bel ami-第15章

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muttered　the　phrases　over　and　over；　he　almost　prayed　that　some
accident　might　happen　to　the　carriage；　if　he　could　only　break　his
leg！

At　the　end　of　a　glade　he　saw　a　carriage　standing　and　four　gentlemen
stamping　their　feet　in　order　to　keep　them　warm；　and　he　was　obliged
to　gasp　in　order　to　get　breath。　Rival　and　Boisrenard　alighted　first；
then　the　doctor　and　the　combatant。

Rival　took　the　box　of　pistols；　and　with　Boisrenard　approached　the
two　strangers；　who　were　advancing　toward　them。　Duroy　saw　them　greet
one　another　ceremoniously；　then　walk　through　the　glade　together　as
they　counted　the　paces。

Dr。　Le　Brument　asked　Duroy：　〃Do　you　feel　well？　Do　you　not　want
anything？〃

〃Nothing；　thank　you。〃　It　seemed　to　him　that　he　was　asleep；　that　he
was　dreaming。　Was　he　afraid？　He　did　not　know。　Jacques　Rival　returned
and　said　in　a　low　voice：　〃All　is　ready。　Fortune　has　favored　us　in
the　drawing　of　the　pistols。〃　That　was　a　matter　of　indifference　to
Duroy。　They　helped　him　off　with　his　overcoat；　led　him　to　the　ground
set　apart　for　the　duel；　and　gave　him　his　pistol。　Before　him　stood　a
man；　short；　stout；　and　bald；　who　wore　glasses。　That　was　his
adversary。　A　voice　broke　the　silencea　voice　which　came　from　afar：
〃Are　you　ready；　sirs？〃

Georges　cried：　〃Yes。〃

The　same　voice　commanded：　〃Fire！〃

Duroy　heard　nothing　more；　saw　nothing　more；　he　only　knew　that　he
raised　his　arm　and　pressed　with　all　his　strength　upon　the　trigger。
Soon　he　saw　a　little　smoke　before　him；　his　opponent　was　still
standing　in　the　same　position；　and　there　was　a　small　white　cloud
above　his　head。　They　had　both　fired。　All　was　over！　His　second　and
the　doctor　felt　him；　unbuttoned　his　garments；　and　asked　anxiously：
〃Are　you　wounded？〃　He　replied：　〃No；　I　think　not。〃

Langremont　was　not　wounded　either；　and　Jacques　Rival　muttered
discontentedly：　〃That　is　always　the　way　with　those　cursed　pistols；
one　either　misses　or　kills　one's　opponent〃

Duroy　was　paralyzed　with　surprise　and　joy。　All　was　over！　He　felt
that　he　could　fight　the　entire　universe。　All　was　over！　What　bliss！
He　felt　brave　enough　to　provoke　anyone。　The　seconds　consulted
several　moments；　then　the　duelists　and　their　friends　entered　the
carriages　and　drove　off。　When　the　official　report　was　drawn　up；　it
was　handed　to　Duroy　who　was　to　insert　it　in　the　〃Echoes。〃　He　was
surprised　to　find　that　two　balls　had　been　fired。

He　said　to　Rival：　〃We　only　fired　once！〃

The　latter　smiled：　〃Yesonceonce　eachthat　makes　twice！〃

And　Duroy；　satisfied　with　that　explanation；　asked　no　more　questions。
M。　Walter　embraced　him。

〃Bravo！　you　have　defended　the　colors　of　'La　Vie　Francaise'！　Bravo！〃

The　following　day　at　eleven　o'clock　in　the　forenoon；　Duroy　received
a　telegram：

〃My　God！　I　have　been　frightened。　Come　at　once　to　Rue　de
Constantinople　that　I　may　embrace　you；　my　love。　How　brave　you　are。　I
adore　you。　Clo。〃

He　repaired　to　the　place　appointed；　and　Mme。　de　Marelle　rushed　into
his　arms；　covering　him　with　kisses。

〃Oh；　my　darling；　if　you　only　knew　how　I　felt　when　I　read　the　morning
papers！　Tell　me；　tell　me　all　about　it。〃

Duroy　was　obliged　to　give　her　a　detailed　account。

〃You　must　have　had　a　terrible　night　before　the　duel！〃

〃Why；　no；　I　slept　very　well。〃

〃I　should　not　have　closed　my　eyes。　Tell　me　what　took　place　on　the
ground。〃

Forthwith　he　proceeded　to　give　her　a　graphic　description　of　the
duel。　When　he　had　concluded；　she　said　to　him：　〃I　cannot　live　without
you！　I　must　see　you；　and　with　my　husband　in　Paris　it　is　not　very
convenient。　I　often　have　an　hour　early　in　the　morning　when　I　could
come　and　embrace　you；　but　I　cannot　enter　that　horrible　house　of
yours！　What　can　we　do？〃

He　asked　abruptly：　〃How　much　do　you　pay　here？〃

〃One　hundred　francs　a　month。〃

〃Very　well；　I　will　take　the　apartments　on　my　own　account；　and　I　will
move　at　once。　Mine　are　not　suitable　anyway　for　me　now。〃

She　thought　a　moment　and　then　replied：　〃No　I　do　not　want　you　to。〃

He　asked　in　surprise：　〃Why　not？〃

〃Because！〃

〃That　is　no　reason。　These　rooms　suit　me　very　well。　I　am　here；　I
shall　remain。〃　He　laughed。　〃Moreover；　they　were　hired　in　my　name！〃

But　she　persisted：　〃No；　no；　I　do　not　wish　you　to。〃

〃Why　not；　then？〃

She　whispered　softly；　tenderly：　〃Because　you　would　bring　others
here；　and　I　do　not　wish　you　to。〃

Indignantly　he　cried：　〃Never；　I　promise　you！〃

〃You　would　do　so　in　spite　of　your　promise。〃

〃I　swear　I　will　not。〃

〃Truly？〃

〃Trulyupon　my　word　of　honor。　This　is　our　nestours　alone！〃

She　embraced　him　in　a　transport　of　delight。　〃Then　I　agree；　my
dearest。　But　if　you　deceive　me　oncejust　once；　that　will　end　all
between　us　forever。〃

He　protested；　and　it　was　agreed　that　he　should　settle　in　the　rooms
that　same　day。　She　said　to　him：

〃You　must　dine　with　us　Sunday。　My　husband　thinks　you　charming。〃

He　was　flattered。　〃Indeed？〃

〃Yes；　you　have　made　a　conquest。　Did　you　not　tell　me　that　your　home
was　in　the　country？〃

〃Yes；　why？〃

〃Then　you　know　something　about　agriculture？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Very　well；　talk　to　him　of　gardening　and　crops；　he　enjoys　those
subjects。〃

〃All　right。　I　shall　not　forget。〃

She　left　him；　after　lavishing　upon　him　innumerable　caresses。




CHAPTER　VIII。

DEATH　AND　A　PROPOSAL


Duroy　moved　his　effects　to　the　apartments　in　Rue　de　Constantinople。
Two　or　three　times　a　week；　Mme。　de…Marelle　paid　him　visits。　Duroy；
to　counterbalance　them；　dined　at　her　house　every　Thursday；　and
delighted　her　husband　by　talking　agriculture　to　him。

It　was　almost　the　end　of　February。　Duroy　was　free　from　care。　One
night；　when　he　returned　home；　he　found　a　letter　under　his　door。　He
examined　the　postmark；　it　was　from　Cannes。　Having　opened　it；　he
read：

　　　　　〃Cannes；　Villa　Jolie。〃

　　　　　〃Dear　sir　and　friend：　You　told　me；　did　you　not；　that　I　could
　　　　　count　upon　you　at　any　time？　Very　well。　I　have　a　favor　to　ask
　　　　　of　you；　it　is　to　come　and　help　menot　to　leave　me　alone　during
　　　　　Charles's　last　moments。　He　may　not　live　through　the　week；
　　　　　although　he　is　not　confined　to　his　bed；　but　the　doctor　has
　　　　　warned　me。　I　have　not　the　strength　nor　the　courage　to　see　that
　　　　　agony　day　and　night；　and　I　think　with　terror　of　the　approaching
　　　　　end　I　can　only　ask　such　a　thing　of　you；　for　my　husband　has　no
　　　　　relatives。　You　were　his　comrade；　he　helped　you　to　your
　　　　　position；　come；　I　beg　of　you；　I　have　no　one　else　to　ask。〃

　　　　　〃Your　friend；〃

　　　　　〃Madeleine　Forestier。〃

Georges　murmured：　〃Certainly　I　will　go。　Poor　Charles！〃

The　manager；　to　whom　he　communicated　the　contents　of　that　letter；
grumblingly　gave　his　consent。　He　repeated：　〃But　return　speedily；　you
are　indispensable　to　us。〃

Georges　Duroy　left　for　Cannes　the　next　day　by　the　seven　o'clock
express；　after　having　warned　Mme。　de　Marelle　by　telegram。　He　arrived
the　following　day　at　four　o'clock　in　the　afternoon。　A
commissionnaire　conducted　him　to　Villa　Jolie。　The　house　was　small
and　low；　and　of　the　Italian　style　of　architecture。

A　servant　opened　the　door　and　cried：　〃Oh；　sir；　Madame　is　awaiting
you　patiently。〃

Duroy　asked：　〃How　is　your　master？〃

〃Not　very　well；　sir。　He　will　not　be　here　long。〃

The　floor　of　the　drawing…room　which　the　young　man　entered　was
covered　with　a　Persian　rug；　the　large　windows　looked　upon　the
village　and　the　sea。

Duroy　murmured：　〃How　cozy　it　is　here！　Where　the　deuce　do　they　get
the　money　from？〃

The　rustling　of　a　gown　caused　him　to　turn。　Mme。　Forestier　extended
both　her　hands；　saying：

〃How　kind　of　you　to　come。〃

She　was　a　trifle　paler　and　thinner；　but　still　as　bright　as　ever；　and
perhaps　prettier　for　being　more　delicate。　She　whispered：　〃It　is
terriblehe　knows　he　cannot　be　saved　and　he　tyrannizes　over　me。　I
have　told　him　of　your　arrival。　But　where　is　your　trunk？〃

Duroy　replied：　〃I　left　it　at　the　station；　not　knowing　which　hotel
you　would　advise　me　to　stop　at；　in　order　to　be　near　you。〃

She　hesitated；　then　said：　〃You　must　stop　here；　at　the　villa。　Your
chamber　is　ready。　He　might　die　any　moment；　and　if　it　should　come　in
the　night；　I　would　be　alone。　I　will　send　for　your　luggage。〃

He　bowed。　〃As　you　will。〃

〃Now；　let　us　go　upstairs；〃　said　she；　he　followed　her。　She　opened　a
door　on　the　first　floor；　and　Duroy　saw　a