Милый друг

           Therewillbenothingtopayatonce.Ifitsucceeds,wewillmakeseventythousandfrancs;ifnot,youwillowemetenthousandwhichyoucanrepayatyourpleasure."

           Hesaidagain:"No,Idonotlikethosecombinations."

           Shetriedtopersuadehimbytellinghimthatsheadvancednothing—thatthepaymentsweremadebyWalter’sbank.Shepointedouttohimthathehadledthepoliticalcampaignin"LaVieFrancaise,"andthathewouldbeverysimplenottoprofitbytheresultshehadhelpedtobringabout.Ashestillhesitated,sheadded:"ItisinrealityWalterwhowilladvancethemoney,andyouhavedoneenoughforhimtooffsetthatsum."

           "Verywell,"saidhe,"Iwilldoit.IfweloseIwillpayyoubacktenthousandfrancs."

           Shewassodelightedthatsherose,tookhisheadbetweenherhands,andkissedhim.Atfirsthedidnotrepulseher,butwhenshegrewmorelavishwithhercaresses,hesaid:

           "Come,thatwilldo."

           Shegazedathimsadly."Oh,Georges,Icannolongerevenembraceyou."

           "No,notto-day.Ihaveaheadache."

           Shereseatedherselfwithdocilityathisfeetandasked:

           "Willyoudinewithusto-morrow?Itwouldgivemesuchpleasure,"

           Hehesitatedatfirst,butdarednotrefuse.

           "Yes,certainly."

           "Thankyou,dearest.