M.de G.was more fortunate, for he presented himself shortly afterward, and at four in the morning he had not left.
"Forgive me for the few tedious hours that I have given you, and be assured that I shall never forget the happy moments which I owe to you.
"I should have called to-day to ask after you, but I intend going back to my father's.
"Good-bye, my dear Marguerite.

I am not rich enough to love you as I would nor poor enough to love you as you would.

Let us then forget, you a name which must be indifferent enough to you, I a happiness which has become impossible.
"I send back your key, which I have never used, and which might be useful to you, if you are often ill as you were yesterday." As you will see, I was unable to end my letter without a touch of impertinent irony, which proved how much in love I still was.
I read and reread this letter ten times over; then the thought of the pain it would give to Marguerite calmed me a little.

I tried to persuade myself of the feelings which it professed; and when my servant came to my room at eight o'clock, I gave it to him and told him to take it at once.
"Shall I wait for an answer ?" asked Joseph (my servant, like all servants, was called Joseph).
"If they ask whether there is a reply, you will say that you don't know, and wait." I buoyed myself up with the hope that she would reply.

Poor, feeble creatures that we are! All the time that my servant was away I was in a state of extreme agitation.