beautiful friend

Chapter 25

Du Roy was very familiar with this vaulted hall.I remember that the day before the last duel, he stayed here all morning alone.At that time, on the opposite side of the hall was an iron human target with terrifyingly large eyes.

Jacques Rival's voice came from the stairs, echoing throughout the hall:

"Ladies, the game is about to start丨"

As soon as the voice fell, six men stepped onto the competition stage and sat on the referee's seat.They were wrapped tightly in their clothes, as if their tops would burst if they were not careful.

The names and identities of the referees were quickly circulated among the audience: the referee General Rinaldi, a short, bushy beard; the painter Josephine Ludd, a tall, bearded, balding old man; Three handsome young men, Matteo de Huya, Simon Ramencell, Pierre de Calvin; and the fencing master Gaspard Melleron.

Two signs were hung on both sides of the hall.On the left: Mr. Plummer, on the right: Mr. Cliveker.

Both gentlemen are good players among the second-level fencing masters.Like soldiers, they walked to the stage with expressionless faces, and their movements seemed a little stiff.After mechanically performing the fencing salute, the confrontation began.Dressed in white canvas fencing suits and white leather jackets around their elbows, they looked like two fresh recruits out there fighting endlessly for fun.

From time to time, someone shouted: "Hit!" The six referees all put on the appearance of an expert, with their heads slightly tilted forward, watching the game attentively.However, for the audience in the audience, they only saw two living puppets stretching their arms and fighting back and forth.They didn't understand anything, but they still had a lot of fun watching it.In their eyes, the movements of the two contestants on the stage were not graceful at all, but rather funny.They couldn't help but think of the little puppets that people sold in the streets and alleys on New Year's Day.

After the first round, Messrs. Prondon and Messrs. Carappin went on.The former is a folk fencer with short stature; the latter is a military fencer with a very strong build.Some have joked that Mr Carappin is like a giant membrane balloon made from beef intestine.This sentence made the audience around burst into laughter.Monsieur Prondon moved with the quickness of a monkey.In contrast, Carapin just kept flailing his arms, and the rest of his body was too bulky to move.Every 5 minutes, he will sprint forward with all his strength; then, he will stand up again with all his strength.

Experts commented that he was steady at every step and played very tenaciously.The audience was convinced, too, and praised Mr. Carappin.

Next came Monsieur Porillon, a professional fencer; and Monsieur Lapalme, an amateur fencer.As soon as they came to power, they chased each other, and the fight was inextricable.The referees had to pick up their chairs and run around.The two contestants fought from one end of the stage to the other, advancing and retreating, jumping back and forth; the scene was not only intense, but also full of jokes.The ladies were alternately laughing at their backward leaps and trembling at their galloping forward sprints.Watching the trotting fencing competition, an unknown child shouted loudly: "Aren't you tired? It's time, go down!" The audience was furious because of this unappreciative remark. There was a burst of "shh" to tell the children to shut up.The referees started whispering; they felt that the two players were strong, but sometimes too much.

The final match of the first half was between Jacques Rival and the famous Belgian fencer Ryberg.It was a fantastic game.Rival is favored by ladies.Not only was he young and handsome, but he was also athletic, brisk on his feet, and his movements were much more graceful than those of the previous players.Whether defending or attacking, his posture is so graceful and elegant, trendy, in stark contrast to the mediocre swordsmanship of the opponent, which is intimidating but not innovative. "This gentleman looks really educated!" people commented tut-tut.

In the end, Rival emerged victorious.There was applause from the crowd.

At this moment, a strange sound came from above the stairs, which made the audience fidget.The stomping of feet was heard, and there was a riot of laughter.The other two hundred guests who were unable to enter the stadium to watch the game were entertaining themselves there.More than 50 men packed the narrow spiral staircase.It's getting hotter and hotter in the basement.The yells continued: "Let's have a drink!" "Let's get some air!" The prankster shouted loudly again: "Have some almond milk! Lemon juice! Beer!" The voice almost overwhelmed all the guests. conversation.

Rival ran up the stairs flushed, still in his fencing uniform. "I'll call for some cold drinks right away," he said.However, the stairway has already been blocked by people.It is impossible to pass through this dense crowd, just like passing through the ceiling.

Rival had no choice but to yell upstairs: "Get some frozen drinks for the ladies!"

The men standing on the stairs also shouted in unison: "Some iced drinks!" After a long time, a plate finally appeared.But people saw that there were only a few empty glasses on it, and the drinks were all drunk by the guests along the way. Someone shouted hysterically: "We are almost suffocating! Finish it quickly, let's go out!" Another person shouted: "Hurry up and raise donations!" Then, all the people present echoed: "It's raising donations! It's raising donations!" Although they were a little out of breath when speaking, they were still in a very cheerful mood.

The six ladies began to shuttle among the crowd. From time to time, the crisp sound of silver coins falling into the purse could be heard. Du Roy introduced the celebrities present one by one to Mrs. Walter.All of them are socialites, or they are reporters from major newspapers.Based on years of experience, these journalists have reservations about the "French News" and look down on this newspaper.Because they know that most newspapers are the product of an insidious collusion of politics and money; they tend to disappear because of the downfall of a minister.In addition, there were several sports-loving painters in the hall, a sculptor, two musicians, a poet of the French Academy who was pointed at by people, and many foreign nobles.Whenever Du Roy spoke of these nobles, he added the syllable "Rast" to their names.This is what he learned from the British, because they always like to print "Esq" on their business cards.

"Good morning, my dear friend," said Du Roy, it was the Comte de Vaudrec.Du Roy asked the ladies' pardon, and went up and took the count's hand.

On his return he said to Mrs. Walter: "The Earl of Wardlec is very charming, and very instructive to Jo.

Mrs. Walter said nothing.She felt a little tired, and her chest rose and fell with her breathing, which attracted Du Roy's attention.From time to time, the eyes of the two collided.Madame Walter's eyes were anxious and indecisive, and they would look away as soon as they met Du Roy's.Du Roy thought: "What's the matter? Have I seduced her?"

Fundraising ladies walked past them.The bag was full of gold and silver coins.A new sign was hung above the stage, reading: "Absolutely brilliant show." The referees took their seats again.The audience immediately quieted down and waited patiently.

Two female fencers took to the stage.They carried fancy swords and wore tight dark sweatshirts with skirts that fell below their knees; their breastplates seemed to be inflated, forcing them to hold their heads high.The two young and beautiful contestants greeted the audience with smiles.The audience also responded with sustained and warm applause.

Amidst the uproar and whispers, the two started the game.

With a happy smile on their lips, the referees applauded the performance of the two contestants.The audience in the audience were also intoxicated.The performance of the two female fencers aroused the desire of all the men present, and the expressions of the women were also very focused.They were like those Parisian bourgeois in the cabaret listening to vulgar songs or arty operettas.

Every sprint of the contestants makes the audience excited.What they paid attention to was not actually the swordsmanship of female fencers.Every time a contestant turns around, the audience in the audience will open their mouths and widen their eyes, staring intently at her plump back.

After the game, people began to applaud wildly.

Next came the saber show, but the people had lost their interest in watching, their attention was drawn to the sound upstairs.For a few minutes, people heard a loud scraping sound of furniture being dragged across the floor, as if someone was about to move.After a while, a pleasant piano sound floated through the ceiling; during this period, it was also accompanied by the sound of rhythmic footsteps.It turned out that in order to make up for the regret of not being able to watch the game, the guests upstairs had a dance party on it.There was a burst of laughter from the people in the hall, and then the ladies couldn't help but want to dance.They no longer paid attention to the performance on the stage, and began to talk loudly.

People thought the idea of ​​having a dance with latecomers was so interesting that instead of staying here foolishly, people wanted to run upstairs.

At this time, two fencers stood on the stage and greeted the audience.Their majestic posture immediately attracted the audience's attention.

The two fencers, no matter they are sprinting forward or standing up to resist, their movements are very graceful and concise, with even and moderate strength.This superb fencing performance made the ignorant audience mesmerized, with surprise expressions on their faces.

With their fast and steady moves, flexible and flexible body, and quick and agile movements, the two contestants on stage opened the eyes of every audience present.Although their movements are fast, they are very skilled, making the whole game look orderly.People felt that this was a wonderful and rare match; two outstanding fencing artists were showing them the pinnacle of swordsmanship and agility.

People looked at the two masters on the stage intently, and there was no sound in the hall.When they finished the final blow and shook hands and exited, the people came back to their senses, and there was a burst of thunderous applause and cheers.

The names of the two contestants just now quickly spread among the crowd: one named Selzan and the other named Lavignac. Infected by the atmosphere of the competition, the audience became more and more excited.Guys just want to fight with the people around them; give them even a smile and there's potential for a big fight.Those who had never held a sword, also gripped their canes tightly at this time, and assumed various offensive or defensive postures.

Finally, the crowd dispersed a little bit, and they wanted to go upstairs for drinks.Infuriatingly, almost all drinks and pastries were "eliminated" by the guests at the ball.Not only that, but they also brazenly left a message saying that more than 200 people should not have made the trip for nothing, but they saw nothing.

Sweets, pastries, champagne, drinks, beer, fruit, nothing left.Everything was looted by them.

Under people's questioning, the servant suppressed his laughter, pretended to be sad, and began to describe the situation at that time. Ah, I’m not afraid of getting sick from eating too much.” The servants’ narration is like the blood and tears of those who survived the looting of their homes.

Now, the guests had to go home.Some of the guests regretted giving twenty francs, and what made them even more resentful was that those who ate and drank spent nothing.

The donation raised this time exceeded [-] francs.But after deducting various expenses, only two hundred francs were donated to the orphans in the sixth arrondissement of Paris.

Du Roy stood at the door with Mrs. Walter, waiting for the carriage to arrive.

On the way home, Du Roy and Madame Walter sat facing each other.This time, he saw the proprietress' affectionate but evasive and hesitant eyes again.Du Roy thought to himself: "Oh, has she already taken the bait?" He smiled smugly, feeling that he was indeed very popular with women.Take Madame de Maraire, who fell madly in love with him from the first moment.

Du Roy came home that night with a brisk walk.

Madeleine was waiting for him in the living room.

"I got the news today that events in Morocco are getting more and more difficult. There is a good chance that France will launch an expedition in the next few months. In any case, people will definitely use this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to overthrow the current cabinet. La Roche can also Take the opportunity to ascend to the throne of foreign minister."

To tease his wife, Du Roy feigned disbelief.No matter how reckless the French government is, it is absolutely impossible for the Tunisian incident to repeat itself.

Madeleine shrugged impatiently: "It's like this, it's like this. You probably don't know how important this matter is to us. My dear, the current political competition is no longer based on It's a woman, it's a political event."

In order to provoke her, Du Roy said with a look of contempt: "Oh, is it?"

Madeleine was suddenly furious: "I didn't expect that you are as simple-minded as Forestier." She wanted to hit her husband, thinking that he would lose his temper.Unexpectedly, Du Roy just smiled and said:

"You mean, I'm like your cuckold husband?"

Madeleine couldn't help but startled:
"Oh! George!"

Du Roy said mockingly: "What's the matter? Didn't you admit that you made Forestier wear a cuckold that night?"

Then he added in a sympathetic tone: "Poor Charlie!"

Madeleine turned away, ignoring him.After a moment of silence, she said to Du Roy: "We have guests at our house on Tuesday. Madame La Roche-Mathieu and Viscountess Perlesmeu will come to dinner. You can go and invite Rival and Nobel De Warren? To-morrow I will send for Madame Walter and Madame de Marais. Maybe Madame Risolin."

During this period of time, Madeleine used her husband's influence in the political world to win over a group of senators and congressmen's wives who needed the support of Les Françaises.Some of these ladies came to her house voluntarily, while others were "forced" by Madeleine.

Du Roy replied: "Okay, I'm in charge of inviting Rival and Nobel."

Ever since his return from that walk in the Boulogne Gardens, Du Roy had developed an intense and inexplicable feeling of jealousy and hatred towards his wife.Tonight he finally seized the opportunity to avenge "One Sword".He rubbed his hands excitedly, not to mention how happy he was.Every time he mentioned Forestier, he called her "the cuckold. He knew that Madeleine would be mad. He spent the whole evening mockingly referring to "Frey the Cuckold". Stier" said no less than ten times.

Now he will never be angry with the dead again, and he wants to avenge him.

His wife pretended not to hear anything, but still greeted him with a smile, looking indifferent.

The next day, Madeleine was going to invite Mrs. Walter.However, Du Roy wanted to get ahead of her and meet the proprietress alone for a while to see if she was really interested in him.This made him feel very interesting and very proud of himself.Since there is such a possibility ... then ... why not ... At two o'clock in the afternoon, Du Roy came to the Avenue Male Zebes.The servant took him into the living room.He sat there, quietly waiting.

After a while, Mrs. Walter came.She stretched out her hands enthusiastically:
"What wind brought you here?"

"It wasn't some wind that brought me here, but because I wanted to see you. I came here by a force, and I didn't know why, and I didn't know what to say to you. But I came at last! So I came to bother you a long time ago, I wonder if you can forgive my presumptuousness and frankness?"

Du Roy said half courteously and half jokingly, with a smile on the corner of his mouth, but his tone sounded serious Mrs. Walter was stunned for a moment.Her face was flushed, and she said incoherently:

"But...really...I don't understand...it all happened so suddenly..."

Du Roy continued: "I tried to keep this confession light-hearted, because I didn't want to scare you.

The two sat down next to each other.Mrs. Walter asked with pretended ease:
"Then what you just said...are you serious?"

"Of course! These words have been hidden in my heart for a long time. But I have never dared to say them. Because everyone says you are serious and rigid..."

At this time, Mrs. Walter, who gradually calmed down, asked:
"Why did you choose today?"

"I don't know either." Du Roy said in a low voice, "Maybe it's because I haven't forgotten about you since I got home yesterday."

Mrs. Walter's complexion was pale, and she stammered: "That's enough, stop being childish! Say something else. As soon as the words fell, Du Roy knelt on the ground with a "plop", which shocked her greatly. Mrs. Walter wanted to stand up, but Du Roy hugged her waist tightly with both arms, and said passionately: "I have been madly in love with you all this time!Please don't talk now.God knows, I've lost my mind!I love you!Oh, do you know how much I love you? "

Mrs. Walter felt a suffocation in her chest and gasped.She tried to speak, but could not utter a word.She pulled Du Roy's hair with her hands, trying to avoid his approaching lips.Her head was shaking vigorously, her eyes were closed tightly, she didn't want to see Duroy.

Du Roy kept stroking and kneading Mrs. Walter's body through her dress.The sudden caress made her unable to hold back, and she almost fainted.He stood up abruptly, trying to hug her.But at the moment of letting go, Mrs. Walter shrank back, avoiding his entanglement.She fled across the room through chair after chair.

Du Roy felt that it would be a bit ridiculous to chase after him at this time.So he sat down on the chair behind him, covered his face with his hands, and pretended to be sobbing in pain.

After a while, he stood up again, said "goodbye", and left the living room as if fleeing.

Du Roy picked up his cane nonchalantly as he passed the hall.Walking down the street, he said to himself:
(End of this chapter)