bel ami-第29节

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but　I　have　arrived　at　an　age　when　one　should　wear　somber　colors。　I
wear　it　to…day　to　inaugurate　it；　hitherto　I　have　worn　it　in　my
heart。〃

The　dinner　was　somewhat　tedious。　Suzanne　alone　talked　incessantly。
Rose　seemed　preoccupied。　The　journalist　was　overwhelmed　with
congratulations；　after　the　meal；　when　all　repaired　to　the　drawing…
rooms。　Mme。　Walter　detained　him　as　they　were　about　to　enter　the
salon；　saying：　〃I　will　never　speak　of　anything　to　you　again；　only
come　to　see　me；　Georges。　It　is　impossible　for　me　to　live　without
you。　I　see　you；　I　feel　you；　in　my　heart　all　day　and　all　night。　It　is
as　if　I　had　drunk　a　poison　which　preyed　upon　me。　I　cannot　bear　it。　I
would　rather　be　as　an　old　woman　to　you。　I　powdered　my　hair　for　that
reason　to…night；　but　come　herecome　from　time　to　time　as　a　friend。〃

He　replied　calmly：　〃Very　well。　It　is　unnecessary　to　speak　of　it
again。　You　see　I　came　to…day　on　receipt　of　your　letter。〃

Walter；　who　had　preceded　them；　with　his　two　daughters　and　Madeleine；
awaited　Du　Roy　near　the　picture　of　〃Christ　Walking　on　the　Water。〃

〃Only　think；〃　said　he；　〃I　found　my　wife　yesterday　kneeling　before
that　painting　as　if　in　a　chapel。　She　was　praying！〃

Mme。　Walter　replied　in　a　firm　voice；　in　a　voice　in　which　vibrated　a
secret　exaltation：　〃That　Christ　will　save　my　soul。　He　gives　me　fresh
courage　and　strength　every　time　that　I　look　at　Him。〃　And　pausing
before　the　picture；　she　murmured：　〃How　beautiful　He　is！　How
frightened　those　men　are；　and　how　they　love　Him！　Look　at　His　head；
His　eyes；　how　simple　and　supernatural　He　is　at　the　same　time！〃

Suzanne　cried：　〃Why；　He　looks　like　you；　Bel…Ami！　I　am　sure　He　looks
like　you。　The　resemblance　is　striking。〃

She　made　him　stand　beside　the　painting　and　everyone　recognized　the
likeness。　Du　Roy　was　embarrassed。　Walter　thought　it　very　singular；
Madeleine；　with　a　smile；　remarked　that　Jesus　looked　more　manly。　Mme。
Walter　stood　by　motionless；　staring　fixedly　at　her　lover's　face；　her
cheeks　as　white　as　her　hair。




CHAPTER　XVI。

DIVORCE


During　the　remainder　of　the　winter；　the　Du　Roys　often　visited　the
Walters。　Georges；　too；　frequently　dined　there　alone；　Madeleine
pleading　fatigue　and　preferring　to　remain　at　home。　He　had　chosen
Friday　as　his　day；　and　Mme。　Walter　never　invited　anyone　else　on　that
evening；　it　belonged　to　Bel…Ami。　Often　in　a　dark　corner　or　behind　a
tree　in　the　conservatory；　Mme。　Walter　embraced　the　young　man　and
whispered　in　his　ear：　〃I　love　you；　I　love　you！　I　love　you
desperately！〃

But　he　always　repulsed　her　coldly；　saying：　〃If　you　persist　in　that；
I　will　not　come　again。〃

Toward　the　end　of　March　people　talked　of　the　marriage　of　the　two
sisters：　Rose　was　to　marry；　Dame　Rumor　said；　Count　de　Latour…Ivelin
and　Suzanne；　the　Marquis　de　Cazolles。　The　subject　of　Suzanne's
possible　marriage　had　not　been　broached　again　between　her　and
Georges　until　one　morning；　the　latter　having　been　brought　home　by　M。
Walter　to　lunch；　he　whispered　to　Suzanne：　〃Come；　let　us　give　the
fish　some　bread。〃

They　proceeded　to　the　conservatory　in　which　was　the　marble　basin
containing　the　fish。　As　Georges　and　Suzanne　leaned　over　its　edge；
they　saw　their　reflections　in　the　water　and　smiled　at　them。
Suddenly；　he　said　in　a　low　voice：　〃It　is　not　right　of　you　to　keep
secrets　from　me；　Suzanne。〃

She　asked：

〃What　secrets；　Bel…Ami？〃

〃Do　you　remember　what　you　promised　me　here　the　night　of　the　fete？〃

〃No。〃

〃To　consult　me　every　time　you　received　a　proposal。〃

〃Well？〃

〃Well；　you　have　received　one！〃

〃From　whom？〃

〃You　know　very　well。〃

〃No；　I　swear　I　do　not。〃

〃Yes；　you　do。　It　is　from　that　fop　of　a　Marquis　de　Cazolles。〃

〃He　is　not　a　fop。〃

〃That　may　be；　but　he　is　stupid。　He　is　no　match　for　you　who　are　so
pretty；　so　fresh；　so　bright！〃

She　asked　with　a　smile：　〃What　have　you　against　him？〃

〃I？　Nothing！〃

〃Yes；　you　have。　He　is　not　all　that　you　say　he　is。〃

〃He　is　a　fool；　and　an　intriguer。〃

She　glanced　at　him：　〃What　ails　you？〃

He　spoke　as　if　tearing　a　secret　from　the　depths　of　his　heart：　〃I　am…
…I　am　jealous　of　him。〃

She　was　astonished。

〃You？〃

〃Yes；　I。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Because　I　love　you　and　you　know　it〃

Then　she　said　severely：　〃You　are　mad；　Bel…Ami！〃

He　replied：　〃I　know　that　I　am！　Should　I　confess　itI；　a　married
man；　to　you；　a　young　girl？　I　am　worse　than　madI　am　culpable；
wretchedI　have　no　possible　hope；　and　that　thought　almost　destroys
my　reason。　When　I　hear　that　you　are　going　to　be　married；　I　feel
murder　in　my　heart。　You　must　forgive　me；　Suzanne。〃

He　paused。　The　young　girl　murmured　half　sadly；　half　gaily：　〃It　is　a
pity　that　you　are　married；　but　what　can　you　do？　It　cannot　be
helped。〃

He　turned　toward　her　abruptly　and　said：　〃If　I　were　free　would　you
marry　me？〃

She　replied：　〃Yes；　Bel…Ami；　I　would　marry　you　because　I　love　you
better　than　any　of　the　others。〃

He　rose　and　stammering：　〃Thanksthanksdo　not；　I　implore　you；　say
yes　to　anyone。　Wait　a　while。　Promise　me。〃

Somewhat　confused；　and　without　comprehending　what　he　asked；　she
whispered：　〃I　promise。〃

Du　Roy　threw　a　large　piece　of　bread　into　the　water　and　fled；　without
saying　adieu；　as　if　he　were　beside　himself。　Suzanne；　in　surprise；
returned　to　the　salon。

When　Du　Roy　arrived　home；　he　asked　Madeleine；　who　was　writing
letters：　〃Shall　you　dine　at　the　Walters'　Friday？　I　am　going。〃

She　hesitated：　〃No；　I　am　not　well。　I　prefer　to　remain　here。〃

〃As　you　like。　No　one　will　force　you。〃　Then　he　took　up　his　hat　and
went　out。

For　some　time　he　had　watched　and　followed　her；　knowing　all　her
actions。　The　time　he　had　awaited　had　come　at　length。

On　Friday　he　dressed　early；　in　order；　as　he　said；　to　make　several
calls　before　going　to　M。　Walter's。　At　about　six　o'clock；　after
having　kissed　his　wife；　he　went　in　search　of　a　cab。　He　said　to　the
cabman：　〃You　can　stop　at　No。　17　Rue　Fontaine；　and　remain　there　until
I　order　you　to　go　on。　Then　you　can　take　me　to　the　restaurant　Du　Coq…
Faisan；　Rue　Lafayette。〃

The　cab　rolled　slowly　on；　Du　Roy　lowered　the　shades。　When　in　front
of　his　house；　he　kept　watch　of　it。　After　waiting　ten　minutes；　he　saw
Madeleine　come　out　and　go　toward　the　boulevards。　When　she　was　out　of
earshot；　he　put　his　head　out　of　the　window　and　cried：　〃Go　on！〃

The　cab　proceeded　on　its　way　and　stopped　at　the　Coq…Faisan。　Georges
entered　the　dining…room　and　ate　slowly；　looking　at　his　watch　from
time　to　time。　At　seven…thirty　he　left　and　drove　to　Rue　La
Rochefoucauld。　He　mounted　to　the　third　story　of　a　house　in　that
street；　and　asked　the　maid　who　opened　the　door：　〃Is　M。　Guibert　de
Lorme　at　home？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

He　was　shown　into　the　drawing…room；　and　after　waiting　some　time；　a
tall　man　with　a　military　bearing　and　gray　hair　entered。　He　was　the
police　commissioner。

Du　Roy　bowed；　then　said：　〃As　I　suspected；　my　wife　is　with　her　lover
in　furnished　apartments　they　have　rented　on　Rue　des　Martyrs。〃

The　magistrate　bowed：　〃I　am　at　your　service；　sir。〃

〃Very　well；　I　have　a　cab　below。〃　And　with　three　other　officers　they
proceeded　to　the　house　in　which　Du　Roy　expected　to　surprise　his
wife。　One　officer　remained　at　the　door　to　watch　the　exit；　on　the
second　floor　they　halted；　Du　Roy　rang　the　bell　and　they　waited。　In
two　or　three　minutes　Georges　rang　again　several　times　in　succession。
They　heard　a　light　step　approach；　and　a　woman's　voice；　evidently
disguised；　asked：

〃Who　is　there？〃

The　police　officer　replied：　〃Open　in　the　name　of　the　law。〃

The　voice　repeated：　〃Who　are　you？〃

〃I　am　the　police　commissioner。　Open；　or　I　will　force　the　door。〃

The　voice　continued：　〃What　do　you　want？〃

Du　Roy　interrupted：　〃It　is　I；　it　is　useless　to　try　to　escape　us。〃

The　footsteps　receded　and　then　returned。　Georges　said：　〃If　you　do
not　open；　we　will　force　the　door。〃

Receiving　no　reply　he　shook　the　door　so　violently　that　the　old　lock
gave　way；　and　the　young　man　almost　fell　over　Madeleine；　who　was
standing　in　the　antechamber　in　her　petticoat；　her　hair　loosened；　her
feet　bare；　and　a　candle　in　her　hand。

He　exclaimed：　〃It　is　she。　We　have　caught　them；〃　and　he　rushed　into
the　room。　The　commissioner　turned　to　Madeleine；　who　had　followed
them　through　the　rooms；　in　one　of　which　were　the　remnants　of　a
supper；　and　looking　into　her　eyes　said：

〃You　are　Mme。　Claire　Madeleine　du　Roy；　lawful　wife　of　M。　Prosper
Georges　du　Roy；　here　present？〃

She　replied：　〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃

She　made　no　reply。　The　officer　repeated　his　question；　still　she　did
not　reply。　He　waited　several　moments　and　then　said：　〃If　you　do　not
confess；　Madame；　I　shall　be　forced　to　inquire　into　the　matter。〃

They　could　see　a　man's　form　concealed　beneath　the　covers　of　the　bed。
Du　Roy　advanced　softly　and　uncovered　the　livid　face　of　M。　Laroche…
Mathieu。

The　officer　again　asked：　〃Who　are　you？〃

As　the　man　did　not　reply；　he　continued：　〃I　am　the　police
commissioner　and　I　call　upon　you　to　tell　me　your　name。　If　you　do　not
answer；　I　shall　be　forced　to　arrest　you。　In　any　case；　rise。　I　will
interrogate　you　when　you　are　dressed。〃

In　the　meantime　Madeleine　had　regained　her　composure；　and　seeing
that　all　was　lost；　she　was　determined　to　put　a　brave　face　upon　the
matter。　Her　eyes　sparkled　with　the　audacity　of　bravado；　and　taking　a