Милий друг
A Step Upward
"
WhentheyreachedRuedeBourgogne,thepoethaltedbeforeahighhouse,rangthebell,pressedDuroy’shandandsaid:"ForgetwhatIhavesaidtoyou,youngman,andliveaccordingtoyourage.Adieu!"Withthosewordshedisappearedinthedarkcorridor.
DuroyfeltsomewhatdepressedonleavingVarenne,butonhiswayaperfumeddamselpassedbyhimandrecalledtohismindhisreconciliationwithMme.deMarelle.Howdelightfulwastherealizationofone’shopes!
Thenextmorninghearrivedathislady-love’sdoorsomewhatearly;shewelcomedhimasiftherehadbeennorupture,andsaidasshekissedhim:
"YoudonotknowhowannoyedIam,mybeloved;Ianticipatedadelightfulhoneymoonandnowmyhusbandhascomehomeforsixweeks.ButIcouldnotletsolongatimegobywithoutseeingyou,especiallyafterourlittledisagreement,andthisishowIhavearrangedmatters:CometodinnerMonday.IwillintroduceyoutoM.deMarelle,Ihavealreadyspokenofyoutohim."
Duroyhesitatedinperplexity;hefearedhemightbetraysomethingbyaword,aglance.Hestammered:
"No,Iwouldrathernotmeetyourhusband."
"Whynot?Howabsurd!Suchthingshappeneveryday.Ididnotthinkyousofoolish."
"Verywell,IwillcometodinnerMonday."
"Tomakeitmorepleasant,IwillhavetheForestiers,thoughIdonotliketoreceivecompanyathome."
OnMondayasheascendedMme.
