"
"No matter; but supposing he refused it, what should you do?"
"What should I do?" she muttered. "I don't know. Still I should
have no difficulty in earning a livelihood. I have been told that
I have a remarkable voice. I might, perhaps, go upon the stage."
The magistrate sprang from his arm-chair. "You become an actress,
YOU?"
"Under such circumstances it would little matter what became of
me!"
"But you don't suspect--you cannot imagine----"
He was at a loss for words to explain the nature of his objections
to such a career; and it was Mademoiselle Marguerite who found
them for him. "I suspect that theatrical life is an abominable
life for a woman," she said, gravely; "but I know that there are
many noble and chaste women who have adopted the profession. That
is enough for me. My pride is a sufficient protection. It
preserved me as an apprentice; it would preserve me as an actress.
I might be slandered; but that is not an irremediable misfortune.
I despise the world too much to be troubled by its opinion so long
as I have the approval of my own conscience. And why should I not
become a great artiste if I consecrated all the intelligence,
passion, energy, and will I might possess, to my art?"
Hearing a knock at the door she paused; and a moment later a
footman entered with lights, for night was falling. He was
closely followed by another servant, who said: "Mademoiselle, the
Marquis de Valorsay is below, and wishes to know if mademoiselle
will grant him the honor of an interview.
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