Милый друг
Madame De Marelle
"Sherubbedhercheekagainsttheyoungman’svest;asshedidso,oneofherlongblackhairscaughtonabutton;shetwistedittightlyaround,thenshetwistedanotheraroundanotherbuttonandsoon.Whenherose,hewouldtearthemoutofherhead,andwouldcarryawaywithhimunwittinglyalockofherhair.Itwouldbeaninvisiblebondbetweenthem.Involuntarilyhewouldthink,woulddreamofher;hewouldloveheralittlemorethenextday.
Suddenlyhesaid:"Imustleaveyou,forIamexpectedattheChamberforthecloseofthesession.Icannotbeabsentto-day."
Shesighed:"Already!"Thenaddingresignedly:"Go,mydarling,butyouwillcometodinnertomorrow";sheroseabruptly.Foramomentshefeltasharp,stingingpain,asifneedleshadbeenstuckintoherhead,butshewasgladtohavesufferedforhim.
"Adieu,"saidshe.
Hetookherinhisarmsandkissedhereyescoldly;thensheofferedhimherlipswhichhebrushedlightlyashesaid:"Come,come,letushurry;itisafterthreeo’clock."
Shepassedoutbeforehimsaying:"To-morrowatseven";herepeatedherwordsandtheyseparated.
DuRoyreturnedatfouro’clocktoawaithismistress.Shewassomewhatlatebecauseherhusbandhadcomehomeforaweek.Sheasked:
"Canyoucometodinnerto-morrow?Hewillbedelightedtoseeyou."
"No;IdineattheWalters.Wehaveagreatmanypoliticalandfinancialmatterstotalkover.