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〃Well； it is all settled；〃 she said； as she entered。 〃The house is taken？〃
asked Prudence。 〃Yes； he agreed at once。〃
I did not know the duke； but I felt ashamed of deceiving him。
〃But that is not all；〃 continued Marguerite。
〃What else is there？〃
〃I have been seeing about a place for Armand to stay。〃
〃In the same house？〃 asked Prudence； laughing。
〃No； at Point du Jour； where we had dinner； the duke and I。 While he
was admiring the view； I asked Mme。 Arnould （she is called Mme。
Arnould； isn't she？） if there were any suitable rooms； and she showed me
just the very thing： salon； anteroom； and bed…room； at sixty francs a month；
the whole place furnished in a way to divert a hypochondriac。 I took it。
Was I right？〃 I flung my arms around her neck and kissed her。
〃It will be charming；〃 she continued。 〃You have the key of the little
door； and I have promised the duke the key of the front door； which he will
not take； because he will come during the day when he comes。 I think；
between ourselves； that he is enchanted with a caprice which will keep me
out of Paris for a time； and so silence the objections of his family。
However； he has asked me how I； loving Paris as I do； could make up my
mind to bury myself in the country。 I told him that I was ill； and that I
wanted rest。 He seemed to have some difficulty in believing me。 The poor
old man is always on the watch。 We must take every precaution； my dear
Armand； for he will have me watched while I am there； and it isn't only
the question of his taking a house for me； but he has my debts to pay； and
unluckily I have plenty。 Does all that suit you？〃
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〃Yes；〃 I answered； trying to quiet the scruples which this way of living
awoke in me from time to time。
〃We went all over the house； and we shall have everything perfect。 The
duke is going to look after every single thing。 Ah； my dear；〃 she added；
kissing me； 〃you're in luck； it's a millionaire who makes your bed for
you。〃
〃And when shall you move into the house？〃 inquired Prudence。
〃As soon as possible。〃
〃Will you take your horses and carriage？〃
〃I shall take the whole house； and you can look after my place while I
am away。〃
A week later Marguerite was settled in her country house； and I was
installed at Point du Jour。
Then began an existence which I shall have some difficulty in
describing to you。 At first Marguerite could not break entirely with her
former habits； and； as the house was always en fete； all the women whom
she knew came to see her。 For a whole month there was not a day when
Marguerite had not eight or ten people to meals。 Prudence； on her side；
brought down all the people she knew； and did the honours of the house as
if the house belonged to her。
The duke's money paid for all that； as you may imagine； but from time
to time Prudence came to me； asking for a note for a thousand francs；
professedly on behalf of Marguerite。 You know I had won some money at
gambling； I therefore immediately handed over to Prudence what she
asked for Marguerite； and fearing lest she should require more than I
possessed； I borrowed at Paris a sum equal to that which I had already
borrowed and paid back。 I was then once more in possession of some ten
thousand francs； without reckoning my allowance。 However； Marguerite's
pleasure in seeing her friends was a little moderated when she saw the
expense which that pleasure entailed； and especially the necessity she was
sometimes in of asking me for money。 The duke； who had taken the house
in order that Marguerite might rest there； no longer visited it； fearing to
find himself in the midst of a large and merry company； by whom he did
not wish to be seen。 This came about through his having once arrived to
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dine tete…a…tete with Marguerite； and having fallen upon a party of fifteen；
who were still at lunch at an hour when he was prepared to sit down to
dinner。 He had unsuspectingly opened the dining…room door； and had been
greeted by a burst of laughter； and had had to retire precipitately before the
impertinent mirth of the women who were assembled there。
Marguerite rose from table； and joined the duke in the next room；
where she tried； as far as possible； to induce him to forget the incident； but
the old man； wounded in his dignity； bore her a grudge for it； and could
not forgive her。 He said to her； somewhat cruelly； that he was tired of
paying for the follies of a woman who could not even have him treated
with respect under his own roof； and he went away in great indignation。
Since that day he had never been heard of。
In vain Marguerite dismissed her guests； changed her way of life； the
duke was not to be heard of。 I was the gainer in so； far that my mistress
now belonged to me more completely； and my dream was at length
realized。 Marguerite could not be without me。 Not caring what the result
might be； she publicly proclaimed our liaison； and I had come to live
entirely at her house。 The servants addressed me officially as their master。
Prudence had strictly sermonized Marguerite in regard to her new
manner of life； but she had replied that she loved me； that she could not
live without me； and that； happen what might； she would not sacrifice the
pleasure of having me constantly with her； adding that those who were not
satisfied with this arrangement were free to stay away。 So much I had
heard one day when Prudence had said to Marguerite that she had
something very important to tell her； and I had listened at the door of the
room into which they had shut themselves。
Not long after； Prudence returned again。 I was at the other end of the
garden when she arrived； and she did not see me。 I had no doubt； from the
way in which Marguerite came to meet her； that another similar
conversation was going to take place； and I was anxious to hear what it
was about。 The two women shut themselves into a boudoir； and I put
myself within hearing。
〃Well？〃 said Marguerite。