Милый друг
Madame Walter Takes a Hand
"
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.
