Милий друг
A Duel with an End
"Bravo!youhavedefendedthecolorsof‘LaVieFrancaise’!Bravo!"
Thefollowingdayateleveno’clockintheforenoon,Duroyreceivedatelegram:
"MyGod!Ihavebeenfrightened.ComeatoncetoRuedeConstantinoplethatImayembraceyou,mylove.Howbraveyouare.Iadoreyou.Clo."
Herepairedtotheplaceappointed,andMme.deMarellerushedintohisarms,coveringhimwithkisses.
"Oh,mydarling,ifyouonlyknewhowIfeltwhenIreadthemorningpapers!Tellme,tellmeallaboutit."
Duroywasobligedtogiveheradetailedaccount.
"Youmusthavehadaterriblenightbeforetheduel!"
"Why,no;Isleptverywell."
"Ishouldnothaveclosedmyeyes.Tellmewhattookplaceontheground."
Forthwithheproceededtogiveheragraphicdescriptionoftheduel.Whenhehadconcluded,shesaidtohim:"Icannotlivewithoutyou!Imustseeyou,andwithmyhusbandinParisitisnotveryconvenient.IoftenhaveanhourearlyinthemorningwhenIcouldcomeandembraceyou,butIcannotenterthathorriblehouseofyours!Whatcanwedo?"
Heaskedabruptly:"Howmuchdoyoupayhere?"
"Onehundredfrancsamonth."
"Verywell,Iwilltaketheapartmentsonmyownaccount,andIwillmoveatonce.Minearenotsuitableanywayformenow.
