Милий друг
Suzanne
Itwasoneofyourmistresseswhomadeascene."
"Ihavenone."
"Indeed!Whydoyounevercometoseeme?Whydoyourefusetodinewithmeevenonceaweek?Ihavenootherthoughtsthanofyou.Isufferterribly.Youcannotunderstandthatyourimage,alwayspresent,closesmythroat,stiflesme,andleavesmescarcelystrengthenoughtomovemylimbsinordertowalk.SoIremainalldayinmychairthinkingofyou."
Helookedatherinastonishment.Thesewerethewordsofadesperatewoman,capableofanything.He,however,cherishedavagueprojectandreplied:"Mydear,loveisnoteternal.Onelovesandoneceasestolove.Whenitlastsitbecomesadrawback.Iwantnoneofit!However,ifyouwillbereasonable,andwillreceiveandtreatmeasafriend,Iwillcometoseeyouasformerly.Canyoudothat?"
Shemurmured:"Icandoanythinginordertoseeyou."
"Thenitisagreedthatwearetobefriends,nothingmore."
Shegasped:"Itisagreed";offeringhimherlipsshecriedinherdespair:"Onemorekiss—onelastkiss!"
Hegentlydrewback."No,wemustadheretoourrules."
Sheturnedherheadandwipedawaytwotears,thendrawingfromherbosomapackageofnotestiedwithpinkribbon,sheheldittowardDuRoy:"HereisyourshareoftheprofitsinthatMoroccanaffair.Iwassogladtomakeitforyou.Here,takeit."
Herefused:"No,Icannotacceptthatmoney.
