some sweets, so that we could talk by
ourselves for a moment. Mme. Duvernoy is in the secret."

"Yes, my children," said she; "have no fear. I shall say nothing."

"What is the matter with you to-night?" said Marguerite, rising and
coming to the back of the box and kissing me on the forehead.

"I am not very well."

"You should go to bed," she replied, with that ironical air which went
so well with her delicate and witty face.

"Where?"

"At home."

"You know that I shouldn't be able to sleep there."

"Well, then, it won't do for you to come and be pettish here because you
have seen a man in my box."

"It is not for that reason."

"Yes, it is. I know; and you are wrong, so let us say no more about
it. You will go back with Prudence after the theatre, and you will stay
there till I call. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

How could I disobey?

"You still love me?"

"Can you ask?"

"You have thought of me?"

"All day long."

"Do you know that I am really afraid that I shall get very fond of you?
Ask Prudence."

"Ah," said she, "it is amazing!"

"Now, you must go back to your seat. The count will be coming back, and
there is nothing to be gained by his finding you here."

"Because you don't like seeing him."

"No; only if you had told me that you wanted to come to the Vaudeville
to-night I could have got this box for you as well as he."

"Unfortunately, he got it for me without my asking him, and he asked me
to go with him; you know well enough that I couldn't refuse. All I could
do was to write and tell you where I was going, so that you could see
me, and because I wanted to see you myself; but since this is the way
you thank me, I shall profit by the lesson."

"I was wrong; forgive me."

"Well and good; and now go back nicely to your place, and, above all, no
more jealousy."

She kissed me again, and I left the box. In the passage I met the count
coming back. I returned to my seat.

After all, the presence of M. de G. in Marguerite's box was the most
natural thing in the world. He had been her lover, he sent her a box, he
accompanied her to the theatre; it was all quite natural, and if I was
to have a mistress like Marguerite I should have to get used to her
ways.

Nonetheless, I was very unhappy all the rest of the evening, and went
away very sadly after having seen Prudence, the count, and Marguerite
get into the carriage, which was waiting for them at the door.

However, a quarter of