bel ami-第20节

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two　o'clock。〃

He　replied：　〃Count　upon　me；　Madame。〃

When　the　door　closed　upon　Mme。　Walter；　Mme。　de　Marelle；　in　her　turn；
rose。

〃Au　revoir；　Bel…Ami。〃

This　time　she　pressed　his　hand　and　he　was　moved　by　that　silent
avowal。　〃I　will　go　to　see　her　to…morrow；〃　thought　he。

Left　alone　with　his　wife；　she　laughed；　and　looking　into　his　eyes
said：　〃Mme。　Walter　has　taken　a　fancy　to　you！〃

He　replied　incredulously：　〃Nonsense！〃

〃But　I　know　it。　She　spoke　of　you　to　me　with　great　enthusiasm。　She
said　she　would　like　to　find　two　husbands　like　you　for　her　daughters。
Fortunately　she　is　not　susceptible　herself。〃

He　did　not　understand　her　and　repeated：　〃Susceptible　herself？〃

She　replied　in　a　tone　of　conviction：　〃Oh；　Mme。　Walter　is
irreproachable。　Her　husband　you　know　as　well　as　I。　But　she　is
different。　Still　she　has　suffered　a　great　deal　in　having　married　a
Jew；　though　she　has　been　true　to　him；　she　is　a　virtuous　woman。〃

Du　Roy　was　surprised：　〃I　thought　her　a　Jewess。〃

〃She　a　Jewess！　No；　indeed！　She　is　the　prime　mover　in　all　the
charitable　movements　at　the　Madeleine。　She　was　even　married　by　a
priest。　I　am　not　sure　but　that　M。　Walter　went　through　the　form　of
baptism。〃

Georges　murmured：　〃Andshelikesme〃

〃Yes。　If　you　were　not　married　I　should　advise　you　to　ask　for　the
hand　ofSuzannewould　you　not　prefer　her　to　Rose？〃

He　replied　as　he　twisted　his　mustache：　〃Eh！　the　mother　is　not　so
bad！〃

Madeleine　replied：　〃I　am　not　afraid　of　her。　At　her　age　one　does　not
begin　to　make　conquestsone　should　commence　sooner。〃

Georges　thought：　〃If　I　might　have　had　Suzanne；　ah！〃　Then　he　shrugged
his　shoulders：　〃Bah；　it　is　absurd；　her　father　would　not　have
consented。〃

He　determined　to　treat　Mme。　Walter　very　considerately　in　order　to
retain　her　regard。　All　that　evening　he　was　haunted　by　recollections
of　his　love　for　Clotilde；　he　recalled　their　escapades；　her　kindness。
He　repeated　to　himself：　〃She　is　indeed　nice。　Yes；　I　shall　call　upon
her　to…morrow。〃

When　he　had　lunched　the　following　morning　he　repaired　to　Rue
Verneuil。　The　same　maid　opened　the　door；　and　with　the　familiarity　of
an　old　servant　she　asked：　〃Is　Monsieur　well？〃

He　replied：　〃Yes；　my　child；〃　and　entered　the　drawing…room　in　which
some　one　was　practising　scales。　It　was　Laurine。　He　expected　she
would　fall　upon　his　neck。　She；　however；　rose　ceremoniously；　bowed
coldly；　and　left　the　room　with　dignity；　her　manner　was　so　much　like
that　of　an　outraged　woman　that　he　was　amazed。　Her　mother　entered。　He
kissed　her　hand。

〃How　much　I　have　thought　of　you；〃　said　he。

〃And　I　of　you；〃　she　replied。

They　seated　themselves　and　smiled　as　they　gazed　into　one　another's
eyes。

〃My　dear　little　Clo；　I　love　you。〃

〃And　I　love　you。〃

〃Stillstillyou　did　not　miss　me。〃

〃Yes　and　no。　I　was　grieved；　but　when　I　heard　your　reason；　I　said　to
myself：　'Bah；　he　will　return　to　me　some　day。'〃

〃I　dared　not　come。　I　did　not　know　how　I　should　be　received。　I　dared
not；　but　I　longed　to　come。　Now；　tell　me　what　ails　Laurine；　she
scarcely　bade　me　good　morning　and　left　the　room　with　an　angry　air。〃

〃I　do　not　know；　but　one　cannot　mention　you　to　her　since　your
marriage；　I　really　believe　she　is　jealous。〃

〃Nonsense。〃

〃Yes；　my　dear；　she　no　longer　calls　you　Bel…Ami；　but　M。　Forestier
instead。〃

Du　Roy　colored；　then　drawing　nearer　the　young　woman；　he　said：　〃Kiss
me。〃

She　obeyed　him。

〃Where　can　we　meet　again？〃　he　asked。

〃At　Rue　de　Constantinople。〃

〃Ah；　are　the　apartments　not　rented？〃

〃No；　I　kept　them。〃

〃You　did？〃

〃Yes；　I　thought　you　would　return。〃

His　heart　bounded　joyfully。　She　loved　him　then　with　a　lasting　love！
He　whispered：　〃I　adore　you。〃　Then　he　asked：　〃Is　your　husband　well？〃

〃Yes；　very　well。　He　has　just　been　home　for　a　month；　he　went　away　the
day　before　yesterday。〃

Du　Roy　could　not　suppress　a　smile：　〃How　opportunely　that　always
happens！〃

She　replied　naively：　〃Yes；　it　happens　opportunely；　but　he　is　not　in
the　way　when　he　is　here；　is　he？〃

〃That　is　true；　he　is　a　charming　man！〃

〃How　do　you　like　your　new　life？〃

〃Tolerably；　my　wife　is　a　comrade；　an　associate；　nothing　more；　as　for
my　heart〃

〃I　understand；　but　she　is　good。〃

〃Yes；　she　does　not　trouble　me。〃

He　drew　near　Clotilde　and　murmured：　〃When　shall　we　meet　again？〃

〃To…morrow；　if　you　will。〃

〃Yes；　to…morrow　at　two　o'clock。〃

He　rose　to　take　his　leave　somewhat　embarrassed。

〃You　know　I　intend　to　take　back　the　rooms　on　Rue　de　Constantinople
myself。　I　wish　to；　it　is　not　necessary　for　you　to　pay　for　them。〃

She　kissed　his　hands；　saying：　〃You　may　do　as　you　like。　I　am
satisfied　to　have　kept　them　until　we　met　again。〃　And　Du　Roy　took　his
leave　very　well　satisfied。

When　Thursday　came；　he　asked　Madeleine：　〃Are　going　to　the　fencing…
match　at　Rival's？〃

〃No；　I　do　not　care　about　it。　I　will　go　to　the　chamber　of　deputies。〃

Georges　called　for　Mme。　Walter　in　an　open　carriage；　for　the　weather
was　delightful。　He　was　surprised　to　find　her　looking　so　handsome　and
so　young。　Never　had　she　appeared　so　fresh。　Her　daughter；　Suzanne；
was　dressed　in　pink；　her　sister　looked　like　her　governess。　At
Rival's　door　was　a　long　line　of　carriages。　Du　Roy　offered　his　arm　to
Mme。　Walter　and　they　entered。

The　entertainment　was　for　the　benefit　of　the　orphans　of　the　Sixth
Ward　under　the　patronage　of　all　the　wiles　of　the　senators　and
deputies　who　were　connected　with　〃La　Vie　Francaise。〃

Jacques　Rival　received　the　arrivals　at　the　entrance　to　his
apartments；　then　he　pointed　to　a　small　staircase　which　led　to　the
cellar　in　which　were　his　shooting…gallery　and　fencing…room；　saying：
〃Downstairs；　ladies；　downstairs。　The　match　will　take　place　in　the
subterranean　apartments。〃

Pressing　Du　Roy's　hand；　he　said：　〃Good　evening；　Bel…Ami。〃

Du　Roy　was　surprised：　〃Who　told　you　about　that　name？〃

Rival　replied：　〃Mme。　Walter；　who　thinks　it　very　pretty。〃

Mme。　Walter　blushed。

〃Yes；　I　confess　that　if　I　knew　you　better；　I　should　do　as　little
Laurine；　and　I　should　call　you　Bel…Ami；　too。　It　suits　you
admirably。〃

Du　Roy　laughed。　〃I　beg　you　to　do　so；　Madame。〃

She　cast　down　her　eyes。　〃No；　we　are　not　well　enough　acquainted。〃

He　murmured：　〃Permit　me　to　hope　that　we　shall　become　so。〃

〃Well；　we　shall　see；〃　said　she。

They　descended　the　stairs　and　entered　a　large　room；　which　was
lighted　by　Venetian　lanterns　and　decorated　with　festoons　of　gauze。
Nearly　all　the　benches　were　filled　with　ladies；　who　were　chatting　as
if　they　were　at　a　theater。　Mme。　Walter　and　her　daughters　reached
their　seats　in　the　front　row。

Du　Roy；　having　obtained　their　places　for　them；　whispered：　〃I　shall
be　obliged　to　leave　you；　men　cannot　occupy　the　seats。〃

Mme。　Walter　replied　hesitatingly：　〃I　should　like　to　keep　you；　just
the　same。　You　could　tell　me　the　names　of　the　participants。　See；　if
you　stand　at　the　end　of　the　seat；　you　will　not　annoy　anyone。〃　She
raised　her　large；　soft　eyes　to　his　and　insisted：　〃Come；　stay　with
usBel…Amiwe　need　you！〃

He　replied：　〃I　obey　with　pleasure；　Madame！〃

Suddenly　Jacques　Rival's　voice　announced：　〃We　will　begin；　ladies。〃

Then　followed　the　fencing…match。　Du　Roy　retained　his　place　beside
the　ladies　and　gave　them　all　the　necessary　information。　When　the
entertainment　was　over　and　all　expenses　were　paid；　two　hundred　and
twenty　francs　remained　for　the　orphans　of　the　Sixth　Ward。

Du　Roy；　escorting　the　Walters；　awaited　his　carriage。　When　seated
face　to　face　with　Mme。　Walter；　he　met　her　troubled　but　caressing
glance。

〃Egad；　I　believe　she　is　affected；〃　thought　he；　and　he　smiled　as　he
recognized　the　fact　that　he　was　really　successful　with　the　female
sex；　for　Mme。　de　Marelle；　since　the　renewal　of　their　relations；
seemed　to　love　him　madly。

With　a　light　heart　he　returned　home。　Madeleine　was　awaiting　him　in
the　drawing…room。

〃I　have　some　news；〃　said　she。　〃The　affair　with　Morocco　is　becoming
complicated。　France　may　send　an　expedition　out　there　in　several
months。　In　any　case　the　ministry　will　be　overthrown　and　Laroche　will
profit　by　the　occasion。〃

Du　Roy；　in　order　to　draw　out　his　wife；　pretended　not　to　believe　it。
〃France　would　not　be　silly　enough　to　commence　any　folly　with　Tunis！〃

She　shrugged　her　shoulders　impatiently。　〃I　tell　you　she　will！　You　do
not　understand　that　it　is　a　question　of　moneyyou　are　as　simple　as
Forestier。〃

Her　object　was　to　wound　and　irritate　him；　but　he　only　smiled　and
replied：　〃What！　as　simple　as　that　stupid　fellow？〃

She　ceased　and　murmured：　〃Oh；　Georges！〃

He　added：　〃Poor　devil！〃　in　a　tone　of　profound　pity。

Madeleine　turned　her　back　upon　him　scornfully；　after　a　moment　of
silence；　she　continued：　〃We　shall　have　some　company　Tuesday。　Mme。
Laroche…Mathieu　is　coming　here　to　dine　with　Viscountess　de　Percemur。
Will　you　invite　Rival　and　Norbert　de　Varenne？　I　shall　go　to　Mmes。
Walter　and　de　Marelle　to…morrow。　Perhaps；　too；　we　may　have　Mme。
Rissolin。〃

Du　Roy　replied：　〃Very　well；　I　will　see　to　Rival　and　Norbert。〃

The　following　day　he　thought　he　would　anticipate　his　wife's　visit　to
Mme。　Walter　and　attempt　to　find　out　if　she　really　was　in　love　with
him。　He　arrived　at　Boulevard　Malesherbes　at　two　o'clock。　He　was
ushered　into　the　salon　and　waited。　Finally　Mme。　Walter　appeared　and
offered　him　her　hand　cordially。　〃Wha