original short stories-8-第5节

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Bondel　immediately　thought：　〃There　is　no　doubt；　my　wife　was　right！〃

When　he　left　this　man　he　began　to　think　things　over　again。　　He　felt　in
his　soul　a　strange　confusion　of　contradictory　ideas；　a　sort　of　interior
burning；　that　mocking；　impertinent　laugh　kept　ringing　in　his　ears　and
seemed　to　say：　〃Why；　you　are　just　the　same　as　the　others；　you　fool！〃　That
was　indeed　bravado；　one　of　those　pieces　of　impudence　of　which　a　woman
makes　use　when　she　dares　everything；　risks　everything；　to　wound　and
humiliate　the　man　who　has　aroused　her　ire。　　This　poor　man　must　also　be
one　of　those　deceived　husbands；　like　so　many　others。　　He　had　said　sadly：
〃There　are　times　when　she　seems　to　have　more　confidence　and　faith　in　our
friends　than　in　me。〃　　That　is　how　a　husband　formulated　his　observations
on　the　particular　attentions　of　his　wife　for　another　man。　　That　was　all。
He　had　seen　nothing　more。　　He　was　like　the　restall　the　rest！

And　how　strangely　Bondel's　own　wife　had　laughed　as　she　said：　〃You；　too
you；　too。〃　　How　wild　and　imprudent　these　creatures　are　who　can　arouse
such　suspicions　in　the　heart　for　the　sole　purpose　of　revenge！

He　ran　over　their　whole　life　since　their　marriage；　reviewed　his　mental
list　of　their　acquaintances；　to　see　whether　she　had　ever　appeared　to　show
more　confidence　in　any　one　else　than　in　himself。　　He　never　had　suspected
any　one；　he　was　so　calm；　so　sure　of　her；　so　confident。

But；　now　he　thought　of　it；　she　had　had　a　friend；　an　intimate　friend；　who
for　almost　a　year　had　dined　with　them　three　times　a　week。　　Tancret；　good
old　Tancret；　whom　he；　Bendel；　loved　as　a　brother　and　whom　he　continued　to
see　on　the　sly；　since　his　wife；　he　did　not　know　why；　had　grown　angry　at
the　charming　fellow。

He　stopped　to　think；　looking　over　the　past　with　anxious　eyes。　　Then　he
grew　angry　at　himself　for　harboring　this　shameful　insinuation　of　the
defiant；　jealous；　bad　ego　which　lives　in　all　of　us。　　He　blamed　and
accused　himself　when　he　remembered　the　visits　and　the　demeanor　of　this
friend　whom　his　wife　had　dismissed　for　no　apparent　reason。　　But；
suddenly；　other　memories　returned　to　him；　similar　ruptures　due　to　the
vindictive　character　of　Madame　Bondel；　who　never　pardoned　a　slight。　　Then
he　laughed　frankly　at　himself　for　the　doubts　which　he　had　nursed；　and　he
remembered　the　angry　looks　of　his　wife　as　he　would　tell　her；　when　he
returned　at　night：　〃I　saw　good　old　Tancret；　and　he　wished　to　be
remembered　to　you；〃　and　he　reassured　himself。

She　would　invariably　answer：　〃When　you　see　that　gentleman　you　can　tell
him　that　I　can　very　well　dispense　with　his　remembrances。〃　　With　what　an
irritated；　angry　look　she　would　say　these　words！　　How　well　one　could　feel
that　she　did　not　and　would　not　forgiveand　he　had　suspected　her　even　for
a　second？　　Such　foolishness！

But　why　did　she　grow　so　angry？　　She　never　had　given　the　exact　reason　for
this　quarrel。　　She　still　bore　him　that　grudge！　　Was　it？　But　nonoand
Bondel　declared　that　he　was　lowering　himself　by　even　thinking　of　such
things。

Yes；　he　was　undoubtedly　lowering　himself；　but　he　could　not　help　thinking
of　it；　and　he　asked　himself　with　terror　if　this　thought　which　had　entered
into　his　mind　had　not　come　to　stop；　if　he　did　not　carry　in　his　heart　the
seed　of　fearful　torment。　　He　knew　himself；　he　was　a　man　to　think　over　his
doubts；　as　formerly　he　would　ruminate　over　his　commercial　operations；　for
days　and　nights；　endlessly　weighing　the　pros　and　the　cons。

He　was　already　becoming　excited；　he　was　walking　fast　and　losing　his
calmness。　　A　thought　cannot　be　downed。　　It　is　intangible；　cannot　be
caught；　cannot　be　killed。

Suddenly　a　plan　occurred　to　him；　it　was　bold；　so　bold　that　at　first　he
doubted　whether　he　would　carry　it　out。

Each　time　that　he　met　Tancret；　his　friend　would　ask　for　news　of　Madame
Bondel；　and　Bondel　would　answer：　〃She　is　still　a　little　angry。〃　　Nothing
more。　　Good　Lord！　　What　a　fool　he　had　been！　　Perhaps！

Well；　he　would　take　the　train　to　Paris；　go　to　Tancret；　and　bring　him　back
with　him　that　very　evening；　assuring　him　that　his　wife's　mysterious　anger
had　disappeared。　　But　how　would　Madame　Bondel　act？　　What　a　scene　there
would　be！　　What　anger！　　what　scandal！　　What　of　it？that　would　be
revenge！　　When　she　should　come　face　to　face　with　him；　unexpectedly；　he
certainly　ought　to　be　able　to　read　the　truth　in　their　expressions。

He　immediately　went　to　the　station；　bought　his　ticket；　got　into　the　car；
and　as　soon　as　he　felt　him　self　being　carried　away　by　the　train；　he　felt
a　fear；　a　kind　of　dizziness；　at　what　he　was　going　to　do。　　In　order　not　to
weaken；　back　down；　and　return　alone；　he　tried　not　to　think　of　the　matter
any　longer；　to　bring　his　mind　to　bear　on　other　affairs；　to　do　what　he　had
decided　to　do　with　a　blind　resolution；　and　he　began　to　hum　tunes　from
operettas　and　music　halls　until　he　reached　Paris。

As　soon　as　he　found　himself　walking　along　the　streets　that　led　to
Tancret's；　he　felt　like　stopping；　He　paused　in　front　of　several　shops；
noticed　the　prices　of　certain　objects；　was　interested　in　new　things；　felt
like　taking　a　glass　of　beer；　which　was　not　his　usual　custom；　and　as　he
approached　his　friend's　dwelling　he　ardently　hoped　not　meet　him。　　But
Tancret　was　at　home；　alone；　reading。　　He　jumped　up　in　surprise；　crying：
〃Ah！　Bondel！　what　luck！〃

Bondel；　embarrassed；　answered：　〃Yes；　my　dear　fellow；　I　happened　to　be　in
Paris；　and　I　thought　I'd　drop　in　and　shake　hands　with　you。〃

〃That's　very　nice；　very　nice！　　The　more　so　that　for　some　time　you　have
not　favored　me　with　your　presence　very　often。〃

〃Well；　you　seeeven　against　one's　will；　one　is　often　influenced　by
surrounding　conditions；　and　as　my　wife　seemed　to　bear　you　some　ill…will〃

〃Jove！　'seemed'she　did　better　than　that；　since　she　showed　me　the　door。〃

〃What　was　the　reason？　　I　never　heard　it。〃

〃Oh！　nothing　at　alla　bit　of　foolishnessa　discussion　in　which　we　did
not　both　agree。〃

〃But　what　was　the　subject　of　this　discussion？〃

〃A　lady　of　my　acquaintance；　whom　you　may　perhaps　know　by　name；　Madame
Boutin。〃

〃Ah！　really。　　Well；　I　think　that　my　wife　has　forgotten　her　grudge；　for
this　very　morning　she　spoke　to　me　of　you　in　very　pleasant　terms。〃

Tancret　started　and　seemed　so　dumfounded　that　for　a　few　minutes　he　could
find　nothing　to　say。　　Then　he　asked：　〃She　spoke　of　mein　pleasant
terms？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃You　are　sure？〃

〃Of　course　I　am。　　I　am　not　dreaming。〃

〃And　then？〃

〃And　thenas　I　was　coming　to　Paris　I　thought　that　I　would　please　you　by
coming　to　tell　you　the　good　news。〃

〃Why；　yeswhy；　yes〃

Bondel　appeared　to　hesitate；　then；　after　a　short　pause；　he　added：　〃I　even
had　an　idea。〃

〃What　is　it？〃

〃To　take　you　back　home　with　me　to　dinner。〃

Tancret；　who　was　naturally　prudent；　seemed　a　little　worried　by　this
proposition；　and　he　asked：　〃Oh！　reallyis　it　possible？　　Are　we　not
exposing　ourselves　totoa　scene？〃

〃No；　no；　indeed！〃

〃Because；　you　know；　Madame　Bendel　bears　malice　for　a　long　time。〃

〃Yes；　but　I　can　assure　you　that　she　no　longer　bears　you　any　illwill。
I　am　even　convinced　that　it　will　be　a　great　pleasure　for　her　to　see　you
thus；　unexpectedly。〃

〃Really？〃

〃Yes；　really！〃

〃Well；　then！　let　us　go　along。　　I　am　delighted。　　You　see；　this
misunderstanding　was　very　unpleasant　for　me。〃

They　set　out　together　toward　the　Saint…Lazare　station；　arm　in　arm。　　They
made　the　trip　in　silence。　　Both　seemed　absorbed　in　deep　meditation。
Seated　in　the　car；　one　opposite　the　other；　they　looked　at　each　other
without　speaking；　each　observing　that　the　other　was　pale。

Then　they　left　the　train　and　once　more　linked　arms　as　if　to　unite　against
some　common　danger。　　After　a　walk　of　a　few　minutes　they　stopped；　a　little
out　of　breath；　before　Bondel's　house。　　Bondel　ushered　his　friend　into　the
parlor；　called　the　servant；　and　asked：　〃Is　madame　at　home？〃

〃Yes；　monsieur。〃

〃Please　ask　her　to　come　down　at　once。〃

They　dropped　into　two　armchairs　and　waited。　　Both　were　filled　with　the
same　longing　to　escape　before　the　appearance　of　the　much…feared　person。

A　well…known；　heavy　tread　could　be　heard　descending　the　stairs。　　A　hand
moved　the　knob；　and　both　men　watched　the　brass　handle　turn。　　Then　the
door　opened　wide；　and　Madame　Bondel　stopped　and　looked　to　see　who　was
there　before　she　entered。　　She　looked；　blushed；　trembled；　retreated　a
step；　then　stood　motionless；　her　cheeks　aflame　and　her　hands　resting
against　the　sides　of　the　door　frame。

Tancret；　as　pale　as　if　about　to　faint；　had　arisen；　letting　fall　his　hat；
which　rolled　along　the　floor。　　He　stammered　out：　〃Mon　Dieumadameit　is
II　thoughtI　venturedI　was　so　sorry〃

As　she　did　not　answer；　he　continued：　〃Will　you　forgive　me？〃

Then；　quickly；　carried　away　by　some　impulse；　she　walked　toward　him　with
her　hands　outstretched；　and　when　he　had　taken；　pressed；　and　held　these
two　hands；　she　said；　in　a　trembling；　weak　little　voice；　which　was　new　to
her　husband：

〃Ah！　my　dear　friendhow　happy　I　am！〃

And　Bondel；　who　was　watching　them；　felt　an　icy　chill　run　over　him；　as　if
he　had　been　dipped　in　a　cold　bath。






FOUND　ON　A　DROWNED　MAN

Madame；　you　ask　me　whether　I　am　laughing　at　you？　　You　cannot　believe　that
a　man　has　never　been　in　love。　　Well；　then；　no；　no；　I　have　never　loved；
never！