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Updated: June 22, 2025
"Of course I am. I am not dreaming." "And then?" "And then as I was coming to Paris I thought that I would please you by coming to tell you the good news." "Why, yes why, yes " Bondel appeared to hesitate; then, after a short pause, he added: "I even had an idea." "What is it?" "To take you back home with me to dinner."
Bondel ushered his friend into the parlor, called the servant, and asked: "Is madame at home?" "Yes, monsieur." "Please ask her to come down at once." They dropped into two armchairs and waited. Both were filled with the same longing to escape before the appearance of the much-feared person. A well-known, heavy tread could be heard descending the stairs.
Then, quickly, carried away by some impulse, she walked toward him with her hands outstretched; and when he had taken, pressed, and held these two hands, she said, in a trembling, weak little voice, which was new to her husband: "Ah! my dear friend how happy I am!" And Bondel, who was watching them, felt an icy chill run over him, as if he had been dipped in a cold bath.
He seemed to me, on the contrary, to be very intelligent and shrewd; and you can't make me believe that a man with brains doesn't notice such a thing in his own house, when the neighbors, who are not there, are ignorant of no detail of this liaison for I'll warrant that they know everything." Madame Bondel had a fit of angry mirth, which irritated her husband's nerves.
She slammed the door and left the room, saying: "Well! if that isn't too much!" Bondel remained alone, ill at ease. That insolent, provoking laugh had touched him to the quick. He went outside, walked, dreamed. The realization of the loneliness of his new life made him sad and morbid. The neighbor, whom he had met that morning, came to him with outstretched hands.
Then, quickly, carried away by some impulse, she walked toward him with her hands outstretched; and when he had taken, pressed, and held these two hands, she said, in a trembling, weak little voice, which was new to her husband: "Ah! my dear friend how happy I am!" And Bondel, who was watching them, felt an icy chill run over him, as if he had been dipped in a cold bath.
But, suddenly, other memories returned to him, similar ruptures due to the vindictive character of Madame Bondel, who never pardoned a slight. Then he laughed frankly at himself for the doubts which he had nursed; and he remembered the angry looks of his wife as he would tell her, when he returned at night: "I saw good old Tancret, and he wished to be remembered to you," and he reassured himself.
I'll grant you that that may be the case for the wife, but as for him " She became furious, exclaiming: "For him as well as for her. They are both in disgrace; it's a public shame." Bondel, very calm, asked: "First of all, is it true? Who can assert such a thing as long as no one has been caught in the act?" Madame Bondel was growing uneasy; she snapped: "What? Who can assert it?
A hand moved the knob, and both men watched the brass handle turn. Then the door opened wide, and Madame Bondel stopped and looked to see who was there before she entered. She looked, blushed, trembled, retreated a step, then stood motionless, her cheeks aflame and her hands resting against the sides of the door frame.
But, suddenly, other memories returned to him, similar ruptures due to the vindictive character of Madame Bondel, who never pardoned a slight. Then he laughed frankly at himself for the doubts which he had nursed; and he remembered the angry looks of his wife as he would tell her, when he returned at night: "I saw good old Tancret, and he wished to be remembered to you," and he reassured himself.
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