第26章

'But what do you think I am？I am neither a virgin nor a duchess.I'd never met you before today and I don't have to justify my actions to you.Assuming that one day I become your mistress，you must realize that I've had other lovers before you.If you're going to carry on and be jealous now，what's it going to be like after-if there's ever an after！I never met a man like you.'

'That's because no man has ever loved you as I do.'

'Let's be clear about this：are you really in love with me？'

'As much as anyone could possibly love anybody，I believe.'

'And how long has this been going on？'

'Since I saw you one day get out of your barouche and go into Susse's，three years ago.'

'How wonderful，it really is！And what do I have to do to acknowledge this great love？'

'You must love me a little，'I said，with a beating heart which almost prevented me from speaking；for，despite the half-mocking smiles with which she had accompanied the whole of our conversation，it seemed to me that Marguerite was beginning to share my troubled state and that I was approaching the moment which I had been so long awaiting.

'But what about the Duke？'

'What Duke？'

'My old Duke.He's very suspicious.'

'He won't know.'

'And if he does？'

'He'll forgive you.'

'Oh no！He'll leave me and then what'll become of me？'

'You are already running that risk for someone else's sake.'

'How do you know that？'

'From the order you gave that no one should be allowed in tonight.'

'You're right；but he is a good friend.'

'Who you don't much care for，if you can close you door to him at this time of night.'

'You're in no position to criticize me since I did it to receive you and your friend.'

Imperceptibly，I had drawn closer to Marguerite，I had put my arms around her waist and could feel her supple body pressing lightly against my clasped hands.

'If you only knew how much I love you！'I whispered.

'Do you really mean it？'

'I swear it.'

'Well，if you promise to do everything I say without arguing，without finding fault or asking questions，I will love you，perhaps.'

'Whatever you ask！'

'But I warn you，I want to be free to do whatever I choose，without having to tell you anything about the life I lead.For a long time now，I've been looking for a young，easygoing lover，someone who would love me without asking questions，someone I could love without his feeling that he has any rights over me.I have never found one yet.Men，instead of being content with being freely given for long periods what they hardly dared hope to get once，are forever asking their mistresses for an account of the present，the past and even the future.As they get used to a mistress，they try to dominate her，and they become all the more demanding the more they are given.If I decide to take a new lover now，I want him to have three very rare qualities：he must be trusting，submissive and discreet.'

'Very well，I shall be everything you desire.'

'We'll see.'

'And when will we see？'

'Later.'

'Why？'

'Because，'said Marguerite，slipping out of my arms and taking a single bloom from a large bunch of red camellias which had been delivered that morning and putting it in my buttonhole，'because you can't always implement treaties the day they are signed.'

The meaning is plain.

'And when shall I see you again？'I said，taking her in my arms.

'When this camellia is a different colour.'

'And when will it be a different colour.'

'Tomorrow，between eleven and midnight.Are you happy？'

'How can you ask？'

'Not a word of any of this to your friend nor to Prudence，nor anyone.'

'I promise.'

'Now kiss me，and let's go back to the dining-room.'

She proffered her lips，smoothed her hair again and then she，singing as she went，and I，who was madly elated，left the room together.

In the drawing-room，she stopped and said softly：

'It must seem strange to you that I should appear ready to accept you straightway like this：do you know the reason？'

'The reason，'she went on，taking my hand and pressing it to her heart which I could fell beating violently and insistently，'the reason is that since I shall not live as long as the others，I have promised myself that I shall live my life faster.'

'Don't talk to me like this，I implore you.'

'Oh，cheer up！'she went on，laughing.'However little time I have to live，I'll live long enough to see you love out.'

And，singing，she went into the dining-room.

'Where's Nanine？'she said，seeing Gaston and Prudence alone.

'Asleep in your bedroom，waiting for you to go to bed，'answered Prudence.

'Poor girl，I'm wearing her out！Come，gentlemen，be off with you，it's high time.'

Ten minutes later，Gaston and I were on our way out.Marguerite squeezed my hand as she said good-bye and remained with Prudence.

'Well？'asked Gaston，when we were outside，'what do you make of Marguerite？'

'She's an angel and I'm mad about her.'

'I thought so.Did you tell her？'

'Yes.'

'And did she promise to believe you？'

'No.'

'She's not like Prudence，then.'

'Did she promise to believe you？'

'She did more than that，old man！You wouldn't think so，but that Duvernoy woman is still a bit of all right，even if she is on the large side！'