Милый друг
The First Intrigue
Ihope,however,thatweshallmeetthereoneofthesedays."
Inthecourseofafewdayshepaidanothervisittotheenchantress.Themaidusheredhimintothedrawing-roomandLaurinesoonentered;sheofferedhimnotherhandbutherforehead,andsaid:"Mammawishesmetoaskyoutowaitforheraboutfifteenminutes,forsheisnotdressed.Iwillkeepyoucompany."
Duroy,whowasamusedatthechild’sceremoniousmanner,replied:"Indeed,Mademoiselle,Ishallbeenchantedtospendaquarterofanhourwithyou."Whenthemotherenteredtheywereinthemidstofanexcitinggame,andMme.deMarellepausedinamazement,crying:"Laurineplaying?Youareasorcerer,sir!"Heplacedthechild,whomhehadcaughtinhisarms,uponthefloor,kissedthelady’shand,andtheyseatedthemselves,thechildbetweenthem.Theytriedtoconverse,butLaurine,usuallysosilent,monopolizedtheconversation,andhermotherwascompelledtosendhertoherroom.
Whentheywerealone,Mme.deMarelleloweredhervoiceandsaid:"Ihaveagreatproject.Itisthis:AsIdineeveryweekattheForesters’,Ireturnitfromtimetotimebyinvitingthemtoarestaurant.Idonotliketohavecompanyathome;IamnotsosituatedthatIcanhaveany.Iknownothingabouthousekeepingorcooking.Ipreferalifefreefromcare;thereforeIinvitethemtothecafeoccasionally;butitisnotlivelywhenweareonlythree.Iamtellingyouthisinordertoexplainsuchaninformalgathering.
