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although he had resolved not to hasten matters； he stammered：
〃Wellwhywhy do you not resumethat professionunderthe name
of Duroy？〃
She became suddenly serious； and placing her hand on his arm； she
said： 〃Do not let us speak of that yet。〃
Divining that she would accept him； he fell upon his knees； and
passionately kissed her hands； saying：
〃Thank youthank youhow I love you。〃
She rose； she was very pale。 Duroy kissed her brow。 When she had
disengaged herself from his embrace； she said gravely： 〃Listen； my
friend； I have not yet fully decided； but my answer may be 'yes。'
You must wait patiently； however； until I disclose the secret to
you。〃
He promised and left her； his heart overflowing with joy。 He worked
steadily； spent little； tried to save some money that he might not
be without a sou at the time of his marriage； and became as miserly
as he had once been prodigal。 Summer glided by； then autumn； and no
one suspected the tie existing between Duroy and Mme。 Forestier； for
they seldom met in public。
One evening Madeleine said to him： 〃You have not yet told Mme。 de
Marelle our plans？〃
〃No； my dear； as you wished them kept secret； I have not mentioned
them to a soul。〃
〃Very well； there is plenty of time。 I will tell the Walters。〃
She turned away her head and continued： 〃If you wish； we can be
married the beginning of May。〃
〃I obey you in all things joyfully。〃
〃The tenth of May； which falls on Saturday； would please me； for it
is my birthday。〃
〃Very well； the tenth of May。〃
〃Your parents live near Rouen； do they not？〃
〃Yes； near Rouen； at Canteleu。〃
〃I am very anxious to see them！〃
He hesitated； perplexed： 〃Butthey are〃 Then he added more
firmly： 〃My dear； they are plain； country people； innkeepers； who
strained every nerve to give me an education。 I am not ashamed of
them； but theirsimplicitytheir rusticity might annoy you。〃
She smiled sweetly。 〃No； I will love them very much。 We will visit
them； I wish to。 I； too； am the child of humble parentsbut I lost
mineI have no one in the world〃she held out her hand to him
〃but you。〃
He was affected； conquered as he had never been by any woman。
〃I have been thinking of something；〃 said she； 〃but it is difficult
to explain。〃
He asked： 〃What is it？〃
〃It is this： I am like all women。 I have mymy weaknesses。 I should
like to bear a noble name。 Can you not on the occasion of our
marriage change your name somewhat？〃 She blushed as if she had
proposed something indelicate。
He replied simply： 〃I have often thought of it； but it does not seem
easy to me。〃
〃Why not？〃
He laughed。 〃Because I am afraid I should be ridiculed。〃
She shrugged her shoulders。 〃Not at allnot at all。 Everyone does
it； and no one laughs。 Separate your name in this way： Du Roy。 It
sounds very well。〃
He replied： 〃No； that will not do； it is too common a proceeding。 I
have thought of assuming the name of my native place； first as a
literary pseudonym and then as my surname in conjunction with Duroy；
which might later on； as you proposed； be separated。〃
She asked： 〃Is your native place Canteleu？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I do not like the termination。 Could we not modify it？〃
She took a pen and wrote down the names in order to study them。
Suddenly she cried： 〃Now I have it；〃 and held toward him a sheet of
paper on which was written： 〃Mme。 Duroy de Cantel。〃
Gravely he replied： 〃Yes； it is very nice。〃
She was delighted； and repeated： 〃Duroy de Cantel。 Mme。 Duroy de
Cantel。 It is excellent； excellent！〃
Then she added with an air of conviction： 〃You will see how easily
it will be accepted by everyone！ After to…morrow； sign your articles
'D。 de Cantel；' and your 'Echoes' simply 'Duroy。' That is done on
the press every day and no one will be surprised to see you take a
nom de plume。 What is your father's name？〃
〃Alexandre。〃
She murmured 〃Alexandre！〃 two or three times in succession； then she
wrote upon a blank sheet：
〃M。 and Mme。 Alexandre du Roy de Cantel announce the marriage of
their son； M。 Georges du Roy de Cantel with Mme。 Forestier。〃
She examined her writing； and； charmed with the effect； exclaimed：
〃With a little method one can succeed in anything。〃
When Georges reached the street resolved to call himself；
henceforth； 〃Du Roy；〃 or even 〃Du Roy de Cantel；〃 it seemed to him
that he was of more importance。 He swaggered more boldly； held his
head more erect and walked as he thought gentlemen should。 He felt a
desire to inform the passers…by； 〃My name is Du Roy de Cantel。〃
Scarcely had he entered his apartments when the thought of Mme。 de
Marelle rendered him uneasy； and he wrote to her immediately；
appointing a meeting for the following day。
〃It will be hard；〃 thought he。 〃There will be a quarrel surely。〃
The next morning he received a telegram from Madame； informing him
that she would be with him at one o'clock。 He awaited her
impatiently； determined to confess at once and afterward to argue
with her； to tell her that he could not remain a bachelor
indefinitely； and that； as M。 de Marelle persisted in living； he had
been compelled to choose some one else as a legal companion。 When
the bell rang； his heart gave a bound。
Mme。 de Marelle entered and cast herself into his arms； saying：
〃Good afternoon； Bel…Ami。〃 Perceiving that his embrace was colder
than usual； she glanced up at him and asked： 〃What ails you？〃
〃Take a seat；〃 said he。 〃We must talk seriously。〃
She seated herself without removing her hat； and waited。 He cast
down his eyes； he was preparing to commence。
Finally he said slowly： 〃My dear friend； you see that I am very much
perplexed； very sad； and very much embarrassed by what I have to
confess to you。 I love you； I love you with all my heart； and the
fear of giving you pain grieves me more than what I have to tell
you。〃
She turned pale； trembled； and asked： 〃What is it？ Tell me quickly。〃
He said sadly but resolutely： 〃I am going to be married。〃
She sighed like one about to lose consciousness； then she gasped；
but did not speak。
He continued： 〃You cannot imagine how much I suffered before taking
that resolution。 But I have neither position nor money。 I am alone
in Paris； I must have near me some one who can counsel； comfort； and
support me。 What I need is an associate； an ally； and I have found
one！〃 He paused； hoping that she would reply； expecting an outburst
of furious rage； reproaches； and insults。 She pressed her hand to
her heart and breathed with difficulty。 He took the hand resting on
the arm of the chair； but she drew it away and murmured as if
stupefied： 〃Oh； my God！〃
He fell upon his knees before her； without； however； venturing to
touch her； more moved by her silence than he would have been by her
anger。
〃Clo； my little Clo； you understand my position。 Oh； if I could have
married you； what happiness it would have afforded me！ But you were
married！ What could I do？ Just think of it！ I must make my way in
the world and I can never do so as long as I have no domestic ties。
If you knew。 There are days when I should like to kill your
husband。〃 He spoke in a low； seductive voice。 He saw two tears
gather in Mm