United States or Malaysia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
They spent the evening together and appointed their next meeting for Wednesday of the following week, for Mme. de Marelle had a number of engagements. Duroy continued to accept money from Clotilde and quieted his conscience by assuring himself: "I will give it back in a lump. It is nothing but borrowed money anyway." So he kept account of all that he received in order to pay it back some day.
During that tirade Mme. de Marelle in affright opened the door of the box and fled through the crowd seeking an exit. Duroy rushed after her. Rachel, seeing him disappear, cried: "Stop her! she has stolen my lover!" Two men seized the fugitive by the shoulder, but Duroy, who had caught up with her, bade them desist, and together he and Clotilde reached the street. They entered a cab.
She appeared very composed, somewhat reserved, and haughty. He was very humble, very careful, and submissive. Mmes. Laroche-Mathieu and Rissolin were accompanied by their husbands. Mme. de Marelle looked bewitching in an odd combination of yellow and black. At Du Roy's right sat Mme. Walter, and he spoke to her only of serious matters with exaggerated respect.
When they entered the hall, it was crowded; with difficulty they made their way to their seats. Mme. de Marelle did not look at the stage; she was interested in watching the women who were promenading, and she felt an irresistible desire to touch them, to see of what those beings were made. Suddenly she said: "There is a large brunette who stares at us all the time.
Mme. de Marelle entered and cast herself into his arms, saying: "Good afternoon, Bel-Ami." Perceiving that his embrace was colder than usual, she glanced up at him and asked: "What ails you?" "Take a seat," said he. "We must talk seriously." She seated herself without removing her hat, and waited. He cast down his eyes; he was preparing to commence.
She saw them from a distance coming through the darkness with blazing torches in their hands. When they came to her she said: "Batouch, I want you to order dinner in camp for the soldiers." A broad and radiant smile irradiated the blunt Breton features of Marelle. "And Monsieur the officer will dine with me and Monsieur. Give us all you can. Perhaps there will be some gazelle."
They did not stay late; after they had left, Duroy said, with a shake of his head: "He will not live long." Mme. de Marelle replied calmly: "No, he is doomed! He was a lucky man to obtain such a wife." Duroy asked: "Does she help him very much?" "She does all the work; she is well posted on every subject, and she always gains her point, as she wants it, and when she wants it!
He worked until seven o'clock, then he dined, and he continued to draw upon the twenty francs until only four francs twenty remained. He decided to say to Mme. de Marelle upon her arrival: "I found the twenty-franc piece you slipped into my pocket. I will not return the money to-day, but I will repay you when we next meet." When Madame came, he dared not broach the delicate subject.
And he took a lamp that they might distinguish all the details. There were landscapes by Guillemet; "A Visit to the Hospital," by Gervex; "A Widow," by Bouguereau; "An Execution," by Jean Paul Laurens, and many others. Duroy exclaimed: "Charming, charming, char " but stopped short on hearing behind him the voice of Mme. de Marelle who had just entered.
I think every minute she will speak to us. Have you seen her?" He replied: "No, you are mistaken." He told an untruth, for he had noticed the woman, who was no other than Rachel, with anger in her eyes and violent words upon her lips. Duroy had passed her when he and Mme. de Marelle entered and she had said to him: "Good evening," in a low voice and with a wink which said "I understand."
Word Of The Day