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"Ah, she was there?"

"Yes

"Alone?"

"No; with another woman"

"That all?"

"The Comte de G came to her box for an instant; but she went off with

the duke I expected to see you every moment, for there was a stall at

, and I was sure you had

taken it"

"But why should I go where Marguerite goes?"

"Because you are her lover, surely!"

"Who told you that?"

"Prudence, whoratulations,mistress, and it isn't everybody who has the

chance Stick to her; she will do you credit"

These simple reflections of Gaston showed me how absurd had been ht before and he had

spoken to me like that, I should certainly not have written the foolish

letter which I had written

I was on the point of calling on Prudence, and of sending her to tell

Marguerite that I wanted to speak to her; but I feared that she would

revenge herself onthat she could not see h the Rue d'Antin Again I asked ! She is waiting to see if I

shall take some fresh step, and if I retract my letter of to-day, I said

tothat I do not write, she will

write to ht, more than ever, I reproached myself for what I had done I

was alone, unable to sleep, devoured by restlessness and jealousy, when

by sis take their natural course I should have been

with Marguerite, hearing the delicious words which I had heard only