or other, at once. I am hungry."

Need I tell you the impression which this scene made upon me, or can you
not imagine it?

"You are going to have supper with me," she said to me; "meanwhile, take
a book. I am going into my dressing-room for a moment."

She lit the candles of a candelabra, opened a door at the foot of the
bed, and disappeared.

I began to think over this poor girl's life, and my love for her was
mingled with a great pity. I walked to and fro in the room, thinking
over things, when Prudence entered.

"Ah, you here?"' she said, "where is Marguerite?"

"In her dressing-room."

"I will wait. By the way, do you know she thinks you charming?"

"No."

"She hasn't told you?"

"Not at all."

"How are you here?"

"I have come to pay her a visit."

"At midnight?"

"Why not?"

"Farceur!"

"She has received me, as a matter of fact, very badly."

"She will receive you better by and bye."

"Do you think so?"

"I have some good news for her."

"No harm in that. So she has spoken to you about me?"

"Last night, or rather to-night, when you and your friend went. By the
way, what is your friend called? Gaston R., his name is, isn't it?"

"Yes," said I, not without smiling, as I thought of what Gaston had
confided to me, and saw that Prudence scarcely even knew his name.

"He is quite nice, that fellow; what does he do?"

"He has twenty-five thousand francs a year."

"Ah, indeed! Well, to return to you. Marguerite asked me all about
you: who you were, what you did, what mistresses you had had; in short,
everything that one could ask about a man of your age. I told her all I
knew, and added that you were a charming young man. That's all."

"Thanks. Now tell me what it was she wanted to say to you last night."

"Nothing at all. It was only to get rid of the count; but I have really
something to see her about to-day, and I am bringing her an answer now."

At this moment Marguerite reappeared from her dressing-room, wearing a
coquettish little nightcap with bunches of yellow ribbons, technically
known as "cabbages." She looked ravishing. She had satin slippers on her
bare feet, and was in the act of polishing her nails.

"Well," she said, seeing Prudence, "have you seen the duke?"

"Yes, indeed."

"And what did he say to you?"

"He gave me--"

"How much?"

"Six thousand."

"Have you got it?"

"Yes.

"Did he seem put out?"

"No."

"Poor man!"

This "Poor man!" was said i