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Add to this that from the place where I was I could see on the shore a charming little house of two stories； with a semicircular railing； through the railing； in front of the house； a green lawn； smooth as velvet； and behind the house a little wood full of mysterious retreats； where the moss must efface each morning the pathway that had been made the day before。 Climbing flowers clung about the doorway of this uninhabited house； mounting as high as the first story。
I looked at the house so long that I began by thinking of it as mine； so perfectly did it embody the dream that I was dreaming； I saw Marguerite and myself there； by day in the little wood that covered the hillside； in the evening seated on the grass； and I asked myself if earthly creatures had ever been so happy as we should be。
〃What a pretty house！〃 Marguerite said to me； as she followed the direction of my gaze and perhaps of my thought。
〃Where？〃 asked Prudence。
〃Yonder；〃 and Marguerite pointed to the house in question。
〃Ah； delicious！〃 replied Prudence。 〃Do you like it？〃
〃Very much。〃
〃Well； tell the duke to take it for you； he would do so； I am sure。 I'll see about it if you like。〃
Marguerite looked at me； as if to ask me what I thought。 My dream vanished at the last words of Prudence； and brought me back to reality so brutally that I was still stunned with the fall。
〃Yes； yes； an excellent idea；〃 I stammered； not knowing what I was saying。
〃Well； I will arrange that；〃 said Marguerite； freeing my hand； and interpreting my words according to her own desire。 〃Let us go and see if it is to let。〃
The house was empty； and to let for two thousand francs。
〃Would you be happy here？〃 she said to me。
〃Am I sure of coming here？〃
〃And for whom else should I bury myself here； if not for you？〃
〃Well； then； Marguerite； let me take it myself。〃
〃You are mad； not only is it unnecessary； but it would be dangerous。 You know perfectly well that I have no right to accept it save from one man。 Let me alone； big baby； and say nothing。〃
〃That means；〃 said Prudence； 〃that when I have two days free I will come and spend them with you。〃
We left the house； and started on our return to Paris； talking over the new plan。 I held Marguerite in my arms； and as I got down from the carriage； I had already begun to look upon her arrangement with less critical eyes。
Chapter 17
Next day Marguerite sent me away very early； saying that the duke was coming at an early hour； and promising to write to me the moment he went； and to make an appointment for the evening。 In the course of the day I received this note：
〃I am going to Bougival with the duke； be at Prudence's to…night at eight。〃
At the appointed hour Marguerite came to me at Mme。 Duvernoy's。 〃Well； it is all settled；〃 she said； as she entered。 〃The house is taken？〃 asked Prudence。 〃Yes； he agreed at once。〃
I did not know the duke； but I felt ashamed of deceiving him。
〃But that is not all；〃 continued Marguerite。
〃What else is there？〃
〃I have been seeing about a place for Armand to stay。〃
〃In the same house？〃 asked Prudence； laughing。
〃No； at Point du Jour； where we had dinner； the duke and I。 While he was admiring the view； I asked Mme。 Arnould （she is called Mme。 Arnould； isn't she？） if there were any suitable rooms； and she showed me just the very thing： salon； anteroom； and bed…room； at sixty francs a month； the whole place furnished in a way to divert a hypochondriac。 I took it。 Was I right？〃 I flung my arms around her neck and kissed her。
〃It will be charming；〃 she continued。 〃You have the key of the little door； and I have promised the duke the key of the front door； which he will not take； because he will come during the day when he comes。 I think； between ourselves； that he is enchanted with a caprice which will keep me out of Paris for a time； and so silence the objections of his family。 However； he has asked me how I； loving Paris as I do； could make up my mind to bury myself in the country。 I told him that I was ill； and that I wanted rest。 He seemed to have some difficulty in believing me。 The poor old man is always on the watch。 We must take every precaution； my dear Armand； for he will have me watched while I am there； and it isn't only the question of his taking a house for me； but he has my debts to pay； and unluckily I have plenty。 Does all that suit you？〃
〃Yes；〃 I answered； trying to quiet the scruples which this way of living awoke in me from time to time。
〃We went all over the house； and we shall have everything perfect。 The duke is going to look after every single thing。 Ah； my dear；〃 she added； kissing me； 〃you're in luck； it's a millionaire who makes your bed for you。〃
〃And when shall you move into the house？〃 inquired Prudence。
〃As soon as possible。〃
〃Will you take your horses and carriage？〃
〃I shall take the whole house； and you can look after my place while I am away。〃
A week later Marguerite was settled in her country house； and I was installed at Point du Jour。
Then began an existence which I shall have some difficulty in describing to you。 At first Marguerite could not break entirely with her former habits； and； as the house was always en fete； all the women whom she knew came to see her。 For a whole month there was not a day when Marguerite had not eight or ten people to meals。 Prudence； on her side； brought down all the people she knew； and did the honours of the house as if the house belonged to her。
The duke's money paid for all that； as you may imagine； but from time to time Prudence came to me； asking for a note for a thousand francs； professedly on behalf of Marguerite。 You know I had won some money at gambling； I therefore immediately handed over to Prudence what she asked for Marguerite； and fearing lest she should require more than I possessed； I borrowed at Paris a sum equal to that which I had already borrowed and paid back。 I was then once more in possession of some ten thousand francs； without reckoning my allowance。 However； Marguerite's pleasure in seeing her friends was a little moderated when she saw the expense which that pleasure entailed； and especially the necessity she was sometimes in of asking me for money。 The duke； who had taken the house in order that Marguerite might rest there； no longer visited it； fearing to find himself in the midst of a large and merry company； by whom he did not wish to be seen。 This came about through his having once arrived to dine tete…a…tete with Marguerite； and having fallen upon a party of fifteen； who were still at lunch at an hour when he was prepared to sit down to dinner。 He had unsuspectingly opened the dining…room door； and had been greeted by a burst of laughter； and had had to retire precipitately before the impertinent mirth of the women who were assembled there。
Marguerite rose from table； and joined the duke in the next room； where she tried； as far as possible； to induce him to forget the incident； but the old man； wounded in his dignity； bore her a grudge for it； and could not forgive her。 He said to her； somewhat cruelly； that he was tired of paying for the follies of a woman who could not even have him treated with respect under his own roof； and he went away in great indignation。
Since that day he had never been heard of。
In vain Marguerite dismissed her guests； changed her way of life； the duke was not to be heard of。 I was the gainer in so； far that my mistress now belonged to me more completely； and my dream was at length realized。 Marguerite could not be without me。 Not caring what the result might be； she publicly proclaimed our liaison； and I had come to live entirely at her house。 The servants addressed me officially as their master。
Prudence had strictly sermonized Marguerite in regard to her new manner of life； but she had replied that she loved me； that she could not live without me； and that； happen what might； she would not sacrifice the pleasure of having me constantly with her； adding that those who were not satisfied with this arrangement were free to stay away。 So much I had heard one day when Prudence had said to Marguerite that she had something very important to tell her； and I had listened at the door of the room into which they had shut themselves。
Not long after； Prudence returned again。 I was at the other end of the garden when she arrived； and she did not see me。 I had no doubt； from the way in which Marguerite came to meet her； that another similar conversation was going to take place； and I was anxious to hear what it was about。 The two women shut themselves into a boudoir； and I put myself within hearing。
〃Well？〃 said Marguerite。
〃Well； I have seen the duke。〃
〃What did he say？〃
〃That he would gladly forgive you in regard to the scene which took place； but that he has learned that you are publicly living with M。 Armand Duval； and that he will never forgive that。 'Let Marguerite leave the young man；' he said to me； 'and； as in the past； I will give her all that she requires； if not； let her ask nothing more from me。'〃
〃And you replied？〃
〃That I would report his decision to you； and I promised him that I would bring you into a more reasonable frame of mind。 Only think； my dear child