The Lady of the Camellias

letely over. It had realized one

g themselves and the family? a sister and

the agent had written telling her that

disappeared one day without anyone ever discovering, either from her or through ot

e who had known Marguerite when they saw that her sole heir was a hearty, good-loo

t her having the least idea of the source fro

ng away from her sister's death a deep sadness which was, however, ease

was forgetting quite what my part in events had been, when something occurred which led to my becoming acquainted with the whole

ll been auctioned off, had been to let for three or f

t to see who it was and brought me a visiting card saying tha

nd there I saw these tw

he name, and then I remembered the f

Marguerite want with me? I said that the gentl

hich looked as though hey had not been off his back for several days and which, on his arr

to hide his feelings, and it was with tears in hi

other, but because I wanted to see you so badly today that I have not even taken time to stop off at the hotel w

, which he did, taking from his pocket a handke

ranger can want with you at such an hour, dressed in such clothes and w

am at you

at the Marguerite

d held in check was for an instant stronger than he

e me this too, and please believe that I shall never forge

ll in some small way ease the pain that you feel, tell me at once in

, even had I felt differently, I should

hen

ything at Margu

A bo

n Les

's ri

still ha

in my b

ken from his shoulders, and he thanked me as though I had already

the book from my bedro

e dedication on the first page and rif

ears fell on to

effort now to hide the fact that he had wept and was near to

o you

me to ask you to s

next, 'but it was you, then, who

was

it. I am happy to be ab

embarrassment, 'the least I can do i

single volume in a sale like that is a trifle, a

hundred fran

aid I, embarrassed in my

, and I went directly to the auctioneer's to ask if I might inspect the list of items sold and of the buyers' names. I saw that this volume had been bought by you, a

d to be afraid that I had known Margue

d to reas

ing at her sale, and took it into my head to bid for this volume, I don't know why, for the satisfaction of annoying a man who was bent on getting it and seemed determined to prevent it going to me. I repeat, th

nd and grasping mine, 'I accept and shall b

journey, his desire to possess the volume, all excited my curiosity; but I feared that by questioning

he sensed my wish

u read t

ry w

ake of the two

given the book did not belong in the usual category, for I could not

irl was an angel. Here, ' h

per which, by the look of it,

. This is w

tly eases my sufferings. I expect I shall doubtless not live long enough to have the happiness of grasping the hand which wrote the kindly letter I have just received; its words would cure me, if anything could. I shall not see you, for I

ept my bed now for a month, and so precious to me is your good opinion, that each day I write a little more of

journal in your keeping. In it you will find the reasons and the excuse for what has passed between us. Julie is

nce. Do not be grateful to me. Returning each day to the only happy moments of my life does me enormous good a

ou would always remember me, but everything I

n my creditors have placed in the drawing-room to see that nothing is removed and to ensure that if I do n

ather, for I am wrong, it is G

I were to put aside the smallest item for you and they heard of it, they wou

e life I n

chances are remote, adieu, my dear; forgive me if I do not write more, for those who s

ite Gau

st few words were

s read it over in his thoughts while I had been r

eply affected by his memories, he stared for some time at the

at I shall see her no more; when I think that she did for me what no sister co

, writing and saying my na

n to his thoughts and tears, held

that woman suffer, how cruel I was, how good and uncomplaining she was. I belived that it was for me to forgive her, and today I find myse

enly did I feel for this young man who confided his sorrows with such frankness,

hope. Go and see them for they will com

ou. Forgive me, I was forgetting that my grief must mean little to you, and that I trespass

calm your sorrow. If the company of myself and my friends can beguile your thoughts, i

nough to dry my eyes so that idlers in the street shall not stare to see a grown man weeping as though he were

Armand, 'and by telling me the cause of your sorrow.

h the story, and you shall judge whether I am right to mourn the poor girl. And now, ' he added, rubbing his eyes one last time

ng man was good and gentle; I wa

oud with tears; he saw that I noticed th

I told him, '

e, ' he

effort not to weep, he fled r

b which was waiting at the door; but he was hardly inside whe

b