I might have asked if Marguerite was at home, but he might have said "No," and I preferred to remain in doubt two minutes longer, for, as long as I doubted, there was still hope.
J'aurais pu lui demander si Marguerite était chez elle, mais il eût pu me répondre que non, et j'aimais mieux douter deux minutes de plus, car en doutant j'espérais encore.