A new
life seems about to begin for me. The cruel past and my wretched
follies are hardly more to me than evil dreams. At your side I breathe
an atmosphere of happiness, and I am pure. Be with me always," he
added, pressing her solemnly to his beating heart.
"Death may come when it will," said Pauline in ecstasy; "I have
lived!"
Happy he who shall divine their joy, for he must have experienced it.
"I wish that no one might enter this dear garret again, my Raphael,"
said Pauline, after two hours of silence.
"We must have the door walled up, put bars across the window, and buy
the house," the Marquis answered.
"Yes, we will," she said. Then a moment later she added: "Our search
for your manuscripts has been a little lost sight of," and they both
laughed like children.
"Pshaw! I don't care a jot for the whole circle of the sciences,"
Raphael answered.
"Ah, sir, and how about glory?"
"I glory in you alone."
"You used to be very miserable as you made these little scratches and
scrawls," she said, turning the papers over.
"My Pauline----"
"Oh yes, I am your Pauline--and what then?"
"Where are you living now?"
"In the Rue Saint Lazare. And you?"
"In the Rue de Varenne."
"What a long way apart we shall be until----" She stopped, and looked
at her lover with a mischievous and coquettish expression.
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