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！
the doors。 Above all； Georges enjoyed being thrown so much in
contact with Suzanne； she made sport of everything and everybody
with cutting appropriateness。 At length； however； he began to feel
an unconquerable repugnance to the love lavished upon him by the
mother； he could no longer see her； hear her； nor think of her
without anger。 He ceased calling upon her； replying to her letters；
and yielding to her appeals。 She finally divined that he no longer
loved her； and the discovery caused her unutterable anguish； but she
watched him； followed him in a cab with drawn blinds to the office；
to his house； in the hope of seeing him pass by。 He would have liked
to strangle her； but he controlled himself on account of his
position on 〃La Vie Francaise〃 and he endeavored by means of
coldness； and even at times harsh words； to make her comprehend that
all was at an end between them。
Then； too； she persisted in devising ruses for summoning him to Rue
de Constantinople； and he was in constant fear that the two women
would some day meet face to face at the door。
On the other hand； his affection for Mme。 de Marelle had increased
during the summer。 They were both Bohemians by nature； they took
excursions together to Argenteuil； Bougival； Maisons； and Poissy；
and when he was forced to return and dine at Mme。 Walter's； he
detested his mature mistress more thoroughly； as he recalled the
youthful one he had just left。 He was congratulating himself upon
having freed himself almost entirely from the former's clutches；
when he received the telegram above mentioned。
He re…read it as he walked along。 He thought： 〃What does that old
owl want with me？ I am certain she has nothing to tell me except
that she adores me。 However； I will see； perhaps there is some truth
in it。 Clotilde is coming at four； I must get rid of the other one
at three or soon after； provided they do not meet。 What jades women
are！〃
As he uttered those words he was reminded of his wife； who was the
only one who did not torment him； she lived by his side and seemed
to love him very much at the proper time； for she never permitted
anything to interfere with her ordinary occupations of life。 He
strolled toward the appointed place of meeting； mentally cursing
Mme。 Walter。
〃Ah； I will receive her in such a manner that she will not tell me
anything。 First of all； I will give her to understand that I shall
never cross her threshold again。〃
He entered to await her。 She soon arrived and； seeing him；
exclaimed： 〃Ah； you received my dispatch！ How fortunate！〃
〃Yes； I received it at the office just as I was setting out for the
Chamber。 What do you want？〃 he asked ungraciously。
She had raised her veil in order to kiss him； and approached him
timidly and humbly with the air of a beaten dog。
〃How unkind you are to me； how harshly you speak！ What have I done
to you？ You do not know what I have suffered for you！〃
He muttered： 〃Are you going to begin that again？〃
She stood near him awaiting a smile； a word of encouragement； to
cast herself into his arms； and whispered： 〃You need not have won me
to treat me thus； you might have left me virtuous and happy。 Do you
remember what you said to me in the church and how you forced me to
enter this house？ And now this is the way you speak to me； receive
me！ My God； my God； how you maltreat me！〃
He stamped his foot and said violently： 〃Enough； be silent！ I can
never see you a moment without hearing that refrain。 You were mature
when you gave yourself to me。 I am much obliged to you； I am
infinitely grateful； but I need not be tied to your apron…strings
until I die！ You have a husband and I a wife。 Neither of us is free；
it was all a caprice； and now it is at an end！〃
She said： 〃How brutal you are； how coarse and villainous！ No； I was
no longer a young girl； but I had never loved； never wavered in my
dignity。〃
He interrupted her： 〃I know it； you have told me that twenty times；
but you have had two children。〃
She drew back as if she had been struck： 〃Oh； Georges！〃 And pressing
her hands to her heart； she burst into tears。
When she began to weep； he took his hat： 〃Ah； you are crying again！
Good evening！ Is it for this that you sent for me？〃
She took a step forward in order to bar the way； and drawing a
handkerchief from her pocket she wiped her eyes。 Her voice grew
steadier： 〃No； I came toto give youpolitical newsto give you
the means of earning fifty thousand francsor even more if you wish
to。〃
Suddenly softened he asked： 〃How？〃
〃By chance last evening I heard a conversation between my husband
and Laroche。 Walter advised the minister not to let you into the
secret for you would expose it。〃
Du Roy placed his hat upon a chair and listened attentively。
〃They are going to take possession of Morocco！〃
〃Why； I lunched with Laroche this morning； and he told me the
cabinet's plans！〃
〃No； my dear； they have deceived you； because they feared their
secret would be made known。〃
〃Sit down；〃 said Georges。
He sank into an armchair； while she drew up a stool and took her
seat at his feet。 She continued：
〃As I think of you continually； I pay attention to what is talked of
around me；〃 and she proceeded to tell him what she had heard
relative to the expedition to Tangiers which had been decided upon
the day that Laroche assumed his office； she told him how they had
little by little bought up； through agents who aroused no
suspicions； the Moroccan loan； which had fallen to sixty…four or
sixty…five francs； how when the expedition was entered upon the
French government would guarantee the debt； and their friends would
make fifty or sixty millions。
He cried： 〃Are you sure of that？〃
She replied： 〃Yes； I am sure。〃
He continued： 〃That is indeed fine！ As for that rascal of a Laroche；
let him beware！ I will get his ministerial carcass between my
fingers yet！〃
Then； after a moment's reflection； he muttered： 〃One might profit by
that！〃
〃You too can buy some stock；〃 said she； 〃it is only seventy…two
francs。〃
He replied： 〃But I have no ready money。〃
She raised her eyes to hiseyes full of supplication。
〃I have thought of that； my darling； and if you love me a little；
you will let me lend it to you。〃
He replied abruptly； almost harshly： 〃No； indeed。〃
She whispered imploringly： 〃Listen； there is something you can do
without borrowing money。 I intended buying ten thousand francs'
worth of the stock； instead； I will take twenty thousand and you can
have half。 There will be nothing to pay at once。 If it succeeds； we
will make seventy thousand francs； if not； you will owe me ten
thousand which you can repay at your pleasure。〃
He said again： 〃No； I do not like those combinations。〃
She tried to persuade him by telling him that she advanced nothing
that the payments were made by Walter's bank。 She pointed out to him
that he had led the political campaign in 〃La Vie Francaise；〃 and
that he would be very simple not to profit by the results he had
helped to bring about。 As he still hesitated； she added： 〃It is in
reality Walter who will advance the money； and you have done enough
for him to offset that sum。〃
〃Ve