bel ami-第30章
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take it。〃
The man hesitated； then replied： 〃No； sir； it is impossible。〃
Du Roy said： 〃See herethrow in this chronometer at fifteen hundred
francs； that makes four thousand； and I will pay cash。 If you do not
agree； I will go somewhere else。〃
The jeweler finally yielded。 〃Very well； sir。〃
The journalist； after leaving his address； said： 〃You can have my
initials G。 R。 C。 interlaced below a baron's crown； engraved on the
chronometer。〃
Madeleine； in surprise； smiled； and when they left the shop； she
took his arm quite affectionately。 She thought him very shrewd and
clever。 He was right； now that he had a fortune he must have a
title。
They passed the Vaudeville on their way arid； entering； secured a
box。 Then they repaired to Mme； de Marelle's at Georges' suggestion；
to invite her to spend the evening with them。 Georges rather dreaded
the first meeting with Clotilde； but she did not seem to bear him
any malice； or even to remember their disagreement。 The dinner；
which they took at a restaurant； was excellent； and the evening
altogether enjoyable。
Georges and Madeleine returned home late。 The gas was extinguished；
and in order to light the way the journalist from time to time
struck a match。 On reaching the landing on the first floor they saw
their reflections in the mirror。 Du Roy raised his hand with the
lighted match in it； in order to distinguish their images more
clearly； and said； with a triumphant smile：
〃The millionaires are passing by。〃
CHAPTER XV。
SUZANNE
Morocco had been conquered； France； the mistress of Tangiers； had
guaranteed the debt of the annexed country。 It was rumored that two
ministers； Laroche…Mathieu being one of them； had made twenty
millions。
As for Walter； in a few days he had become one of the masters of the
worlda financier more omnipotent than a king。 He was no longer the
Jew； Walter； the director of a bank； the proprietor of a yellow
newspaper； he was M。 Walter the wealthy Israelite； and he wished to
prove it。
Knowing the straitened circumstances of the Prince de Carlsbourg who
owned one of the fairest mansions on Rue du Faubourg Saint…Honore；
he proposed to buy it。 He offered three million francs for it。 The
prince； tempted by the sum； accepted his offer； the next day； Walter
took possession of his new dwelling。 Then another idea occurred to
himan idea of conquering all Parisan idea a la Bonaparte。
At that time everyone was raving over a painting by the Hungarian；
Karl Marcovitch； exhibited by Jacques Lenoble and representing
〃Christ Walking on the Water。〃 Art critics enthusiastically declared
it to be the most magnificent painting of the age。 Walter bought it；
thereby causing entire Paris to talk of him； to envy him； to censure
or approve his action。 He issued an announcement in the papers that
everyone was invited to come on a certain evening to see it。
Du Roy was jealous of M。 Walter's success。 He had thought himself
wealthy with the five hundred thousand francs extorted from his
wife； and now he felt poor as he compared his paltry fortune with
the shower of millions around him。 His envious rage increased daily。
He cherished ill will toward everyonetoward the Walters； even
toward his wife； and above all toward the man who had deceived him；
made use of him； and who dined twice a week at his house。 Georges
acted as his secretary； agent； mouthpiece； and when he wrote at his
dictation； he felt a mad desire to strangle him。 Laroche reigned
supreme in the Du Roy household； having taken the place of Count de
Vaudrec； he spoke to the servants as if he were their master。
Georges submitted to it all； like a dog which wishes to bite and
dares not。 But he was often harsh and brutal to Madeleine； who
merely shrugged her shoulders and treated him as one would a fretful
child。 She was surprised； too； at his constant ill humor； and said：
〃I do not understand you。 You are always complaining。 Your position
is excellent。〃
His only reply was to turn his back upon her。 He declared that he
would not attend M。 Walter's fetethat he would not cross the
miserable Jew's threshold。 For two months Mme。 Walter had written to
him daily； beseeching him to come to see her； to appoint a meeting
where he would； in order that she might give him the seventy
thousand francs she had made for him。 He did not reply and threw her
letters into the fire。 Not that he would have refused to accept his
share of the profits； but he enjoyed treating her scornfully；
trampling her under foot； she was too wealthy； he would be
inflexible。
The day of the exhibition of the picture； as Madeleine chided him
for not going； he replied： 〃Leave me in peace。 I shall remain at
home。〃
After they had dined； he said suddenly； 〃I suppose I shall have to
go through with it。 Get ready quickly。〃
〃I shall be ready in fifteen minutes；〃 she said。
As they entered the courtyard of the Hotel de Carlsbourg it was one
blaze of light。 A magnificent carpet was spread upon the steps
leading to the entrance； and upon each one stood a man in livery； as
rigid as marble。
Du Roy's heart was torn with jealousy。 He and his wife ascended the
steps and gave their wraps to the footmen who approached them。
At the entrance to the drawing…room； two children； one in pink； the
other in blue； handed bouquets to the ladies。
The rooms were already well filled。 The majority of the ladies were
in street costumes； a proof that they came thither as they would go
to any exhibition。 The few who intended to remain to the ball which
was to follow wore evening dress。
Mme。 Walter； surrounded by friends； stood in the second salon and
received the visitors。 Many did not know her； and walked through the
rooms as if in a museumwithout paying any heed to the host and
hostess。
When Virginie perceived Du Roy； she grew livid and made a movement
toward him； then she paused and waited for him to advance。 He bowed
ceremoniously； while Madeleine greeted her effusively。 Georges left
his wife near Mme。 Walter and mingled with the guests。 Five drawing…
rooms opened one into the other； they were carpeted with rich；
oriental rugs； and upon their walls hung paintings by the old
masters。 As he made his way through the throng； some one seized his
arm； and a fresh； youthful voice whispered in his ear： 〃Ah； here you
are at last； naughty Bel…Ami！ Why do we never see you any more？〃
It was Suzanne Walter； with her azure eyes and wealth of golden
hair。 He was delighted to see her； and apologized as they shook
hands。
〃I have been so busy for two months that I have been nowhere。〃
She replied gravely： 〃That is too bad。 You have grieved us deeply；
for mamma and I adore you。 As for myself； I cannot do without you。
If you are not here； I am bored to death。 You see I tell you so
frankly； that you will not remain away like that any more。 Give me
your arm； I will show you 'Christ Walking on the Water' myself； it
is at the very end； behind the conservatory。 Papa put it back there
so that everyone would be obliged to go through the rooms。 It is
astonishing how proud papa is of this house。〃
As they walked through the rooms； all turned to look at that
handsome man and that bewitching girl。 A well…known painter said：
〃There is a fine couple。〃 Georges thought： 〃If my position had been
made； I would have married her。 Why did I never think of it？ How
could I have taken the other one？ What folly！ One always acts too
hastilyone never reflects sufficiently。〃 And longing； bitter
longing possessed him； corrupting all his pleasure； rendering life
odious。
Suzanne said： 〃You must come often； Bel…Ami； we can do anything we
like now papa is rich。〃
He replied： 〃Oh； you will soon marrysome prince； perhaps； and we
shall never meet any more。〃
She cried frankly： 〃Oh； oh； I shall not！ I shall choose some one I
love very dearly。 I am rich enough for two。〃
He smiled ironically and said： 〃I give you six months。 By that time
you will be Madame la Marquise； Madame la Duchesse； or Madame la
Princesse； and you will look down upon me； Mademoiselle。〃
She pretended to be angry； patted his arm with her fan； and vowed
that she would marry according to the dictates of her h
