bel ami-第8节

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triumphant；　joyful　air。　He　had　at　last　conquered　a　married　woman！　A
woman　of　the　world！　A　Parisian！　How　easy　it　had　been！

He　was　somewhat　nervous　the　following　day　as　he　ascended　Mme。　de
Marelle's　staircase。　How　would　she　receive　him？　Suppose　she　forbade
him　to　enter　her　house？　If　she　had　toldbut　no；　she　could　not　tell
anything　without　telling　the　whole　truth！　He　was　master　of　the
situation！

The　little　maid…servant　opened　the　door。　She　was　as　pleasant　as
usual。　Duroy　felt　reassured　and　asked：　〃Is　Madame　well？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　as　well　as　she　always　is；〃　was　the　reply；　and　he　was
ushered　into　the　salon。　He　walked　to　the　mantelpiece　to　see　what
kind　of　an　appearance　he　presented：　he　was　readjusting　his　cravat
when　he　saw　in　the　mirror　the　young　woman　standing　on　the　threshold
looking　at　him。　He　pretended　not　to　have　seen　her；　and　for　several
moments　they　gazed　at　one　another　in　the　mirror。　Then　he　turned。　She
had　not　moved；　she　seemed　to　be　waiting。　He　rushed　toward　her
crying：　〃How　I　love　you！〃　He　clasped　her　to　his　breast。　He　thought：
〃It　is　easier　than　I　thought　it　would　be。　All　is　well。〃　He　looked　at
her　with　a　smile；　without　uttering　a　word；　trying　to　put　into　his
glance　a　wealth　of　love。　She　too　smiled　and　murmured：　〃We　are　alone。
I　sent　Laurine　to　lunch　with　a　friend。〃

He　sighed；　and　kissing　her　wrists　said：　〃Thanks；　I　adore　you。〃　She
took　his　arm　as　if　he　had　been　her　husband；　and　led　him　to　a　couch；
upon　which　they　seated　themselves　side　by　side。　Duroy　stammered；
incoherently：　〃You　do　not　care　for　me。〃

She　laid　her　hand　upon　his　lips。　〃Be　silent！〃

〃How　I　love　you！〃　said　he。

She　repeated：　〃Be　silent！〃

They　could　hear　the　servant　laying　the　table　in　the　dining…room。　He
rose：　〃I　cannot　sit　so　near　you。　I　shall　lose　my　head。〃

The　door　opened：　〃Madame　is　served！〃

He　offered　her　his　arm　gravely。　They　lunched　without　knowing　what
they　were　eating。　The　servant　came　and　went　without　seeming　to
notice　anything。　When　the　meal　was　finished；　they　returned　to　the
drawing…room　and　resumed　their　seats　on　the　couch　side　by　side。
Gradually　he　drew　nearer　her　and　tried　to　embrace　her。

〃Be　careful；　some　one　might　come　in。〃

He　whispered：　〃When　can　I　see　you　alone　to　tell　you　how　I　love　you？〃

She　leaned　toward　him　and　said　softly：　〃I　will　pay　you　a　visit　one
of　these　days。〃

He　colored。　〃My　roomsarearevery　modest。〃

She　smiled：　〃That　makes　no　difference。　I　shall　come　to　see　you　and
not　your　rooms。〃

He　urged　her　to　tell　him　when　she　would　come。　She　fixed　a　day　in　the
following　week；　while　he　besought　her　with　glowing　eyes　to　hasten
the　day。　She　was　amused　to　see　him　implore　so　ardently　and　yielded　a
day　at　a　time。　He　repeated：　〃To…morrow；　sayto…morrow。〃　Finally　she
consented。　〃Yes；　to…morrow　at　five　o'clock。〃

He　drew　a　deep　breath；　then　they　chatted　together　as　calmly　as　if
they　had　known　one　another　for　twenty　years。　A　ring　caused　them　to
start；　they　separated。　She　murmured：　〃It　is　Laurine。〃

The　child　entered；　paused　in　surprise；　then　ran　toward　Duroy
clapping　her　hands；　delighted　to　see　him；　and　crying：　〃Ah；　'Bel…
Ami！'〃

Mme。　de　Marelle　laughed。　〃Bel…Ami！　Laurine　has　christened　you。　It　is
a　pretty　name。　I　shall　call　you　Bel…Ami；　too！〃

He　took　the　child　upon　his　knee。　At　twenty　minutes　of　three　he　rose
to　go　to　the　office；　at　the　half…open　door　he　whispered：　〃To…morrow；
five　o'clock。〃　The　young　woman　replied：　〃Yes；〃　with　a　smile　and
disappeared。

After　he　had　finished　his　journalistic　work；　he　tried　to　render　his
apartments　more　fit　to　receive　his　expected　visitor。　He　was　well
satisfied　with　the　results　of　his　efforts　and　retired；　lulled　to
rest　by　the　whistling　of　the　trains。　Early　the　next　morning　he
bought　a　cake　and　a　bottle　of　Madeira。　He　spread　the　collation　on
his　dressing…table　which　was　covered　with　a　napkin。　Then　he　waited。
She　came　at　a　quarter　past　five　and　exclaimed　as　she　entered：　〃Why；
it　is　nice　here。　But　there　were　a　great　many　people　on　the　stairs。〃

He　took　her　in　his　arms　and　kissed　her　hair。　An　hour　and　a　half
later　he　escorted　her　to　a　cab…stand　on　the　Rue　de　Rome。　When　she
was　seated　in　the　cab；　he　whispered：　〃Tuesday；　at　the　same　hour。〃

She　repeated　his　words；　and　as　it　was　night；　she　kissed　him。　Then　as
the　cabman　started　up　his　horse；　she　cried：〃　Adieu；　Bel…Ami！〃　and
the　old　coupe　rumbled　off。

For　three　weeks　Duroy　received　Mme。　de　Marelle　every　two　or　three
days；　sometimes　in　the　morning；　sometimes　in　the　evening。

As　he　was　awaiting　her　one　afternoon；　a　noise　on　the　staircase　drew
him　to　his　door。　A　child　screamed。　A　man's　angry　voice　cried：　〃What
is　the　brat　howling　about？〃

A　woman's　voice　replied：　〃Nicolas　has　been　tripped　up　on　the
landing…place　by　the　journalist's　sweetheart。〃

Duroy　retreated；　for　he　heard　the　rustling　of　skirts。　Soon　there　was
a　knock　at　his　door；　which　he　opened；　and　Mme。　de　Marelle　rushed　in；
crying：　〃Did　you　hear？〃　Georges　feigned　ignorance　of　the　matter。

〃No；　what？〃

〃How　they　insulted　me？〃

〃Who？〃

〃Those　miserable　people　below。〃

〃Why；　no；　what　is　it？　Tell　me。〃

She　sobbed　and　could　not　speak。　He　was　forced　to　place　her　upon　his
bed　and　to　lay　a　damp　cloth　upon　her　temples。　When　she　grew　calmer；
anger　succeeded　her　agitation。　She　wanted　Duroy　to　go　downstairs　at
once；　to　fight　them；　to　kill　them。

He　replied：　〃They　are　working…people。　Just　think；　it　would　be
necessary　to　go　to　court　where　you　would　be　recognized；　one　must　not
compromise　oneself　with　such　people。〃

She　said：　〃What　shall　we　do？　I　cannot　come　here　again。〃

He　replied：　〃That　is　very　simple。　I　will　move。〃

She　murmured：　〃Yes；　but　that　will　take　some　time。〃

Suddenly　she　said：　〃Listen　to　me；　I　have　found　a　means；　do　not　worry
about　it。　I　will　send　you　a　'little　blue'　to…morrow　morning。〃　She
called　a　telegram　a　〃little　blue。〃

She　smiled　with　delight　at　her　plans；　which　she　would　not　reveal。
She　was；　however；　very　much　affected　as　she　descended　the　staircase
and　leaned　with　all　her　strength　upon　her　lover's　arm。　They　met　no
one。

He　was　still　in　bed　the　following　morning　when　the　promised　telegram
was　handed　him。　Duroy　opened　it　and　read：

　　　　〃Come　at　five　o'clock　to　Rue　de　Constantinople；　No。　127。　Ask
　　　　　for　the　room　rented　by　Mme。　Duroy。　CLO。〃

At　five　o'clock　precisely　he　entered　a　large　furnished　house　and
asked　the　janitor：　〃Has　Mme。　Duroy　hired　a　room　here？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Will　you　show　me　to　it；　if　you　please？〃

The　man；　accustomed　no　doubt　to　situations　in　which　it　was　necessary
to　be　prudent；　looked　him　straight　in　the　eyes；　then　selecting　a
key；　he　asked：　〃Are　you　M。　Duroy？〃

〃Certainly。〃

He　opened　a　small　suite；　comprising　two　rooms　on　the　ground　floor。

Duroy　thought　uneasily：　〃This　will　cost　a　fortune。　I　shall　have　to
run　into　debt。　She　has　done　a　very　foolish　thing。〃

The　door　opened　and　Clotilde　rushed　in。　She　was　enchanted。　〃Is　it
not　fine？　There　are　no　stairs　to　climb；　it　is　on　the　ground　floor！
One　could　come　and　go　through　the　window　without　the　porter　seeing
one。〃

He　embraced　her　nervously；　not　daring　to　ask　the　question　that
hovered　upon　his　lips。　She　had　placed　a　large　package　on　the　stand
in　the　center　of　the　room。　Opening　it　she　took　out　a　tablet　of　soap；
a　bottle　of　Lubin's　extract；　a　sponge；　a　box　of　hairpins；　a　button…
hook；　and　curling…tongs。　Then　she　amused　herself　by　finding　places
in　which　to　put　them。

She　talked　incessantly　as　she　opened　the　drawers：　〃I　must　bring　some
linen　in　order　to　have　a　change。　We　shall　each　have　a　key；　besides
the　one　at　the　lodge；　in　case　we　should　forget　ours。　I　rented　the
apartments　for　three　monthsin　your　name；　of　course；　for　I　could
not　give　mine。〃

Then　he　asked：　〃Will　you　tell　me　when　to　pay？〃

She　replied　simply：　〃It　is　paid；　my　dear。〃

He　made　a　pretense　of　being　angry：　〃I　cannot　permit　that。〃

She　laid　her　hand　upon　his　shoulder　and　said　in　a　supplicatory　tone：
〃Georges；　it　will　give　me　pleasure　to　have　the　nest　mine。　Say　that
you　do　not　care；　dear　Georges；〃　and　he　yielded。　When　she　had　left
him；　he　murmured：　〃She　is　kind…hearted；　anyway。〃

Several　days　later　he　received　a　telegram　which　read：

　　　　〃My　husband　is　coming　home　this　evening。　We　shall　therefore　not
　　　　　meet　for　a　week。　What　a　bore；　my　dearest！〃

　　　　〃YOUR　CLO。〃

Duroy　was　startled；　he　had　not　realized　the　fact　that　Mme。　de
Marelle　was　married。　He　impatiently　awaited　her　husband's　departure。
One　morning　he　received　the　following　telegram：

　　　　　〃Five　o'clock。CLO。〃

When　they　met；　she　rushed　into　his　arms；　kissed　him　passionately；
and　asked：　〃After　a　while　will　you　take　me　to　dine？〃

〃Certainly；　my　darling；　wherever　you　wish　to　go。〃

〃I　should　like　to　go　to　some　restaurant　frequented　by　the　working…
classes。〃

They　repaired　to　a　wine　merchant's　where　meals　were　also　served。
Clotilde's　entrance　caused　a　sensation　on　account　of　the　elegance　of
her　dress。　They　partook　of　a　ragout　of　mutton　and　left　that　place　to
enter　a　ball…room　in　which　she　pressed　more　closely　to　his　side。　In
fifteen　minutes　her　curiosity　was　satisfied　and　he　conducted　her
home。　Then　followed　a　series　of　visits　to　all　sorts　of　places　of
amusement。　Duroy　soon　began　to　tire　of　those　expeditions；　for　he