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〃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 the meaning of those tears； this absence； this mystery？
That is what I asked myself in affright； as I stood in the vacant room；
gazing at the clock； which pointed to midnight； and seemed to say to me
that it was too late to hope for my mistress's return。 Yet； after all the
arrangements we had just made； after the sacrifices that had been offered
and accepted； was it likely that she was deceiving me？ No。 I tried to get
rid of my first supposition。
Probably she had found a purchaser for her furniture； and she had gone
to Paris to conclude the bargain。 She did not wish to tell me beforehand；
for she knew that； though I had consented to it； the sale； so necessary to
our future happiness； was painful to me； and she feared to wound my self…
respect in speaking to me about it。 She would rather not see me till the
whole thing was done； and that was evidently why Prudence was
expecting her when she let out the secret。 Marguerite could not finish the
whole business to…day； and was staying the night with Prudence； or
perhaps she would come even now； for she must know bow anxious I
should be； and would not wish to leave me in that condition。 But； if so；
why those tears？ No doubt； despite her love for me； the poor girl could not
make up her mind to give up all the luxury in which she had lived until
now； and for which she had been so envied； without crying over it。 I was
quite ready to forgive her for such regrets。 I waited for her impatiently；
that I might say to her； as I covered her with kisses； that I had guessed the
reason of her mysterious absence。
Nevertheless； the night went on； and Marguerite did not return。
My anxiety tightened its circle little by little； and began to oppress my
head and heart。 Perhaps something had happened to her。 Perhaps she was
injured； ill； dead。 Perhaps a messenger would arrive with the news of some
dreadful accident。 Perhaps the daylight would find me with the same
uncertainty and with the same fears。
The idea that Marguerite was perhaps unfaithful to me at the very
moment when I waited for her in terror at her absence did not return to my
mind。 There must be some cause； independent of her will； to keep her
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away from me； and the more I thought； the more convinced I was that this
cause could only be some mishap or other。 O vanity of man； coming back
to us in every form！
One o'clock struck。 I said to myself that I would wait another hour； but
that at two o'clock； if Marguerite had not returned； I would set out for
Paris。 Meanwhile I looked about for a book； for I dared not think。 Manon
Lescaut was open on the table。 It seemed to me that here and there the
pages were wet as if with tears。 I turned the leaves over and then closed
the book； for the letters seemed to me void of meaning through the veil of
my doubts。
Time went slowly。 The sky was covered with clouds。 An autumn rain
lashed the windows。 The empty bed seemed at moments to assume the
aspect of a tomb。 I was afraid。
I opened the door。 I listened； and heard nothing but the voice of the
wind in the trees。 Not a vehicle was to be seen on the road。 The half hour
sounded sadly from the church tower。
I began to fear lest some one should enter。 It seemed to me that only a
disaster could come at that hour and under that sombre sky。
Two o'clock struck。 I still waited a little。 Only the sound of the bell
troubled the s