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〃Where does she live？〃
〃Rue Troncliet； No。。 Do you want to make love to her？〃
〃One never knows。〃
〃And Marguerite？〃
〃I should hardly tell you the truth if I said I think no more about her；
but I am one of those with whom everything depends on the way in which
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one breaks with them。 Now Marguerite ended with me so lightly that I
realize I was a great fool to have been as much in love with her as I was；
for I was really very much in love with that girl。〃
You can imagine the way in which I said that； the sweat broke out on
my forehead。
〃She was very fond of you； you know； and she still is； the proof is； that
after meeting you to…day； she came straight to tell me about it。 When she
got here she was all of a tremble； I thought she was going to faint。〃
〃Well； what did she say？〃
〃She said； 'He is sure to come here；' and she begged me to ask you to
forgive her。〃
〃I have forgiven her； you may tell her。 She was a good girl； but； after
all； like the others； and I ought to have expected what happened。 I am even
grateful to her； for I see now what would have happened if I had lived with
her altogether。 It was ridiculous。〃
〃She will be very glad to find that you take it so well。 It was quite time
she left you； my dear fellow。 The rascal of an agent to whom she had
offered to sell her furniture went around to her creditors to find out how
much she owed； they took fright； and in two days she would have been
sold up。〃
〃And now it is all paid？〃
〃More or less。〃
〃And who has supplied the money？〃
〃The Comte de N。 Ah； my dear friend； there are men made on purpose
for such occasions。 To cut a long story short he gave her twenty thousand
francs； but he has had his way at last。 He knows quite well that Marguerite
is not in love with him； but he is very nice with her all the same。 As you
have seen； he has repurchased her horses； he has taken her jewels out of
pawn； and he gives her as much money as the duke used to give her； if she
likes to live quietly； he will stay with her a long time。〃
〃And what is she doing？ Is she living in Paris altogether？〃
〃She would never go back to Bougival after you went。 I had to go
myself and see after all her things； and yours； too。 I made a package of
them and you can send here for them。 You will find everything； except a
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little case with your initials。 Marguerite wanted to keep it。 If you really
want it； I will ask her for it。〃
〃Let her keep it；〃 I stammered； for I felt the tears rise from my heart to
my eyes at the recollection of the village where I had been so happy； and
at the thought that Marguerite cared to keep something which had
belonged to me and would recall me to her。 If she had entered at that
moment my thoughts of vengeance would have disappeared； and I should
have fallen at her feet。
〃For the rest；〃 continued Prudence； 〃I never saw her as she is now； she
hardly takes any sleep； she goes to all the balls； she goes to suppers； she
even drinks。 The other day； after a supper； she had to stay in bed for a
week； and when the doctor let her get up； she began again at the risk of her
life。 Shall you go and see her？〃
〃What is the good？ I came to see you； because you have always been
charming to me； and I knew you before I ever knew Marguerite。 I owe it to
you that I have been her lover； and also； don't I； that I am her lover no
longer？〃
〃Well； I did all I could to get her away from you； and I believe you
will be thankful to me later on。〃
I owe you a double gratitude；〃 I added； rising； for I was disgusted with
the woman； seeing her take every word I said to her as if it were serious。
〃You are going？〃
〃Yes。〃
I had learned enough。
〃When shall I be seeing you？〃
〃Soon。 Good…bye。〃
〃Good…bye。〃
Prudence saw me to the door； and I went back to my own rooms with
tears of rage in my eyes and a desire for vengeance in my heart。
So Marguerite was no different from the others； so the steadfast love
that she had had for me could not resist the desire of returning to her
former life； and the need of having a carriage and plunging into dissipation。
So I said to myself； as I lay awake at night though if I had reflected as
calmly as I professed to I should have seen in this new and turbulent life
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of Marguerite the attempt to silence a constant thought； a ceaseless
memory。 Unfortunately； evil passion had the upper hand； and I only sought
for some means of avenging myself on the poor creature。 Oh； how petty
and vile is man when he is wounded in one of his narrow passions！
This Olympe whom I had seen was； if not a friend of Marguerite； at all
events the woman with whom she was most often seen since her return to
Paris。 She was going to give a ball； and； as I took it for granted that
Marguerite would be there； I tried to get an invitation and succeeded。
When； full of my sorrowful emotions； I arrived at the ball； it was
already very animated。 They were dancing； shouting even； and in one of
the quadrilles I perceived Marguerite dancing with the Comte de N。； who
seemed proud of showing her off； as if he said to everybody： 〃This woman
is mine。〃
I leaned against the mantel…piece just opposite Marguerite and watched
her dancing。 Her face changed the moment she caught sight of me。 I
saluted her casually with a glance of the eyes and a wave of the hand。
When I reflected that after the ball she would go home； not with me but
with that rich fool； when I thought of what would follow their return； the
blood rose to my face； and I felt the need of doing something to trouble
their relations。
After the contredanse I went up to the mistress of the house； who
displayed for the benefit of her guests a dazzling bosom and magnificent
shoulders。 She was beautiful； and； from the point of view of figure； more
beautiful than Marguerite。 I realized this fact still more clearly from
certain glances which Marguerite bestowed upon her while I was talking