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covered with diamonds； she needn't cost you a penny； unless you like； and
you are not satisfied。 My dear fellow； you ask too much！〃
〃You are right； but I can't help it； the idea that that man is her lover
hurts me horribly。〃
〃In the first place；〃 replied Prudence； 〃is he still her lover？ He is a man
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who is useful to her； nothing more。 She has closed her doors to him for
two days； he came this morningshe could not but accept the box and let
him accompany her。 He saw her home； he has gone in for a moment； he is
not staying； because you are waiting here。 All that； it seems to me； is quite
natural。 Besides； you don't mind the duke。〃
〃Yes； but he is an old man； and I am sure that Marguerite is not his
mistress。 Then； it is all very well to accept one liaison； but not two。 Such
easiness in the matter is very like calculation； and puts the man who
consents to it； even out of love； very much in the category of those who； in
a lower stage of society； make a trade of their connivance； and a profit of
their trade。〃
〃Ah； my dear fellow； how old…fashioned you are！ How many of the
richest and most fashionable men of the best families I have seen quite
ready to do what I advise you to do； and without an effort； without shame；
without remorse； Why； one sees it every day。 How do you suppose the
kept women in Paris could live in the style they do； if they had not three or
four lovers at once？ No single fortune； however large； could suffice for the
expenses of a woman like Marguerite。 A fortune of five hundred thousand
francs a year is； in France； an enormous fortune； well； my dear friend； five
hundred thousand francs a year would still be too little； and for this reason：
a man with such an income has a large house； horses； servants； carriages；
he shoots； has friends； often he is married； he has children； he races；
gambles； travels； and what not。 All these habits are so much a part of his
position that he can not forego them without appearing to have lost all his
money； and without causing scandal。 Taking it all round； with five hundred
thousand francs a year he can not give a woman more than forty or fifty
thousand francs in the year； and that is already a good deal。 Well； other
lovers make up for the rest of her expenses。 With Marguerite； it is still
more convenient； she has chanced by a miracle on an old man worth ten
millions； whose wife and daughter are dead； who has only some nephews；
themselves rich； and who gives her all she wants without asking anything
in return。 But she can not ask him for more than seventy thousand francs a
year； and I am sure that if she did ask for more； despite his health and the
affection he has for her he would not give it to her。
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〃All the young men of twenty or thirty thousand francs a year at Paris；
that is to say； men who have only just enough to live on in the society in
which they mix； know perfectly well； when they are the lovers of a woman
like Marguerite； that she could not so much as pay for the rooms she lives
in and the servants who wait upon her with what they give her。 They do
not say to her that they know it； they pretend not to see anything； and
when they have had enough of it they go their way。 If they have the vanity
to wish to pay for everything they get ruined； like the fools they are； and
go and get killed in Africa； after leaving a hundred thousand francs of debt
in Paris。 Do you think a woman is grateful to them for it？ Far from it。 She
declares that she has sacrificed her position for them； and that while she
was with them she was losing money。 These details seem to you shocking？
Well； they are true。 You are a very nice fellow； I like you very much。 I
have lived with these women for twenty years； I know what they are worth；
and I don't want to see you take the caprice that a pretty girl has for you
too seriously。
〃Then； besides that；〃 continued Prudence； 〃admit that Marguerite loves
you enough to give up the count or the duke； in case one of them were to
discover your liaison and to tell her to choose between him and you； the
sacrifice that she would make for you would be enormous； you can not
deny it。 What equal sacrifice could you make for her； on your part； and
when you had got tired of her； what could you do to make up for what you
had taken from her？ Nothing。 You would have cut her off from the world
in which her fortune and her future were to be found； she would have
given you her best years； and she would be forgotten。 Either you would be
an ordinary man； and； casting her past in her teeth； you would leave her；
telling her that you were only doing like her other lovers； and you would
abandon her to certain misery； or you would be an honest man； and；
feeling bound to keep her by you； you would bring inevitable trouble upon
yourself； for a liaison which is excusable in a young man； is no longer
excusable in a man of middle age。 It becomes an obstacle to every thing； it
allows neither family nor ambition； man's second and last loves。 Believe
me； then； my friend； take things for what they are worth； and do not give a
kept woman the right to call herself your creditor； no matter in what。〃
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It was well argued； with a logic of which I should have thought
Prudence incapable。 I had nothing to reply； except that she was right； I
took her hand and thanked her for her counsels。
〃Come； come；〃 said she； 〃put these foolish theories to flight； and laugh
over them。 Life is pleasant； my dear fellow； it all depends on the colour of
the glass through which one sees it。 Ask your friend Gaston； there's a man
who seems to me to understand love as I understand it。 All that you need
think of； unless you are quite a fool； is that close by there is a beautiful girl
who is waiting impatiently for the man who is with her to go； thinking of
you； keeping the whole night for you； and who loves you； I am certain。
Now； come to the window with me； and let us watch for the count to go；
he won't be long in leaving the coast clear。〃
Prudence opened the window； and we leaned side by side over the
balcony。 She watched