bel ami-第3章
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any longer？ I am going； I have had enough。〃
Georges murmured： 〃Yes； I will stay a little longer： it is not
late。〃
Forestier arose： 〃Very well； then； good…bye until to…morrow。 Do not
forget： 17 Rue Fontaine at seven thirty。〃
〃I shall not forget。 Thank you。〃
The friends shook hands and the journalist left Duroy to his own
devices。
Forestier once out of sight； Duroy felt free； and again he joyously
touched the gold pieces in his pocket； then rising； he mingled with
the crowd。
He soon discovered the blonde and the brunette。 He went toward them；
but when near them dared not address them。
The brunette called out to him： 〃Have you found your tongue？〃
He stammered： 〃Zounds！〃 too bashful to say another word。 A pause
ensued； during which the brunette took his arm and together they
left the hall。
CHAPTER II。
MADAME FORESTIER
〃Where does M。 Forestier live？〃
〃Third floor on the left；〃 said the porter pleasantly； on learning
Duroy's destination。
Georges ascended the staircase。 He was somewhat embarrassed and ill…
at…ease。 He had on a new suit but he was uncomfortable。 He felt that
it was defective； his boots were not glossy； he had bought his shirt
that same evening at the Louvre for four francs fifty； his trousers
were too wide and betrayed their cheapness in their fit； or rather；
misfit； and his coat was too tight。
Slowly he ascended the stairs； his heart beating； his mind anxious。
Suddenly before him stood a well…dressed gentleman staring at him。
The person resembled Duroy so close that the latter retreated； then
stopped； and saw that it was his own image reflected in a pier…
glass！ Not having anything but a small mirror at home； he had not
been able to see himself entirely； and had exaggerated the
imperfections of his toilette。 When he saw his reflection in the
glass； he did not even recognize himself； he took himself for some
one else； for a man…of…the…world； and was really satisfied with his
general appearance。 Smiling to himself； Duroy extended his hand and
expressed his astonishment； pleasure； and approbation。 A door opened
on the staircase； He was afraid of being surprised and began to
ascend more rapidly； fearing that he might have been seen posing
there by some of his friend's invited guests。
On reaching the second floor； he saw another mirror； and once more
slackened his pace to look at himself。 He likewise paused before the
third glass； twirled his mustache； took off his hat to arrange his
hair； and murmured half aloud； a habit of his： 〃Hall mirrors are
most convenient。〃
Then he rang the bell。 The door opened almost immediately； and
before him stood a servant in a black coat； with a grave； shaven
face； so perfect in his appearance that Duroy again became confused
as he compared the cut of their garments。
The lackey asked：
〃Whom shall I announce； Monsieur？〃 He raised a portiere and
pronounced the name。
Duroy lost his self…possession upon being ushered into a world as
yet strange to him。 However； he advanced。 A young； fair woman
received him alone in a large； well…lighted room。 He paused；
disconcerted。 Who was that smiling lady？ He remembered that
Forestier was married； and the thought that the handsome blonde was
his friend's wife rendered him awkward and ill…at…ease。 He stammered
out：
〃Madame； I am〃
She held out her hand。 〃I know； MonsieurCharles told me of your
meeting last night； and I am very glad that he asked you to dine
with us to…day。〃
Duroy blushed to the roots of his hair； not knowing how to reply； he
felt that he was being inspected from his head to his feet。 He half
thought of excusing himself； of inventing an explanation of the
carelessness of his toilette； but he did not know how to touch upon
that delicate subject。
He seated himself upon a chair she pointed out to him； and as he
sank into its luxurious depths； it seemed to him that he was
entering a new and charming life； that he would make his mark in the
world； that he was saved。 He glanced at Mme。 Forestier。 She wore a
gown of pale blue cashmere which clung gracefully to her supple form
and rounded outlines； her arms and throat rose in； lily…white purity
from the mass of lace which ornamented the corsage and short
sleeves。 Her hair was dressed high and curled on the nape of her
neck。
Duroy grew more at his ease under her glance； which recalled to him；
he knew not why； that of the girl he had met the preceding evening
at the Folies…Bergeres。 Mme。 Forestier had gray eyes； a small nose；
full lips； and a rather heavy chin； an irregular； attractive face；
full of gentleness and yet of malice。
After a short silence； she asked： 〃Have you been in Paris a long
time？〃
Gradually regaining his self…possession； he replied： 〃a few months；
Madame。 I am in the railroad employ； but my friend Forestier has
encouraged me to hope that； thanks to him； I can enter into
journalism。〃
She smiled kindly and murmured in a low voice： 〃I know。〃
The bell rang again and the servant announced： 〃Mme。 de Marelle。〃
She was a dainty brunette； attired in a simple； dark robe； a red
rose in her black tresses seemed to accentuate her special
character； and a young girl； or rather a child； for such she was；
followed her。
Mme。 Forestier said： 〃Good evening； Clotilde。〃
〃Good evening； Madeleine。〃
They embraced each other； then the child offered her forehead with
the assurance of an adult； saying：
〃Good evening； cousin。〃
Mme。 Forestier kissed her； and then made the introductions：
〃M。 Georges Duroy； an old friend of Charles。 Mme。 de Marelle； my
friend； a relative in fact。〃 She added： 〃Here； you know； we do not
stand on ceremony。〃
Duroy bowed。 The door opened again and a short man entered； upon his
arm a tall； handsome woman； taller than he and much younger； with
distinguished manners and a dignified carriage。 It was M。 Walter；
deputy； financier； a moneyed man； and a man of business； manager of
〃La Vie Francaise；〃 with his wife； nee Basile Ravalade； daughter of
the banker of that name。
Then came Jacques Rival； very elegant； followed by Norbert de
Varenne。 The latter advanced with the grace of the old school and
taking Mme。 Forestier's hand kissed it； his long hair falling upon
his hostess's bare arm as he did so。
Forestier now entered； apologizing for being late； he had been
detained。
The servant announced dinner； and they entered the dining…room。
Duroy was placed between Mme。 de Marelle and her daughter。 He was
again rendered uncomfortable for fear of committing some error in
the conventional management of his fork； his spoon； or his glasses；
of which he had four。 Nothing was said during the soup； then Norbert
de Varenne asked a general question： 〃Have you read the Gauthier
case？ How droll it was！〃
Then followed a discussion of the subject in which the ladies
joined。 Then a duel was mentioned and Jacques Rival led the
conversation； that was his province。 Duroy did not venture a remark；
but occasionally glanced at his neighbor。 A diamond upon a slight；
golden thread depended from her ear； from time to time she uttered a
remark which evoked a smile upon his lips。 Duroy sought vainly for
some compliment to pay her； he busied himself with her daughter；
filled her glass； waited upon her； and the child； more dignified
than her mother； thanked him gravely saying； 〃You are very kind；
Monsieur；〃 while she listened to the conversation with a reflective
air。 The dinner was excellent and everyone was delighted with it。
The conversation returned to the colonization of Algeria。 M。 Walter
uttered several jocose remarks； Forestier alluded to the article he
had prepared for the morrow； Jacques Rival declared himself in favor
of a military government with grants of land to all the officers
after thirty years of colonial service。
〃In that way；〃 said he； 〃you can establish a strong colony； familiar
with and liking the country； knowing its language and able to cope
with all those local yet grave questions which invariably confront
newcomers。〃
Norbert de Varenne interrupted： 〃Yes； they would know everything；
except agriculture。 They would speak Arabic； but they would not know
how to transplant beet…root
