Милий друг
The Final Plot
Heaskedinaffright:
"Whatailsyou,mydearlittleone?"
Sherepliedtearfully:"IwasthinkingthatpoormammacouldnotsleepifshehadfoundoutthatIwasgone!"
***
Hermotherindeedwasnotasleep.
WhenSuzannelefttheroom,Mine.Walterturnedtoherhusbandandaskedindespair:"Whatdoesthatmean?"
"Itmeansthatthatintriguerhasinfluencedher.ItishewhohasmadeherrefuseCazolles.Youhaveflatteredandcajoledhim,too.ItwasBel-Amihere,Bel-Amithere,frommorninguntilnight.Nowyouarepaidforit!"
"I?"
"Yes,you.YouareasmuchinfatuatedwithhimasMadeleine,Suzanne,andtherestofthem.DoyouthinkthatIdidnotseethatyoucouldnotexistfortwodayswithouthim?"
Sherosetragically:"Iwillnotallowyoutospeaktomethus.YouforgetthatIwasnotbroughtuplikeyou,inashop."
Withanoath,helefttheroom,bangingthedoorbehindhim.
Whenhewasgone,shethoughtoverallthathadtakenplace.SuzannewasinlovewithBel-Ami,andBel-AmiwantedtomarrySuzanne!No,itwasnottrue!Shewasmistaken;hewouldnotbecapableofsuchanaction;heknewnothingofSuzanne’sescapade.TheywouldtakeSuzanneawayforsixmonthsandthatwouldendit.
Sherose,saying:"Icannotrestinthisuncertainty.Ishalllosemyreason.IwillarouseSuzanneandquestionher.
