Camille (La Dame aux Camilias)

"You have come almost as quickly as we," said Prudence.

"Yes," I answered mechanically. "Where is Marguerite?"

"At home."

"Alone?"

"With M. de G."

I walked to and fro in the room.

"Well, what is the matter?"

"Do you think it amuses me to wait here till M. de G. leaves

Marguerite's?"

"How unreasonable you are! Don't you see that Marguerite can't turn the

count out of doors? M. de G. has been with her for a long time; he has

always given her a lot of money; he still does. Marguerite spends more

than a hundred thousand francs a year; she has heaps of debts. The duke

gives her all that she asks for, but she does not always venture to ask

him for all that she is in want of. It would never do for her to quarrel

with the count, who is worth to her at least ten thousand francs a year.

Marguerite is very fond of you, my dear fellow, but your liaison with

her, in her interests and in yours, ought not to be serious. You with

your seven or eight thousand francs a year, what could you do toward

supplying all the luxuries which a girl like that is in need of? It

would not be enough to keep her carriage. Take Marguerite for what

she is, for a good, bright, pretty girl; be her lover for a month, two

months; give her flowers, sweets, boxes at the theatre; but don't

get any other ideas into your head, and don't make absurd scenes of

jealousy. You know whom you have to do with; Marguerite isn't a saint.

She likes you, you are very fond of her; let the rest alone. You amaze

me when I see you so touchy; you have the most charming mistress in

Paris. She receives you in the greatest style, she is covered with

diamonds, she needn't cost you a penny, unless you like, and you are not

satisfied. My dear fellow, you ask too much!"

"You are right, but I can't help it; the idea that that man is her lover

hurts me horribly."

"In the first place," replied Prudence; "is he still her lover? He is a

man who is useful to her, nothing more. She has closed her doors to him

for two days; he came this morning--she could not but accept the box and

let him accompany her. He saw her home; he has gone in for a moment, he

is not staying, because you are waiting here. All that, it seems to me,

is quite natural. Besides, you don't mind the duke."