beautiful friend

Chapter 26

"Okay, it's finally done." Then, he sent a letter to Clotilde, asking her to meet tomorrow.

Du Roy returned home on time as usual.After seeing his wife, he asked:

"How is it? Has everyone been invited?"

Madeleine replied: "Please come. It's just that Mrs. Walter is not sure whether she will be free at that time. She seems to be a little hesitant, and said a lot of unclear things to me: what responsibility, conscience, really Can't figure out what she's trying to say. She looks so weird. Still, I hope she can come by then."

Du Roy shrugged and said, "Don't worry, she will come."

Even so, he was still not quite sure.Until the day of the banquet, he was still secretly worried.

That morning, Madeleine received a note from Madame Walter.It says:
I can finally find time to have a dinner at your house tonight, but my husband can't accompany me.

Du Roy thought to himself: "Fortunately, I didn't go to her later. It seems that it was right to do so. She has calmed down now. Be careful in the future."

That night, Du Roy was still a little anxious while waiting for the boss's wife to arrive.

Mrs. Walter came.I saw her expression was calm, with a hint of indifference and arrogance.Du Roy made a humble and servile look before her, and was very cautious in every word and action.

The Laroche-Mathieu couple and the Risolin couple also came.As soon as Viscountess Perlsmew sat down, she chatted openly with everyone.Clotilde wore a yellow and black dress full of exotic Spanish styles in an ingenious way.The skirt tightly wrapped Clotilde's exquisite figure, and set off her slender waist, plump breasts and arms to the fullest; therefore, the young woman looked even more energetic.

During dinner, Du Roy sat on Madame Walter's left; the two chatted solemnly.The young reporter showed more respect to the proprietress than ever before.At the same time, he would look at Clotilde from time to time, thinking: "She is getting more and more attractive!".Then Du Roy turned his eyes to his wife.Although he still held a grudge against her, Madeleine seemed less hateful now than before.

The reason why Mrs. Walter fascinated Du Roy so much is because of her unconquerable nature and the curiosity-seeking psychology of men.This lady aroused the desire to conquer in Du Roy's heart.

After dinner, Mrs. Walter wanted to go back early. "Let me take you back," Du Roy said.

She refused.Du Roy insisted: "Why not? You're making me feel bad. Are you still mad at me? You see, I've calmed down now."

Mrs. Walter still declined: "You can't leave the guests alone."

Du Roy said with a smile: "What does it matter? Isn't it just for a while? They don't even pay attention. If you refuse again, I will be broken by you."

Mrs. Walter could only agree in a low voice: "Well, I promise you."

Unexpectedly, as soon as the two got into the car, Du Roy grabbed her hand, kissed frantically, and murmured: "I love you! I love you! Just let me say it! I won't touch her." Yours! I just want to keep saying 'I love you' to you!"

Mrs. Walter said in a panic: "Oh... didn't you just say... that's not good... that's not good..."

Du Roy pretended to be in control of himself, and then said in a very depressed voice: "You see, I am already trying to restrain myself. However... let me tell you... I Love you... let me say this to you every day... yes please let me come to your house, I just wish you would give me just 5 minutes to kneel in front of you and look at you A charming face speaks those three words."

Madame Walter let Du Roy hold her hand, and said breathlessly: "No, no, I hope you don't do it. Think of what people will say, think of my servants, and my two A daughter. No, no, it can't be..."

"But I can't live without seeing you. I must see you, whether it's at your house or somewhere else, even if it's just for a minute. Only then can I touch your hands and breathe your side You can only appreciate your moving figure, and those bright eyes that look forward to you."

Even such monotonous love words made Mrs. Walter tremble with excitement.She stammered, "No...no...impossible. Don't say it."

Du Roy ignored it and still whispered in her ear.He knew that to deal with such a simple-minded woman, he had to proceed step by step.He had to convince her to agree to meet him, and she could do whatever she wanted at first; as for the future, he could do whatever he wanted.

"Listen to me...you must promise me...I must see you...I will be like a beggar...waiting for you at your door...if you don't come out, I will go in...I will see you tomorrow ……tomorrow……"

Mrs. Walter kept saying: "No, no, don't come tomorrow. I won't receive you. Think of my daughter."

"Then tell me where we'll meet...anytime...anywhere...on the street...as long as you let me see you...I'll say hello...say' I love you' and leave immediately"

Two open.

Mrs. Walter hesitated and could not make up her mind for a moment.At this moment, the carriage had arrived at her door.She lowered her voice and said quickly: "Okay then, tomorrow afternoon at 03:30, I will go to Trinity Church." After getting off the car, Mrs. Walter shouted to the driver:
"Please send Monsieur du Roy home."

When Du Roy came home, his wife asked, "Where were you?"

He replied in a low voice, "I went to the post office to post a letter."

At this moment, Madame de Marais came up and said: "Beautiful friend, can you take me home? You know, I wouldn't have come so far to eat if I hadn't been taken home."

Then she turned to Madeleine and asked, "You don't mind?"

Du Roy's wife replied slowly, "No."

At this time, the guests got up to say goodbye.The diminutive Madame La Roche-Mathieu looked like a maid from the provinces.She came from a family of notaries, and when she married her husband, La Roche, he was just a small lawyer.The aged Mrs. Risoland had a high self-esteem, and one could not help but think of those midwives who had learned a little in the reading room in the past.The Viscountess Perlsmew despised everyone around her, and whenever she shook hands, she always felt terribly disgusted.

Clotilde put on a silk scarf, walked out of the room, and said to Madeleine: "Today's dinner was very successful. Before long, your place will become the premier political salon in Paris."

After getting into the carriage, Clotilde threw herself into Du Roy's arms:
"Oh, dear pretty friend, my love for you grows stronger every day."

The carriage staggered along the road like a boat floating on the water.

"It's a far cry from our house," said Clotilde.

"Yes, it's far away." Du Roy agreed casually, thinking of Mrs. Walter.

The sun is like fire in July.On the square in front of the Holy Trinity Church, there were very few pedestrians.The heat in the city of Paris is overwhelming, as if all the hot air from the sky is gathered above the city, it is thick and extremely hot, making it hard to breathe.

Outside the church, the water in the fountain fell weakly, as if it had become exhausted under the scorching sun.There is a thick layer of leaves and paper floating on the surface of the pool. The water in the pool looks very deep and a little green.

Under the threat of scorching heat, a dog jumped over the edge of a stone pool and swam in the murky water.Several people sat on the benches in the small circular garden in front of the church, looking enviously at the dog, Du Roy, who was swimming in the water, and looked at his watch. It was still three o'clock.He arrived half an hour early.

Du Roy felt amused when he thought of this date. "I didn't expect that the church could provide Mrs. Walter with so many conveniences." He said to himself, "It can give this woman married to a Jew comfort in her heart and allow her to express her political stance , to create a well-behaved image in the upper class of Paris, and it can even become a secret place for her tryst with her lover. No matter when, the church is her refuge. On sunny days, it is a cane; on rainy days, it is an umbrella; When the sun is hot, it is a parasol; even if the owner does not go out, it has to stay on the sidelines at all times. In fact, there are hundreds of women like Mrs. Walter. They don't care if God exists, but they don't allow others to say Gossip. Sometimes, God will become a 'middleman' for them to have a tryst with their lover. If you let them rent a house, they must think it is a shame; things."

Du Roy walked slowly along the pool and looked at his watch again.At this time, the pointer of the big church clock pointed to exactly 2:[-], which was [-] minutes faster than his watch.

He thought: "Let's wait in the church." So he went in.

As soon as you enter the door, a cool wind blows head-on.Du Roy took a greedy breath, feeling very comfortable.In order to get acquainted with the surrounding environment, he decided to walk around the church hall.

In the tall vaulted building, Du Roy made a loud noise with every step he took.In the depths of the church, there was another burst of intermittent, very regular footsteps singing in harmony with it.Driven by curiosity, Du Roy wanted to see who that person was.He looked over and saw a fat old man with a bald head.The gentleman held his head up, crossed his hands and put a hat behind his back, and walked slowly.

Every few rows of seats, Du Roy saw an elderly woman kneeling and praying to God, covering her face with her hands.

The church was empty and quiet.The sun shines through the stained glass windows, looking so soft.

Du Roy felt that there was something interesting in the church.

After a while, Du Roy went to the door again and looked at his watch: it was just past three-fifteen.So he sat down at the entrance to the main aisle, much to his chagrin that he couldn't smoke in the church.At the other end of the church, near the altar, the old gentleman's slow footsteps could be heard constantly.

Someone came in.Du Roy looked back and saw a lower-class woman in a woolen skirt with a sad face.The poor woman walked to the first row of seats, knelt on the ground with a "plop", crossed her fingers, looked up to God, and began to pray devoutly.

Du Roy watched her with interest and thought to himself: "What kind of pain and despair is this insignificant woman suffering?" Obviously, her life was full of misfortunes.Maybe she has a violent husband, maybe her child is dying.

"These poor people! I don't know how many people are suffering like her!" Du Roy was full of emotions, full of resentment towards this ruthless world.But after a while, he changed his mind and thought: "These poor people at least believe that there are gods in the sky to protect them, and that their fate is arranged by God. One day, their suffering will be compensated. However, God where?"

In this way, Du Roy was thinking about it in the silent church.Finally, he murmured: "Everything is stupid." This is his evaluation of the 'creation theory'.

At this moment, there was a sound of a skirt in Du Roy's ear.He couldn't help shaking: it's her!

Du Roy stood up and strode forward.However, Mrs. Walter did not stretch out her hand, but said in a low voice, "I don't have much time, and I'm going back soon. Just kneel beside me so that no one will notice."

After speaking, she walked forward along the hall, trying to find a safe and hidden place.It can be seen that she is very familiar with this church.Her face was covered with a thick veil, and her footsteps were so soft that she could hardly hear any sound.

Walking near the altar, Mrs. Walter turned her head and whispered in the mysterious tone that people in the church used to speak: "We'd better not stand here, it's too eye-catching."

She bowed deeply towards the altar tabernacle, then turned to the right and took a few steps towards the door.At last she made up her mind and knelt down on a little prayer stool.

Du Roy also knelt beside her.The two of them remained motionless, pretending to be praying intently. "Thank you! Thank you!" Lowa said softly, "I love you! I hope to be able to say 'I love you' to you every day, tell you how I fell in love, how I was crushed when we first met You are deeply attracted...will you promise me that some day I will tell you all this?"

While listening, Mrs. Walter pretended to be devoutly praying, pretending not to hear anything.She said through her hands covering her face: "I really shouldn't have come here to hear you say these things to me. I really shouldn't have done this. Make you think that such...such...such a meeting will do anything As a result. Forget all this, you must forget it, and never speak of it to me again."

After speaking, she quietly waited for the other party's reaction.Du Roy wanted to say a few passionate words, but he was unable to take any action; therefore, he stood there for a while.

After a while he said, "I don't wait for anything... I don't expect anything. I love you! Whatever you do to me, I will say to you over and over with courage and affection, 'I Love you'. One day, you will understand my sincerity. I want to say 'I love you' to you word by word, day after day. I want my feelings to penetrate into your soul slowly, like water drops through stone Similarly, I want you to be moved and softened by my love, and finally have to say 'I love you' to me too."

Du Roy felt that the shoulders of the lady next to him were trembling slightly.Her throat kept twitching up and down, as if she wanted to say something.Sure enough, she said quickly and vaguely: "Yes, I love you too!"

Du Roy seemed to have received a blow to the head.He couldn't help shaking, and blurted out: "Oh! My God丨..."

Mrs. Walter said breathlessly: "I really shouldn't say this to you. I know it's immoral and unseemly...I'm already a mother of two girls...but I can't...can't... ...I've been reluctant to believe...force myself not to think...but I can't control...I can't control my feelings. Listen...please listen to me...I've never loved anyone... Except for you... I can swear to you. For a whole year, I have loved you silently in my heart. Oh! I have suffered so much for this conflict! But now, I can't control myself anymore, I love you!"

Mrs. Walter covered her face with her hands and kept crying.Her body trembled with intense emotion.

Du Roy said softly: "Give me your hand and let me rub it..."

Mrs. Walter slowly took her hands away from her face.Du Roy saw that her face was full of tears, and a bean-sized tear was about to fall from the corner of her eye.

Du Roy took her hand, squeezed it vigorously, and said, "Oh, I wish I could kiss your tears away."

Mrs. Walter said softly, "Don't touch me... I really don't know what I'm doing." Her voice sounded like she was moaning.

Du Roy almost laughed.In this kind of place, what can he do to her?He couldn't say any sweet words anymore, so he simply put Mrs. Walter's hand on his chest and asked, "Can you feel my heartbeat?"

At this time, the unhurried footsteps of the old gentleman in the distance were getting closer.The man walked around the altar and then walked back along the small hall on the right. This was at least the second time he came and went.As she was about to reach the pillar where they were hiding, Madame Walter hurriedly removed her hand from Du Roy's chest, and covered her face again.

They just knelt on the stool, motionless, as if they were praying devoutly to heaven.The stout gentleman passed them, cast a careless glance, and walked to the other end of the church, still holding the hat with his hands behind his back.

Du Roy didn't want to go to this kind of place for a date next time, so he asked, "Where shall we meet tomorrow?" Mrs. Walter didn't speak, and knelt there expressionlessly, as if she had become a sculpture.

Du Roy asked again: "Let's go to Monceau Park tomorrow, shall we?"

Mrs. Walter turned her head, showing a bloodless face distorted by extreme pain, and said intermittently: "Leave me alone...I need to be quiet for a while now...you go...go ...just 5 minutes...you are with me, I'm in pain...I'm going to pray...I can't...please go...let me pray for a while...just...5 minutes...I can't... I'm going to ask God...to forgive my sins...to save my soul...to leave me alone...for 5 minutes."

Seeing her flustered expression and extreme pain, Du Roy stood up silently.He hesitated for a moment and asked, "I'll come back later?"

Mrs. Walter nodded, as if to say: "Well, come back later." So Du Roy walked towards the altar.

Mrs. Walter tried to calm herself down and say her prayers.She piously called out to God, trembling and dejected, she kept praying to God: "Poor, have mercy on me."

She closed her eyes annoyed, not allowing herself to look at Du Roy who was walking away.She struggled constantly to get him out of her thoughts.But what appeared in front of her eyes was not the God she was longing for, but Du Roy's curvy mustache.

For a year, she endured this torture every day and night, restless and unable to sleep at night.Moreover, this pain is getting stronger and stronger.She felt like a she-beast caught in a net, bound and thrown beside the dreadful male du Roy.And he completely conquered her with only the two mustaches at the corners of his mouth and those charming eyes, making her helpless.

(End of this chapter)