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had witnessed before； and that every time his thoughts or speech travelled
back to that mournful subject emotion would still； for a long time to come；
prove stronger than his will。 I contented myself with a nod of the head。
〃He has looked after it well？〃 continued Armand。 Two big tears rolled
down the cheeks of the sick man； and he turned away his head to hide
them from me。 I pretended not to see them； and tried to change the
conversation。 〃You have been away three weeks；〃 I said。
Armand passed his hand across his eyes and replied； 〃Exactly three
weeks。〃
〃You had a long journey。〃
〃Oh； I was not travelling all the time。 I was ill for a fortnight or I
should have returned long ago； but I had scarcely got there when I took
this fever； and I was obliged to keep my room。〃
〃And you started to come back before you were really well？〃
〃If I had remained in the place for another week； I should have died
there。〃
〃Well； now you are back again； you must take care of yourself； your
friends will come and look after you； myself； first of all； if you will allow
me。〃
〃I shall get up in a couple of hours。〃
〃It would be very unwise。〃
〃I must。〃
〃What have you to do in such a great hurry？〃
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〃I must go to the inspector of police。〃
〃Why do you not get one of your friends to see after the matter？ It is
likely to make you worse than you are now。〃
〃It is my only chance of getting better。 I must see her。 Ever since I
heard of her death； especially since I saw her grave； I have not been able
to sleep。 I can not realize that this woman； so young and so beautiful when
I left her； is really dead。 I must convince myself of it。 I must see what
God has done with a being that I have loved so much； and perhaps the
horror of the sight will cure me of my despair。 Will you accompany me； if
it won't be troubling you too much？〃
〃What did her sister say about it？〃
〃Nothing。 She seemed greatly surprised that a stranger wanted to buy a
plot of ground and give Marguerite a new grave； and she immediately
signed the authorization that I asked her for。〃
〃Believe me； it would be better to wait until you are quite well。〃
〃Have no fear； I shall be quite composed。 Besides； I should simply go
out of my mind if I were not to carry out a resolution which I have set
myself to carry out。 I swear to you that I shall never be myself again until I
have seen Marguerite。 It is perhaps the thirst of the fever； a sleepless
night's dream； a moment's delirium； but though I were to become a
Trappist； like M。 de Rance'； after having seen； I will see。〃
〃I understand；〃 I said to Armand； 〃and I am at your service。 Have you
seen Julie Duprat？〃
〃Yes； I saw her the day I returned； for the first time。〃
〃Did she give you the papers that Marguerite had left for you？〃
Armand drew a roll of papers from under his pillow； and immediately
put them back。
〃I know all that is in these papers by heart；〃 he said。 〃For three weeks I
have read them ten times over every day。 You shall read them； too； but
later on； when I am calmer； and can make you understand all the love and
tenderness hidden away in this confession。 For the moment I want you to
do me a service。〃
〃What is it？〃
〃Your cab is below？〃
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CAMILLE （LA DAME AUX CAMILIAS）
〃Yes。
〃Well； will you take my passport and ask if there are any letters for me
at the poste restante？ My father and sister must have written to me at Paris；
and I went away in such haste that I did not go and see before leaving。
When you come back we will go together to the inspector of police； and
arrange for to…morrow's ceremony。〃
Armand handed me his passport； and I went to Rue Jean Jacques
Rousseau。 There were two letters addressed to Duval。 I took them and
returned。 When I re…entered the room Armand was dressed and ready to go
out。
〃Thanks；〃 he said； taking the letters。 〃Yes；〃 he added； after glancing at
the addresses； 〃they are from my father and sister。 They must have been
quite at a loss to understand my silence。〃
He opened the letters； guessed at rather than read them； for each was
of four pages； and a moment after folded them up。 〃Come；〃 he said； 〃I will
answer tomorrow。〃
We went to the police station； and Armand handed in the permission
signed by Marguerite's sister。 He received in return a letter to the keeper of
the cemetery； and it was settled that the disinterment was to take place
next day； at ten o'clock； that I should call for him an hour before； and that
we should go to the cemetery together。
I confess that I was curious to be present； and I did not sleep all night。
judging from the thoughts which filled my brain； it must have been a long
night for Armand。 When I entered his room at nine on the following
morning he was frightfully pale； but seemed calm。 He smiled and held out
his hand。 His candles were burned out； and before leaving he took a very
heavy letter addressed to his father； and no doubt containing an account of
that night's impressions。
Half an hour later we were at Montmartre。 The police inspector was
there already。 We walked slowly in the direction of Marguerite's grave。
The inspector went in front； Armand and I followed a few steps behind。
From time to time I felt my companion's arm tremble convulsively； as
if he shivered from head to feet。 I looked at him。 He understood the look；
and smiled at me； we had not exchanged a word since leaving the house。
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Just before we reached the grave； Armand stopped to wipe his face；
which was covered with great drops of sweat。 I took advantage of the
pause to draw in a long breath； for I； too； felt as if I had a weight on my
chest。
What is the origin of that mournful pleasure which we find in sights of
this kind？ When we reached the grave the gardener had removed all the
flower…pots； the iron railing had been taken away； and two men were
turning up the soil。
Armand leaned against a tree and watc