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Those who meet these bold travellers ought to succour them； and to
tell all that they have met them； for in so doing they point out the way。 It is
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not a question of setting at the outset of life two sign…posts； one bearing
the inscription 〃The Right Way；〃 the other the inscription 〃The Wrong
Way；〃 and of saying to those who come there； 〃Choose。〃 One must needs；
like Christ； point out the ways which lead from the second road to the first；
to those who have been easily led astray； and it is needful that the
beginning of these ways should not be too painful nor appear too
impenetrable。
Here is Christianity with its marvellous parable of the Prodigal Son to
teach us indulgence and pardon。 Jesus was full of love for souls wounded
by the passions of men； he loved to bind up their wounds and to find in
those very wounds the balm which should heal them。 Thus he said to the
Magdalen： 〃Much shall be forgiven thee because thou hast loved much；〃 a
sublimity of pardon which can only have called forth a sublime faith。
Why do we make ourselves more strict than Christ？ Why； holding
obstinately to the opinions of the world； which hardens itself in order that
it may be thought strong； do we reject； as it rejects； souls bleeding at
wounds by which； like a sick man's bad blood； the evil of their past may
be healed； if only a friendly hand is stretched out to lave them and set
them in the convalescence of the heart？
It is to my own generation that I speak； to those for whom the theories
of M。 de Voltaire happily exist no longer； to those who； like myself； realize
that humanity； for these last fifteen years； has been in one of its most
audacious moments of expansion。 The science of good and evil is acquired
forever； faith is refashioned； respect for sacred things has returned to us；
and if the world has not all at once become good； it has at least become
better。 The efforts of every intelligent man tend in the same direction； and
every strong will is harnessed to the same principle： Be good； be young；
be true！ Evil is nothing but vanity； let us have the pride of good； and above
all let us never despair。 Do not let us despise the woman who is neither
mother； sister； maid； nor wife。 Do not let us limit esteem to the family nor
indulgence to egoism。 Since 〃there is more joy in heaven over one sinner
that repenteth than over ninety and nine just persons that need no
repentance；〃 let us give joy to heaven。 Heaven will render it back to us
with usury。 Let us leave on our way the alms of pardon for those whom
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earthly desires have driven astray； whom a divine hope shall perhaps save；
and； as old women say when they offer you。 some homely remedy of their
own； if it does no good it will do no harm。
Doubtless it must seem a bold thing to attempt to deduce these grand
results out of the meagre subject that I deal with； but I am one of those
who believe that all is in little。 The child is small； and he includes the man；
the brain is narrow； and it harbours thought； the eye is but a point； and it
covers leagues。
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CHAPTER 4
Two days after； the sale was ended。 It had produced 3。50；000 francs。
The creditors divided among them two thirds； and the family； a sister and a
grand…nephew； received the remainder。
The sister opened her eyes very wide when the lawyer wrote to her
that she had inherited 50；000 francs。 The girl had not seen her sister for six
or seven years； and did not know what had become of her from the
moment when she had disappeared from home。 She came up to Paris in
haste； and great was the astonishment of those who had known Marguerite
when they saw as her only heir a fine； fat country girl； who until then had
never left her village。 She had made the fortune at a single stroke； without
even knowing the source of that fortune。 She went back； I heard afterward；
to her countryside； greatly saddened by her sister's death； but with a
sadness which was somewhat lightened by the investment at four and a
half per cent which she had been able to make。
All these circumstances； often repeated in Paris； the mother city of
scandal； had begun to be forgotten； and I was even little by little forgetting
the part I had taken in them； when a new incident brought to my
knowledge the whole of Marguerite's life； and acquainted me with such
pathetic details that I was taken with the idea of writing down the story
which I now write。
The rooms； now emptied of all their furniture； had been to let for three
or four days when one morning there was a ring at my door。
My servant； or； rather； my porter； who acted as my servant； went to the
door and brought me a card； saying that the person who had given it to
him wished to see me。
I glanced at the card and there read these two words： Armand Duval。
I tried to think where I had seen the name； and remembered the first
leaf of the copy of Manon Lescaut。 What could the person who had given
the book to Marguerite want of me？ I gave orders to ask him in at once。
I saw a young man； blond； tall； pale； dressed in a travelling suit which
looked as if he had not changed it for some days； and had not even taken
the trouble to brush it on arriving at Paris； for it was covered with dust。
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M。 Duval was deeply agitated； he made no attempt to conceal his
agitation； and it was with tears in his eyes and a trembling voice that he
said to me：
〃Sir； I beg you to excuse my visit and my costume； but young people
are not very ceremonious with one another； and I was so anxious to see
you to…day that I have not even gone to the hotel to which I have sent my
luggage； and have rushed straight here； fearing that； after all； I might miss
you； early as it is。〃
I begged M。 Duval to sit down by the fire； he did so； and； taking his
handkerchief from his pocket； hid his face in it for a moment。
〃You must be at a loss to understand；〃 he went on；