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to some foolish notion of her child。
〃It is this； that ever since I have seen you； I know not why； you have
taken a place in my life； that； if I drive the thought of you out of my mind；
it always comes back； that when I met you to…day； after not having seen
you for two years； you made a deeper impression on my heart and mind
than ever； that； now that you have let me come to see you； now that I
know you； now that I know all that is strange in you； you have become a
necessity of my life； and you will drive me mad； not only if you will not
love me； but if you will not let me love you。〃
〃But； foolish creature that you are； I shall say to you； like Mme。 D。；
'You must be very rich； then！' Why； you don't know that I spend six or
seven thousand francs a month； and that I could not live without it； you
don't know； my poor friend； that I should ruin you in no time； and that
your family would cast you off if you were to live with a woman like me。
Let us be friends； good friends； but no more。 Come and see me； we will
laugh and talk； but don't exaggerate what I am worth； for I am worth very
little。 You have a good heart； you want some one to love you； you are too
young and too sensitive to live in a world like mine。 Take a married
woman。 You see； I speak to you frankly； like a friend。〃
〃But what the devil are you doing there？〃 cried Prudence； who had
come in without our bearing her； and who now stood just inside the door；
with her hair half coming down and her dress undone。 I recognised the
hand of Gaston。
〃We are talking sense；〃 said Marguerite； 〃leave us alone； we will be
back soon。〃
〃Good； good！ Talk； my children；〃 said Prudence； going out and closing
the door behind her； as if to further empbasize the tone in which she had
said these words。
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CAMILLE （LA DAME AUX CAMILIAS）
〃Well； it is agreed；〃 continued Marguerite； when we were alone； 〃you
won't fall in love with me？〃
〃I will go away。〃
〃So much as that？〃
I had gone too far to draw back； and I was really carried away。 This
mingling of gaiety； sadness； candour； prostitution； her very malady； which
no doubt developed in her a sensitiveness to impressions； as well as an
irritability of nerves； all this made it clear to me that if from the very
beginning I did not completely dominate her light and forgetful nature； she
was lost to me。
〃Come； now； do you seriously mean what you say？〃 she said。
〃Seriously。〃
〃But why didn't you say it to me sooner？〃
〃When could I have said it？〃
〃The day after you had been introduced to me at the Opera Comique。〃
〃I thought you would have received me very badly if I had come to see
you。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because I had behaved so stupidly。〃
〃That's true。 And yet you were already in love with me。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃And that didn't hinder you from going to bed and sleeping quite
comfortably。 One knows what that sort of love means。〃
〃There you are mistaken。 Do you know what I did that evening； after
the Opera Comique？〃
〃No。〃
〃I waited for you at the door of the Cafe Anglais。 I followed the
carriage in which you and your three friends were； and when I saw you
were the only one to get down； and that you went in alone； I was very
happy。〃
Marguerite began to laugh。
〃What are you laughing at？〃
〃Nothing。〃
〃Tell me； I beg of you； or I shall think you are still laughing at me。〃
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CAMILLE （LA DAME AUX CAMILIAS）
〃You won't be cross？〃
〃What right have I to be cross？〃
〃Well； there was a sufficient reason why I went in alone。〃
〃What？〃
〃Some one was waiting for me here。〃
If she had thrust a knife into me she would not have hurt me more。 I
rose； and holding out my hand； 〃Goodbye；〃 said I。
〃I knew you would be cross；〃 she said； 〃men are frantic to know what
is certain to give them pain。〃
〃But I assure you；〃 I added coldly； as if wishing to prove how
completely I was cured of my passion； 〃I assure you that I am not cross。 It
was quite natural that some one should be waiting for you； just as it is
quite natural that I should go from here at three in the morning。〃
〃Have you； too； some one waiting for you？〃
〃No； but I must go。〃
〃Good…bye； then。〃
〃You send me away？〃
〃Not the least in the world。〃
〃Why are you so unkind to me？〃
〃How have I been unkind to you？〃
〃In telling me that some one was waiting for you。〃
〃I could not help laughing at the idea that you had been so happy to
see me come in alone when there was such a good reason for it。〃
〃One finds pleasure in childish enough things； and it is too bad to
destroy such a pleasure when； by simply leaving it alone； one can make
somebody so happy。〃
〃But what do you think I am？ I am neither maid nor duchess。 I didn't
know you till to…day； and I am not responsible to you for my actions。
Supposing one day I should become your mistress； you are bound to know
that I have had other lovers besides you。 If you make scenes of jealousy
like this before； what will it be after； if that after should ever exist？ I never
met any one like you。〃
〃That is because no one has ever loved you as I love you。〃
〃Frankly； then； you really love me？〃
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CAMILLE （LA DAME AUX CAMILIAS）
〃As much as it is possible to love； I think。〃
〃And that has lasted since？〃
〃Since the day I saw you go into Susse's； three years ago。
〃Do you know； that is tremendously fine？ Well； what am to do in
return？〃
〃Love me a little；〃 I said； my heart beating so that I could hardly speak；
for； in spite of the half…mocking smiles with which she had accompanied
the whole conversation； it seemed to me that Marguerite began to share
my agitation； and that the hour so long awaited was drawing near。
〃Well； but the duke？〃
〃What duke？〃
〃My jealous old duke。〃
〃He will know nothing。〃
〃And if he should？〃
〃He would forgive you。〃
〃Ah； no； he would leave me； and what would become of me？〃
〃You risk that for some one else。〃