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It was difficult for ht her Marguerite no doubt realized it, for she went on: "I have cos to ask:

pardon for what I said yesterday to Mlle Olympe, and pity for what you

are perhaps still ready to do to ivena fourth part of what I have endured till now You will have

pity on me, won't you? And you will understand that a s to do than to take his revenge upon a

sick and sad woman like me See, take my hand I am in a fever I left

my bed to come to you, and ask, not for your friendship, but for your

indifference"

I took Marguerite's hand It was burning, and the poor woman shivered

under her fur cloak

I rolled the ar up to the fire

"Do you think, then, that I did not suffer," said I, "on that night

when, after waiting for you in the country, I ca but the letter which nearly drove uerite, when I loved you so much?

"Do not speak of that, Armand; I did not come to speak of that I wanted