Милий друг
The First Intrigue
Whentheattackwasover,hegrowledangrily:"Thesepartiesarenotgoodforme;theyarestupid.Letusgohome."
Mme.deMarellesummonedthewaiterandaskedforherbill.Shetriedtoreadit,butthefiguresdancedbeforehereyes;shehandedthepapertoDuroy.
"Here,payitforme;Icannotsee."Atthesametime,sheputherpurseinhishand.
Thetotalwasonehundredandthirtyfrancs.Duroyglancedatthebillandwhenitwassettled,whispered:"HowmuchshallIgivethewaiter?"
"Whateveryoulike;Idonotknow."
Helaidfivefrancsupontheplateandhandedthepursetoitsowner,saying:"ShallIescortyouhome?"
"Certainly;Iamunabletofindthehouse."
TheyshookhandswiththeForestiersandweresoonrollingalonginacabsidebyside.Duroycouldthinkofnothingtosay;hefeltimpelledtoclaspherinhisarms."IfIshoulddare,whatwouldshedo?"thoughthe.Therecollectionoftheirconversationatdinneremboldened,butthefearofscandalrestrainedhim.Mme.deMarellereclinedsilentlyinhercorner.Hewouldhavethoughtherasleep,hadhenotseenhereyesglistenwheneverarayoflightpenetratedthedarkrecessesofthecarriage.Ofwhatwasshethinking?Suddenlyshemovedherfoot,nervously,impatiently.Thatmovementcausedhimtotremble,andturningquickly,hecasthimselfuponher,seekingherlipswithhis.
