he luxury which
I could not give her; her breaking with me seemed to assume a character
of the basest self-interest; I was lowered in my own esteem as well as
in my love. I resolved that she should pay for what I had suffered.

I could not be indifferent to what she did, consequently what would hurt
her the most would be my indifference; it was, therefore, this sentiment
which I must affect, not only in her eyes, but in the eyes of others.

I tried to put on a smiling countenance, and I went to call on
Prudence. The maid announced me, and I had to wait a few minutes in
the drawing-room. At last Mme. Duvernoy appeared and asked me into her
boudoir; as I seated myself I heard the drawing-room door open, a light
footstep made the floor creak and the front door was closed violently.

"I am disturbing you," I said to Prudence.

"Not in the least. Marguerite was there. When she heard you announced,
she made her escape; it was she who has just gone out."

"Is she afraid of me now?"

"No, but she is afraid that you would not wish to see her."

"But why?" I said, drawing my breath with difficulty, for I was choked
with emotion. "The poor girl left me for her carriage, her furniture,
and her diamonds; she did quite right, and I don't bear her any grudge.
I met her to-day," I continued carelessly.

"Where?" asked Prudence, looking at me and seeming to ask herself if
this was the same man whom she had known so madly in love.

"In the Champs-Elysees. She was with another woman, very pretty. Who is
she?"

"What was she like?"

"Blonde, slender, with side curls; blue eyes; very elegant."

"Ali! It was Olympe; she is really very pretty."

"Whom does she live with?"

"With nobody; with anybody."

"Where does she live?"

"Rue Troncliet, No.--. Do you want to make love to her?"

"One never knows."

"And Marguerite?"

"I should hardly tell you the truth if I said I think no more about her;
but I am one of those with whom everything depends on the way in which
one breaks with them. Now Marguerite ended with me so lightly that I
realize I was a great fool to have been as much in love with her as I
was, for I was really very much in love with that girl."

You can imagine the way in which I said that; the sweat broke out on my
forehead.

"She was very fond of you, you know, and she still is; the proof is,
that after meeting you to-day, she came straight to tell me about it.
When she got here she was all of a tremble;