登陆注册
12109100000050

第50章

IN the first three letters,my father expressed his concern for my silence and asked the reason for it.In the last,he made it clear that he had been informed of my changed way of life,and announced his arrival in the very near future.

I have always felt great respect and a genuine affection for my father.So I wrote back saying that the reason for my silence was that I had been away travelling for a while,and I asked him to let me know on which day he proposed to arrive so that I could be there to meet him.

I gave my servant my country address and left orders that he was to bring the first letter that came postmarked C.Then I set off again immediately for Bougival.

Marguerite was waiting for me at the garden gate.

Her look was anxious.She threw her arms around my neck and could not stop herself asking:

'Did you see Prudence?'

'No.'

'Why did you stay so long in Paris?'

'I found some letters from my father which I had to answer.'

A few moments after this,Nanine came in.She was out of breath.Marguerite stood up,went over and spoke to her softly.

When Nanine had gone,Marguerite sat down beside me once more and,taking my hand,said:

'Why did you deceive me?You went to Prudence's,didn't you?'

'Who told you?'

'Nanine.'

'And who told her?'

'She followed you.'

'So you told her to follow me?'

'Yes.I thought there must have been a very good reason to make you go up to Paris like that.You've not left my side for four months.I was afraid that something awful had happened or that perhaps you were going to see another woman.'

'Silly girl!'

'My mind's easy now.I know what you did,but I still don't know what you were told.'

I showed Marguerite my father's letters.

'That's not what I asked.What I'd like to know is why you called on Prudence.'

'To see her.'

'You're lying,my dear.'

'All right then.I went to ask her if the horse was better,and if she'd finished with your shawl and your jewels.'

Marguerite flushed,but said nothing.

'And,'I continued,'I found out to what use you'd put the horses,shawls and diamonds.'

'And you're angry with me?'

'I'm angry with you for not thinking of asking me for whatever you needed.'

'In affairs like ours,as long as the woman has something of her self-respect left,she must shoulder any number of sacrifices herself rather than ask her lover for money and in so doing taint her love with mercenary motives.You love me,I know you do,but you have no idea just how weak are the ties that bind the love men have for girls like me.Who knows?Perhaps one day,when you were short of money or feeling annoyed,you'd have come round to thinking that our affair was a carefully worked-out plot!Prudence talks too much.I didn't need those horses!I've saved myself money by selling them:I can manage without,and now I don't have to spend anything on them.As long as you love me,that's all I ask.And you can love me just as much without horses and shawls and diamonds.'

She said all this in so natural a tone of voice that there were tears in my eyes as I listened.

'But,my sweet Marguerite,'I answered,lovingly pressing my mistress's hands in mine,'you must have known that some day I'd find out about your sacrifice,and that the day I did find out,I'd never have allowed it.'

'And why not?'

'Because,dearest girl,I do not intend that the affection you truly feel for me should leave you the poorer by even a single piece of jewelry.Like you,I don't ever want you to think,when things are hard or you're feeling angry,that such bad times would never have happened if you'd lived with somebody else.Nor can I stand the thought that you should ever regret living with me,even for a moment.A few days from now,your horses,your diamonds and your shawls will be returned to you.You need them as much as life needs air.It may be ridiculous,but I'd rather have you lavish than frugal.'

'Which is to say you don't love me any more.'

'Don't be silly!'

'If you really loved me,you'd let me love you in my own way.But you persist in thinking of me as though I'm some girl who can't live without all this luxury,someone you still think you have to pay.You are ashamed to accept proof that I love you.In your heart,you're thinking of leaving me some day,and you're being very careful to put your scruples beyond suspicion.You're quite right,my dear,but I had expected better.'

And Marguerite stirred,as though she were about to get up.I held her back a moment,saying:

'I want you to be happy.I don't want there to be anything that you can reproach me for.That's all.'

'Even so,we shall go our separate ways!'

'Why,Marguerite?Who can separate us?'I exclaimed.

同类推荐
  • 戏中戏

    戏中戏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 吊李群玉

    吊李群玉

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • Havoc

    Havoc

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 一贯问答

    一贯问答

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • The Altruist in Politics

    The Altruist in Politics

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 奇迹之新纪元

    奇迹之新纪元

    本书故事灵感来源于2002年开始在中国风靡的网络游戏--奇迹mu,谨以此书致敬当年的那份激情。无尽的黑暗再次临世,救世的勇士你在哪里?
  • 快穿之Boss!别跑

    快穿之Boss!别跑

    楚妍在与时空管理者的谈判下,答应接受了天道的任务。可是谁能告诉她一下,那黑化的丞相,傲娇皇帝,等等都让她感到悸动?她是不是病了?
  • 柠檬少年

    柠檬少年

    暗恋和被恋是一种天差地别的距离,我总是追逐你的脚步,直到有一天,我发现自己累了,而你,丝毫没有要停止前进的步伐,难道你感受不到我的存在,还是,从为真正爱上过我。
  • 独步九重天

    独步九重天

    历三灾九劫,成天地主宰,称尊宇内外,独步九重天!以一己之力,携带神秘异宝,从落魄宗门崛起,大杀四方敌,名扬修真界,开启了与天争锋的强者路。当其踏破长空,立于诸天之上,许下宏愿。我不朽,天地不朽,诸神不朽。我不灭,大道不灭,苍生不灭。从此天地,再无轮回!
  • 女扮男装闯校园之甜蜜公主贴身爱

    女扮男装闯校园之甜蜜公主贴身爱

    为了逃避订婚,女扮男装去了贵族男校。他们究竟是为爱疯狂,还是针锋相对
  • 玄隐道

    玄隐道

    因何为玄,神秘而深不可测,因此为玄。何为梦纹,梦之境化为纹,因此为梦纹。玄梦合一,睥睨天下!
  • 艳酒欢之傲世浮屠

    艳酒欢之傲世浮屠

    本故事是以修仙为背景的师徒恋“从今天起,你君泽就是我的门徒了,记住,以后只准我一个人欺负你,不准被其他人欺负。我可以负天下人也定不会不管你。”“从今天起,你不在是我的师傅,此生你我师徒缘已尽,此断剑泯恩仇。”“徒儿只对尊师一个人好,就便是尊师要这天下,徒儿也给尊师取来。”
  • 生物:生物发展研究

    生物:生物发展研究

    本书分为早期生物学、动植物分类和明清生物学等三部分,介绍了甲骨文中的动植物知识、早期动植物地理分布、早期的食物链记载、早期资源保护的记载、古代的动植物分类、古代动植物分类专谱等内容。
  • 圣光之名

    圣光之名

    天生圣光之子,却一家人皆尽被流放。内蕴无穷圣光,却被强行封印,究竟是何目的?为了称王称霸?还是别有用心?看主角冲破桎梏,探明真相,纵横逍遥之旅。
  • 校园新生泡校花

    校园新生泡校花

    我从高山来,来到这个世间寻找我为何存在,我只愿醉卧没人膝头,这校园里,我有校花相伴,社会上我也有美女相随……