Милий друг

           "

           "Well?"

           "Well,youhavereceivedone!"

           "Fromwhom?"

           "Youknowverywell."

           "No,IswearIdonot."

           "Yes,youdo.ItisfromthatfopofaMarquisdeCazolles."

           "Heisnotafop."

           "Thatmaybe,butheisstupid.Heisnomatchforyouwhoaresopretty,sofresh,sobright!"

           Sheaskedwithasmile:"Whathaveyouagainsthim?"

           "I?Nothing!"

           "Yes,youhave.Heisnotallthatyousayheis."

           "Heisafool,andanintriguer."

           Sheglancedathim:"Whatailsyou?"

           Hespokeasiftearingasecretfromthedepthsofhisheart:"Iam--Iamjealousofhim."

           Shewasastonished.

           "You?"

           "Yes,I."

           "Why?"

           "BecauseIloveyouandyouknowit"

           Thenshesaidseverely:"Youaremad,Bel-Ami!"

           Hereplied:"IknowthatIam!ShouldIconfessit—I,amarriedman,toyou,ayounggirl?Iamworsethanmad—Iamculpable,wretched—Ihavenopossiblehope,andthatthoughtalmostdestroysmyreason.WhenIhearthatyouaregoingtobemarried,Ifeelmurderinmyheart.Youmustforgiveme,Suzanne."

           Hepaused.Theyounggirlmurmuredhalfsadly,halfgaily:"Itisapitythatyouaremarried;butwhatcanyoudo?Itcannotbehelped.