bel ami-第9节

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home。　Then　followed　a　series　of　visits　to　all　sorts　of　places　of
amusement。　Duroy　soon　began　to　tire　of　those　expeditions；　for　he　had
exhausted　all　his　resources　and　all　means　of　obtaining　money。　In
addition　to　that　he　owed　Forestier　a　hundred　francs；　Jacques　Rival
three　hundred；　and　he　was　hampered　with　innumerable　petty　debts
ranging　from　twenty　francs　to　one　hundred　sous。

On　the　fourteenth　of　December；　he　was　left　without　a　sou　in　his
pocket。　As　he　had　often　done　before；　he　did　not　lunch；　and　spent　the
afternoon　working　at　the　office。　At　four　o'clock　he　received　a
telegram　from　Mme。　de　Marelle；　saying：　〃Shall　we　dine　together　and
afterward　have　a　frolic？〃

He　replied　at　once：　〃Impossible　to　dine；〃　then　he　added：　〃But　I　will
expect　you　at　our　apartments　at　nine　o'clock。〃　Having　sent　a　boy
with　the　note　in　order　to　save　the　money　for　a　telegram；　he　tried　to
think　of　some　way　by　which　he　could　obtain　his　evening　meal。　He
waited　until　all　of　his　associates　had　gone　and　when　he　was　alone；
he　rang　for　the　porter；　put　his　hand　in　his　pocket　and　said：
〃Foucart；　I　have　left　my　purse　at　home　and　I　have　to　dine　at　the
Luxembourg。　Lend　me　fifty　sous　to　pay　for　my　cab。〃

The　man　handed　him　three　francs　and　asked：

〃Is　that　enough？〃

〃Yes；　thank　you。〃　Taking　the　coins；　Duroy　rushed　down　the　staircase
and　dined　at　a　cookshop。

At　nine　o'clock；　Mme。　de　Marelle；　whom　he　awaited　in　the　tiny　salon；
arrived。　She　wished　to　take　a　walk　and　he　objected。　His　opposition
irritated　her。

〃I　shall　go　alone；　then。　Adieu！〃

Seeing　that　the　situation　was　becoming　grave；　he　seized　her　hands
and　kissed　them；　saying：

〃Pardon　me；　darling；　I　am　nervous　and　out　of　sorts　this　evening。　I
have　been　annoyed　by　business　matters。〃

Somewhat　appeased　but　still；　vexed；　she　replied：

〃That　does　not　concern　me；　I　will　not　be　the　butt　for　your　ill
humor。〃

He　clasped　her　in　his　arms　and　murmured　his　apologies。　Still　she
persisted　in　her　desire　to　go　out。

〃I　beseech　you；　remain　here　by　the　fire　with　me。　Say　yes。〃

〃No；〃　she　replied；　〃I　will　not　yield　to　your　caprices。〃

He　insisted：　〃I　have　a　reason；　a　serious　reason〃

〃If　you　will　not　go　with　me；　I　shall　go　alone。　Adieu！〃

She　disengaged　herself　from　his　embrace　and　fled　to　the　door。　He
followed　her：

〃Listen　Clo；　my　little　Clo；　listen　to　me〃

She　shook　her　head；　evaded　his　caresses　and　tried　to　escape　from　his
encircling　arms。

〃I　have　a　reason〃

Looking　him　in　the　face；　she　said：　〃You　lie！　What　is　it？〃

He　colored；　and　in　order　to　avoid　a　rupture；　confessed　in　accents　of
despair：　〃I　have　no　money！〃

She　would　not　believe　him　until　he　had　turned　all　his　pockets　inside
out；　to　prove　his　words。　Then　she　fell　upon　his　breast：　〃Oh；　my　poor
darling！　Had　I　known！　How　did　it　happen？〃

He　invented　a　touching　story　to　this　effect：　That　his　father　was　in
straitened　circumstances；　that　he　had　given　him　not　only　his
savings；　but　had　run　himself　into　debt。

〃I　shall　have　to　starve　for　the　next　six　months。〃

〃Shall　I　lend　you　some？〃　she　whispered。

He　replied　with　dignity：　〃You　are　very　kind；　dearest；　but　do　not
mention　that　again；　it　wounds　me。〃

She　murmured：　〃You　will　never　know　how　much　I　love　you。〃　On　taking
leave　of　him；　she　asked：　〃Shall　we　meet　again　the　day　after　to…
morrow？〃

〃Certainly。〃

〃At　the　same　time？〃

〃Yes；　my　darling。〃

They　parted。

When　Duroy　opened　his　bedroom　door　and　fumbled　in　his　vest　pocket
for　a　match；　he　was　amazed　to　find　in　it　a　piece　of　moneya　twenty…
franc　piece！　At　first　he　wondered　by　what　miracle　it　had　got　there；
suddenly　it　occurred　to　him　that　Mme。　de　Marelle　had　given　him　alms！
Angry　and　humiliated；　he　determined　to　return　it　when　next　they　met。
The　next　morning　it　was　late　when　he　awoke；　he　tried　to　overcome　his
hunger。　He　went　out　and　as　he　passed　the　restaurants　he　could
scarcely　resist　their　temptations。　At　noon　he　said：　〃Bah；　I　shall
lunch　upon　Clotilde's　twenty　francs；　that　will　not　hinder　me　from
returning　the　money　to…morrow。〃

He　ate　his　lunch；　for　which　he　paid　two　francs　fifty；　and　on
entering　the　office　of　〃La　Vie　Francaise〃　he　repaid　the　porter　the
three　francs　he　had　borrowed　from　him。　He　worked　until　seven
o'clock；　then　he　dined；　and　he　continued　to　draw　upon　the　twenty
francs　until　only　four　francs　twenty　remained。　He　decided　to　say　to
Mme。　de　Marelle　upon　her　arrival：

〃I　found　the　twenty…franc　piece　you　slipped　into　my　pocket。　I　will
not　return　the　money　to…day；　but　I　will　repay　you　when　we　next
meet。〃

When　Madame　came；　he　dared　not　broach　the　delicate　subject。　They
spent　the　evening　together　and　appointed　their　next　meeting　for
Wednesday　of　the　following　week；　for　Mme。　de　Marelle　had　a　number　of
engagements。　Duroy　continued　to　accept　money　from　Clotilde　and
quieted　his　conscience　by　assuring　himself：　〃I　will　give　it　back　in
a　lump。　It　is　nothing　but　borrowed　money　anyway。〃　So　he　kept　account
of　all　that　he　received　in　order　to　pay　it　back　some　day。

One　evening；　Mme。　de　Marelle　said　to　him：　〃Would　you　believe　that　I
have　never　been　to　the　Folies…Bergeres；　will　you　take　me　there？〃

He　hesitated；　fearing　a　meeting　with　Rachel。　Then　he　thought：　〃Bah；
I　am　not　married　after　all。　If　she　should　see　me；　she　would　take　in
the　situation　and　not　accost　me。　Moreover；　we　would　have　a　box。〃

When　they　entered　the　hall；　it　was　crowded；　with　difficulty　they
made　their　way　to　their　seats。　Mme。　de　Marelle　did　not　look　at　the
stage；　she　was　interested　in　watching　the　women　who　were
promenading；　and　she　felt　an　irresistible　desire　to　touch　them；　to
see　of　what　those　beings　were　made。　Suddenly　she　said：

〃There　is　a　large　brunette　who　stares　at　us　all　the　time。　I　think
every　minute　she　will　speak　to　us。　Have　you　seen　her？〃

He　replied：　〃No；　you　are　mistaken。〃

He　told　an　untruth；　for　he　had　noticed　the　woman；　who　was　no　other
than　Rachel；　with　anger　in　her　eyes　and　violent　words　upon　her　lips。

Duroy　had　passed　her　when　he　and　Mme。　de　Marelle　entered　and　she　had
said　to　him：　〃Good　evening；〃　in　a　low　voice　and　with　a　wink　which
said　〃I　understand。〃　But　he　had　not　replied；　for　fear　of　being　seen
by　his　sweetheart　he　passed　her　coldly；　disdainfully。　The　woman；　her
jealousy　aroused；　followed　the　couple　and　said　in　a　louder　key：
〃Good　evening；　Georges。〃　He　paid　no　heed　to　her。　Then　she　was
determined　to　be　recognized　and　she　remained　near　their　box；
awaiting　a　favorable　moment。　When　she　saw　that　she　was　observed　by
Mme。　de　Marelle；　she　touched　Duroy's　shoulder　with　the　tip　of　her
finger；　and　said：

〃Good　evening。　How　are　you？〃

But　Georges　did　not　turn　his　head。

She　continued：　〃Have　you　grown　deaf　since　Thursday？〃

Still　he　did　not　reply。　She　laughed　angrily　and　cried：

〃Are　you　dumb；　too？　Perhaps　Madame　has　your　tongue？〃

With　a　furious　glance；　Duroy　then　exclaimed：

〃How　dare　you　accost　me？　Go　along　or　I　will　have　you　arrested。〃

With　flaming　eyes；　she　cried：　〃Ah；　is　that　so！　Because　you　are　with
another　is　no　reason　that　you　cannot　recognize　me。　If　you　had　made
the　least　sign　of　recognition　when　you　passed　me；　I　would　not　have
molested　you。　You　did　not　even　say　good　evening　to　me　when　you　met
me。〃

During　that　tirade　Mme。　de　Marelle　in　affright　opened　the　door　of
the　box　and　fled　through　the　crowd　seeking　an　exit。　Duroy　rushed
after　her。　Rachel；　seeing　him　disappear；　cried：　〃Stop　her！　she　has
stolen　my　lover！〃

Two　men　seized　the　fugitive　by　the　shoulder；　but　Duroy；　who　had
caught　up　with　her；　bade　them　desist；　and　together　he　and　Clotilde
reached　the　street。

They　entered　a　cab。　The　cabman　asked：　〃Where　shall　I　drive　to？〃
Duroy　replied：　〃Where　you　will！〃

Clotilde　sobbed　hysterically。　Duroy　did　not　know　what　to　say　or　do。
At　length　he　stammered：

〃Listen　Clomy　dearest　Clo；　let　me　explain。　It　is　not　my　fault。　I
knew　that　womanlong　ago〃

She　raised　her　head　and　with　the　fury　of　a　betrayed　woman；　she　cried
disconnectedly：　〃Ah；　you　miserable　fellowwhat　a　rascal　you　are！　Is
it　possible？　What　disgrace；　oh；　my　God！　You　gave　her　my　moneydid
you　not？　I　gave　him　the　moneyfor　that　womanoh；　the　wretch！〃

For　several　moments　she　seemed　to　be　vainly　seeking　an　epithet　more
forcible。　Suddenly　leaning　forward　she　grasped　the　cabman's　sleeve。
〃Stop！〃　she　cried；　and　opening　the　door；　she　alighted。　Georges　was
about　to　follow　her　but　she　commanded：　〃I　forbid　you　to　follow　me；〃
in　a　voice　so　loud　that　the　passers…by　crowded　around　her；　and　Duroy
dared　not　stir　for　fear　of　a　scandal。

She　drew　out　her　purse；　and　taking　two　francs　fifty　from　it；　she
handed　it　to　the　cabman；　saying　aloud：　〃Here　is　the　money　for　your
hour。　Take　that　rascal　to　Rue　Boursault　at　Batignolles！〃

The　crowd　applauded；　one　man　said：　〃Bravo；　little　one！〃　and　the　cab
moved　on；　followed　by　the　jeers　of　the　bystanders。




CHAPTER　VI。

A　STEP　UPWARD


The　next　morning　Georges　Duroy　arose；　dressed　himself；　and
determined　to　have　money；　he　sought　Forestier。　His　friend　received
him　in　his　study。

〃What　made　you　rise　so　early？〃　he　asked。

〃A　very　serious　matter。　I　have　a　debt　of　honor。〃

〃A　gaming　debt？〃

He　hesitated；　then　repeated：　〃A　gaming　debt。〃

〃Is　it　large？〃

〃Five　hundred　francs。〃　He　only　needed　two　hundred　and　ei