Милий друг

           ThatmorningMadeleinereceivedamessagefromMme.Waltertothiseffect:"IhavesucceededinarrangingmattersandIshallbewithyou,butmyhusbandcannotaccompanyme."

           DuRoythought:"Ididrightnottoreturnthere.Shehascalmeddown."Stillheawaitedherarrivalanxiously.

           Sheappearedverycomposed,somewhatreserved,andhaughty.Hewasveryhumble,verycareful,andsubmissive.Mmes.Laroche-MathieuandRissolinwereaccompaniedbytheirhusbands.Mme.deMarellelookedbewitchinginanoddcombinationofyellowandblack.

           AtDuRoy’srightsatMme.Walter,andhespoketoheronlyofseriousmatterswithexaggeratedrespect.FromtimetotimeheglancedatClotilde.

           "Sheisreallyveryprettyandfreshlooking,"thoughthe.ButMme.Walterattractedhimbythedifficultyoftheconquest.Shetookherleaveearly.

           "Iwillescortyou,"saidhe.

           Shedeclinedhisoffer.Heinsisted:"Whydoyounotwantme?Youwoundmedeeply.DonotletmefeelthatIamnotforgiven.YouseethatIamcalm."

           Shereplied:"Youcannotleaveyourgueststhus."

           Hesmiled:"Bah!Ishallbeabsenttwentyminutes.Noonewillevennoticeit;ifyourefuseme,youwillbreakmyheart."

           "Verywell,"shewhispered,"Iwillaccept."

           Whentheywereseatedinthecarriage,heseizedherhand,andkissingitpassionatelysaid:"Iloveyou,Iloveyou.Letmetellittoyou.Iwillnottouchyou.