Come，takethelamp.\"
Hecarriedthelampandtheyenteredthestudy.Madeleineleaned，againstthemantelpiece，andhavinglightedacigarette，toldhimthenewsandgavehimherplanofthearticle.Helistenedattentively，makingnotesasshespoke，andwhenshehadfinishedheraisedobjections，tookupthequestionand，inhisturn，developedanotherplan.Hiswifeceasedsmoking，forherinterestwasarousedinfollowingGeorges’slineofthought.Fromtimetotimeshemurmured：\"Yes，yes;verygood——excellent——veryforcible——\"Andwhenhehadfinishedspeaking，shesaid：\"Nowletuswrite.\"
Itwasalwaysdifficultforhimtomakeabeginningandshewouldleanoverhisshoulderandwhisperthephrasesinhisear，thenhewouldaddafewlines;whentheirarticlewascompleted，Georgesre—
readit.BothheandMadeleinepronounceditadmirableandkissedoneanotherwithpassionateadmiration.
Thearticleappearedwiththesignatureof\"G.duRoydeCantel，\"
andmadeagreatsensation.M.Waltercongratulatedtheauthor，whosoonbecamecelebratedinpoliticalcircles.Hiswife，too，surprisedhimbytheingenuousnessofhermind，theclevernessofherwit，andthenumberofheracquaintances.Atalmostanytimeuponreturninghomehefoundinhissalonasenator，adeputy，amagistrate，orageneral，whotreatedMadeleinewithgravefamiliarity.
DeputyLaroche—Mathieu，whodinedatRueFontaineeveryTuesday，wasoneofthelargeststockholdersofM.Walter’spaperandthelatter’scolleagueandassociateinmanybusinesstransactions.DuRoyhoped，lateron，thatsomeofthebenefitspromisedbyhimtoForestiermightfalltohisshare.TheywouldbegiventoMadeleine’snewhusband——thatwasall——nothingwaschanged;evenhisassociatessometimescalledhimForestier，anditmadeDuRoyfuriousatthedead.Hegrewtohatetheveryname;itwastohimalmostaninsult.Evenathometheobsessioncontinued;theentirehouseremindedhimofCharles.
OneeveningDuRoy，wholikedsweetmeats，asked：
\"Whydoweneverhavesweets？\"
Hiswiferepliedpleasantly：\"Ineverthinkofit，becauseCharlesdislikedthem.\"
Heinterruptedherwithanimpatientgesture：\"DoyouknowIamgettingtiredofCharles？ItisCharleshere，Charlesthere，Charleslikedthis，Charleslikedthat.SinceCharlesisdead，lethimrestinpeace.\"
Madeleineascribedherhusband’sburstofillhumortopuerilejealousy，butshewasflatteredanddidnotreply.Onretiring，hauntedbythesamethought，heasked：
\"DidCharleswearacottonnightcaptokeepthedraftoutofhisears？\"
Sherepliedpleasantly：\"No，alaceone！\"
Georgesshruggedhisshouldersandsaidscornfully：\"Whatabird！\"
FromthattimeGeorgesnevercalledCharlesanythingbut\"poorCharles，\"withanaccentofinfinitepity.OneeveningasDuRoywassmokingacigaretteathiswindow，towardtheendofJune，theheatawokeinhimadesireforfreshair.Heasked：
\"MylittleMade，wouldyouliketogoasfarastheBois？\"
\"Yes，certainly.\"
TheytookanopencarriageanddrovetotheAvenueduBoisdeBoulogne.Itwasasultryevening;ahostofcabslinedthedrive，onebehindanother.WhenthecarriagecontainingGeorgesandMadeleinereachedtheturningwhichledtothefortifications，theykissedoneanotherandMadeleinestammeredinconfusion：\"WeareaschildishaswewereatRouen.\"
Theroadtheyfollowedwasnotsomuchfrequented，agentlebreezerustledtheleavesofthetrees，theskywasstuddedwithbrilliantstarsandGeorgesmurmured，ashepressedhiswifetohisbreast：
\"Oh，mylittleMade.\"
Shesaidtohim：\"DoyourememberhowgloomytheforestatCanteleuwas？Itseemedtomethatitwasfullofhorriblebeastsandthatitwasinterminable，whilehereitischarming.Onecanfeelthecaressingbreezes，andIknowthatSevresisontheotherside.\"
Hereplied：\"Inourforeststherearenothingbutstags，foxes，roebucks，andboars，withhereandthereaforester’shouse.\"Hepausedforamomentandthenasked：\"DidyoucomehereintheeveningwithCharlesoccasionally？\"
Shereplied：\"Frequently.\"
Hefeltadesiretoreturnhomeatonce.Forestier’simagehauntedhim，however;hecouldthinkofnothingelse.ThecarriagerolledontowardtheArcdeTriompheandjoinedthestreamofcarriagesreturninghome.AsGeorgesremainedsilent，hiswife，whodivinedhisthoughts，askedinhersoftvoice：\"Ofwhatareyouthinking？
Forhalfanhouryouhavenotutteredaword.\"
Herepliedwithasneer：\"Iamthinkingofallthosefoolswhokissoneanother，andIbelievetrulythatthereissomethingelsetobedoneinlife.\"
Shewhispered：\"Yes，butitisnicesometimes！Itisnicewhenonehasnothingbettertodo.\"
Georges’thoughtswerebusywiththedead;hesaidtohimselfangrily：\"Iamfoolishtoworry，totormentmyselfasIhavedone.\"
Afterremonstratingthuswithhimself，hefeltmorereconciledtothethoughtofForestier，andfeltlikeexclaiming：\"Goodevening，oldfellow！\"
Madeleine，whowasboredbyhissilence，asked：\"ShallwegotoTortoni’sforicesbeforereturninghome？\"
Heglancedatherfromhiscornerandthought：\"Sheispretty;somuchthebetter.Titfortat，mycomrade.Butiftheybeginagaintoannoymewithyou，itwillgetsomewhathotattheNorthPole！\"
Thenhereplied：\"Certainly，mydarling，\"andbeforeshehadtimetothinkhekissedher.ItseemedtoMadeleinethatherhusband’slipswereicy.Howeverhesmiledasusualandgaveherhishandtoassisthertoalightatthecafe.
CHAPTERXI.
MADAMEWALTERTAKESAHAND
Onenteringtheofficethefollowingday，DuRoysoughtBoisrenardandtoldhimtowarnhisassociatesnottocontinuethefarceofcallinghimForestier，ortherewouldbewar.WhenDuRoyreturnedanhourlater，noonecalledhimbythatname.Fromtheofficeheproceededtohishome，andhearingthesoundofladies’voicesinthedrawing—room，heaskedtheservant：\"Whoishere？\"
\"Mme.WalterandMme.deMarelle，\"wasthereply.
Hisheartpulsatedviolentlyasheopenedthedoor.Clotildewasseatedbythefireplace;itseemedtoGeorgesthatsheturnedpaleonperceivinghim.
HavinggreetedMme.Walterandhertwodaughtersseatedlikesentinelsbesideher，heturnedtohisformermistress.Sheextendedherhand;hetookandpresseditasiftosay：\"Iloveyoustill！\"
Shereturnedthepressure.
Hesaid：\"Haveyoubeenwellsincewelastmet？\"
\"Yes;haveyou，Bel—Ami？\"AndturningtoMadeleinesheadded：\"WillyoupermitmetocallhimBel—Ami？\"
\"Certainly，mydear;Iwillpermitanythingyouwish.\"
Ashadeofironylurkedbeneaththosewords，utteredsopleasantly.
Mme.Waltermentionedafencing—matchtobegivenatJacquesRival’sapartments，theproceedstobedevotedtocharities，andinwhichmanysocietyladiesweregoingtoassist.Shesaid：\"Itwillbeveryentertaining;butIamindespair，forwehavenoonetoescortus，myhusbandhavinganengagement.\"
DuRoyofferedhisservicesatonce.Sheaccepted，saying：\"MydaughtersandIshallbeverygrateful.\"
Heglancedattheyoungerofthetwogirlsandthought：\"LittleSuzanneisnotatallbad，notatall.\"
Sheresembledadoll，beingverysmallanddainty，withawell—
proportionedform，apretty，delicateface，blue—grayeyes，afairskin，andcurly，flaxenhair.Hereldersister，Rose，wasplain——oneofthosegirlstowhomnoattentioniseverpaid.Hermotherrose，andturningtoGeorges，said：\"IshallcountonyounextThursdayattwoo’clock.\"
Hereplied：\"Countuponme，Madame.\"
WhenthedoorcloseduponMme.Walter，Mme.deMarelle，inherturn，rose.
\"Aurevoir，Bel—Ami.\"
Thistimeshepressedhishandandhewasmovedbythatsilentavowal.\"Iwillgotoseeherto—morrow，\"thoughthe.
Leftalonewithhiswife，shelaughed，andlookingintohiseyessaid：\"Mme.Walterhastakenafancytoyou！\"
Herepliedincredulously：\"Nonsense！\"
\"ButIknowit.Shespokeofyoutomewithgreatenthusiasm.Shesaidshewouldliketofindtwohusbandslikeyouforherdaughters.
Fortunatelysheisnotsusceptibleherself.\"
Hedidnotunderstandherandrepeated：\"Susceptibleherself？\"
Sherepliedinatoneofconviction：\"Oh，Mme.Walterisirreproachable.HerhusbandyouknowaswellasI.Butsheisdifferent.StillshehassufferedagreatdealinhavingmarriedaJew，thoughshehasbeentruetohim;sheisavirtuouswoman.\"
DuRoywassurprised：\"IthoughtheraJewess.\"
\"SheaJewess！No，indeed！SheistheprimemoverinallthecharitablemovementsattheMadeleine.Shewasevenmarriedbyapriest.IamnotsurebutthatM.Walterwentthroughtheformofbaptism.\"
Georgesmurmured：\"And——she——likes——me——\"
\"Yes.IfyouwerenotmarriedIshouldadviseyoutoaskforthehandof——Suzanne——wouldyounotpreferhertoRose？\"
Herepliedashetwistedhismustache：\"Eh！themotherisnotsobad！\"
Madeleinereplied：\"Iamnotafraidofher.Atherageonedoesnotbegintomakeconquests——oneshouldcommencesooner.\"
Georgesthought：\"IfImighthavehadSuzanne，ah！\"Thenheshruggedhisshoulders：\"Bah，itisabsurd;herfatherwouldnothaveconsented.\"
HedeterminedtotreatMme.Walterveryconsideratelyinordertoretainherregard.AllthateveninghewashauntedbyrecollectionsofhisloveforClotilde;herecalledtheirescapades，herkindness.
Herepeatedtohimself：\"Sheisindeednice.Yes，Ishallcalluponherto—morrow.\"
WhenhehadlunchedthefollowingmorningherepairedtoRueVerneuil.Thesamemaidopenedthedoor，andwiththefamiliarityofanoldservantsheasked：\"IsMonsieurwell？\"
Hereplied：\"Yes，mychild，\"andenteredthedrawing—roominwhichsomeonewaspractisingscales.ItwasLaurine.Heexpectedshewouldfalluponhisneck.She，however，roseceremoniously，bowedcoldly，andlefttheroomwithdignity;hermannerwassomuchlikethatofanoutragedwomanthathewasamazed.Hermotherentered.Hekissedherhand.
\"HowmuchIhavethoughtofyou，\"saidhe.
\"AndIofyou，\"shereplied.
Theyseatedthemselvesandsmiledastheygazedintooneanother’seyes.
\"MydearlittleClo，Iloveyou.\"
\"AndIloveyou.\"
\"Still——still——youdidnotmissme.\"
\"Yesandno.Iwasgrieved，butwhenIheardyourreason，Isaidtomyself：’Bah，hewillreturntomesomeday.’\"
\"Idarednotcome.IdidnotknowhowIshouldbereceived.Idarednot，butIlongedtocome.Now，tellmewhatailsLaurine;shescarcelybademegoodmorningandlefttheroomwithanangryair.\"
\"Idonotknow，butonecannotmentionyoutohersinceyourmarriage;Ireallybelievesheisjealous.\"
\"Nonsense.\"
\"Yes，mydear，shenolongercallsyouBel—Ami，butM.Forestierinstead.\"
DuRoycolored，thendrawingnearertheyoungwoman，hesaid：\"Kissme.\"
Sheobeyedhim.
\"Wherecanwemeetagain？\"heasked.
\"AtRuedeConstantinople.\"
\"Ah，aretheapartmentsnotrented？\"
\"No，Ikeptthem.\"
\"Youdid？\"
\"Yes，Ithoughtyouwouldreturn.\"
Hisheartboundedjoyfully.Shelovedhimthenwithalastinglove！
Hewhispered：\"Iadoreyou.\"Thenheasked：\"Isyourhusbandwell？\"
\"Yes，verywell.Hehasjustbeenhomeforamonth;hewentawaythedaybeforeyesterday.\"
DuRoycouldnotsuppressasmile：\"Howopportunelythatalwayshappens！\"
Sherepliednaively：\"Yes，ithappensopportunely，butheisnotinthewaywhenheishere;ishe？\"
\"Thatistrue;heisacharmingman！\"
\"Howdoyoulikeyournewlife？\"
\"Tolerably;mywifeisacomrade，anassociate，nothingmore;asformyheart——\"
\"Iunderstand;butsheisgood.\"
\"Yes，shedoesnottroubleme.\"
HedrewnearClotildeandmurmured：\"Whenshallwemeetagain？\"
\"To—morrow，ifyouwill.\"
\"Yes，to—morrowattwoo’clock.\"
Herosetotakehisleavesomewhatembarrassed.
\"YouknowIintendtotakebacktheroomsonRuedeConstantinoplemyself.Iwishto;itisnotnecessaryforyoutopayforthem.\"
Shekissedhishands，saying：\"Youmaydoasyoulike.Iamsatisfiedtohavekeptthemuntilwemetagain.\"AndDuRoytookhisleaveverywellsatisfied.
WhenThursdaycame，heaskedMadeleine：\"Aregoingtothefencing—
matchatRival’s？\"
\"No，Idonotcareaboutit.Iwillgotothechamberofdeputies.\"
GeorgescalledforMme.Walterinanopencarriage，fortheweatherwasdelightful.Hewassurprisedtofindherlookingsohandsomeandsoyoung.Neverhadsheappearedsofresh.Herdaughter，Suzanne，wasdressedinpink;hersisterlookedlikehergoverness.AtRival’sdoorwasalonglineofcarriages.DuRoyofferedhisarmtoMme.Walterandtheyentered.
TheentertainmentwasforthebenefitoftheorphansoftheSixthWardunderthepatronageofallthewilesofthesenatorsanddeputieswhowereconnectedwith\"LaVieFrancaise.\"
JacquesRivalreceivedthearrivalsattheentrancetohisapartments，thenhepointedtoasmallstaircasewhichledtothecellarinwhichwerehisshooting—galleryandfencing—room，saying：
\"Downstairs，ladies，downstairs.Thematchwilltakeplaceinthesubterraneanapartments.\"
PressingDuRoy’shand，hesaid：\"Goodevening，Bel—Ami.\"
DuRoywassurprised：\"Whotoldyouaboutthatname？\"
Rivalreplied：\"Mme.Walter，whothinksitverypretty.\"
Mme.Walterblushed.
\"Yes，IconfessthatifIknewyoubetter，IshoulddoaslittleLaurine，andIshouldcallyouBel—Ami，too.Itsuitsyouadmirably.\"
DuRoylaughed.\"Ibegyoutodoso，Madame.\"
Shecastdownhereyes.\"No，wearenotwellenoughacquainted.\"
Hemurmured：\"Permitmetohopethatweshallbecomeso.\"
\"Well，weshallsee，\"saidshe.
Theydescendedthestairsandenteredalargeroom，whichwaslightedbyVenetianlanternsanddecoratedwithfestoonsofgauze.
Nearlyallthebencheswerefilledwithladies，whowerechattingasiftheywereatatheater.Mme.Walterandherdaughtersreachedtheirseatsinthefrontrow.
DuRoy，havingobtainedtheirplacesforthem，whispered：\"Ishallbeobligedtoleaveyou;mencannotoccupytheseats.\"
Mme.Walterrepliedhesitatingly：\"Ishouldliketokeepyou，justthesame.Youcouldtellmethenamesoftheparticipants.See，ifyoustandattheendoftheseat，youwillnotannoyanyone.\"Sheraisedherlarge，softeyestohisandinsisted：\"Come，staywithus——Bel—Ami——weneedyou！\"
Hereplied：\"Iobeywithpleasure，Madame！\"
SuddenlyJacquesRival’svoiceannounced：\"Wewillbegin，ladies.\"
Thenfollowedthefencing—match.DuRoyretainedhisplacebesidetheladiesandgavethemallthenecessaryinformation.Whentheentertainmentwasoverandallexpenseswerepaid，twohundredandtwentyfrancsremainedfortheorphansoftheSixthWard.
DuRoy，escortingtheWalters，awaitedhiscarriage.WhenseatedfacetofacewithMme.Walter，hemethertroubledbutcaressingglance.
\"Egad，Ibelievesheisaffected，\"thoughthe;andhesmiledasherecognizedthefactthathewasreallysuccessfulwiththefemalesex，forMme.deMarelle，sincetherenewaloftheirrelations，seemedtolovehimmadly.
Withalighthearthereturnedhome.Madeleinewasawaitinghiminthedrawing—room.
\"Ihavesomenews，\"saidshe.\"TheaffairwithMoroccoisbecomingcomplicated.Francemaysendanexpeditionoutthereinseveralmonths.InanycasetheministrywillbeoverthrownandLarochewillprofitbytheoccasion.\"
DuRoy，inordertodrawouthiswife，pretendednottobelieveit.
\"FrancewouldnotbesillyenoughtocommenceanyfollywithTunis！\"
Sheshruggedhershouldersimpatiently.\"Itellyoushewill！Youdonotunderstandthatitisaquestionofmoney——youareassimpleasForestier.\"
Herobjectwastowoundandirritatehim，butheonlysmiledandreplied：\"What！assimpleasthatstupidfellow？\"
Sheceasedandmurmured：\"Oh，Georges！\"
Headded：\"Poordevil！\"inatoneofprofoundpity.
Madeleineturnedherbackuponhimscornfully;afteramomentofsilence，shecontinued：\"WeshallhavesomecompanyTuesday.Mme.
Laroche—MathieuiscomingheretodinewithViscountessdePercemur.
WillyouinviteRivalandNorbertdeVarenne？IshallgotoMmes.
WalteranddeMarelleto—morrow.Perhaps，too，wemayhaveMme.
Rissolin.\"
DuRoyreplied：\"Verywell，IwillseetoRivalandNorbert.\"
Thefollowingdayhethoughthewouldanticipatehiswife’svisittoMme.Walterandattempttofindoutifshereallywasinlovewithhim.HearrivedatBoulevardMalesherbesattwoo’clock.Hewasusheredintothesalonandwaited.FinallyMme.Walterappearedandofferedhimherhandcordially.\"Whatgoodwindblowsyouhere？\"
\"Nogoodwind，butadesiretoseeyou.Somepowerhasimpelledmehither，Idonotknowwhy;IhavenothingtosayexceptthatIhavecome;hereIam！Pardonthemorningcallandthecandorofmyexplanation.\"
Heutteredthosewordswithasmileuponhislipsandaseriousaccentinhisvoice.
Inherastonishment，shestammeredwithablush：\"Butindeed——Idonotunderstand——yousurpriseme.\"
Headded：\"Itisadeclarationmadeinjestinordernottostartleyou.\"
Theywereseatedneareachother.Shetookthematterasajest.\"Isitadeclaration——seriously？\"
\"Yes，foralongtimeIhavewishedtomakeit，butIdarednot;
theysayyouaresoaustere，sorigid.\"
Shehadrecoveredherself—possessionandreplied：
\"Whydidyouchooseto—day？\"
\"Idonotknow.\"Thenheloweredhisvoice：\"OrratherbecauseI
havethoughtonlyofyousinceyesterday.\"
Suddenlyturningpale，shegasped：\"Come，enoughofthischildishness！Letustalkofsomethingelse.\"
Buthefelluponhiskneesbeforeher.Shetriedtorise;hepreventedherbytwininghisarmsaboutherwaist，andrepeatedinapassionatevoice：\"Yes，itistruethatIhavelovedyoumadlyforsometime.Donotanswerme.Iammad——Iloveyou.Oh，ifyouknewhowIloveyou！\"
Shecouldutternosound;inheragitationsherepulsedhimwithbothhands，forshecouldfeelhisbreathuponhercheek.Herosesuddenlyandattemptedtoembraceher，butgainingherlibertyforamoment，sheescapedhimandranfromchairtochair.He，consideringsuchpursuitbeneathhisdignity，sankintoachair，buriedhisfaceinhishands，andfeignedtosobconvulsively.Thenherose，cried：
\"Adieu，adieu！\"andfled.
Inthehallhetookhiscanecalmlyandleftthehousesaying：
\"Cristi！Ibelieveshelovesme！\"
HewentatoncetothetelegraphofficetosendamessagetoClotilde，appointingarendezvousforthenextday.
Onenteringthehouseathisusualtime，hesaidtohiswife：\"Well，iseveryonecomingtodinner？\"
Shereplied：\"Yes，allbutMme.Walter，whoisuncertainastowhethershecancome.Sheactedverystrangely.Nevermind，perhapsshecanmanageitanyway.\"
Hereplied：\"Shewillcome.\"
Hewasnot，however，certainandwasrendereduneasyuntilthedayofthedinner.ThatmorningMadeleinereceivedamessagefromMme.
Waltertothiseffect：\"IhavesucceededinarrangingmattersandI
shallbewithyou，butmyhusbandcannotaccompanyme.\"
DuRoythought：\"Ididrightnottoreturnthere.Shehascalmeddown.\"Stillheawaitedherarrivalanxiously.
Sheappearedverycomposed，somewhatreserved，andhaughty.Hewasveryhumble，verycareful，andsubmissive.Mmes.Laroche—MathieuandRissolinwereaccompaniedbytheirhusbands.Mme.deMarellelookedbewitchinginanoddcombinationofyellowandblack.
AtDuRoy’srightsatMme.Walter，andhespoketoheronlyofseriousmatterswithexaggeratedrespect.FromtimetotimeheglancedatClotilde.
\"Sheisreallyveryprettyandfreshlooking，\"thoughthe.ButMme.
Walterattractedhimbythedifficultyoftheconquest.Shetookherleaveearly.
\"Iwillescortyou，\"saidhe.
Shedeclinedhisoffer.Heinsisted：\"Whydoyounotwantme？Youwoundmedeeply.DonotletmefeelthatIamnotforgiven.YouseethatIamcalm.\"
Shereplied：\"Youcannotleaveyourgueststhus.\"
Hesmiled：\"Bah！Ishallbeabsenttwentyminutes.Noonewillevennoticeit;ifyourefuseme，youwillbreakmyheart.\"
\"Verywell，\"shewhispered，\"Iwillaccept.\"
Whentheywereseatedinthecarriage，heseizedherhand，andkissingitpassionatelysaid：\"Iloveyou，Iloveyou.Letmetellittoyou.Iwillnottouchyou.IonlywishtorepeatthatIloveyou.\"
Shestammered：\"Afterwhatyoupromisedme——itistoobad——toobad.\"
Heseemedtomakeagreateffort，thenhecontinuedinasubduedvoice：\"See，howIcancontrolmyself——andyet——letmeonlytellyouthis——Iloveyou——yes，letmegohomewithyouandkneelbeforeyoufiveminutestoutterthosethreewordsandgazeuponyourbelovedface.\"
Shesufferedhimtotakeherhandandrepliedinbrokenaccents：
\"No，Icannot——Idonotwishto.Thinkofwhatmyservants，mydaughters，wouldsay——no——no——itisimpossible.\"
Hecontinued：\"Icannotlivewithoutseeingyou;whetheritbeatyourhouseorelsewhere，ImustseeyouforonlyamomenteachdaythatImaytouchyourhand，breathetheairstirredbyyourgown，contemplatetheoutlinesofyourform，andseeyourbeautifuleyes.\"
Shelistenedtremblinglytothemusicallanguageoflove，andmadeanswer：\"No，itisimpossible.Besilent！\"
Hespokeverylow;hewhisperedinherear，comprehendingthatitwasnecessarytowinthatsimplewomangradually，topersuadehertoappointameetingwhereshewilledatfirst，andlateronwherehewilled.
\"Listen：Imustseeyou！Iwillwaitatyourdoorlikeabeggar.Ifyoudonotcomedown，Iwillcometoyou，butIshallseeyouto—
morrow.\"
Sherepeated：\"No，donotcome.Ishallnotreceiveyou.Thinkofmydaughters！\"
\"ThentellmewhereIcanmeetyou——inthestreet——itmattersnotwhere——atanyhouryouwish——providedthatIcanseeyou.Iwillgreetyou;Iwillsay，Iloveyou;andthengoaway.\"
Shehesitated，almostdistracted.Asthecoupestoppedatthedoor，shewhisperedhastily：\"IwillbeatLaTriniteto—morrow，athalfpastthree.\"
Afteralighting，shesaidtohercoachman：\"TakeM.duRoyhome.\"
Whenhereturned，hiswifeasked：\"Wherehaveyoubeen？\"
Herepliedinalowvoice：\"Ihavebeentosendanimportanttelegram.\"
Mme.deMarelleapproachedhim：\"Youmusttakemehome，Bel—Ami;youknowthatIonlydinesofarfromhomeonthatcondition.\"TurningtoMadeleine，sheasked：\"Youarenotjealous？\"
Mme.duRoyrepliedslowly：\"No，notatall.\"
Theguestsdeparted.Clotilde，envelopedinlaces，whisperedtoMadeleineatthedoor：\"Yourdinnerwasperfect.InashortwhileyouwillhavethebestpoliticalsaloninParis.\"
WhenshewasalonewithGeorges，shesaid：\"Oh，mydarlingBel—Ami，Iloveyoumoredearlyeveryday.\"
Thecabrolledon，andGeorges’thoughtswerewithMme.Walter.
CHAPTERXII.
AMEETINGANDTHERESULT
TheJulysunshoneuponthePlacedelaTrinite，whichwasalmostdeserted.DuRoydrewouthiswatch.Itwasonlythreeo’clock：hewashalfanhourtooearly.Helaughedashethoughtoftheplaceofmeeting.HeenteredthesacrededificeofLaTrinite;thecoolnesswithinwasrefreshing.Hereandthereanoldwomankneeledatprayer，herfaceinherhands.DuRoylookedathiswatchagain.Itwasnotyetaquarterpastthree.Hetookaseat，regrettingthathecouldnotsmoke.Attheendofthechurchnearthechoir;hecouldhearthemeasuredtreadofacorpulentmanwhomhehadnoticedwhenheentered.Suddenlytherustleofagownmadehimstart.Itwasshe.Hearoseandadvancedquickly.Shedidnotofferhimherhandandwhispered：\"Ihaveonlyafewminutes.Youmustkneelnearmethatnoonewillnoticeus.\"
SheproceededtoasideaisleaftersalutingtheHostontheHighAltar，tookafootstool，andkneeleddown.Georgestookonebesideitandwhentheywereintheattitudeofprayer，hesaid：\"Thankyou，thankyou.Iadoreyou.IshouldliketotellyouconstantlyhowIbegantoloveyou，howIwasconqueredthefirsttimeIsawyou.Willyoupermitmesomedaytounburdenmyheart，toexplainalltoyou？\"
Sherepliedbetweenherfingers：\"Iammadtoletyouspeaktomethus——madtohavecomehither——madtodoasIhavedone，toletyoubelievethatthis——thisadventurecanhaveanyresults.Forgetit，andneverspeaktomeofitagain.\"Shepaused.
Hereplied：\"Iexpectnothing——Ihopenothing——Iloveyou——whateveryoumaydo，Iwillrepeatitsooften，withsomuchforceandardorthatyouwillfinallyunderstandme，andreply：’Iloveyoutoo.’\"
Hefeltherframetrembleassheinvoluntarilyrepeated：\"Iloveyoutoo.\"
Hewasovercomebyastonishment.
\"Oh，myGod！\"shecontinuedincoherently，\"ShouldIsaythattoyou？
Ifeelguilty，despicable——I——whohavetwodaughters——butIcannot——
cannot——Ineverthought——itwasstrongerthanI——listen——listen——I
haveneverloved——anyother——butyou——Iswearit——Ihavelovedyouayearinsecret——Ihavesufferedandstruggled——Icannolonger;I
loveyou.\"Sheweptandherbowedformwasshakenbytheviolenceofheremotion.
Georgesmurmured：\"GivemeyourhandthatImaytouch，maypressit.\"
Sheslowlytookherhandfromherface，heseizeditsaying：\"I
shouldliketodrinkyourtears！\"
Placingthehandhehelduponhisheartheasked：\"Doyoufeelitbeat？\"
InafewmomentsthemanGeorgeshadnoticedbeforepassedbythem.
WhenMme.Walterheardhimnearher，shesnatchedherfingersfromGeorges’sclaspandcoveredherfacewiththem.Afterthemanhaddisappeared，DuRoyasked，hopingforanotherplaceofmeetingthanLaTrinite：\"WhereshallIseeyouto—morrow？\"
Shedidnotreply;sheseemedtransformedintoastatueofprayer.
Hecontinued：\"ShallImeetyouto—morrowatParkMonceau？\"
Sheturnedalividfacetowardhimandsaidunsteadily：\"Leaveme——
leavemenow——go——goaway——foronlyfiveminutes——Isuffertoomuchnearyou.Iwanttopray——go.Letmeprayalone——fiveminutes——letmeaskGod——topardonme——tosaveme——leaveme——fiveminutes.\"
Shelookedsopitifulthatherosewithoutawordandaskedwithsomehesitation：\"ShallIreturnpresently？\"
Shenoddedherheadintheaffirmativeandhelefther.Shetriedtopray;sheclosedhereyesinordernottoseeGeorges.Shecouldnotpray;shecouldonlythinkofhim.Shewouldratherhavediedthanhavefallenthus;shehadneverbeenweak.Shemurmuredseveralwordsofsupplication;sheknewthatallwasover，thatthestrugglewasinvain.Shedidnothoweverwishtoyield，butshefeltherweakness.Someoneapproachedwitharapidstep;sheturnedherhead.Itwasapriest.Sherose，rantowardhim，andclaspingherhands，shecried：\"Saveme，saveme！\"
Hestoppedinsurprise.
\"Whatdoyouwant，Madame？\"
\"Iwantyoutosaveme.Havepityonme.Ifyoudonothelpme，Iamlost！\"
Hegazedather，wonderingifsheweremad.
\"WhatcanIdoforyou？\"Thepriestwasayoungmansomewhatinclinedtocorpulence.
\"Receivemyconfession，\"saidshe，\"andcounselme，sustainme，tellmewhattodo.\"
Hereplied：\"IconfesseverySaturdayfromthreetosix.\"
Seizinghisarmsherepeated：\"No，now，atonce——atonce！Itisnecessary！Heishere！Inthischurch！Heiswaitingforme.\"
Thepriestasked：\"Whoiswaitingforyou？\"
\"Aman——whowillbemyruinifyoudonotsaveme.Icannolongerescapehim——Iamtooweak——tooweak，\"
Shefelluponherkneessobbing：\"Oh，father，havepityuponme.
Saveme，forGod’ssake，saveme！\"Sheseizedhisgownthathemightnotescapeher，whileheuneasilyglancedaroundonallsidestoseeifanyonenoticedthewomanathisfeet.Finally，seeingthathecouldnotfreehimselffromher，hesaid：\"Rise;Ihavethekeytotheconfessionalwithme.\"
*******
DuRoyhavingwalkedaroundthechoir，wassaunteringdownthenave，whenhemetthestout，boldmanwanderingabout，andhewondered：
\"Whatcanhebedoinghere？\"
ThemanslackenedhispaceandlookedatGeorgeswiththeevidentdesiretospeaktohim.Whenhewasnearhim，hebowedandsaidpolitely：
\"Ibegyourpardon，sir，fordisturbingyou;butcanyoutellmewhenthischurchwasbuilt？\"
DuRoyreplied：\"Idonotknow;Ithinkitistwentyortwenty—fiveyears.ItisthefirsttimeIhavebeenhere.Ihaveneverseenitbefore.\"Feelinginterestedinthestranger，thejournalistcontinued：\"Itseemstomethatyouareexaminingintoitverycarefully.\"
Themanreplied：\"Iamnotvisitingthechurch;Ihaveanappointment.\"Hepausedandinafewmomentsadded：\"Itisverywarmoutside.\"
DuRoylookedathimandsuddenlythoughtthatheresembledForestier.\"Areyoufromtheprovinces？\"heasked.
\"Yes，IamfromRennes.Anddidyou，sir，enterthischurchfromcuriosity？\"
\"No，Iamwaitingforalady.\"Andwithasmileuponhislips，hewalkedaway.
HedidnotfindMme.Walterintheplaceinwhichhehadlefther，andwassurprised.Shehadgone.Hewasfurious.Thenhethoughtshemightbelookingforhim，andhewalkedaroundthechurch.Notfindingher，hereturnedandseatedhimselfonthechairshehadoccupied，hopingthatshewouldrejoinhimthere.Soonheheardthesoundofavoice.Hesawnoone;whencecameit？Herosetoexamineintoit，andsawinachapelnearby，thedoorsoftheconfessionals.Hedrewnearerinordertoseethewomanwhosevoiceheheard.HerecognizedMme.Walter;shewasconfessing.Atfirsthefeltadesiretoseizeherbythearmanddragheraway;thenheseatedhimselfnearbyandbidedhistime.Hewaitedquiteawhile.
AtlengthMme.Walterrose，turned，sawhimandcametowardhim.Herfacewascoldandsevere.
\"Sir，\"saidshe，\"Ibeseechyounottoaccompanyme，nottofollowmeandnottocometomyhousealone.Youwillnotbeadmitted.
Adieu！\"Andshewalkedawayinadignifiedmanner.
Hepermittedhertogo，becauseitwasagainsthisprinciplestoforcematters.Asthepriestinhisturnissuedfromtheconfessional，headvancedtowardhimandsaid：\"Ifyoudidnotwearagown，Iwouldgiveyouasoundthrashing.\"Thenheturneduponhisheelandleftthechurchwhistling.Inthedoorwayhemetthestoutgentleman.WhenDuRoypassedhim，theybowed.
Thejournalistthenrepairedtotheofficeof\"LaVieFrancaise.\"Asheenteredhesawbytheclerks’busyairthatsomethingofimportancewasgoingon，andhehastenedtothemanager’sroom.ThelatterexclaimedjoyfullyasDuRoyentered：\"Whatluck！hereisBel—Ami.\"
Hestoppedinconfusionandapologized：\"Ibegyourpardon，Iamverymuchbotheredbycircumstances.AndthenIhearmywifeanddaughtercallyouBel—Amifrommorninguntilnight，andIhaveacquiredthehabitmyself.Areyoudispleased？\"
Georgeslaughed.\"Notatall.\"
M.Waltercontinued：\"Verywell，thenIwillcallyouBel—Amiaseveryoneelsedoes.Greatchangeshavetakenplace.Theministryhasbeenoverthrown.Marrotistoformanewcabinet.HehaschosenGeneralBoutind’Acreasministerofwar，andourfriendLaroche—
Mathieuasministerofforeignaffairs.Weshallbeverybusy.I
mustwritealeadingarticle，asimpledeclarationofprinciples;
thenImusthavesomethinginterestingontheMoroccoquestion——youmustattendtothat.\"
DuRoyreflectedamomentandthenreplied：\"Ihaveit.IwillgiveyouanarticleonthepoliticalsituationofourAfricancolony，\"
andheproceededtoprepareM.Walteranoutlineofhiswork，whichwasnothingbutamodificationofhisfirstarticleon\"SouvenirsofaSoldierinAfrica.\"
Themanagerhavingreadthearticlesaid：\"Itisperfect;youareatreasure.Manythanks.\"
DuRoyreturnedhometodinnerdelightedwithhisday，notwithstandinghisfailureatLaTrinite.Hiswifewasawaitinghimanxiously.Sheexclaimedonseeinghim：
\"YouknowthatLarocheisministerofforeignaffairs.\"
\"Yes，Ihavejustwrittenanarticleonthatsubject.\"
\"How？\"
\"Doyourememberthefirstarticlewewroteon’SouvenirsofaSoldierinAfrica’？Well，Irevisedandcorrecteditfortheoccasion.\"
Shesmiled.\"Ah，yes，thatwilldoverywell.\"
Atthatmomenttheservantenteredwithadispatchcontainingthesewordswithoutanysignature：
\"Iwasbesidemyself.Pardonmeandcometo—morrowatfouro’clocktoParkMonceau.\"
Heunderstoodthemessage，andwithajoyfulheart，slippedthetelegramintohispocket.Duringdinnerherepeatedthewordstohimself;asheinterpretedthem，theymeant，\"Iyield——Iamyourswhereandwhenyouwill.\"Helaughed.
Madeleineasked：\"Whatisit？\"
\"Nothingmuch.IwasthinkingofacomicaloldpriestImetashortwhilesince.\"
*******
DuRoyarrivedattheappointedhourthefollowingday.Thebencheswerealloccupiedbypeopletryingtoescapefromtheheatandbynurseswiththeircharges.
HefoundMme.Walterinalittleantiqueruin;sheseemedunhappyandanxious.Whenhehadgreetedher，shesaid：\"Howmanypeoplethereareinthegarden！\"
Hetookadvantageoftheoccasion：\"Yes，thatistrue;shallwegosomewhereelse？\"
\"Where？\"
\"Itmattersnotwhere;foradrive，forinstance.Youcanlowertheshadeonyoursideandyouwillbewellconcealed.\"
\"Yes，Ishouldlikethatbetter;Ishalldieoffearhere.\"
\"Verywell，meetmeinfiveminutesatthegatewhichopensontheboulevard.Iwillfetchacab.\"
Whentheywereseatedinthecab，sheasked：\"Wheredidyoutellthecoachmantodriveto？\"
Georgesreplied：\"Donotworry;heknows.\"
HehadgiventhemanhisaddressontheRuedeConstantinople.
Mme.WaltersaidtoDuRoy：\"YoucannotimaginehowIsufferonyouraccount——howIamtormented，tortured.YesterdayIwasharsh，butI
wantedtoescapeyouatanyprice.Iwasafraidtoremainalonewithyou.Haveyouforgivenme？\"
Hepressedherhand.\"Yes，yes，whyshouldInotforgiveyou，lovingyouasIdo？\"
Shelookedathimwithabeseechingair：\"Listen：Youmustpromisetorespectme，otherwiseIcouldneverseeyouagain.\"
Atfirsthedidnotreply;asmilelurkedbeneathhismustache;thenhemurmured：\"Iamyourslave.\"
Shetoldhimhowshehaddiscoveredthatshelovedhim，onlearningthathewastomarryMadeleineForestier.Suddenlysheceasedspeaking.Thecarriagestopped.DuRoyopenedthedoor.
\"Wherearewe？\"sheasked.
Hereplied：\"Alightandenterthehouse.Weshallbeundisturbedthere.\"
\"Wherearewe？\"sherepeated.
\"Atmyrooms;theyaremybachelorapartmentswhichIhaverentedforafewdaysthatwemighthaveacornerinwhichtomeet.\"
Sheclungtothecab，startledatthethoughtofatete—a—tete，andstammered：\"No，no，Idonotwantto.\"
Hesaidfirmly：\"Isweartorespectyou.Come，youseethatpeoplearelookingatus，thatacrowdisgatheringaroundus.Makehaste！\"
Andherepeated，\"Isweartorespectyou.\"
Shewasterror—strickenandrushedintothehouse.Shewasabouttoascendthestairs.Heseizedherarm：\"Itishere，onthegroundfloor.\"
Whenhehadclosedthedoor，heshoweredkissesuponherneck，hereyes，herlips;inspiteofherself，shesubmittedtohiscaressesandevenreturnedthem，hidingherfaceandmurmuringinbrokenaccents：\"IswearthatIhaveneverhadalover\";whilehethought：
\"Thatisamatterofindifferencetome.\"
CHAPTERXIII.
MADAMEDEMARELLE
Autumnhadcome.TheDuRoyshadspenttheentiresummerinParis，leadingavigorouscampaignin\"LaVieFrancaise，\"infavorofthenewcabinet.AlthoughitwasonlytheearlypartofOctober，thechamberwasabouttoresumeitssessions，foraffairsinMoroccowerebecomingmenacing.ThecelebratedspeechmadebyCountdeLambertSarrazinhadfurnishedDuRoywithmaterialfortenarticlesontheAlgeriancolony.\"LaVieFrancaise\"hadgainedconsiderableprestigebyitsconnectionwiththepower;itwasthefirsttogivepoliticalnews，andeverynewspaperinParisandtheprovincessoughtinformationfromit.Itwasquoted，feared，andbegantoberespected：itwasnolongertheorganofagroupofpoliticalintriguers，buttheavowedmouthpieceofthecabinet.Laroche—
MathieuwasthesoulofthejournalandDuRoyhisspeaking—trumpet.
M.Walterretireddiscreetlyintothebackground.Madeleine’ssalonbecameaninfluentialcenterinwhichseveralmembersofthecabinetmeteveryweek.Thepresidentofthecouncilhadevendinedtheretwice;theministerofforeignaffairswasquiteathomeattheDuRoys;hecameatanyhour，bringingdispatchesorinformation，whichhedictatedeithertothehusbandorwifeasiftheywerehissecretaries.Aftertheministerhaddeparted，whenDuRoywasalonewithMadeleine，heutteredthreatsandinsinuationsagainstthe\"parvenu，\"ashecalledhim.Hiswifesimplyshruggedhershouldersscornfully，repeating：\"Becomeaministerandyoucandothesame;
untilthen，besilent.\"
Hisreplywas：\"NooneknowsofwhatIamcapable;perhapstheywillfindoutsomeday.\"
Sheansweredphilosophically：\"Hewholiveswillsee.\"
ThemorningofthereopeningoftheChamber，DuRoylunchedwithLaroche—Mathieuinordertoreceiveinstructionsfromhim，beforethesession，forapoliticalarticlethefollowingdayin\"LaVieFrancaise，\"whichwastobeasortofofficialdeclarationoftheplansofthecabinet.AfterlisteningtoLaroche—Mathieu’seloquenceforsometimewithjealousyinhisheart，DuRoysaunteredslowlytowardtheofficetocommencehiswork，forhehadnothingtodountilfouro’clock，atwhichhourhewastomeetMme.deMarelleatRuedeConstantinople.Theymetthereregularlytwiceaweek，MondaysandWednesdays.
Onenteringtheoffice，hewashandedasealeddispatch;itwasfromMme.Walter，andreadthus：
\"ItisabsolutelynecessarythatIshouldseeyouto—day.Itisimportant.Expectmeattwoo’clockatRuedeConstantinople.I
canrenderyouagreatservice;yourfrienduntildeath，\"
\"VIRGINIE.\"
Heexclaimed：\"Heavens！whatabore！\"andlefttheofficeatonce，toomuchannoyedtowork.
ForsixweekshehadineffectuallytriedtobreakwithMme.Walter.
Atthreesuccessivemeetingsshehadbeenapreytoremorse，andhadoverwhelmedherloverwithreproaches.Angeredbythosescenesandalreadywearyofthedramaticwoman，hehadsimplyavoidedher，hopingthattheaffairwouldendinthatway.
Butshepersecutedhimwithheraffection，summonedhimatalltimesbytelegramstomeetheratstreetcorners，inshops，orpublicgardens.Shewasverydifferentfromwhathehadfanciedshewouldbe，tryingtoattracthimbyactionsridiculousinoneofherage.
Itdisgustedhimtohearhercallhim：\"Myrat——mydog——mytreasure—
—myjewel——myblue—bird\"——andtoseeherassumeakindofchildishmodestywhenheapproached.Itseemedtohimthatbeingthemotherofafamily，awomanoftheworld，sheshouldhavebeenmoresedate，andhaveyieldedWithtearsifshechose，butwiththetearsofaDidoandnotofaJuliette.Heneverheardhercallhim\"Littleone\"
or\"Baby，\"withoutwishingtoreply\"Oldwoman，\"totakehishatwithanoathandleavetheroom.
AtfirsttheyhadoftenmetatRuedeConstantinople，butDuRoy，whofearedanencounterwithMme.deMarelle，inventedathousandandonepretextsinordertoavoidthatrendezvous.Hewasthereforeobligedtoeitherlunchordineatherhousedaily，whenshewouldclasphishandundercoverofthetableorofferhimherlipsbehindthedoors.Aboveall，GeorgesenjoyedbeingthrownsomuchincontactwithSuzanne;shemadesportofeverythingandeverybodywithcuttingappropriateness.Atlength，however，hebegantofeelanunconquerablerepugnancetothelovelavisheduponhimbythemother;hecouldnolongerseeher，hearher，northinkofherwithoutanger.Heceasedcallinguponher，replyingtoherletters，andyieldingtoherappeals.Shefinallydivinedthathenolongerlovedher，andthediscoverycausedherunutterableanguish;butshewatchedhim，followedhiminacabwithdrawnblindstotheoffice，tohishouse，inthehopeofseeinghimpassby.Hewouldhavelikedtostrangleher，buthecontrolledhimselfonaccountofhispositionon\"LaVieFrancaise\"andheendeavoredbymeansofcoldness，andevenattimesharshwords，tomakehercomprehendthatallwasatanendbetweenthem.
Then，too，shepersistedindevisingrusesforsummoninghimtoRuedeConstantinople，andhewasinconstantfearthatthetwowomenwouldsomedaymeetfacetofaceatthedoor.
Ontheotherhand，hisaffectionforMme.deMarellehadincreasedduringthesummer.TheywerebothBohemiansbynature;theytookexcursionstogethertoArgenteuil，Bougival，Maisons，andPoissy，andwhenhewasforcedtoreturnanddineatMme.Walter’s，hedetestedhismaturemistressmorethoroughly，asherecalledtheyouthfulonehehadjustleft.Hewascongratulatinghimselfuponhavingfreedhimselfalmostentirelyfromtheformer’sclutches，whenhereceivedthetelegramabovementioned.
Here—readitashewalkedalong.Hethought：\"Whatdoesthatoldowlwantwithme？Iamcertainshehasnothingtotellmeexceptthatsheadoresme.However，Iwillsee，perhapsthereissometruthinit.Clotildeiscomingatfour，Imustgetridoftheotheroneatthreeorsoonafter，providedtheydonotmeet.Whatjadeswomenare！\"
Asheutteredthosewordshewasremindedofhiswife，whowastheonlyonewhodidnottormenthim;shelivedbyhissideandseemedtolovehimverymuchatthepropertime，forsheneverpermittedanythingtointerferewithherordinaryoccupationsoflife.Hestrolledtowardtheappointedplaceofmeeting，mentallycursingMme.Walter.
\"Ah，Iwillreceiveherinsuchamannerthatshewillnottellmeanything.Firstofall，IwillgivehertounderstandthatIshallnevercrossherthresholdagain.\"
Heenteredtoawaither.Shesoonarrivedand，seeinghim，exclaimed：\"Ah，youreceivedmydispatch！Howfortunate！\"
\"Yes，IreceiveditattheofficejustasIwassettingoutfortheChamber.Whatdoyouwant？\"heaskedungraciously.
Shehadraisedherveilinordertokisshim，andapproachedhimtimidlyandhumblywiththeairofabeatendog.
\"Howunkindyouaretome;howharshlyyouspeak！WhathaveIdonetoyou？YoudonotknowwhatIhavesufferedforyou！\"
Hemuttered：\"Areyougoingtobeginthatagain？\"
Shestoodnearhimawaitingasmile，awordofencouragement，tocastherselfintohisarms，andwhispered：\"Youneednothavewonmetotreatmethus;youmighthaveleftmevirtuousandhappy.Doyourememberwhatyousaidtomeinthechurchandhowyouforcedmetoenterthishouse？Andnowthisisthewayyouspeaktome，receiveme！MyGod，myGod，howyoumaltreatme！\"
Hestampedhisfootandsaidviolently：\"Enough，besilent！Icanneverseeyouamomentwithouthearingthatrefrain.Youwerematurewhenyougaveyourselftome.Iammuchobligedtoyou;Iaminfinitelygrateful，butIneednotbetiedtoyourapron—stringsuntilIdie！YouhaveahusbandandIawife.Neitherofusisfree;
itwasallacaprice，andnowitisatanend！\"
Shesaid：\"Howbrutalyouare，howcoarseandvillainous！No，Iwasnolongerayounggirl，butIhadneverloved，neverwaveredinmydignity.\"
Heinterruptedher：\"Iknowit，youhavetoldmethattwentytimes;
butyouhavehadtwochildren.\"
Shedrewbackasifshehadbeenstruck：\"Oh，Georges！\"Andpressingherhandstoherheart，sheburstintotears.
Whenshebegantoweep，hetookhishat：\"Ah，youarecryingagain！
Goodevening！Isitforthisthatyousentforme？\"
Shetookastepforwardinordertobartheway，anddrawingahandkerchieffromherpocketshewipedhereyes.Hervoicegrewsteadier：\"No，Icameto——togiveyou——politicalnews——togiveyouthemeansofearningfiftythousandfrancs——orevenmoreifyouwishto.\"
Suddenlysoftenedheasked：\"How？\"
\"BychancelasteveningIheardaconversationbetweenmyhusbandandLaroche.Walteradvisedtheministernottoletyouintothesecretforyouwouldexposeit.\"
DuRoyplacedhishatuponachairandlistenedattentively.
\"TheyaregoingtotakepossessionofMorocco！\"
\"Why，IlunchedwithLarochethismorning，andhetoldmethecabinet’splans！\"
\"No，mydear，theyhavedeceivedyou，becausetheyfearedtheirsecretwouldbemadeknown.\"
\"Sitdown，\"saidGeorges.
Hesankintoanarmchair，whileshedrewupastoolandtookherseatathisfeet.Shecontinued：
\"AsIthinkofyoucontinually，Ipayattentiontowhatistalkedofaroundme，\"andsheproceededtotellhimwhatshehadheardrelativetotheexpeditiontoTangierswhichhadbeendecideduponthedaythatLarocheassumedhisoffice;shetoldhimhowtheyhadlittlebylittleboughtup，throughagentswhoarousednosuspicions，theMoroccanloan，whichhadfallentosixty—fourorsixty—fivefrancs;howwhentheexpeditionwasenteredupontheFrenchgovernmentwouldguaranteethedebt，andtheirfriendswouldmakefiftyorsixtymillions.
Hecried：\"Areyousureofthat？\"
Shereplied：\"Yes，Iamsure.\"
Hecontinued：\"Thatisindeedfine！AsforthatrascalofaLaroche，lethimbeware！Iwillgethisministerialcarcassbetweenmyfingersyet！\"
Then，afteramoment’sreflection，hemuttered：\"Onemightprofitbythat！\"
\"Youtoocanbuysomestock，\"saidshe;\"itisonlyseventy—twofrancs.\"
Hereplied：\"ButIhavenoreadymoney.\"
Sheraisedhereyestohis——eyesfullofsupplication.
\"Ihavethoughtofthat，mydarling，andifyoulovemealittle，youwillletmelendittoyou.\"
Herepliedabruptly，almostharshly：\"No，indeed.\"
Shewhisperedimploringly：\"Listen，thereissomethingyoucandowithoutborrowingmoney.Iintendedbuyingtenthousandfrancs’
worthofthestock;instead，Iwilltaketwentythousandandyoucanhavehalf.Therewillbenothingtopayatonce.Ifitsucceeds，wewillmakeseventythousandfrancs;ifnot，youwillowemetenthousandwhichyoucanrepayatyourpleasure.\"
Hesaidagain：\"No，Idonotlikethosecombinations.\"
Shetriedtopersuadehimbytellinghimthatsheadvancednothing——
thatthepaymentsweremadebyWalter’sbank.Shepointedouttohimthathehadledthepoliticalcampaignin\"LaVieFrancaise，\"andthathewouldbeverysimplenottoprofitbytheresultshehadhelpedtobringabout.Ashestillhesitated，sheadded：\"ItisinrealityWalterwhowilladvancethemoney，andyouhavedoneenoughforhimtooffsetthatsum.\"
\"Verywell，\"saidhe，\"Iwilldoit.IfweloseIwillpayyoubacktenthousandfrancs.\"
Shewassodelightedthatsherose，tookhisheadbetweenherhands，andkissedhim.Atfirsthedidnotrepulseher，butwhenshegrewmorelavishwithhercaresses，hesaid：
\"Come，thatwilldo.\"
Shegazedathimsadly.\"Oh，Georges，Icannolongerevenembraceyou.\"
\"No，notto—day.Ihaveaheadache.\"
Shereseatedherselfwithdocilityathisfeetandasked：
\"Willyoudinewithusto—morrow？Itwouldgivemesuchpleasure，\"
Hehesitatedatfirst，butdarednotrefuse.
\"Yes，certainly.\"
\"Thankyou，dearest.\"Sherubbedhercheekagainsttheyoungman’svest;asshedidso，oneofherlongblackhairscaughtonabutton;
shetwistedittightlyaround，thenshetwistedanotheraroundanotherbuttonandsoon.Whenherose，hewouldtearthemoutofherhead，andwouldcarryawaywithhimunwittinglyalockofherhair.Itwouldbeaninvisiblebondbetweenthem.Involuntarilyhewouldthink，woulddreamofher;hewouldloveheralittlemorethenextday.
Suddenlyhesaid：\"Imustleaveyou，forIamexpectedattheChamberforthecloseofthesession.Icannotbeabsentto—day.\"
Shesighed：\"Already！\"Thenaddingresignedly：\"Go，mydarling，butyouwillcometodinnertomorrow\";sheroseabruptly.Foramomentshefeltasharp，stingingpain，asifneedleshadbeenstuckintoherhead，butshewasgladtohavesufferedforhim.
\"Adieu，\"saidshe.
Hetookherinhisarmsandkissedhereyescoldly;thensheofferedhimherlipswhichhebrushedlightlyashesaid：\"Come，come，letushurry;itisafterthreeo’clock.\"
Shepassedoutbeforehimsaying：\"To—morrowatseven\";herepeatedherwordsandtheyseparated.
DuRoyreturnedatfouro’clocktoawaithismistress.Shewassomewhatlatebecauseherhusbandhadcomehomeforaweek.Sheasked：
\"Canyoucometodinnerto—morrow？Hewillbedelightedtoseeyou.\"
\"No;IdineattheWalters.Wehaveagreatmanypoliticalandfinancialmatterstotalkover.\"
Shetookoffherhat.Hepointedtoabagonthemantelpiece：\"I
boughtyousomesweetmeats.\"
Sheclappedherhands.\"Whatadarlingyouare！\"Shetookthem，tastedone，andsaid：\"Theyaredelicious.Ishallnotleaveone.
Come，sitdowninthearmchair，Iwillsitatyourfeetandeatmybonbons.\"
HesmiledashesawhertaketheseatashortwhilesinceoccupiedbyMme.Walter.Shetoo，calledhim\"darling，littleone，dearest，\"
andthewordsseemedtohimsweetandcaressingfromherlips，whilefromMme.Walter’stheyirritatedandnauseatedhim.
Suddenlyherememberedtheseventythousandfrancshewasgoingtomake，andbluntlyinterruptingMme.deMarelle’schatter，hesaid：
\"Listen，mydarling;Iamgoingtointrustyouwithamessagetoyourhusband.Tellhimfrommetobuyto—morrowtenthousandfrancs’
worthofMoroccanstockwhichisatseventy—two，andIpredictthatbeforethreemonthsarepassedhewillhavemadeeightythousandfrancs.Tellhimtomaintainabsolutesilence.TellhimthattheexpeditiontoTangiers，isdecidedupon，andthattheFrenchgovernmentwillguaranteetheMoroccandebt.ItisastatesecretI
amconfidingtoyou，remember！\"
Shelistenedtohimgravelyandmurmured：
\"Thankyou.Iwilltellmyhusbandthisevening.Youmayrelyuponhim;hewillnotspeakofit;hecanbedependedupon;thereisnodanger.\"
Shehadeatenallofherbonbonsandbegantotoywiththebuttonsonhisvest.Suddenlyshedrewalonghairoutofthebuttonholeandbegantolaugh.
\"See！HereisoneofMadeleine’shairs;youareafaithfulhusband！\"
Thengrowingserious，sheexaminedthescarcelyperceptiblethreadmorecloselyandsaid：\"ItisnotMadeleine’s，itisdark.\"
Hesmiled.\"Itprobablybelongstothehousemaid.\"
Butsheglancedatthevestwiththecareofapolice—inspectorandfoundasecondhairtwistedaroundasecondbutton;thenshesawathird;andturningpaleandtremblingsomewhat，sheexclaimed：\"Oh，somewomanhaslefthairsaroundallyourbuttons.\"
Insurprise，hestammered：\"Whyyou——youaremad.\"
Shecontinuedtounwindthehairsandcastthemuponthefloor.Withherwoman’sinstinctshehaddivinedtheirmeaningandgaspedinheranger，readytocry：
\"Shelovesyouandshewishedyoutocarryawaywithyousomethingofhers.Oh，youareatraitor.\"Sheutteredashrill，nervouscry：
\"Oh，itisanoldwoman’shair——hereisawhiteone——youhavetakenafancytoanoldwomannow.Thenyoudonotneedme——keeptheotherone.\"Sherose.
Heattemptedtodetainherandstammered：\"No——Clo——youareabsurd——
Idonotknowwhoseitis——listen——stay——see——stay——\"
Butsherepeated：\"Keepyouroldwoman——keepher——haveachainmadeofherhair——ofhergrayhair——thereisenoughforthat——\"
Hastilyshedonnedherhatandveil，andwhenheattemptedtotouchhershestruckhimintheface，andmadeherescapewhilehewasstunnedbytheblow.Whenhefoundthathewasalone，hecursedMme.
Walter，bathedhisface，andwentoutvowingvengeance.Thattimehewouldnotpardon.No，indeed.