A young man followed and printed a
kiss upon her neck. It was not Marguerite. Still I felt no surprise. It
seemed to me that I had dreamed all this with other things, too, which I
was to learn presently.
For a moment I remained in the street, uncertain whether I had better
go upstairs and question the lovers, who were still laughing in the
sunshine. However, I decided to enter the little restaurant below. When
I started on my walk the old doctor had placed a five-franc piece in my
hand. No doubt I was changed beyond recognition, for my beard had grown
during the brain fever, and my face was wrinkled and haggard. As I took
a seat at a small table I saw Mme Gabin come in carrying a cup; she
wished to buy a penny-worth of coffee. Standing in front of the counter,
she began to gossip with the landlady of the establishment.
"Well," asked the latter, "so the poor little woman of the third floor
has made up her mind at last, eh?"
"How could she help herself?" answered Mme Gabin. "It was the very best
thing for her to do. Monsieur Simoneau showed her so much kindness. You
see, he had finished his business in Paris to his satisfaction, for he
has inherited a pot of money. Well, he offered to take her away with him
to his own part of the country and place her with an aunt of his, who
wants a housekeeper and companion.
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