bel ami-第2节

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Occasionally　a　gentleman　entered；　fashionably　dressed；　some　reporter
bringing　news。

Forestier　reappeared　arm…in…arm　with　a　tall；　thin　man　of　thirty　or
forty；　dressed　in　a　black　coat；　with　a　white　cravat；　a　dark
complexion；　and　an　insolent；　self…satisfied　air。　Forestier　said　to
him：　〃Adieu；　my　dear　sir；〃　and　the　other　pressed　his　hand　with：　〃Au
revoir；　my　friend。〃　Then　he　descended　the　stairs　whistling；　his　cane
under　his　arm。

Duroy　asked　his　name。

〃That　is　Jacques　Rival；　the　celebrated　writer　and　duelist。　He　came
to　correct　his　proofs。　Garin；　Montel　and　he　are　the　best　witty　and
realistic　writers　we　have　in　Paris。　He　earns　thirty　thousand　francs
a　year　for　two　articles　a　week。〃

As　they　went　downstairs；　they　met　a　stout；　little　man　with　long
hair；　who　was　ascending　the　stairs　whistling。　Forestier　bowed　low。

〃Norbert　de　Varenne；〃　said　he；　〃the　poet；　the　author　of　'Les　Soleils
Morts；'a　very　expensive　man。　Every　poem　he　gives　us　costs　three
hundred　francs　and　the　longest　has　not　two　hundred　lines。　But　let　us
go　into　the　Napolitain；　I　am　getting　thirsty。〃

When　they　were　seated　at　a　table；　Forestier　ordered　two　glasses　of
beer。　He　emptied　his　at　a　single　draught；　while　Duroy　sipped　his
beer　slowly　as　if　it　were　something　rare　and　precious。　Suddenly　his
companion　asked；　〃Why　don't　you　try　journalism？〃

Duroy　looked　at　him　in　surprise　and　said：　〃Because　I　have　never
written　anything。〃

〃Bah；　we　all　have　to　make　a　beginning。　I　could　employ　you　myself　by
sending　you　to　obtain　information。　At　first　you　would　only　get　two
hundred　and　fifty　francs　a　month　but　your　cab　fare　would　be　paid。
Shall　I　speak　to　the　manager？〃

〃If　you　will。〃

〃Well；　then　come　and　dine　with　me　to…morrow；　I　will　only　ask　five　or
six　to　meet　you；　the　manager；　M。　Walter；　his　wife；　with　Jacques
Rival；　and　Norbert　de　Varenne　whom　you　have　just　seen；　and　also　a
friend　of　Mme。　Forestier；　Will　you　come？〃

Duroy　hesitated；　blushing　and　perplexed。　Finally　he；　murmured：　〃I
have　no　suitable　clothes。〃

Forestier　was　amazed。　〃You　have　no　dress　suit？　Egad；　that　is
indispensable。　In　Paris；　it　is　better　to　have　no　bed　than　no
clothes。〃　Then；　fumbling　in　his　vest…pocket；　he　drew　from　it　two
louis；　placed　them　before　his　companion；　and　said　kindly：　〃You　can
repay　me　when　it　is　convenient。　Buy　yourself　what　you　need　and　pay
an　installment　on　it。　And　come　and　dine　with　us　at　half　past　seven；
at　17　Rue　Fontaine。〃

In　confusion　Duroy　picked　up　the　money　and　stammered：　〃You　are　very
kindI　am　much　obligedbe　sure　I　shall　not　forget。〃

Forestier　interrupted　him：　〃That's　all　right；　take　another　glass　of
beer。　Waiter；　two　more　glasses！〃　When　he　had　paid　the　score；　the
journalist　asked：　〃Would　you　like　a　stroll　for　an　hour？〃

〃Certainly。〃

They　turned　toward　the　Madeleine。　〃What　shall　we　do？〃　asked
Forestier。　〃They　say　that　in　Paris　an　idler　can　always　find
amusement；　but　it　is　not　true。　A　turn　in　the　Bois　is　only　enjoyable
if　you　have　a　lady　with　you；　and　that　is　a　rare　occurrence。　The　cafe
concerts　may　divert　my　tailor　and　his　wife；　but　they　do　not　interest
me。　So　what　can　we　do？　Nothing！　There　ought　to　be　a　summer　garden
here；　open　at　night；　where　a　man　could　listen　to　good　music　while
drinking　beneath　the　trees。　It　would　be　a　pleasant　lounging　place。
You　could　walk　in　alleys　bright　with　electric　light　and　seat
yourself　where　you　pleased　to　hear　the　music。　It　would　be　charming。
Where　would　you　like　to　go？〃

Duroy　did　not　know　what　to　reply；　finally　he　said：　〃I　have　never
been　to　the　Folies　Bergeres。　I　should　like　to　go　there。〃

His　companion　exclaimed：　〃The　Folies　Bergeres！　Very　well！〃

They　turned　and　walked　toward　the　Faubourg　Montmartre。　The
brilliantly　illuminated　building　loomed　up　before　them。　Forestier
entered；　Duroy　stopped　him。　〃We　forgot　to　pass　through　the　gate。〃

The　other　replied　in　a　consequential　tone：　〃I　never　pay；〃　and
approached　the　box…office。

〃Have　you　a　good　box？〃

〃Certainly；　M。　Forestier。〃

He　took　the　ticket　handed　him；　pushed　open　the　door；　and　they　were
within　the　hall。　A　cloud　of　tobacco　smoke　almost　hid　the　stage　and
the　opposite　side　of　the　theater。　In　the　spacious　foyer　which　led　to
the　circular　promenade；　brilliantly　dressed　women　mingled　with
black…coated　men。

Forestier　forced　his　way　rapidly　through　the　throng　and　accosted　an
usher。

〃Box　17？〃

〃This　way；　sir。〃

The　friends　were　shown　into　a　tiny　box；　hung　and　carpeted　in　red；
with　four　chairs　upholstered　in　the　same　color。　They　seated
themselves。　To　their　right　and　left　were　similar　boxes。　On　the　stage
three　men　were　performing　on　trapezes。　But　Duroy　paid　no　heed　to
them；　his　eyes　finding　more　to　interest　them　in　the　grand　promenade。
Forestier　remarked　upon　the　motley　appearance　of　the　throng；　but
Duroy　did　not　listen　to　him。　A　woman；　leaning　her　arms　upon　the　edge
of　her　loge；　was　staring　at　him。　She　was　a　tall；　voluptuous
brunette；　her　face　whitened　with　enamel；　her　black　eyes　penciled；
and　her　lips　painted。　With　a　movement　of　her　head；　she　summoned　a
friend　who　was　passing；　a　blonde　with　auburn　hair；　likewise　inclined
to　embonpoint；　and　said　to　her　in　a　whisper　intended　to　be　heard；
〃There　is　a　nice　fellow！〃

Forestier　heard　it；　and　said　to　Duroy　with　a　smile：　〃You　are　lucky；
my　dear　boy。　My　congratulations！〃

The　ci…devant　soldier　blushed　and　mechanically　fingered　the　two
pieces　of　gold　in　his　pocket。

The　curtain　fellthe　orchestra　played　a　valseand　Duroy　said：

〃Shall　we　walk　around　the　gallery？〃

〃If　you　like。〃

Soon　they　were　carried　along　in　the　current　of　promenaders。　Duroy
drank　in　with　delight　the　air；　vitiated　as　it　was　by　tobacco　and
cheap　perfume；　but　Forestier　perspired；　panted；　and　coughed。

〃Let　us　go　into　the　garden；〃　he　said。　Turning　to　the　left；　they
entered　a　kind　of　covered　garden　in　which　two　large　fountains　were
playing。　Under　the　yews；　men　and　women　sat　at　tables　drinking。

〃Another　glass　of　beer？〃　asked　Forestier。

〃Gladly。〃

They　took　their　seats　and　watched　the　promenaders。　Occasionally　a
woman　would　stop　and　ask　with　a　coarse　smile：　〃What　have　you　to
offer；　sir？〃

Forestier's　invariable　answer　was：　〃A　glass　of　water　from　the
fountain。〃　And　the　woman　would　mutter；　〃Go　along；〃　and　walk　away。

At　last　the　brunette　reappeared；　arm…in…arm　with　the　blonde。　They
made　a　handsome　couple。　The　former　smiled　on　perceiving　Duroy；　and
taking　a　chair　she　calmly　seated　herself　in　front　of　him；　and　said
in　a　clear　voice：　〃Waiter；　two　glasses。〃

In　astonishment；　Forestier　exclaimed：　〃You　are　not　at　all　bashful！〃

She　replied：　〃Your　friend　has　bewitched　me；　he　is　such　a　fine
fellow。　I　believe　he　has　turned　my　head。〃

Duroy　said　nothing。

The　waiter　brought　the　beer；　which　the　women　swallowed　rapidly；　then
they　rose；　and　the　brunette；　nodding　her　head　and　tapping　Duroy's
arm　with　her　fan；　said　to　him：　〃Thank　you；　my　dear！　However；　you　are
not　very　talkative。〃

As　they　disappeared；　Forestier　laughed　and　said：　〃Tell；　me；　old　man；
did　you　know　that　you　had　a　charm　for　the　weaker　sex？　You　must　be
careful。〃

Without　replying；　Duroy　smiled。　His　friend　asked：　〃Shall　you　remain
any　longer？　I　am　going；　I　have　had　enough。〃

Georges　murmured：　〃Yes；　I　will　stay　a　little　longer：　it　is　not
late。〃

Forestier　arose：　〃Very　well；　then；　good…bye　until　to…morrow。　Do　not
forget：　17　Rue　Fontaine　at　seven　thirty。〃

〃I　shall　not　forget。　Thank　you。〃

The　friends　shook　hands　and　the　journalist　left　Duroy　to　his　own
devices。

Forestier　once　out　of　sight；　Duroy　felt　free；　and　again　he　joyously
touched　the　gold　pieces　in　his　pocket；　then　rising；　he　mingled　with
the　crowd。

He　soon　discovered　the　blonde　and　the　brunette。　He　went　toward　them；
but　when　near　them　dared　not　address　them。

The　brunette　called　out　to　him：　〃Have　you　found　your　tongue？〃

He　stammered：　〃Zounds！〃　too　bashful　to　say　another　word。　A　pause
ensued；　during　which　the　brunette　took　his　arm　and　together　they
left　the　hall。




CHAPTER　II。

MADAME　FORESTIER


〃Where　does　M。　Forestier　live？〃

〃Third　floor　on　the　left；〃　said　the　porter　pleasantly；　on　learning
Duroy's　destination。

Georges　ascended　the　staircase。　He　was　somewhat　embarrassed　and　ill…
at…ease。　He　had　on　a　new　suit　but　he　was　uncomfortable。　He　felt　that
it　was　defective；　his　boots　were　not　glossy；　he　had　bought　his　shirt
that　same　evening　at　the　Louvre　for　four　francs　fifty；　his　trousers
were　too　wide　and　betrayed　their　cheapness　in　their　fit；　or　rather；
misfit；　and　his　coat　was　too　tight。

Slowly　he　ascended　the　stairs；　his　heart　beating；　his　mind　anxious。
Suddenly　before　him　stood　a　well…dressed　gentleman　staring　at　him。
The　person　resembled　Duroy　so　close　that　the　latter　retreated；　then
stopped；　and　saw　that　it　was　his　own　image　reflected　in　a　pier…
glass！　Not　having　anything　but　a　small　mirror　at　home；　he　had　not
been　able　to　see　himself　entirely；　and　had　exaggerated　the
imperfections　of　his　toilette。　When　he　saw　his　reflection　in　the
glass；　he　did　not　even　recognize　himself；　he　took　himself　for　some
one　else；　for　a　man…of…the…world；　and　was　really　satisfied　with　his
general　appearance。　Smiling　to　himself；　Duroy　extended　his　hand　and
expressed　his　astonishment；　pleasure；　and　app