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distract her and that the air would do her good。 I wanted especially to be
with her as long as possible。
She agreed； put on her cloak and took Nanine with her； so as not to
return alone。 Twenty times I was on the point of not going。 But the hope of
a speedy return； and the fear of offending my father still more； sustained
me； and I took my place in the train。
〃Till this evening！〃 I said to Marguerite； as I left her。 She did not reply。
Once already she had not replied to the same words； and the Comte de
G。； you will remember； had spent the night with her； but that time was so
far away that it seemed to have been effaced from my memory； and if I
had any fear； it was certainly not of Marguerite being unfaithful to me。
Reaching Paris； I hastened off to see Prudence； intending to ask her to go
and keep Marguerite company； in the hope that her mirth and liveliness
would distract her。 I entered without being announced； and found
Prudence at her toilet。
〃Ah！〃 she said； anxiously； 〃is Marguerite with you？〃
〃No。〃
〃How is she？〃
〃She is not well。〃
〃Is she not coming？〃
〃Did you expect her？〃
Madame Duvernoy reddened； and replied； with a certain constraint：
〃I only meant that since you are at Paris； is she not coming to join
you？〃
〃No。〃
I looked at Prudence； she cast down her eyes； and I read in her face the
fear of seeing my visit prolonged。
〃I even came to ask you； my dear Prudence； if you have nothing to do
this evening； to go and see Marguerite； you will be company for her； and
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you can stay the night。 I never saw her as she was to…day； and I am afraid
she is going to be ill。〃
〃I am dining in town；〃 replied Prudence； 〃and I can't go and see
Marguerite this evening。 I will see her tomorrow。〃
I took leave of Mme。 Duvernoy； who seemed almost as preoccupied as
Marguerite； and went on to my father's； his first glance seemed to study
me attentively。 He held out his hand。
〃Your two visits have given me pleasure； Armand；〃 he said； 〃they
make me hope that you have thought over things on your side as I have on
mine。〃
〃May I ask you； father； what was the result of your reflection？〃
〃The result； my dear boy； is that I have exaggerated the importance of
the reports that had been made to me； and that I have made up my mind to
be less severe with you。〃
〃What are you saying； father？〃 I cried joyously。
〃I say； my dear child； that every young man must have his mistress；
and that； from the fresh information I have had； I would rather see you the
lover of Mlle。 Gautier than of any one else。〃
〃My dear father； how happy you make me！〃
We talked in this manner for some moments； and then sat down to
table。 My father was charming all dinner time。
I was in a hurry to get back to Bougival to tell Marguerite about this
fortunate change； and I looked at the clock every moment。
〃You are watching the time；〃 said my father； 〃and you are impatient to
leave me。 O young people； how you always sacrifice sincere to doubtful
affections！〃
〃Do not say that； father； Marguerite loves me； I am sure of it。〃
My father did not answer； he seemed to say neither yes nor no。
He was very insistent that I should spend the whole evening with him
and not go till the morning； but Marguerite had not been well when I left
her。 I told him of it； and begged his permission to go back to her early；
promising to come again on the morrow。
The weather was fine； he walked with me as far as the station。 Never
had I been so happy。 The future appeared as I had long desired to see it。 I
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had never loved my father as I loved him at that moment。
Just as I was leaving him； he once more begged me to stay。 I refused。
〃You are really very much in love with her？〃 he asked。
〃Madly。〃
〃Go； then；〃 and he passed his hand across his forehead as if to chase a
thought； then opened his mouth as if to say something； but he only pressed
my hand； and left me hurriedly； saying：
〃Till to…morrow； then！〃
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CHAPTER 22
It seemed to me as if the train did not move。 I reached Bougival at
eleven。
Not a window in the house was lighted up； and when I rang no one
answered the bell。 It was the first time that such a thing had occurred to
me。 At last the gardener came。 I entered。 Nanine met me with a light。 I
went to Marguerite's room。
〃Where is madame？〃
〃Gone to Paris；〃 replied Nanine。
〃To Paris！〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃When？〃
〃An hour after you。〃
〃She left no word for me？〃
〃Nothing。〃
Nanine left me。
Perhaps she had some suspicion or other； I thought； and went to Paris
to make sure that my visit to my father was not an excuse for a day off。
Perhaps Prudence wrote to her about something important。 I said to myself
when I was alone； but I saw Prudence； she said nothing to make me
suppose that she had written to Marguerite。
All at once I remembered Mme。 Duvernoy's question； 〃Isn't she
coming to…day？〃 when I had said that Marguerite was ill。 I remembered at
the same time how embarrassed Prudence had appeared when I looked at
her after this remark； which seemed to indicate an appointment。 I
remembered； too； Marguerite's tears all day long； which my father's kind
reception had rather put out of my mind。 From this moment all the
incidents grouped themselves about my first suspicion； and fixed it so
firmly in my mind that everything served to confirm it； even my father's
kindness。
Marguerite had almost insisted on my going to Paris； she had
pretended to be calmer when I had proposed staying with her。 Had I fallen
into some trap？ Was Marguerite deceiving me？ Had she counted on being
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back in time for me not to perceive her absence； and had she been detained
by chance？ Why had she said nothing to Nanine； or why had she not
written？ What was