrite
theselines?FarfromParis,far,far,theytellme,
andperhapsyou
havealreadyforgottenMarguerite.Well,behappy;I

oweyoutheonly
happymomentsinmylife.
Icannothelpwantingtoexplainallmyconductto
you,andIhave
writtenyoualetter;but,writtenbyagirllikeme,
suchaletter
mightseemtobealie,unlessdeathhadsanctifiedit
byitsauthority,
and,insteadofaletter,itwereaconfession.
TodayIamill;Imaydieofthisillness,forIhave
alwayshadthe
presentimentthatIshalldieyoung.Mymotherdiedof
consumption,and
thewayIhavealwayslivedcouldbutincreasetheonly
heritageshe
everleftme.ButIdonotwanttodiewithoutclearing
upforyou
everythingaboutme;thatis,if,whenyoucomeback,
youwillstill
troubleyourselfaboutthepoorgirlwhomyouloved
beforeyouwent
away.
Thisiswhatthelettercontained;Ishalllikewriting
itoveragain,
soastogivemyselfanotherproofofmyown
justification.
Youremember,Armand,howthearrivalofyourfather
surprisedusat
Bougival;youremembertheinvoluntaryfrightthathis
arrivalcaused
me,andthescenewhichtookplacebetweenyouandhim,
whichyoutold
meofintheevening.
Nextday,whenyouwereatParis,waitingforyour
father,andhedid
notreturn,amancametothedoorandhandedina

letterfromM.Duval.
Hisletter,whichIinclosewiththis,beggedme,in
themostserious
terms,tokeepyouawayonthefollowingday,onsome
excuseor
other,andtoseeyourfather,whowishedtospeakto
me,andaskedme
particularlynottosayanythingtoyouaboutit.
YouknowhowIinsistedonyourreturningtoParisnext
day.
Youhadonlybeengoneanhourwhenyourfather
presentedhimself.I
won'tsaywhatimpressionhisseverefacemadeuponme.
Yourfatherhad
theoldtheorythatacourtesanisabeingwithout
heartorreason,a
sortofmachineforcoininggold,alwaysready,like
themachine,
tobruisethehandthatgiveshereverything,andto
tearinpieces,
withoutpityordiscernment,thosewhosetherin
motion.
Yourfatherhadwrittenmeaverypoliteletter,in
orderthatImight
consenttoseehim;hedidnotpresenthimselfquiteas
hehadwritten.
Hismanneratfirstwassostiff,insolent,andeven
threatening,thatI
hadtomakehimunderstandthatIwasinmyownhouse,
andthatIhadno
needtorenderhimanaccountofmylife,except
becauseofthesincere
affectionwhichIhadforhisson.
M.Duvalcalmeddownalittle,butstillwentontosay
thathecould
notanylongerallowhissontoruinhimselfoverme;

thatIwas
beautiful,itwastrue,but,howeverbeautifulImight
be,Ioughtnot
tomakeuseofmybeautytospoilthefutureofayoung
manbysuch
expenditureasIwascausing.
Atthattherewasonlyonethingtodo,toshowhimthe
proofthatsince
IwasyourmistressIhadsparednosacrificetobe
faithfultoyou
withoutaskingformoremoneythanyouhadtogiveme.
Ishowedhimthe
pawntickets,thereceiptsofthepeopletowhomIhad
soldwhatIcould
notpawn;Itoldhimofmyresolvetopartwithmy
furnitureinorder
topaymydebts,andlivewithyouwithoutbeingatoo
heavyexpense.I
toldhimofourhappiness,ofhowyouhadshownmethe
possibilityof
aquieterandhappierlife,andheendedbygivingin
totheevidence,
offeringmehishand,andaskingpardonforthewayin
whichhehadat
firstapproachedme.
Thenhesaidtome:
"So,madame,itisnotbyremonstrancesorbythreats,
butby
entreaties,thatImustendeavourtoobtainfromyoua
greatersacrifice
thanyouhaveyetmadeformyson."
Itrembledatthisbeginning.
Yourfathercameovertome,tookbothmyhands,and
continuedinan
affectionatevoice:

"Mychild,donottakewhatIhavetosaytoyouamiss;
onlyremember
thattherearesometimesinlifecruelnecessitiesfor
theheart,but
thattheymustbesubmittedto.Youaregood,yoursoul
hasgenerosity
unknowntomanywomenwhoperhapsdespiseyou,andare
lessworthythan
you.Butrememberthatthereisnotonlythemistress,
butthefamily;
thatbesideslovethereareduties;thattotheageof
passionsucceeds
theagewhenman,ifheistoberespected,mustplant
himselfsolidly
inaseriousposition.Mysonhasnofortune,andyet
heisreadyto
abandontoyouthelegacyofhismother.Ifheaccepted
fromyouthe
sacrificewhichyouareonthepointofmaking,his
honouranddignity
wouldrequirehimtogiveyou,inexchangeforit,this
income,which
wouldalwaysputyououtofdangerofadversity.Buthe
cannotaccept
thissacrifice,becausetheworld,whichdoesnotknow
you,wouldgivea
wronginterpretationtothisacceptance,andsuchan
interpretationmust
nottarnishthenamewhichwebear.Noonewould
considerwhether
Armandlovesyou,whetheryoulovehim,whetherthis
mutuallovemeans
happinesstohimandredemptiontoyou;theywouldsee
onlyonething,
thatArmandDuvalallowedakeptwoman(forgiveme,my
child,forwhat
Iamforcedtosaytoyou)tosellallshehadforhim.
Thenthedayof
reproachesandregretswouldarrive,besure,foryou
orforothers,and
youwouldbothbearachainthatyoucouldnotsever.

Whatwouldyoudo
then?Youryouthwouldbelost,myson'sfuture
destroyed;andI,his
father,shouldreceivefromonlyoneofmychildrenthe
recompensethat
Ilookforfromboth.
"Youareyoung,beautiful,lifewillconsoleyou;you
arenoble,andthe
memoryofagooddeedwillredeemyoufrommanypast
deeds.Duringthe
sixmonthsthathehasknownyouArmandhasforgotten
me.Iwrotetohim
fourtimes,andhehasneveroncereplied.Imighthave
diedandhenot
knownit!
"Whatevermaybeyourresolutionoflivingotherwise
thanasyouhave
lived,Armand,wholovesyou,willneverconsenttothe
seclusionto
whichhismodestfortunewouldcondemnyou,andto
whichyourbeauty
doesnotentitleyou.Whoknowswhathewoulddothen!
Hehasgambled,
Iknow;withouttellingyouofit,Iknowalso,but,in
amomentof
madness,hemighthavelostpartofwhatIhavesaved,
duringmany
years,formydaughter'sportion,forhim,andforthe
reposeofmyold
age.Whatmighthavehappenedmayyethappen.
"Areyousure,besides,thatthelifewhichyouare
givingupforhim
willneveragaincometoattractyou?Areyousure,you
whohaveloved
him,thatyouwillneverloveanother?Wouldyounot
sufferonseeing
thehindrancessetbyyourlovetoyourlover'slife,
hindrancesfor

whichyouwouldbepowerlesstoconsolehim,if,with
age,thoughtsof
ambitionshouldsucceedtodreamsoflove?Thinkover
allthat,madame.
YouloveArmand;proveittohimbythesolemeans
whichremainstoyou
ofyetprovingittohim,bysacrificingyourloveto
hisfuture.No
misfortunehasyetarrived,butonewillarrive,and
perhapsagreater
onethanthosewhichIforesee.Armandmightbecome
jealousofamanwho
haslovedyou;hemightprovokehim,fight,bekilled.
Think,then,what
youwouldsufferinthepresenceofafatherwhoshould
callonyouto
renderanaccountforthelifeofhisson!
"Finally,mydearchild,letmetellyouall,forI
havenotyet
toldyouall,letmetellyouwhathasbroughtmeto
Paris.Ihavea
daughter,asIhavetoldyou,young,beautiful,pureas
anangel.She
loves,andshe,too,hasmadethislovethedreamof
herlife.Iwrote
allthattoArmand,but,absorbedinyou,hemadeno
reply.Well,my
daughterisabouttomarry.Sheistomarrytheman
whomsheloves;she
entersanhonourablefamily,whichrequiresthatmine
hastobenoless
honourable.Thefamilyofthemanwhoistobecomemy
soninlawhas
learnedwhatmanneroflifeArmandisleadinginParis,
andhasdeclared
tomethatthemarriagemustbebrokenoffifArmand
continuesthis
life.Thefutureofachildwhohasdonenothing
againstyou,andwho
hastherightoflookingforwardtoahappyfuture,is

inyourhands.
Haveyoutheright,haveyouthestrength,toshatter
it?Inthenameof
yourloveandofyourrepentance,Marguerite,grantme
thehappinessof
mychild."
Iweptsilently,myfriend,atallthesereflections
whichIhadso
oftenmade,andwhich,inthemouthofyourfather,
tookayetmore
seriousreality.Isaidtomyselfallthatyourfather
darednotsayto
me,thoughithadcometohislipstwentytimes:thatI
was,afterall,
onlyakeptwoman,andthatwhateverexcuseIgavefor
ourliaison,it
wouldalwayslooklikecalculationonmypart;thatmy
pastlifeleft
menorighttodreamofsuchafuture,andthatIwas
accepting
responsibilitiesforwhichmyhabitsandreputation
werefarfromgiving
anyguarantee.Inshort,Ilovedyou,Armand.
ThepaternalwayinwhichM.Duvalhadspokentome;
thepurememories
thatheawakenedinme;therespectofthisoldman,
whichIwouldgain;
yours,whichIwassureofgaininglateron:allthat
calledupinmy
heartthoughtswhichraisedmeinmyowneyeswitha
sortofholypride,
unknowntillthen.WhenIthoughtthatonedaythisold
man,whowasnow
imploringmeforthefutureofhisson,wouldbidhis
daughterminglemy
namewithherprayers,asthenameofamysterious
friend,Iseemedto
becometransformed,andIfeltaprideinmyself.

Theexaltationofthemomentperhapsexaggeratedthe
truthofthese
impressions,butthatwaswhatIfelt,friend,and
thesenewfeelings
silencedthememoryofthehappydaysIhadspentwith
you.
"Tellme,sir,"Isaidtoyourfather,wipingawaymy
tears,"doyou
believethatIloveyourson?"
"Yes,"saidM.Duval.
"Withadisinterestedlove?"
"Yes.
"DoyoubelievethatIhadmadethislovethehope,the
dream,the
forgivenessofmylife?"
"Implicitly."
"Well,sir,embracemeonce,asyouwouldembraceyour
daughter,andI
sweartoyouthatthatkiss,theonlychastekissI
haveeverhad,will
makemestrongagainstmylove,andthatwithinaweek
yoursonwillbe
oncemoreatyourside,perhapsunhappyforatime,but
curedforever."
"Youareanoblechild,"repliedyourfather,kissing
meonthe
forehead,"andyouaremakinganattemptforwhichGod
willrewardyou;
butIgreatlyfearthatyouwillhavenoinfluenceupon
myson."
"Oh,beatrest,sir;hewillhateme."

Ihadtosetupbetweenus,asmuchformeasforyou,
aninsurmountable
barrier.
IwrotetoPrudencetosaythatIacceptedthe
propositionoftheComte
deN.,andthatshewastotellhimthatIwouldsup
withherandhim.
Isealedtheletter,and,withouttellinghimwhatit
contained,asked
yourfathertohaveitforwardedtoitsaddresson
reachingParis.
Heinquiredofmewhatitcontained.
"Yourson'swelfare,"Ianswered.
Yourfatherembracedmeoncemore.Ifelttwograteful
tearsonmy
forehead,likethebaptismofmypastfaults,andat
themomentwhenI
consentedtogivemyselfuptoanothermanIglowed
withprideatthe
thoughtofwhatIwasredeemingbythisnewfault.
Itwasquitenatural,Armand.Youtoldmethatyour
fatherwasthemost
honestmanintheworld.
M.Duvalreturnedtohiscarriage,andsetoutfor
Paris.
Iwasonlyawoman,andwhenIsawyouagainIcould
nothelpweeping,
butIdidnotgiveway.
DidIdoright?ThatiswhatIaskmyselftoday,asI
lieillinmy
bed,thatIshallneverleave,perhaps,untilIam
dead.

YouarewitnessofwhatIfeltasthehourofour
separationapproached;
yourfatherwasnolongertheretosupportme,and
therewasamoment
whenIwasonthepointofconfessingeverythingto
you,soterrified
wasIattheideathatyouweregoingtobateand
despiseme.
Onethingwhichyouwillnotbelieve,perhaps,Armand,
isthatIprayed
Godtogivemestrength;andwhatprovesthathe
acceptedmysacrifice
isthathegavemethestrengthforwhichIprayed.
AtsupperIstillhadneedofaid,forIcouldnot
thinkofwhatIwas
goingtodo,somuchdidIfearthatmycouragewould
failme.Whowould
everhavesaidthatI,MargueriteGautier,wouldhave
sufferedsoatthe
merethoughtofanewlover?Idrankforforgetfulness,
andwhenIwoke
nextdayIwasbesidethecount.
Thatisthewholetruth,friend.Judgemeandpardon
me,asIhave
pardonedyouforallthewrongthatyouhavedoneme
sincethatday.

Chapter26
WhatfollowedthatfatalnightyouknowaswellasI;
butwhatyoucan
notknow,whatyoucannotsuspect,iswhatIhave
sufferedsinceour
separation.
Iheardthatyourfatherhadtakenyouawaywithhim,

butIfeltsure
thatyoucouldnotliveawayfrommeforlong,andwhen
Imetyouinthe
ChampsElysees,Iwasalittleupset,butbynomeans
surprised.
Thenbeganthatseriesofdays;eachofthembroughtme
afreshinsult
fromyou.Ireceivedthemallwithakindofjoy,for,
besidesproving
tomethatyoustilllovedme,itseemedtomeasif
themoreyou
persecutedmethemoreIshouldberaisedinyoureyes
whenyoucameto
knowthetruth.
Donotwonderatmyjoyinmartyrdom,Armand;yourlove
formehad
openedmyhearttonobleenthusiasm.
Still,Iwasnotsostrongasthatquiteatonce.
Betweenthetimeofthesacrificemadeforyouandthe
timeofyour
returnalongwhileelapsed,duringwhichIwasobliged
tohaverecourse
tophysicalmeansinordernottogomad,andinorder
tobeblindedand
deafenedinthewhirloflifeintowhichIflung
myself.Prudence
hastoldyou(hasshenot?)howIwenttoallthefetes
andballsand
orgies.IhadasortofhopethatIshouldkillmyself
byallthese
excesses,andIthinkitwillnotbelongbeforethis
hopeisrealized.
Myhealthnaturallygotworseandworse,andwhenI
sentMme.Duvernoy
toaskyouforpityIwasutterlywornout,bodyand
soul.

Iwillnotremindyou,Armand,ofthereturnyoumade
forthelastproof
oflovethatIgaveyou,andoftheoutragebywhich
youdroveawaya
dyingwoman,whocouldnotresistyourvoicewhenyou
askedherfora
nightoflove,andwho,likeafool,thoughtforone
instantthatshe
mightagainunitethepastwiththepresent.Youhad
therighttodo
whatyoudid,Armand;peoplehavenotalwaysputso
highapriceona
nightofmine!
Ilefteverythingafterthat.Olympehastakenmyplace
withtheComte
deN.,andhastoldhim,Ihear,thereasonsformy
leavinghim.The
ComtedeG.wasatLondon.Heisoneofthosemenwho
givejustenough
importancetomakinglovetowomenlikemeforittobe
anagreeable
pastime,andwhoarethusabletoremainfriendswith
women,nothating
thembecausetheyhaveneverbeenjealousofthem,and
heis,too,one
ofthosegrandseigneurswhoopenonlyapartoftheir
heartstous,but
thewholeoftheirpurses.ItwasofhimthatI
immediatelythought.I
joinedhiminLondon.Hereceivedmeaskindlyas
possible,buthe
wastheloverthereofawomaninsociety,andhe
fearedtocompromise
himselfifhewereseenwithme.Heintroducedmeto
hisfriends,who
gaveasupperinmyhonour,afterwhichoneofthem
tookmehomewith
him.
Whatelsewasthereformetodo,myfriend?IfIhad

killedmyselfit
wouldhaveburdenedyourlife,whichoughttobehappy,
withaneedless
remorse;andthen,whatisthegoodofkillingoneself
whenoneisso
neardyingalready?
Ibecameabodywithoutasoul,athingwithouta
thought;Ilivedfor
sometimeinthatautomaticway;thenIreturnedto
Paris,andasked
afteryou;Iheardthenthatyouweregoneonalong
voyage.Therewas
nothinglefttoholdmetolife.Myexistencebecame
whatithadbeen
twoyearsbeforeIknewyou.Itriedtowinbackthe
duke,butIhad
offendedhimtoodeeply.Oldmenarenotpatient,no
doubtbecausethey
realizethattheyarenoteternal.Igotweakerevery
day.Iwaspale
andsadandthinnerthanever.Menwhobuyloveexamine
thegoodsbefore
takingthem.AtParistherewerewomeninbetter
health,andnotsothin
asIwas;Iwasratherforgotten.Thatisallthepast
uptoyesterday.
NowIamseriouslyill.Ihavewrittentotheduketo
askhimformoney,
forIhavenone,andthecreditorshavereturned,and
cometomewith
theirbillswithpitilessperseverance.Willtheduke
answer?Whyare
younotinParis,Armand?Youwouldcomeandseeme,
andyourvisits
woulddomegood.
December20.
Theweatherishorrible;itissnowing,andIamalone.

Ihavebeenin
suchafeverforthelastthreedaysthatIcouldnot
writeyouaword.
Nonews,myfriend;everydayIhopevaguelyfora
letterfromyou,but
itdoesnotcome,andnodoubtitwillnevercome.Only
menarestrong
enoughnottoforgive.Thedukehasnotanswered.
Prudenceispawningmythingsagain.
Ihavebeenspittingbloodallthetime.Oh,youwould
besorryforme
ifyoucouldseeme.Youareindeedhappytobeundera
warmsky,and
not,likeme,withawholewinteroficeonyourchest.
TodayIgotup
foralittlewhile,andlookedoutthroughthecurtains
ofmywindow,
andwatchedthelifeofParispassingbelow,thelife
withwhichIhave
nownothingmoretodo.Isawthefacesofsomepeople
Iknew,passing
rapidly,joyousandcareless.Notoneliftedhiseyes
tomywindow.
However,afewyoungmenhavecometoinquireforme.
OncebeforeIwas
ill,andyou,thoughyoudidnotknowme,thoughyou
hadhadnothing
frommebutanimpertinencethedayImetyoufirst,
youcametoinquire
aftermeeveryday.Wespentsixmonthstogether.Ihad
allthelovefor
youthatawoman'sheartcanholdandgive,andyouare
faraway,you
arecursingme,andthereisnotawordofconsolation
fromyou.Butit
isonlychancethathasmadeyouleaveme,Iamsure,
forifyouwereat
Paris,youwouldnotleavemybedside.

December25.
MydoctortellsmeImustnotwriteeveryday.And
indeedmymemories
onlyincreasemyfever,butyesterdayIreceiveda
letterwhichdidme
good,morebecauseofwhatitsaidthanbythematerial
helpwhichit
contained.Icanwritetoyou,then,today.This
letterisfromyour
father,andthisiswhatitsays:
"MADAME:Ihavejustlearnedthatyouareill.IfI
wereatParisI
wouldcomeandaskafteryoumyself;ifmysonwere
hereIwouldsend
him;butIcannotleaveC.,andArmandissixorseven
hundredleagues
fromhere;permitme,then,simplytowritetoyou,
madame,totell
youhowpainedIamtohearofyourillness,and
believeinmysincere
wishesforyourspeedyrecovery.
"Oneofmygoodfriends,M.H.,willcallonyou;will
youkindlyreceive
him?Ihaveintrustedhimwithacommission,theresult
ofwhichIawait
impatiently.
"Believeme,madame,
"Yoursmostfaithfully."

Thisistheletterhesentme.Yourfatherhasanoble
heart;lovehim
well,myfriend,fortherearefewmensoworthyof
beingloved.
Thispapersignedbyhisnamehasdonememoregood
thanallthe

prescriptionsofourgreatdoctor.
ThismorningM.H.called.Heseemedmuchembarrassed
bythedelicate
missionwhichM.Duvalhadintrustedtohim.Asa
matteroffact,he
cametobringmethreethousandfrancsfromyour
father.Iwantedto
refuseatfirst,butM.H.toldmethatmyrefusal
wouldannoyM.Duval,
whohadauthorizedhimtogivemethissumnow,and
lateronwhateverI
mightneed.Iacceptedit,for,comingfromyour
father,itcouldnotbe
exactlytakingalms.IfIamdeadwhenyoucomeback,
showyourfather
whatIhavewrittenforhim,andtellhimthatin
writingtheselines
thepoorwomantowhomhewaskindenoughtowriteso
consolingaletter
wepttearsofgratitudeandprayedGodforhim.
January4.
Ihavepassedsometerribledays.Ineverknewthebody
couldsufferso.
Oh,mypastlife!Ipaydoubleforitnow.
Therehasbeensomeonetowatchbymeeverynight;I
cannotbreathe.
Whatremainsofmypoorexistenceissharedbetween
beingdeliriousand
coughing.
Thediningroomisfullofsweetsandallsortsof
presentsthatmy
friendshavebrought.Someofthem,Idaresay,are
hopingthatIshall
betheirmistresslateron.Iftheycouldseewhat
sicknesshasmadeof
me,theywouldgoawayinterror.

PrudenceisgivingherNewYear'spresentswiththoseI
havereceived.
Thereisathaw,andthedoctorsaysthatImaygoout
inafewdaysif
thefineweathercontinues.
January8.
Iwentoutyesterdayinmycarriage.Theweatherwas
lovely.The
ChampsElyseeswasfullofpeople.Itwaslikethe
firstsmileof
spring.Everythingaboutmehadafestalair.Inever
knewbeforethata
rayofsunshinecouldcontainsomuchjoy,sweetness,
andconsolation.
ImetalmostallthepeopleIknew,allhappy,all
absorbedintheir
pleasures.Howmanyhappypeopledon'tevenknowthat
theyarehappy!
OlympepassedmeinanelegantcarriagethatM.deN.
hasgivenher.She
triedtoinsultmebyherlook.Shelittleknowshow
farIamfromsuch
thingsnow.Anicefellow,whomIhaveknownforalong
time,askedme
ifIwouldhavesupperwithhimandoneofhisfriends,
who,hesaid,
wasveryanxioustomakemyacquaintance.Ismiled
sadlyandgavehimmy
hand,burningwithfever.Ineversawsuchan
astonishedcountenance.
Icameinatfour,andhadquiteanappetiteformy
dinner.Goingout
hasdonemegood.IfIwereonlygoingtogetwell!How
thesightofthe
lifeandhappinessofothersgivesadesireoflifeto

thosewho,only
thenightbefore,inthesolitudeoftheirsoulandin
theshadowof
theirsickroom,onlywantedtodiesoon!
January10.
Thehopeofgettingbetterwasonlyadream.Iamback
inbedagain,
coveredwithplasterswhichburnme.IfIweretooffer
thebodythat
peoplepaidsodearforonce,howmuchwouldtheygive,
Iwonder,
today?
Wemusthavedonesomethingverywickedbeforewewere
born,orelsewe
mustbegoingtobeveryhappyindeedwhenwearedead,
forGodtolet
thislifehaveallthetorturesofexpiationandall
thesorrowsofan
ordeal.
January12.
Iamalwaysill.
TheComtedeN.sentmesomemoneyyesterday.Ididnot
keepit.Iwon't
takeanythingfromthatman.Itisthroughhimthatyou
arenothere.
Oh,thatgoodtimeatBougival!Whereisitnow?
IfIcomeoutofthisroomaliveIwillmakea
pilgrimagetothehouse
welivedintogether,butIwillneverleaveituntilI
amdead.
WhoknowsifIshallwritetoyoutomorrow?

January25.
Ihavenotsleptforelevennights.Iamsuffocated.I
imagineevery
momentthatIamgoingtodie.Thedoctorhasforbidden
metotouch
apen.JulieDuprat,whoislookingafterme,letsme
writethese
fewlinestoyou.WillyounotcomebackbeforeIdie?
Isitallover
betweenusforever?ItseemstomeasifIshouldget
wellifyoucame.
Whatwouldbethegoodofgettingwell?
January28.
ThismorningIwasawakenedbyagreatnoise.Julie,
whosleptin
myroom,ranintothediningroom.Iheardmen's
voices,andhers
protestingagainsttheminvain.Shecamebackcrying.
Theyhadcometoseizemythings.Itoldhertolet
whattheycall
justicehaveitsway.Thebailiffcameintomyroom
withhishaton.He
openedthedrawers,wrotedownwhathesaw,anddidnot
evenseemto
beawarethattherewasadyingwomaninthebedthat
fortunatelythe
charityofthelawleavesme.
Hesaid,indeed,beforegoing,thatIcouldappeal
withinninedays,
butheleftamanbehindtokeepwatch.MyGod!whatis
tobecomeofme?
ThisscenehasmademeworsethanIwasbefore.
Prudencewantedtogo
andaskyourfather'sfriendformoney,butIwouldnot
lether.

Ireceivedyourletterthismorning.Iwasinneedof
it.Willmyanswer
reachyouintime?Willyoueverseemeagain?Thisis
ahappyday,and
ithasmademeforgetallthedaysIhavepassedfor
thelastsixweeks.
IseemasifIambetter,inspiteofthefeelingof
sadnessunderthe
impressionofwhichIrepliedtoyou.
Afterall,nooneisunhappyalways.
WhenIthinkthatitmayhappentomenottodie,for
youtocomeback,
formetoseethespringagain,foryoustilltolove
me,andforusto
beginoveragainourlastyear'slife!
FoolthatIam!Icanscarcelyholdthepenwithwhich
Iwritetoyouof
thiswilddreamofmyheart.
Whateverhappens,Ilovedyouwell,Armand,andIwould
havediedlong
agoifIhadnothadthememoryofyourlovetohelpme
andasortof
vaguehopeofseeingyoubesidemeagain.
February4.
TheComtedeG.hasreturned.Hismistresshasbeen
unfaithfultohim.
Heisverysad;hewasveryfondofher.Hecameto
tellmeallabout
it.Thepoorfellowisinratherabadwayastomoney;
allthesame,he
haspaidmybailiffandsentawaytheman.
Italkedtohimaboutyou,andhepromisedtotellyou
aboutme.I
forgotthatIhadbeenhismistress,andhetriedto

makemeforgetit,
too.Heisagoodfriend.
Thedukesentyesterdaytoinquireafterme,andthis
morninghecame
toseeme.Idonotknowhowtheoldmanstillkeeps
alive.Heremained
withmethreehoursanddidnotsaytwentywords.Two
bigtearsfell
fromhiseyeswhenhesawhowpaleIwas.Thememoryof
hisdaughter's
deathmadehimweep,nodoubt.Hewillhaveseenher
dietwice.Hisback
wasbowed,hisheadbenttowardtheground,hislips
drooping,hiseyes
vacant.Ageandsorrowweighwithadoubleweighton
hiswornoutbody.
Hedidnotreproachme.Itlookedasifherejoiced
secretlytoseethe
ravagesthatdiseasehadmadeinme.Heseemedproudof
beingstillon
hisfeet,whileI,whoamstillyoung,wasbrokendown
bysuffering.
Thebadweatherhasreturned.Noonecomestoseeme.
Juliewatchesby
measmuchasshecan.Prudence,towhomIcanno
longergiveasmuchas
Iusedto,beginstomakeexcusesfornotcoming.
NowthatIamsoneardeath,inspiteofwhatthe
doctorstellme,for
Ihaveseveral,whichprovesthatIamgettingworse,I
amalmostsorry
thatIlistenedtoyourfather;ifIhadknownthatI
shouldonlybe
takingayearofyourfuture,Icouldnothaveresisted
thelonging
tospendthatyearwithyou,and,atleast,Ishould
havediedwitha
friendtoholdmyhand.Itistruethatifwehadlived

togetherthis
year,Ishouldnothavediedsosoon.
God'swillbedone!
February5.
Oh,come,come,Armand!Isufferhorribly;Iamgoing
todie,OGod!
IwassomiserableyesterdaythatIwantedtospendthe
evening,which
seemedasifitweregoingtobeaslongasthelast,
anywherebutat
home.Thedukecameinthemorning.Itseemstomeas
ifthesightof
thisoldman,whomdeathhasforgotten,makesmedie
faster.
Despitetheburningfeverwhichdevouredme,Imade
themdressmeand
takemetotheVaudeville.Julieputonsomerougefor
me,withoutwhich
Ishouldhavelookedlikeacorpse.Ihadtheboxwhere
Igaveyouour
firstrendezvous.AllthetimeIhadmyeyesfixedon
thestallwhere
yousatthatday,thoughasortofcountryfellowsat
there,laughing
loudlyatallthefoolishthingsthattheactorssaid.
Iwashalfdead
whentheybroughtmehome.Icoughedandspatbloodall
thenight.
TodayIcannotspeak,Icanscarcelymovemyarm.My
God!MyGod!I
amgoingtodie!Ihavebeenexpectingit,butIcan
notgetusedtothe
thoughtofsufferingmorethanIsuffernow,andif
AfterthisthefewcharacterstracedbyMargueritewere
indecipherable,
andwhatfollowedwaswrittenbyJulieDuprat.

February18.
MONSIEURARMAND:
SincethedaythatMargueriteinsistedongoingtothe
theatreshehas
gotworseandworse.Shehascompletelylosthervoice,
andnowtheuse
ofherlimbs.
Whatourpoorfriendsuffersisimpossibletosay.Iam
notusedto
emotionsofthiskind,andIaminastateofconstant
fright.
HowIwishyouwerehere!Sheisalmostalways
delirious;butdelirious
orlucid,itisalwaysyournamethatshepronounces,
whenshecanspeak
aword.
Thedoctortellsmethatsheisnothereforlong.
Sinceshegotsoill
theolddukehasnotreturned.Hetoldthedoctorthat
thesightwastoo
muchforhim.
Mme.Duvernoyisnotbehavingwell.Thiswoman,who
thoughtshecould
getmoremoneyoutofMarguerite,atwhoseexpenseshe
waslivingalmost
completely,hascontractedliabilitieswhichshecan
notmeet,and
seeingthatherneighbourisnolongerofusetoher,
shedoesnoteven
cometoseeher.Everybodyisabandoningher.M.deG.,
prosecutedfor
hisdebts,hashadtoreturntoLondon.Onleaving,he
sentusmore
money;hehasdoneallhecould,buttheyhavereturned

toseizethe
things,andthecreditorsareonlywaitingforherto
dieinorderto
selleverything.
Iwantedtousemylastresourcestoputastoptoit,
butthebailiff
toldmeitwasnouse,andthatthereareother
seizurestofollow.
Sinceshemustdie,itisbettertoleteverythinggo
thantosaveit
forherfamily,whomshehasnevercaredtosee,and
whohavenever
caredforher.Youcannotconceiveinthemidstof
whatgildedmisery
thepoorthingisdying.Yesterdaywehadabsolutelyno
money.Plate,
jewels,shawls,everythingisinpawn;therestissold
orseized.
Margueriteisstillconsciousofwhatgoesonaround
her,andshe
suffersinbody,mind,andheart.Bigtearstrickle
downhercheeks,so
thinandpalethatyouwouldneverrecognisetheface
ofherwhomyou
lovedsomuch,ifyoucouldseeher.Shehasmademe
promisetowriteto
youwhenshecannolongerwrite,andIwritebefore
her.Sheturnsher
eyestowardme,butshenolongerseesme;hereyesare
alreadyveiled
bythecomingofdeath;yetshesmiles,andallher
thoughts,allher
soulareyours,Iamsure.
Everytimethedooropenshereyesbrighten,andshe
thinksyouare
goingtocomein;then,whensheseesthatitisnot
you,herface
resumesitssorrowfulexpression,acoldsweatbreaks
outoverit,and

hercheekbonesflush.
February19,midnight.
Whatasaddaywehavehadtoday,poorM.Armand!This
morning
Margueritewasstifling;thedoctorbledher,andher
voicehasreturned
toherawhile.Thedoctorbeggedhertoseeapriest.
Shesaid"Yes,"
andhewenthimselftofetchanabbe'fromSaintRoch.
MeanwhileMargueritecalledmeuptoherbed,askedme
toopena
cupboard,andpointedoutacapandalongchemise
coveredwithlace,
andsaidinafeeblevoice:
"IshalldieassoonasIhaveconfessed.Thenyouwill
dressmein
thesethings;itisthewhimofadyingwoman."
Thensheembracedmewithtearsandadded:
"Icanspeak,butIamstifledwhenIspeak;Iam
stifling.Air!"
Iburstintotears,openedthewindow,andafew
minutesafterwardthe
priestentered.Iwentuptohim;whenheknewwherehe
was,heseemed
afraidofbeingbadlyreceived.
"Comeinboldly,father,"Isaidtohim.
Hestayedaveryshorttimeintheroom,andwhenhe
cameouthesaidto
me:
"Shelivedasinner,andshewilldieaChristian."

Afewminutesafterwardhereturnedwithachoirboy
bearingacrucifix,
andasacristanwhowentbeforethemringingthebell
toannouncethat
Godwascomingtothedyingone.
Theywentallthreeintothebedroomwheresomany
strangewordshave
beensaid,butwasnowasortofholytabernacle.
Ifellonmyknees.Idonotknowhowlongthe
impressionofwhatIsaw
willlast,butIdonotthinkthat,tillmyturncomes,
anyhumanthing
canmakesodeepanimpressiononme.
Thepriestanointedwithholyoilthefeetandhands
andforeheadofthe
dyingwoman,repeatedashortprayer,andMarguerite
wasreadytoset
outfortheheaventowhichIdoubtnotshewillgo,if
Godhasseenthe
ordealofherlifeandthesanctityofherdeath.
Sincethenshehasnotsaidawordormadeamovement.
TwentytimesI
shouldhavethoughtherdeadifIhadnotheardher
breathingpainfully.
February20,5P.M.
Allisover.
Margueritefellintoherlastagonyatabouttwo
o'clock.Neverdida
martyrsuffersuchtorture,tojudgebythecriesshe
uttered.Twoor
threetimesshesatuprightinthebed,asifshewould
holdontoher
life,whichwasescapingtowardGod.

Twoorthreetimesalsoshesaidyourname;thenall
wassilent,andshe
fellbackonthebedexhausted.Silenttearsflowed
fromhereyes,and
shewasdead.
ThenIwentuptoher;Icalledher,andasshedidnot
answerIclosed
hereyesandkissedherontheforehead.
Poor,dearMarguerite,IwishIwereaholywomanthat
mykissmight
recommendyoutoGod.
ThenIdressedherasshehadaskedmetodo.Iwentto
findapriestat
SaintRoch,Iburnedtwocandlesforher,andIprayed
inthechurchfor
anhour.
Igavethemoneyshelefttothepoor.
Idonotknowmuchaboutreligion,butIthinkthatGod
willknowthat
mytearsweregenuine,myprayersfervent,myalms
givingsincere,and
thathewillhavepityonherwho,dyingyoungand
beautiful,hasonly
hadmetoclosehereyesandputherinhershroud.
February22.
Theburialtookplacetoday.ManyofMarguerite's
friendscametothe
church.Someofthemweptwithsincerity.Whenthe
funeralstartedon
thewaytoMontmartreonlytwomenfollowedit:the
ComtedeG.,who
camefromLondononpurpose,andtheduke,whowas
supportedbytwo
footmen.

Iwriteyouthesedetailsfromherhouse,inthemidst
ofmytearsand
underthelampwhichburnssadlybesideadinnerwhich
Icannottouch,
asyoucanimagine,butwhichNaninehasgotforme,
forIhaveeaten
nothingfortwentyfourhours.
Mylifecannotretainthesesadimpressionsforlong,
formylifeis
notmyownanymorethanMarguerite'swashers;thatis
whyIgiveyou
allthesedetailsontheveryspotwheretheyoccurred,
inthefear,if
alongtimeelapsedbetweenthemandyourreturn,that
Imightnotbe
abletogivethemtoyouwithalltheirmelancholy
exactitude.

Chapter27
"Youhavereadit?"saidArmand,whenIhadfinished
themanuscript.
"Iunderstandwhatyoumusthavesuffered,myfriend,
ifallthatIread
istrue."
"Myfatherconfirmeditinaletter."
Wetalkedforsometimeoverthesaddestinywhichhad
been
accomplished,andIwenthometorestalittle.
Armand,stillsad,butalittlerelievedbythe
narrationofhisstory,
soonrecovered,andwewenttogethertopayavisitto
Prudenceandto

JulieDuprat.
Prudencehadbecomebankrupt.Shetoldusthat
Margueritewasthecause
ofit;thatduringherillnessshehadlentheralot
ofmoneyinthe
formofpromissorynotes,whichshecouldnotpay,
Margueritehaving
diedwithouthavingreturnedherthemoney,andwithout
havinggivenher
areceiptwithwhichshecouldpresentherselfasa
creditor.
Bythehelpofthisfable,whichMme.Duvernoyrepeated
everywherein
ordertoaccountforhermoneydifficulties,she
extractedanotefora
thousandfrancsfromArmand,whodidnotbelieveit,
butwhopretended
to,outofrespectforallthoseinwhosecompany
Margueritehadlived.
ThenwecalledonJulieDuprat,whotoldusthesad
incidentwhichshe
hadwitnessed,sheddingrealtearsattheremembrance
ofherfriend.
Lastly,wewenttoMarguerite'sgrave,onwhichthe
firstraysofthe
Aprilsunwerebringingthefirstleavesintobud.
OnedutyremainedtoArmandtoreturntohisfather.
Hewishedmeto
accompanyhim.
WearrivedatC.,whereIsawM.Duval,suchasIhad
imaginedhimfrom
theportraithissonhadmadeofhim,tall,dignified,
kindly.
HewelcomedArmandwithtearsofjoy,andclaspedmy

hand
affectionately.Iwasnotlonginseeingthatthe
paternalsentimentwas
thatwhichdominatedallothersinhismind.
Hisdaughter,namedBlanche,hadthattransparenceof
eyes,that
serenityofthemouth,whichindicatesasoulthat
conceivesonly
holythoughtsandlipsthatrepeatonlypiouswords.
Shewelcomedher
brother'sreturnwithsmiles,notknowing,inthe
purityofheryouth,
thatfarawayacourtesanhadsacrificedherown
happinessatthemere
invocationofhername.
Iremainedforsometimeintheirhappyfamily,fullof
indulgentcare
foronewhobroughtthemtheconvalescenceofhis
heart.
IreturnedtoParis,whereIwrotethisstoryjustas
ithadbeentold
me.Ithasonlyonemerit,whichwillperhapsbedenied
it;thatis,
thatitistrue.
Idonotdrawfromthisstorytheconclusionthatall
womenlike
Margueritearecapableofdoingallthatshedidfar
fromit;but
Ihavediscoveredthatoneofthemexperienceda
seriousloveinthe
courseofherlife,thatshesufferedforit,andthat
shediedofit.I
havetoldthereaderallthatIlearned.Itwasmy
duty.
Iamnottheapostleofvice,butIwouldgladlybethe
echoofnoble

sorrowwhereverIbearitsvoiceinprayer.
ThestoryofMargueriteisanexception,Irepeat;had
itnotbeenan
exception,itwouldnothavebeenworththetroubleof
writingit.

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