bel ami-第35章
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long as we do not yield； therefore； to avoid a scandal we must do so
at once。〃
But his wife replied： 〃No； no； I will never consent。〃
Impatiently he returned： 〃It is a matter of necessity。 Ah； the
scoundrelhow he has deceived us！ But he is shrewd at any rate。 She
might have done better as far as position； but not intelligence and
future； is concerned。 He is a promising young man。 He will be a
deputy or a minister some day。〃
Mme。 Walter； however； repeated wildly： 〃I will never let him marry
Suzanne！ Do you hearnever！〃
In his turn he became incensed； and like a practical man defended
Bel…Ami。 〃Be silent！ I tell you he must marry her！ And who knows？
Perhaps we shall not regret it！ With men of his stamp one never
knows what may come about。 You saw how he downed Laroche…Mathieu in
three articles； and that with a dignity which was very difficult to
maintain in his position as husband。 So； we shall see。〃
Mme。 Walter felt a desire to cry aloud and tear her hair。 But she
only repeated angrily： 〃He shall not have her！〃
Walter rose； took up his lamp； and said： 〃You are silly； like all
women！ You only act on impulse。 You do not know how to accommodate
yourself to circumstances。 You are stupid！ I tell you he shall marry
her； it is essential。〃 And he left the room。
Mme。 Walter remained alone with her suffering； her despair。 If only
a priest were at hand！ She would cast herself at his feet and
confess all her errors and her agonyhe would prevent the marriage！
Where could she find a priest？ Where should she turn？ Before her
eyes floated； like a vision； the calm face of 〃Christ Walking on the
Water；〃 as she had seen it in the painting。 He seemed to say to her：
〃Come unto Me。 Kneel at My feet。 I will comfort and instruct you as
to what to do。〃
She took the lamp and sought the conservatory； she opened the door
leading into the room which held the enormous canvas； and fell upon
her knees before it。 At first she prayed fervently； but as she
raised her eyes and saw the resemblance to Bel…Ami； she murmured：
〃JesusJesus〃 while her thoughts were with her daughter and her
lover。 She uttered a wild cry； as she pictured them togetheralone…
…and fell into a swoon。 When day broke they found Mme。 Walter still
lying unconscious before the painting。 She was so ill； after that；
that her life was almost despaired of。
M。 Walter explained his daughter's absence to the servants by saying
to them that she had been sent to a convent for a short time。 Then
he replied to a long letter from Du Roy； giving his consent to his
marriage with his daughter。 Bel…Ami had posted that epistle when he
left Paris； having prepared it the night of his departure。 In it he
said in respectful terms that he had loved the young girl a long
time； that there had never been any understanding between them； but
that as she came to him to say： 〃I will be your wife；〃 he felt
authorized in keeping her； in hiding her； in fact； until he had
obtained a reply from her parents； whose wishes were to him of more
value than those of his betrothed。
Georges and Suzanne spent a week at La Roche…Guyon。 Never had the
young girl enjoyed herself so thoroughly。 As she passed for his
sister； they lived in a chaste and free intimacy； a kind of living
companionship。 He thought it wiser to treat her with respect； and
when he said to her： 〃We will return to Paris to…morrow； your father
has bestowed your hand upon me〃 she whispered naively： 〃Already？
This is just as pleasant as being your wife。〃
CHAPTER XVIII。
ATTAINMENT
It was dark in the apartments in the Rue de Constantinople； when
Georges du Roy and Clotilde de Marelle； having met at the door；
entered them。 Without giving him time to raise the shades； the
latter said：
〃So you are going to marry Suzanne Walter？〃
He replied in the affirmative； adding gently： 〃Did you not know it？〃
She answered angrily： 〃So you are going to marry Suzanne Walter？ For
three months you have deceived me。 Everyone knew of it but me。 My
husband told me。 Since you left your wife you have been preparing
for that stroke； and you made use of me in the interim。 What a
rascal you are！〃
He asked： 〃How do you make that out？ I had a wife who deceived me； I
surprised her； obtained a divorce； and am now going to marry
another。 What is more simple than that？〃
She murmured： 〃What a villain！〃
He said with dignity： 〃I beg of you to be more careful as to what
you say。〃
She rebelled at such words from him： 〃What！ Would you like me to
handle you with gloves？ You have conducted yourself like a rascal
ever since I have known you； and now you do not want me to speak of
it。 You deceive everyone； you gather pleasure and money everywhere；
and you want me to treat you as an honest man。〃
He rose； his lips twitched： 〃Be silent or I will make you leave
these rooms。〃
She cried： 〃Leave hereyou will make meyou？ You forget that it is
I who have paid for these apartments from the very first； and you
threaten to put me out of them。 Be silent； good…for…nothing！ Do you
think I do not know how you stole a portion of Vaudrec's bequest
from Madeleine？ Do you think I do not know about Suzanne？〃
He seized her by her shoulders and shook her。 〃Do not speak of that；
I forbid you。〃
〃I know you have ruined her！〃
He would have taken anything else； but that lie exasperated him。 He
repeated： 〃Be silenttake care〃and he shook her as he would have
shaken the bough of a tree。 Still she continued； 〃You were her ruin；
I know it。〃 He rushed upon her and struck her as if she had been a
man。 Suddenly she ceased speaking； and groaned beneath his blows。
Finally he desisted； paced the room several times in order to regain
his self…possession； entered the bedroom； filled the basin with cold
water and bathed his head。 Then he washed his hands and returned to
see what Clotilde was doing。 She had not moved。 She lay upon the
floor weeping softly。 He asked harshly：
〃Will you soon have done crying？〃
She did not reply。 He stood in the center of the room； somewhat
embarrassed； somewhat ashamed； as he saw the form lying before him。
Suddenly he seized his hat。 〃Good evening。 You can leave the key
with the janitor when you are ready。 I will not await your
pleasure。〃
He left the room； closed the door； sought the porter； and said to
him： 〃Madame is resting。 She will go out soon。 You can tell the
proprietor that I have given notice for the first of October。〃
His marriage was fixed for the twentieth； it was to take place at
the Madeleine。 There had been a great deal of gossip about the
entire affair； and many different reports were circulated。 Mme。
Walter had aged greatly； her hair was gray and she sought solace in
religion。
In the early part of September 〃La Vie Francaise〃 announced that
Baron du Roy de Cantel had become its chief editor； M。 Walter
reserving the title of manager。 To that announcement were subjoined
the names of the staff of art and theatrical critics； political
reporters； and so forth。 Journalists no longer sneered in speaking
of 〃La Vie Francaise；〃 its success had been rapid and complete。 The
marriage of its chief editor was what was called a 〃Parisian event；〃
Georges du Roy and the Walters having occasioned much comment for
some time。
The ceremony took place on a clear； autumn day。 At ten o'clock the
curious began to assemble； at eleven o'clock； detachments of
officers came to disperse the crowd。 Soon after； the first guests
arrived； they were followed by others； women in rich costumes； men；
grave and dignified。 The church slowly began to fill。 Norbert de
Varenne espied Jacques Rival； and joined him。
〃Well；〃 said he； 〃sharpers always succeed。〃
His companion； who was not envious； replied： 〃So much the better for
him。 His fortune is made。〃
Rival asked： 〃Do you know what has become of his wife？〃
The poet smiled。 〃Yes and noshe lives a very retired life； I have
been told； in the Montmartre quarter。 Butthere is a butfor some
time I have read political articles in 'La Plume；' which resemble
those of Forestier and Du Roy。 They are supposed to be written by a
Jean Le Dol； a young； intelligent； handsome mansomething like our
friend Georgeswho has be
