bel ami-第23章

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was　dressed　in　pink；　her　sister　looked　like　her　governess。　At
Rival's　door　was　a　long　line　of　carriages。　Du　Roy　offered　his　arm　to
Mme。　Walter　and　they　entered。

The　entertainment　was　for　the　benefit　of　the　orphans　of　the　Sixth
Ward　under　the　patronage　of　all　the　wiles　of　the　senators　and
deputies　who　were　connected　with　〃La　Vie　Francaise。〃

Jacques　Rival　received　the　arrivals　at　the　entrance　to　his
apartments；　then　he　pointed　to　a　small　staircase　which　led　to　the
cellar　in　which　were　his　shooting…gallery　and　fencing…room；　saying：
〃Downstairs；　ladies；　downstairs。　The　match　will　take　place　in　the
subterranean　apartments。〃

Pressing　Du　Roy's　hand；　he　said：　〃Good　evening；　Bel…Ami。〃

Du　Roy　was　surprised：　〃Who　told　you　about　that　name？〃

Rival　replied：　〃Mme。　Walter；　who　thinks　it　very　pretty。〃

Mme。　Walter　blushed。

〃Yes；　I　confess　that　if　I　knew　you　better；　I　should　do　as　little
Laurine；　and　I　should　call　you　Bel…Ami；　too。　It　suits　you
admirably。〃

Du　Roy　laughed。　〃I　beg　you　to　do　so；　Madame。〃

She　cast　down　her　eyes。　〃No；　we　are　not　well　enough　acquainted。〃

He　murmured：　〃Permit　me　to　hope　that　we　shall　become　so。〃

〃Well；　we　shall　see；〃　said　she。

They　descended　the　stairs　and　entered　a　large　room；　which　was
lighted　by　Venetian　lanterns　and　decorated　with　festoons　of　gauze。
Nearly　all　the　benches　were　filled　with　ladies；　who　were　chatting　as
if　they　were　at　a　theater。　Mme。　Walter　and　her　daughters　reached
their　seats　in　the　front　row。

Du　Roy；　having　obtained　their　places　for　them；　whispered：　〃I　shall
be　obliged　to　leave　you；　men　cannot　occupy　the　seats。〃

Mme。　Walter　replied　hesitatingly：　〃I　should　like　to　keep　you；　just
the　same。　You　could　tell　me　the　names　of　the　participants。　See；　if
you　stand　at　the　end　of　the　seat；　you　will　not　annoy　anyone。〃　She
raised　her　large；　soft　eyes　to　his　and　insisted：　〃Come；　stay　with
usBel…Amiwe　need　you！〃

He　replied：　〃I　obey　with　pleasure；　Madame！〃

Suddenly　Jacques　Rival's　voice　announced：　〃We　will　begin；　ladies。〃

Then　followed　the　fencing…match。　Du　Roy　retained　his　place　beside
the　ladies　and　gave　them　all　the　necessary　information。　When　the
entertainment　was　over　and　all　expenses　were　paid；　two　hundred　and
twenty　francs　remained　for　the　orphans　of　the　Sixth　Ward。

Du　Roy；　escorting　the　Walters；　awaited　his　carriage。　When　seated
face　to　face　with　Mme。　Walter；　he　met　her　troubled　but　caressing
glance。

〃Egad；　I　believe　she　is　affected；〃　thought　he；　and　he　smiled　as　he
recognized　the　fact　that　he　was　really　successful　with　the　female
sex；　for　Mme。　de　Marelle；　since　the　renewal　of　their　relations；
seemed　to　love　him　madly。

With　a　light　heart　he　returned　home。　Madeleine　was　awaiting　him　in
the　drawing…room。

〃I　have　some　news；〃　said　she。　〃The　affair　with　Morocco　is　becoming
complicated。　France　may　send　an　expedition　out　there　in　several
months。　In　any　case　the　ministry　will　be　overthrown　and　Laroche　will
profit　by　the　occasion。〃

Du　Roy；　in　order　to　draw　out　his　wife；　pretended　not　to　believe　it。
〃France　would　not　be　silly　enough　to　commence　any　folly　with　Tunis！〃

She　shrugged　her　shoulders　impatiently。　〃I　tell　you　she　will！　You　do
not　understand　that　it　is　a　question　of　moneyyou　are　as　simple　as
Forestier。〃

Her　object　was　to　wound　and　irritate　him；　but　he　only　smiled　and
replied：　〃What！　as　simple　as　that　stupid　fellow？〃

She　ceased　and　murmured：　〃Oh；　Georges！〃

He　added：　〃Poor　devil！〃　in　a　tone　of　profound　pity。

Madeleine　turned　her　back　upon　him　scornfully；　after　a　moment　of
silence；　she　continued：　〃We　shall　have　some　company　Tuesday。　Mme。
Laroche…Mathieu　is　coming　here　to　dine　with　Viscountess　de　Percemur。
Will　you　invite　Rival　and　Norbert　de　Varenne？　I　shall　go　to　Mmes。
Walter　and　de　Marelle　to…morrow。　Perhaps；　too；　we　may　have　Mme。
Rissolin。〃

Du　Roy　replied：　〃Very　well；　I　will　see　to　Rival　and　Norbert。〃

The　following　day　he　thought　he　would　anticipate　his　wife's　visit　to
Mme。　Walter　and　attempt　to　find　out　if　she　really　was　in　love　with
him。　He　arrived　at　Boulevard　Malesherbes　at　two　o'clock。　He　was
ushered　into　the　salon　and　waited。　Finally　Mme。　Walter　appeared　and
offered　him　her　hand　cordially。　〃What　good　wind　blows　you　here？〃

〃No　good　wind；　but　a　desire　to　see　you。　Some　power　has　impelled　me
hither；　I　do　not　know　why；　I　have　nothing　to　say　except　that　I　have
come；　here　I　am！　Pardon　the　morning　call　and　the　candor　of　my
explanation。〃

He　uttered　those　words　with　a　smile　upon　his　lips　and　a　serious
accent　in　his　voice。

In　her　astonishment；　she　stammered　with　a　blush：　〃But　indeedI　do
not　understandyou　surprise　me。〃

He　added：　〃It　is　a　declaration　made　in　jest　in　order　not　to　startle
you。〃

They　were　seated　near　each　other。　She　took　the　matter　as　a　jest。　〃Is
it　a　declarationseriously？〃

〃Yes；　for　a　long　time　I　have　wished　to　make　it；　but　I　dared　not；
they　say　you　are　so　austere；　so　rigid。〃

She　had　recovered　her　self…possession　and　replied：

〃Why　did　you　choose　to…day？〃

〃I　do　not　know。〃　Then　he　lowered　his　voice：　〃Or　rather　because　I
have　thought　only　of　you　since　yesterday。〃

Suddenly　turning　pale；　she　gasped：　〃Come；　enough　of　this
childishness！　Let　us　talk　of　something　else。〃

But　he　fell　upon　his　knees　before　her。　She　tried　to　rise；　he
prevented　her　by　twining　his　arms　about　her　waist；　and　repeated　in　a
passionate　voice：　〃Yes；　it　is　true　that　I　have　loved　you　madly　for
some　time。　Do　not　answer　me。　I　am　madI　love　you。　Oh；　if　you　knew
how　I　love　you！〃

She　could　utter　no　sound；　in　her　agitation　she　repulsed　him　with
both　hands；　for　she　could　feel　his　breath　upon　her　cheek。　He　rose
suddenly　and　attempted　to　embrace　her；　but　gaining　her　liberty　for　a
moment；　she　escaped　him　and　ran　from　chair　to　chair。　He；　considering
such　pursuit　beneath　his　dignity；　sank　into　a　chair；　buried　his　face
in　his　hands；　and　feigned　to　sob　convulsively。　Then　he　rose；　cried：

〃Adieu；　adieu！〃　and　fled。

In　the　hall　he　took　his　cane　calmly　and　left　the　house　saying：
〃Cristi！　I　believe　she　loves　me！〃

He　went　at　once　to　the　telegraph　office　to　send　a　message　to
Clotilde；　appointing　a　rendezvous　for　the　next　day。

On　entering　the　house　at　his　usual　time；　he　said　to　his　wife：　〃Well；
is　everyone　coming　to　dinner？〃

She　replied：　〃Yes；　all　but　Mme。　Walter；　who　is　uncertain　as　to
whether　she　can　come。　She　acted　very　strangely。　Never　mind；　perhaps
she　can　manage　it　anyway。〃

He　replied：　〃She　will　come。〃

He　was　not；　however；　certain　and　was　rendered　uneasy　until　the　day
of　the　dinner。　That　morning　Madeleine　received　a　message　from　Mme。
Walter　to　this　effect：　〃I　have　succeeded　in　arranging　matters　and　I
shall　be　with　you；　but　my　husband　cannot　accompany　me。〃

Du　Roy　thought：　〃I　did　right　not　to　return　there。　She　has　calmed
down。〃　Still　he　awaited　her　arrival　anxiously。

She　appeared　very　composed；　somewhat　reserved；　and　haughty。　He　was
very　humble；　very　careful；　and　submissive。　Mmes。　Laroche…Mathieu　and
Rissolin　were　accompanied　by　their　husbands。　Mme。　de　Marelle　looked
bewitching　in　an　odd　combination　of　yellow　and　black。

At　Du　Roy's　right　sat　Mme。　Walter；　and　he　spoke　to　her　only　of
serious　matters　with　exaggerated　respect。　From　time　to　time　he
glanced　at　Clotilde。

〃She　is　really　very　pretty　and　fresh　looking；〃　thought　he。　But　Mme。
Walter　attracted　him　by　the　difficulty　of　the　conquest。　She　took　her
leave　early。

〃I　will　escort　you；〃　said　he。

She　declined　his　offer。　He　insisted：　〃Why　do　you　not　want　me？　You
wound　me　deeply。　Do　not　let　me　feel　that　I　am　not　forgiven。　You　see
that　I　am　calm。〃

She　replied：　〃You　cannot　leave　your　guests　thus。〃

He　smiled：　〃Bah！　I　shall　be　absent　twenty　minutes。　No　one　will　even
notice　it；　if　you　refuse　me；　you　will　break　my　heart。〃

〃Very　well；〃　she　whispered；　〃I　will　accept。〃

When　they　were　seated　in　the　carriage；　he　seized　her　hand；　and
kissing　it　passionately　said：　〃I　love　you；　I　love　you。　Let　me　tell
it　to　you。　I　will　not　touch　you。　I　only　wish　to　repeat　that　I　love
you。〃

She　stammered：　〃After　what　you　promised　meit　is　too　badtoo　bad。〃

He　seemed　to　make　a　great　effort；　then　he　continued　in　a　subdued
voice：　〃See；　how　I　can　control　myselfand　yetlet　me　only　tell　you
thisI　love　yo