"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 in a tone impossible to render. Marguerite
took the six notes of a thousand francs.
"It was quite time," she said. "My dear Prudence, are you in want of any
money?"
"You know, my child, it is the 15th in a couple of days, so if you could
lend me three or four hundred francs, you would do me a real service."
"Send over to-morrow; it is too late to get change now."
"Don't forget."
"No fear. Will you have supper with us?"
"No, Charles is waiting for me."
"You are still devoted to him?"
"Crazy, my dear! I will see you to-morrow. Good-bye, Armand."
Mme. Duvernoy went out.
Marguerite opened the drawer of a side-table and threw the bank-notes
into it.
"Will you permit me to get into bed?" she said with a smile, as she
moved toward the bed.
"Not only permit, but I beg of you."
She turned back the covering and got into bed.