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第18章

bel ami-第18章

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entered and he started up。 Both he and Mme。 Forestier retired to
their rooms to obtain some rest。 At eleven o'clock they rose and
lunched together; while through the open window was wafted the
sweet; perfumed air of spring。 After lunch; Mme。 Forestier proposed
that they take a turn in the garden; as they walked slowly along;
she suddenly said; without turning her head toward him; in a low;
grave voice:

〃Listen to me; my dear friend; I have already reflected upon what
you proposed to me; and I cannot allow you to depart without a word
of reply。 I will; however; say neither yes nor no。 We will wait; we
will see; we will become better acquainted。 You must think it well
over too。 Do not yield to an impulse。 I mention this to you before
even poor Charles is buried; because it is necessary; after what you
have said to me; that you should know me as I am; in order not to
cherish the hope you expressed to me any longer; if you are not a
man who can understand and bear with me。〃

〃Now listen carefully: Marriage; to me; is not a chain but an
association。 I must be free; entirely unfettered; in all my actions…
…my coming and my going; I can tolerate neither control; jealousy;
nor criticism as to my conduct。 I pledge my word; however; never to
compromise the name of the man I marry; nor to render him ridiculous
in the eyes of the world。 But that man must promise to look upon me
as an equal; an ally; and not as an inferior; or as an obedient;
submissive wife。 My ideas; I know; are not like those of other
people; but I shall never change them。 Do not answer me; it would be
useless。 We shall meet again and talk it all over later。 Now take a
walk; I shall return to him。 Good…bye until to…night。〃

He kissed her hand and left her without having uttered a word。 That
night they met at dinner; directly after the meal they sought their
rooms; worn out with fatigue。

Charles Forestier was buried the next day in the cemetery at Cannes
without any pomp; and Georges returned to Paris by the express which
left at one…thirty。 Mme。 Forestier accompanied him to the station。
They walked up and down the platform awaiting the hour of departure
and conversing on indifferent subjects。

The train arrived; the journalist took his seat; a porter cried:
〃Marseilles; Lyons; Paris! All aboard!〃 The locomotive whistled and
the train moved slowly out of the station。

The young man leaned out of the carriage; and looked at the youthful
widow standing on the platform gazing after him。 Just as she was
disappearing from his sight; he threw her a kiss; which she returned
with a more discreet wave of her hand。




CHAPTER IX。

MARRIAGE


Georges Duroy resumed his old habits。 Installed in the cozy
apartments on Rue de Constantinople; his relations with Mme。 de
Marelle became quite conjugal。

Mme。 Forestier had not returned; she lingered at Cannes。 He;
however; received a letter from her announcing her return about the
middle of April; but containing not a word as to their parting。 He
waited。 He was resolved to employ every means to marry her if she
seemed to hesitate; he had faith in his good fortune; in that power
of attraction which he felt within hima power so irresistible that
all women yielded to it。

At length a short note admonished him that the decisive moment had
arrived。

     〃I am in Paris。 Come to see me。〃

     〃Madeleine Forestier。〃

Nothing more。 He received it at nine o'clock。 At three o'clock of
the same day he called at her house。 She extended both hands to him
with a sweet smile; and they gazed into each other's eyes for
several seconds; then she murmured:

〃How kind of you to come!〃

He replied: 〃I should have come; whensoever you bade me。〃

They sat down; she inquired about the Walters; his associates; and
the newspaper。

〃I miss that very much;〃 said she。 〃I had become a journalist in
spirit。 I like the profession。〃 She paused。 He fancied he saw in her
smile; in her voice; in her words; a kind of invitation; and
although he had resolved not to hasten matters; he stammered:

〃Wellwhywhy do you not resumethat professionunderthe name
of Duroy?〃

She became suddenly serious; and placing her hand on his arm; she
said: 〃Do not let us speak of that yet。〃

Divining that she would accept him; he fell upon his knees; and
passionately kissed her hands; saying:

〃Thank youthank youhow I love you。〃

She rose; she was very pale。 Duroy kissed her brow。 When she had
disengaged herself from his embrace; she said gravely: 〃Listen; my
friend; I have not yet fully decided; but my answer may be 'yes。'
You must wait patiently; however; until I disclose the secret to
you。〃

He promised and left her; his heart overflowing with joy。 He worked
steadily; spent little; tried to save some money that he might not
be without a sou at the time of his marriage; and became as miserly
as he had once been prodigal。 Summer glided by; then autumn; and no
one suspected the tie existing between Duroy and Mme。 Forestier; for
they seldom met in public。

One evening Madeleine said to him: 〃You have not yet told Mme。 de
Marelle our plans?〃

〃No; my dear; as you wished them kept secret; I have not mentioned
them to a soul。〃

〃Very well; there is plenty of time。 I will tell the Walters。〃

She turned away her head and continued: 〃If you wish; we can be
married the beginning of May。〃

〃I obey you in all things joyfully。〃

〃The tenth of May; which falls on Saturday; would please me; for it
is my birthday。〃

〃Very well; the tenth of May。〃

〃Your parents live near Rouen; do they not?〃

〃Yes; near Rouen; at Canteleu。〃

〃I am very anxious to see them!〃

He hesitated; perplexed: 〃Butthey are〃 Then he added more
firmly: 〃My dear; they are plain; country people; innkeepers; who
strained every nerve to give me an education。 I am not ashamed of
them; but theirsimplicitytheir rusticity might annoy you。〃

She smiled sweetly。 〃No; I will love them very much。 We will visit
them; I wish to。 I; too; am the child of humble parentsbut I lost
mineI have no one in the world〃she held out her hand to him
〃but you。〃

He was affected; conquered as he had never been by any woman。

〃I have been thinking of something;〃 said she; 〃but it is difficult
to explain。〃

He asked: 〃What is it?〃

〃It is this: I am like all women。 I have mymy weaknesses。 I should
like to bear a noble name。 Can you not on the occasion of our
marriage change your name somewhat?〃 She blushed as if she had
proposed something indelicate。

He replied simply: 〃I have often thought of it; but it does not seem
easy to me。〃

〃Why not?〃

He laughed。 〃Because I am afraid I should be ridiculed。〃

She shrugged her shoulders。 〃Not at allnot at all。 Everyone does
it; and no one laughs。 Separate your name in this way: Du Roy。 It
sounds very well。〃

He replied: 〃No; that will not do; it is too common a proceeding。 I
have thought of assuming the name of my native place; first as a
literary pseudonym and then as my surname in conjunction with Duroy;
which might later on; as you proposed; be separated。〃

She asked: 〃Is your native place Canteleu?〃

〃Yes。〃

〃I do not like the termination。 Could we not modify it?〃

She took a pen and wrote down the names in order to study them。
Suddenly she cried: 〃Now I have it;〃 and held toward him a sheet of
paper on which was written: 〃Mme。 Duroy de Cantel。〃

Gravely he replied: 〃Yes; it is very nice。〃

She was delighted; and repeated: 〃Duroy de Cantel。 Mme。 Duroy de
Cantel。 It is excellent; excellent!〃

Then she added with an air of conviction: 〃You will see how easily
it will be accepted by everyone! After to…morrow; sign your articles
'D。 de Cantel;' and your 'Echoes' simply 'Duroy。' That is done on
the press every day and no one will be surprised to see you take a
nom de plume。 What is your father's name?〃

〃Alexandre。〃

She murmured 〃Alexandre!〃 two or three times in succession; then she
wrote upon a blank sheet:

〃M。 and Mme。 Alexandre du Roy de Cantel announce the marriage of
their son; M。 Georges du Roy de Cantel with Mme。 Forestier。〃

She examined her writing; and; charmed with the effect; exclaimed:
〃With a little method one can s

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