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twastheendofthedinnerthatoenedtheshootingseason.TheMarquisdeBertranswithhisguestssataroundabrightlylightedtable,coveredwithfruitandflowers.
Theconversationdriftedtolove.Immediatelytherearoseananimateddiscussion,thesameeternaldiscussionastowhetheritwereossibletolovemorethanonce.Examlesweregivenofersonswhohadlovedonce;thesewereoffsetbythosewhohadlovedviolentlymanytimes.Themenagreedthatassion,likesickness,mayattackthesameersonseveraltimes,unlessitstrikestokill.Thisconclusionseemedquiteincontestable.Thewomen,however,whobasedtheiroiniononoetryratherthanonracticalobservation,maintainedthatlove,thegreatassion,maycomeonlyoncetomortals.Itresembleslightning,theysaid,thislove.Aheartoncetouchedbyitbecomesforeversuchawaste,soruined,soconsumed,thatnootherstrongsentimentcantakerootthere,notevenadream.
Themarquis,whohadindulgedinmanyloveaffairs,disutedthisbelief.
"Itellyouitisossibletoloveseveraltimeswithallone&aos;sheartandsoul.Youquoteexamlesofersonswhohavekilledthemselvesforlove,torovetheimossibilityofasecondassion.Iwagerthatiftheyhadnotfoolishlycommittedsuicide,andsodestroyedtheossibilityofasecondexerience,theywouldhavefoundanewlove,andstillanother,andsoontilldeath.Itiswithloveaswithdrink.Hewhohasonceindulgedisforeveraslave.Itisathingoftemerament.
"
Theychosetheolddoctorasumire.Hethoughtitwasasthemarquishadsaid,athingoftemerament.
"Asforme,
"hesaid,
"Ionceknewofalovewhichlastedfifty-fiveyearswithoutoneday&aos;sresite,andwhichendedonlywithdeath.
"Thewifeofthemarquislclasedherhands.
"Thatisbeautiful!Ah,whatadreamtobelovedinsuchaway!Whatblisstoliveforfifty-fiveyearsenveloedinanintense,unwaveringaffection!Howthishaybeingmusthaveblessedhislifetobesoadored!
"
Thedoctorsmiled.
"Youarenotmistaken,madame,onthisointthelovedonewasaman.Youevenknowhim;itisMonsieurChouquet,thechemist.Astothewoman,youalsoknowher,theoldchair-mender,whocameeveryyeartothechateau.
"
Theenthusiasmofthewomenfell.Someexressedtheircontemtwith
"Pouah!
"forthelovesofcommoneoledidnotinterestthem.
Thedoctorcontinued:
"ThreemonthsagoIwascalledtothedeathbedoftheoldchair-mender.Theriesthadrecededme.Shewishedtomakeustheexecutorsofherwill.Inorderthatwemightunderstandherconduct,shetoldusthestoryofherlife.Itismostsingularandtouching:
"Herfatherandmotherwerebothchair-menders.Shehadneverlivedinahouse.Asalittlechildshewanderedaboutwiththem,dirty,unkemt,hungry.Theyvisitedmanytowns,leavingtheirhorse,wagonanddogjustoutsidethelimits,wherethechildlayedinthegrassaloneuntilherarentshadreairedallthebrokenchairsinthelace.Theyseldomsoke,excettocry,‘Chairs!Chairs!Chair-mender!’Whenthelittleonestrayedtoofaraway,shewouldbecalledbackbytheharsh,angryvoiceofherfather.Sheneverheardawordofaffection.
"Whenshegrewolder,shefetchedandcarriedthebrokenchairs.Thenitwasshemadefriendswiththechildreninthestreet,buttheirarentsalwayscalledthemawayandscoldedthemforseakingtothebarefootedchild.Oftentheboysthrewstonesather.Onceakindwomangaveherafewennies.Shesavedthemmostcarefully.
"Oneday-shewasthenelevenyearsold-asshewaswalkingthroughacountrytownshemet,behindthecemetery,littleChouquet,weeingbitterly,becauseoneofhislaymateshadstolentworeciousliards(mills).Thetearsofthesmallbourgeois,oneofthosemuch-enviedmortals,who,sheimagined,neverknewtrouble,comletelyusether.Shearoachedhimand,assoonasshelearnedthecauseofhisgrief,sheutintohishandsallhersavings.Hetookthemwithouthesitationanddriedhiseyes.Wildwithjoy,shekissedhim.Hewasbusycountinghismoney,anddidnotobject.Seeingthatshewasnotreulsed,shethrewherarmsroundhimandgavehimahug-thensheranaway.
"Whatwasgoingoninheroorlittlehead?Wasitbecauseshehadsacrificedallherfortunethatshebecamemadlyfondofthisyoungster,orwasitbecauseshehadgivenhimthefirsttenderkiss?Themysteryisalikeforchildrenandforthoseofrieryears.
"Formonthsshedreamedofthatcornernearthecemeteryandofthelittlecha.Shestoleasouhereand,therefromherarentsonthechairmoneyorgroceriesshewassenttobuy.Whenshereturnedtothesotnearthecemeteryshehadtwofrancsinherocket,buthewasnotthere.
Passinghisfather&aos;sdrugstore,shecaughtsightofhimbehindthecounter.Hewassittingbetweenalargeredglobeandablueone.Sheonlylovedhimthemore,quitecarriedawayatthesightofthebrilliant-coloredglobes.Shecherishedtherecollectionofitforeverinherheart.
"Thefollowingyearshemethimneartheschool.layingmarbles.Sherushedutohim,threwherarmsroundhim,andkissedhimsoassionatelythathescreamed,infear.Toquiethim,shegavehimallhermoney.Threefrancsandtwentycentimes!Arealgoldmine,atwhichhegazedwithstaringeyes.
"Afterthisheallowedhertokisshimasmuchasshewished.
"Duringthenextfouryearssheutintohishandsallhersavings,whichheocketedconscientiouslyinexchangeforkisses.Atonetimeitwasthirtysons,atanothertwofrancs.Again,sheonlyhadtwelvesous.Shewetwithgriefandshame,exlainingbrokenlythatithadbeenaooryear.Thenexttimeshebroughtfivefrancs,inonewholeiece,whichmadeherlaughwithjoy.
"Shenolongerthoughtofanyonebuttheboy,andhewatchedforherwithimatience;sometimeshewouldruntomeether.Thismadeherheartthumwithjoy.
"Suddenlyhedisaeared.Hehadgonetoboardingschool.Shefoundthisoutbycarefulinvestigation.Thensheusedgreatdilomacytoersuadeherarentstochangetheirrouteandassbythiswayagainduringvacation.Afterayearofschemingshesucceeded.Shehadnotseenhimfortwoyears,andscarcelyrecognizedhim,hewassochanged,hadgrowntaller,betterlookingandwasimosinginhisuniform,withitsbrassbuttons.Heretendednottoseeher,andassedbywithoutaglance.
"Shewetfortwodaysandfromthattimelovedandsufferedunceasingly.
"Everyyearhecamehomeandsheassedhim,notdaringtolifthereyes.Henevercondescendedtoturnhisheadtowardher.Shelovedhimmadly,hoelessly.Shesaidtome:‘HeistheonlymanwhomIhaveeverseen.Idon&aos;tevenknowifanotherexists.’
