Her childlike coquetry tortures him. Considering her timid behavior, it's surprising to find Mimi, in the next close-up, initiating the first kiss. It is a move more suited to Murger's Mimi. It takes a lot of effort to keep the deception going. Embroidering late at night to support the two of them, she develops a cough in her already weakened lungs, but Rodolphe doesn't notice.
True love begins to turn sour.
Doubting Mimi's fidelity, Rodolphe deserts her for several days. During his absence, Mimi has an innocent rendezvous with Vicomte Paul at the theatre to meet the manager to whom she gushes about Rodolphe's play. On the way home from the theatre, the not so innocent Vicomte makes a pass at Mimi, who finally sees him for what he is - a lascivious creep. Mimi's good intentions turn into her own road to hell. Rodolphe learns that he was fired by his editor, and wondering where Mimi got the money she gave him, erroneously suspects her of prostituting herself with Vicomte Paul.