Милый друг
Madame De Marelle
"
Shehadeatenallofherbonbonsandbegantotoywiththebuttonsonhisvest.Suddenlyshedrewalonghairoutofthebuttonholeandbegantolaugh.
"See!HereisoneofMadeleine’shairs;youareafaithfulhusband!"Thengrowingserious,sheexaminedthescarcelyperceptiblethreadmorecloselyandsaid:"ItisnotMadeleine’s,itisdark."
Hesmiled."Itprobablybelongstothehousemaid."
Butsheglancedatthevestwiththecareofapolice-inspectorandfoundasecondhairtwistedaroundasecondbutton;thenshesawathird;andturningpaleandtremblingsomewhat,sheexclaimed:"Oh,somewomanhaslefthairsaroundallyourbuttons."
Insurprise,hestammered:"Whyyou—youaremad."
Shecontinuedtounwindthehairsandcastthemuponthefloor.Withherwoman’sinstinctshehaddivinedtheirmeaningandgaspedinheranger,readytocry:
"Shelovesyouandshewishedyoutocarryawaywithyousomethingofhers.Oh,youareatraitor."Sheutteredashrill,nervouscry:"Oh,itisanoldwoman’shair—hereisawhiteone—youhavetakenafancytoanoldwomannow.Thenyoudonotneedme—keeptheotherone."Sherose.