bel ami-第28节

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suitor。　Some　one　seized　his　arm。　It　was　Norbert　de　Varenne。　The　old
poet　said：　〃This　is　what　they　call　amusing　themselves。　After　a　while
they　will　dance；　then　they　will　retire；　and　the　young　girls　will　be
satisfied。　Take　some　champagne；　it　is　excellent。〃

Georges　scarcely　heard　his　words。　He　was　looking　for　Suzanne；　who
had　gone　off　with　the　Marquis　de　Cazolles；　he　left　Norbert　de
Varenne　abruptly　and　went　in　pursuit　of　the　young　girl。　The　thirsty
crowd　stopped　him；　when　he　had　made　his　way　through　it；　he　found
himself　face　to　face　with　M。　and　Mme。　de　Marelle。　He　had　often　met
the　wife；　but　he　had　not　met　the　husband　for　some　time；　the　latter
grasped　both　of　his　hands　and　thanked　him　for　the　message　he　had
sent　him　by　Clotilde　relative　to　the　stocks。

Du　Roy　replied：　〃In　exchange　for　that　service　I　shall　take　your
wife；　or　rather　offer　her　my　arm。　Husband　and　wife　should　always　be
separated。〃

M。　de　Marelle　bowed。　〃Very　well。　If　I　lose　you　we　can　meet　here
again　in　an　hour。〃

The　two　young　people　disappeared　in　the　crowd；　followed　by　the
husband。　Mme。　de　Marelle　said：　〃There　are　two　girls　who　will　have
twenty　or　thirty　millions　each；　and　Suzanne　is　pretty　in　the
bargain。〃

He　made　no　reply；　his　own　thought　coming　from　the　lips　of　another
irritated　him。　He　took　Clotilde　to　see　the　painting。　As　they　crossed
the　conservatory　he　saw　his　wife　seated　near　Laroche…Mathieu；　both
of　them　almost　hidden　behind　a　group　of　plants。　They　seemed　to　say：
〃We　are　having　a　meeting　in　public；　for　we　do　not　care　for　the
world's　opinion。〃

Mme。　de　Marelle　admired　Karl　Marcovitch's　painting；　and　they　turned
to　repair　to　the　other　rooms。　They　were　separated　from　M。　de
Marelle。　He　asked：　〃Is　Laurine　still　vexed　with　me？〃

〃Yes。　She　refuses　to　see　you　and　goes　away　when　you　are　mentioned。〃

He　did　not　reply。　The　child's　sudden　enmity　grieved　and　annoyed　him。

Suzanne　met　them　at　a　door　and　cried：　〃Oh；　here　you　are！　Now；　Bel…
Ami；　you　are　going　to　be　left　alone；　for　I　shall　take　Clotilde　to
see　my　room。〃　And　the　two　women　glided　through　the　throng。　At　that
moment　a　voice　at　his　side　murmured：　〃Georges！〃

It　was　Mme。　Walter。　She　continued　in　a　low　voice：　〃How　cruel　you
are！　How　needlessly　you　inflict　suffering　upon　me。　I　bade　Suzanne
take　that　woman　away　that　I　might　have　a　word　with　you。　Listen：　I
must　speak　to　you　this　eveningororyou　do　not　know　what　I　shall
do。　Go　into　the　conservatory。　You　will　find　a　door　to　the　left
through　which　you　can　reach　the　garden。　Follow　the　walk　directly　in
front　of　you。　At　the　end　of　it　you　will　see　an　arbor。　Expect　me　in
ten　minutes。　If　you　do　not　meet　me；　I　swear　I　will　cause　a　scandal
here　at　once！〃

He　replied　haughtily：　〃Very　well；　I　shall　be　at　the　place　you　named
in　ten　minutes。〃

But　Jacques　Rival　detained　him。　When　he　reached　the　alley；　he　saw
Mme。　Walter　in　front　of　him；　she　cried：　〃Ah；　here　you　are！　Do　you
wish　to　kill　me？〃

He　replied　calmly：　〃I　beseech　you；　none　of　that；　or　I　shall　leave
you　at　once。〃

Throwing　her　arms　around　his　neck；　she　exclaimed：　〃What　have　I　done
to　you　that　you　should　treat　me　so？〃

He　tried　to　push　her　away：　〃You　twisted　your　hair　around　my　coat
buttons　the　last　time　we　met；　and　it　caused　trouble　between　my　wife
and　myself。〃

She　shook　her　head：　〃Ah；　your　wife　would　not　care。　It　was　one　of
your　mistresses　who　made　a　scene。〃

〃I　have　none。〃

〃Indeed！　Why　do　you　never　come　to　see　me？　Why　do　you　refuse　to　dine
with　me　even　once　a　week？　I　have　no　other　thoughts　than　of　you。　I
suffer　terribly。　You　cannot　understand　that　your　image；　always
present；　closes　my　throat；　stifles　me；　and　leaves　me　scarcely
strength　enough　to　move　my　limbs　in　order　to　walk。　So　I　remain　all
day　in　my　chair　thinking　of　you。〃

He　looked　at　her　in　astonishment。　These　were　the　words　of　a
desperate　woman；　capable　of　anything。　He；　however；　cherished　a　vague
project　and　replied：　〃My　dear；　love　is　not　eternal。　One　loves　and
one　ceases　to　love。　When　it　lasts　it　becomes　a　drawback。　I　want　none
of　it！　However；　if　you　will　be　reasonable；　and　will　receive　and
treat　me　as　a　friend；　I　will　come　to　see　you　as　formerly。　Can　you　do
that？〃

She　murmured：　〃I　can　do　anything　in　order　to　see　you。〃

〃Then　it　is　agreed　that　we　are　to　be　friends；　nothing　more。〃

She　gasped：　〃It　is　agreed〃；　offering　him　her　lips　she　cried　in　her
despair：　〃One　more　kissone　last　kiss！〃

He　gently　drew　back。　〃No；　we　must　adhere　to　our　rules。〃

She　turned　her　head　and　wiped　away　two　tears；　then　drawing　from　her
bosom　a　package　of　notes　tied　with　pink　ribbon；　she　held　it　toward
Du　Roy：　〃Here　is　your　share　of　the　profits　in　that　Moroccan　affair。
I　was　so　glad　to　make　it　for　you。　Here；　take　it。〃

He　refused：　〃No；　I　cannot　accept　that　money。〃

She　became　excited：　〃Oh；　you　will　not　refuse　it　now！　It　is　yours；
yours　alone。　If　you　do　not　take　it；　I　will　throw　it　in　the　sewer。
You　will　not　refuse　it；　Georges！〃

He　took　the　package　and　slipped　it　into　his　pocket　〃We　must　return
to　the　house；　you　will　take　cold。〃

〃So　much　the　better；　if　I　could　but　die！〃

She　seized　his　hand；　kissed　it　passionately；　and　fled　toward　the
house。　He　returned　more　leisurely；　and　entered　the　conservatory　with
head　erect　and　smiling　lips。　His　wife　and　Laroche　were　no　longer
there。　The　crowd　had　grown　thinner。　Suzanne；　leaning　on　her　sister's
arm；　advanced　toward　him。　In　a　few　moments；　Rose；　whom　they　teased
about　a　certain　Count；　turned　upon　her　heel　and　left　them。

Du　Roy；　finding　himself　alone　with　Suzanne；　said　in　a　caressing
voice：　〃Listen；　my　dear　little　one；　do　you　really　consider　me　a
friend？〃

〃Why；　yes；　Bel…Ami。〃

〃You　have　faith　in　me？〃

〃Perfect　faith。〃

〃Do　you　remember　what　I　said　to　you　a　while　since？〃

〃About　what？〃

〃About　your；　marriage；　or　rather　the　man　you　would　marry。〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Well；　will　you　promise　me　one　thing？〃

〃Yes；　what　is　it？〃

〃To　consult　me　when　you　receive　a　proposal　and　to　accept　no　one
without　asking　my　advice。〃

〃Yes；　I　will　gladly。〃

〃And　it　is　to　be　a　secret　between　usnot　a　word　to　your　father　or
mother。〃

〃Not　a　word。〃

Rival　approached　them　saying：　〃Mademoiselle；　your　father　wants　you
in　the　ballroom。〃

She　said：　〃Come；　Bel…Ami；〃　but　he　refused；　for　he　had　decided　to
leave　at　once；　wishing　to　be　alone　with　his　thoughts。　He　went　in
search　of　his　wife；　and　found　her　drinking　chocolate　at　the　buffet
with　two　strange　men。　She　introduced　her　husband　without　naming
them。

In　a　short　while；　he　asked：　〃Shall　we　go？〃

〃Whenever　you　like。〃

She　took　his　arm　and　they　passed　through　the　almost　deserted　rooms。

Madeleine　asked：　〃Where　is　Mme。　Walter；　I　should　like　to　bid　her
good…bye。〃

〃It　is　unnecessary。　She　would　try　to　keep　us　in　the　ballroom；　and　I
have　had　enough。〃

〃You　are　right。〃

On　the　way　home　they　did　not　speak。　But　when　they　had　entered　their
room；　Madeleine；　without　even　taking　off　her　veil；　said　to　him　with
a　smile：　〃I　have　a　surprise　for　you。〃

He　growled　ill…naturedly：　〃What　is　it？〃

〃Guess。〃

〃I　cannot　make　the　effort。〃

〃The　day　after　to…morrow　is　the　first　of　January。〃

〃Yes。〃

〃It　is　the　season　for　New　Year's　gifts。〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Here　is　yours；　which　Laroche　handed　me　just　now。〃　She　gave　him　a
small　black　box　which　resembled　a　jewel…casket。

He　opened　it　indifferently　and　saw　the　cross　of　the　Legion　of　Honor。
He　turned　a　trifle　pale；　then　smiled；　and　said：　〃I　should　have
preferred　ten　millions。　That　did　not　cost　him　much。〃

She　had　expected　a　transport　of　delight　and　was　irritated　by　his
indifference。

〃You　are　incomprehensible。　Nothing　seems　to　satisfy　you。〃

He　replied　calmly：　〃That　man　is　only　paying　his　debts；　he　owes　me　a
great　deal　more。〃

She　was　astonished　at　his　tone；　and　said：　〃It　is　very　nice；　however；
at　your　age。〃

He　replied：　〃I　should　have　much　more。〃

He　took　the　casket；　placed　it　on　the　mantelpiece；　and　looked　for
some　minutes　at　the　brilliant　star　within　it；　then　he　closed　it　with
a　shrug　of　his　shoulders　and　began　to　prepare　to　retire。

〃L'Officiel〃　of　January　1　announced　that　M。　Prosper　Georges　du　Roy
had　been　decorated　with　the　Legion　of　Honor　for　exceptional
services。　The　name　was　written　in　two　words；　and　that　afforded
Georges　more　pleasure　than　the　decoration　itself。

An　hour　after　having　read　that　notice；　he　received　a　note　from　Mme。
Walter；　inviting　him　to　come　and　bring　his　wife　to　dine　with　them
that　evening；　to　celebrate　his　distinction。

At　first　he　hesitated；　then　throwing　the　letter　in　the　fire；　he　said
to　Madeleine：　〃We　shall　dine　at　the　Walters'　this　evening。〃

In　her　surprise　she　exclaimed：　〃Why；　I　thought　you　would　never　set
your　foot　in　their　house　again。〃

His　sole　reply　was：　〃I　have　changed　my　mind。〃

When　they　arrived　at　Rue　du　Faubourg　Saint…Honore；　they　found　Mme。
Walter　alone　in　the　dainty　boudoir　in　which　she　received　her
intimate　friends。　She　was　dressed　in　black　and　her　hair　was
powdered。　At　a　distance　she　appeared　like　an　old　lady；　in　proximity；
like　a　youthful　one。

〃Are　you　in　mourning？〃　asked；　Madeleine。

She　replied　sadly：　〃Yes　and　no。　I　have　lost　none　of　my　relatives；
but　I　have　arrived　at　an　age　when　one　should　wear　somber　colors。　I
wear　it　to…day　to　inaugurate　it