Милий друг
The First Intrigue
IshouldlikeyoutobepresentatourSaturdaysattheCafeRicheatseven-thirty.Doyouknowthehouse?"
Duroyacceptedgladly.Heleftherinatransportofdelightandimpatientlyawaitedthedayofthedinner.Hewasthefirsttoarriveattheplaceappointedandwasshownintoasmallprivateroom,inwhichthetablewaslaidforfour;thattablelookedveryinvitingwithitscoloredglasses,silver,andcandelabra.
Duroyseatedhimselfuponalowbench.Forestierenteredandshookhandswithhimwithacordialityheneverevincedattheoffice.
"Thetwoladieswillcometogether,"saidhe."Thesedinnersaretrulydelightful."
VerysoonthedooropenedandMesdamesForestierandDeMarelleappeared,heavilyveiled,surroundedbythecharmingmysterynecessarytoarendezvousinaplacesopublic.AsDuroygreetedtheformer,shetookhimtotaskfornothavingbeentoseeher;thensheaddedwithasmile:"Ah,youpreferMme.deMarelle;thetimepassesmorepleasantlywithher."
Whenthewaiterhandedthewine-listtoForestier,Mme.deMarelleexclaimed:"Bringthegentle-menwhatevertheywant;asforus,wewantnothingbutchampagne."
Forestier,whoseemednottohaveheardher,asked:"Doyouobjecttomyclosingthewindow?Mycoughhastroubledmeforseveraldays."
"Notatall."
Hiswifedidnotspeak.Thevariouscoursesweredulyservedandthentheguestsbegantochat.
