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Roys；　he　came　at　any　hour；　bringing　dispatches　or　information；　which
he　dictated　either　to　the　husband　or　wife　as　if　they　were　his
secretaries。　After　the　minister　had　departed；　when　Du　Roy　was　alone
with　Madeleine；　he　uttered　threats　and　insinuations　against　the
〃parvenu；〃　as　he　called　him。　His　wife　simply　shrugged　her　shoulders
scornfully；　repeating：　〃Become　a　minister　and　you　can　do　the　same；
until　then；　be　silent。〃

His　reply　was：　〃No　one　knows　of　what　I　am　capable；　perhaps　they　will
find　out　some　day。〃

She　answered　philosophically：　〃He　who　lives　will　see。〃

The　morning　of　the　reopening　of　the　Chamber；　Du　Roy　lunched　with
Laroche…Mathieu　in　order　to　receive　instructions　from　him；　before
the　session；　for　a　political　article　the　following　day　in　〃La　Vie
Francaise；〃　which　was　to　be　a　sort　of　official　declaration　of　the
plans　of　the　cabinet。　After　listening　to　Laroche…Mathieu's　eloquence
for　some　time　with　jealousy　in　his　heart；　Du　Roy　sauntered　slowly
toward　the　office　to　commence　his　work；　for　he　had　nothing　to　do
until　four　o'clock；　at　which　hour　he　was　to　meet　Mme。　de　Marelle　at
Rue　de　Constantinople。　They　met　there　regularly　twice　a　week；
Mondays　and　Wednesdays。

On　entering　the　office；　he　was　handed　a　sealed　dispatch；　it　was　from
Mme。　Walter；　and　read　thus：

　　　　〃It　is　absolutely　necessary　that　I　should　see　you　to…day。　It　is
　　　　　important。　Expect　me　at　two　o'clock　at　Rue　de　Constantinople。　I
　　　　　can　render　you　a　great　service；　your　friend　until　death；〃

　　　　〃VIRGINIE。〃

He　exclaimed：　〃Heavens！　what　a　bore！〃　and　left　the　office　at　once；
too　much　annoyed　to　work。

For　six　weeks　he　had　ineffectually　tried　to　break　with　Mme。　Walter。
At　three　successive　meetings　she　had　been　a　prey　to　remorse；　and　had
overwhelmed　her　lover　with　reproaches。　Angered　by　those　scenes　and
already　weary　of　the　dramatic　woman；　he　had　simply　avoided　her；
hoping　that　the　affair　would　end　in　that　way。

But　she　persecuted　him　with　her　affection；　summoned　him　at　all　times
by　telegrams　to　meet　her　at　street　corners；　in　shops；　or　public
gardens。　She　was　very　different　from　what　he　had　fancied　she　would
be；　trying　to　attract　him　by　actions　ridiculous　in　one　of　her　age。
It　disgusted　him　to　hear　her　call　him：　〃My　ratmy　dogmy　treasure…
…my　jewelmy　blue…bird〃and　to　see　her　assume　a　kind　of　childish
modesty　when　he　approached。　It　seemed　to　him　that　being　the　mother
of　a　family；　a　woman　of　the　world；　she　should　have　been　more　sedate；
and　have　yielded　With　tears　if　she　chose；　but　with　the　tears　of　a
Dido　and　not　of　a　Juliette。　He　never　heard　her　call　him　〃Little　one〃
or　〃Baby；〃　without　wishing　to　reply　〃Old　woman；〃　to　take　his　hat
with　an　oath　and　leave　the　room。

At　first　they　had　often　met　at　Rue　de　Constantinople；　but　Du　Roy；
who　feared　an　encounter　with　Mme。　de　Marelle；　invented　a　thousand
and　one　pretexts　in　order　to　avoid　that　rendezvous。　He　was　therefore
obliged　to　either　lunch　or　dine　at　her　house　daily；　when　she　would
clasp　his　hand　under　cover　of　the　table　or　offer　him　her　lips　behind
the　doors。　Above　all；　Georges　enjoyed　being　thrown　so　much　in
contact　with　Suzanne；　she　made　sport　of　everything　and　everybody
with　cutting　appropriateness。　At　length；　however；　he　began　to　feel
an　unconquerable　repugnance　to　the　love　lavished　upon　him　by　the
mother；　he　could　no　longer　see　her；　hear　her；　nor　think　of　her
without　anger。　He　ceased　calling　upon　her；　replying　to　her　letters；
and　yielding　to　her　appeals。　She　finally　divined　that　he　no　longer
loved　her；　and　the　discovery　caused　her　unutterable　anguish；　but　she
watched　him；　followed　him　in　a　cab　with　drawn　blinds　to　the　office；
to　his　house；　in　the　hope　of　seeing　him　pass　by。　He　would　have　liked
to　strangle　her；　but　he　controlled　himself　on　account　of　his
position　on　〃La　Vie　Francaise〃　and　he　endeavored　by　means　of
coldness；　and　even　at　times　harsh　words；　to　make　her　comprehend　that
all　was　at　an　end　between　them。

Then；　too；　she　persisted　in　devising　ruses　for　summoning　him　to　Rue
de　Constantinople；　and　he　was　in　constant　fear　that　the　two　women
would　some　day　meet　face　to　face　at　the　door。

On　the　other　hand；　his　affection　for　Mme。　de　Marelle　had　increased
during　the　summer。　They　were　both　Bohemians　by　nature；　they　took
excursions　together　to　Argenteuil；　Bougival；　Maisons；　and　Poissy；
and　when　he　was　forced　to　return　and　dine　at　Mme。　Walter's；　he
detested　his　mature　mistress　more　thoroughly；　as　he　recalled　the
youthful　one　he　had　just　left。　He　was　congratulating　himself　upon
having　freed　himself　almost　entirely　from　the　former's　clutches；
when　he　received　the　telegram　above　mentioned。

He　re…read　it　as　he　walked　along。　He　thought：　〃What　does　that　old
owl　want　with　me？　I　am　certain　she　has　nothing　to　tell　me　except
that　she　adores　me。　However；　I　will　see；　perhaps　there　is　some　truth
in　it。　Clotilde　is　coming　at　four；　I　must　get　rid　of　the　other　one
at　three　or　soon　after；　provided　they　do　not　meet。　What　jades　women
are！〃

As　he　uttered　those　words　he　was　reminded　of　his　wife；　who　was　the
only　one　who　did　not　torment　him；　she　lived　by　his　side　and　seemed
to　love　him　very　much　at　the　proper　time；　for　she　never　permitted
anything　to　interfere　with　her　ordinary　occupations　of　life。　He
strolled　toward　the　appointed　place　of　meeting；　mentally　cursing
Mme。　Walter。

〃Ah；　I　will　receive　her　in　such　a　manner　that　she　will　not　tell　me
anything。　First　of　all；　I　will　give　her　to　understand　that　I　shall
never　cross　her　threshold　again。〃

He　entered　to　await　her。　She　soon　arrived　and；　seeing　him；
exclaimed：　〃Ah；　you　received　my　dispatch！　How　fortunate！〃

〃Yes；　I　received　it　at　the　office　just　as　I　was　setting　out　for　the
Chamber。　What　do　you　want？〃　he　asked　ungraciously。

She　had　raised　her　veil　in　order　to　kiss　him；　and　approached　him
timidly　and　humbly　with　the　air　of　a　beaten　dog。

〃How　unkind　you　are　to　me；　how　harshly　you　speak！　What　have　I　done
to　you？　You　do　not　know　what　I　have　suffered　for　you！〃

He　muttered：　〃Are　you　going　to　begin　that　again？〃

She　stood　near　him　awaiting　a　smile；　a　word　of　encouragement；　to
cast　herself　into　his　arms；　and　whispered：　〃You　need　not　have　won　me
to　treat　me　thus；　you　might　have　left　me　virtuous　and　happy。　Do　you
remember　what　you　said　to　me　in　the　church　and　how　you　forced　me　to
enter　this　house？　And　now　this　is　the　way　you　speak　to　me；　receive
me！　My　God；　my　God；　how　you　maltreat　me！〃

He　stamped　his　foot　and　said　violently：　〃Enough；　be　silent！　I　can
never　see　you　a　moment　without　hearing　that　refrain。　You　were　mature
when　you　gave　yourself　to　me。　I　am　much　obliged　to　you；　I　am
infinitely　grateful；　but　I　need　not　be　tied　to　your　apron…strings
until　I　die！　You　have　a　husband　and　I　a　wife。　Neither　of　us　is　free；
it　was　all　a　caprice；　and　now　it　is　at　an　end！〃

She　said：　〃How　brutal　you　are；　how　coarse　and　villainous！　No；　I　was
no　longer　a　young　girl；　but　I　had　never　loved；　never　wavered　in　my
dignity。〃

He　interrupted　her：　〃I　know　it；　you　have　told　me　that　twenty　times；
but　you　have　had　two　children。〃

She　drew　back　as　if　she　had　been　struck：　〃Oh；　Georges！〃　And　pressing
her　hands　to　her　heart；　she　burst　into　tears。

When　she　began　to　weep；　he　took　his　hat：　〃Ah；　you　are　crying　again！
Good　evening！　Is　it　for　this　that　you　sent　for　me？〃

She　took　a　step　forward　in　order　to　bar　the　way；　and　drawing　a
handkerchief　from　her　pocket　she　wiped　her　eyes。　Her　voice　grew
steadier：　〃No；　I　came　toto　give　youpolitical　newsto　give　you
the　means　of　earning　fifty　thousand　francsor　even　more　if　you　wish
to。〃

Suddenly　softened　he　asked：　〃How？〃

〃By　chance　last　evening　I　heard　a　conversation　between　my　husband
and　Laroche。　Walter　advised　the　minister　not　to　let　you　into　the
secret　for　you　would　expose　it。〃

Du　Roy　placed　his　hat　upon　a　chair　and　listened　attentively。

〃They　are　going　to　take　possession　of　Morocco！〃

〃Why；　I　lunched　with　Laroche　this　morning；　and　he　told　me　the
cabinet's　plans！〃

〃No；　my　dear；　they　have　deceived　you；　because　they　feared　their
secret　would　be　made　known。〃

〃Sit　down；〃　said　Georges。

He　sank　into　an　armchair；　while　she　drew　up　a　stool　and　took　her
seat　at　his　feet。　She　continued：

〃As　I　think　of　you　continually；　I　pay　attention　to　what　is　talked　of
around　me；〃　and　she　proceeded　to　tell　him　what　she　had　heard
relative　to　the　expedition　to　Tangiers　which　had　been　decided　upon
the　day　that　Laroche　assumed　his　office；　she　told　him　how　they　had
little　by　little　bought　up；　through　agents　who　aroused　no
suspicions；　the　Moroccan　loan；　which　had　fallen　to　sixty…four　or
sixty…five　francs；　how　when　the　expedition　was　entered　upon　the
French　government　would　guarantee　the　debt；　and　their　friends　would
make　fifty　or　sixty　millions。

He　cried：　〃Are　you　sure　of　that？〃

She　replied：　〃Yes；　I　am　sure。〃

He　continued：　〃That　is　indeed　fine！　As　for　that　rascal　of　a　Laroche；
let　him　beware！　I　will　get　his　ministerial　carcass　between　my
fingers　yet！〃

Then；　after　a　moment's　reflection；　he　muttered：　〃One　might　profit　by
that！〃

〃You　too　can　buy　some　stock；〃　said　she；　〃it　is　only　seventy…two
francs。〃

He　replied：　〃But　I　have　no　ready　money。〃

She　raised　her　eyes　to　hiseyes　full　of　supplication。

〃I　have　thought　of　that；　my　darling；　and　if　you　love　me　a　little；
you　will　let　me　lend　it　to　you。〃

He　replied　abruptly；　almost　harshly：　〃No；　indeed。〃

She　whispered　imploringly：　〃Listen；　there　is　something　you　can　do
without　borrowing　money。　I　intended　buying　ten　thousand　francs'
worth　of　the　stock；　instead；　I　will　take　twenty　thousand　and　you　can
have　half。　There　will　be　nothing　to　pay　at　once。　If　it　succeeds；　we
will　make　seventy　thousand　francs；　if　not；　you　will　owe　me　ten
thousand　which　you　can　repay　at　your　pleasure。〃

He　said　again：　〃No；　I　do　not　like　those　combinations。〃

She　tried　to　persuade　him　by　telling　him　that　she　advanced　nothing
that　the　payments　were　made　by　Walter's　bank。　She　pointed　out　to　him
that　he　had　led　the　political　campaign　in　〃La　Vie　Francaise；〃　and
that　he　would　be　very　simple　not　to　profit　by　the　results　he　had
helped　to　bring　about。　As　he　still　hesitated；　she　added：　〃It　is　in
reality　Walter　who　will　advance　the　money；　and　you　have　done　enough
for　him　to　offset　that　sum。〃

〃