bel ami-第36章

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Jean　Le　Dol；　a　young；　intelligent；　handsome　mansomething　like　our
friend　Georgeswho　has　become　acquainted　with　Mme。　Forestier。　From
that　I　have　concluded　that　she　likes　beginners　and　that　they　like
her。　She　is；　moreover；　rich；　Vaudrec　and　Laroche…Mathieu　were　not
attentive　to　her　for　nothing。〃

Rival　asked：　〃Tell　me；　is　it　true　that　Mme。　Walter　and　Du　Roy　do　not
speak？〃

〃Yes。　She　did　not　wish　to　give　him　her　daughter's　hand。　But　he
threatened　the　old　man　with　shocking　revelations。　Walter　remembered
Laroche…Mathieu's　fate　and　yielded　at　once；　but　his　wife；　obstinate
like　all　women；　vowed　that　she　would　never　address　a　word　to　her
son…in…law。　It　is　comical　to　see　them　together！　She　looks　like　the
statue　of　vengeance；　and　he　is　very　uncomfortable；　although　he　tries
to　appear　at　his　ease。〃

Suddenly　the　beadle　struck　the　floor　three　times　with　his　staff。　All
the　people　turned　to　see　what　was　coming；　and　the　young　bride
appeared　in　the　doorway　leaning　upon　her　father's　arm。　She　looked
like　a　beautiful　doll；　crowned　with　a　wreath　of　orange　blossoms。　She
advanced　with　bowed　head。　The　ladies　smiled　and　murmured　as　she
passed　them。　The　men　whispered：

〃Exquisite；　adorable！〃

M。　Walter　walked　by　her　side　with　exaggerated　dignity。　Behind　them
came　four　maids　of　honor　dressed　in　pink　and　forming　a　charming
court　for　so　dainty　a　queen。

Mme。　Walter　followed　on　the　arm　of　Count　de　Latour…Ivelin's　aged
father。　She　did　not　walk；　she　dragged　herself　along；　ready　to　faint
at　every　step。　She　had　aged　and　grown　thinner。

Next　came　Georges　du　Roy　with　an　old　lady；　a　stranger。　He　held　his
head　proudly　erect　and　wore　upon　his　coat；　like　a　drop　of　blood；　the
red　ribbon　of　the　Legion　of　Honor。

He　was　followed　by　the　relatives：　Rose；　who　had　been　married　six
weeks；　with　a　senator；　Count　de　Latour…Ivelin　with　Viscountess　de
Percemur。　Following　them　was　a　motley　procession　of　associates　and
friends　of　Du　Roy；　country　cousins　of　Mme。　Walter's；　and　guests
invited　by　her　husband。

The　tones　of　the　organ　filled　the　church；　the　large　doors　at　the
entrance　were　closed；　and　Georges　kneeled　beside　his　bride　in　the
choir。　The　new　bishop　of　Tangiers；　cross　in　hand；　miter　on　head；
entered　from　the　sacristy；　to　unite　them　in　the　name　of　the
Almighty。　He　asked　the　usual　questions；　rings　were　exchanged；　words
pronounced　which　bound　them　forever；　and　then　he　delivered　an
address　to　the　newly　married　couple。

The　sound　of　stifled　sobs　caused　several　to　turn　their　heads。　Mme。
Walter　was　weeping；　her　face　buried　in　her　hands。　She　had　been
obliged　to　yield；　but　since　the　day　on　which　she　had　told　Du　Roy：
〃You　are　the　vilest　man　I　know；　never　speak　to　me　again；　for　I　will
not　answer　you；〃　she　had　suffered　intolerable　anguish。　She　hated
Suzanne　bitterly；　her　hatred　was　caused　by　unnatural　jealousy。　The
bishop　was　marrying　a　daughter　to　her　mother's　lover；　before　her　and
two　thousand　persons；　and　she　could　say　nothing；　she　could　not　stop
him。　She　could　not　cry：　〃He　is　mine；　that　man　is　my　lover。　That
union　you　are　blessing　is　infamous。〃

Several　ladies；　touched　by　her　apparent　grief；　murmured：　〃How
affected　that　poor　mother　is！〃

The　bishop　said：　〃You　are　among　the　favored　ones　of　the　earth。　You；
sir；　who　are　raised　above　others　by　your　talentyou　who　write；
instruct；　counsel；　guide　the　people；　have　a　grand　mission　to
fulfilla　fine　example　to　set。〃

Du　Roy　listened　to　him　proudly。　A　prelate　of　the　Roman　Church　spoke
thus　to　him。　A　number　of　illustrious　people　had　come　thither　on　his
account。　It　seemed　to　him　that　an　invisible　power　was　impelling　him
on。　He　would　become　one　of　the　masters　of　the　countryhe；　the　son
of　the　poor　peasants　of　Canteleu。　He　had　given　his　parents　five
thousand　francs　of　Count　de　Vaudrec's　fortune　and　he　intended
sending　them　fifty　thousand　more；　then　they　could　buy　a　small　estate
and　live　happily。

The　bishop　had　finished　his　harangue；　a　priest　ascended　the　altar；
and　the　organ　pealed　forth。　Suddenly　the　vibrating　tones　melted　into
delicate；　melodious　ones；　like　the　songs　of　birds；　then　again　they
swelled　into　deep；　full　tones　and　human　voices　chanted　over　their
bowed　heads。　Vauri　and　Landeck　of　the　Opera　were　singing。

Bel…Ami；　kneeling　beside　Suzanne；　bowed　his　head。　At　that　moment　he
felt　almost　pious；　for　he　was　filled　with　gratitude　for　the
blessings　showered　upon　him。　Without　knowing　just　whom　he　was
addressing；　he　offered　up　thanks　for　his　success。　When　the　ceremony
was　over；　he　rose；　and；　giving　his　arm　to　his　wife；　they　passed　into
the　sacristy。　A　stream　of　people　entered。　Georges　fancied　himself　a
king　whom　the　people　were　coming　to　greet。　He　shook　hands；　uttered
words　which　signified　nothing；　and　replied　to　congratulations　with
the　words：　〃You　are　very　kind。〃

Suddenly　he　saw　Mme。　de　Marelle；　and　the　recollection　of　all　the
kisses　he　had　given　her　and　which　she　had　returned；　of　all　their
caresses；　of　the　sound　of　her　voice；　possessed　him　with　the　mad
desire　to　regain　her。　She　was　so　pretty；　with　her　bright　eyes　and
roguish　air！　She　advanced　somewhat　timidly　and　offered　him　her　hand。
He　took；　retained；　and　pressed　it　as　if　to　say：　〃I　shall　love　you
always；　I　am　yours。〃

Their　eyes　met；　smiling；　bright；　full　of　love。　She　murmured　in　her
soft　tones：　〃Until　we　meet　again；　sir！〃　and　he　gaily　repeated　her
words。

Others　approached；　and　she　passed　on。　Finally　the　throng　dispersed。
Georges　placed　Suzanne's　hand　upon　his　arm　to　pass　through　the
church　with　her。　It　was　filled　with　people；　for　all　had　resumed
their　seats　in　order　to　see　them　leave　the　sacred　edifice　together。
He　walked　along　slowly；　with　a　firm　step；　his　head　erect。　He　saw　no
one。　He　only　thought　of　himself。

When　they　reached　the　threshold　he　saw　a　crowd　gathered　outside；
come　to　gaze　at　him；　Georges　du　Roy。　The　people　of　Paris　envied　him。
Raising　his　eyes；　he　saw　beyond　the　Place　de　la　Concorde；　the
chamber　of　deputies；　and　it　seemed　to　him　that　it　was　only　a　stone's
throw　from　the　portico　of　the　Madeleine　to　that　of　the　Palais
Bourbon。

Leisurely　they　descended　the　steps　between　two　rows　of　spectators；
but　Georges　did　not　see　them；　his　thoughts　had　returned　to　the　past；
and　before　his　eyes；　dazzled　by　the　bright　sunlight；　floated　the
image　of　Mme。　de　Marelle；　rearranging　the　curly　locks　upon　her
temples　before　the　mirror　in　their　apartments。







End