按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
She had once been a kept woman； and had tried to go on the stage； had
failed； and； relying on her acquaintance with fashionable people in Paris；
had gone into business and taken a milliner's shop。 I saw in her a means of
meeting with Marguerite； and profited by a moment in which she looked
my way to wave my hand to her。 As I expected； she beckoned to me to
come to her box。
Prudence Duvernoy （that was the milliner's auspicious name） was one
46
… Page 47…
CAMILLE （LA DAME AUX CAMILIAS）
of those fat women of forty with whom one requires very little diplomacy
to make them understand what one wants to know； especially when what
one wants to know is as simple as what I had to ask of her。
I took advantage of a moment when she was smiling across at
Marguerite to ask her； 〃Whom are you looking at？〃
〃Marguerite Gautier。〃
〃You know her？〃
〃Yes； I am her milliner； and she is a neighbour of mine。〃
〃Do you live in the Rue d'Antin？〃
〃No。 7。 The window of her dressing…room looks on to the window of
mine。〃
〃They say she is a charming girl。〃
〃Don't you know her？〃
〃No； but I should like to。〃
〃Shall I ask her to come over to our box？〃
〃No； I would rather for you to introduce me to her。〃
〃At her own house？〃
〃Yes。
〃That is more difficult。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because she is under the protection of a jealous old duke。〃
〃'Protection' is charming。〃
〃Yes； protection；〃 replied Prudence。 〃Poor old man； he would be
greatly embarrassed to offer her anything else。〃
Prudence then told me how Marguerite had made the acquaintance of
the duke at Bagneres。
〃That； then；〃 I continued； 〃is why she is alone here？〃
〃Precisely。〃
〃But who will see her home？〃
〃He will。〃
〃He will come for her？〃
〃In a moment。〃
〃And you； who is seeing you home？〃
〃No one。〃
47
… Page 48…
CAMILLE （LA DAME AUX CAMILIAS）
〃May I offer myself？〃
〃But you are with a friend； are you not？〃
〃May we offer； then？〃
〃Who is your friend？〃
〃A charming fellow； very amusing。 He will be delighted to make your
acquaintance。〃
〃Well； all right； we will go after this piece is over； for I know the last
piece。〃
〃With pleasure； I will go and tell my friend。〃
〃Go； then。 Ah；〃 added Prudence； as I was going； 〃there is the duke just
coming into Marguerite's box。〃
I looked at him。 A man of about seventy had sat down behind her； and
was giving her a bag of sweets； into which she dipped at once； smiling。
Then she held it out toward Prudence； with a gesture which seemed to say；
〃Will you have some？〃
〃No；〃 signalled Prudence。 Marguerite drew back the bag； and；
turning； began to talk with the duke。
It may sound childish to tell you all these details； but everything
relating to Marguerite is so fresh in my memory that I can not help
recalling them now。
I went back to Gaston and told him of the arrangement I had made for
him and for me。 He agreed； and we left our stalls to go round to Mme。
Duvernoy's box。 We had scarcely opened the door leading into the stalls
when we had to stand aside to allow Marguerite and the duke to pass。 I
would have given ten years of my life to have been in the old man's place。
When they were on the street he handed her into a phaeton； which he
drove himself； and they were whirled away by two superb horses。
We returned to Prudence's box； and when the play was over we took a
cab and drove to 7； Rue d'Antin。 At the door； Prudence asked us to come
up and see her showrooms； which we had never seen； and of which she
seemed very proud。 You can imagine how eagerly I accepted。 It seemed to
me as if I was coming nearer and nearer to Marguerite。 I soon turned the
conversation in her direction。
〃The old duke is at your neighbours；〃 I said to Prudence。
48
… Page 49…
CAMILLE （LA DAME AUX CAMILIAS）
〃Oh； no； she is probably alone。〃
〃But she must be dreadfully bored；〃 said Gaston。
〃We spend most of our evening together； or she calls to me when she
comes in。 She never goes to bed before two in the morning。 She can't sleep
before that。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because she suffers in the chest； and is almost always feverish。〃
〃Hasn't she any lovers？〃 I asked。
〃I never see any one remain after I leave； I don't say no one ever
comes when I am gone。 Often in the evening I meet there a certain Comte
de N。； who thinks he is making some headway by calling on her at eleven
in the evening； and by sending her jewels to any extent； but she can't stand
him。 She makes a mistake； he is very rich。 It is in vain that I say to her
from time to time； 'My dear child； there's the man for you。' She； who
generally listens to me； turns her back and replies that he is too stupid。
Stupid； indeed； he is； but it would be a position for her； while this old duke
might die any day。 Old men are egoists； his family are always reproaching
him for his affection for Marguerite； there are two reasons why he is likely
to leave her nothing。 I give her good advice； and she only says it will be
plenty of time to take on the count when the duke is dead。 It isn't all fun；〃
continued Prudence； 〃to live like that。 I know very well it wouldn't suit me；
and I should soon send the old man about his business。 He is so dull； he
calls her his daughter； looks after her like a child； and is always in the way。
I am sure at this very moment one of his servants is prowling about in the
street to see who comes out； and especially who goes in。〃
〃Ah； poor Marguerite！〃 said Gaston； sitting down to the piano and
playing a waltz。 〃I hadn't a notion of it； but I did notice she hasn't been
looking so gay lately。〃
〃Hush；〃 said Prudence； listening。 Gaston stopped。
〃She is calling me； I think。〃
We listened。 A voice was calling； 〃Prudence！〃
〃Come； now； you must go；〃 said Mme。 Duvernoy。
〃Ah； that is your idea of hospitality；〃 said Gaston； laughing； 〃we won't
go till we please。〃
49
… Page 50…
CAMILLE （LA DAME AUX CAMILIAS）
〃Why should we go？〃
〃I am going over to Marguerite's。〃
〃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 p