twastheendofthedinnerthatoenedtheshootingseason.TheMarquisdeBertranswithhisguestssataroundabrightlylightedtable，coveredwithfruitandflowers.
Theconversationdriftedtolove.Immediatelytherearoseananimateddiscussion，thesameeternaldiscussionastowhetheritwereossibletolovemorethanonce.Examlesweregivenofersonswhohadlovedonce;thesewereoffsetbythosewhohadlovedviolentlymanytimes.Themenagreedthatassion，likesickness，mayattackthesameersonseveraltimes，unlessitstrikestokill.Thisconclusionseemedquiteincontestable.Thewomen，however，whobasedtheiroiniononoetryratherthanonracticalobservation，maintainedthatlove，thegreatassion，maycomeonlyoncetomortals.Itresembleslightning，theysaid，thislove.Aheartoncetouchedbyitbecomesforeversuchawaste，soruined，soconsumed，thatnootherstrongsentimentcantakerootthere，notevenadrea
Themarquis，whohadindulgedinmanyloveaffairs，disutedthisbelief.
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Itellyouitisossibletoloveseveraltimeswithallone&aos;sheartandsoul.Youquoteexamlesofersonswhohavekilledthemselvesforlove，torovetheimossibilityofasecondassion.Iwagerthatiftheyhadnotfoolishlycommittedsuicide，andsodestroyedtheossibilityofasecondexerience，theywouldhavefoundanewlove，andstillanother，andsoontilldeath.Itiswithloveaswithdrink.Hewhohasonceindulgedisforeveraslave.Itisathingoftemerament.
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Theychosetheolddoctorasumire.Hethoughtitwasasthemarquishadsaid，athingoftemerament.
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Asforme，
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hesaid，
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Ionceknewofalovewhichlastedfifty-fiveyearswithoutoneday&aos;sresite，andwhichendedonlywithdeath.
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Thewifeofthemarquislclasedherhands.
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Thatisbeautiful!Ah，whatadreamtobelovedinsuchaway!Whatblisstoliveforfifty-fiveyearsenveloedinanintense，unwaveringaffection!Howthishaybeingmusthaveblessedhislifetobesoadored!
"
Thedoctorsmiled.
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Youarenotmistaken，madame，onthisointthelovedonewasaman.Youevenknowhim;itisMonsieurChouquet，thechemist.Astothewoman，youalsoknowher，theoldchair-mender，whocameeveryyeartothechateau.
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Theenthusiasmofthewomenfell.Someexressedtheircontemtwith
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Pouah!
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forthelovesofcommoneoledidnotinterestthe
Thedoctorcontinued:
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ThreemonthsagoIwascalledtothedeathbedoftheoldchair-mender.Theriesthadrecededme.Shewishedtomakeustheexecutorsofherwill.Inorderthatwemightunderstandherconduct，shetoldusthestoryofherlife.Itismostsingularandtouching:
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Herfatherandmotherwerebothchair-menders.Shehadneverlivedinahouse.Asalittlechildshewanderedaboutwiththem，dirty，unkemt，hungry.Theyvisitedmanytowns，leavingtheirhorse，wagonanddogjustoutsidethelimits，wherethechildlayedinthegrassaloneuntilherarentshadreairedallthebrokenchairsinthelace.Theyseldomsoke，excettocry，‘Chairs!Chairs!Chair-mender!’Whenthelittleonestrayedtoofaraway，shewouldbecalledbackbytheharsh，angryvoiceofherfather.Sheneverheardawordofaffection.
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Whenshegrewolder，shefetchedandcarriedthebrokenchairs.Thenitwasshemadefriendswiththechildreninthestreet，buttheirarentsalwayscalledthemawayandscoldedthemforseakingtothebarefootedchild.Oftentheboysthrewstonesather.Onceakindwomangaveherafewennies.Shesavedthemmostcarefully.
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Oneday-shewasthenelevenyearsold-asshewaswalkingthroughacountrytownshemet，behindthecemetery，littleChouquet，weeingbitterly，becauseoneofhislaymateshadstolentworeciousliards（mills）.Thetearsofthesmallbourgeois，oneofthosemuch-enviedmortals，who，sheimagined，neverknewtrouble，comletelyusether.Shearoachedhimand，assoonasshelearnedthecauseofhisgrief，sheutintohishandsallhersavings.Hetookthemwithouthesitationanddriedhiseyes.Wildwithjoy，shekissedhiHewasbusycountinghismoney，anddidnotobject.Seeingthatshewasnotreulsed，shethrewherarmsroundhimandgavehimahug-thensheranaway.
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Whatwasgoingoninheroorlittlehead?Wasitbecauseshehadsacrificedallherfortunethatshebecamemadlyfondofthisyoungster，orwasitbecauseshehadgivenhimthefirsttenderkiss?Themysteryisalikeforchildrenandforthoseofrieryears.
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