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moment a voice at his side murmured： 〃Georges！〃
It was Mme。 Walter。 She continued in a low voice： 〃How cruel you
are！ How needlessly you inflict suffering upon me。 I bade Suzanne
take that woman away that I might have a word with you。 Listen： I
must speak to you this eveningororyou do not know what I shall
do。 Go into the conservatory。 You will find a door to the left
through which you can reach the garden。 Follow the walk directly in
front of you。 At the end of it you will see an arbor。 Expect me in
ten minutes。 If you do not meet me； I swear I will cause a scandal
here at once！〃
He replied haughtily： 〃Very well； I shall be at the place you named
in ten minutes。〃
But Jacques Rival detained him。 When he reached the alley； he saw
Mme。 Walter in front of him； she cried： 〃Ah； here you are！ Do you
wish to kill me？〃
He replied calmly： 〃I beseech you； none of that； or I shall leave
you at once。〃
Throwing her arms around his neck； she exclaimed： 〃What have I done
to you that you should treat me so？〃
He tried to push her away： 〃You twisted your hair around my coat
buttons the last time we met； and it caused trouble between my wife
and myself。〃
She shook her head： 〃Ah； your wife would not care。 It was one of
your mistresses who made a scene。〃
〃I have none。〃
〃Indeed！ Why do you never come to see me？ Why do you refuse to dine
with me even once a week？ I have no other thoughts than of you。 I
suffer terribly。 You cannot understand that your image； always
present； closes my throat； stifles me； and leaves me scarcely
strength enough to move my limbs in order to walk。 So I remain all
day in my chair thinking of you。〃
He looked at her in astonishment。 These were the words of a
desperate woman； capable of anything。 He； however； cherished a vague
project and replied： 〃My dear； love is not eternal。 One loves and
one ceases to love。 When it lasts it becomes a drawback。 I want none
of it！ However； if you will be reasonable； and will receive and
treat me as a friend； I will come to see you as formerly。 Can you do
that？〃
She murmured： 〃I can do anything in order to see you。〃
〃Then it is agreed that we are to be friends； nothing more。〃
She gasped： 〃It is agreed〃； offering him her lips she cried in her
despair： 〃One more kissone last kiss！〃
He gently drew back。 〃No； we must adhere to our rules。〃
She turned her head and wiped away two tears； then drawing from her
bosom a package of notes tied with pink ribbon； she held it toward
Du Roy： 〃Here is your share of the profits in that Moroccan affair。
I was so glad to make it for you。 Here； take it。〃
He refused： 〃No； I cannot accept that money。〃
She became excited： 〃Oh； you will not refuse it now！ It is yours；
yours alone。 If you do not take it； I will throw it in the sewer。
You will not refuse it； Georges！〃
He took the package and slipped it into his pocket 〃We must return
to the house； you will take cold。〃
〃So much the better； if I could but die！〃
She seized his hand； kissed it passionately； and fled toward the
house。 He returned more leisurely； and entered the conservatory with
head erect and smiling lips。 His wife and Laroche were no longer
there。 The crowd had grown thinner。 Suzanne； leaning on her sister's
arm； advanced toward him。 In a few moments； Rose； whom they teased
about a certain Count； turned upon her heel and left them。
Du Roy； finding himself alone with Suzanne； said in a caressing
voice： 〃Listen； my dear little one； do you really consider me a
friend？〃
〃Why； yes； Bel…Ami。〃
〃You have faith in me？〃
〃Perfect faith。〃
〃Do you remember what I said to you a while since？〃
〃About what？〃
〃About your； marriage； or rather the man you would marry。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well； will you promise me one thing？〃
〃Yes； what is it？〃
〃To consult me when you receive a proposal and to accept no one
without asking my advice。〃
〃Yes； I will gladly。〃
〃And it is to be a secret between usnot a word to your father or
mother。〃
〃Not a word。〃
Rival approached them saying： 〃Mademoiselle； your father wants you
in the ballroom。〃
She said： 〃Come； Bel…Ami；〃 but he refused； for he had decided to
leave at once； wishing to be alone with his thoughts。 He went in
search of his wife； and found her drinking chocolate at the buffet
with two strange men。 She introduced her husband without naming
them。
In a short while； he asked： 〃Shall we go？〃
〃Whenever you like。〃
She took his arm and they passed through the almost deserted rooms。
Madeleine asked： 〃Where is Mme。 Walter； I should like to bid her
good…bye。〃
〃It is unnecessary。 She would try to keep us in the ballroom； and I
have had enough。〃
〃You are right。〃
On the way home they did not speak。 But when they had entered their
room； Madeleine； without even taking off her veil； said to him with
a smile： 〃I have a surprise for you。〃
He growled ill…naturedly： 〃What is it？〃
〃Guess。〃
〃I cannot make the effort。〃
〃The day after to…morrow is the first of January。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃It is the season for New Year's gifts。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Here is yours； which Laroche handed me just now。〃 She gave him a
small black box which resembled a jewel…casket。
He opened it indifferently and saw the cross of the Legion of Honor。
He turned a trifle pale； then smiled； and said： 〃I should have
preferred ten millions。 That did not cost him much。〃
She had expected a transport of delight and was irritated by his
indifference。
〃You are incomprehensible。 Nothing seems to satisfy you。〃
He replied calmly： 〃That man is only paying his debts； he owes me a
great deal more。〃
She was astonished at his tone； and said： 〃It is very nice； however；
at your age。〃
He replied： 〃I should have much more。〃
He took the casket； placed it on the mantelpiece； and looked for
some minutes at the brilliant star within it； then he closed it with
a shrug of his shoulders and began to prepare to retire。
〃L'Officiel〃 of January 1 announced that M。 Prosper Georges du Roy
had been decorated with the Legion of Honor for exceptional
services。 The name was written in two words； and that afforded
Georges more pleasure than the decoration itself。
An hour after having read that notice； he received a note from Mme。
Walter； inviting him to come and bring his wife to dine with them
that evening； to celebrate his distinction。
At first he hesitated； then throwing the letter in the fire； he said
to Madeleine： 〃We shall dine at the Walters' this evening。〃
In her surprise she exclaimed： 〃Why； I thought you would never set
your foot in their house again。〃
His sole reply was： 〃I have changed my mind。〃
When they arrived at Rue du Faubourg Saint…Honore； they found Mme。
Walter alone in the dainty boudoir in which she received her
intimate friends。 She was dressed in black and her hair was
powdered。 At a distance she appeared like an old lady； in proximity；
like a youthful one。
〃Are you in mourning？〃 asked； Madeleine。
She replied sadly： 〃Yes and no。 I have lost none of my relatives；
but I have arrived at an age when one should wear somber colors。 I
wear it to…day to inaugurate it； hitherto I have worn it in my
heart。〃
The dinner was som