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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 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 with her。 The man who was the lover of such a woman might well be as proud as M。 de N。； and she was beautiful enough to inspire a passion not less great than that which Marguerite had inspired in me。 At that moment she had no lover。 It would not be difficult to become so； it depended only on showing enough money to attract her attention。
I made up my mind。 That woman should be my mistress。 I began by dancing with her。 Half an hour afterward； Marguerite； pale as death； put on her pelisse and left the ball。
Chapter 24
It was something already； but it was not enough。 I saw the hold which I had upon this woman； and I took a cowardly advantage of it。
When I think that she is dead now； I ask myself if God will ever forgive me for the wrong I did her。
After the supper； which was noisy as could be； there was gambling。 I sat by the side of Olympe and put down my money so recklessly that she could not but notice me。 In an instant I had gained one hundred and fifty or two hundred louis； which I spread out before me on the table； and on which she fastened her eyes greedily。
I was the only one not completely absorbed by the game； and able to pay her some attention。 All the rest of the night I gained； and it was I who gave her money to play； for she had lost all she had before her and probably all she had in the house。
At five in the morning； the guests departed。 I had gained three hundred louis。
All the players were already on their way downstairs； I was the only one who had remained behind； and as I did not know any of them； no one noticed it。 Olympe herself was lighting the way； and I was going to follow the others； when； turning back； I said to her：
〃I must speak to you。〃
〃To…morrow；〃 she said。
〃No； now。〃
〃What have you to say？〃
〃You will see。〃
And I went back into the room。
〃You have lost；〃 I said。
〃Yes。
〃All that you had in the house？〃
She hesitated。
〃Be frank。〃
〃Well； it is true。〃
〃I have won three hundred louis。 Here they are； if you will let me stay here to…night。〃
And I threw the gold on the table。
〃And why this proposition？〃
〃Because I am in love with you； of course。〃
〃No； but because you love Marguerite； and you want to have your revenge upon her by becoming my lover。 You don't deceive a woman like me； my dear friend； unluckily； I am still too young and too good…looking to accept the part that you offer me。〃
〃So you refuse？〃
〃Yes。
〃Would you rather take me for nothing？ It is I who wouldn't accept then。 Think it over； my dear Olympe； if I had sent some one to offer you these three hundred louis on my behalf； on the conditions I attach to them； you would have accepted。 I preferred to speak to you myself。 Accept without inquiring into my reasons； say to yourself that you are beautiful； and that there is nothing surprising in my being in love with you。〃
Marguerite was a woman in the same position as Olympe； and yet I should never have dared say to her the first time I met her what I had said to the other woman。 I loved Marguerite。 I saw in her instincts which were lacking in the other； and at the very moment in which I made my bargain； I felt a disgust toward the woman with whom I was making it。
She accepted； of course； in the end； and at midday I left her house as her lover； but I quitted her without a recollection of the caresses and of the words of love which she had felt bound to shower upon me in return for the six thousand francs which I left with her。 And yet there were men who had ruined themselves for that woman。
From that day I inflicted on Marguerite a continual persecution。 Olympe and she gave up seeing one another； as you might imagine。 I gave my new mistress a carriage and jewels。 I gambled； I committed every extravagance which could be expected of a man in love with such a woman as Olympe。 The report of my new infatuation was immediately spread abroad。
Prudence herself was taken in； and finally thought that I had completely forgotten Marguerite。 Marguerite herself； whether she guessed my motive or was deceived like everybody else； preserved a perfect dignity in response to the insults which I heaped upon her daily。 Only； she seemed to suffer； for whenever I met her she was more and more pale； more and more sad。 My love for her； carried to the point at which it was transformed into hatred； rejoiced at the sight of her daily sorrow。 Often； when my cruelty toward her became infamous； Marguerite lifted upon me such appealing eyes that I blushed for the part I was playing； and was ready to implore her forgiveness。
But my repentance was only of a moment's duration； and Olympe； who had finally put aside all self…respect； and discovered that by annoying Marguerite she could get from me whatever she wanted； constantly stirred up my resentment against her； and insulted her whenever she found an opportunity； with the cowardly persistence of a wo