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〃Tolerably； my wife is a comrade； an associate； nothing more； as for
my heart〃
〃I understand； but she is good。〃
〃Yes； she does not trouble me。〃
He drew near Clotilde and murmured： 〃When shall we meet again？〃
〃To…morrow； if you will。〃
〃Yes； to…morrow at two o'clock。〃
He rose to take his leave somewhat embarrassed。
〃You know I intend to take back the rooms on Rue de Constantinople
myself。 I wish to； it is not necessary for you to pay for them。〃
She kissed his hands； saying： 〃You may do as you like。 I am
satisfied to have kept them until we met again。〃 And Du Roy took his
leave very well satisfied。
When Thursday came； he asked Madeleine： 〃Are going to the fencing…
match at Rival's？〃
〃No； I do not care about it。 I will go to the chamber of deputies。〃
Georges called for Mme。 Walter in an open carriage； for the weather
was delightful。 He was surprised to find her looking so handsome and
so young。 Never had she appeared so fresh。 Her daughter； Suzanne；
was dressed in pink； her sister looked like her governess。 At
Rival's door was a long line of carriages。 Du Roy offered his arm to
Mme。 Walter and they entered。
The entertainment was for the benefit of the orphans of the Sixth
Ward under the patronage of all the wiles of the senators and
deputies who were connected with 〃La Vie Francaise。〃
Jacques Rival received the arrivals at the entrance to his
apartments； then he pointed to a small staircase which led to the
cellar in which were his shooting…gallery and fencing…room； saying：
〃Downstairs； ladies； downstairs。 The match will take place in the
subterranean apartments。〃
Pressing Du Roy's hand； he said： 〃Good evening； Bel…Ami。〃
Du Roy was surprised： 〃Who told you about that name？〃
Rival replied： 〃Mme。 Walter； who thinks it very pretty。〃
Mme。 Walter blushed。
〃Yes； I confess that if I knew you better； I should do as little
Laurine； and I should call you Bel…Ami； too。 It suits you
admirably。〃
Du Roy laughed。 〃I beg you to do so； Madame。〃
She cast down her eyes。 〃No； we are not well enough acquainted。〃
He murmured： 〃Permit me to hope that we shall become so。〃
〃Well； we shall see；〃 said she。
They descended the stairs and entered a large room； which was
lighted by Venetian lanterns and decorated with festoons of gauze。
Nearly all the benches were filled with ladies； who were chatting as
if they were at a theater。 Mme。 Walter and her daughters reached
their seats in the front row。
Du Roy； having obtained their places for them； whispered： 〃I shall
be obliged to leave you； men cannot occupy the seats。〃
Mme。 Walter replied hesitatingly： 〃I should like to keep you； just
the same。 You could tell me the names of the participants。 See； if
you stand at the end of the seat； you will not annoy anyone。〃 She
raised her large； soft eyes to his and insisted： 〃Come； stay with
usBel…Amiwe need you！〃
He replied： 〃I obey with pleasure； Madame！〃
Suddenly Jacques Rival's voice announced： 〃We will begin； ladies。〃
Then followed the fencing…match。 Du Roy retained his place beside
the ladies and gave them all the necessary information。 When the
entertainment was over and all expenses were paid； two hundred and
twenty francs remained for the orphans of the Sixth Ward。
Du Roy； escorting the Walters； awaited his carriage。 When seated
face to face with Mme。 Walter； he met her troubled but caressing
glance。
〃Egad； I believe she is affected；〃 thought he； and he smiled as he
recognized the fact that he was really successful with the female
sex； for Mme。 de Marelle； since the renewal of their relations；
seemed to love him madly。
With a light heart he returned home。 Madeleine was awaiting him in
the drawing…room。
〃I have some news；〃 said she。 〃The affair with Morocco is becoming
complicated。 France may send an expedition out there in several
months。 In any case the ministry will be overthrown and Laroche will
profit by the occasion。〃
Du Roy； in order to draw out his wife； pretended not to believe it。
〃France would not be silly enough to commence any folly with Tunis！〃
She shrugged her shoulders impatiently。 〃I tell you she will！ You do
not understand that it is a question of moneyyou are as simple as
Forestier。〃
Her object was to wound and irritate him； but he only smiled and
replied： 〃What！ as simple as that stupid fellow？〃
She ceased and murmured： 〃Oh； Georges！〃
He added： 〃Poor devil！〃 in a tone of profound pity。
Madeleine turned her back upon him scornfully； after a moment of
silence； she continued： 〃We shall have some company Tuesday。 Mme。
Laroche…Mathieu is coming here to dine with Viscountess de Percemur。
Will you invite Rival and Norbert de Varenne？ I shall go to Mmes。
Walter and de Marelle to…morrow。 Perhaps； too； we may have Mme。
Rissolin。〃
Du Roy replied： 〃Very well； I will see to Rival and Norbert。〃
The following day he thought he would anticipate his wife's visit to
Mme。 Walter and attempt to find out if she really was in love with
him。 He arrived at Boulevard Malesherbes at two o'clock。 He was
ushered into the salon and waited。 Finally Mme。 Walter appeared and
offered him her hand cordially。 〃What good wind blows you here？〃
〃No good wind； but a desire to see you。 Some power has impelled me
hither； I do not know why； I have nothing to say except that I have
come； here I am！ Pardon the morning call and the candor of my
explanation。〃
He uttered those words with a smile upon his lips and a serious
accent in his voice。
In her astonishment； she stammered with a blush： 〃But indeedI do
not understandyou surprise me。〃
He added： 〃It is a declaration made in jest in order not to startle
you。〃
They were seated near each other。 She took the matter as a jest。 〃Is
it a declarationseriously？〃
〃Yes； for a long time I have wished to make it； but I dared not；
they say you are so austere； so rigid。〃
She had recovered her self…possession and replied：
〃Why did you choose to…day？〃
〃I do not know。〃 Then he lowered his voice： 〃Or rather because I
have thought only of you since yesterday。〃
Suddenly turning pale； she gasped： 〃Come； enough of this
childishness！ Let us talk of something else。〃
But he fell upon his knees before her。 She tried to rise； he
prevented her by twining his arms about her waist； and repeated in a
passionate voice： 〃Yes； it is true that I have loved you madly for
some time。 Do not answer me。 I am madI love you。 Oh； if you knew
how I love you！〃
She could utter no sound； in her agitation she repulsed him with
both hands； for she could feel his breath upon her cheek。 He rose
suddenly and attempted to embrace her； but gaining her liberty for a
moment； she escaped him and ran from chair to chair。 He； considering
such pursuit beneath his dignity； sank into a chair； buried his face
in his hands； and feigned to sob convulsively。 Then he rose； cried：
〃Adieu； adieu！〃 and fled。
In the hall he took his cane calmly and left the house saying：
〃Cristi！ I believe she loves me！〃
He went at once to the telegraph office to send a message to
Clotilde； appointing a rendezvous for the next day。
On entering the house at his usual time； he said to his wife：