human
Ah! Nathalie, at last! said Juliette, running to meet the young widow, who began by kissing her.
gpt
What a long time since you came to see me! fie, madame! it is wicked of you to neglect me so, when I have no other friend, no other consolation, but you! Come, sit down here with me this minute. Oh! how happy it makes me to see you!
human
Don't scold me, my dear Juliette; the reason that I haven't been to see you for some time is that I haven't been very well.
gpt
Oh, dear! that was all that was wanting--that you should be sick! You ought to have written to me; I would have shown father your letter, and he couldn't have refused to let me go to see you and nurse you.
human
It wasn't worth while; it's all over now, as you see.
gpt
Why, no--no, you are a little pale.
human
I always am. But you have a pair of red eyes; what does that mean? You have been crying; is there anything new? doesn't Lucien love you any more?
gpt
Oh, yes! poor boy--I see in his eyes that he still loves me; he can't tell me so except with his eyes, but I can understand what they say.
human
What is the matter, then?
gpt
Oh! mon Dieu! the matter is that they are still bent on marrying me, especially my stepmother, who wants to get rid of me; and this time it seems that they have found a husband for me. It's that infernal second-hand dealer, Madame Putiphar, who has planned it all. She promised my stepmother to bear me in mind. And now they say she's found a superb match for me: a Neapolitan or Sicilian count--or some kind of an Italian nobleman, immensely rich, who doesn't want a dowry!--do you hear? no dowry! That is what captivates father.
human
Have you seen this count?
gpt
No, not yet, thank God! but it appears that I am to see him soon; we're to give a dinner for him and one of his friends, who always accompanies him.
human
Your father is going to give a dinner party? it isn't possible!
gpt
Oh! he didn't want to; but it seems that this count is in the habit of dining in every house he goes to--he and his friend; my stepmother Aldegonde brought my father to the point. 'You must give this dinner,' she said, 'and let it be a handsome one; a rich and noble son-in-law is well worth going to some little expense.'--Father swore, but he yielded--and the day is fixed: the day after to-morrow, my prospective husband is to dine with us. And that is why I am crying! why I am so unhappy! And I saw in Lucien's eyes that he knew all about it; Aldegonde probably told him, just to be nasty.
human
Come, come, my poor Juliette, don't get so excited; this marriage hasn't come off yet. You are very pretty, but perhaps your style of beauty won't please this Italian.
gpt
Oh! I'll make faces at him.
human
A thousand things may happen to prevent it. Has your father made any inquiries about the man?
gpt
I don't think so; he relies on Madame Putiphar's word, and she praises him in the highest terms, as well as his friend, who's a commission merchant in something or other.
human
A commission merchant in marriages, I should say! However, I prefer to believe that your father wouldn't marry you to a man without knowing something about him. And, do you know, there's one thing in all this that seems so perfectly absurd to me--that is, the idea of this rich nobleman absolutely insisting on being invited out to dinner--he and his friend! That has every appearance of a joke, do you know!
gpt
That is so. You are right! It doesn't seem altogether natural.
human
I don't know why, but I suspect some sort of a scheme in all this. There are so many schemers in Paris! Look you, my dear, this marriage isn't made yet, and something tells me that it never will be.
gpt
Bless you, my dear Nathalie! you renew my hopes, you bring back joy to my heart! Ah! how good it was of you to come!
human
Yes, and you have no idea that you came very near never seeing me again; that I have been in great danger.
gpt
Mon Dieu! how you frighten me! what has happened, in heaven's name?
human
My dress caught fire, my love; it was all ablaze, and I never suspected it!
gpt
Oh! heaven!
human
Don't be alarmed; the danger must have passed, as I am here.
gpt
Was it long ago?
human
Not more than a week.--I was walking on the boulevard; it seems that my dress came in contact with a lighted match, which our gentlemanly friends are in the habit of strewing along their path, presumably to gratify themselves by roasting us alive! My dress was on fire, and I had no idea of it, when suddenly I felt two strong arms surround me--yes, hug me; I started to cry out, I thought that it was an insult--my dear, my life had been saved! A young man, at the risk of burning himself to death, had sacrificed himself in order to extinguish the fire, and he did it very adroitly, but at the cost of quite a bad burn on his wrist.
gpt
Oh! the poor fellow! I wish I could thank him. Was he a workingman?
human
No; a very elegant young man--and very good-looking. We were surrounded in a moment; you know how inquisitive everybody is in Paris. Luckily, there was a druggist's shop within a few steps, and we took refuge there; and while my rescuer's arm was being dressed, we talked a little. You can understand that I was anxious to know who it was to whom I was so deeply indebted; I asked him his name, and he gave me his card; he was Monsieur Adhémar Monbrun--a dramatist who writes delightful plays. You don't know him, poor darling, for they never take you to the theatre!
gpt
No, but I know the name through Lucien. This Adhémar Monbrun is a friend of his; he has often spoken to me about him, and he speaks very highly of him.
human
Really? Monsieur Lucien knows him, and speaks very highly of him?
gpt
Yes; he says that he is a very generous man, always ready to help his friends. Indeed, he has said to me more than once: 'If I wanted money, I am very sure that Adhémar would lend me some; but, in my opinion, a man ought not to borrow when he doesn't know how he can repay the loan.'--But finish your story.
human
Oh! it's almost finished.--When he gave me his card, I thought it best to give him mine; for I didn't want him to think he had rescued a lorette, or a bitch--as they call prostitutes now. Then I sent for a cab, for I couldn't walk home with my dress all burned. The cab came, and Monsieur Adhémar escorted me to it; I offered to drive him home, for he had to carry his arm in a sling. That was natural enough, wasn't it?
gpt
Surely. Poor fellow! is he badly burned?
human
Yes, on the wrist; it will not be serious; but he will probably retain the mark. He declined my offer, and left me.
gpt
Ah! and was that all?
human
Yes.
gpt
It's a pity!
human
What a child you are! Oh! there was something else, though.
gpt
What was it? what was it? I had a shrewd idea that it wasn't finished.
human
I thought that it would be discourteous of me, knowing his address, not to send to inquire how his burn was getting along; for, you see, it was for me, it was in assisting me, that he was injured.
gpt
Why, of course; and it was your duty to inquire.
human
Still, I hesitated a long while.
gpt
Why so?
human
Oh! because--I don't know--I was afraid it would seem as if I wanted to force that young man to think about me.
gpt
Really? was that the reason?
human
Dear me! how spiteful you are this morning!--At last, I concluded to do it; and three days ago I sent my servant to inquire about the burn. She saw him, and he told her that it was almost well, that he thanked me very much for the interest I was good enough to take in him, and that he should have the honor of coming himself to thank me.
gpt
Oho! so he has been to see you, has he?
human
No; that was three days ago, and he hasn't been yet. He probably said it to be polite; he won't come.
gpt
I'll bet that he will.
human
He may come or not, as he pleases; after all, it makes no difference to me.
gpt
Oh! what a lie!
human
Juliette!
gpt
Yes, that's a lie; it does make a difference to you! Tell me, Nathalie, am I not to be your confidante, as you are mine? You have often said to me: 'I made a marriage of reason; I have never known what it is to love; but it must be a very pleasant thing. I am bored sometimes when I am alone; if I loved somebody, it seems to me that I should never be bored.'
human
Yes, I have said all that to you; what then?
gpt
Well--let me look into your eyes. Come, I'll bet that you are never bored now.
human
What an idea, Juliette! You will have it that I am in love with a man whom I hardly know, who has never spoken to me but once, and who has no desire to see me again--as you see!
gpt
Mon Dieu! I don't say that you love him; but I think that he attracted you--that you might have fallen in love with him.
human
Well, yes! yes, my dear friend; yes, he did attract me; yes---- I don't know whether it is gratitude for the great service he rendered me, or---- Oh! I won't conceal anything from you! Ever since that day, I don't know what has been the matter with me: I have been nervous and sad; everything irritates me; I keep wanting to cry; I think of him all the time; I tell myself that I am a fool, that I lack common sense. But I am not bored any more--no, no, I am never bored now!
gpt
And Lucien knows him? Oh! how I would like to see Lucien! I would ask him a thousand questions. But you say he speaks highly of him?
human
Yes, very.--By the way, I remember----
gpt
What?
human
No, I won't tell you that.
gpt
Is it something concerning Monsieur Adhémar? I insist upon your telling me, and telling me instantly!
human
Well, Lucien said: 'It's a pity that Adhémar will never believe that anyone loves him; it is true that he has been deceived so often by his mistresses that it may well have made him distrustful; but he carries it too far now; he has sworn never to love any woman again.'
gpt
That's a drunken man's oath, my dear love, said Nathalie, with a smile;
human
But tell me, my dear, is there anything new? Have you had no news?
gpt
Of whom?
human
You know to whom I refer.
gpt
Oh! yes, I understand; but, really, my adventure with Monsieur Adhémar has made me entirely forget the person you speak of. No, thank heaven, I haven't seen him again!
human
I am so glad! when I think of him, do you know, I am always afraid for you.
gpt
What a child you are!
human
Your father's asking for you, Juliette, she said.--
gpt
Ah! your servant, madame! excuse me for disturbing you.
human
Not at all, madame; I was just going when you came in; in any event, I would not keep Juliette from obeying her father's summons.--Au revoir, dear girl!
gpt
Come to see me after the famous dinner; I will tell you the result.
human
Very well; and I will tell you if--I have seen him again.
gpt
Madame, I have the honor to salute you.
human
Present my compliments to Monsieur Mirotaine, if you please!
gpt
I will not fail, madame.