beautiful friend

Chapter 10

Madame de Marais, however, was still a little trembling when she went downstairs; she grabbed Duroy's arm so hard that her legs were trembling.

Luckily they didn't run into anyone.

As he got up very late, Duroy was still in bed when the postman delivered the "little blue strip" at nearly eleven o'clock the next day.

He opened the letter and read it:

See you at 127 Constantinople Street at five o'clock this afternoon.Please let the porter open the room rented by Madame Duroy and kiss you!
Clo
At exactly five o'clock that afternoon, Duroy entered a furnished apartment and asked:

"May I ask if the flat rented by Madame Duroy is here?"

"Yes, sir."

"Will you take me there, please?"

The concierge was used to this kind of thing for a long time, and knew that he shouldn't ask more questions.He looked at Duroy, and while looking down for the key, he asked casually:

"You are M. Duroy, aren't you?"

"Yes."

The porter opens the door of a two-bedroom house.It was on the ground floor, opposite the caretaker's quarters.

The living room has just been pasted with a layer of wallpaper printed with flowers and plants. The furniture is made of mahogany, covered with a dark green ribbed tablecloth decorated with yellow flowers, and the floor is covered with a thin carpet with flower patterns. Hard floors.

The bedroom is very small, and a bed occupies three-quarters of the area.The bed was placed in the back, with both ends against the wall, surrounded by thick blue curtains, also made of ribbed cloth; the bed was covered with a red silk eiderdown quilt, which was stained with many unspoken stains. Metaphoric smudges.

Duroy was a little unhappy and worried, thinking:
"How much will it cost me to rent a house like this. It seems that I have to borrow money again. She is really thoughtless."

At this time, the door was pushed open.Accompanied by the sound of the hem of the skirt, Clotilde ran in like a gust of wind.She opened her arms and said excitedly: "Tell me, isn't this house nice? It's on the ground floor, you don't need to go upstairs, and it faces the street. If you don't want the concierge to see it, you can go in and out through the window. We can enjoy ourselves in it."

Duroy kissed her coldly, never daring to mention the rent.

When Madame de Marais entered, she placed a large package with her on a small round table in the center of the room.Then she opened the bag and took out soap, perfume, sponges, hairpins and button hooks, and a clip for a permanent curl.She often uses the little clip to straighten her unruly bangs.

Madame de Marais was so excited that she arranged everything with interest.

As she opened the drawer, she said:
"It seems that I should also bring some clothes and change them when needed. This will be very convenient. If I get caught in the rain while shopping, I can come here to change clothes. We each have a key, and Put one at the concierge. In this way, even if we forget to bring the key, we can ask him to open the door. I have rented this room in your name for three months. You know, it is not convenient for me to say my name come out."

Duroy then asked:
"When will the rent be paid? Don't forget to remind me."

Madame de Marais replied lightly: "My dear, I have paid the rent."

Duroy then asked:

"So I should give you the money?"

"No, my kitty. It was my idea, and it has nothing to do with you."

Duroy pretended to be angry:
"How can this work? I won't let you do this."

Madame de Marais went up, put her hand on his shoulder, and begged:

"Please, George. Let me rent this cottage all by myself! I'm so glad I did! You're not mad, are you? Why are you mad? I just want to do something for our love What. My little Joe, do you agree?" Her eyes, lips and even her whole body begged him.

At first, Duroy kept a straight face, no matter how much she begged, she would not agree.In the end, he finally agreed to back down, thinking that there was nothing wrong with it.

After Madame de Marais left, he rubbed his hands and murmured:
"She's such a nice woman." However, Duroy still didn't understand why he suddenly had such an idea.

A few days later, he received another letter, which read:

My husband is back tonight from a six week tour.We will not see each other for a week.Honey, this is really a chore for me.

your clo
Duroy stared at the note in a daze for a long time. He had long forgotten that Madame de Marelle was a married woman.He really wanted to see what that man looked like, even if he only saw him once, it would be good to get to know him a little bit.

However, he did not do this after all, but patiently waited for M. de Marais to leave.During this period, he spent two nights at the "Shepherdess Playground", both at Rachel's house.

One morning he received an express letter from Madame de Marais, which contained only a few words: See you at five o'clock in the afternoon.This afternoon, Crowe, they all came to the tryst place in advance.Madame de Marais threw herself into Duroy's arms with the joy of reunion after a long absence, and kissed him wildly on the face.Then she said:
"Take me out to dinner later if you want. I'm free at last."

This day happened to be the beginning of the month.Although Duroy can't make ends meet every month, he will be empty-handed before the payday, and finally can only rely on borrowing to live; but today, there is just some money left in his pocket.He rejoiced at the thought of the opportunity to spend money for his mistress.

So he replied, "Well, dear, you can go where you want." About seven o'clock they were out, and walked slowly along the ring road.Madame de Maraire leaned close to Duroy and whispered softly in his ear: "Do you know? I am so happy to be able to hold your arm and walk with you, feeling that you are by my side!" "

Duroy asked: "How's La Tourie's?"

Mrs. de Maraire replied: "No, it's too elegant. I want to go to places that are more ordinary and interesting, such as ordinary small restaurants where ordinary employees and female workers go. Cafe! Oh! If only we could go to the country!"

Duroy was not familiar with such small restaurants in the area, so they wandered along the street.Finally, they walked into a tavern.This tavern has specially vacated a hall for guests to dine.Through the glass window, Madame de Marais saw two girls without any headdresses sitting opposite the two officers.

It was a long and narrow hall, and in the innermost part were three coachmen who were eating and a customer who could not see any profession.The man had his legs stretched out, his hands in his trouser pockets, his head leaning against the back of the chair, and he was lying on the chair, smoking a pipe leisurely; , a small loaf of bread, a packet wrapped in newspaper, and a length of string.His hair was thick and curly, but tousled and gray; his cap was thrown carelessly on the floor.As soon as Clotilde walked in, the elegant temperament and gorgeous costumes immediately caused a commotion, the two young men and women stopped whispering, the three coachmen stopped talking, and the smoking guest took out his pipe from his mouth , spit on the ground, tilted his head and looked towards the door.

Mrs. de Maraire whispered: "Not bad! We will definitely have a good night here. Next time I come, I must dress like a working girl." sat down before.Because the waiters didn't wipe up the wine spilled by the guests and the vegetable juice spilled from the plate, the table was covered with a thick layer of grease.Madame de Marais, however, paid no attention to it, and Duroy seemed a little embarrassed.He wanted to find a coat hook to hang his hat on, but he couldn't find it, so he had to put it on a chair.

The two of them ordered a plate of mutton stew, a roast leg of lamb, and a salad.Clotilde kept saying: "It's delicious! I didn't expect that I have the same taste as those low-class people. I prefer this kind of place to those British cafes." After a while, she continued : "If you want to cheer me up, you might as well take me to one of those sleazy dance clubs. I know a 'White Queen' dance hall nearby."

Duroy was taken aback, and quickly asked, "Who took you there?"

he asked, looking straight at Madame de Marais.The latter's cheeks were flushed, and she seemed a little flustered. It seemed that this sudden question reminded her of an unspeakable past.She hesitated for a moment, and then replied: "It's a friend..." It is difficult for a woman to notice this momentary hesitation without looking carefully.After a moment of silence, she added: "...he has passed away." After speaking, she lowered her eyes with a sad face.

For the first time, Duroy realized that he knew nothing about the past of the woman in front of him.Madame de Marais must have had many lovers before they met, he thought.Who are they?From what class?A vague jealousy and unhappiness occupied his heart, because there was a past in her life that did not belong to him and that he did not know.Duroy looked at Madame de Marais in front of him, and was displeased that this silent beauty had a dark secret in her mind.Perhaps at this moment, she is full of sentimental miss another or several lovers.How much he wanted to search through her memories to find out everything clearly

At this moment, Madame de Marais asked again:
"Can you take me to the 'White Queen' ballroom? It would be perfect if you could."

Duroy thought to himself: "Never mind him, let the past be the past! Why should I bother myself?" So he replied with a smile:
"Of course, my dear."

Walking on the street, Mrs. de Marais whispered in a mysterious tone that confided in others: "I have never dared to make such a request in front of you until today. You must not imagine, Actually, I really want to go to places where women don't go, and see how the men are messing around. I must make up to look like a schoolboy during the carnival, it must be very interesting."

On entering the ballroom, Madame de Marais clung to Duroy, terrified and excited; she watched the whores and pimps with interest.Whenever she saw a security policeman with a stern expression standing still, she would say, "There's a policeman over there, look how majestic he is!" as if to embolden herself.After a quarter of an hour, she began to lose interest, and Duroy sent her home.

From then on, Madame de Marais often asked Duroy to take her to places where common people had fun.Duroy found that the mistress had the same fascination with such wanderings as the whims of college students.

Whenever she appeared on such an occasion, she always wore a coarse cloth dress and a bonnet like that of a maid in a musical.Although the carefully selected clothes look simple and elegant, those glittering rings, bracelets and earrings are still worn on the body.Whenever Duroy persuaded her to take off these jewelry, she would always say confidently: "What's the matter? Others thought they were stones picked up from the Rhine River!"

Madame de Marais, who thought she was perfectly attired, was deluding herself and going in and out of disreputable places.

She also wanted Duroy to change into workers' clothes, but Duroy was still neatly dressed, and he didn't even want to change his top hat for a felt hat.

For Duroy's stubbornness, she had no choice but to comfort herself and say: "Walking with a handsome gentleman, people must think I am a lucky maid." This kind of thinking made her feel a little more Comedy effect.

In this way they frequented low-class taverns, where they sat in dim, smoky corners to pass the time.The chairs beside me had four legs of different lengths, and the table was also tattered.There was a choking smell of smoke and fried fish all around.Several guests in overalls were talking and laughing loudly while drinking.The clerk, as he served Duroy and Madame de Marais two glasses of kirsch, stared curiously at this strange couple.

Madame de Marais was trembling with terror and excitement.While sipping the red soju, she looked around with an agitated expression.Every time she swallowed a cherry, she felt a sense of guilt; but a sip of spicy soju gave her a wonderful pleasure, as if she had tasted the pleasure of stealing the forbidden fruit.

After a while, she whispered: "Let's go." So the two got up and left.With her head bowed, Madame de Marais walked past the men who were toasting their glasses with the short steps of an actor when she exits the stage.The guests all looked up at her with suspicion and displeasure.Walking out of the tavern, she breathed a long sigh of relief, as if she had just escaped a terrible disaster.

Sometimes Madame de Marais would ask Duroy, trembling all over:

"What would you do if someone insulted me in a place like this?"

Duroy always replied without hesitation:

"Of course I will protect you!"

At this time, Madame de Marais would be happy to hold Duroy's arm, vaguely hoping that one day she would be insulted, so that he would stand up and protect her.She likes to see men go to war for her, even her sweetheart.

Duroy soon grew weary of these outings two or three times a week.He had to rack his brains every time in order to raise half a louis for the fare and drinks.

Now, his life is getting more and more difficult, even more difficult than when he was working in the Northern Railway Bureau.In the first few months at the newspaper office, he thought he would make a lot of money soon, so he spent money lavishly and without restraint; soon, he spent all his savings and exhausted all borrowing facilities. means.

The easiest way is to borrow money from the financial department of the newspaper, but now even this way is not feasible.Because Duroy had already advanced four months' salary and six hundred francs for the manuscript.In addition, he owed Forestier a hundred francs and the generous Jacques Rival three hundred francs, and those debts of twenty francs or one or two hundred sous were countless.

Even Saint-Botin, who had the most ideas, felt helpless when asked how he could borrow another hundred francs.This predicament made Duroy very annoyed. At this moment, the need for money made him feel that life was more difficult than before.Unknowingly, he began to harbor resentment towards everyone around him; and this resentment became more and more intense, making him often lose his temper over some trivial matters regardless of the occasion.

Duroy sometimes wondered: he neither spent too much nor spent freely, so how could his average monthly expenses be as high as [-] francs?He did the calculations, eight francs for a lunch and twelve francs for a dinner in a big restaurant on a bustling street, adding up to one louis; plus the ten francs for pocket money that he spent unconsciously every day, the total was thirty francs. franc.In this way, thirty francs a day is nine hundred francs a month, not including the usual expenses for clothes, shoes and socks, bedding and dry cleaning.

So today, that is, December No. 14, Duroy is penniless; besides, he can't think of any way to borrow money.

In desperation, he had no choice but to skip lunch altogether, as before, and was busy at the newspaper office all afternoon; even so, he was still worried and angry.

About four o'clock Duroy received a little note from his mistress, in which it read:
Shall we have dinner together tonight?Go shopping after dinner.

Duroy immediately picked up his pen and replied: "I don't have time for dinner." But he didn't want to lose the happy time that came to his door, so he added another sentence:
"Nine o'clock in the evening, I will wait for you in that hut."

In order to save postage, Duroy sent the newspaper's trainee to deliver the letter directly.Then start thinking about how to fix this dinner.

At seven o'clock in the evening, there was still nothing he could do.At this time, he was already very hungry, so hungry that he couldn't die.Just when he was about to despair, he suddenly came up with a clever plan.When his colleagues left one by one and he was the only one left in the office, Duroy suddenly rang the bell.The handyman in charge of guarding the office came after hearing the news.

Duroy stood in the room, rummaging through his pockets in a panic, and at the same time said anxiously:

"You see, Faucard, I forgot my purse. But I must now go to a dinner at the Luxembourg. Can you lend me fifty sous for the fare?"

The handyman took three francs from his waistcoat pocket and asked:
"Is that enough, Monsieur Duroy?"

"Enough! Enough! Thank you!"

Duroy took a few white coins and immediately rushed downstairs to a small restaurant for a casual dinner.This small restaurant was a place he used to frequent when he had no money.

At nine o'clock in the evening, Duroy sat by the fireplace in the small living room, warming himself by the fire while waiting for his mistress to arrive.

In a short while, Madame de Marais arrived in the cold of the street.She looked happy and excited. "If you like," she said, "we'll go out for a while, and we'll be back at eleven. It's the perfect weather for a walk."

Duroy muttered:

"Why go out? Isn't it nice here?"

Madame de Marais continued without taking her hat:

"How charming the moonlight is outside! It's a pleasure to go out for a walk on such a night."

"You may be right, but I don't feel like going for a walk tonight."

When he said this, Duroy looked very angry.Madame de Marais was startled, and also a little unhappy, and asked: "What's the matter with you today? What's your attitude? I just want to go out for a stroll, is it worth your anger?"

When Duroy heard this, he was furious.He stood up and said, "I'm not angry, I just don't want to go out, that's all."

Madame de Maraire is no ordinary person, and the more harsh you speak to her, the less she will buy you.

She looked at Du Luowa contemptuously, and said coldly:
"No one has ever spoken to me like that. If you don't go, I'll go alone. Goodbye!"

(End of this chapter)