beautiful friend

Chapter 9

Madame de Marais shrugged slowly, showing a look of contempt, and said slowly: "Mr. de Marais has no opinion on this. He will only... only abstain. "

As a result, their topic changed from the discussion of love theory to the discussion of specific behaviors. Although the words were presumptuous, they were still elegant.

At this moment, what they say often has a deeper meaning, as if lifting a woman's skirt with words; their words are very bold, but also very cunning, and they always subtly cover up any obscene meaning hidden in their words.Although they are talking about the love between men and women, the words and sentences are subtle and decent, and every sentence can make those unspeakable scenes appear in front of the listener's eyes or in their minds. Mysterious love, and those fascinating secrets when the opposite sex embraces each other.These humiliating fantasies make their minds run wild and horny.At this moment the waiter brought in a plate of roast meat, a plate of roasted partridge, a plate of green beans, a tin of foie gras and a plate of salad.The lettuce leaves in the salad are jagged, served in a basin-shaped container, as if covered with a layer of emerald green moss.Faced with such delicious food, the guests seemed to have no intention of tasting it at all. They just stuffed the food into their mouths mechanically, still recalling the topic they just talked about in their minds, immersed in the fantasy of love and unable to extricate themselves.

At this time, the two ladies also put aside their original reserve.Madame de Marais, who is bold by nature, is even more unscrupulous now, and every word seems to be provocative; Madame Forestier still has reservations, her tone, voice, smile, and even every action seem a bit strange. The shyness, which seems to hide the bold meaning of her words, actually makes them stand out even more.

Forestier slouched on the cushions, laughing, eating, drinking, and occasionally saying something rather outrageous.In this regard, the two women always showed surprise and shyness, but returned to normal after two or three seconds.Every time Forestier uttered an excessively vulgar remark, he added:
"What's the matter, boys? If you go on like this, you're going to do something stupid."

After dessert and coffee, the waiter brought another pot of sweet shochu.After drinking a few cups of soju, the men and women who were already very excited now became even more hot and unbearable, and their expressions were in a trance.

Madame de Marais was, as she announced when she first entered the table, drunken; she admitted that she was drunk, and chattered incessantly through her drink, which she deliberately pretended to please her guests. Madame Restier sat silent, perhaps out of prudence.Duroy was afraid that he would lose his temper after drinking because of his excitement, so he also kept silent.

Everyone lit cigarettes, and Forestier suddenly coughed.

This cough was so violent that it seemed to tear his internal organs apart.Forestier was so flushed and sweaty on his brow that he had to put a towel over his mouth.After he stopped coughing, he said sullenly:

"This kind of party doesn't do me any good. I really shouldn't come."

Forestier was so distraught by the terrible cough that his original interest had long since faded away. "Let's go back," he said.

Then Madame de Marais rang the bell for the waiter to pay.The bill came quickly.She took it over and looked at it, and the numbers kept turning around in front of her eyes, so she had to hand the bill to Duroy:
"You can pay for me. I'm dizzy now, and I can't see anything."

With that, she put the wallet in his hand.

A total of 130 francs.Duroy checked it carefully, then took out two banknotes from his wallet, handed them to the waiter, and when he took the change back from the other party, he asked Madame de Marais in a low voice:
"How much should I tip him?"

"It's up to you, I don't know either."

Duroy then put down five francs on the plate, put the remainder in his purse, returned it to Madame de Marais, and said to her:

"Need me to take you home?"

"Of course that's all right. I can't find a home anymore."

After shaking hands with the Forestiers, Duroy and Madame de Marais rode to her house in the same carriage.

The two sat side by side, very close to each other.The carriage was pitch-black, and the lights from the gas lamps on the street shone in from time to time.Through the sleeves, Duroy could feel the warmth of Madame de Marelle's shoulders.He didn't know what to say to her, he only had the urge to hold her in his arms.

"How would she react if I did that?" he wondered to himself.At this time, he thought of those unscrupulous words during the banquet, and suddenly his courage doubled; but the fear of making a fool of himself made him dare not act rashly.

Madame de Marais sat very still and said nothing.If it weren't for seeing her big bright eyes through the light coming in from the car, Duroy really thought she had fallen asleep.

"What is she thinking?" Duroy wondered.He felt that it was better for him not to say anything, otherwise if he said a word, the silence would be broken and everything would change completely.But he still didn't have enough courage to make any impulsive actions.

Suddenly, Duroy felt Madame de Marais move her foot.This meaningless, nervous movement seemed like a call to impatience.Although it was so imperceptible, it still made Duroy tremble all over.Finally, he couldn't help but turned around abruptly, and rushed towards her, groping her body with his hands, while eagerly approaching her lips.

Madame de Marais uttered a cry of surprise, but very faintly.She struggled, trying to push him away and sit up again; but, at last, she gave in, as if exhausted and unable to resist.

At this time, the carriage stopped downstairs at her house.Duroy was taken aback for a moment, but he couldn't find a word full of enthusiasm to thank her, praise her, and express his admiration for her.Madame de Marais did not get up either, but sat motionless, as if still reminiscing about the scene that had just happened.Fearing that the coachman would be suspicious, Duroy jumped out and held out his hand to Madame de Marais.

Madame de Marelle stumbled out of the carriage, still saying nothing.He rang the doorbell for her, and while waiting for the door to open, he asked tremblingly:
"When can I see you again?"

She muttered in a voice that was barely audible: "Come to my house for lunch tomorrow." After she finished speaking, she walked into the house and closed the heavy door with a bang.

Duroy gave the coachman a hundred sous, and strode forward with joyful, triumphant strides.

He finally got a woman, and a married woman!A woman from high society, real high society, Parisian society!Unexpectedly, things went so smoothly!
In the past, he always thought that if he wanted to win over a high-class woman, he must be humble, courteous to her tirelessly, talk all kinds of sweet words, and even send some expensive gifts to win her heart.Unexpectedly, with a little initiative on his part tonight, he could easily get the first high-society woman he met; things went so smoothly, he couldn't believe it.

"She's drunk." Duroy thought to himself, "maybe the situation will change tomorrow, and if that's the case, it would be a pity." He felt a little uneasy, and then thought: "What are you afraid of, anyway, she It's mine now, and I won't let it go no matter what."

Gradually, Duroy got lost in the infinite reverie of power, success, fame, wealth and love; he seemed to suddenly see a row of beautiful, rich and powerful women, like fairies in the sky, passing by him with a smile , and then disappeared into the golden clouds.

That night, he kept having such a beautiful dream.

The next day, walking up the stairs of Madame de Marais's house, Duroy was still agitated.How would Madame de Marais receive him?Will you refuse to accept it?Keep him out of the house?Will she say...?No, she couldn't say anything, if she revealed a little, people would guess what was going on.Therefore, everything is under his control.

The diminutive maid opened the door for him.Seeing that her expression remained the same, Duroy was finally relieved, as if he had already expected that the maid would panic when she saw him.

Duroy asked, "How is Madam?"

The maid replied, "Very well, sir, as usual."

After speaking, he led him to the living room.

Duroy went straight to the fireplace and examined his hair and clothes in the mirror.While he was adjusting his tie, he glimpsed in the looking-glass young Madame de Marais standing in the doorway and watching him.

Duroy pretended not to see her, and the two just stood there, looking at each other in the mirror for a few seconds.

Duroy turned around, and Madame de Marais remained motionless, as if waiting for something.Duroy rushed towards her and said excitedly:

"How much I love you!"

Madame de Marais threw herself into his arms with open arms, then raised her head and brought her mouth to him, and they kissed affectionately for a long time.

Duroy thought to himself:
"Great, everything went much smoother than I expected." After the two separated, Duroy smiled without saying a word, trying to make his eyes full of infinite love.

Madame de Marais also looked at him with the smile that women show when they wish and agree to a marriage.She murmured:

"It was just the two of us, and I sent Lorina to a friend's for dinner."

Duroy sighed, kissed her wrist, and said:

"Thank you, I love you so much."

Then Madame de Marais took him by the arm as she would her husband, led him to the sofa, and sat down beside him.

Duroy would have liked to say something ingenious and engaging, but could not; so he asked:

"So you're not mad at me?"

Madame de Marais put her hand over his mouth:
"do not talk."

The two stared at each other silently, clasping each other's hot fingers tightly.

"How much I miss you!" said Duroy.

Madame de Marais said: "Please stop."

In the restaurant next door, there was the sound of the maid setting the tableware.

Duroy stood up and said, "I can't get so close to you, or I will lose my mind."

The door was pushed open at this moment, and a maid's voice came from the door:
"Ma'am, lunch is ready."

Duroy solemnly extended his arm to Madame de Marais, and they entered the dining room together.

The two sat down opposite each other at the dining table, and they kept eyeing each other; they forgot everything around them, and were completely immersed in the sweet tenderness they had just established.Although they kept stuffing food into their mouths, they didn't know what they were eating.Duroy felt that a small foot of Madame de Marais was moving to and fro under the table, and he clamped it tightly with his own to prevent it from retracting.

Maids came in and out, serving them food or removing used plates nonchalantly, seemingly seeing nothing.

After lunch, the two came to the living room again and sat down side by side in their original positions.

Duroy leaned closer to Madame de Marais, trying to hug her.The other party pushed him away calmly and said:

"Come on, the maid will come in any minute."

Duroy complained in a low voice:

"Then when will I be alone with you and tell you my love?"

Madame de Marais came close to his ear and whispered:
"I will visit you at your house in a few days."

Duroy blushed and stammered:

"But...the place where I live...is very simple."

Madame de Marais smiled:
"What does it matter, I'm looking at you, not your house."

Duroy hurriedly asked her when she was going.Madame de Marais said it was some day next week.While rubbing her hands gently, Duroy looked at her with fiery eyes and kept begging her to advance the day; Crazy lust, the kind of lust that those tryst men and women often have after drinking and eating.

Madame de Marais watched his impatient expression with interest, and finally gave in and moved the day forward day after day.However, Duroy still insisted: "Tomorrow...; definitely say...tomorrow."

In the end, Madame de Maraire had no choice but to nod in agreement: "Okay, tomorrow, at five o'clock in the afternoon."

Excited, Duroy breathed a long sigh of relief.Afterwards, the two gradually calmed down and talked intimately, like friends who have known each other for many years.

At this moment, the doorbell rang suddenly.Both of them were taken aback and separated quickly.

Madame de Marais said in a low voice:

"It must be Lorina."

The little girl appeared at the door.When she saw Du Luowa, she was taken aback for a moment, then clapped her hands excitedly and ran towards him, shouting:
"Ah! Beautiful friend!"

When her mother heard this, she couldn't help laughing out loud:
"Look, Lorina calls you pretty friend! What a friendly name! I'll call you pretty friend from now on!"

Duroy picked up the little girl on his lap and played with her the little game he had taught her before.

At around [-]:[-], Duroy got up to say goodbye and was about to rush to the newspaper office.When he reached the stairs, he turned around suddenly, and whispered to Mrs. de Marais through the crack of the door:

"Don't forget, it's five o'clock tomorrow afternoon."

Madame de Maraire replied with a smile: "I remember," and closed the door.

As soon as the newspaper work was over, Duroy began to consider how his small room should be arranged so that it would not look so shabby, so as to welcome his mistress.Duroy wanted to hang some Japanese trinkets on the walls to cover up the too obvious stains on the wallpaper; so he bought Japanese prints, small fans, and small screens for five francs.Then, he pasted a few transparent pictures on the glass of the window. The pictures on the pictures showed light boats rippling on the water, birds flying in the sky full of sunset glow, young women showing off their flowers on the balcony, and a row of black dresses, A gentleman advancing in the vast snow field.

The room was originally small and could only be used for people to sit and lie down; now that he manipulated it like this, it looked like the inner wall of a lantern made of colored paper.Duroy thought the effect was good, and spent a whole night cutting out many birds from the remaining colored paper and pasting them on the ceiling.

After everything was done, Duroy undressed and went to bed, and fell asleep to the sound of train whistles from time to time outside the window.

He came home early the next afternoon with a box of store-bought pastries and a bottle of Madeira.Then he ran out and bought two saucers and two glasses.He put all the things he bought on the dressing table.In order to cover up the stains on it, he also deliberately spread a napkin on the dressing table, under which the face plates and cups that were originally placed there were hidden.

After the arrangements were made, he sat down and waited slowly for the arrival of his mistress.

Madame de Marais arrived at a quarter past five.Fascinated by the colorful pictures in the room, she exclaimed:
"This house is not bad, but there are too many people coming and going on the stairs."

Duroy embraced her in his arms, and through the veil, passionately kissed her forehead and a few strands of hair outside the hat. An hour and a half later, Duroy sent Mrs. de Maraisle to the taxi on the Avenue of Rome. stand.After she got into the car, Duroy said in a low voice:

"See you on Tuesday, at this time."

"Well, see you on Tuesday," replied Madame de Marais.

As it was getting late, Madame de Marais let Duroy put her head through the window and kissed him on the lips.After a while, the coachman waved his whip and was about to set off. Madame de Marais called out reluctantly: "Goodbye, beautiful friend!" The dilapidated carriage was pulled by a white horse and moved forward slowly.

For the next three weeks, Duroy and Madame de Marais had trysts in the cabin every two or three days, sometimes in the morning and sometimes in the evening.

One afternoon, Duroy, who was waiting for Madame de Marelle's arrival, suddenly heard a noise in the corridor.He ran to the door and heard a child crying.Then, a man shouted angrily:

"Why is the little guy crying again?"

A woman screamed angrily:

"That slut who used to go upstairs to the reporter's house knocked Nicholas on the stairs. Damn whore, shameless, not paying attention to children when going up the stairs."

Duroy backed away in a hurry, because at this moment there were the sounds of dresses rubbing against each other and hurried footsteps on the stairs.He had just closed the door when he heard a knock on the door.He opened the door, and Madame de Marais rushed in, out of breath, and exclaimed in despair:

"Did you hear that?"

Duroy pretended not to know anything:
"What did you hear?"

"Didn't you hear how they insulted me just now?"

"Who?"

"Those bastards downstairs."

"I haven't heard anything. What's the matter? Tell me."

Madame de Marais burst into sobs and could not utter a word.

Duroy had no choice but to help her take off her hat, unbutton her corset, help her to lie down on the bed, and then gently rubbed her temples with a wet towel.However, she was still crying out of breath.After she calmed down a little, she started to burn with anger again.

She wanted Duroy to come down at once and beat them up for her, and preferably kill them all.

Duroy had no choice but to comfort her constantly:
"You know, they are all workers, big bosses. If this matter goes to court, you will not only be recognized, but you will probably be put in jail and ruin your reputation. Why do we have to be familiar with these people?" Mrs. Marelle said in a second thought: "Then what shall we do?I will never come to this place again. Duroy replied: "It's not easy, I'll move right away." "

Madame de Maraire murmured: "That's a good idea, but it always takes some time." Suddenly, she thought of a wonderful idea, and her mood suddenly improved:
"Listen to me, I've already figured out a solution. You don't have to worry about anything, just leave everything to me. Tomorrow morning, I will send someone to deliver a 'little blue note' to you."

The so-called "little blue stripe" was a sealed express letter popular in Paris at that time.

At the moment Madame de Marais, smiling, was very excited about the idea she had thought of, but she was not going to tell Duroy just yet.Then, the two began to linger wildly.

(End of this chapter)