beautiful friend

Chapter 33

"Shut up! If not, why don't you come and see me? Why don't you want to have dinner with me once a week? What a torture you put me through! I love you so much, I don't think about you all the time , I can’t see anyone but you, and I even have to worry about speaking, for fear that I will say your name accidentally. You will never understand this feeling! I feel like being Others caught them in the bag and couldn’t move. Whenever I think of you, it’s like being choked by someone, and I’m in great pain; my legs seem to be paralyzed, and I can’t walk anymore. But even so, I still feel like a Sitting in a chair all day thinking about you like a fool."

Du Roy looked at her in amazement.The Mrs. Walter in front of her is no longer the slightly fat manager's wife who occasionally plays with her temper, but a woman who is extremely lost and even crazy. Now she can do anything.

However, at this moment, a hazy idea sprouted in Du Roy's heart.He said: "Honey, love is not forever, it is part and part. If we continue like this, the relationship is bound to go from bad to worse. And I hope that can prevent this from happening. It is what it is. If If you can be sensible and treat me as a friend, I will definitely visit you as often as before. Can you do this?"

Mrs. Walter put her bare arms on Du Roy's black dress and murmured, "As long as I can see you, I can do anything."

"Then it's settled," said Lowa, "we're just friends."

Mrs. Walter replied vaguely: "Well, it's settled." Immediately afterwards, she moved her mouth closer: "Kiss again... This is the last time."

Du Roy refused softly: "No, we must abide by the agreement."

Mrs. Walter turned around, wiped her tears, and then took out a paper package wrapped with a pink ribbon from her chest and handed it to Duroy: "Here, this is the money you made from buying Moroccan stocks. It can help you I am very happy to earn this money. Come, take it."

Du Roy wanted to decline: "No, I don't want the money."

When Mrs. Walter heard this, her face changed greatly: "You can't do this now. The money belongs to you, and no one can take it except you. If you don't want it, I'll throw it into the ditch. Please don't Make me, George."

Du Roy quickly took the small paper bag and put it in his pocket.

"It's time to go back," he said, "or you'll get pneumonia."

Mrs. Walter muttered: "It would be better to die." She took Du Roy's hand, kissed it frantically and desperately, and then ran into the room as if fleeing.

Du Roy walked back slowly, thinking about his own thoughts quietly.By the time he reached the greenhouse, he had already held his head high, refreshed, and there was even a smile on the corner of his mouth.

At this time, Madeleine and La Roche had already left.Many guests have already left.Apparently, no one wanted to stay for the dance.Du Roy saw Suzanne walking slowly, holding the arm of her sister Rosa, and the sisters invited him to dance the first quartet with Count de la Tour-Evelyn.

Du Roy asked in surprise:

"Who is Count Evelyn?"

Susan made a face and said:

"He's a new friend of my sister's."

Rosa blushed and said:
"You are wicked, Susan. Isn't this gentleman on the same terms with us both?"

The younger sister replied with a smile: "I know."

Rosa was annoyed and turned to leave.

Du Roy took Susan's arm affectionately and said softly, "Listen to me, dear little Susan, do you regard me as a friend?"

"Of course, my dear friend."

"Do you trust me?"

"Absolute trust."

"Do you remember what I told you not long ago?"

"about what?"

"About your marriage, or rather, about the kind of man you will marry."

"Oh, I remember."

"So, can you promise me one thing?"

"Okay, what's the matter?"

"Every time a man proposes to you, you have to discuss it with me. You must never agree to anyone without listening to my opinion."

"Ok, no problem."

"Remember, this is a secret between the two of us. Don't let your parents know."

"Will not."

"You swear."

"I swear."

At this time, Rival hurried over and said, "Miss, your father asked you to dance."

Susan said, "Come on, pretty friend."

Du Roy, however, declined her offer.He decided to leave immediately and let himself be alone for a while. At this time, many new ideas sprouted in his mind.He looks everywhere for his wife Madeleine.After a while he caught a glimpse of her sitting in the dining room drinking chocolate drinks with two strange men.Madeleine introduced her husband to the two gentlemen without mentioning who they were.

Not long after, Du Roy said:

"Let's go?"

"it is good."

Madeleine took her husband's arm and walked out through the living room.At this time, there were very few people in the living room.

Madeleine asked: "Where is Mrs. Walter? I want to say hello to her."

"Forget it. She's sure to keep us at the ball again. I've had enough."

"Yes, you are right."

On the way home, both of them were silent.But as soon as she entered the bedroom, Madeleine, without even taking off her veil, said excitedly:
"You know? I want to surprise you."

Du Roy asked angrily:
"what?"

"you guess."

"I don't want to waste my time."

"Okay. The day after tomorrow is New Year's Day."

"Yes."

"It's also a time when people give each other New Year's gifts."

"Yes."

"Look! Here is a present for you, which La Roche gave to me just now."

Madeleine handed her husband a small black box resembling a jewelry box.

Du Roy opened it indifferently, and saw a Cross of the Legion of Honor B25 inside.

His face became a little pale, and then he said with a smile:

"I'd rather he give me 1000 million francs. It's nothing to him."

Madeleine thought that Du Roy would be ecstatic after seeing the medal, but she was irritated by her husband's indifference, "You are really unreasonable. Nothing can satisfy you now."

Du Roy said slowly: "The bastard La Roche is only paying his debts. He owes me more!"

Madeleine was taken aback by his arrogant tone, and said, "It's pretty good that you can get the Medal of Honor at such a young age."

Du Roy said: "Everything is relative. Now I could have more."

He opened the box on the fireplace and stared at the shiny medal for a long time.Then he closed the box again, shrugged, and went to bed.

It was announced in the official gazette of January [-] that the journalist Prospe-Georges du Roy had been awarded a Knight of the Legion of Honor for his outstanding services.In the communique, Du Roy's surname was written separately, which made him happier than receiving the Medal of Honor.

An hour after the news was announced, Du Roy received a letter from Mrs. Walter requesting that he and his wife come to her house for dinner that evening to celebrate.Du Roy hesitated for a few seconds, then threw the ambiguous letter into the fire, and said to Madeleine:
"We're going to dinner at Walter's tonight."

The wife was taken aback: "Huh? I thought you wouldn't want to set foot in his house again."

Du Roy just said in a low voice: "I've changed my mind."

When the couple arrived at Walter's house, the mistress was sitting in the small Louis XVI-style living room.Now, this living room has become a place where she specially receives close friends.

Mrs. Walter was all in black, with powder on her hair, she looked very charming.From a distance, she looks like an elderly woman, but she is still young when you look closely. When you look closely, you will find that it is a beautiful trap.

"Are you in mourning?" asked Madeleine.

Mrs. Walter replied sadly: "Almost. I haven't lost any relatives, but I feel that I am at this age, and I am not far from that day. Today is just the beginning. From then on, I feel ashamed of Du Luo Wa thought to himself: "Can you hold on? "

The atmosphere at dinner was a bit dull.Susan was the only one talking endlessly.Rosa seemed a little absent-minded.Everyone kept raising their glasses to Du Roy.

In the evening, everyone walked out of the dining room and wandered around the living room and conservatory garden, talking and walking.Du Roy and Mrs. Walter walked last, the proprietress took the opportunity to hold Du Roy's arm, and said in a low voice: "Listen, I will never say anything to you again, I just ask you to come and see me. See, I will never be called 'you' again. I cannot live without you. It is pain and suffering that no one can imagine. Day and night, I feel your presence in my soul and body, You are in my eyes all the time. It's like you gave me a cup of poison, and now it's consuming my body. I'm done, yes, I'm done. Now, I just want to be with you I turned into an old woman in front of me. So, today I deliberately painted powder to make my hair look white. But anyway, I still hope that you can come to see me often as a friend."

Madame Walter seized Du Roy's hand and pinched and kneaded it so vigorously that her nails dug into the flesh.

Du Roy said calmly: "Of course. You don't have to say that every time. Look, didn't I come here as soon as I read your letter today?"

Walter walked ahead with his daughter and Madeleine, standing beside the "Christ Limbo" and waiting for Du Roy "Do you know?" Walter said with a smile, "Yesterday I saw my wife kneeling on this painting." Praying in front of the oil painting, the scene is like being in a church, but I am so happy."

Mrs. Walter tried to be calm, and said in a trembling voice: "Jesus can save my soul. The sight of him gives me courage and strength."

Then, standing before this God, she murmured: "How sublime he is! People are afraid of him, but they have to look up to him and worship him. Look at his head and eyes, how simple, natural and Full of prophetic power!"

Susan exclaimed, "Don't you think he looks a bit like you, pretty friend? I think if you had had whiskers, or if he had shaved them off, you wouldn't be able to tell each other apart. My God! It's so like!"

Susan asked Du Roy to stand beside the painting. When everyone saw it, they really thought that the two of them looked alike.

Everyone was amazed.Walter was amazed.Madeleine laughed and said that Jesus looked more manly than Du Roy.

Mrs. Walter remained motionless, staring for a long time at the lover's face next to the portrait of Jesus, which was as pale as silver threads on her head.

During the rest of the winter, the Du Roys visited the Walters frequently.Even when Madeleine declared that she was too tired to move and would rather stay at home, Du Roy followed suit.

Friday is a fixed day.On this day, Mrs. Walter would only invite Du Roy alone, and this evening belonged only to him.After dinner, everyone played cards, fed the goldfish, and entertained like a family.Several times, behind the door, in the bushes of the greenhouse, or in some dark corner, Mrs. Walter suddenly grabbed the young man's arms, held him tightly in her arms, and said passionately, "I love you!" I love you! I love you so much!" Du Roy always pushed her away and said coldly: "If you do this again, I won't come here again."

At the end of March, people began to talk about the marriage of the two Walther sisters.Everyone believed that the elder sister Rosa should marry the Count de Latour-Evelyn, and Susan would marry the Marquis de Cazuelle.These two have now become regular visitors to Walter's house and enjoy special rights and treatment in his house.

Meanwhile, du Roy and Susan grew closer.They are as free as brother and sister, and often talk for hours, ignoring others and having a good conversation.

No one mentioned Susan's marriage, nor her suitors.

One morning Walter called du Roy to his house for lunch.After dinner, Mrs. Walter was called to entertain a supplier.Du Roy took the opportunity to say to Susan: "Let's go and feed the goldfish some bread."

Each of them took a large loaf of bread from the table and ran into the conservatory garden.

Cushions were placed around the marble fountain for people to kneel by the pool and watch the goldfish.Du Roy and Susan knelt side by side on the mat, tore the bread into pieces, rolled them into balls, and threw them into the water.When the fish saw it, they immediately swam over in groups.They shake their big eyeballs, or circle in the water to look for food, or sink to the bottom of the water to swallow the small bread balls that are still sinking.It wasn't long before they surfaced again, hoping for another piece.

These elves with strange shapes, with their mouths open and closed, shuttle freely in the water, and their movements are flexible and agile.Against the backdrop of the golden sand at the bottom of the pool, their fiery red bodies are extraordinarily dazzling, like balls of flames swaying in the clear blue waves; once they stop, people can see the dots dotted on the edge of the scales blue.

Du Roy and Susan couldn't help smiling at each other looking at their reflections in the water.

Suddenly, Du Roy said in a low voice: "Susan, you have hidden some secrets from me, which is not very good."

Susan asked, "What's the secret, pretty friend?"

"Remember what you promised me that night?"

"what's wrong?"

"What's the matter? Someone proposed to you."

"Who?"

"You know it in your heart."

"No, I swear, I don't know."

"No, you know, that pompous dandy, the Marquis de Cazelle."

"He's not a dude."

"Perhaps he isn't, but he's stupid, a gambler, and spends his days drinking and drinking to the point where he's exhausted his fortune. It would be a dream for him to marry a young, pretty, intelligent girl like you."

Susan asked with a smile, "Why do you dislike him so much?"

"Me? Not at all."

"Yes. He's not exactly what you say he is."

"Really? But I think he is a treacherous villain who likes to play tricks."

Susan turned her head slightly, her eyes moved from the water to Du Roy's face:
"Huh? What's the matter with you today?"

Du Roy faltered, as if someone had glimpsed the secret deep in his heart.

"I... I... I'm jealous of him."

Susan was a little surprised: "Are you?"

"Yes."

"But why?"

"Because I love you, little rascal, and you should know that."

Susan snapped, "Are you crazy, pretty friend?"

Du Roy went on: "Yes, I know I'm crazy. How can I, a married man, say these things to a young girl like you? Not only am I crazy, but I'm guilty, even despicable." Shameless. I don't have any hope. Just thinking about it makes me lose my mind. Just hearing people say you're going to marry makes me so angry that I want to kill someone. So please forgive me, Susan."

After that, Du Roy stopped.The two had their own concerns and had no time to care about the goldfish in the pond anymore.The school of fish waited for a long time, but no piece of bread fell; so they lined up like British soldiers, looking eagerly at the two people on the shore.

Susan murmured, with mixed feelings, "It's a pity you're married. There's nothing you can do. No one can. It's all over."

Du Roy turned around abruptly, stared at her face and asked:
"Would you marry me if I was single?"

Susan replied solemnly:
"Yes, my dear friend, I will marry you. For I love you more than anyone else."

Du Roy stood up and stammered: "Thank you... thank you... I beg you not to agree to anyone's marriage proposal, please? Wait a little longer. Please! Will you agree to me?"

Susan hesitated, not understanding what he was going to do, but she agreed to him: "Okay."

After receiving an affirmative answer, Du Roy threw the remaining large loaf of bread into the water, turned around and walked away without even saying "goodbye", as if he had done an unseemly thing.

The uncrushed piece of bread floated on the water, and all the goldfish flocked to it.They are biting greedily, fighting each other under the bread.The whole piece of bread was pushed from one end of the pool to the other by the fish, looking like a flower that fell into the pool and drifted randomly.

Surprised and disturbed, Susan stood up and walked back slowly.At this time, Du Roy had already left her home.

Du Roy returned home very calmly.Seeing Madeleine writing, he asked: "Are you going to dinner at Walter's on Friday night? I am going."

Madeleine thought for a moment and said, "No. I'm not feeling well, so I'd better stay at home."

Du Roy replied: "Whatever, no one forces you."

Having said that, he took up his hat and went out again.

For a long time, he had watched her, followed her, and knew her every move like the back of his hand.The long-awaited moment finally arrived.The overtones of Madeleine's "Stay at home" are self-evident.

For the next few days, Du Roy was pleasant to his wife.He looked very excited, not the same as before.Madeleine said to him: "You are kind again."

On Friday afternoon, Du Roy got dressed early, saying that he had to do some business before going to dinner at the boss's house.Before six o'clock, he kissed his wife goodbye and went out.Then he went to the Place Notre-Dame de Lorette, called a carriage, and Du Roy said to the driver: "Park opposite 17, Rue Fontaine. Stay there until I let you go. Then, you Send me to the 'Pheasant Restaurant' on Galeries Lafayette."

The carriage began to move quickly on the road, and Du Roy lowered the curtain.After a while, the carriage stopped opposite his house.Du Roy stared at the movement in the house intently.About 10 minutes later, he saw Madeleine come out and walk towards the ring road.

Watching her walk away, Du Roy stuck his head out of the car window and shouted, "Go!"

The carriage continued on, and finally stopped in front of the famous "Pheasant Restaurant" in this area.Du Roy went in, ate and drank slowly, and kept checking the time.He drank a cup of coffee, two glasses of good champagne, and smoked a good cigar at his leisure. At 07:30, he went out, called a carriage, and went straight to the Rue La Rochefoucauld.

Du Roy got off the car and walked into a building.He ignored the porter and went straight to the fourth floor.After knocking on a door, he asked the maid who answered it: "Is M. Guibert de Lorme there?"

"Yes, sir."

The servant took Du Roy to the living room.After a while, a burly, military-looking man walked in the door; he wore a medal on his chest, and although he was still young, his hair was already graying.

(End of this chapter)