Милий друг
Madame De Marelle
"
Shetookoffherhat.Hepointedtoabagonthemantelpiece:"Iboughtyousomesweetmeats."
Sheclappedherhands."Whatadarlingyouare!"Shetookthem,tastedone,andsaid:"Theyaredelicious.Ishallnotleaveone.Come,sitdowninthearmchair,Iwillsitatyourfeetandeatmybonbons."
HesmiledashesawhertaketheseatashortwhilesinceoccupiedbyMme.Walter.Shetoo,calledhim"darling,littleone,dearest,"andthewordsseemedtohimsweetandcaressingfromherlips,whilefromMme.Walter’stheyirritatedandnauseatedhim.
Suddenlyherememberedtheseventythousandfrancshewasgoingtomake,andbluntlyinterruptingMme.deMarelle’schatter,hesaid:
"Listen,mydarling;Iamgoingtointrustyouwithamessagetoyourhusband.Tellhimfrommetobuyto-morrowtenthousandfrancs’worthofMoroccanstockwhichisatseventy-two,andIpredictthatbeforethreemonthsarepassedhewillhavemadeeightythousandfrancs.Tellhimtomaintainabsolutesilence.TellhimthattheexpeditiontoTangiers,isdecidedupon,andthattheFrenchgovernmentwillguaranteetheMoroccandebt.ItisastatesecretIamconfidingtoyou,remember!"
Shelistenedtohimgravelyandmurmured:
"Thankyou.Iwilltellmyhusbandthisevening.Youmayrelyuponhim;hewillnotspeakofit;hecanbedependedupon;thereisnodanger.
