Милий друг
Jealousy
Madeleineleaned,againstthemantelpiece,andhavinglightedacigarette,toldhimthenewsandgavehimherplanofthearticle.Helistenedattentively,makingnotesasshespoke,andwhenshehadfinishedheraisedobjections,tookupthequestionand,inhisturn,developedanotherplan.Hiswifeceasedsmoking,forherinterestwasarousedinfollowingGeorges’slineofthought.Fromtimetotimeshemurmured:"Yes,yes;verygood—excellent—veryforcible—"Andwhenhehadfinishedspeaking,shesaid:"Nowletuswrite."
Itwasalwaysdifficultforhimtomakeabeginningandshewouldleanoverhisshoulderandwhisperthephrasesinhisear,thenhewouldaddafewlines;whentheirarticlewascompleted,Georgesre-readit.BothheandMadeleinepronounceditadmirableandkissedoneanotherwithpassionateadmiration.
Thearticleappearedwiththesignatureof"G.duRoydeCantel,"andmadeagreatsensation.M.Waltercongratulatedtheauthor,whosoonbecamecelebratedinpoliticalcircles.Hiswife,too,surprisedhimbytheingenuousnessofhermind,theclevernessofherwit,andthenumberofheracquaintances.Atalmostanytimeuponreturninghomehefoundinhissalonasenator,adeputy,amagistrate,orageneral,whotreatedMadeleinewithgravefamiliarity.
DeputyLaroche-Mathieu,whodinedatRueFontaineeveryTuesday,wasoneofthelargeststockholdersofM.Walter’spaperandthelatter’scolleagueandassociateinmanybusinesstransactions.
