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〃It is true；〃 she went on； 〃you know I have the bad habit of trying to
embarrass people the first time I meet them。 It is very stupid。 My doctor
says it is because I am nervous and always ill； believe my doctor。〃
〃But you seem quite well。〃
〃Oh！ I have been very ill。〃
〃I know。〃
〃Who told you？〃
〃Every one knew it； I often came to inquire after you； and I was happy
to hear of your convalescence。〃
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〃They never gave me your card。〃
〃I did not leave it。〃
〃Was it you； then； who called every day while I was ill； and would
never leave your name？〃
〃Yes； it was I。〃
〃Then you are more than indulgent； you are generous。 You； count；
wouldn't have done that；〃 said she； turning toward M。 de N。； after giving
me one of those looks in which women sum up their opinion of a man。
〃I have only known you for two months；〃 replied the count。
〃And this gentleman only for five minutes。 You always say something
ridiculous。〃
Women are pitiless toward those whom they do not care for。 The count
reddened and bit his lips。
I was sorry for him； for he seemed； like myself； to be in love； and the
bitter frankness of Marguerite must have made him very unhappy；
especially in the presence of two strangers。
〃You were playing the piano when we came in；〃 I said； in order to
change the conversation。 〃Won't you be so good as to treat me as an old
acquaintance and go on？〃
〃Oh；〃 said she； flinging herself on the sofa and motioning to us to sit
down； 〃Gaston knows what my music is like。 It is all very well when I am
alone with the count； but I won't inflict such a punishment on you。〃
〃You show me that preference？〃 said M。 de N。； with a smile which he
tried to render delicately ironical。
〃Don't reproach me for it。 It is the only one。〃 It was fated that the poor
man was not to say a single word。 He cast a really supplicating glance at
Marguerite。
〃Well； Prudence；〃 she went on； 〃have you done what I asked you to
do？〃
〃Yes。
〃All right。 You will tell me about it later。 We must talk over it； don't go
before I can speak with you。〃
〃We are doubtless intruders；〃 I said； 〃and now that we； or rather I；
have had a second introduction； to blot out the first； it is time for Gaston
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and me to be going。〃
〃Not in the least。 I didn't mean that for you。 I want you to stay。〃
The count took a very elegant watch out of his pocket and looked at
the time。 〃I must be going to my club；〃 he said。 Marguerite did not answer。
The count thereupon left his position by the fireplace and going up to her；
said： 〃Adieu； madame。〃
Marguerite rose。 〃Adieu； my dear count。 Are you going already？〃
〃Yes； I fear I am boring you。〃
〃You are not boring me to…day more than any other day。 When shall I
be seeing you？〃
〃When you permit me。〃
〃Good…bye； then。〃
It was cruel； you will admit。 Fortunately； the count had excellent
manners and was very good…tempered。 He merely kissed Marguerite's
hand； which she held out to him carelessly enough； and； bowing to us；
went out。
As he crossed the threshold； he cast a glance at Prudence。 She
shrugged her shoulders； as much as to say：
〃What do you expect？ I have done all I could。〃
〃Nanine！〃 cried Marguerite。 〃Light M。 le Comte to the door。〃
We heard the door open and shut。
〃At last；〃 cried Marguerite； coming back； 〃he has gone！ That man gets
frightfully on my nerves！〃
〃My dear child；〃 said Prudence； 〃you really treat him too badly； and he
is so good and kind to you。 Look at this watch on the mantel…piece； that he
gave you： it must have cost him at least three thousand francs； I am sure。〃
And Mme。 Duvernoy began to turn it over； as it lay on the mantel…
piece； looking at it with covetous eyes。
〃My dear；〃 said Marguerite； sitting down to the piano； 〃when I put on
one side what he gives me and on the other what he says to me； it seems to
me that he buys his visits very cheap。〃
〃The poor fellow is in love with you。〃
〃If I had to listen to everybody who was in love with me； I shouldn't
have time for my dinner。〃
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And she began to run her fingers over the piano； and then； turning to
us； she said：
〃What will you take？ I think I should like a little punch。〃
〃And I could eat a little chicken；〃 said Prudence。 〃Suppose we have
supper？〃
〃That's it； let's go and have supper；〃 said Gaston。
〃No； we will have supper here。〃
She rang； and Nanine appeared。
〃Send for some supper。〃
〃What must I get？〃
〃Whatever you like； but at once； at once。〃
Nanine went out。
〃That's it；〃 said Marguerite； jumping like a child； 〃we'll have supper。
How tiresome that idiot of a count is！〃
The more I saw her； the more she enchanted me。 She was exquisitely
beautiful。 Her slenderness was a charm。 I was lost in contemplation。
What was passing in my mind I should have some difficulty in
explaining。 I was full of indulgence for her life； full of admiration for her
beauty。 The proof of disinterestedness that she gave in not accepting a rich
and fashionable young man； ready to waste all his money upon her；
excused her in my eyes for all her faults in the past。
There was a kind of candour in this woman。 You could see she was
still in the virginity of vice。 Her firm walk； her supple figure； her rosy；
open nostrils； her large eyes； slightly tinged with blue； indicated one of
those ardent natures which sbed around them a sort of voluptuous perfume；
like Eastern vials； which； close them as tightly as you will； still let some of
their perfume escape。 Finally； whether it was simple nature or a breath of
fever； there passed from time to time in the eyes of this woman a glimmer
of desire； giving promise of a very heaven for one whom she should love。
But those who had loved Marguerite were not to be counted； nor those
whom she had loved。
In this girl there was at once the virgin whom a mere nothing had
turned into a courtesan； and the courtesan whom a mere nothing would
have turned into the most loving and the purest of virgins。 Marguerite had
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still pride and independence； two sentiments which； if they are wounded；
can be the equivalent of a sense of shame。 I did not speak a word； my soul
seemed to have passed into my heart and my heart into my eyes。
〃So；〃 said she all at once； 〃it was you who came to inquire after me
when I was ill？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Do you know； it was quite splendid of you！ How can I thank you for
it？〃
〃By allowing me to come and see you from time to time。〃
〃As often as you like； from five to six； and from eleven to twelve。
Now； Gaston； play the Invitation A la Valse。〃
〃Why？〃
〃To please me； first of all； and then because I never can manage to
play it myself。〃
〃What part do you find difficult？〃
〃The third part； the part in sharps。〃 Gaston rose and went to the
piano； and began to play the wonderful melody of Weber； the music of
which stood open before him。
Marguerite； resting one hand on the piano； followed every note on the
music； accompanying it in a low voice； and when Gaston had come to the
passage which she had mentioned to him； she sang out； running her fingers
along the top of the piano：
〃Do； re； mi； do； re； fa； mi； re； that is what I can not do。 Over again。〃
Gaston began over again； after which Marguerite said：
〃Now； let me try。〃
She took her place and began to play； but her rebellious fingers always
came to grief over one of the notes。
〃Isn't it incredible；〃 she said； exactly like a child； 〃that I can not
succeed in playing that passage？ W