Chapter 15 - Donec Gratus

Summary

We’ve told the story of how Marcel, the painter, came to know Mlle. Musette. They were brought together one morning by the intervention of chance, who is the mayor of the thirteenth arrondissement and, as so often happens there, they believed this marriage would let their hearts remain independent. One evening after an angry quarrel they decided to break up right then and there but as they shook hands to say goodbye, they noticed that their hands were unwilling to separate. Almost without realizing it, their affair had turned into love. Laughing quietly, they admitted it to each other.

“This is really serious,” Marcel said. “How in God's name did we let it happen?”

“Oh,” answered Musette, “We’re such idiots! We didn't take enough precautions.”

“What's going on?” asked Rodolphe as he came in. He’d recently become Marcel's neighbor.

“I’ll tell you what's going on,” Marcel said gesturing toward Musette. “This lady and I have made a happy discovery. We’re in love! It must have happened while we were asleep.”

“Oh right! Asleep,” Rodolphe replied. “I don't believe you. And what proof have you got that it's love? Maybe you’re exaggerating the danger.”

“Damn it!” Marcel said, “we can't stand each other.”

“And now we can't leave each other either,” Musette added.

“Ah, my children, the situation is clear! You thought you were just playing a game, but you both lost. It was the same story with me and Mimi. Soon we’ll have gone through two calendar years arguing day and night. It's the system for making marriages last forever. Put a ‘yes’ together with a ‘no’ and you have the household of Philemon and Baucis. Your home life will become like mine. Schaunard and Phémie are threatening to come here and live with us too and if they move in our three households will make a very agreeable community.”

At that moment, Colline walked in, and he was told about the accident that had happened to Musette and Marcel.

“So,” they said, “you’re a philosopher. What do you think about all this?”

Colline scratched the fur hat that served as a roof over his head and muttered, “I knew it all along. Love is a game of chance. If you look for trouble, you’ll find it. It isn't good for a man to be alone.”