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my friend's window opened gaily upon his garden； from which a reviving
breath of health seemed to come to him。 The doctor had allowed him to
get up； and we often sat talking at the open window； at the hour when the
sun is at its height； from twelve to two。 I was careful not to refer to
Marguerite； fearing lest the name should awaken sad recollections hidden
under the apparent calm of the invalid； but Armand； on the contrary；
seemed to delight in speaking of her； not as formerly； with tears in his eyes；
but with a sweet smile which reassured me as to the state of his mind。
I had noticed that ever since his last visit to the cemetery； and the sight
which had brought on so violent a crisis； sorrow seemed to have been
overcome by sickness； and Marguerite's death no longer appeared to him
under its former aspect。 A kind of consolation had sprung from the
certainty of which he was now fully persuaded； and in order to banish the
sombre picture which often presented itself to him； he returned upon the
happy recollections of his liaison with Marguerite； and seemed resolved to
think of nothing else。
The body was too much weakened by the attack of fever； and even by
the process of its cure； to permit him any violent emotions； and the
universal joy of spring which wrapped him round carried his thoughts
instinctively to images of joy。 He had always obstinately refused to tell his
family of the danger which he had been in； and when he was well again
his father did not even know that he had been ill。
One evening we had sat at the window later than usual； the weather
had been superb； and the sun sank to sleep in a twilight dazzling with gold
and azure。 Though we were in Paris； the verdure which surrounded us
seemed to shut us off from the world； and our conversation was only now
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and again disturbed by the sound of a passing vehicle。
〃It was about this time of the year； on the evening of a day like this；
that I first met Marguerite；〃 said Armand to me； as if he were listening to
his own thoughts rather than to what I was saying。 I did not answer。 Then
turning toward me； he said：
〃I must tell you the whole story； you will make a book out of it； no one
will believe it； but it will perhaps be interesting to do。〃
〃You will tell me all about it later on； my friend；〃 I said to him； 〃you
are not strong enough yet。〃
〃It is a warm evening； I have eaten my ration of chicken；〃 he said to
me； smiling； 〃I have no fever； we have nothing to do； I will tell it to you
now。〃
〃Since you really wish it； I will listen。〃
This is what he told me； and I have scarcely changed a word of the
touching story。
Yes （Armand went on； letting his head sink back on the chair）； yes； it
was just such an evening as this。 I had spent the day in the country with
one of my friends； Gaston R。 We returned to Paris in the evening； and
not knowing what to do we went to the Varietes。 We went out during one
of the entr'actes； and a tall woman passed us in the corridor； to whom my
friend bowed。
〃Whom are you bowing to？〃 I asked。
〃Marguerite Gautier；〃 he said。
〃She seems much changed； for I did not recognise her；〃 I said； with an
emotion that you will soon understand。
〃She has been ill； the poor girl won't last long。〃
I remember the words as if they had been spoken to me yesterday。
I must tell you； my friend； that for two years the sight of this girl had
made a strange impression on me whenever I came across her。 Without
knowing why； I turned pale and my heart beat violently。 I have a friend
who studies the occult sciences； and he would call what I experienced 〃the
affinity of fluids〃； as for me； I only know that I was fated to fall in love
with Marguerite； and that I foresaw it。
It is certainly the fact that she made a very definite impression upon
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me； that many of my friends had noticed it and that they had been much
amused when they saw who it was that made this impression upon me。
The first time I ever saw her was in the Place de la Bourse； outside
Susse's； an open carriage was stationed there； and a woman dressed in
white got down from it。 A murmur of admiration greeted her as she
entered the shop。 As for me； I was rivetted to the spot from the moment
she went in till the moment when she came out again。 I could see her
through the shop windows selecting what she had come to buy。 I might
have gone in； but I dared not。 I did not know who she was； and I was
afraid lest she should guess why I had come in and be offended。
Nevertheless； I did not think I should ever see her again。
She was elegantly dressed； she wore a muslin dress with many
flounces； an Indian shawl embroidered at the corners with gold and silk
flowers； a straw hat； a single bracelet； and a heavy gold chain； such as was
just then beginning to be the fashion。
She returned to her carriage and drove away。 One of the shopmen
stood at the door looking after his elegant customer's carriage。 I went up to
him and asked him what was the lady's name。
〃Mademoiselle Marguerite Gautier；〃 he replied。 I dared not ask him for
her address； and went on my way。
The recollection of this vision； for it was really a vision； would not
leave my mind like so many visions I had seen； and I looked everywhere
for this royally beautiful woman in white。
A few days later there was a great performance at the Opera Comique。
The first person I saw in one of the boxes was Marguerite Gautier。
The young man whom I was with recognised her immediately； for he
said to me； mentioning her name： 〃Look at that pretty girl。〃
At that moment Marguerite turned her opera…glass in our direction and；
seeing my friend； smiled and beckoned to him to come to her。
〃I will go and say 'How do you do？' to her；〃 he said； 〃and will be back
in a moment。〃
〃I could not help saying 〃Happy man！〃
〃Why？〃
〃To go and see that woman。〃
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〃Are you in love with her？〃
〃No；〃 I said； flushing；