CHAPTER 13.
"You have come almost as quickly as we," said Prudence.
"Yes," I answered mechanically.

"Where is Marguerite ?" "At home." "Alone ?" "With M.de G." I walked to and fro in the room.
"Well, what is the matter ?" "Do you think it amuses me to wait here till M.de G.leaves Marguerite's ?" "How unreasonable you are! Don't you see that Marguerite can't turn the count out of doors?
M.de G.has been with her for a long time; he has always given her a lot of money; he still does.

Marguerite spends more than a hundred thousand francs a year; she has heaps of debts.

The duke gives her all that she asks for, but she does not always venture to ask him for all that she is in want of.

It would never do for her to quarrel with the count, who is worth to her at least ten thousand francs a year.
Marguerite is very fond of you, my dear fellow, but your liaison with her, in her interests and in yours, ought not to be serious.