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！
On leaving the office； as it was pleasant； Georges proposed that
they take a stroll along the boulevards。 He was very tender； very
careful of her； and laughed joyously while she remained pensive and
grave。
It was a cold； autumn day。 The pedestrians seemed in haste and
walked along rapidly。
Du Roy led his wife to the shop into the windows of which he had so
often gazed at the coveted chronometer。
〃Shall I buy you some trinket？〃 he asked。
She replied indifferently： 〃As you like。〃
They entered the shop： 〃What would you prefer； a necklace； a
bracelet； or earrings？〃
The sight of the brilliant gems made her eyes sparkle in spite of
herself； as she glanced at the cases filled with costly baubles。
Suddenly she exclaimed： 〃There is a lovely bracelet。〃
It was a chain； very unique in shape； every link of which was set
with a different stone。
Georges asked： 〃How much is that bracelet？〃
The jeweler replied： 〃Three thousand francs； sir。〃
〃If you will let me have it for two thousand five hundred； I will
take it。〃
The man hesitated； then replied： 〃No； sir； it is impossible。〃
Du Roy said： 〃See herethrow in this chronometer at fifteen hundred
francs； that makes four thousand； and I will pay cash。 If you do not
agree； I will go somewhere else。〃
The jeweler finally yielded。 〃Very well； sir。〃
The journalist； after leaving his address； said： 〃You can have my
initials G。 R。 C。 interlaced below a baron's crown； engraved on the
chronometer。〃
Madeleine； in surprise； smiled； and when they left the shop； she
took his arm quite affectionately。 She thought him very shrewd and
clever。 He was right； now that he had a fortune he must have a
title。
They passed the Vaudeville on their way arid； entering； secured a
box。 Then they repaired to Mme； de Marelle's at Georges' suggestion；
to invite her to spend the evening with them。 Georges rather dreaded
the first meeting with Clotilde； but she did not seem to bear him
any malice； or even to remember their disagreement。 The dinner；
which they took at a restaurant； was excellent； and the evening
altogether enjoyable。
Georges and Madeleine returned home late。 The gas was extinguished；
and in order to light the way the journalist from time to time
struck a match。 On reaching the landing on the first floor they saw
their reflections in the mirror。 Du Roy raised his hand with the
lighted match in it； in order to distinguish their images more
clearly； and said； with a triumphant smile：
〃The millionaires are passing by。〃
CHAPTER XV。
SUZANNE
Morocco had been conquered； France； the mistress of Tangiers； had
guaranteed the debt of the annexed country。 It was rumored that two
ministers； Laroche…Mathieu being one of them； had made twenty
millions。
As for Walter； in a few days he had become one of the masters of the
worlda financier more omnipotent than a king。 He was no longer the
Jew； Walter； the director of a bank； the proprietor of a yellow
newspaper； he was M。 Walter the wealthy Israelite； and he wished to
prove it。
Knowing the straitened circumstances of the Prince de Carlsbourg who
owned one of the fairest mansions on Rue du Faubourg Saint…Honore；
he proposed to buy it。 He offered three million francs for it。 The
prince； tempted by the sum； accepted his offer； the next day； Walter
took possession of his new dwelling。 Then another idea occurred to
himan idea of conquering all Parisan idea a la Bonaparte。
At that time everyone was raving over a painting by the Hungarian；
Karl Marcovitch； exhibited by Jacques Lenoble and representing
〃Christ Walking on the Water。〃 Art critics enthusiastically declared
it to be the most magnificent painting of the age。 Walter bought it；
thereby causing entire Paris to talk of him； to envy him； to censure
or approve his action。 He issued an announcement in the papers that
everyone was invited to come on a certain evening to see it。
Du Roy was jealous of M。 Walter's success。 He had thought himself
wealthy with the five hundred thousand francs extorted from his
wife； and now he felt poor as he compared his paltry fortune with
the shower of millions around him。 His envious rage increased daily。
He cherished ill will toward everyonetoward the Walters； even
toward his wife； and above all toward the man who had deceived him；
made use of him； and who dined twice a week at his house。 Georges
acted as his secretary； agent； mouthpiece； and when he wrote at his
dictation； he felt a mad desire to strangle him。 Laroche reigned
supreme in the Du Roy household； having taken the place of Count de
Vaudrec； he spoke to the servants as if he were their master。
Georges submitted to it all； like a dog which wishes to bite and
dares not。 But he was often harsh and brutal to Madeleine； who
merely shrugged her shoulders and treated him as one would a fretful
child。 She was surprised； too； at his constant ill humor； and said：
〃I do not understand you。 You are always complaining。 Your position
is excellent。〃
His only reply was to turn his back upon her。 He declared that he
would not attend M。 Walter's fetethat he would not cross the
miserable Jew's threshold。 For two months Mme。 Walter had written to
him daily； beseeching him to come to see her； to appoint a meeting
where he would； in order that she might give him the seventy
thousand francs she had made for him。 He did not reply and threw her
letters into the fire。 Not that he would have refused to accept his
share of the profits； but he enjoyed treating her scornfully；
trampling her under foot； she was too wealthy； he would be
inflexible。
The day of the exhibition of the picture； as Madeleine chided him
for not going； he replied： 〃Leave me in peace。 I shall remain at
home。〃
After they had dined； he said suddenly； 〃I suppose I shall have to
go through with it。 Get ready quickly。〃
〃I shall be ready in fifteen minutes；〃 she said。
As they entered the courtyard of the Hotel de Carlsbourg it was one
blaze of light。 A magnificent carpet was spread upon the steps
leading to the entrance； and upon each one stood a man in livery； as
rigid as marble。
Du Roy's heart was torn with jealousy。 He and his wife ascended the
steps and gave their wraps to the footmen who approached them。
At the entrance to the drawing…room； two children； one in pink； the
other in blue； handed bouquets to the ladies。
The rooms were already well filled。 The majority of the ladies were
in street costumes； a proof that they came thither as they would go
to any exhibition。 The few who intended to remain to the ball which
was to follow wore evening dress。
Mme。 Walter； surrounded by friends； stood in the second salon and
received the visitors。 Many did not know her； and walked through the
rooms as if in a museumwithout paying any heed to the host and
hostess。
When Virginie perceived Du Roy； she grew livid and made a movement
toward him； then she paused and waited for him to advance。 He bowed
ceremoniously； while Madeleine greeted her effusively。 Georges left
his wife near Mme。 Walter and mingled with the guests。 Five drawing…
rooms opened one into the other； they were carpeted with rich；
oriental rugs； and upon