Chapter

  1 8 |             me to come to her box. ~Prudence Duvernoy (that was the milliner'
  2 8 |           Yes, protection," replied Prudence. "Poor old man, he would
  3 8 |          offer her anything else." ~Prudence then told me how Marguerite
  4 8 |                Go, then. Ah," added Prudence, as I was going, "there
  5 8 |         Then she held it out toward Prudence, with a gesture which seemed
  6 8 |             some?" ~"No," signalled Prudence. ~Marguerite drew back the
  7 8 |             horses. ~We returned to Prudence's box, and when the play
  8 8 |           Rue d'Antin. At the door, Prudence asked us to come up and
  9 8 |         your neighbours," I said to Prudence. ~"Oh, no; she is probably
 10 8 |           isn't all fun," continued Prudence, "to live like that. I know
 11 8 |          gay lately." ~"Hush," said Prudence, listening. Gaston stopped. ~"
 12 8 |     listened. A voice was calling, "Prudence!" ~"Come, now, you must
 13 8 |       Marguerite's voice calling to Prudence, who rushed to her dressing-room
 14 8 |    Marguerite closed her window and Prudence hers. Marguerite, who had
 15 8 |            isn't the word," replied Prudence, as she put on her hat and
 16 8 |           down to me." ~We followed Prudence downstairs. I trembled;
 17 8 |         heard the sound of a piano. Prudence rang. The piano was silent.
 18 8 |            visitor. At the voice of Prudence, Marguerite rose, and coming
 19 9 |            I had already authorized Prudence to do so." ~"As far as that
 20 9 |       glance at Marguerite. ~"Well, Prudence," she went on, "have you
 21 9 |      threshold, he cast a glance at Prudence. She shrugged her shoulders,
 22 9 |                My dear child," said Prudence, "you really treat him too
 23 9 |             a little chicken," said Prudence. "Suppose we have supper?" ~"
 24 9 |          cough. ~"Come, come," said Prudence, who had taken off her hat
 25 9 |           moment." ~"Apropos," said Prudence to me, "you have not looked
 26 9 |       supper was ready. ~"Ah," said Prudence, catching sight of a little
 27 9 |             you like it, take it." ~Prudence only saw the present, not
 28 9 |          the applause of Nanine, of Prudence, and of Marguerite. Gaston
 29 9 |             to the consternation of Prudence and Nanine, who called to
 30 10|             you doing there?" cried Prudence, who had come in without
 31 10|            Talk, my children," said Prudence, going out and closing the
 32 10|         either to your friend or to Prudence, or to anybody whatever." ~"
 33 10|             said, seeing Gaston and Prudence alone. ~"She is asleep in
 34 10|        ready to go to bed," replied Prudence. ~"Poor thing, I am killing
 35 10|          with me and said good-bye. Prudence remained behind. ~"Well,"
 36 10|              No." ~"She is not like Prudence." ~"Did she promise to?" ~"
 37 11|        portrait I had seen and whom Prudence had indicated to me as the
 38 11|      already opened the door. ~"Has Prudence come?" said Marguerite. ~"
 39 11|            dressing-gown. Well, and Prudence?" ~"She has not come yet,
 40 11|          thinking over things, when Prudence entered. ~"Ah, you here?"'
 41 11|        confided to me, and saw that Prudence scarcely even knew his name. ~"
 42 11|             Well," she said, seeing Prudence, "have you seen the duke?" ~"
 43 11|           time," she said. "My dear Prudence, are you in want of any
 44 11|            and let's have a talk." ~Prudence was right: the answer that
 45 12|             which he has for them. ~Prudence next took her place in the
 46 12|      replied to both Marguerite and Prudence. ~"Sit down." ~"But I am
 47 12|           it. You will go back with Prudence after the theatre, and you
 48 12|           get very fond of you? Ask Prudence." ~"Ah," said she, "it is
 49 12|             sadly after having seen Prudence, the count, and Marguerite
 50 12|           of an hour later I was at Prudence's. She had only just got
 51 13|             as quickly as we," said Prudence. ~"Yes," I answered mechanically. "
 52 13|           the first place," replied Prudence; "is he still her lover?
 53 13|            besides that," continued Prudence; "admit that Marguerite
 54 13|         which I should have thought Prudence incapable. I had nothing
 55 13|          leaving the coast clear." ~Prudence opened the window, and we
 56 13|         from time to time, at which Prudence turned, and shrugged her
 57 13|           carriage and disappeared. Prudence closed the window. At the
 58 13|            it is all over," replied Prudence. "I have given him a talking
 59 13|            practice the theories of Prudence, and to be as gay as my
 60 14|               Who told you that?" ~"Prudence, whom I met yesterday. I
 61 14|             the point of calling on Prudence, and of sending her to tell
 62 14|           went at once to call upon Prudence, who asked to what she owed
 63 14|         fine weather." ~I looked at Prudence, asking myself whether she
 64 14|           it?" ~"She said: 'My dear Prudence, your protege is not polite;
 65 14|            have flung my arms round Prudence's neck. ~A quarter of an
 66 15|             I recognised as that of Prudence. ~I came out of my room.
 67 15|              I came out of my room. Prudence was standing looking around
 68 15|          that I was angry with you. Prudence didn't want me to come;
 69 15|             had a woman here," said Prudence, "and it would hardly have
 70 15|           me attentively. ~"My dear Prudence," I answered, "you do not
 71 15|             nice place you've got!" Prudence went on. "May we see the
 72 15|          see the bedroom?" ~"Yes." ~Prudence went into the bedroom, not
 73 15|          alone. ~"Why did you bring Prudence?" I asked her. ~"Because
 74 15|           but they are friends like Prudence, women who were once kept
 75 15|        value. You yourself saw when Prudence brought me the six thousand
 76 15|           it to me. ~At this moment Prudence reappeared. ~"Look here,
 77 15|            reappeared. ~"Look here, Prudence; do you know what he wants?"
 78 16|             whole day. ~We sent for Prudence, and all three set off,
 79 16|            account of the old duke, Prudence was one of those women who
 80 16|         should go. It was once more Prudence who settled the difficulty. ~"
 81 16|         that, Paris in the mist! As Prudence had told us, it was the
 82 16|            boat, and Marguerite and Prudence accepted joyously. ~People
 83 16|            thought. ~"Where?" asked Prudence. ~"Yonder," and Marguerite
 84 16|             Ah, delicious!" replied Prudence. "Do you like it?" ~"Very
 85 16|       vanished at the last words of Prudence, and brought me back to
 86 16|       nothing." ~"That means," said Prudence, "that when I have two days
 87 17|       Bougival with the duke; be at Prudence's to-night at eight." ~At
 88 17|          The house is taken?" asked Prudence. "Yes; he agreed at once." ~
 89 17|           In the same house?" asked Prudence, laughing. ~"No, at Point
 90 17|           into the house?" inquired Prudence. ~"As soon as possible." ~"
 91 17|             or ten people to meals. Prudence, on her side, brought down
 92 17|      imagine; but from time to time Prudence came to me, asking for a
 93 17|          immediately handed over to Prudence what she asked for Marguerite,
 94 17|        officially as their master. ~Prudence had strictly sermonized
 95 17|            I had heard one day when Prudence had said to Marguerite that
 96 17|        themselves. ~Not long after, Prudence returned again. I was at
 97 17|          don't in the least know." ~Prudence was no doubt going to make
 98 17|         Well," said she, turning to Prudence, and speaking in a broken
 99 17|          one came to see us, except Prudence and Julie Duprat, of whom
100 18|        anywhere as in the country. ~Prudence now came but rarely; but
101 18|          you writing?" I asked. "To Prudence. Do you want to see what
102 18|            there came a letter from Prudence, and for a fortnight Marguerite
103 18|            return. ~"How is it that Prudence does not send you back your
104 18|             we get back to Paris." ~Prudence came two days afterward,
105 18|            night, as she was going, Prudence complained of the cold and
106 18|         which drawer Marguerite put Prudence's letters, I took advantage
107 18|          early." I went straight to Prudence. ~"Come," said I, without
108 18|             the pawn tickets?" ~And Prudence opened the drawer and showed
109 18|          almost a necessity." ~What Prudence said was cruelly true. ~"
110 18|         done, my dear fellow!" ~And Prudence appeared to be enchanted
111 18|           Enough joking," I said to Prudence; "tell me exactly how much
112 18|                She shall have it." ~Prudence shrugged her shoulders. ~"
113 19|          said to me: "Have you seen Prudence?" ~"No." ~"You were a long
114 19|         deceive me? You went to see Prudence." ~"Who told you?" ~"Nanine." ~"
115 19|         know is why you went to see Prudence." ~"To see her." ~"That'
116 19|      concerted plan in our liaison. Prudence is a chatterbox. What need
117 19|            have come out; but since Prudence has told you all, you will
118 19|        listen to the moralizings of Prudence. ~We began to look out for
119 21|        Paris, I hastened off to see Prudence, intending to ask her to
120 21|          being announced, and found Prudence at her toilet. ~"Ah!" she
121 21|           you?" ~"No." ~I looked at Prudence; she cast down her eyes,
122 21|            came to ask you, my dear Prudence, if you have nothing to
123 21|            dining in town," replied Prudence, "and I can't go and see
124 22|       excuse for a day off. Perhaps Prudence wrote to her about something
125 22|         when I was alone; but I saw Prudence; she said nothing to make
126 22|           same time how embarrassed Prudence had appeared when I looked
127 22|          and that was evidently why Prudence was expecting her when she
128 22|          was staying the night with Prudence, or perhaps she would come
129 22|       opened the window, and called Prudence several times. Mme. Duvernoy'
130 23|  countenance, and I went to call on Prudence. The maid announced me,
131 23|          disturbing you," I said to Prudence. ~"Not in the least. Marguerite
132 23|         carelessly. ~"Where?" asked Prudence, looking at me and seeming
133 23|            For the rest," continued Prudence, "I never saw her as she
134 23|            Good-bye." ~"Good-bye." ~Prudence saw me to the door, and
135 24|         immediately spread abroad. ~Prudence herself was taken in, and
136 24|           two there was a ring, and Prudence entered. ~I tried to assume
137 24|           Mlle. Gautier," I said to Prudence, "should turn me out of
138 24|         permit." ~"My friend," said Prudence, "you are under the influence
139 24|          won't last long now." ~And Prudence held out her hand to me,
140 24|              I will tell her." ~And Prudence left me. ~I did not even
141 25| insurmountable barrier. ~I wrote to Prudence to say that I accepted the
142 26|          into which I flung myself. Prudence has told you (has she not?)
143 26|             duke has not answered. ~Prudence is pawning my things again. ~
144 26|           would go away in terror. ~Prudence is giving her New Year's
145 26|            worse than I was before. Prudence wanted to go and ask your
146 26|           by me as much as she can. Prudence, to whom I can no longer
147 27|          together to pay a visit to Prudence and to Julie Duprat. ~Prudence
148 27|      Prudence and to Julie Duprat. ~Prudence had become bankrupt. She