Милый друг
The First Intrigue
"
Thenheasked:"Willyoutellmewhentopay?"
Sherepliedsimply:"Itispaid,mydear."
Hemadeapretenseofbeingangry:"Icannotpermitthat."
Shelaidherhanduponhisshoulderandsaidinasupplicatorytone:"Georges,itwillgivemepleasuretohavethenestmine.Saythatyoudonotcare,dearGeorges,"andheyielded.Whenshehadlefthim,hemurmured:"Sheiskind-hearted,anyway."
Severaldayslaterhereceivedatelegramwhichread:
"Myhusbandiscominghomethisevening.Weshallthereforenotmeetforaweek.Whatabore,mydearest!"
"YOURCLO."
Duroywasstartled;hehadnotrealizedthefactthatMme.deMarellewasmarried.Heimpatientlyawaitedherhusband’sdeparture.Onemorninghereceivedthefollowingtelegram:
"Fiveo’clock.—CLO."
Whentheymet,sherushedintohisarms,kissedhimpassionately,andasked:"Afterawhilewillyoutakemetodine?"
"Certainly,mydarling,whereveryouwishtogo."
"Ishouldliketogotosomerestaurantfrequentedbytheworking-classes."
Theyrepairedtoawinemerchant’swheremealswerealsoserved.Clotilde’sentrancecausedasensationonaccountoftheeleganceofherdress.Theypartookofaragoutofmuttonandleftthatplacetoenteraball-roominwhichshepressedmorecloselytohisside.
