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duke's request。 Some people who knew her； happening to be at Bagneres；
took upon themselves to explain Mademoiselle Gautier's true position to
the duke。 It was a blow to the old man； for the resemblance with his
daughter was ended in one direction； but it was too late。 She had become a
necessity to his heart； his only pretext； his only excuse； for living。 He
made no reproaches； he had indeed no right to do so； but he asked her if
she felt herself capable of changing her mode of life； offering her in return
for the sacrifice every compensation that she could desire。 She consented。
It must be said that Marguerite was just then very ill。 The past seemed
to her sensitive nature as if it were one of the main causes of her illness；
and a sort of superstition led her to hope that God would restore to her
both health and beauty in return for her repentance and conversion。 By the
end of the summer； the waters； sleep； the natural fatigue of long walks； had
indeed more or less restored her health。 The duke accompanied her to
Paris； where he continued to see her as he had done at Bagneres。
This liaison； whose motive and origin were quite unknown； caused a
great sensation； for the duke； already known for his immense fortune； now
became known for his prodigality。 All this was set down to the debauchery
of a rich old man； and everything was believed except the truth。 The
father's sentiment for Marguerite had； in truth； so pure a cause that
anything but a communion of hearts would have seemed to him a kind of
incest； and he had never spoken to her a word which his daughter might
not have heard。
Far be it from me to make out our heroine to be anything but what she
was。 As long as she remained at Bagneres； the promise she had made to
the duke had not been hard to keep； and she had kept it； but； once back in
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Paris； it seemed to her； accustomed to a life of dissipation； of balls； of
orgies； as if the solitude； only interrupted by the duke's stated visits； would
kill her with boredom； and the hot breath of her old life came back across
her head and heart。
We must add that Marguerite had returned more beautiful than she had
ever been； she was but twenty； and her malady； sleeping but not subdued；
continued to give her those feverish desires which are almost always the
result of diseases of the chest。
It was a great grief to the duke when his friends； always on the lookout
for some scandal on the part of the woman with whom； it seemed to them；
he was compromising himself； came to tell him； indeed to prove to him；
that at times when she was sure of not seeing him she received other visits；
and that these visits were often prolonged till the following day。 On being
questioned； Marguerite admitted everything to the duke； and advised him；
without arriere…pensee； to concern himself with her no longer； for she felt
incapable of carrying out what she had undertaken； and she did not wish to
go on accepting benefits from a man whom she was deceiving。 The duke
did not return for a week； it was all he could do； and on the eighth day he
came to beg Marguerite to let him still visit her； promising that he would
take her as she was； so long as he might see her； and swearing that he
would never utter a reproach against her； not though he were to die of it。
This； then； was the state of things three months after Marguerite's
return； that is to say； in November or December； 1842。
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CHAPTER 3
At one o'clock on the 16th I went to the Rue d'Antin。 The voice of the
auctioneer could be heard from the outer door。 The rooms were crowded
with people。 There were all the celebrities of the most elegant impropriety；
furtively examined by certain great ladies who had again seized the
opportunity of the sale in order to be able to see； close at hand； women
whom they might never have another occasion of meeting； and whom they
envied perhaps in secret for their easy pleasures。 The Duchess of F。
elbowed Mlle。 A。； one of the most melancholy examples of our modern
courtesan； the Marquis de T。 hesitated over a piece of furniture the price of
which was being run high by Mme。 D。； the most elegant and famous
adulteress of our time； the Duke of Y。； who in Madrid is supposed to be
ruining himself in Paris； and in Paris to be ruining himself in Madrid； and
who； as a matter of fact； never even reaches the limit of his income； talked
with Mme。 M。； one of our wittiest story…tellers； who from time to time
writes what she says and signs what she writes； while at the same time he
exchanged confidential glances with Mme。 de N。； a fair ornament of the
Champs…Elysees； almost always dressed in pink or blue； and driving two
big black horses which Tony had sold her for 10；000 francs； and for which
she had paid； after her fashion； finally； Mlle。 R。； who makes by her mere
talent twice what the women of the world make by their dot and three
times as much as the others make by their amours； had come； in spite of
the cold； to make some purchases； and was not the least looked at among
the crowd。
We might cite the initials of many more of those who found
themselves； not without some mutual surprise； side by side in one room。
But we fear to weary the reader。 We will only add that everyone was in the
highest spirits； and that many of those present had known the dead woman；
and seemed quite oblivious of the fact。 There was a sound of loud laughter；
the auctioneers shouted at the top of their voices； the dealers who had
filled the benches in front of the auction table tried in vain to obtain
silence； in order to transact their business in peace。 Never was there a
noisier or a more varied gathering。
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I slipped quietly into the midst of this tumult； sad to think of when one
remembered that the poor creature whose goods were being sold to pay
her debts had died in the next room。 Having come rather to examine than
to buy； I watched the faces of the auctioneers； noticing how they beamed
with delight whenever anythin