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second floor they halted； Du Roy rang the bell and they waited。 In
two or three minutes Georges rang again several times in succession。
They heard a light step approach； and a woman's voice； evidently
disguised； asked：
〃Who is there？〃
The police officer replied： 〃Open in the name of the law。〃
The voice repeated： 〃Who are you？〃
〃I am the police commissioner。 Open； or I will force the door。〃
The voice continued： 〃What do you want？〃
Du Roy interrupted： 〃It is I； it is useless to try to escape us。〃
The footsteps receded and then returned。 Georges said： 〃If you do
not open； we will force the door。〃
Receiving no reply he shook the door so violently that the old lock
gave way； and the young man almost fell over Madeleine； who was
standing in the antechamber in her petticoat； her hair loosened； her
feet bare； and a candle in her hand。
He exclaimed： 〃It is she。 We have caught them；〃 and he rushed into
the room。 The commissioner turned to Madeleine； who had followed
them through the rooms； in one of which were the remnants of a
supper； and looking into her eyes said：
〃You are Mme。 Claire Madeleine du Roy； lawful wife of M。 Prosper
Georges du Roy； here present？〃
She replied： 〃Yes； sir。〃
〃What are you doing here？〃
She made no reply。 The officer repeated his question； still she did
not reply。 He waited several moments and then said： 〃If you do not
confess； Madame； I shall be forced to inquire into the matter。〃
They could see a man's form concealed beneath the covers of the bed。
Du Roy advanced softly and uncovered the livid face of M。 Laroche…
Mathieu。
The officer again asked： 〃Who are you？〃
As the man did not reply； he continued： 〃I am the police
commissioner and I call upon you to tell me your name。 If you do not
answer； I shall be forced to arrest you。 In any case； rise。 I will
interrogate you when you are dressed。〃
In the meantime Madeleine had regained her composure； and seeing
that all was lost； she was determined to put a brave face upon the
matter。 Her eyes sparkled with the audacity of bravado； and taking a
piece of paper she lighted the ten candles in the candelabra as if
for a reception。 That done； she leaned against the mantelpiece； took
a cigarette out of a case； and began to smoke； seeming not to see
her husband。
In the meantime the man in the bed had dressed himself and advanced。
The officer turned to him： 〃Now； sir； will you tell me who you are？〃
He made no reply。
〃I see I shall have to arrest you。〃
Then the man cried： 〃Do not touch me。 I am inviolable。〃
Du Roy rushed toward him exclaiming： 〃I can have you arrested if I
want to！〃 Then he added： 〃This man's name is Laroche…Mathieu；
minister of foreign affairs。〃
The officer retreated and stammered： 〃Sir； will you tell me who you
are？〃
〃For once that miserable fellow has not lied。 I am indeed Laroche…
Mathieu； minister；〃 and pointing to Georges' breast； he added； 〃and
that scoundrel wears upon his coat the cross of honor which I gave
him。〃
Du Roy turned pale。 With a rapid gesture he tore the decoration from
his buttonhole and throwing it in the fire exclaimed： 〃That is what
a decoration is worth which is given by a scoundrel of your order。〃
The commissioner stepped between them； as they stood face to face；
saying： 〃Gentlemen； you forget yourselves and your dignity。〃
Madeleine smoked on calmly； a smile hovering about her lips。 The
officer continued： 〃Sir； I have surprised you alone with Mme。 du Roy
under suspicious circumstances； what have you to say？〃
〃Nothing； do your duty。〃
The commissioner turned to Madeleine： 〃Do you confess； Madame； that
this gentleman is your lover？〃
She replied boldly： 〃I do not deny it。 That is sufficient。〃
The magistrate made several notes； when he had finished writing； the
minister； who stood ready； coat upon arm； hat in hand； asked： 〃Do
you need me any longer； sir？ Can I go？〃
Du Roy addressed him with an insolent smile： 〃Why should you go； we
have finished； we will leave you alone together。〃 Then； taking the
officer's arm； he said： 〃Let us go； sir； we have nothing more to do
in this place。〃
An hour later Georges du Roy entered the office of 〃La Vie
Francaise。〃 M。 Walter was there； he raised his head and asked：
〃What； are you here？ Why are you not dining at my house？ Where have
you come from？〃
Georges replied with emphasis： 〃I have just found out something
about the minister of foreign affairs。〃
〃What？〃
〃I found him alone with my wife in hired apartments。 The
commissioner of police was my witness。 The minister is ruined。〃
〃Are you not jesting？〃
〃No； I am not。 I shall even write an article on it。〃
〃What is your object？〃
〃To overthrow that wretch； that public malefactor。〃
Georges placed his hat upon a chair and added： 〃Woe to those whom I
find in my path。 I never pardon。〃
The manager stammered： 〃But your wife？〃
〃I shall apply for a divorce at once。〃
〃A divorce？〃
〃Yes； I am master of the situation。 I shall be free。 I have a stated
income。 I shall offer myself as a candidate in October in my native
district； where I am known。 I could not win any respect were I to be
hampered with a wife whose honor was sullied。 She took me for a
simpleton； but since I have known her game； I have watched her； and
now I shall get on； for I shall be free。〃
Georges rose。
〃I will write the item； it must be handled prudently。〃
The old man hesitated； then said： 〃Do so： it serves those right who
are caught in such scrapes。〃
CHAPTER XVII。
THE FINAL PLOT
Three months had elapsed。 Georges du Roy's divorce had been
obtained。 His wife had resumed the name of Forestier。
As the Walters were going to Trouville on the fifteenth of July；
they decided to spend a day in the country before starting。
The day chosen was Thursday； and they set out at nine o'clock in the
morning in a large six…seated carriage drawn by four horses。 They
were going to lunch at Saint…Germain。 Bel…Ami had requested that he
might be the only young man in the party； for he could not bear the
presence of the Marquis de Cazolles。 At the last moment； however； it
was decided that Count de Latour…Ivelin should go； for he and Rose
had been betrothed a month。 The day was delightful。 Georges； who was
very pale； gazed at Suzanne as they sat in the carriage and their
eyes met。
Mme。 Walter was contented and happy。 The luncheon was a long and
merry one。 Before leaving for Paris； Du Roy proposed a walk on the
terrace。 They stopped on the way to admire the view； as they passed
on； Georges and Suzanne lingered behind。 The former whispered
softly： 〃Suzanne； I love you madly。〃
She whispered in return： 〃I love you too； Bel…Ami。〃
He continued： 〃If I cannot have you for my wife； I shall leave the
country。〃
She replied： 〃Ask papa。 Perhaps he will consent。〃
He answered impatiently： 〃No； I repeat that it is useless； the door
of the house would be closed against me。 I would lose my position on
the journal； and we would not even meet。 Those are the consequences
a formal proposal would produce。 They have promised you to the
Marquis de Cazolles； they hope you will finally say 'yes' and they
are wa