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en to go； I returned home。
Marguerite had not answered。
I need not tell you in what state of agitation I spent the next day。 At half past nine a messenger brought me an envelope containing my letter and the five…hundred…franc note； not a word more。
〃Who gave you this？〃 I asked the man。
〃A lady who was starting with her maid in the next mail for Boulogne； and who told me not to take it until the coach was out of the courtyard。〃
I rushed to the Rue d'Antin。
〃Madame left for England at six o'clock；〃 said the porter。
There was nothing to hold me in Paris any longer； neither hate nor love。 I was exhausted by this series of shocks。 One of my friends was setting out on a tour in the East。 I told my father I should like to accompany him； my father gave me drafts and letters of introduction； and eight or ten days afterward I embarked at Marseilles。
It was at Alexandria that I learned from an attache at the embassy； whom I had sometimes seen at Marguerite's； that the poor girl was seriously ill。
I then wrote her the letter which she answered in the way you know； I received it at Toulon。
I started at once； and you know the rest。
Now you have only to read a few sheets which Julie Duprat gave me； they are the best commentary on what I have just told you。
Chapter 25
Armand； tired by this long narrative； often interrupted by his tears； put his two hands over his forehead and closed his eyes to think； or to try to sleep； after giving me the pages written by the hand of Marguerite。 A few minutes after； a more rapid breathing told me that Armand slept； but that light sleep which the least sound banishes。
This is what I read； I copy it without adding or omitting a syllable：
To…day is the 15th December。 I have been ill three or four days。 This morning I stayed in bed。 The weather is dark； I am sad； there is no one by me。 I think of you； Armand。 And you； where are you； while I write these lines？ Far from Paris； far； far； they tell me； and perhaps you have already forgotten Marguerite。 Well； be happy； I owe you the only happy moments in my life。
I can not help wanting to explain all my conduct to you； and I have written you a letter； but； written by a girl like me； such a letter might seem to be a lie； unless death had sanctified it by its authority； and； instead of a letter； it were a confession。
To…day I am ill； I may die of this illness； for I have always had the presentiment that I shall die young。 My mother died of consumption； and the way I have always lived could but increase the only heritage she ever left me。 But I do not want to die without clearing up for you everything about me； that is； if； when you come back； you will still trouble yourself about the poor girl whom you loved before you went away。
This is what the letter contained； I shall like writing it over again； so as to give myself another proof of my own justification。
You remember； Armand； how the arrival of your father surprised us at Bougival； you remember the involuntary fright that his arrival caused me； and the scene which took place between you and him； which you told me of in the evening。
Next day； when you were at Paris； waiting for your father； and he did not return； a man came to the door and handed in a letter from M。 Duval。
His letter； which I inclose with this； begged me； in the most serious terms； to keep you away on the following day； on some excuse or other； and to see your father； who wished to speak to me； and asked me particularly not to say anything to you about it。
You know how I insisted on your returning to Paris next day。
You had only been gone an hour when your father presented himself。 I won't say what impression his severe face made upon me。 Your father had the old theory that a courtesan is a being without heart or reason； a sort of machine for coining gold； always ready； like the machine； to bruise the hand that gives her everything； and to tear in pieces； without pity or discernment； those who set her in motion。
Your father had written me a very polite letter； in order that I might consent to see him； he did not present himself quite as he had written。 His manner at first was so stiff； insolent； and even threatening； that I had to make him understand that I was in my own house； and that I had no need to render him an account of my life； except because of the sincere affection which I had for his son。
M。 Duval calmed down a little； but still went on to say that he could not any longer allow his son to ruin himself over me； that I was beautiful； it was true； but； however beautiful I might be； I ought not to make use of my beauty to spoil the future of a young man by such expenditure as I was causing。
At that there was only one thing to do； to show him the proof that since I was your mistress I had spared no sacrifice to be faithful to you without asking for more money than you had to give me。 I showed him the pawn tickets； the receipts of the people to whom I had sold what I could not pawn； I told him of my resolve to part with my furniture in order to pay my debts； and live with you without being a too heavy expense。 I told him of our happiness； of how you had shown me the possibility of a quieter and happier life； and he ended by giving in to the evidence； offering me his hand； and asking pardon for the way in which he had at first approached me。
Then he said to me：
〃So； madame； it is not by remonstrances or by threats； but by entreaties； that I must endeavour to obtain from you a greater sacrifice than you have yet made for my son。〃
I trembled at this beginning。
Your father came over to me； took both my hands； and continued in an affectionate voice：
〃My child； do not take what I have to say to you amiss； only remember that there are sometimes in life cruel necessities for the heart； but that they must be submitted to。 You are good； your soul has generosity unknown to many women who perhaps despise you； and are less worthy than you。 But remember that there is not only the mistress； but the family； that besides love there are duties； that to the age of passion succeeds the age when man； if he is to be respected； must plant himself solidly in a serious position。 My son has no fortune； and yet he is ready to abandon to you the legacy of his mother。 If he accepted from you the sacrifice which you are on the point of making； his honour and dignity would require him to give you； in exchange for it； this income； which would always put you out of danger of adversity。 But he can not accept this sacrifice； because the world； which does not know you； would give a wrong interpretation to this acceptance； and such an interpretation must not tarnish the name which we bear。 No one would consider whether Armand loves you； whether you love him； whether this mutual love means happiness to him and redemption to you； they would see only one thing； that Armand Duval allowed a kept woman （forgive me； my child； for what I am forced to say to you） to sell all she had for him。 Then the day of reproaches and regrets would arrive； be sure； for you or for others； and you would both bear a chain that you could not sever。 What would you do then？ Your youth would be lost； my son's future destroyed； and I； his father； should receive from only one of my children the recompense that I look for from both。
〃You are young； beautiful； life will console you； you are noble； and the memory of a good deed will redeem you from many past deeds。 During the six months that he has known you Armand has forgotten me。 I wrote to him four times； and he has never once replied。 I might have died and he not known it！
〃Whatever may be your resolution of living otherwise than as you have lived； Armand； who loves you； will never consent to the seclusion to which his modest fortune would condemn you； and to which your beauty does not entitle you。 Who knows what he would do then！ He has gambled； I know； without telling you of it； I know also； but； in a moment of madness； he might have lost part of what I have saved； during many years； for my daughter's portion； for him； and for the repose of my old age。 What might have happened may yet happen。
〃Are you sure； besides； that the life which you are giving up for him will never again come to attract you？ Are you sure； you who have loved him； that you will never love another？ Would you not…suffer on seeing the hindrances set by your love to your lover's life； hindrances for which you would be powerless to console him； if； with age； thoughts of ambition should succeed to dreams of love？ Think over all that； madame。 You love Armand； prove it to him by the sole means which remains to you of yet proving it to him； by sacrificing your love to his future。 No misfortune has yet arrived； but one will arrive； and perhaps a greater one than those which I foresee。 Armand might become jealous of a man who has loved you； he might provoke him； fight； be killed。 Think； then； what you would suffer in the presence of a father who should call on you to render an account for the life of his son！
〃Finally； my dear child； let me tell you all； for I have not yet told you all； let me tell you what has brought me to Paris。 I have a daughter； as I have told you； young； beautiful； pure as an