beautiful friend

Chapter 12

But there was still two hundred francs short.Duroy decided to keep the eighty francs he had borrowed.He said to himself: "Damn it! Why should I work hard for that woman. It's not too late when I have money later."

For the next two weeks, Duroy lived frugally and lived a life of asceticism and order.But soon, a strong lust began to ignite in his heart.He felt as if he had not touched a woman for many years, and when he saw them, he was as helpless as a sailor returning to land.

So one night, Duroy came to the "Shepherdess Playground" again, hoping to meet Rachel here.Sure enough, Duroy saw her as soon as she entered the door, and she rarely left here.

Duroy stretched out his hand and walked towards her with a smile.Unexpectedly, the other party looked him up from head to toe and said:

"What are you still looking for me for?"

Duroy tried hard to squeeze out a smile:
"Okay, don't be childish."

Rachel turned and left, and said before leaving:

"I don't want to have anything to do with a guy like you who turns his face and doesn't recognize anyone."

This sentence was so merciless that Du Luowa blushed with anger, and finally had to return in a huff.

During this time, Forestier coughed all day long, and his health became worse and worse.Even so, he still arranged many errands for Duroy every day, which made him restless for a moment.One day, when Duroy failed to get the information he needed, he was irritated by a long and violent cough; so he roared loudly:

"Damn! Didn't expect you to be so stupid!"

Duroy wanted to give him a slap in the face, but he held back, and walked out, muttering to himself: "One day I will ride on your head." Suddenly, he had an idea and thought of a clever plan, So he added: "Dude, just wait and see, I want you to wear a cuckold." Thinking of this, he was so excited, rubbed his hands excitedly, and walked out.

The next day, Duroy began to put it into action.He deliberately went to visit Mrs. Forestier, and when he entered the door first, Mrs. Forestier was lying on the sofa reading a book.

Seeing Duroy, she didn't get up, but turned her head, stretched out her hand, and said, "Hello, beautiful friend." Hearing her address, Duroy seemed to be slapped in the face: "Why do you call me that? ?”

Madame Forestier replied with a smile:
"I didn't realize they called you that when I saw Madame de Marais last week."

Seeing Madame Forestier's amiable and amiable appearance, Duroy gradually calmed down her uneasy mood.Besides, what had he to be afraid of?
Madame Forestier continued:

"You are very kind to Madame de Marais. As for me, it is rare that anyone thinks of visiting me all year round."

Sitting beside her, Duroy looked at her curiously, like a collector appreciating a treasure.Madame Forestier had soft, bright blond hair, round and delicate skin, and looked very charming.Duroy thought to himself: "She is much better than Madame de Marelle." He believed that this time he would be successful, just like picking fruit, it was easy to get.

Duroy replied without thinking:

"The reason why I didn't come to see you is because I thought it would be better."

Madame Forestier asked puzzledly:

"Huh? Why?"

"Why? Can't you see that?"

"No, I don't see it."

"Because I'm in love with you... but just a little... I don't want to let myself fall completely..." Madame Forestier showed neither surprise nor displeasure; With a disapproving smile, he replied unusually calmly:
"Come if you want. No one's love for me will last long."

The tone of Madame Forestier's speech surprised Duroy more than the words themselves.He couldn't help asking: "Why?"

"Because they are just wasting their efforts in vain. I will tell you the reason immediately. If you can express your worries earlier, I will definitely let you dispel your worries and come here with confidence."

Duroy said slightly sadly:

"According to you, feelings can be controlled at will?"

Madame Forestier turned, looked at him and said:
"My dear friend, in my opinion, a man who is in love is nothing more than a walking corpse, not only dull and stupid, but also very dangerous. I will cut off all intimacy with anyone who loves me or is inclined to it. Because first, They annoy me and secondly, I suspect they'll be like mad dogs and have seizures as soon as they say it. So I'll keep my distance from them until they're 'cured'. Please keep that in mind. I know , for you men, love is just an expression of sensuality; but for me, on the contrary, love should be a kind of...a kind of...a union of souls. But men don't believe this. They only see the surface , but I understand its essence. Please... look at me directly..."

At this moment, the smile on Madame Forestier's face disappeared.She looked calm and indifferent, and said word by word:

"Please listen clearly, I will never be your mistress. If you insist on not listening, you will not only get nothing in the end, but may also cause bad consequences... Now... I have made it very clear... If you want If we do, we can be the kind of true friends who don't have any distractions."

At this point, Duroy understood that no matter how hard he tried, it would be futile.So he decided to take her advice, and was overjoyed that he could make such a confidante.He held out his hands to her:

"I listen to you, ma'am."

Madam Forestier heard that this was his sincere words, so she also stretched out her hands.

Duroy kissed her hand, then raised his head and said, "It would be great if I could marry a wife like you!"

Madame Forestier was greatly moved.At this moment, her mood is the same as that of all women who hear compliments.She glanced quickly at Duroy, her eyes were full of gratitude, making the man willing to go through fire and water for her.

Seeing that Duroy had nothing to say for a moment, she pressed her fingers on his arm and said softly:

"From now on I will do my duty as a friend. My dear, you are not clever enough..."

She hesitated for a moment, then asked:

"Can I be frank?"

"of course can."

"Don't you need to have any worries?"

"unnecessary."

"Well, I'll say it. Mrs. Walter admires you very much, and you should pay her a visit and try to win her over. You can say something nice about her, though she's very decent, please listen, she Very decent. So don't fantasize about... getting anything from her. If she thinks you're nice, she'll treat you well. I know, you don't have a high position at the paper, but don't worry, they treat all editors well. No discrimination. Believe me, go visit Mrs. Walter."

Duroy smiled and said:
"Thank you. You are truly my... Patronus." Then the two began talking about other things.

Duroy sat for a long time to show that he was happy to spend time with her.Before leaving, he asked again:
"Are you sure we're friends already?"

"That's a deal."

Remembering that the compliment just now had a good effect, Duroy said again:
"In case you become a widow someday, marry me."

After speaking, he left quickly, so as not to see her angry.

However, visiting Mrs. Walter is not an easy task. You can't just go there casually, let alone go rashly, so as not to make a joke.Old man Walter had always treated him well, appreciated his work performance very much, and often left difficult matters to him.Why doesn't he take advantage of this and go to the boss's house?

One day, Duroy got up very early.As soon as the market opened, he went in and bought a dozen or so pears of the best quality for ten francs.He put the pears into the dill baskets and tied them carefully with string, making it look like they were sent from far away.Then he personally sent it to the porter of the boss's house, and left a card, which read:

This is a pear sent from Normandy by a consignor, and I beg Mrs. Walter to accept it.

Georges Duroy The next day, Duroy found Mrs. Walter's reply in the mailbox of the newspaper.It read: "Many thanks to M. Georges Duroy for receiving visitors at home on Saturday, please come then."

On Saturday, Duroy went as promised.

Mr. Walter owns two identical buildings in the Avenue Mareshal, which are connected together.One of them was rented out--that's what a practical man does.There is only one janitor in the two buildings, who lives between the two gates for vehicles; when a visitor comes, he rings the bell to notify the landlord or tenant.The janitor wore a gorgeous uniform similar to that of a church guard, with a pair of white stockings on his thick calves, and the gold buttons and red lapels on his coat were very conspicuous.With this attire, visitors can tell at a glance that this is the mansion of a wealthy family.

The living room is located on the second floor. Before entering the living room, one must pass through a waiting hall with tapestries and curtains.Two servants were sitting in chairs, drowsy.Seeing Duroy, one of them took the coat; the other took the cane, opened a door, led Duroy a few steps, and then moved aside to let the guests in, while announcing the arrival to the empty hall name.

The jittery Duroy looked nervously around when he glimpsed in the mirror the visitor seated inside.He began to go in the wrong direction, due to the illusion created by the mirror; then, passing through two empty drawing-rooms, he came to a small drawing-room resembling that of a lady.Around the drawing room hung blue silk draperies embroidered with gold buds.Four ladies are sitting around a round table talking in a low voice, each with a cup of tea in front of them.

Despite the experience of living in Paris, especially as a field reporter, he had frequent contact with various dignitaries; Duroy still felt a little nervous after the pomp at the entrance and the few empty living rooms.

While searching for the mistress among the four ladies with his eyes, he said timidly:

"Ma'am, excuse me..."

Madame Walter held out her hand, and said: "Sir, it is very kind of you to come and see me." Duroy kissed her hand, and sat down in a chair which she indicated.Because he didn't see the height of the chair clearly, he almost fell when he sat on it.

Everyone was silent for a moment.Then a lady resumed the conversation.The weather in Paris had started to turn cold, she thought, but not cold enough to stop the typhoid epidemic and to keep people skating.Several women then expressed their views on the frost in Paris.Then the conversation moved on to everyone's favorite season; all opinions fell flat, like dust in a room.

At this time, there was a slight sound outside the door.Duroy turned his head and saw a bloated lady walking between the two glass doors.As soon as this person entered the living room, one of the female guests stood up and shook hands with everyone to say goodbye.Duroy watched her pass through the drawing rooms; behind her, the string of jet-black beads gleamed.

The uproar caused by the arrival and departure of the guests soon subsided, and the women began to talk about the Monaco problem, the war in the Far East, and the troubles that riots in Africa had caused Britain.

They talked about them entirely from memory, without originality, like reciting lines from a high-society comedy.

At this time, a petite lady with blond curly hair came in; then a tall, thin middle-aged female guest got up to leave.

The women began to talk again about Mr. Rinnai's admission to the Académie de France.The new lady thought that he must not be able to compete with Mr. Cabanon-Lebas, because Cabanon's French adaptation of "Don Quixote" was very successful.

"Did you know? This poetic play will be staged at the Odeon Theater at the end of the year."

"Really? I must go and see this new literary endeavor."

When Mrs. Walter spoke, her expression was calm and elegant, which made people feel very friendly.She never hesitates, because she has thought very carefully about what she wants to express.

When Mrs. Walter saw that it was getting dark, she rang the bell and ordered the servant to light the lamp; meanwhile, she listened to the conversation of the guests, and remembered that she had forgotten to go to the engraver's shop to order the invitations for the dinner.

Mrs. Walter, who is almost old and frail, is a bit fat, but she still has a pretty face.On weekdays, she pays great attention to maintenance and conditioning, and often uses skin care products to maintain the luster and vitality of the skin.She seemed to be on top of everything people were talking about, and she was methodical.She was one of those women whose thoughts resemble those of a well-ordered French garden, where one never finds any surprises, but always feels a certain charm.Mrs. Walter is rational, and mediocre and reliable reason replaces all her fantasies; at the same time, she is kind-hearted, kind and broad-minded.

Duroy, who was ignored, didn't say a word, and sat alone, looking a little embarrassed.And those ladies were still discussing endlessly about who can enter the French Academy. Seeing this, Mrs. Walter asked Duroy: "Mr. Duroy, you must know more details than us. You Who do you think is more likely to enter the French Academy?"

Duroy replied without thinking:

"In this matter, madam, I have never considered controversial candidatures, but only their age and health; never asked them to have any titles, only whether they have diseases. Whether they use It doesn't matter that the rhyme translates Lob de Vega; what matters is that we understand the health of their internal organs. It seems to me that those who suffer from cardiomegaly, proteinuria, and especially early People with tabesis will be better than those who make a long speech about the understanding of the word 'fatherland' in Berber poetry." Duroy's words made the ladies in the audience speechless.

Mrs. Walter smiled and asked: "Why?" Duroy replied: "Because what I care about is what questions can arouse the interest of ladies. For you, madam, the only interesting thing about the French Academy is I learned that a certain academician died in Huangquan. The more academicians die, the happier you are. Therefore, in order to let them die faster, you must choose those who are old and full of diseases to enter."

Seeing everyone's astonished expressions, Duroy added: "Actually, like you, I also like to browse the news about the death of academicians in the local news columns in Paris. Whenever this happens, I will ask myself: 'Who will fill his vacancy?' Then I will make a list. It is a very interesting game. Once an academician dies, the whole Paris Salon plays this game. People call it 'Death and Forty' An old man's game'."

Although the ladies here were still a little stunned, there was a smile on their faces, thinking that what he said was reasonable Duroy stood up and concluded:
"Ladies, whether the candidates can enter the French Academy depends on yours. Since the purpose of your selection is to hope that they die quickly, then try to choose those old people, and the older the better. As for the others, you can choose There is no need to care."

After speaking, Duroy stood up gracefully and walked away.

Not long after he left, a lady asked, "That's a very interesting fellow. Who is he?" Mrs. Walter replied, "He's an editor at our paper, and he's in a low position, but I'm sure he'll soon be will be promoted."

Walking on the Avenue Marles-Salbes, Duroy was in a happy mood and walked briskly.Thinking of the scene just now, he was very satisfied, and muttered in his heart: "This is a good start."

That night, he and Rachel made up.

The following week, Duroy had double happiness.First, he was appointed editor-in-chief of the social news column; second, Mrs. Walter invited him to dinner.He immediately understood the connection between the two things.

The primary purpose of "French Life" is to make profits. The boss, Walter, is a man with an eye for money. For him, running a newspaper and being a member of the House of Representatives are both means of making money.Although he is full of benevolence and morality and smiles all day long, no matter which job he chooses, he chooses subordinates who have been observed and tested for a long time, who are bold, careful, scheming and able to adapt to changes.In his opinion, Duroy, who has just been appointed as the editor-in-chief of the social news column, is a rare talent.

Prior to this, this post had been held concurrently by the editorial secretary, Mr. Bouillerne.Boislena was a senior editor, with the discipline and meticulousness of a junior clerk. Over the past 30 years, he has successively served as editorial secretary in ten newspapers, but his way of doing things and way of thinking has always been the same.He passed from one newspaper to another, just as people eat, eating from one to the other, never comparing which one tastes better.As for those political views and religious views, he ignored them.No matter which newspaper he works in, Boislena is loyal and loyal; he has rich experience, he acts like a blind, deaf or mute, except for work, he can't see, hear, let alone work. Post any comments.He maintained a good work ethic throughout and never did anything that was dishonest or unethical from his professional point of view.

(End of this chapter)