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Prudence opened the window； and we leaned side by side over the
balcony。 She watched the few passers； I reflected。 All that she had said
buzzed in my head； and I could not help feeling that she was right； but the
genuine love which I had for Marguerite had some difficulty in
accommodating itself to such a belief。 I sighed from time to time； at which
Prudence turned； and shrugged her shoulders like a physician who has
given up his patient。
〃How one realizes the shortness of life；〃 I said to myself； 〃by the
rapidity of sensations！ I have only known Marguerite for two days； she has
only been my mistress since yesterday； and she has already so completely
absorbed my thoughts； my heart； and my life that the visit of the Comte de
G。 is a misfortune for me。〃
At last the count came out； got into his carriage and disappeared。
Prudence closed the window。 At the same instant Marguerite called to us：
〃Come at once；〃 she said； 〃they are laying the table； and we'll have
supper。〃
When I entered； Marguerite ran to me； threw her arms around my neck
and kissed me with all her might。
〃Are we still sulky？〃 she said to me。
〃No； it is all over；〃 replied Prudence。 〃I have given him a talking to；
and he has promised to be reasonable。〃
〃Well and good。〃
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In spite of myself I glanced at the bed； it was not unmade。 As for
Marguerite； she was already in her white dressing…gown。 We sat down to
table。
Charm； sweetness； spontaneity； Marguerite had them all； and I was
forced from time to time to admit that I had no right to ask of her anything
else； that many people would be very happy to be in my place； and that；
like Virgil's shepherd； I had only to enjoy the pleasures that a god； or
rather a goddess； set before me。
I tried to put in practice the theories of Prudence； and to be as gay as
my two companions； but what was natural in them was on my part an
effort； and the nervous laughter； whose source they did not detect； was
nearer to tears than to mirth。
At last the supper was over and I was alone with Marguerite。 She sat
down as usual on the hearthrug before the fire and gazed sadly into the
flames。 What was she thinking of？ I know not。 As for me； I looked at her
with a mingling of love and terror； as I thought of all that I was ready to
suffer for her sake。
〃Do you know what I am thinking of？〃
〃No。〃
〃Of a plan that has come into my head。〃
〃And what is this plan？〃
〃I can't tell you yet； but I can tell you what the result would be。 The
result would be that in a month I should be free； I should have no more
debts； and we could go and spend the summer in the country。〃
〃And you can't tell me by what means？〃 〃No； only love me as I love
you； and all will succeed。〃
〃And have you made this plan all by yourself？〃
〃Yes。 〃And you will carry it out all by yourself？〃
〃I alone shall have the trouble of it；〃 said Marguerite； with a smile
which I shall never forget； 〃but we shall both partake its benefits。〃
I could not help flushing at the word benefits； I thought of Manon
Lescaut squandering with Desgrieux the money of M。 de B。
I replied in a hard voice； rising from my seat：
〃You must permit me； my dear Marguerite； to share only the benefits
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of those enterprises which I have conceived and carried out myself。〃
〃What does that mean？〃
〃It means that I have a strong suspicion that M。 de G。 is to be your
associate in this pretty plan； of which I can accept neither the cost nor the
benefits
〃What a child you are！ I thought you loved me。 I was mistaken； all
right。〃
She rose； opened the piano and began to play the Invitation a la Valse；
as far as the famous passage in the major which always stopped her。 Was it
through force of habit； or was it to remind me of the day when we first met？
All I know is that the melody brought back that recollection； and； coming
up to her； I took her head between my hands and kissed her。 〃You forgive
me？〃 I said。
〃You see I do；〃 she answered； 〃but observe that we are only at our
second day； and already I have had to forgive you something。 Is this how
you keep your promise of blind obedience？〃
〃What can I do； Marguerite？ I love you too much and I am jealous of
the least of your thoughts。 What you proposed to me just now made me
frantic with delight； but the mystery in its carrying out hurts me
dreadfully。〃
〃Come； let us reason it out；〃 she said； taking both my hands and
looking at me with a charming smile which it was impossible to resist；
〃You love me； do you not？ and you would gladly spend two or three
months alone with me in the country？ I too should be glad of this solitude
a deux； and not only glad of it； but my health requires it。 I can not leave
Paris for such a length of time without putting my affairs in order； and the
affairs of a woman like me are always in great confusion； well； I have
found a way to reconcile everything； my money affairs and my love for
you； yes； for you； don't laugh； I am silly enough to love you！ And here you
are taking lordly airs and talking big words。 Child； thrice child； only
remember that I love you； and don't let anything disturb you。 Now； is it
agreed？〃
〃I agree to all you wish； as you know。〃
〃Then； in less than a month's time we shall be in some village； walking
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by the river side； and drinking milk。 Does it seem strange that Marguerite
Gautier should speak to you like that？ The fact is； my friend； that when
this Paris life； which seems to make me so happy； doesn't burn me； it
wearies me； and then I have sudden aspirations toward a calmer existence
which might recall my childhood。 One has always had a childhood；
whatever one becomes。 Don't be alarmed； I am not going to tell you that I
am the daughter of a