Милий друг
A Step Upward
Theydidnotstaylate;aftertheyhadleft,Duroysaid,withashakeofhishead:
"Hewillnotlivelong."
Mme.deMarellerepliedcalmly:"No,heisdoomed!Hewasaluckymantoobtainsuchawife."
Duroyasked:"Doesshehelphimverymuch?"
"Shedoesallthework;sheiswellpostedoneverysubject,andshealwaysgainsherpoint,asshewantsit,andwhenshewantsit!Oh,sheisasmaneuveringasanyone!Sheisatreasuretoamanwhowishestosucceed."
Georgesreplied:"Shewillmarryverysoonagain,Ihavenodoubt."
"Yes!Ishouldnotevenbesurprisedifshehadsomeoneinview—adeputy!butIdonotknowanythingaboutit."
M.deMarellesaidimpatiently:"YouinfersomanythingsthatIdonotlike!Weshouldneverinterfereintheaffairsofothers.Everyoneshouldmakethatarule."
Duroytookhisleavewithaheavyheart.ThenextdayhecalledontheForestiers,andfoundtheminthemidstofpacking.Charleslayuponasofaandrepeated:"Ishouldhavegoneamonthago."ThenheproceededtogiveDuroyinnumerableorders,althougheverythinghadbeenarrangedwithM.Walter.WhenGeorgeslefthim,hepressedhiscomrade’shandandsaid:
"Well,oldfellow,weshallsoonmeetagain."
Mme.Forestieraccompaniedhimtothedoorandheremindedheroftheircompact
