Chapter 20 Chapter Twenty

My father sat in my living room in his dressing gown, writing letters. From the way he lifted his eyes to see me in, I knew right away that what he was about to talk about was serious. But I pretended not to see it, and walked up to him and kissed him. "When did you come, papa?" "last night." "Did you still come to me as soon as you got out of the car?" "yes." "I'm sorry I didn't pick you up." After saying these few words, I waited for my father's instruction, which can be seen from his cold face.But he said nothing, sealed the letter he had just written, and gave it to Joseph to post.

When we were alone in the room, my father stood up, leaned against the fireplace, and said to me: "My dear Armand, I have something serious to say to you." "I'm listening, Dad." "Will you promise me to tell the truth?" "I never tell a lie." "Is it true that you are living with a woman named Marguerite Gautier?" "real." "Do you know what kind of woman this is?" "A whore." "It's for her, did you forget to visit your sister and me this year?" "Yes, Dad, I admit it." "Then you love this woman very much?"

"You see that very clearly, Papa, and it is because of her that I have failed in a sacred duty, and that is why I am here today to make amends to you." My father no doubt did not expect me to answer him so readily, for he seemed to have considered it for a while, and then he said to me: "Don't you really know you can't live like this forever?" "I used to worry about that, Dad, but I don't know why." "But you should know," my father went on, in a rather stiff tone, "that I won't let you do that." "I think that as long as I don't ruin the family tradition and tarnish the family's reputation, I can live like I am now. It is these thoughts that make me feel a little bit more at ease."

Love is in a fierce confrontation with emotion. In order to keep Marguerite, I am ready to resist everything, even my father. "Then it's time to change your lifestyle." "Oh, why? Dad." "Because you're doing something to discredit your family, and you think that reputation should be maintained." "I don't understand what you mean by that." "I will explain to you at once. It is well that you have a mistress, and you are justifiably keeping a whore like a fashionista; but for her you have forgotten your holiest duty, and your scandal has reached us My hometown in other provinces has insulted the lintel of my family, this is not acceptable, and this will not be allowed in the future."

"Listen, papa, those who tell you about me don't understand the situation. I am Mademoiselle Gautier's lover, I live with her, and these things are very common. I didn't take the surname I got from you To Mademoiselle Gautier, what I have spent on her is what my income allows. I am not in debt, and none of my actions are worth a father saying to his son what you just said to me. .” "A father always has the right to bring his son back when he sees that he is not going the right way. You haven't done anything bad yet, but you will in the future. " "dad!"

"Monsieur, I have more experience of life than you. Only a truly chaste woman can speak of a truly chaste love. Any Manon would have had a de Griot. Times and fashions are different now, man." If he does not improve in his old age, he will be wasting his years. You must leave your mistress." "I'm sorry I can't listen to you, Papa, it's impossible." "I'm going to force your consent." "Unfortunately, Papa, the Ile Sainte-Marguerite, where the prostitutes were exiled, is gone, and if you could send her there, even if it existed, I would go with Mademoiselle Gautier. What do you say? Perhaps I am wrong, but I am only happy when I am this woman's lover."

"Ah, Armand, keep your eyes open, and you must admit that your father has always loved you, and that he wants your happiness with all his heart. You are living with a girl who everyone has slept with, as a husband. Don't you feel ashamed?" "What does it matter, papa, as long as she doesn't sleep with anyone else? As long as the girl loves me, as long as she's reborn from our mutual love, in short, as long as she's reformed!" "Ah! sir, do you think it is the business of a man of honor to convert a whore? Do you believe that God has given life such a grotesque mission? One should have no other passions in one's heart." What will be the result of this miraculous treatment when you are forty? What will you think of what you say today? If this love is still alive in the years you have passed Didn't leave too deep a mark, and you'll laugh at it yourself if the time comes. If your father thought as much as you did, let his life be ruled by such love impulses What kind of man would you be now, if you were at the mercy of others, instead of starting a family with thoughts of honor and fidelity? Think about it, Armand, and stop talking such stupid things. Well, leave this woman, you father beseeches you."

I don't answer anything. "Armand," continued my father, "for the sake of your holy mother, believe me, give up this life, and you will forget it sooner than you can imagine. You Theories about this kind of life don't work. You're twenty-four, think about your future. You can't love this woman forever, and she won't love you forever. Both of you put your love Exaggerated. You've ruined your life's career. One more step and you'll be stuck in the mud, regretting all your youthful mistakes for the rest of your life. Go to your sister's for a month or two. Rest and family Your warmth will soon cure you of this frenzy, for it is nothing but a frenzy.

"During this time, your mistress will figure it out, she will find another lover, and when you see that you have come close to falling out with your father and losing his affection for such a woman, you will treat me Say, it is very reasonable for me to come to you today, and you will thank me. "Well, Armand, you will leave her, will you?" I think my father was right about all the other women, but I am convinced that he was wrong about Marguerite.Yet the tone of his last words to me was so tender and earnest that I dared not answer him. "How is it?" he asked me in an excited voice.

"Well, Dad, I can't promise you anything." I finally said, "What you asked me to do is beyond my ability, please believe me." I saw him make an impatient gesture, and I continued said, "You take the consequences of this relationship too seriously. Marguerite is not the girl you imagine. Far from leading me astray, this love can develop in me The noblest feeling. True love is always elevating, no matter who the woman who provokes it is. If you knew Marguerite, you would know that I was in no danger. She was like the noblest Women are as noble. There is as much selflessness in her as there is greed in other women."

"That does not prevent her from receiving all your property, because you gave her all the sixty thousand francs you got from your mother. These sixty thousand francs are your only property, and you must remember what I told you. " My father probably deliberately saved this threatening sentence for last, as a final blow to me. I am stronger in the face of threats than of polite entreaties. "Who told you I was going to give this money to Marguerite?" I went on. "My notary. Can a well-bred man do such a thing without telling me? Well, I have come to Paris just to prevent you from being a loser because of a girl. Your mother is here The money left to you at the time of death is to allow you to live in order, not to show you how rich you are in front of your mistress." "I swear to you, papa, Marguerite has no idea of ​​this." "Then why are you doing it?" "Because Marguerite, the woman you have despised, the woman you want me to abandon, sacrificed everything she had to live with me." "And you accept this sacrifice? Who are you then? Sir, do you consent to a Miss Margaret sacrificing something for you? Well, enough. You must abandon this woman. I was Please, I order you now. I do not want such a scandal to happen in my house. Pack your trunks and prepare to go with me." "Forgive me, Daddy," I said, "I'm not going." "why?" "Because I've reached the age where I can no longer obey an order." Hearing this answer, my father turned pale. "Very well, sir," he added, "I know what I shall do." He rang the bell. Joseph walked in. "Take my trunk to the Hotel de Paris," he said to my servant, going into his bedroom to dress. When he came out, I went up to him. "Father," I said to him, "will you promise me not to do anything that would make Marguerite miserable?" My father stood still, looked at me contemptuously, and answered me only: "I think you're crazy." After he finished speaking, he went out and slammed the door behind him. I followed downstairs, and returned to Bougival in a hansom. Margaret was waiting for me at the window.