Милий друг

           Whowasshe?Ashrewdlittleparvenue,thatwasall.Hecouldnevermakehiswaywithawifewhocompromisedhim.Shewouldbeastumbling-blockinhispath.Ah,ifhehadforeseen,ifhehadknown.Hewouldhaveplayedforhigherstakes.WhatabrilliantmatchhemighthavemadewithlittleSuzanne!Howcouldhehavebeensoblind?

           Theyreachedthedining-roomwithitsmarblecolumnsandwallshungwitholdGobelinstapestry.Walterspiedhiseditor,andhastenedtoshakehands.Hewasbesidehimselfwithjoy."Haveyouseeneverything?Say,Suzanne,haveyoushownhimeverything?Whatalotofpeople,eh?HaveyouseenPrincedeGuerche?hejustdrankaglassofpunch."ThenhepounceduponSenatorRissolinandhiswife.

           AgentlemangreetedSuzanne—atall,slendermanwithfairwhiskersandaworldlyair.GeorgesheardhercallhimMarquisdeCazolles,andhewassuddenlyinspiredwithjealousy.Howlonghadsheknownhim?Sinceshehadbecomewealthynodoubt.Hesawinhimapossiblesuitor.Someoneseizedhisarm.ItwasNorbertdeVarenne.Theoldpoetsaid:"Thisiswhattheycallamusingthemselves.Afterawhiletheywilldance,thentheywillretire,andtheyounggirlswillbesatisfied.Takesomechampagne;itisexcellent."

           Georgesscarcelyheardhiswords.HewaslookingforSuzanne,whohadgoneoffwiththeMarquisdeCazolles;heleftNorbertdeVarenneabruptlyandwentinpursuitoftheyounggirl.