bel ami-第11节

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Walter　received　in　the　second；　the　largest。　She　greeted　Duroy　with　a
charming　smile；　and　he　shook　hands　with　two　men　who　arrived　after
him；　M。　Firmin　and　M。　Laroche…Mathieu；　the　latter　had　especial
authority　at　the　office　on　account　of　his　influence　in　the　chamber
of　deputies。

Then　the　Forestiers　arrived；　Madeleine　looking　charming　in　pink。
Charles　had　become　very　much　emaciated　and　coughed　incessantly。

Norbert　de　Varenne　and　Jacques　Rival　came　together。　A　door　opened　at
the　end　of　the　room；　and　M。　Walter　entered　with　two　tall　young　girls
of　sixteen　and　seventeen；　one　plain；　the　other　pretty。　Duroy　knew
that　the　manager　was　a　paterfamilias；　but　he　was　astonished。　He　had
thought　of　the　manager's　daughters　as　one　thinks　of　a　distant
country　one　will　never　see。　Then；　too；　he　had　fancied　them　children；
and　he　saw　women。　They　shook　hands　upon　being　introduced　and　seated
themselves　at　a　table　set　apart　for　them。　One　of　the　guests　had　not
arrived；　and　that　embarrassing　silence　which　precedes　dinners　in
general　reigned　supreme。

Duroy　happening　to　glance　at　the　walls；　M。　Walter　said：　〃You　are
looking　at　my　pictures？　I　will　show　them　all　to　you。〃　And　he　took　a
lamp　that　they　might　distinguish　all　the　details。　There　were
landscapes　by　Guillemet；　〃A　Visit　to　the　Hospital；〃　by　Gervex；　〃A
Widow；〃　by　Bouguereau；　〃An　Execution；〃　by　Jean　Paul　Laurens；　and
many　others。

Duroy　exclaimed：　〃Charming；　charming；　char〃　but　stopped　short　on
hearing　behind　him　the　voice　of　Mme。　de　Marelle　who　had　just
entered。　M。　Walter　continued　to　exhibit　and　explain　his　pictures；
but　Duroy　saw　nothingheard　without　comprehending。　Mme。　de　Marelle
was　there；　behind　him。　What　should　he　do？　If　he　greeted　her；　might
she　not　turn　her　back　upon　him　or　utter　some　insulting　remark？　If　he
did　not　approach　her；　what　would　people　think？　He　was　so　ill　at　ease
that　at　one　time　he　thought　he　should　feign　indisposition　and　return
home。

The　pictures　had　all　been　exhibited。　M。　Walter　placed　the　lamp　on
the　table　and　greeted　the　last　arrival；　while　Duroy　recommenced
alone　an　examination　of　the　canvas；　as　if　he　could　not　tear　himself
away。　What　should　he　do？　He　heard　their　voices　and　their
conversation。　Mme。　Forestier　called　him；　he　hastened　toward　her。　It
was　to　introduce　him　to　a　friend　who　was　on　the　point　of　giving　a
fete；　and　who　wanted　a　description　of　it　in　〃La　Vie　Francaise。〃

He　stammered：　〃Certainly；　Madame；　certainly。〃

Madame　de　Marelle　was　very　near　him；　he　dared　not　turn　to　go　away。
Suddenly　to　his　amazement；　she　exclaimed：　〃Good　evening；　Bel…Ami；　do
you　not　remember　me？〃

He　turned　upon　his　heel　hastily；　she　stood　before　him　smiling；　her
eyes　overflowing　with　roguishness　and　affection。　She　offered　him　her
hand；　he　took　it　doubtfully；　fearing　some　perfidy。　She　continued
calmly：　〃What　has　become　of　you？　One　never　sees　you！〃

Not　having　regained　his　self…possession；　he　murmured：　〃I　have　had　a
great　deal　to　do；　Madame；　a　great　deal　to　do。　M。　Walter　has　given　me
another　position　and　the　duties　are　very　arduous。〃

〃I　know；　but　that　is　no　excuse　for　forgetting　your　friends。〃

Their　conversation　was　interrupted　by　the　entrance　of　a　large　woman；
decollette；　with　red　arms；　red　cheeks；　and　attired　in　gay　colors。　As
she　was　received　with　effusion；　Duroy　asked　Mme。　Forestier：　〃Who　is
that　person？〃

〃Viscountess　de　Percemur；　whose　nom　de　plume　is　'Patte　Blanche。'〃

He　was　surprised　and　with　difficulty　restrained　a　burst　of　laughter。

〃Patte　Blanche？　I　fancied　her　a　young　woman　like　you。　Is　that　Patte
Blanche？　Ah；　she　is　handsome；　very　handsome！〃

A　servant　appeared　at　the　door　and　announced：　〃Madame　is　served。〃

Duroy　was　placed　between　the　manager's　plain　daughter；　Mlle。　Rose；
and　Mme。　de　Marelle。　The　proximity　of　the　latter　embarrassed　him
somewhat；　although　she　appeared　at　ease　and　conversed　with　her　usual
spirit。　Gradually；　however；　his　assurance　returned；　and　before　the
meal　was　over；　he　knew　that　their　relations　would　be　renewed。
Wishing；　too；　to　be　polite　to　his　employer's　daughter；　he　addressed
her　from　time　to　time。　She　responded　as　her　mother　would　have　done；
without　any　hesitation　as　to　what　she　should　say。　At　M。　Walter's
right　sat　Viscountess　de　Percemur；　and　Duroy；　looking　at　her　with　a
smile；　asked　Mme。　de　Marelle　in　a　low　voice：　〃Do　you　know　the　one
who　signs　herself　'Domino　Rose'？〃

〃Yes；　perfectly；　Baroness　de　Livar。〃

〃Is　she　like　the　Countess？〃

〃No。　But　she　is　just　as　comical。　She　is　sixty　years　old；　has　false
curls　and　teeth；　wit　of　the　time　of　the　Restoration；　and　toilettes
of　the　same　period。〃

When　the　guests　returned　to　the　drawing…room；　Duroy　asked　Mme。　de
Marelle：　〃May　I　escort　you　home？〃

〃No。〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃Because　M。　Laroche…Mathieu；　who　is　my　neighbor；　leaves　me　at　my
door　every　time　that　I　dine　here。〃

〃When　shall　I　see　you　again？〃

〃Lunch　with　me　to…morrow。〃

They　parted　without　another　word。　Duroy　did　not　remain　late；　as　he
descended　the　staircase；　he　met　Norbert　de　Varenne；　who　was　likewise
going　away。　The　old　poet　took　his　arm；　fearing　no　rivalry　on　the
newspaper；　their　work　being　essentially　different；　he　was　very
friendly　to　the　young　man。

〃Shall　we　walk　along　together？〃

〃I　shall　be　pleased　to；〃　replied　Duroy。

The　streets　were　almost　deserted　that　night。　At　first　the　two　men
did　not　speak。　Then　Duroy；　in　order　to　make　some　remark；　said：　〃That
M。　Laroche…Mathieu　looks　very　intelligent。〃

The　old　poet　murmured：　〃Do　you　think　so？〃

The　younger　man　hesitated　in　surprise：　〃Why；　yes！　Is　he　not
considered　one　of　the　most　capable　men　in　the　Chamber？〃

〃That　may　be。　In　a　kingdom　of　blind　men　the　blind　are　kings。　All
those　people　are　divided　between　money　and　politics；　they　are
pedants　to　whom　it　is　impossible　to　speak　of　anything　that　is
familiar　to　us。　Ah；　it　is　difficult　to　find　a　man　who　is　liberal　in
his　ideas！　I　have　known　several；　they　are　dead。　Still；　what
difference　does　a　little　more　or　a　little　less　genius　make；　since
all　must　come　to　an　end？〃　He　paused；　and　Duroy　said　with　a　smile：

〃You　are　gloomy　to…night；　sir！〃

The　poet　replied：　〃I　always　am；　my　child；　you　will　be　too　in　a　few
years。　While　one　is　climbing　the　ladder；　one　sees　the　top　and　feels
hopeful；　but　when　one　has　reached　that　summit；　one　sees　the　descent
and　the　end　which　is　death。　It　is　slow　work　ascending；　but　one
descends　rapidly。　At　your　age　one　is　joyous；　one　hopes　for　many
things　which　never　come　to　pass。　At　mine；　one　expects　nothing　but
death。〃

Duroy　laughed：　〃Egad；　you　make　me　shudder。〃

Norbert　de　Varenne　continued：　〃You　do　not　understand　me　now；　but
later　on　you　will　remember　what　I　have　told　you。　We　breathe；　sleep；
drink；　eat；　work；　and　then　die！　The　end　of　life　is　death。　What　do
you　long　for？　Love？　A　few　kisses　and　you　will　be　powerless。　Money？
What　for？　To　gratify　your　desires。　Glory？　What　comes　after　it　all？
Death！　Death　alone　is　certain。〃

He　stopped；　took　Duroy　by　his　coat　collar　and　said　slowly：　〃Ponder
upon　all　that；　young　man；　think　it　over　for　days；　months；　and　years；
and　you　will　see　life　from　a　different　standpoint。　I　am　a　lonely；
old　man。　I　have　neither　father；　mother；　brother；　sister；　wife；
children；　nor　God。　I　have　only　poetry。　Marry；　my　friend；　you　do　not
know　what　it　is　to　live　alone　at　my　age。　It　is　so　lonesome。　I　seem
to　have　no　one　upon　earth。　When　one　is　old　it　is　a　comfort　to　have
children。〃

When　they　reached　Rue　de　Bourgogne；　the　poet　halted　before　a　high
house；　rang　the　bell；　pressed　Duroy's　hand　and　said：　〃Forget　what　I
have　said　to　you；　young　man；　and　live　according　to　your　age。　Adieu！〃
With　those　words　he　disappeared　in　the　dark　corridor。

Duroy　felt　somewhat　depressed　on　leaving　Varenne；　but　on　his　way　a
perfumed　damsel　passed　by　him　and　recalled　to　his　mind　his
reconciliation　with　Mme。　de　Marelle。　How　delightful　was　the
realization　of　one's　hopes！

The　next　morning　he　arrived　at　his　lady…love's　door　somewhat　early；
she　welcomed　him　as　if　there　had　been　no　rupture；　and　said　as　she
kissed　him：

〃You　do　not　know　how　annoyed　I　am；　my　beloved；　I　anticipated　a
delightful　honeymoon　and　now　my　husband　has　come　home　for　six　weeks。
But　I　could　not　let　so　long　a　time　go　by　without　seeing　you；
especially　after　our　little　disagreement；　and　this　is　how　I　have
arranged　matters：　Come　to　dinner　Monday。　I　will　introduce　you　to　M。
de　Marelle；　I　have　already　spoken　of　you　to　him。〃

Duroy　hesitated　in　perplexity；　he　feared　he　might　betray　something
by　a　word；　a　glance。　He　stammered：

〃No；　I　would　rather　not　meet　your　husband。〃

〃Why　not？　How　absurd！　Such　things　happen　every　day。　I　did　not　think
you　so　foolish。〃

〃Very　well；　I　will　come　to　dinner　Monday。〃

〃To　make　it　more　pleasant；　I　will　have　the　Forestiers；　though　I　do
not　like　to　receive　company　at　home。〃

On　Monday　as　he　ascended　Mme。　de　Marelle's　staircase；　he　felt
strangely　troubled；　not　that　he　disliked　to　take　her　husband's　hand；
drink　his　wine；　and　eat　his　bread；　but　he　dreaded　something；　he　knew
not　what。　He　was　ushered　into　the　salon　and　he　waited　as　usual。　Then
the　door　opened；　and　a　tall　man　with　a　white　beard；　grave　and
precise；　advanced　toward　him　and　said　courteously：

〃My　wife　has　often　spoken　of　you；　s