Confession of a Child of the Century Page #3

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to you!

- Good morning

- Good morning, sir.

- Would you tell Madame that I'm here?

- Madame is not here.

Please do me the honour of telling her

I'm here.

I'm sorry, she's... she's not

here.

Melody, don't take me for a fool...

I beg you to make your visits less

frequent.

Your assiduity is the talk of the

village.

Blessed are they that sleep forever...

Octave?

Octave!

- Don't!

- Oh, don't worry.

I know you love me.

Brigitte displayed more trust after

confessing that she loved me.

More trust than she ever showed me

before.

The respect that I had for her

inspired a gentle joy in her breast.

- Beg your pardon

- You said what?

- You said three

- You said none!

He said none, so he's really

lost.

I don't know what to do.

Just go for it!

Too bad!

Well done, my dear. I may go.

- You what?

- Drive a man to drink!

- I'll leave you now anyway

- Alright!

Goodnight!

Well...

Perhaps I...

Perhaps I should...

I promise I'll be a better man.

It was horrible to see you suffer!

I was suffering too.

A thousand times, I... I wanted to go

abroad, to run away from you.

I'd sworn to myself I'd rather die

than give in

Society's chatter no longer reaches me.

I won't listen any more.

I'm already old.

I don't have long to be loved by you.

- Will you love me for long?

- All my life!

Did you mean those fine words you said?

I'm not beautiful

I wish I were a hundred times

more so.

Shall I play you that air by Stradella

you love? - Yes.

Actually, the air's mine.

I made you believe it was by Stradella.

- It's yours?

- Yes!

I told you it was by Stradella because

I wanted to...

to know what you thought.

I never play my own music.

But I wanted to try, and, as you

see, you liked it.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

Play it again, dear.

You lie so well!

What?

You lie so well.

How is it possible?

How is it possible?

If you love me...

swear that you'll never lie to me.

Even about the tiniest thing.

It fills me with horror.

I swear.

I cannot bear it.

Misfortunes have their symptoms, just

like illnesses,

and there is nothing so dreaded at sea,

as a small, black spot on the horizon.

Stop it!

What have we here?

- Your journal?

- Yes.

Who do you think this is? "He is

irresistible. "

"And yet, I resist. It...

" I would... " You write us all!

" I would have liked to take him in my

arms, and ease his suffering"

That's, that's quite sweet.

"I knew, that if he took a step towards

me,

I wouldn't have the strength to resist!

But he has left.

I was relieved and sad. "

Really?

You could have been a doctor, your

writing...

Can't even tell which side it's supposed

to be on!

- Monsieur de...

- Don't! Don't! Don't read that!

You're right. I don't know what I'm

doing anyway.

Octave.

Take the book. I want you to read it.

No, let's... let's forget about it.

Let's not mention it.

Your secret's your own, my dear.

Oh, why did I have to read that opening?

Do you believe I have secrets?

I don't believe... I don't believe

anything.

Except that you're beautiful.

I want to die loving you!

- Monsieur.

- Father.

The other day, you expressed

an anger that

a man of my position can only understand

and forgive.

I'm truly sorry, Monsieur,

that I took upon myself to convey such

an inappropriate errand.

It is I who should be apologising to you

I was confused.

Do you know Monsieur Delans?

A little.

He's a friend of Madame Pierson's

What kind of man is he?

How is it, Monsieur,

that you know Madame Pierson so well and

that you can be so intimate with her,

Haven't you met Monsieur Delans there?

My aunt says...

Brigitte!

I don't know what to think,

except that you no longer love me.

Having to...

Having to watch you court ladies like

that...

like a complacent fool.

Your billing and cooing was...

- was ridiculous.

- You know very well...

She's nothing.

If you're tired of this life,

- It is for you to put an end to it.

- Fine!

Since I became yours, I no longer

recognise you.

You no doubt played a role to convince

me that you love me.

And now the charade bores you...

You suspect me of being unfaithful at

the first word you hear,

and I don't have the right to suffer

when... when you insult me!

You're no longer the man I loved!

You accuse me of tyranny, so I'll

become your slave!

Since I disturb your life,

rest in peace.

I will bear anything from him, as long

as he loves me.

but I want to die when he leaves me.

I shall end this life with poison.

Can't you go and shut those girls up?

And stop that singing!

Just throw yourself headlong into the

world!

Help yourself to the courtesans, the

dancing girls,

the Comtesses.

If you're a weak man, then make

yourself an armour,

that can withstand everything.

But if you have a passionate soul,

I'll tell you straight off,

love doesn't exist.

Just throw yourself headlong into

the world.

Help yourself to the courtesans, the

dancing girls,

the Comtesses,

If you're a weak man, then make

yourself an armour,

that can withstand everything.

But, if you have a passionate soul,

I'll tell you straight off,

love doesn't exist.

Love doesn't exist.

All the scornful ideas about women,

all the lines that I had repeated as

a lesson,

as a rule during my dissolute days,

Strange thing!

while in the past I did not believe

them while boasting about them,

it now seems to me that they were truly

real.

No!

Well, what does it matter?

Do you not have a pretty mistress?

and has she not given herself to

a libertine?

Willingly.

So let her take me as I am.

You're very late.

I didn't notice the time.

I didn't do anything interesting.

Just got bored.

In fact I'm still bored.

By this time,

in Paris, I'd be at the Opera.

luxuriating in the music, and the

women's laughter.

If there are two such different men

within you,

can you forget the good one, when

the bad one rises?

Do you like opera?

I remember one evening, at

supper,

a singer friend, of Desgenais', she

was singing,

her voice was magnificent.

and for the first time, I saw my friend

moved.

It was a beautiful sight.

After that,

in shame no doubt,

he was overcome by a fit of madness,

he smashed everything around him.

Chairs, tables...

the lot.

The woman had been able to bring him

out of himself.

It left him beside himself.

Amusing to see, isn't it?

You're too devout. You don't know what

it's like!

There's nothing quite like people who

live without a care,

or who make love without believing it.

Well then,

teach me!

teach me to please you always!

I'm happy to learn.

Pretend you don't love me.

Just let me love you, and not say a word

about it.

What do I have to do for you

to believe it?

Am I to your liking?

Which one of your mistresses do I

resemble?

Am I beautiful enough?

Am I beautiful enough?

For you to forget that one can still

believe in love?

Stop it.

Stop it.

Now, stop it.

You don't know how much you resemble

that which you seek to mock,

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