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〃Well； but the duke？〃
〃What duke？〃
〃My jealous old duke。〃
〃He will know nothing。〃
〃And if he should？〃
〃He would forgive you。〃
〃Ah； no； he would leave me； and what would become of me？〃
〃You risk that for some one else。〃
〃How do you know？〃 〃By the order you gave not to admit any one to…night。〃 〃It is true； but that is a serious friend。〃
〃For whom you care nothing； as you have shut your door against him at such an hour。〃
〃It is not for you to reproach me； since it was in order to receive you； you and your friend。〃
Little by little I had drawn nearer to Marguerite。 I had put my arms about her waist； and I felt her supple body weigh lightly on my clasped hands。
〃If you knew how much I love you！〃 I said in a low voice。 〃Really true？〃
〃I swear it。〃
〃Well； if you will promise to do everything I tell you； without a word； without an opinion； without a question； perhaps I will say yes。〃
〃I will do everything that you wish！〃
〃But I forewarn you I must be free to do as I please； without giving you the slightest details what I do。 I have long wished for a young lover； who should be young and not self…willed； loving without distrust； loved without claiming the right to it。 I have never found one。 Men； instead of being satisfied in obtaining for a long time what they scarcely hoped to obtain once； exact from their mistresses a full account of the present； the past； and even the future。 As they get accustomed to her； they want to rule her； and the more one gives them the more exacting they become。 If I decide now on taking a new lover； he must have three very rare qualities： he must be confiding； submissive； and discreet。〃
〃Well； I will be all that you wish。〃
〃We shall see。〃
〃When shall we see？〃
〃Later on。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because；〃 said Marguerite； releasing herself from my arms； and； taking from a great bunch of red camellias a single camellia； she placed it in my buttonhole； 〃because one can not always carry out agreements the day they are signed。〃
〃And when shall I see you again？〃 I said； clasping her in my arms。
〃When this camellia changes colour。〃
〃When will it change colour？〃
〃To…morrow night between eleven and twelve。 Are you satisfied？〃
〃Need you ask me？〃
〃Not a word of this either to your friend or to Prudence； or to anybody whatever。〃
〃I promise。〃
〃Now； kiss me； and we will go back to the dining…room。〃
She held up her lips to me； smoothed her hair again； and we went out of the room； she singing； and I almost beside myself。
In the next room she stopped for a moment and said to me in a low voice：
〃It must seem strange to you that I am ready to take you at a moment's notice。 Shall I tell you why？ It is；〃 she continued； taking my hand and placing it against her heart so that I could feel how rapidly and violently it palpitated； 〃it is because I shall not live as long as others； and I have promised myself to live more quickly。〃
〃Don't speak to me like that； I entreat you。〃
〃Oh； make yourself easy；〃 she continued； laughing； 〃however short a time I have to live； I shall live longer than you will love me！〃
And she went singing into the dining…room。
〃Where is Nanine？〃 she said； seeing Gaston and Prudence alone。
〃She is asleep in your room； waiting till you are ready to go to bed；〃 replied Prudence。
〃Poor thing； I am killing her！ And now gentlemen； it is time to go。〃
Ten minutes after； Gaston and I left the house。 Marguerite shook hands with me and said good…bye。 Prudence remained behind。
〃Well；〃 said Gaston； when we were in the street； 〃what do you think of Marguerite？〃
〃She is an angel； and I am madly in love with her。〃 〃So I guessed； did you tell her so？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃And did she promise to believe you？〃
〃No。〃
〃She is not like Prudence。〃
〃Did she promise to？〃
〃Better still； my dear fellow。 You wouldn't think it； but she is still not half bad； poor old Duvernoy！〃
Chapter 11
At this point Armand stopped。
〃Would you close the window for me？〃 he said。 〃I am beginning to feel cold。 Meanwhile； I will get into bed。〃
I closed the window。 Armand； who was still very weak； took off his dressing…gown and lay down in bed； resting his head for a few moments on the pillow； like a man who is tired by much talking or disturbed by painful memories。
〃Perhaps you have been talking too much；〃 I said to him。 〃Would you rather for me to go and leave you to sleep？ You can tell me the rest of the story another day。〃
〃Are you tired of listening to it？〃
〃Quite the contrary。〃
〃Then I will go on。 If you left me alone； I should not sleep。〃
When I returned home （he continued； without needing to pause and recollect himself； so fresh were all the details in his mind）； I did not go to bed； but began to reflect over the day's adventure。 The meeting； the introduction； the promise of Marguerite； had followed one another so rapidly； and so unexpectedly； that there were moments when it seemed to me I had been dreaming。 Nevertheless； it was not the first time that a girl like Marguerite had promised herself to a man on the morrow of the day on which he had asked for the promise。
Though； indeed； I made this reflection； the first impression produced on me by my future mistress was so strong that it still persisted。 I refused obstinately to see in her a woman like other women； and； with the vanity so common to all men； I was ready to believe that she could not but share the attraction which drew me to her。
Yet； I had before me plenty of instances to the contrary； and I had often heard that the affection of Marguerite was a thing to be had more or less dear； according to the season。
But； on the other hand； how was I to reconcile this reputation with her constant refusal of the young count whom we had found at her house？ You may say that he was unattractive to her； and that； as she was splendidly kept by the duke； she would be more likely to choose a man who was attractive to her； if she were to take another lover。 If so； why did she not choose Gaston； who was rich； witty； and charming； and why did she care for me； whom she had thought so ridiculous the first time she had seen me？
It is true that there are events of a moment which tell more than the courtship of a year。 Of those who were at the supper； I was the only one who had been concerned at her leaving the table。 I had followed her； I had been so affected as to be unable to hide it from her； I had wept as I kissed her hand。 This circumstance； added to my daily visits during the two months of her illness； might have shown her that I was somewhat different from the other men she knew； and perhaps she had said to herself that for a love which could thus manifest itself she might well do what she had done so often that it had no more consequence for her。
All these suppositions； as you may see； were improbable enough； but whatever might have been the reason of her consent； one thing was certain； she had consented。
Now； I was in love with Marguerite。 I had nothing more to ask of her。 Nevertheless； though she was only a kept woman； I had so anticipated for myself； perhaps to poetize it a little； a hopeless love； that the nearer the moment approached when I sho