Милий друг

           Atlength,however,hebegantofeelanunconquerablerepugnancetothelovelavisheduponhimbythemother;hecouldnolongerseeher,hearher,northinkofherwithoutanger.Heceasedcallinguponher,replyingtoherletters,andyieldingtoherappeals.Shefinallydivinedthathenolongerlovedher,andthediscoverycausedherunutterableanguish;butshewatchedhim,followedhiminacabwithdrawnblindstotheoffice,tohishouse,inthehopeofseeinghimpassby.Hewouldhavelikedtostrangleher,buthecontrolledhimselfonaccountofhispositionon"LaVieFrancaise"andheendeavoredbymeansofcoldness,andevenattimesharshwords,tomakehercomprehendthatallwasatanendbetweenthem.

           Then,too,shepersistedindevisingrusesforsummoninghimtoRuedeConstantinople,andhewasinconstantfearthatthetwowomenwouldsomedaymeetfacetofaceatthedoor.

           Ontheotherhand,hisaffectionforMme.deMarellehadincreasedduringthesummer.TheywerebothBohemiansbynature;theytookexcursionstogethertoArgenteuil,Bougival,Maisons,andPoissy,andwhenhewasforcedtoreturnanddineatMme.Walter’s,hedetestedhismaturemistressmorethoroughly,asherecalledtheyouthfulonehehadjustleft.Hewascongratulatinghimselfuponhavingfreedhimselfalmostentirelyfromtheformer’sclutches,whenhereceivedthetelegramabovementioned.

           Here-readitashewalkedalong.