Part 5 (1/2)
”Don't mention the fact that you saw Agathe with me to-night.”
”A--Agathe! What do you say? Why, you are joking!”
”We have just come from a masquerade; she disguised herself for it, and----”
”Do you mean to say that there are masquerade b.a.l.l.s in July?”
”There are if anyone chooses to give one; this was for somebody's birthday.”
”But that girl----”
”She is well disguised, isn't she? I'll bet that you didn't recognize her at the first glance. The costume--the rouge--they change one's whole appearance.”
”Faith! I confess that I didn't see even the slightest resemblance.”
”I rely on your discretion. To-morrow I will tell you what my motive is; you will laugh with me at the adventure. Au revoir, neighbor; good-night! Allow me to light my candle, now.”
”Much pleasure to you, Monsieur Dorsan!”
I left Raymond and returned to my room. My neighbor was not fully persuaded that it was Agathe whom he had seen; but I had at least, by my stratagem, reserved for myself an answer to his gossip; and if he should talk, I could easily persuade people that he was asleep and had not seen things as they were.
”But,” you will say, ”by that falsehood you destroyed another woman's reputation. Who is this Agathe whom you put forward so inconsiderately?”
This Agathe is my last mistress, with whom I had broken only a short time before; she is a milliner, very lively, very alluring, and very wanton! She had sometimes done me the honor to come to me to ask hospitality for the night; my neighbor had often seen her going in and out of my room, so that once more or less would do her no harm. Her reputation was in no danger, as you see.
Now that I have told you about Mademoiselle Agathe, with whom Monsieur Raymond did not know that I had fallen out, not being in my confidence, I return to Nicette, who is in my apartment, waiting for me. It was half-past one in the morning; but there is time for a great deal between that hour and daybreak! My heart beat fast! Faith! I had no idea what the night would bring to pa.s.s.
V
WHAT THE NIGHT BROUGHT TO Pa.s.s
”What a funny man that is!” said Nicette, as I entered the room with a light. ”When I saw that figure, in his s.h.i.+rt, that neckerchief tied with a lover's knot, that big nose, and those surprised eyes, I couldn't keep from laughing.”
”I must confess, Mademoiselle Nicette, that you cause me a lot of trouble!”
”Do I, monsieur? Oh! I am so sorry!”
”But here we are in my rooms at last, G.o.d be praised! I don't quite know, though, how you are to go out!”
”Pardine! through the door, as I came.”
”That's easy for you to say! However, we will see, when to-morrow comes.”
Nicette looked about her. She examined my apartment, my furniture; she followed me into each room; I had only three, by the way: a small reception room, a bedroom, and a study where I worked, or read, or played the piano, or did whatever else I chose.
”Sit down and rest,” I said.
”Oh! in a moment, monsieur; you see----”