Милый друг
The First Intrigue
Infifteenminuteshercuriositywassatisfiedandheconductedherhome.Thenfollowedaseriesofvisitstoallsortsofplacesofamusement.Duroysoonbegantotireofthoseexpeditions,forhehadexhaustedallhisresourcesandallmeansofobtainingmoney.InadditiontothatheowedForestierahundredfrancs,JacquesRivalthreehundred,andhewashamperedwithinnumerablepettydebtsrangingfromtwentyfrancstoonehundredsous.
OnthefourteenthofDecember,hewasleftwithoutasouinhispocket.Ashehadoftendonebefore,hedidnotlunch,andspenttheafternoonworkingattheoffice.Atfouro’clockhereceivedatelegramfromMme.deMarelle,saying:"Shallwedinetogetherandafterwardhaveafrolic?"
Herepliedatonce:"Impossibletodine,"thenheadded:"ButIwillexpectyouatourapartmentsatnineo’clock."Havingsentaboywiththenoteinordertosavethemoneyforatelegram,hetriedtothinkofsomewaybywhichhecouldobtainhiseveningmeal.Hewaiteduntilallofhisassociateshadgoneandwhenhewasalone,herangfortheporter,puthishandinhispocketandsaid:"Foucart,IhaveleftmypurseathomeandIhavetodineattheLuxembourg.Lendmefiftysoustopayformycab."
Themanhandedhimthreefrancsandasked:
"Isthatenough?"
"Yes,thankyou."Takingthecoins,Duroyrusheddownthestaircaseanddinedatacookshop.
Atnineo’clock,Mme.deMarelle,whomheawaitedinthetinysalon,arrived.
