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〃We will wait here。〃
〃You can't。〃
〃Then we will go with you。〃
〃That still less。〃
〃I know Marguerite；〃 said Gaston； I can very well pay her a call。〃
〃But Armand doesn't know her。〃
〃I will introduce him。〃
〃Impossible。〃
We again heard Marguerite's voice calling to Prudence； who rushed to her dressing…room window。 I followed with Gaston as she opened the window。 We hid ourselves so as not to be seen from outside。
〃I have been calling you for ten minutes；〃 said Marguerite from her window； in almost an imperious tone of voice。
〃What do you want？〃
〃I want you to come over at once。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because the Comte de N。 is still here； and he is boring me to death。〃
〃I can't now。〃
〃What is hindering you？〃
〃There are two young fellows here who won't go。〃
〃Tell them that you must go out。〃
〃I have told them。〃
〃Well； then； leave them in the house。 They will soon go when they see you have gone。〃
〃They will turn everything upside down。〃
〃But what do they want？〃
〃They want to see you。〃
〃What are they called？〃
〃You know one； M。 Gaston R。〃
〃Ah； yes； I know him。 And the other？〃
〃M。 Armand Duval； and you don't know him。〃
〃No； but bring them along。 Anything is better than the count。 I expect you。 Come at once。〃
Marguerite closed her window and Prudence hers。 Marguerite； who had remembered my face for a moment； did not remember my name。 I would rather have been remembered to my disadvantage than thus forgotten。
〃I knew；〃 said Gaston； 〃that she would be delighted to see us。〃
〃Delighted isn't the word；〃 replied Prudence； as she put on her hat and shawl。 〃She will see you in order to get rid of the count。 Try to be more agreeable than he is； or （I know Marguerite） she will put it all down to me。〃
We followed Prudence downstairs。 I trembled； it seemed to me that this visit was to have a great influence on my life。 I was still more agitated than on the evening when I was introduced in the box at the Opera Comique。 As we reached the door that you know； my heart beat so violently that I was hardly able to think。
We heard the sound of a piano。 Prudence rang。 The piano was silent。 A woman who looked more like a companion than a servant opened the door。 We went into the drawing…room； and from that to the boudoir； which was then just as you have seen it since。 A young man was leaning against the mantel…piece。 Marguerite； seated at the piano； let her fingers wander over the notes； beginning scraps of music without finishing them。 The whole scene breathed boredom； the man embarrassed by the consciousness of his nullity； the woman tired of her dismal visitor。 At the voice of Prudence； Marguerite rose； and coming toward us with a look of gratitude to Mme。 Duvernoy； said：
〃Come in； and welcome。〃
Chapter 9
〃Good…evening； my dear Gaston；〃 said Marguerite to my companion。 〃I am very glad to see you。 Why didn't you come to see me in my box at the Varietes？〃
〃I was afraid it would be indiscreet。〃
〃Friends；〃 and Marguerite lingered over the word； as if to intimate to those who were present that in spite of the familiar way in which she greeted him； Gaston was not and never had been anything more than a friend； 〃friends are always welcome。〃
〃Then； will you permit me to introduce M。 Armand Duval？〃
〃I had already authorized Prudence to do so。〃
〃As far as that goes； madame；〃 I said； bowing； and succeeding in getting more or less intelligible sounds out of my throat； 〃I have already had the honour of being introduced to you。〃
Marguerite's beautiful eyes seemed to be looking back in memory； but she could not； or seemed not to； remember。
〃Madame；〃 I continued； 〃I am grateful to you for having forgotten the occasion of my first introduction； for I was very absurd and must have seemed to you very tiresome。 It was at the Opera Comique； two years ago； I was with Ernest de 。〃
〃Ah； I remember；〃 said Marguerite； with a smile。 〃It was not you who were absurd； it was I who was mischievous； as I still am； but somewhat less。 You have forgiven me？〃
And she held out her hand； which I kissed。
〃It is true；〃 she went on； 〃you know I have the bad habit of trying to embarrass people the first time I meet them。 It is very stupid。 My doctor says it is because I am nervous and always ill； believe my doctor。〃
〃But you seem quite well。〃
〃Oh！ I have been very ill。〃
〃I know。〃
〃Who told you？〃
〃Every one knew it； I often came to inquire after you； and I was happy to hear of your convalescence。〃
〃They never gave me your card。〃
〃I did not leave it。〃
〃Was it you； then； who called every day while I was ill； and would never leave your name？〃
〃Yes； it was I。〃
〃Then you are more than indulgent； you are generous。 You； count； wouldn't have done that；〃 said she； turning toward M。 de N。； after giving me one of those looks in which women sum up their opinion of a man。
〃I have only known you for two months；〃 replied the count。
〃And this gentleman only for five minutes。 You always say something ridiculous。〃
Women are pitiless toward those whom they do not care for。 The count reddened and bit his lips。
I was sorry for him； for he seemed； like myself； to be in love； and the bitter frankness of Marguerite must have made him very unhappy； especially in the presence of two strangers。
〃You were playing the piano when we came in；〃 I said； in order to change the conversation。 〃Won't you be so good as to treat me as an old acquaintance and go on？〃
〃Oh；〃 said she； flinging herself on the sofa and motioning to us to sit down； 〃Gaston knows what my music is like。 It is all very well when I am alone with the count； but I won't inflict such a punishment on you。〃
〃You show me that preference？〃 said M。 de N。； with a smile which he tried to render delicately ironical。
〃Don't reproach me for it。 It is the only one。〃 It was fated that the poor man was not to say a single word。 He cast a really supplicating glance at Marguerite。
〃Well； Prudence；〃 she went on； 〃have you done what I asked you to do？〃
〃Yes。
〃All right。 You will tell me about it later。 We must talk over it； don't go before I can speak with you。〃
〃We are doubtless intruders；〃 I said； 〃and now that we； or rather I； have had a second introduction； to blot out the first； it is time for Gaston and me to be going。〃
〃Not in the least。 I didn't mean that for you。 I want you to stay。〃
The count took a very elegant watch out of his pocket and looked at the time。 〃I must be going to my club；〃 he said。 Marguerite did not answer。 The count thereupon left his position by the fireplace and going up to her； said： 〃Adieu； madame。〃
Marguerite rose。 〃Adieu； my dear count。 Are you going already？〃
〃Yes； I fear I am boring you。〃
〃You are not boring me to…day more than any other day。 When shall I be seeing you？〃
〃When you permit me。〃
〃Good…bye； then。〃
It was cruel； you will admit。 Fortunately； the count had excellent manners and was very good…tempered。 He merely kissed Marguerite's hand； which she held out to him carelessly enough； and； bowing to us； went out。
As he crossed the threshold； he cast a glance at Prudence。 She shrugged her shoulders； as much as to say：
〃What do