Милый друг

           WhenVirginieperceivedDuRoy,shegrewlividandmadeamovementtowardhim;thenshepausedandwaitedforhimtoadvance.Hebowedceremoniously,whileMadeleinegreetedhereffusively.GeorgeslefthiswifenearMme.Walterandmingledwiththeguests.Fivedrawing-roomsopenedoneintotheother;theywerecarpetedwithrich,orientalrugs,andupontheirwallshungpaintingsbytheoldmasters.Ashemadehiswaythroughthethrong,someoneseizedhisarm,andafresh,youthfulvoicewhisperedinhisear:"Ah,hereyouareatlast,naughtyBel-Ami!Whydoweneverseeyouanymore?"

           ItwasSuzanneWalter,withherazureeyesandwealthofgoldenhair.Hewasdelightedtoseeher,andapologizedastheyshookhands.

           "IhavebeensobusyfortwomonthsthatIhavebeennowhere."

           Sherepliedgravely:"Thatistoobad.Youhavegrievedusdeeply,formammaandIadoreyou.Asformyself,Icannotdowithoutyou.Ifyouarenothere,Iamboredtodeath.YouseeItellyousofrankly,thatyouwillnotremainawaylikethatanymore.Givemeyourarm;Iwillshowyou‘ChristWalkingontheWater’myself;itisattheveryend,behindtheconservatory.Papaputitbacktheresothateveryonewouldbeobligedtogothroughtherooms.Itisastonishinghowproudpapaisofthishouse."

           Astheywalkedthroughtherooms,allturnedtolookatthathandsomemanandthatbewitchinggirl.Awell-knownpaintersaid:"Thereisafinecouple.