dazzling bosom and magnificent
shoulders. She was beautiful, and, from the point of view of figure,
more beautiful than Marguerite. I realized this fact still more clearly
from certain glances which Marguerite bestowed upon her while I was
talking with her. The man who was the lover of such a woman might well
be as proud as M. de N., and she was beautiful enough to inspire a
passion not less great than that which Marguerite had inspired in me. At
that moment she had no lover. It would not be difficult to become so; it
depended only on showing enough money to attract her attention.

I made up my mind. That woman should be my mistress. I began by dancing
with her. Half an hour afterward, Marguerite, pale as death, put on her
pelisse and left the ball.

Chapter 24

It was something already, but it was not enough. I saw the hold which I
had upon this woman, and I took a cowardly advantage of it.

When I think that she is dead now, I ask myself if God will ever forgive
me for the wrong I did her.

After the supper, which was noisy as could be, there was gambling. I sat
by the side of Olympe and put down my money so recklessly that she could
not but notice me. In an instant I had gained one hundred and fifty or
two hundred louis, which I spread out before me on the table, and on
which she fastened her eyes greedily.

I was the only one not completely absorbed by the game, and able to pay
her some attention. All the rest of the night I gained, and it was I
who gave her money to play, for she had lost all she had before her and
probably all she had in the house.

At five in the morning, the guests departed. I had gained three hundred
louis.

All the players were already on their way downstairs; I was the only
one who had remained behind, and as I did not know any of them, no one
noticed it. Olympe herself was lighting the way, and I was going to
follow the others, when, turning back, I said to her:

"I must speak to you."

"To-morrow," she said.

"No, now."

"What have you to say?"

"You will see."

And I went back into the room.

"You have lost," I said.

"Yes.

"All that you had in the house?"

She hesitated.

"Be frank."

"Well, it is true."

"I have won three hundred louis. Here they are, if you will let me stay
here to-night."

And I threw the gold on the table.

"And why this proposition?"

"Because I am in love with you, of course."

"No, but because you love Marguerite, and you