bel ami-第8章

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He　hesitated；　fearing　a　meeting　with　Rachel。　Then　he　thought：　〃Bah；
I　am　not　married　after　all。　If　she　should　see　me；　she　would　take　in
the　situation　and　not　accost　me。　Moreover；　we　would　have　a　box。〃

When　they　entered　the　hall；　it　was　crowded；　with　difficulty　they
made　their　way　to　their　seats。　Mme。　de　Marelle　did　not　look　at　the
stage；　she　was　interested　in　watching　the　women　who　were
promenading；　and　she　felt　an　irresistible　desire　to　touch　them；　to
see　of　what　those　beings　were　made。　Suddenly　she　said：

〃There　is　a　large　brunette　who　stares　at　us　all　the　time。　I　think
every　minute　she　will　speak　to　us。　Have　you　seen　her？〃

He　replied：　〃No；　you　are　mistaken。〃

He　told　an　untruth；　for　he　had　noticed　the　woman；　who　was　no　other
than　Rachel；　with　anger　in　her　eyes　and　violent　words　upon　her　lips。

Duroy　had　passed　her　when　he　and　Mme。　de　Marelle　entered　and　she　had
said　to　him：　〃Good　evening；〃　in　a　low　voice　and　with　a　wink　which
said　〃I　understand。〃　But　he　had　not　replied；　for　fear　of　being　seen
by　his　sweetheart　he　passed　her　coldly；　disdainfully。　The　woman；　her
jealousy　aroused；　followed　the　couple　and　said　in　a　louder　key：
〃Good　evening；　Georges。〃　He　paid　no　heed　to　her。　Then　she　was
determined　to　be　recognized　and　she　remained　near　their　box；
awaiting　a　favorable　moment。　When　she　saw　that　she　was　observed　by
Mme。　de　Marelle；　she　touched　Duroy's　shoulder　with　the　tip　of　her
finger；　and　said：

〃Good　evening。　How　are　you？〃

But　Georges　did　not　turn　his　head。

She　continued：　〃Have　you　grown　deaf　since　Thursday？〃

Still　he　did　not　reply。　She　laughed　angrily　and　cried：

〃Are　you　dumb；　too？　Perhaps　Madame　has　your　tongue？〃

With　a　furious　glance；　Duroy　then　exclaimed：

〃How　dare　you　accost　me？　Go　along　or　I　will　have　you　arrested。〃

With　flaming　eyes；　she　cried：　〃Ah；　is　that　so！　Because　you　are　with
another　is　no　reason　that　you　cannot　recognize　me。　If　you　had　made
the　least　sign　of　recognition　when　you　passed　me；　I　would　not　have
molested　you。　You　did　not　even　say　good　evening　to　me　when　you　met
me。〃

During　that　tirade　Mme。　de　Marelle　in　affright　opened　the　door　of
the　box　and　fled　through　the　crowd　seeking　an　exit。　Duroy　rushed
after　her。　Rachel；　seeing　him　disappear；　cried：　〃Stop　her！　she　has
stolen　my　lover！〃

Two　men　seized　the　fugitive　by　the　shoulder；　but　Duroy；　who　had
caught　up　with　her；　bade　them　desist；　and　together　he　and　Clotilde
reached　the　street。

They　entered　a　cab。　The　cabman　asked：　〃Where　shall　I　drive　to？〃
Duroy　replied：　〃Where　you　will！〃

Clotilde　sobbed　hysterically。　Duroy　did　not　know　what　to　say　or　do。
At　length　he　stammered：

〃Listen　Clomy　dearest　Clo；　let　me　explain。　It　is　not　my　fault。　I
knew　that　womanlong　ago〃

She　raised　her　head　and　with　the　fury　of　a　betrayed　woman；　she　cried
disconnectedly：　〃Ah；　you　miserable　fellowwhat　a　rascal　you　are！　Is
it　possible？　What　disgrace；　oh；　my　God！　You　gave　her　my　moneydid
you　not？　I　gave　him　the　moneyfor　that　womanoh；　the　wretch！〃

For　several　moments　she　seemed　to　be　vainly　seeking　an　epithet　more
forcible。　Suddenly　leaning　forward　she　grasped　the　cabman's　sleeve。
〃Stop！〃　she　cried；　and　opening　the　door；　she　alighted。　Georges　was
about　to　follow　her　but　she　commanded：　〃I　forbid　you　to　follow　me；〃
in　a　voice　so　loud　that　the　passers…by　crowded　around　her；　and　Duroy
dared　not　stir　for　fear　of　a　scandal。

She　drew　out　her　purse；　and　taking　two　francs　fifty　from　it；　she
handed　it　to　the　cabman；　saying　aloud：　〃Here　is　the　money　for　your
hour。　Take　that　rascal　to　Rue　Boursault　at　Batignolles！〃

The　crowd　applauded；　one　man　said：　〃Bravo；　little　one！〃　and　the　cab
moved　on；　followed　by　the　jeers　of　the　bystanders。




CHAPTER　VI。

A　STEP　UPWARD


The　next　morning　Georges　Duroy　arose；　dressed　himself；　and
determined　to　have　money；　he　sought　Forestier。　His　friend　received
him　in　his　study。

〃What　made　you　rise　so　early？〃　he　asked。

〃A　very　serious　matter。　I　have　a　debt　of　honor。〃

〃A　gaming　debt？〃

He　hesitated；　then　repeated：　〃A　gaming　debt。〃

〃Is　it　large？〃

〃Five　hundred　francs。〃　He　only　needed　two　hundred　and　eighty。

Forestier　asked　sceptically：　〃To　whom　do　you　owe　that　amount？〃

Duroy　did　not　reply　at　once。　〃TotoaM。　de　Carleville。〃

〃Ah；　where　does　he　live？〃

〃RueRue〃

Forestier　laughed。　〃I　know　the　gentleman！　If　you　want　twenty　francs
you　can　have　them；　but　no　more。〃

Duroy　took　the　gold…piece；　called　upon　more　friends；　and　by　five
o'clock　had　collected　eighty　francs。　As　he　required　two　hundred
more；　he　kept　what　he　had　begged　and　muttered：　〃I　shall　not　worry
about　it。　I　will　pay　it　when　I　can。〃

For　two　weeks　he　lived　economically；　but　at　the　end　of　that　time；
the　good　resolutions　he　had　formed　vanished；　and　one　evening　he
returned　to　the　Folies　Bergeres　in　search　of　Rachel；　but　the　woman
was　implacable　and　heaped　coarse　insults　upon　him；　until　he　felt　his
cheeks　tingle　and　he　left　the　hall。

Forestier；　out　of　health　and　feeble；　made　Duroy's　existence　at　the
office　insupportable。　The　latter　did　not　reply　to　his　rude　remarks；
but　determined　to　be　avenged。　He　called　upon　Mme。　Forestier。　He
found　her　reclining　upon　a　couch；　reading。　She　held　out　her　hand
without　rising　and　said：　〃Good　morning；　Bel…Ami！〃

〃Why　do　you　call　me　by　that　name？〃

She　replied　with　a　smile：　〃I　saw　Mme。　de　Marelle　last　week　and　I
know　what　they　have　christened　you　at　her　house。〃

He　took　a　seat　near　his　hostess　and　glanced　at　her　curiously；　she
was　a　charming　blonde；　fair　and　plump；　made　for　caresses；　and　he
thought：　〃She　is　certainly　nicer　than　the　other　one。〃　He　did　not
doubt　that　he　would　only　have　to　extend　his　hand　in　order　to　gather
the　fruit。　As　he　gazed　upon　her　she　chided　him　for　his　neglect　of
her。

He　replied：　〃I　did　not　come　because　it　was　for　the　best〃

〃How？　Why？〃

〃Why？　Can　you　not　guess？〃

〃No！〃

〃Because　I　loved　you；　a　little；　only　a　little；　and　I　did　not　wish　to
love　you　any　more。〃

She　did　not　seem　surprised；　nor　flattered；　she　smiled　indifferently
and　replied　calmly：　〃Oh；　you　can　come　just　the　same；　no　one　loves　me
long。〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃Because　it　is　useless；　and　I　tell　them　so　at　once。　If　you　had
confessed　your　fears　to　me　sooner；　I　would　have　reassured　you。　My
dear　friend；　a　man　in　love　is　not　only　foolish　but　dangerous。　I
cease　all　intercourse　with　people　who　love　me　or　pretend　to；
firstly；　because　they　bore　me；　and　secondly；　because　I　look　upon
them　with　dread；　as　I　would　upon　a　mad　dog。　I　know　that　your　love　is
only　a　kind　of　appetite；　while　with　me　it　would　be　a　communion　of
souls。　Now；　look　me　in　the　face〃　she　no　longer　smiled。　〃I　will
never　be　your　sweetheart；　it　is　therefore　useless　for　you　to　persist
in　your　efforts。　And　now　that　I　have　explained；　shall　we　be
friends？〃

He　knew　that　that　sentence　was　irrevocable；　and　delighted　to　be　able
to　form　such　an　alliance　as　she　proposed；　he　extended　both　hands；
saying：

〃I　am　yours；　Madame；　to　do　with　as　you　will〃

He　kissed　her　hands　and　raising　his　head　said：　〃If　I　had　found　a
woman　like　you；　how　gladly　would　I　have　married　her。〃

She　was　touched　by　those　words；　and　in　a　soft　voice；　placing　her
hand　upon　his　arm；　she　said：　〃I　am　going　to　begin　my　offices　at
once。　You　are　not　diplomatic〃　she　hesitated。　〃May　I　speak　freely？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Call　upon　Mme。　Walter　who　has　taken　a　fancy　to　you。　But　be　guarded
as　to　your　compliments；　for　she　is　virtuous。　You　will　make　a　better
impression　there　by　being　careful　in　your　remarks。　I　know　that　your
position　at　the　office　is　unsatisfactory；　but　do　not　worry；　all
their　employees　are　treated　alike。〃

He　said：　〃Thanks；　you　are　an　angela　guardian　angel。〃

As　he　took　his　leave；　he　asked　again：　〃Are　we　friendsis　it
settled？〃

〃It　is。〃

Having　observed　the　effect　of　his　last　compliment；　he　said：　〃If　you
ever　become　a　widow；　I　have　put　in　my　application！〃　Then　he　left　the
room　hastily　in　order　not　to　allow　her　time　to　be　angry。

Duroy　did　not　like　to　call　on　Mme。　Walter；　for　he　had　never　been
invited；　and　he　did　not　wish　to　commit　a　breach　of　etiquette。　The
manager　had　been　kind　to　him；　appreciated　his　services；　employed　him
to　do　difficult　work；　why　should　he　not　profit　by　that　show　of　favor
to　call　at　his　house？　One　day；　therefore；　he　repaired　to　the　market
and　bought　twenty…five　pears。　Having　carefully　arranged　them　in　a
basket　to　make　them　appear　as　if　they　came　from　a　distance　he　took
them　to　Mme。　Walter's　door　with　his　card　on　which　was　inscribed：

　　　　〃Georges　Duroy　begs　Mme。　Walter　to　accept　the　fruit　which　he
　　　　　received　this　morning　from　Normandy。〃

The　following　day　he　found　in　his　letter…box　at　the　office　an
envelope　containing　Mme；　Walter's　card　on　which　was　written：

　　　　〃Mme。　Walter　thanks　M。　Georges　Duroy　very　much；　and　is　at　home
　　　　　on　Saturdays。〃

The　next　Saturday　he　called。　M。　Walter　lived　on　Boulevard
Malesherbes　in　a　double　house　which　he　owned。　The　reception…rooms
were　on　the　first　floor。　In　the　antechamber　were　two　footmen；　one
took　Duroy's　overcoat；　the　other　his　cane；　put　it　aside；　opened　a
door　and　announced　the　visitor's　name。　In　the　large　mirror　in　the
apartment　Duroy　could　see　the　reflection　of　people　seated　in　another
room。　He　passed　through　two　drawing…rooms　and　entered　a　small
boudoir　in　which　four　ladies　were　gathered　around　a　tea…table。
Notwithstanding　the　assurance　he　had　gained　during　his　life　in
Paris；　and　especially　since　he　had　been　thrown　in　contact　with　so
many　noted　personages；　Duroy　felt　abashed。　He　stammered：

〃Madame；　I　took　the　liberty。〃

The　mistress　of　the　house　extended　her　hand　and　said　to　him：　〃You
are　very　kind；　M。　Duroy；　to　come　to　see　me。〃　She　pointed　to　a　chair。
The　ladies　chatted　on。　Visitors　came　and　went。　Mme。　Walter　noticed
that　Duroy　said　nothing；　that　no　one　addressed　him；　that　he　seemed
disconcerted；　and　she　drew　him　into　the　conversation　which　dealt
with　the　admission　of　a　certain　M。　Linet　to　the　Academy。　When　Duroy
had　taken　his　leave；　one　of　the　ladies　said：　〃How　odd　he　is！　Who　is
he？〃

Mme。　Walter　replied：　〃One　of　our　reporters；　he　only　occupies　a　minor
position；　but　I　think　he　will　advance　rapidly。〃

In　the　meantime；　while　he　was　being　discussed；　Duroy　walked　gaily
down　Boulevard　Malesherbes。

The　following　week　he　was　appointed　editor　of　the　〃Echoes；〃　and
invited　to　dine　at　Mme。　Walter's。　The　〃Echoes〃　were；　M。　Walter　said；
the　very　pith　of　the　paper。　Everything　and　everybody　should　be
remembered；　all　countries；　all　professions；　Paris　and　the　provinces；
the　army；　the　arts；　the　clergy；　the　schools；　the　rulers；　and　the
courtiers。　The　man　at　the　head　of　that　department　should　be　wide
awake；　always　on　his　guard；　quick　to　judge　of　what　was　best　to　be
said　and　best　to　be　omitted；　to　divine　what　would　please　the　public
and　to　present　it　well。　Duroy　was　just　the　man　for　the　place。

He　was　enjoying　the　fact　of　his　promotion；　when　he　received　an
engraved　card　which　read：

　　　　〃M。　and　Mme。　Walter　request　the　pleasure　of　M。　Georges　Duroy's
　　　　　company　at　dinner　on　Thursday；　January　20。〃

He　was　so　delighted　that　he　kissed　the　invitation　as　if　it　had　been
a　love…letter。

Then　he　sought　the　cashier　to　settle　the　important　question　of　his
salary。　At　first　twelve　hundred　francs　were　all