bel ami-第5章
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by twenty familiesfamilies of workingmenand as he mounted the
staircase he experienced a sensation of disgust and a desire to live
as wealthy men do。 Duroy's room was on the fifth floor。 He entered
it； opened his window； and looked out： the view was anything but
prepossessing。
He turned away； thinking： 〃This won't do。 I must go to work。〃 So he
placed his light upon the table and began to write。 He dipped his
pen into the ink and wrote at the head of his paper in a bold hand：
〃Souvenirs of a Soldier in Africa。〃 Then he cast about for the first
phrase。 He rested his head upon his hand and stared at the blank
sheet before him。 What should he say？ Suddenly he thought： 〃I must
begin with my departure；〃 and he wrote： 〃In 1874； about the
fifteenth of May； when exhausted France was recruiting after the
catastrophe of the terrible years〃 Here he stopped short； not
knowing how to introduce his subject。 After a few minutes'
reflection； he decided to lay aside that page until the following
day； and to write a description of Algiers。 He began： 〃Algiers is a
very clean city〃 but he could not continue。 After an effort he
added： 〃It is inhabited partly by Arabs。〃 Then he threw his pen upon
the table and arose。 He glanced around his miserable room； mentally
he rebelled against his poverty and resolved to leave the next day。
Suddenly the desire to work came on him； and he tried to begin the
article again； he had vague ideas of what he wanted to say； but he
could not express his thoughts in words。 Convinced of his inability
he arose once more； his blood coursing rapidly through his veins。 He
turned to the window just as the train was coming out of the tunnel；
and his thoughts reverted to his parents。 He saw their tiny home on
the heights overlooking Rouen and the valley of the Seine。 His
father and mother kept an inn； La Belle…Vue； at which the citizens
of the faubourgs took their lunches on Sundays。 They had wished to
make a 〃gentleman〃 of their son and had sent him to college。 His
studies completed； he had entered the army with the intention of
becoming an officer； a colonel； or a general。 But becoming disgusted
with military life； he determined to try his fortune in Paris。 When
his time of service had expired； he went thither； with what results
we have seen。 He awoke from his reflections as the locomotive
whistled shrilly； closed his window； and began to disrobe；
muttering： 〃Bah； I shall be able to work better to…morrow morning。
My brain is not clear to…night。 I have drunk a little too much。 I
can't work well under such circumstances。〃 He extinguished his light
and fell asleep。
He awoke early； and； rising； opened his window to inhale the fresh
air。 In a few moments he seated himself at his table； dipped his pen
in the ink； rested his head upon his hand and thoughtbut in vain！
However； he was not discouraged； but in thought reassured himself：
〃Bah； I am not accustomed to it！ It is a profession that must be
learned like all professions。 Some one must help me the first time。
I'll go to Forestier。 He'll start my article for me in ten minutes。〃
When he reached the street； Duroy decided that it was rather early
to present himself at his friend's house； so he strolled along under
the trees on one of the boulevards for a time。 On arriving at
Forestier's door； he found his friend going out。
〃You hereat this hour！ Can I do anything for you？〃
Duroy stammered in confusion： 〃IIcannot write that article on
Algeria that M。 Walter wants。 It is not very surprising； seeing that
I have never written anything。 It requires practice。 I could write
very rapidly； I am sure； if I could make a beginning。 I have the
ideas but I cannot express them。〃 He paused and hesitated。
Forestier smiled maliciously： 〃I understand that。〃
Duroy continued： 〃Yes； anyone is liable to have that trouble at the
beginning； and； wellI have come to ask you to help me。 In ten
minutes you can set me right。 You can give me a lesson in style；
without you I can do nothing。〃
The other smiled gaily。 He patted his companion's arm and said to
him： 〃Go to my wife； she will help you better than I can。 I have
trained her for that work。 I have not time this morning or I would
do it willingly。〃
But Duroy hesitated： 〃At this hour I cannot inquire for her。〃
〃Oh； yes； you can； she has risen。 You will find her in my study。〃
〃I will go； but I shall tell her you sent me！〃
Forestier walked away； and Duroy slowly ascended the stairs；
wondering what he should say and what kind of a reception he would
receive。
The servant who opened the door said： 〃Monsieur has gone out。〃
Duroy replied： 〃Ask Mme。 Forestier if she will see me； and tell her
that M。 Forestier； whom I met on the street； sent me。〃
The lackey soon returned and ushered Duroy into Madame's presence。
She was seated at a table and extended her hand to him。
〃So soon？〃 said she。 It was not a reproach； but a simple question。
He stammered： 〃I did not want to come up； Madame； but your husband；
whom I met below； insistedI dare scarcely tell you my errandI
worked late last night and early this morning； to write the article
on Algeria which M。 Walter wantsand I did not succeedI destroyed
all my attemptsI am not accustomed to the workand I came to ask
Forestier to assist mehis once。〃
She interrupted with a laugh： 〃And he sent you to me？〃
〃Yes； Madame。 He said you could help me better than hebutI dared
notI did not like to。〃
She rose。
〃It will be delightful to work together that way。 I am charmed with
your idea。 Wait； take my chair； for they know my handwriting on the
paperwe will write a successful article。〃
She took a cigarette from the mantelpiece and lighted it。 〃I cannot
work without smoking；〃 she said； 〃what are you going to say？〃
He looked at her in astonishment。 〃I do not know； I came here to
find that out。〃
She replied： 〃I will manage it all right。 I will make the sauce but
I must have the dish。〃 She questioned him in detail and finally
said：
〃Now； we will begin。 First of all we will suppose that you are
addressing a friend； which will allow us scope for remarks of all
kinds。 Begin this way： 'My dear Henry； you wish to know something
about Algeria； you shall。'〃
Then followed a brilliantly worded description of Algeria and of the
port of Algiers； an excursion to the province of Oran； a visit to
Saida； and an adventure with a pretty Spanish maid employed in a
factory。
When the article was concluded； he could find no words of thanks； he
was happy to be near her； grateful for and delighted with their
growing intimacy。 It seemed to him that everything about him was a
part of her； even to the books upon the shelves。 The chairs； the
furniture； the airall were permeated with that delightful
fragrance peculiar to her。
She asked bluntly： 〃What do you think of my friend Mme。 de Marelle？〃
〃I think her very fascinating；〃 he said； and he would have liked to
add： 〃But not as much so as you。〃 He had not the courage to do so。
She continued： 〃If you only knew how comical； original； and
intelligent she is！ She is a true Bohemian。 It is for that reason
that her husband no longer loves her。 He only sees her defects and
none of her good qualities。〃
Duroy was surprised to hear that Mme。 de Marelle was married。
〃What；〃 he asked； 〃is she married？ What does her husband do？〃
Mme。 Forestier shrugged her shoulders。 〃Oh； he is superintendent of
a railroad。 He is in Paris a week out of each month。 His wife calls
it 'Holy Week。' or 'The week of duty。' When you get better
acquainted with her； you will see how witty she is！ Come here and
see her some day。〃
As she spoke； the door opened noiselessly； and a gentleman entered
unannounced。 He halted on seeing a man。 For a moment Mme。 Forestier
seemed confused； then she said in a natural voice； though her cheeks
were tinged with a blush：
〃Come in； my dear sir； allow me to present to you an old comrade of
Charles； M。 Georges Duroy； a future journalist。〃 Then in a different
tone； she said： 〃Our best and dearest friend； Count de Vaudrec。〃
The two men bowed； gazed into one another's eyes； and then Duroy
took his leave。 Neither tried to detain him。
On re
