Милий друг
Marriage
"
Shemurmured"Alexandre!"twoorthreetimesinsuccession;thenshewroteuponablanksheet:
"M.andMme.AlexandreduRoydeCantelannouncethemarriageoftheirson,M.GeorgesduRoydeCantelwithMme.Forestier."
Sheexaminedherwriting,and,charmedwiththeeffect,exclaimed:"Withalittlemethodonecansucceedinanything."
WhenGeorgesreachedthestreetresolvedtocallhimself,henceforth,"DuRoy,"oreven"DuRoydeCantel,"itseemedtohimthathewasofmoreimportance.Heswaggeredmoreboldly,heldhisheadmoreerectandwalkedashethoughtgentlemenshould.Hefeltadesiretoinformthepassers-by,"MynameisDuRoydeCantel."
ScarcelyhadheenteredhisapartmentswhenthethoughtofMme.deMarellerenderedhimuneasy,andhewrotetoherimmediately,appointingameetingforthefollowingday.
"Itwillbehard,"thoughthe."Therewillbeaquarrelsurely."
ThenextmorninghereceivedatelegramfromMadame,informinghimthatshewouldbewithhimatoneo’clock.Heawaitedherimpatiently,determinedtoconfessatonceandafterwardtoarguewithher,totellherthathecouldnotremainabachelorindefinitely,andthat,asM.deMarellepersistedinliving,hehadbeencompelledtochoosesomeoneelseasalegalcompanion.Whenthebellrang,hisheartgaveabound.
Mme.deMarelleenteredandcastherselfintohisarms,saying:"Goodafternoon,Bel-Ami.
