Page:The Bohemians of the Latin Quarter.djvu/247

Rodolphe was very well dressed that evening, and the violent crises through which he had passed during the week had imparted great character to his face. Mimi was singu- larly moved. At length she made up her mind to speak to him. Rodolphe received her without anger, and asked how she was, after which he inquired as to the motive that had brought her to him, in mild voice, in which there was an effort to check a note of sadness.

“It is bad news that I come to bring you. Mademoiselle Amélie cannot come to the ball with you; her lover is keeping her.”

“I shall go to the ball alone, then.”

Here Mademoiselle Mimi feigned to stumble, and leaned against Rodolphe’s shoulder. He took her arm and proposed to escort her home.

“No,” said Mimi, “I am living with Amélie, and as her lover is there I cannot go in till he has left.”

“ Listen to me, then,” said the poet. “I made a proposal to you to-day through Mademoiselle Amélie. Did she transmit it to you?”

“Yes,” said Mimi, “but in terms which, even after what has happened, I could not credit. No, Rodolphe, I could not believe that, despite all that you might have to reproach me with, you thought me so worthless as to accept such a bargain.”

“You did not understand me, or the message has been badly conveyed to you. My offer holds good,” said Rodolphe. “It is nine o’clock. You have still three hours for reflection. The door will be unlocked till midnight. Good-night. Farewell, or—till we meet again.”

“Farewell, then,” said Mimi, in trembling tones.

And they separated. Rodolphe went home and threw himself, without undressing, upon his bed. At half-past eleven Mademoiselle Mimi entered his room.