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！
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