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〃Thanks。 Now tell me what it was she wanted to say to you last night。〃
〃Nothing at all。 It was only to get rid of the count； but I have really
something to see her about to…day； and I am bringing her an answer now。〃
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At this moment Marguerite reappeared from her dressing…room；
wearing a coquettish little nightcap with bunches of yellow ribbons；
technically known as 〃cabbages。〃 She looked ravishing。 She had satin
slippers on her bare feet； and was in the act of polishing her nails。
〃Well；〃 she said； seeing Prudence； 〃have you seen the duke？〃
〃Yes； indeed。〃
〃And what did he say to you？〃
〃He gave me〃
〃How much？〃
〃Six thousand。〃
〃Have you got it？〃
〃Yes。 〃Did he seem put out？〃
〃No。〃
〃Poor man！〃
This 〃Poor man！〃 was said in a tone impossible to render。 Marguerite
took the six notes of a thousand francs。
〃It was quite time；〃 she said。 〃My dear Prudence； are you in want of
any money？〃
〃You know； my child； it is the 15th in a couple of days； so if you could
lend me three or four hundred francs； you would do me a real service。〃
〃Send over to…morrow； it is too late to get change now。〃
〃Don't forget。〃
〃No fear。 Will you have supper with us？〃
〃No； Charles is waiting for me。〃
〃You are still devoted to him？〃
〃Crazy； my dear！ I will see you to…morrow。 Good…bye； Armand。〃
Mme。 Duvernoy went out。
Marguerite opened the drawer of a side…table and threw the bank…notes
into it。
〃Will you permit me to get into bed？〃 she said with a smile； as she
moved toward the bed。
〃Not only permit； but I beg of you。〃
She turned back the covering and got into bed。
〃Now；〃 said she； 〃come and sit down by me； and let's have a talk。〃
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Prudence was right： the answer that she had brought to Marguerite had
put her into a good humour。
〃Will you forgive me for my bad temper tonight？〃 she said； taking my
hand。
〃I am ready to forgive you as often as you like。〃
〃And you love me？〃
〃Madly。〃
〃In spite of my bad disposition？〃
〃In spite of all。〃
〃You swear it？〃
〃Yes；〃 I said in a whisper。
Nanine entered； carrying plates； a cold chicken； a bottle of claret； and
some strawberries。
〃I haven't had any punch made；〃 said Nanine； 〃claret is better for you。
Isn't it； sir？〃
〃Certainly；〃 I replied； still under the excitement of Marguerite's last
words； my eyes fixed ardently upon her。
〃Good；〃 said she； 〃put it all on the little table； and draw it up to the bed；
we will help ourselves。 This is the third night you have sat up； and you
must be in want of sleep。 Go to bed。 I don't want anything more。〃
〃Shall I lock the door？〃
〃I should think so！ And above all； tell them not to admit anybody
before midday。〃
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CAMILLE （LA DAME AUX CAMILIAS）
CHAPTER 12
At five o'clock in the morning； as the light began to appear through the
curtains； Marguerite said to me： 〃Forgive me if I send you away； but I
must。 The duke comes every morning； they will tell him； when he comes；
that I am asleep； and perhaps he will wait until I wake。〃
I took Marguerite's head in my hands； her loosened hair streamed
about her； I gave her a last kiss； saying： 〃When shall I see you again？〃
〃Listen；〃 she said； 〃take the little gilt key on the mantelpiece； open that
door； bring me back the key and go。 In the course of the day you shall
have a letter； and my orders； for you know you are to obey blindly。〃
〃Yes； but if I should already ask for something？〃
〃What？〃
〃Let me have that key。〃
〃What you ask is a thing I have never done for any one。〃
〃Well； do it for me； for I swear to you that I don't love you as the
others have loved you。〃
〃Well； keep it； but it only depends on me to make it useless to you；
after all。〃
〃How？〃
〃There are bolts on the door。〃
〃Wretch！〃
〃I will have them taken off。〃
〃You love； then； a little？〃
〃I don't know how it is； but it seems to me as if I do！ Now； go； I can't
keep my eyes open。〃
I held her in my arms for a few seconds and then went。
The streets were empty； the great city was still asleep； a sweet
freshness circulated in the streets that a few hours later would be filled
with the noise of men。 It seemed to me as if this sleeping city belonged to
me； I searched my memory for the names of those whose happiness I had
once envied； and I could not recall one without finding myself the happier。
To be loved by a pure young girl； to be the first to reveal to her the
strange mystery of love； is indeed a great happiness； but it is the simplest
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thing in the world。 To take captive a heart which has had no experience of
attack； is to enter an unfortified and ungarrisoned city。 Education； family
feeling； the sense of duty； the family； are strong sentinels； but there are no
sentinels so vigilant as not to be deceived by a girl of sixteen to whom
nature； by the voice of the man she loves； gives the first counsels of love；
all the more ardent because they seem so pure。
The more a girl believes in goodness； the more easily will she give
way； if not to her lover； at least to love； for being without mistrust she is
without force； and to win her love is a triumph that can be gained by any
young man of five…and…twenty。 See how young girls are watched and
guarded！ The walls of convents are not high enough； mothers have no
locks strong enough； religion has no duties constant enough； to shut these
charming birds in their cages； cages not even strewn with flowers。 Then
how surely must they desire the world which is hidden from them； how
surely must they find it tempting； how surely must they listen to the first
voice which comes to tell its secrets through their bars； and bless the hand
which is the first to raise a corner of the mysterious veil！
But to be really