bel ami-第14部分

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Mme。　Forestier　would　eat　nothing。　The　invalid　had　not　stirred。　The
young　woman　was　seated　in　an　easy…chair　at　the　foot　of　the　bed。
Duroy　likewise　seated　himself；　and　they　watched　in　silence。　A　nurse；
sent　by　the　doctor；　had　arrived　and　was　dozing　by　the　window。

Duroy　himself　was　almost　asleep　when　he　felt　a　presentiment　that
something　was　about　to　happen。　He　opened　his　eyes　just　in　time　to
see　Forestier　close　his。　He　coughed　slightly；　and　two　streams　of
blood　issued　from　the　corners　of　his　mouth　and　flowed　upon　his　night
robe；　his　hands　ceased　their　perpetual　motion；　he　had　breathed　his
last。　His　wife；　perceiving　it；　uttered　a　cry　and　fell　upon　her　knees
by　the　bedside。　Georges；　in　surprise　and　affright；　mechanically　made
the　sign　of　the　cross。

The　nurse；　awakening；　approached　the　bed　and　said：　〃It　has　come。〃
Duroy；　recovering　his　self…possession；　murmured　with　a　sigh　of
relief：　〃It　was　not　as　hard　as　I　feared　it　would　be。〃

That　night　Mme。　Forestier　and　Duroy　watched　in　the　chamber　of　death。
They　were　alone　beside　him　who　was　no　more。　They　did　not　speak；
Georges's　eyes　seemed　attracted　to　that　emaciated　face　which　the
flickering　light　made　more　hollow。　That　was　his　friend；　Charles
Forestier；　who　the　day　before　had　spoken　to　him。　For　several　years
he　had　lived；　eaten；　laughed；　loved；　and　hoped　as　did　everyoneand
now　all　was　ended　for　him　forever。

Life　lasted　a　few　months　or　years；　and　then　fled！　One　was　born；
grew；　was　happy；　and　died。　Adieu！　man　or　woman；　you　will　never
return　to　earth！　He　thought　of　the　insects　which　live　several　hours；
of　the　feasts　which　live　several　days；　of　the　men　who　live　several
years；　of　the　worlds　which　last　several　centuries。　What　was　the
difference　between　one　and　the　other？　A　few　more　dawns；　that　was
all。

Duroy　turned　away　his　eyes　in　order　not　to　see　the　corpse。　Mme。
Forestier's　head　was　bowed；　her　fair　hair　enhanced　the　beauty　of　her
sorrowful　face。　The　young　man's　heart　grew　hopeful。　Why　should　he
lament　when　he　had　so　many　years　still　before　him？　He　glanced　at　the
handsome　widow。　How　had　she　ever　consented　to　marry　that　man？　Then
he　pondered　upon　all　the　hidden　secrets　of　their　lives。　He
remembered　that　he　had　been　told　of　a　Count　de　Vaudrec　who　had
dowered　and　given　her　in　marriage。　What　would　she　do　now？　Whom　would
she　marry？　Had　she　projects；　plans？　He　would　have　liked　to　know。　Why
that　anxiety　as　to　what　she　would　do？

Georges　questioned　himself；　and　found　that　it　was　caused　by　a　desire
to　win　her　for　himself。　Why　should　he　not　succeed？　He　was　positive
that　she　liked　him；　she　would　have　confidence　in　him；　for　she　knew
that　he　was　intelligent；　resolute；　tenacious。　Had　she　not　sent　for
him？　Was　not　that　a　kind　of　avowal？　He　was　impatient　to　question
her；　to　find　out　her　intentions。　He　would　soon　have　to　leave　that
villa；　for　he　could　not　remain　alone　with　the　young　widow；　therefore
he　must　find　out　her　plans　before　returning　to　Paris；　in　order　that
she　might　not　yield　to　another's　entreaties。　He　broke　the　oppressive
silence　by　saying：

〃You　must　be　fatigued。〃

〃Yes；　but　above　all　I　am　grieved。〃

Their　voices　sounded　strange　in　that　room。　They　glanced
involuntarily　at　the　corpse　as　if　they　expected　to　see　it　move。
Duroy　continued：

〃It　is　a　heavy　blow　for　you；　and　will　make　a　complete　change　in　your
life。〃

She　sighed　deeply；　but　did　not　reply。　He　added：

〃It　is　very　sad　for　a　young　woman　like　you　to　be　left　alone。〃　He
paused；　she　still　did　not　reply；　and　he　stammered：　〃At　any　rate；　you
will　remember　the　compact　between　us；　you　can　command　me　as　you
will。　I　am　yours。〃

She　held　out　her　hand　to　him　and　said　mournfully　and　gently：
〃Thanks；　you　are　very　kind。　If　I　can　do　anything　for　you；　I　say　too：
'Count　on　me。'〃

He　took　her　proffered　hand；　gazed　at　it；　and　was　seized　with　an
ardent　desire　to　kiss　it。　Slowly　he　raised　it　to　his　lips　and　then
relinquished　it。　As　her　delicate　fingers　lay　upon　her　knee　the　young
widow　said　gravely：

〃Yes；　I　shall　be　all　alone；　but　I　shall　force　myself　to　be　brave。〃

He　did　not　know　how　to　tell　her　that　he　would　be　delighted　to　wed
her。　Certainly　it　was　no　time　to　speak　to　her　on　such　a　subject；
however；　he　thought　he　might　be　able　to　express　himself　by　means　of
some　phrase　which　would　have　a　hidden　meaning　and　would　infer　what
he　wished　to　say。　But　that　rigid　corpse　lay　between　them。　The
atmosphere　became　oppressive；　almost　suffocating。　Duroy　asked：　〃Can
we　not　open　the　window　a　little？　The　air　seems　to　be　impure。〃

〃Certainly；〃　she　replied；　〃I　have　noticed　it　too。〃

He　opened　the　window；　letting　in　the　cool　night　air。　He　turned：
〃Come　and　look　out；　it　is　delightful。〃

She　glided　softly　to　his　side。　He　whispered：　〃Listen　to　me。　Do　not
be　angry　that　I　broach　the　subject　at　such　a　time；　but　the　day　after
to…morrow　I　shall　leave　here　and　when　you　return　to　Paris　it　might
be　too　late。　You　know　that　I　am　only　a　poor　devil；　who　has　his
position　to　make；　but　I　have　the　will　and　some　intelligence；　and　I
am　advancing。　A　man　who　has　attained　his　ambition　knows　what　to
count　on；　a　man　who　has　his　way　to　make　does　not　know　what　may　come…
…it　may　be　better　or　worse。　I　told　you　one　day　that　my　most
cherished　dream　was　to　have　a　wife　like　you。〃

〃I　repeat　it　to　you　to…day。　Do　not　reply；　but　let　me　continue。　This
is　no　proposalthe　time　and　place　would　render　it　odious。　I　only
wish　to　tell　you　that　by　a　word　you　can　make　me　happy；　and　that　you
can　make　of　me　as　you　will；　either　a　friend　or　a　husbandfor　my
heart　and　my　body　are　yours。　I　do　not　want　you　to　answer　me　now。　I
do　not　wish　to　speak　any　more　on　the　subject　here。　When　we　meet　in
Paris；　you　can　tell　me　your　decision。〃

He　uttered　these　words　without　glancing　at　her；　and　she　seemed　not
to　have　heard　them；　for　she　stood　by　his　side　motionless；　staring
vaguely　and　fixedly　at　the　landscape　before　her；　bathed　in
moonlight。

At　length　she　murmured：　〃It　is　rather　chilly；〃　and　turned　toward　the
bed。　Duroy　followed　her。　They　did　not　speak　but　continued　their
watch。　Toward　midnight　Georges　fell　asleep。　At　daybreak　the　nurse
entered　and　he　started　up。　Both　he　and　Mme。　Forestier　retired　to
their　rooms　to　obtain　some　rest。　At　eleven　o'clock　they　rose　and
lunched　together；　while　through　the　open　window　was　wafted　the
sweet；　perfumed　air　of　spring。　After　lunch；　Mme。　Forestier　proposed
that　they　take　a　turn　in　the　garden；　as　they　walked　slowly　along；
she　suddenly　said；　without　turning　her　head　toward　him；　in　a　low；
grave　voice：

〃Listen　to　me；　my　dear　friend；　I　have　already　reflected　upon　what
you　proposed　to　me；　and　I　cannot　allow　you　to　depart　without　a　word
of　reply。　I　will；　however；　say　neither　yes　nor　no。　We　will　wait；　we
will　see；　we　will　become　better　acquainted。　You　must　think　it　well
over　too。　Do　not　yield　to　an　impulse。　I　mention　this　to　you　before
even　poor　Charles　is　buried；　because　it　is　necessary；　after　what　you
have　said　to　me；　that　you　should　know　me　as　I　am；　in　order　not　to
cherish　the　hope　you　expressed　to　me　any　longer；　if　you　are　not　a
man　who　can　understand　and　bear　with　me。〃

〃Now　listen　carefully：　Marriage；　to　me；　is　not　a　chain　but　an
association。　I　must　be　free；　entirely　unfettered；　in　all　my　actions…
…my　coming　and　my　going；　I　can　tolerate　neither　control；　jealousy；
nor　criticism　as　to　my　conduct。　I　pledge　my　word；　however；　never　to
compromise　the　name　of　the　man　I　marry；　nor　to　render　him　ridiculous
in　the　eyes　of　the　world。　But　that　man　must　promise　to　look　upon　me
as　an　equal；　an　ally；　and　not　as　an　inferior；　or　as　an　obedient；
submissive　wife。　My　ideas；　I　know；　are　not　like　those　of　other
people；　but　I　shall　never　change　them。　Do　not　answer　me；　it　would　be
useless。　We　shall　meet　again　and　talk　it　all　over　later。　Now　take　a
walk；　I　shall　return　to　him。　Good…bye　until　to…night。〃

He　kissed　her　hand　and　left　her　without　having　uttered　a　word。　That
night　they　met　at　dinner；　directly　after　the　meal　they　sought　their
rooms；　worn　out　with　fatigue。

Charles　Forestier　was　buried　the　next　day　in　the　cemetery　at　Cannes
without　any　pomp；　and　Georges　returned　to　Paris　by　the　express　which
left　at　one…thirty。　Mme。　Forestier　accompanied　him　to　the　station。
They　walked　up　and　down　the　platform　awaiting　the　hour　of　departure
and　conversing　on　indifferent　subjects。

The　train　arrived；　the　journalist　took　his　seat；　a　porter　cried：
〃Marseilles；　Lyons；　Paris！　All　aboard！〃　The　locomotive　whistled　and
the　train　moved　slowly　out　of　the　station。

The　young　man　leaned　out　of　the　carriage；　and　looked　at　the　youthful
widow　standing　on　the　platform　gazing　after　him。　Just　as　she　was
disappearing　from　his　sight；　he　threw　her　a　kiss；　which　she　returned
with　a　more　discreet　wave　of　her　hand。




CHAPTER　IX。

MARRIAGE


Georges　Duroy　resumed　his　old　habits。　Installed　in　the　cozy
apartments　on　Rue　de　Constantinople；　his　relations　with　Mme。　de
Marelle　became　quite　conjugal。

Mme。　Forestier　had　not　returned；　she　lingered　at　Cannes。　He；
however；　received　a　letter　from　her　announcing　her　return　about　the
middle　of　April；　but　containing　not　a　word　as　to　their　parting。　He
waited。　He　was　resolved　to　employ　every　means　to　marry　her　if　she
seemed　to　hesitate；　he　had　faith　in　his　good　fortune；　in　that　power
of　attraction　which　he　felt　within　hima　power　so　irresistible　that
all　women　yielded　to　it。

At　length　a　short　note　admonished　him　that　the　decisive　moment　had
arrived。

　　　　　〃I　am　in　Paris。　Come　to　see　me。〃

　　　　　〃Madeleine　Forestier。〃

Nothing　more。　He　received　it　at　nine　o'clock。　At　three　o'clock　of
the　same　day　he　called　at　her　house。　She　extended　both　hands　to　him
with　a　sweet　smile；　and　they　gazed　into　each　other's　eyes　for
several　seconds；　then　she　murmured：

〃How　kind　of　you　to　come！〃

He　replied：　〃I　should　have　come；　whensoever　you　bade　me。〃

They　sat　down；　she　inquired　about　the　Walters；　his　associates；　and
the　newspaper。

〃I　miss　that　very　much；〃　said　she。　〃I　had　become　a　journalist　in
spirit。　I　like　the　profession。〃　She　paused。　He　fancied　he　saw　in　her
smile；　in　her　voice；　in　her　words；　a　kind　of　invitation；　and
although　he　had　resolved　not　to　hasten　matters；　he　stammered：

〃Wellwhywhy　do　you　not　resumethat　professionunderthe　name
of