Page:The Bohemians of the Latin Quarter.djvu/394

It is like that that you passed the night? ” said Marcel in great astonishment.

“Yes,” replied the girl.

Rodolphe woke up all at once, and after kissing Mimi, held out his hand to Marcel, who seemed greatly puzzled.

“I am going to find some money for breakfast,” said he to the painter. “You will keep Mimi company.”

“Well,” asked Marcel of the girl when they were alone together, “what took place last night?”

“Very sad things,” said Mimi. “Rodolphe still loves me.”

“I know that very well.”

“Yes, you wanted to separate him from me. I am not angry about it, Marcel, you were quite right, I have done no good to the poor fellow.”

“And you,” asked Marcel, “do you still love him?”

“Do I love him?” said she, clasping her hands. “It is that that tortures me. I am greatly changed, my friend, and it needed but little time for that.”

“Well, now he loves you, you love him and you cannot do without one another, come together again and try and remain.”

“It is impossible,” said Mimi.

“Why?” inquired Marcel. “Certainly it would be more sensible for you to separate, but as for your not meeting again, you would have to be a thousand leagues from one another.”

“In a little while I shall be further off than that.”

“What do you mean?”

“Do not speak of it to Rodolphe, it would cause him too much pain, but I am going away for ever.”

“But whither?”

“Look here, Marcel,” said Mimi sobbing, “look.”