bel ami-第7章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


clapping　her　hands；　delighted　to　see　him；　and　crying：　〃Ah；　'Bel…
Ami！'〃

Mme。　de　Marelle　laughed。　〃Bel…Ami！　Laurine　has　christened　you。　It　is
a　pretty　name。　I　shall　call　you　Bel…Ami；　too！〃

He　took　the　child　upon　his　knee。　At　twenty　minutes　of　three　he　rose
to　go　to　the　office；　at　the　half…open　door　he　whispered：　〃To…morrow；
five　o'clock。〃　The　young　woman　replied：　〃Yes；〃　with　a　smile　and
disappeared。

After　he　had　finished　his　journalistic　work；　he　tried　to　render　his
apartments　more　fit　to　receive　his　expected　visitor。　He　was　well
satisfied　with　the　results　of　his　efforts　and　retired；　lulled　to
rest　by　the　whistling　of　the　trains。　Early　the　next　morning　he
bought　a　cake　and　a　bottle　of　Madeira。　He　spread　the　collation　on
his　dressing…table　which　was　covered　with　a　napkin。　Then　he　waited。
She　came　at　a　quarter　past　five　and　exclaimed　as　she　entered：　〃Why；
it　is　nice　here。　But　there　were　a　great　many　people　on　the　stairs。〃

He　took　her　in　his　arms　and　kissed　her　hair。　An　hour　and　a　half
later　he　escorted　her　to　a　cab…stand　on　the　Rue　de　Rome。　When　she
was　seated　in　the　cab；　he　whispered：　〃Tuesday；　at　the　same　hour。〃

She　repeated　his　words；　and　as　it　was　night；　she　kissed　him。　Then　as
the　cabman　started　up　his　horse；　she　cried：〃　Adieu；　Bel…Ami！〃　and
the　old　coupe　rumbled　off。

For　three　weeks　Duroy　received　Mme。　de　Marelle　every　two　or　three
days；　sometimes　in　the　morning；　sometimes　in　the　evening。

As　he　was　awaiting　her　one　afternoon；　a　noise　on　the　staircase　drew
him　to　his　door。　A　child　screamed。　A　man's　angry　voice　cried：　〃What
is　the　brat　howling　about？〃

A　woman's　voice　replied：　〃Nicolas　has　been　tripped　up　on　the
landing…place　by　the　journalist's　sweetheart。〃

Duroy　retreated；　for　he　heard　the　rustling　of　skirts。　Soon　there　was
a　knock　at　his　door；　which　he　opened；　and　Mme。　de　Marelle　rushed　in；
crying：　〃Did　you　hear？〃　Georges　feigned　ignorance　of　the　matter。

〃No；　what？〃

〃How　they　insulted　me？〃

〃Who？〃

〃Those　miserable　people　below。〃

〃Why；　no；　what　is　it？　Tell　me。〃

She　sobbed　and　could　not　speak。　He　was　forced　to　place　her　upon　his
bed　and　to　lay　a　damp　cloth　upon　her　temples。　When　she　grew　calmer；
anger　succeeded　her　agitation。　She　wanted　Duroy　to　go　downstairs　at
once；　to　fight　them；　to　kill　them。

He　replied：　〃They　are　working…people。　Just　think；　it　would　be
necessary　to　go　to　court　where　you　would　be　recognized；　one　must　not
compromise　oneself　with　such　people。〃

She　said：　〃What　shall　we　do？　I　cannot　come　here　again。〃

He　replied：　〃That　is　very　simple。　I　will　move。〃

She　murmured：　〃Yes；　but　that　will　take　some　time。〃

Suddenly　she　said：　〃Listen　to　me；　I　have　found　a　means；　do　not　worry
about　it。　I　will　send　you　a　'little　blue'　to…morrow　morning。〃　She
called　a　telegram　a　〃little　blue。〃

She　smiled　with　delight　at　her　plans；　which　she　would　not　reveal。
She　was；　however；　very　much　affected　as　she　descended　the　staircase
and　leaned　with　all　her　strength　upon　her　lover's　arm。　They　met　no
one。

He　was　still　in　bed　the　following　morning　when　the　promised　telegram
was　handed　him。　Duroy　opened　it　and　read：

　　　　〃Come　at　five　o'clock　to　Rue　de　Constantinople；　No。　127。　Ask
　　　　　for　the　room　rented　by　Mme。　Duroy。　CLO。〃

At　five　o'clock　precisely　he　entered　a　large　furnished　house　and
asked　the　janitor：　〃Has　Mme。　Duroy　hired　a　room　here？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Will　you　show　me　to　it；　if　you　please？〃

The　man；　accustomed　no　doubt　to　situations　in　which　it　was　necessary
to　be　prudent；　looked　him　straight　in　the　eyes；　then　selecting　a
key；　he　asked：　〃Are　you　M。　Duroy？〃

〃Certainly。〃

He　opened　a　small　suite；　comprising　two　rooms　on　the　ground　floor。

Duroy　thought　uneasily：　〃This　will　cost　a　fortune。　I　shall　have　to
run　into　debt。　She　has　done　a　very　foolish　thing。〃

The　door　opened　and　Clotilde　rushed　in。　She　was　enchanted。　〃Is　it
not　fine？　There　are　no　stairs　to　climb；　it　is　on　the　ground　floor！
One　could　come　and　go　through　the　window　without　the　porter　seeing
one。〃

He　embraced　her　nervously；　not　daring　to　ask　the　question　that
hovered　upon　his　lips。　She　had　placed　a　large　package　on　the　stand
in　the　center　of　the　room。　Opening　it　she　took　out　a　tablet　of　soap；
a　bottle　of　Lubin's　extract；　a　sponge；　a　box　of　hairpins；　a　button…
hook；　and　curling…tongs。　Then　she　amused　herself　by　finding　places
in　which　to　put　them。

She　talked　incessantly　as　she　opened　the　drawers：　〃I　must　bring　some
linen　in　order　to　have　a　change。　We　shall　each　have　a　key；　besides
the　one　at　the　lodge；　in　case　we　should　forget　ours。　I　rented　the
apartments　for　three　monthsin　your　name；　of　course；　for　I　could
not　give　mine。〃

Then　he　asked：　〃Will　you　tell　me　when　to　pay？〃

She　replied　simply：　〃It　is　paid；　my　dear。〃

He　made　a　pretense　of　being　angry：　〃I　cannot　permit　that。〃

She　laid　her　hand　upon　his　shoulder　and　said　in　a　supplicatory　tone：
〃Georges；　it　will　give　me　pleasure　to　have　the　nest　mine。　Say　that
you　do　not　care；　dear　Georges；〃　and　he　yielded。　When　she　had　left
him；　he　murmured：　〃She　is　kind…hearted；　anyway。〃

Several　days　later　he　received　a　telegram　which　read：

　　　　〃My　husband　is　coming　home　this　evening。　We　shall　therefore　not
　　　　　meet　for　a　week。　What　a　bore；　my　dearest！〃

　　　　〃YOUR　CLO。〃

Duroy　was　startled；　he　had　not　realized　the　fact　that　Mme。　de
Marelle　was　married。　He　impatiently　awaited　her　husband's　departure。
One　morning　he　received　the　following　telegram：

　　　　　〃Five　o'clock。CLO。〃

When　they　met；　she　rushed　into　his　arms；　kissed　him　passionately；
and　asked：　〃After　a　while　will　you　take　me　to　dine？〃

〃Certainly；　my　darling；　wherever　you　wish　to　go。〃

〃I　should　like　to　go　to　some　restaurant　frequented　by　the　working…
classes。〃

They　repaired　to　a　wine　merchant's　where　meals　were　also　served。
Clotilde's　entrance　caused　a　sensation　on　account　of　the　elegance　of
her　dress。　They　partook　of　a　ragout　of　mutton　and　left　that　place　to
enter　a　ball…room　in　which　she　pressed　more　closely　to　his　side。　In
fifteen　minutes　her　curiosity　was　satisfied　and　he　conducted　her
home。　Then　followed　a　series　of　visits　to　all　sorts　of　places　of
amusement。　Duroy　soon　began　to　tire　of　those　expeditions；　for　he　had
exhausted　all　his　resources　and　all　means　of　obtaining　money。　In
addition　to　that　he　owed　Forestier　a　hundred　francs；　Jacques　Rival
three　hundred；　and　he　was　hampered　with　innumerable　petty　debts
ranging　from　twenty　francs　to　one　hundred　sous。

On　the　fourteenth　of　December；　he　was　left　without　a　sou　in　his
pocket。　As　he　had　often　done　before；　he　did　not　lunch；　and　spent　the
afternoon　working　at　the　office。　At　four　o'clock　he　received　a
telegram　from　Mme。　de　Marelle；　saying：　〃Shall　we　dine　together　and
afterward　have　a　frolic？〃

He　replied　at　once：　〃Impossible　to　dine；〃　then　he　added：　〃But　I　will
expect　you　at　our　apartments　at　nine　o'clock。〃　Having　sent　a　boy
with　the　note　in　order　to　save　the　money　for　a　telegram；　he　tried　to
think　of　some　way　by　which　he　could　obtain　his　evening　meal。　He
waited　until　all　of　his　associates　had　gone　and　when　he　was　alone；
he　rang　for　the　porter；　put　his　hand　in　his　pocket　and　said：
〃Foucart；　I　have　left　my　purse　at　home　and　I　have　to　dine　at　the
Luxembourg。　Lend　me　fifty　sous　to　pay　for　my　cab。〃

The　man　handed　him　three　francs　and　asked：

〃Is　that　enough？〃

〃Yes；　thank　you。〃　Taking　the　coins；　Duroy　rushed　down　the　staircase
and　dined　at　a　cookshop。

At　nine　o'clock；　Mme。　de　Marelle；　whom　he　awaited　in　the　tiny　salon；
arrived。　She　wished　to　take　a　walk　and　he　objected。　His　opposition
irritated　her。

〃I　shall　go　alone；　then。　Adieu！〃

Seeing　that　the　situation　was　becoming　grave；　he　seized　her　hands
and　kissed　them；　saying：

〃Pardon　me；　darling；　I　am　nervous　and　out　of　sorts　this　evening。　I
have　been　annoyed　by　business　matters。〃

Somewhat　appeased　but　still；　vexed；　she　replied：

〃That　does　not　concern　me；　I　will　not　be　the　butt　for　your　ill
humor。〃

He　clasped　her　in　his　arms　and　murmured　his　apologies。　Still　she
persisted　in　her　desire　to　go　out。

〃I　beseech　you；　remain　here　by　the　fire　with　me。　Say　yes。〃

〃No；〃　she　replied；　〃I　will　not　yield　to　your　caprices。〃

He　insisted：　〃I　have　a　reason；　a　serious　reason〃

〃If　you　will　not　go　with　me；　I　shall　go　alone。　Adieu！〃

She　disengaged　herself　from　his　embrace　and　fled　to　the　door。　He
followed　her：

〃Listen　Clo；　my　little　Clo；　listen　to　me〃

She　shook　her　head；　evaded　his　caresses　and　tried　to　escape　from　his
encircling　arms。

〃I　have　a　reason〃

Looking　him　in　the　face；　she　said：　〃You　lie！　What　is　it？〃

He　colored；　and　in　order　to　avoid　a　rupture；　confessed　in　accents　of
despair：　〃I　have　no　money！〃

She　would　not　believe　him　until　he　had　turned　all　his　pockets　inside
out；　to　prove　his　words。　Then　she　fell　upon　his　breast：　〃Oh；　my　poor
darling！　Had　I　known！　How　did　it　happen？〃

He　invented　a　touching　story　to　this　effect：　That　his　father　was　in
straitened　circumstances；　that　he　had　given　him　not　only　his
savings；　but　had　run　himself　into　debt。

〃I　shall　have　to　starve　for　the　next　six　months。〃

〃Shall　I　lend　you　some？〃　she　whispered。

He　replied　with　dignity：　〃You　are　very　kind；　dearest；　but　do　not
mention　that　again；　it　wounds　me。〃

She　murmured：　〃You　will　never　know　how　much　I　love　you。〃　On　taking
leave　of　him；　she　asked：　〃Shall　we　meet　again　the　day　after　to…
morrow？〃

〃Certainly。〃

〃At　the　same　time？〃

〃Yes；　my　darling。〃

They　parted。

When　Duroy　opened　his　bedroom　door　and　fumbled　in　his　vest　pocket
for　a　match；　he　was　amazed　to　find　in　it　a　piece　of　moneya　twenty…
franc　piece！　At　first　he　wondered　by　what　miracle　it　had　got　there；
suddenly　it　occurred　to　him　that　Mme。　de　Marelle　had　given　him　alms！
Angry　and　humiliated；　he　determined　to　return　it　when　next　they　met。
The　next　morning　it　was　late　when　he　awoke；　he　tried　to　overcome　his
hunger。　He　went　out　and　as　he　passed　the　restaurants　he　could
scarcely　resist　their　temptations。　At　noon　he　said：　〃Bah；　I　shall
lunch　upon　Clotilde's　twenty　francs；　that　will　not　hinder　me　from
returning　the　money　to…morrow。〃

He　ate　his　lunch；　for　which　he　paid　two　francs　fifty；　and　on
entering　the　office　of　〃La　Vie　Francaise〃　he　repaid　the　porter　the
three　francs　he　had　borrowed　from　him。　He　worked　until　seven
o'clock；　then　he　dined；　and　he　continued　to　draw　upon　the　twenty
francs　until　only　four　francs　twenty　remained。　He　decided　to　say　to
Mme。　de　Marelle　upon　her　arrival：

〃I　found　the　twenty…franc　piece　you　slipped　into　my　pocket。　I　will
not　return　the　money　to…day；　but　I　will　repay　you　when　we　next
meet。〃

When　Madame　came；　he　dared　not　broach　the　delicate　subject。　They
spent　the　evening　together　and　appointed　their　next　meeting　for
Wednesday　of　the　following　week；　for　Mme。　de　Marelle　had　a　number　of
engagements。　Duroy　continued　to　accept　money　from　Clotilde　and
quieted　his　conscience　by　assuring　himself：　〃I　will　give　it　back　in
a　lump。　It　is　nothing　but　borrowed　money　anyway。〃　So　he　kept　account
of　all　that　he　received　in　order　to　pay　it　back　some　day。

One　evening；　Mme。　de　Marelle　said　to　him：　〃Would　you　believe　that　I
have　never　been　to　the　Folies…Bergeres；　will　you　take　me　there？〃

He　hesitated；　fearing　a　meeting　with　Rachel。　Then　he　thought：　〃Bah；
I　am　not　married