Милый друг

           "

           Heturnedtowardherabruptlyandsaid:"IfIwerefreewouldyoumarryme?"

           Shereplied:"Yes,Bel-Ami,IwouldmarryyoubecauseIloveyoubetterthananyoftheothers."

           Heroseandstammering:"Thanks—thanks—donot,Iimploreyou,sayyestoanyone.Waitawhile.Promiseme."

           Somewhatconfused,andwithoutcomprehendingwhatheasked,shewhispered:"Ipromise."

           DuRoythrewalargepieceofbreadintothewaterandfled,withoutsayingadieu,asifhewerebesidehimself.Suzanne,insurprise,returnedtothesalon.

           WhenDuRoyarrivedhome,heaskedMadeleine,whowaswritingletters:"ShallyoudineattheWalters’Friday?Iamgoing."

           Shehesitated:"No,Iamnotwell.Iprefertoremainhere."

           "Asyoulike.Noonewillforceyou."Thenhetookuphishatandwentout.

           Forsometimehehadwatchedandfollowedher,knowingallheractions.Thetimehehadawaitedhadcomeatlength.

           OnFridayhedressedearly,inorder,ashesaid,tomakeseveralcallsbeforegoingtoM.Walter’s.Ataboutsixo’clock,afterhavingkissedhiswife,hewentinsearchofacab.Hesaidtothecabman:"YoucanstopatNo.17RueFontaine,andremainthereuntilIorderyoutogoon.ThenyoucantakemetotherestaurantDuCoq-Faisan,RueLafayette."

           Thecabrolledslowlyon;DuRoyloweredtheshades.Wheninfrontofhishouse,hekeptwatchofit.