bel ami-第7节

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the　remembrance　of　their　last　meeting　restrained　him。　Mme。　de
Marelle　had　invited　him　to　call；　saying：　〃I　am　always　at　home　about
three　o'clock。〃　So　one　afternoon；　when　he　had　nothing　to　do；　he
proceeded　toward　her　house。　She　lived　on　Rue　Verneuil；　on　the　fourth
floor。　A　maid　answered　his　summons；　and　said：　〃Yes；　Madame　is　at
home；　but　I　do　not　know　whether　she　has　risen。〃　She　conducted　Duroy
into　the　drawing…room；　which　was　large；　poorly　furnished；　and
somewhat　untidy。　The　shabby；　threadbare　chairs　were　ranged　along　the
walls　according　to　the　servant's　fancy；　for　there　was　not　a　trace
visible　of　the　care　of　a　woman　who　loves　her　home。　Duroy　took　a　seat
and　waited　some　time。　Then　a　door　opened　and　Mme。　de　Marelle　entered
hastily；　clad　in　a　Japanese　dressing…gown。　She　exclaimed：

〃How　kind　of　you　to　come　to　see　me。　I　was　positive　you　had　forgotten
me。〃　She　held　out　her　hand　to　him　with　a　gesture　of　delight；　and
Duroy；　quite　at　his　ease　in　that　shabby　apartment；　kissed　it　as　he
had　seen　Norbert　de　Varenne　do。

Examining　him　from　head　to　foot；　she　cried：　〃How　you　have　changed！
Well；　tell　me　the　news。〃

They　began　to　chat　at　once　as　if　they　were　old　acquaintances；　and　in
five　minutes　an　intimacy；　a　mutual　understanding；　was　established
between　those　two　beings　alike　in　character　and　kind。　Suddenly　the
young　woman　said　in　surprise：　〃It　is　astonishing　how　I　feel　with
you。　It　seems　to　me　as　if　I　had　known　you　ten　years。　We　shall
undoubtedly　become　good　friends；　would　that　please　you？〃

He　replied：　〃Certainly；〃　with　a　smile　more　expressive　than　words。　He
thought　her　very　bewitching　in　her　pretty　gown。　When　near　Mme。
Forestier；　whose　impassive；　gracious　smile　attracted　yet　held　at　a
distance；　and　seemed　to　say：　〃I　like　you；　yet　take　care；〃　he　felt　a
desire　to　cast　himself　at　her　feet；　or　to　kiss　the　hem　of　her
garment。　When　near　Mme。　de　Marelle；　he　felt　a　more　passionate
desire。

A　gentle　rap　came　at　the　door　through　which　Mme。　de　Marelle　had
entered；　and　she　cried：　〃You　may　come　in；　my　darling。〃

The　child　entered；　advanced　to　Duroy　and　offered　him　her　hand。　The
astonished　mother　murmured：　〃That　is　a　conquest。〃　The　young　man；
having　kissed　the　child；　seated　her　by　his　side；　and　with　a　serious
air　questioned　her　as　to　what　she　had　done　since　they　last　met。　She
replied　in　a　flute…like　voice　and　with　the　manner　of　a　woman。　The
clock　struck　three；　the　journalist　rose。

〃Come　often；〃　said　Mme。　de　Marelle；　〃it　has　been　a　pleasant
causerie。　I　shall　always　be　glad　to　welcome　you。　Why　do　I　never　meet
you　at　the　Forestiers？〃

〃For　no　particular　reason。　I　am　very　busy。　I　hope；　however；　that　we
shall　meet　there　one　of　these　days。〃

In　the　course　of　a　few　days　he　paid　another　visit　to　the
enchantress。　The　maid　ushered　him　into　the　drawing…room　and　Laurine
soon　entered；　she　offered　him　not　her　hand　but　her　forehead；　and
said：　〃Mamma　wishes　me　to　ask　you　to　wait　for　her　about　fifteen
minutes；　for　she　is　not　dressed。　I　will　keep　you　company。〃

Duroy；　who　was　amused　at　the　child's　ceremonious　manner；　replied：
〃Indeed；　Mademoiselle；　I　shall　be　enchanted　to　spend　a　quarter　of　an
hour　with　you。〃　When　the　mother　entered　they　were　in　the　midst　of　an
exciting　game；　and　Mme。　de　Marelle　paused　in　amazement；　crying：
〃Laurine　playing？　You　are　a　sorcerer；　sir！〃　He　placed　the　child；
whom　he　had　caught　in　his　arms；　upon　the　floor；　kissed　the　lady's
hand；　and　they　seated　themselves；　the　child　between　them。　They　tried
to　converse；　but　Laurine；　usually　so　silent；　monopolized　the
conversation；　and　her　mother　was　compelled　to　send　her　to　her　room。

When　they　were　alone；　Mme。　de　Marelle　lowered　her　voice　and　said：　〃I
have　a　great　project。　It　is　this：　As　I　dine　every　week　at　the
Foresters'；　I　return　it　from　time　to　time　by　inviting　them　to　a
restaurant。　I　do　not　like　to　have　company　at　home；　I　am　not　so
situated　that　I　can　have　any。　I　know　nothing　about　housekeeping　or
cooking。　I　prefer　a　life　free　from　care；　therefore　I　invite　them　to
the　cafe　occasionally；　but　it　is　not　lively　when　we　are　only　three。
I　am　telling　you　this　in　order　to　explain　such　an　informal
gathering。　I　should　like　you　to　be　present　at　our　Saturdays　at　the
Cafe　Riche　at　seven…thirty。　Do　you　know　the　house？〃

Duroy　accepted　gladly。　He　left　her　in　a　transport　of　delight　and
impatiently　awaited　the　day　of　the　dinner。　He　was　the　first　to
arrive　at　the　place　appointed　and　was　shown　into　a　small　private
room；　in　which　the　table　was　laid　for　four；　that　table　looked　very
inviting　with　its　colored　glasses；　silver；　and　candelabra。

Duroy　seated　himself　upon　a　low　bench。　Forestier　entered　and　shook
hands　with　him　with　a　cordiality　he　never　evinced　at　the　office。

〃The　two　ladies　will　come　together；〃　said　he。　〃These　dinners　are
truly　delightful。〃

Very　soon　the　door　opened　and　Mesdames　Forestier　and　De　Marelle
appeared；　heavily　veiled；　surrounded　by　the　charming　mystery
necessary　to　a　rendezvous　in　a　place　so　public。　As　Duroy　greeted　the
former；　she　took　him　to　task　for　not　having　been　to　see　her；　then
she　added　with　a　smile：　〃Ah；　you　prefer　Mme。　de　Marelle；　the　time
passes　more　pleasantly　with　her。〃

When　the　waiter　handed　the　wine…list　to　Forestier；　Mme。　de　Marelle
exclaimed：　〃Bring　the　gentle…men　whatever　they　want；　as　for　us；　we
want　nothing　but　champagne。〃

Forestier；　who　seemed　not　to　have　heard　her；　asked：　〃Do　you　object
to　my　closing　the　window？　My　cough　has　troubled　me　for　several
days。〃

〃Not　at　all。〃

His　wife　did　not　speak。　The　various　courses　were　duly　served　and
then　the　guests　began　to　chat。　They　discussed　a　scandal　which　was
being　circulated　about　a　society　belle。　Forestier　was　very　much
amused　by　it。　Duroy　said　with　a　smile：　〃How　many　would　abandon
themselves　to　a　caprice；　a　dream　of　love；　if　they　did　not　fear　that
they　would　pay　for　a　brief　happiness　with　tears　and　an　irremediable
scandal？〃

Both　women　glanced　at　him　approvingly。　Forestier　cried　with　a
sceptical　laugh：　〃The　poor　husbands！〃　Then　they　talked　of　love。
Duroy　said：　〃When　I　love　a　woman；　everything　else　in　the　world　is
forgotten。〃

Mme。　Forestier　murmured：；　〃There　is　no　happiness　comparable　to　that
first　clasp　of　the　hand；　when　one　asks：　'Do　you　love　me？'　and　the
other　replies：　'Yes；　I　love　you。'〃　Mme。　de　Marelle　cried　gaily　as
she　drank　a　glass　of　champagne：　〃I　am　less　Platonic。〃

Forestier；　lying　upon　the　couch；　said　in　serious　tone：　〃That
frankness　does　you　honor　and　proves　you　to　be　a　practical　woman。　But
might　one　ask；　what　is　M。　de　Marelle's　opinion？〃

She　shrugged　her　shoulders　disdainfully　and　said：　〃M。　de　Marelle　has
no　opinion　on　that　subject。〃

The　conversation　grew　slow。　Mme。　de　Marelle　seemed　to　offer
provocation　by　her　remarks；　while　Mme。　Forestier's　charming　reserve；
the　modesty　in　her　voice；　in　her　smile；　all　seemed　to　extenuate　the
bold　sallies　which　issued　from　her　lips。　The　dessert　came　and　then
followed　the　coffee。　The　hostess　and　her　guests　lighted　cigarettes；
but　Forestier　suddenly　began　to　cough。　When　the　attack　was　over；　he
growled　angrily：　〃These　parties　are　not　good　for　me；　they　are
stupid。　Let　us　go　home。〃

Mme。　de　Marelle　summoned　the　waiter　and　asked　for　her　bill。　She
tried　to　read　it；　but　the　figures　danced　before　her　eyes；　she　handed
the　paper　to　Duroy。

〃Here；　pay　it　for　me；　I　cannot　see。〃　At　the　same　time；　she　put　her
purse　in　his　hand。

The　total　was　one　hundred　and　thirty　francs。　Duroy　glanced　at　the
bill　and　when　it　was　settled；　whispered：　〃How　much　shall　I　give　the
waiter？〃

〃Whatever　you　like；　I　do　not　know。〃

He　laid　five　francs　upon　the　plate　and　handed　the　purse　to　its
owner；　saying：　〃Shall　I　escort　you　home？〃

〃Certainly；　I　am　unable　to　find　the　house。〃

They　shook　hands　with　the　Forestiers　and　were　soon　rolling　along　in
a　cab　side　by　side。　Duroy　could　think　of　nothing　to　say；　he　felt
impelled　to　clasp　her　in　his　arms。　〃If　I　should　dare；　what　would　she
do？〃　thought　he。　The　recollection　of　their　conversation　at　dinner
emboldened；　but　the　fear　of　scandal　restrained　him。　Mme。　de　Marelle
reclined　silently　in　her　corner。　He　would　have　thought　her　asleep；
had　he　not　seen　her　eyes　glisten　whenever　a　ray　of　light　penetrated
the　dark　recesses　of　the　carriage。　Of　what　was　she　thinking？
Suddenly　she　moved　her　foot；　nervously；　impatiently。　That　movement
caused　him　to　tremble；　and　turning　quickly；　he　cast　himself　upon
her；　seeking　her　lips　with　his。　She　uttered　a　cry；　attempted　to
repulse　him　and　then　yielded　to　his　caresses　as　if　she　had　not　the
strength　to　resist。

The　carriage　stopped　at　her　door；　but　she　did　not　rise；　she　did　not
move；　stunned　by　what　had　just　taken　place。　Fearing　that　the　cabman
would　mistrust　something；　Duroy　alighted　from　the　cab　first　and
offered　his　hand　to　the　young　woman。　Finally　she　got　out；　but　in
silence。　Georges　rang　the　bell；　and　when　the　door　was　opened；　he
asked　timidly：　〃When　shall　I　see　you　again？〃

She　whispered　so　low　that　he　could　barely　hear　her：　〃Come　and　lunch
with　me　to…morrow。〃　With　those　words　she　disappeared。

Duroy　gave　the　cabman　a　five…franc　piece；　and　turned　away　with　a
triumphant；　joyful　air。　He　had　at　last　conquered　a　married　woman！　A
woman　of　the　world！　A　Parisian！　How　easy　it　had