Милий друг
Divorce
Theofficeragainasked:"Whoareyou?"
Asthemandidnotreply,hecontinued:"IamthepolicecommissionerandIcalluponyoutotellmeyourname.Ifyoudonotanswer,Ishallbeforcedtoarrestyou.Inanycase,rise.Iwillinterrogateyouwhenyouaredressed."
InthemeantimeMadeleinehadregainedhercomposure,andseeingthatallwaslost,shewasdeterminedtoputabravefaceuponthematter.Hereyessparkledwiththeaudacityofbravado,andtakingapieceofpapershelightedthetencandlesinthecandelabraasifforareception.Thatdone,sheleanedagainstthemantelpiece,tookacigaretteoutofacase,andbegantosmoke,seemingnottoseeherhusband.
Inthemeantimethemaninthebedhaddressedhimselfandadvanced.Theofficerturnedtohim:"Now,sir,willyoutellmewhoyouare?"
Hemadenoreply.
"IseeIshallhavetoarrestyou."
Thenthemancried:"Donottouchme.Iaminviolable."
DuRoyrushedtowardhimexclaiming:"IcanhaveyouarrestedifIwantto!"Thenheadded:"Thisman’snameisLaroche-Mathieu,ministerofforeignaffairs."
Theofficerretreatedandstammered:"Sir,willyoutellmewhoyouare?"
"Foroncethatmiserablefellowhasnotlied.IamindeedLaroche-Mathieu,minister,"andpointingtoGeorges’breast,headded,"andthatscoundrelwearsuponhiscoatthecrossofhonorwhichIgavehim.
