bel ami-第21节

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ushered　into　the　salon　and　waited。　Finally　Mme。　Walter　appeared　and
offered　him　her　hand　cordially。　〃What　good　wind　blows　you　here？〃

〃No　good　wind；　but　a　desire　to　see　you。　Some　power　has　impelled　me
hither；　I　do　not　know　why；　I　have　nothing　to　say　except　that　I　have
come；　here　I　am！　Pardon　the　morning　call　and　the　candor　of　my
explanation。〃

He　uttered　those　words　with　a　smile　upon　his　lips　and　a　serious
accent　in　his　voice。

In　her　astonishment；　she　stammered　with　a　blush：　〃But　indeedI　do
not　understandyou　surprise　me。〃

He　added：　〃It　is　a　declaration　made　in　jest　in　order　not　to　startle
you。〃

They　were　seated　near　each　other。　She　took　the　matter　as　a　jest。　〃Is
it　a　declarationseriously？〃

〃Yes；　for　a　long　time　I　have　wished　to　make　it；　but　I　dared　not；
they　say　you　are　so　austere；　so　rigid。〃

She　had　recovered　her　self…possession　and　replied：

〃Why　did　you　choose　to…day？〃

〃I　do　not　know。〃　Then　he　lowered　his　voice：　〃Or　rather　because　I
have　thought　only　of　you　since　yesterday。〃

Suddenly　turning　pale；　she　gasped：　〃Come；　enough　of　this
childishness！　Let　us　talk　of　something　else。〃

But　he　fell　upon　his　knees　before　her。　She　tried　to　rise；　he
prevented　her　by　twining　his　arms　about　her　waist；　and　repeated　in　a
passionate　voice：　〃Yes；　it　is　true　that　I　have　loved　you　madly　for
some　time。　Do　not　answer　me。　I　am　madI　love　you。　Oh；　if　you　knew
how　I　love　you！〃

She　could　utter　no　sound；　in　her　agitation　she　repulsed　him　with
both　hands；　for　she　could　feel　his　breath　upon　her　cheek。　He　rose
suddenly　and　attempted　to　embrace　her；　but　gaining　her　liberty　for　a
moment；　she　escaped　him　and　ran　from　chair　to　chair。　He；　considering
such　pursuit　beneath　his　dignity；　sank　into　a　chair；　buried　his　face
in　his　hands；　and　feigned　to　sob　convulsively。　Then　he　rose；　cried：

〃Adieu；　adieu！〃　and　fled。

In　the　hall　he　took　his　cane　calmly　and　left　the　house　saying：
〃Cristi！　I　believe　she　loves　me！〃

He　went　at　once　to　the　telegraph　office　to　send　a　message　to
Clotilde；　appointing　a　rendezvous　for　the　next　day。

On　entering　the　house　at　his　usual　time；　he　said　to　his　wife：　〃Well；
is　everyone　coming　to　dinner？〃

She　replied：　〃Yes；　all　but　Mme。　Walter；　who　is　uncertain　as　to
whether　she　can　come。　She　acted　very　strangely。　Never　mind；　perhaps
she　can　manage　it　anyway。〃

He　replied：　〃She　will　come。〃

He　was　not；　however；　certain　and　was　rendered　uneasy　until　the　day
of　the　dinner。　That　morning　Madeleine　received　a　message　from　Mme。
Walter　to　this　effect：　〃I　have　succeeded　in　arranging　matters　and　I
shall　be　with　you；　but　my　husband　cannot　accompany　me。〃

Du　Roy　thought：　〃I　did　right　not　to　return　there。　She　has　calmed
down。〃　Still　he　awaited　her　arrival　anxiously。

She　appeared　very　composed；　somewhat　reserved；　and　haughty。　He　was
very　humble；　very　careful；　and　submissive。　Mmes。　Laroche…Mathieu　and
Rissolin　were　accompanied　by　their　husbands。　Mme。　de　Marelle　looked
bewitching　in　an　odd　combination　of　yellow　and　black。

At　Du　Roy's　right　sat　Mme。　Walter；　and　he　spoke　to　her　only　of
serious　matters　with　exaggerated　respect。　From　time　to　time　he
glanced　at　Clotilde。

〃She　is　really　very　pretty　and　fresh　looking；〃　thought　he。　But　Mme。
Walter　attracted　him　by　the　difficulty　of　the　conquest。　She　took　her
leave　early。

〃I　will　escort　you；〃　said　he。

She　declined　his　offer。　He　insisted：　〃Why　do　you　not　want　me？　You
wound　me　deeply。　Do　not　let　me　feel　that　I　am　not　forgiven。　You　see
that　I　am　calm。〃

She　replied：　〃You　cannot　leave　your　guests　thus。〃

He　smiled：　〃Bah！　I　shall　be　absent　twenty　minutes。　No　one　will　even
notice　it；　if　you　refuse　me；　you　will　break　my　heart。〃

〃Very　well；〃　she　whispered；　〃I　will　accept。〃

When　they　were　seated　in　the　carriage；　he　seized　her　hand；　and
kissing　it　passionately　said：　〃I　love　you；　I　love　you。　Let　me　tell
it　to　you。　I　will　not　touch　you。　I　only　wish　to　repeat　that　I　love
you。〃

She　stammered：　〃After　what　you　promised　meit　is　too　badtoo　bad。〃

He　seemed　to　make　a　great　effort；　then　he　continued　in　a　subdued
voice：　〃See；　how　I　can　control　myselfand　yetlet　me　only　tell　you
thisI　love　youyes；　let　me　go　home　with　you　and　kneel　before　you
five　minutes　to　utter　those　three　words　and　gaze　upon　your　beloved
face。〃

She　suffered　him　to　take　her　hand　and　replied　in　broken　accents：
〃No；　I　cannotI　do　not　wish　to。　Think　of　what　my　servants；　my
daughters；　would　saynonoit　is　impossible。〃

He　continued：　〃I　cannot　live　without　seeing　you；　whether　it　be　at
your　house　or　elsewhere；　I　must　see　you　for　only　a　moment　each　day
that　I　may　touch　your　hand；　breathe　the　air　stirred　by　your　gown；
contemplate　the　outlines　of　your　form；　and　see　your　beautiful　eyes。〃

She　listened　tremblingly　to　the　musical　language　of　love；　and　made
answer：　〃No；　it　is　impossible。　Be　silent！〃

He　spoke　very　low；　he　whispered　in　her　ear；　comprehending　that　it
was　necessary　to　win　that　simple　woman　gradually；　to　persuade　her　to
appoint　a　meeting　where　she　willed　at　first；　and　later　on　where　he
willed。

〃Listen：　I　must　see　you！　I　will　wait　at　your　door　like　a　beggar。　If
you　do　not　come　down；　I　will　come　to　you；　but　I　shall　see　you　to…
morrow。〃

She　repeated：　〃No；　do　not　come。　I　shall　not　receive　you。　Think　of　my
daughters！〃

〃Then　tell　me　where　I　can　meet　youin　the　streetit　matters　not
whereat　any　hour　you　wishprovided　that　I　can　see　you。　I　will
greet　you；　I　will　say；　I　love　you；　and　then　go　away。〃

She　hesitated；　almost　distracted。　As　the　coupe　stopped　at　the　door；
she　whispered　hastily：　〃I　will　be　at　La　Trinite　to…morrow；　at　half
past　three。〃

After　alighting；　she　said　to　her　coachman：　〃Take　M。　du　Roy　home。〃

When　he　returned；　his　wife　asked：　〃Where　have　you　been？〃

He　replied　in　a　low　voice：　〃I　have　been　to　send　an　important
telegram。〃

Mme。　de　Marelle　approached　him：　〃You　must　take　me　home；　Bel…Ami；　you
know　that　I　only　dine　so　far　from　home　on　that　condition。〃　Turning
to　Madeleine；　she　asked：　〃You　are　not　jealous？〃

Mme。　du　Roy　replied　slowly：　〃No；　not　at　all。〃

The　guests　departed。　Clotilde；　enveloped　in　laces；　whispered　to
Madeleine　at　the　door：　〃Your　dinner　was　perfect。　In　a　short　while
you　will　have　the　best　political　salon　in　Paris。〃

When　she　was　alone　with　Georges；　she　said：　〃Oh；　my　darling　Bel…Ami；
I　love　you　more　dearly　every　day。〃

The　cab　rolled　on；　and　Georges'　thoughts　were　with　Mme。　Walter。




CHAPTER　XII。

A　MEETING　AND　THE　RESULT


The　July　sun　shone　upon　the　Place　de　la　Trinite；　which　was　almost
deserted。　Du　Roy　drew　out　his　watch。　It　was　only　three　o'clock：　he
was　half　an　hour　too　early。　He　laughed　as　he　thought　of　the　place　of
meeting。　He　entered　the　sacred　edifice　of　La　Trinite；　the　coolness
within　was　refreshing。　Here　and　there　an　old　woman　kneeled　at
prayer；　her　face　in　her　hands。　Du　Roy　looked　at　his　watch　again。　It
was　not　yet　a　quarter　past　three。　He　took　a　seat；　regretting　that　he
could　not　smoke。　At　the　end　of　the　church　near　the　choir；　he　could
hear　the　measured　tread　of　a　corpulent　man　whom　he　had　noticed　when
he　entered。　Suddenly　the　rustle　of　a　gown　made　him　start。　It　was
she。　He　arose　and　advanced　quickly。　She　did　not　offer　him　her　hand
and　whispered：　〃I　have　only　a　few　minutes。　You　must　kneel　near　me
that　no　one　will　notice　us。〃

She　proceeded　to　a　side　aisle　after　saluting　the　Host　on　the　High
Altar；　took　a　footstool；　and　kneeled　down。　Georges　took　one　beside
it　and　when　they　were　in　the　attitude　of　prayer；　he　said：　〃Thank
you；　thank　you。　I　adore　you。　I　should　like　to　tell　you　constantly
how　I　began　to　love　you；　how　I　was　conquered　the　first　time　I　saw
you。　Will　you　permit　me　some　day　to　unburden　my　heart；　to　explain
all　to　you？〃

She　replied　between　her　fingers：　〃I　am　mad　to　let　you　speak　to　me
thusmad　to　have　come　hithermad　to　do　as　I　have　done；　to　let　you
believe　that　thisthis　adventure　can　have　any　results。　Forget　it；
and　never　speak　to　me　of　it　again。〃　She　paused。

He　replied：　〃I　expect　nothingI　hope　nothingI　love　youwhatever
you　may　do；　I　will　repeat　it　so　often；　with　so　much　force　and　ardor
that　you　will　finally　understand　me；　and　reply：　'I　love　you　too。'〃

He　felt　her　frame　tremble　as　she　involuntarily　repeated：　〃I　love　you
too。〃

He　was　overcome　by　astonishment。

〃Oh；　my　God！〃　she　continued　incoherently；　〃Should　I　say　that　to　you？
I　feel　guilty；　despicableIwho　have　two　daughtersbut　I　cannot
cannotI　never　thoughtit　was　stronger　than　IlistenlistenI
have　never　lovedany　otherbut　youI　swear　itI　have　loved　you　a
year　in　secretI　have　suffered　and　struggledI　can　no　longer；　I
love　you。〃　She　wept　and　her　bowed　form　was　shaken　by　the　violence　of
her　emotion。

Georges　murmured：　〃Give　me　your　hand　that　I　may　touch；　may　press
it。〃

She　slowly　took　her　hand　from　her　face；　he　seized　it　saying：　〃I
should　like　to　drink　your　tears！〃

Placing　the　hand　he　held　upon　his　heart　he　asked：　〃Do　you　feel　it
beat？〃

In　a　few　moments　the　man　Georges　had　noticed　before　passed　by　them。
When　Mme。　Walter　heard　him　near　her；　she　snatched　her　fingers　from
Georges's　clasp　and　covered　her　face　with　them。　After　the　man　had
disappeared；　Du　Roy　asked；　hoping　for　another　place　of　meeting　than
La　Trinite：　〃Where　shall　I　see　you　to…morrow？〃

She　did