Милий друг

           HeopeneditindifferentlyandsawthecrossoftheLegionofHonor.Heturnedatriflepale,thensmiled,andsaid:"Ishouldhavepreferredtenmillions.Thatdidnotcosthimmuch."

           Shehadexpectedatransportofdelightandwasirritatedbyhisindifference.

           "Youareincomprehensible.Nothingseemstosatisfyyou."

           Herepliedcalmly:"Thatmanisonlypayinghisdebts;heowesmeagreatdealmore."

           Shewasastonishedathistone,andsaid:"Itisverynice,however,atyourage."

           Hereplied:"Ishouldhavemuchmore."

           Hetookthecasket,placeditonthemantelpiece,andlookedforsomeminutesatthebrilliantstarwithinit,thenhecloseditwithashrugofhisshouldersandbegantopreparetoretire.

           "L’Officiel"ofJanuary1announcedthatM.ProsperGeorgesduRoyhadbeendecoratedwiththeLegionofHonorforexceptionalservices.Thenamewaswrittenintwowords,andthataffordedGeorgesmorepleasurethanthedecorationitself.

           Anhourafterhavingreadthatnotice,hereceivedanotefromMme.Walter,invitinghimtocomeandbringhiswifetodinewiththemthatevening,tocelebratehisdistinction.

           Atfirsthehesitated,thenthrowingtheletterinthefire,hesaidtoMadeleine:"WeshalldineattheWalters’thisevening."

           Inhersurprisesheexclaimed:"Why,Ithoughtyouwouldneversetyourfootintheirhouseagain.