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you。 If you would choose a retreat worthy of us； Asia is the only
country where love can unfold his wings。 。 。 。〃
〃You are right；〃 answered Henri。 〃Let us go to the Indies； there where
spring is eternal； where the earth grows only flowers； where man can
display the magnificence of kings and none shall say him nay； as in
the foolish lands where they would realize the dull chimera of
equality。 Let us go to the country where one lives in the midst of a
nation of slaves； where the sun shines ever on a palace which is
always white； where the air sheds perfumes； the birds sing of love and
where； when one can love no more； one dies。 。 。 。〃
〃And where one dies together！〃 said Paquita。 〃But do not let us start
to…morrow； let us start this moment 。 。 。 take Cristemio。〃
〃Faith！ pleasure is the fairest climax of life。 Let us go to Asia； but
to start； my child； one needs much gold； and to have gold one must set
one's affairs in order。〃
She understood no part of these ideas。
〃Gold！ There is a pile of it hereas high as that；〃 she said holding
up her hand。
〃It is not mine。〃
〃What does that matter？〃 she went on； 〃if we have need of it let us
take it。〃
〃It does not belong to you。〃
〃Belong！〃 she repeated。 〃Have you not taken me？ When we have taken it；
it will belong to us。〃
He gave a laugh。
〃Poor innocent！ You know nothing of the world。〃
〃Nay； but this is what I know；〃 she cried； clasping Henri to her。
At the very moment when De Marsay was forgetting all； and conceiving
the desire to appropriate this creature forever； he received in the
midst of his joy a dagger…thrust； which Paquita； who had lifted him
vigorously in the air； as though to contemplate him； exclaimed： 〃Oh；
Margarita！〃
〃Margarita！〃 cried the young man； with a roar； 〃now I know all that I
still tried to disbelieve。〃
He leaped upon the cabinet in which the long poniard was kept。 Happily
for Paquita and for himself； the cupboard was shut。 His fury waxed at
this impediment； but he recovered his tranquillity； went and found his
cravat； and advanced towards her with an air of such ferocious meaning
that； without knowing of what crime she had been guilty； Paquita
understood； none the less； that her life was in question。 With one
bound she rushed to the other end of the room to escape the fatal knot
which De Marsay tried to pass round her neck。 There was a struggle。 On
either side there was an equality of strength； agility； and
suppleness。 To end the combat Paquita threw between the legs of her
lover a cushion which made him fall； and profited by the respite which
this advantage gave to her； to push the button of the spring which
caused the bell to ring。 Promptly the mulatto arrived。 In a second
Cristemio leaped on De Marsay and held him down with one foot on his
chest； his heel turned towards the throat。 De Marsay realized that； if
he struggled； at a single sign from Paquita he would be instantly
crushed。
〃Why did you want to kill me； my beloved？〃 she said。 De Marsay made no
reply。
〃In what have I angered you？〃 she asked。 〃Speak； let us understand
each other。〃
Henri maintained the phlegmatic attitude of a strong man who feels
himself vanquished； his countenance； cold； silent； entirely English；
revealed the consciousness of his dignity in a momentary resignation。
Moreover； he had already thought； in spite of the vehemence of his
anger； that it was scarcely prudent to compromise himself with the law
by killing this girl on the spur of the moment； before he had arranged
the murder in such a manner as should insure his impunity。
〃My beloved；〃 went on Paquita； 〃speak to me； do not leave me without
one loving farewell！ I would not keep in my heart the terror which you
have just inspired in it。 。 。 。 Will you speak？〃 she said； stamping
her foot with anger。
De Marsay； for all reply； gave her a glance； which signified so
plainly； 〃/You must die！/〃 that Paquita threw herself upon him。
〃Ah； well； you want to kill me！ 。 。 。 If my death can give you any
pleasurekill me！〃
She made a sign to Cristemio； who withdrew his foot from the body of
the young man； and retired without letting his face show that he had
formed any opinion； good or bad； with regard to Paquita。
〃That is a man；〃 said De Marsay； pointing to the mulatto； with a
sombre gesture。 〃There is no devotion like the devotion which obeys in
friendship； and does not stop to weigh motives。 In that man you
possess a true friend。〃
〃I will give him you； if you like；〃 she answered； 〃he will serve you
with the same devotion that he has for me； if I so instruct him。〃
She waited for a word of recognition； and went on with an accent
replete with tenderness：
〃Adolphe； give me then one kind word！ 。 。 。 It is nearly day。〃
Henri did not answer。 The young man had one sorry quality； for one
considers as something great everything which resembles strength； and
often men invent extravagances。 Henri knew not how to pardon。 That
/returning upon itself/ which is one of the soul's graces； was a non…
existent sense for him。 The ferocity of the Northern man； with which
the English blood is deeply tainted； had been transmitted to him by
his father。 He was inexorable both in his good and evil impulses。
Paquita's exclamation had been all the more horrible to him； in that
it had dethroned him from the sweetest triumph which had ever
flattered his man's vanity。 Hope； love； and every emotion had been
exalted with him； all had lit up within his heart and his
intelligence； then these torches illuminating his life had been
extinguished by a cold wind。 Paquita； in her stupefaction of grief；
had only strength enough to give the signal for departure。
〃What is the use of that！〃 she said； throwing away the bandage。 〃If he
does not love me； if he hates me； it is all over。〃
She waited for one look； did not obtain it； and fell； half dead。 The
mulatto cast a glance at Henri； so horribly significant； that； for the
first time in his life； the young man； to whom no one denied the gift
of rare courage； trembled。 〃/If you do not love her well； if you give
her the least pain； I will kill you/。〃 such was the sense of that
brief gaze。 De Marsay was escorted； with a care almost obsequious；
along the dimly lit corridor； at the end of which he issued by a
secret door into the garden of the Hotel San…Real。 The mulatto made
him walk cautiously through an avenue of lime trees； which led to a
little gate opening upon a street which was at that hour deserted。 De
Marsay took a keen notice of everything。 The carriage awaited him。
This time the mulatto did not accompany him； and at the moment when
Henri put his head out of the window to look once more at the gardens
of the hotel； he encountered the white eyes of Cristemio； with whom he
exchanged a glance。 On either side there was a provocation； a
challenge； the declaration of a savage war； of a duel in which
ordinary laws were invalid； where treason and treachery were admitted
means。 Cristemio knew that Henri had sworn Paquita's death。 Henri knew
that Cristemio would like to kill him before he killed Paquita。 Both
understood each other to perfection。
〃The adventure is growing complicat