We returned to Prudence's box, and when the play was over we took a cab and drove to 7, Rue d'Antin. At the door, Prudence asked us to come up and see her showrooms, which we had never seen, and of which she seemed very proud. You can imagine how eagerly Iaccepted. It seemed to me as if I was coming nearer and nearer to Marguerite. I soon turned the conversation in her direction.
"The old duke is at your neighbours," I said to Prudence.
"Oh, no; she is probably alone."
"But she must be dreadfully bored," said Gaston.
"We spend most of our evening together, or she calls to me when she comes in. She never goes to bed before two in the morning.
She can't sleep before that."
"Why?"
"Because she suffers in the chest, and is almost always feverish.""Hasn't she any lovers?" I asked.
"I never see any one remain after I leave; I don't say no one ever comes when I am gone. Often in the evening I meet there a certain Comte de N., who thinks he is making some headway by calling on her at eleven in the evening, and by sending her jewels to any extent; but she can't stand him. She makes a mistake; he is very rich. It is in vain that I say to her from time to time, 'My dear child, there's the man for you.' She, who generally listens to me, turns her back and replies that he is too stupid. Stupid, indeed, he is; but it would be a position for her, while this old duke might die any day. Old men are egoists;his family are always reproaching him for his affection for Marguerite; there are two reasons why he is likely to leave her nothing. I give her good advice, and she only says it will be plenty of time to take on the count when the duke is dead. It isn't all fun," continued Prudence, "to live like that. I know very well it wouldn't suit me, and I should soon send the old man about his business. He is so dull; he calls her his daughter;looks after her like a child; and is always in the way. I am sure at this very moment one of his servants is prowling about in the street to see who comes out, and especially who goes in.""Ah, poor Marguerite!" said Gaston, sitting down to the piano and playing a waltz. "I hadn't a notion of it, but I did notice she hasn't been looking so gay lately.""Hush," said Prudence, listening. Gaston stopped.
"She is calling me, I think."
We listened. A voice was calling, "Prudence!""Come, now, you must go," said Mme. Duvernoy.
"Ah, that is your idea of hospitality," said Gaston, laughing;"we won't go till we please."
"Why should we go?"
"I am going over to Marguerite's."
"We will wait here."
"You can't."
"Then we will go with you."
"That still less."
"I know Marguerite," said Gaston; I can very well pay her a call.""But Armand doesn't know her."
"I will introduce him."
"Impossible."
We again heard Marguerite's voice calling to Prudence, who rushed to her dressing-room window. I followed with Gaston as she opened the window. We hid ourselves so as not to be seen from outside.
"I have been calling you for ten minutes," said Marguerite from her window, in almost an imperious tone of voice.
"What do you want?"
"I want you to come over at once."
"Why?"
"Because the Comte de N. is still here, and he is boring me to death.""I can't now."
"What is hindering you?"
"There are two young fellows here who won't go.""Tell them that you must go out."
"I have told them."
"Well, then, leave them in the house. They will soon go when they see you have gone.""They will turn everything upside down."
"But what do they want?"
"They want to see you."
"What are they called?"
"You know one, M. Gaston R."
"Ah, yes, I know him. And the other?"
"M. Armand Duval; and you don't know him.""No, but bring them along. Anything is better than the count. Iexpect you. Come at once."
Marguerite closed her window and Prudence hers. Marguerite, who had remembered my face for a moment, did not remember my name. Iwould rather have been remembered to my disadvantage than thus forgotten.
"I knew," said Gaston, "that she would be delighted to see us.""Delighted isn't the word," replied Prudence, as she put on her hat and shawl. "She will see you in order to get rid of the count. Try to be more agreeable than he is, or (I know Marguerite) she will put it all down to me."We followed Prudence downstairs. I trembled; it seemed to me that this visit was to have a great influence on my life. I was still more agitated than on the evening when I was introduced in the box at the Opera Comique. As we reached the door that you know, my heart beat so violently that I was hardly able to think.
We heard the sound of a piano. Prudence rang. The piano was silent. A woman who looked more like a companion than a servant opened the door. We went into the drawing-room, and from that to the boudoir, which was then just as you have seen it since. Ayoung man was leaning against the mantel-piece. Marguerite, seated at the piano, let her fingers wander over the notes, beginning scraps of music without finishing them. The whole scene breathed boredom, the man embarrassed by the consciousness of his nullity, the woman tired of her dismal visitor. At the voice of Prudence, Marguerite rose, and coming toward us with a look of gratitude to Mme. Duvernoy, said:
"Come in, and welcome."
