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Marguerite responded to all my attacks； and which raised her above me in
my own eyes； enraged me still more against her。
One evening Olympe had gone somewhere or other； and had met
Marguerite； who for once had not spared the foolish creature； so that she
had had to retire in confusion。 Olympe returned in a fury； and Marguerite
fainted and had to be carried out。 Olympe related to me what had
happened； declared that Marguerite； seeing her alone； had revenged herself
upon her because she was my mistress； and that I must write and tell her to
respect the woman whom I loved； whether I was present or absent。
I need not tell you that I consented； and that I put into the letter which
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I sent to her address the same day； everything bitter； shameful； and cruel
that I could think of。
This time the blow was more than the unhappy creature could endure
without replying。 I felt sure that an answer would come； and I resolved not
to go out all day。 About two there was a ring； and Prudence entered。
I tried to assume an indifferent air as I asked her what had brought her；
but that day Mme。 Duvernoy was not in a laughing humour； and in a really
moved voice she said to me that since my return； that is to say for about
three weeks； I had left no occasion untried which could give pain to
Marguerite； that she was completely upset by it； and that the scene of last
night and my angry letter of the morning had forced her to take to her bed。
In short； without making any reproach； Marguerite sent to ask me for a
little pity； since she had no longer the moral or physical strength to endure
what I was making her suffer。
〃That Mlle。 Gautier；〃 I said to Prudence； 〃should turn me out of her
own house is quite reasonable； but that she should insult the woman whom
I love； under the pretence that this woman is my mistress； is a thing I will
never permit。〃
〃My friend；〃 said Prudence； 〃you are under the influence of a woman
who has neither heart nor sense； you are in love with her； it is true； but that
is not a reason for torturing a woman who can not defend herself。〃
〃Let Mlle。 Gautier send me her Comte de N。 and the sides will be
equal。〃
〃You know very well that she will not do that。 So； my dear Armand； let
her alone。 If you saw her you would be ashamed of the way in which you
are treating her。 She is white； she coughsshe won't last long now。〃
And Prudence held out her hand to me； adding：
〃Come and see her； it will make her very happy。〃
〃I have no desire to meet M。 de N。〃
〃M。 de N。 is never there。 She can not endure him。〃
〃If Marguerite wishes to see me； she knows where I live； let her come
to see me； but； for my part； I will never put foot in the Rue d'Antin。〃
〃Will you receive her well？〃
〃Certainly。〃
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〃Well； I am sure that she will come。〃
〃Let her come。〃
〃Shall you be out to…day？〃
〃I shall be at home all the evening。〃
〃I will tell her。〃
And Prudence left me。
I did not even write to tell Olympe not to expect me。 I never troubled
much about her； scarcely going to see her one night a week。 She consoled
herself； I believe； with an actor from some theatre or other。
I went out for dinner and came back almost immediately。 I had a fire
lit in my room and I told Joseph he could go out。
I can give you no idea of the different impressions which agitated me
during the hour in which I waited； but when； toward nine o'clock； I heard a
ring； they thronged together into one such emotion； that； as I opened the
door； I was obliged to lean against the wall to keep myself from falling。
Fortunately the anteroom was in half darkness； and the change in my
countenance was less visible。 Marguerite entered。
She was dressed in black and veiled。 I could scarcely recognise her
face through the veil。 She went into the drawing…room and raised her veil。
She was pale as marble。
〃I am here； Armand；〃 she said； 〃you wished to see me and I have
come。〃
And letting her head fall on her hands； she burst into tears。
I went up to her。
〃What is the matter？〃 I said to her in a low voice。
She pressed my hand without a word； for tears still veiled her voice。
But after a few minutes； recovering herself a little； she said to me：
〃You have been very unkind to me； Armand； and I have done nothing
to you。〃
〃Nothing？〃 I answered； with a bitter smile。
〃Nothing but what circumstances forced me to do。〃
I do not know if you have ever in your life experienced； or if you will
ever experience； what I felt at the sight of Marguerite。
The last time she had come to see me she had sat in the same place
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where she was now sitting； only； since then； she had been the mistress of
another man； other kisses than mine had touched her lips； toward which； in
spite of myself； my own reached out； and yet I felt that I loved this woman
as much； more perhaps； than I had ever loved her。
It was difficult for me to begin the conversation on the subject which
brought her。 Marguerite no doubt realized it； for she went on：
〃I have come to trouble you； Armand； for I have two things to ask：
pardon for what I said yesterday to Mlle。 Olympe； and pity for what you
are perhaps still ready to do to me。 Intentionally or not； since your return
you have given me so much pain that I should be incapable now of
enduring a fourth part of what I have endured till now。 You will have pity
on me； won't you？ And you will understand that a man who is not
heartless has other nobler things to do than to take his revenge upon a sick
and sad woman like me。 See； take my hand。 I am in a fever。 I left my bed
to come to you； and ask； not for your friendship； but for your
indifference。〃
I took Marguerite's hand。 It was burning； and the poor woman shivered
under her fur cloak。
I rolled the arm…chair in which she was sitting up to the fire。
〃Do you think； then； that I did not suffer；〃 said I； 〃on that night when；
after waiting for you in the country； I came to look for you in Paris； and
found nothing but the letter which nearly drove me mad？ How could you
have deceived me； Marguerite； when