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She seized his hand； kissed it passionately； and fled toward the
house。 He returned more leisurely； and entered the conservatory with
head erect and smiling lips。 His wife and Laroche were no longer
there。 The crowd had grown thinner。 Suzanne； leaning on her sister's
arm； advanced toward him。 In a few moments； Rose； whom they teased
about a certain Count； turned upon her heel and left them。
Du Roy； finding himself alone with Suzanne； said in a caressing
voice： 〃Listen； my dear little one； do you really consider me a
friend？〃
〃Why； yes； Bel…Ami。〃
〃You have faith in me？〃
〃Perfect faith。〃
〃Do you remember what I said to you a while since？〃
〃About what？〃
〃About your； marriage； or rather the man you would marry。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well； will you promise me one thing？〃
〃Yes； what is it？〃
〃To consult me when you receive a proposal and to accept no one
without asking my advice。〃
〃Yes； I will gladly。〃
〃And it is to be a secret between usnot a word to your father or
mother。〃
〃Not a word。〃
Rival approached them saying： 〃Mademoiselle； your father wants you
in the ballroom。〃
She said： 〃Come； Bel…Ami；〃 but he refused； for he had decided to
leave at once； wishing to be alone with his thoughts。 He went in
search of his wife； and found her drinking chocolate at the buffet
with two strange men。 She introduced her husband without naming
them。
In a short while； he asked： 〃Shall we go？〃
〃Whenever you like。〃
She took his arm and they passed through the almost deserted rooms。
Madeleine asked： 〃Where is Mme。 Walter； I should like to bid her
good…bye。〃
〃It is unnecessary。 She would try to keep us in the ballroom； and I
have had enough。〃
〃You are right。〃
On the way home they did not speak。 But when they had entered their
room； Madeleine； without even taking off her veil； said to him with
a smile： 〃I have a surprise for you。〃
He growled ill…naturedly： 〃What is it？〃
〃Guess。〃
〃I cannot make the effort。〃
〃The day after to…morrow is the first of January。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃It is the season for New Year's gifts。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Here is yours； which Laroche handed me just now。〃 She gave him a
small black box which resembled a jewel…casket。
He opened it indifferently and saw the cross of the Legion of Honor。
He turned a trifle pale； then smiled； and said： 〃I should have
preferred ten millions。 That did not cost him much。〃
She had expected a transport of delight and was irritated by his
indifference。
〃You are incomprehensible。 Nothing seems to satisfy you。〃
He replied calmly： 〃That man is only paying his debts； he owes me a
great deal more。〃
She was astonished at his tone； and said： 〃It is very nice； however；
at your age。〃
He replied： 〃I should have much more。〃
He took the casket； placed it on the mantelpiece； and looked for
some minutes at the brilliant star within it； then he closed it with
a shrug of his shoulders and began to prepare to retire。
〃L'Officiel〃 of January 1 announced that M。 Prosper Georges du Roy
had been decorated with the Legion of Honor for exceptional
services。 The name was written in two words； and that afforded
Georges more pleasure than the decoration itself。
An hour after having read that notice； he received a note from Mme。
Walter； inviting him to come and bring his wife to dine with them
that evening； to celebrate his distinction。
At first he hesitated； then throwing the letter in the fire； he said
to Madeleine： 〃We shall dine at the Walters' this evening。〃
In her surprise she exclaimed： 〃Why； I thought you would never set
your foot in their house again。〃
His sole reply was： 〃I have changed my mind。〃
When they arrived at Rue du Faubourg Saint…Honore； they found Mme。
Walter alone in the dainty boudoir in which she received her
intimate friends。 She was dressed in black and her hair was
powdered。 At a distance she appeared like an old lady； in proximity；
like a youthful one。
〃Are you in mourning？〃 asked； Madeleine。
She replied sadly： 〃Yes and no。 I have lost none of my relatives；
but I have arrived at an age when one should wear somber colors。 I
wear it to…day to inaugurate it； hitherto I have worn it in my
heart。〃
The dinner was somewhat tedious。 Suzanne alone talked incessantly。
Rose seemed preoccupied。 The journalist was overwhelmed with
congratulations； after the meal； when all repaired to the drawing…
rooms。 Mme。 Walter detained him as they were about to enter the
salon； saying： 〃I will never speak of anything to you again； only
come to see me； Georges。 It is impossible for me to live without
you。 I see you； I feel you； in my heart all day and all night。 It is
as if I had drunk a poison which preyed upon me。 I cannot bear it。 I
would rather be as an old woman to you。 I powdered my hair for that
reason to…night； but come herecome from time to time as a friend。〃
He replied calmly： 〃Very well。 It is unnecessary to speak of it
again。 You see I came to…day on receipt of your letter。〃
Walter； who had preceded them； with his two daughters and Madeleine；
awaited Du Roy near the picture of 〃Christ Walking on the Water。〃
〃Only think；〃 said he； 〃I found my wife yesterday kneeling before
that painting as if in a chapel。 She was praying！〃
Mme。 Walter replied in a firm voice； in a voice in which vibrated a
secret exaltation： 〃That Christ will save my soul。 He gives me fresh
courage and strength every time that I look at Him。〃 And pausing
before the picture； she murmured： 〃How beautiful He is！ How
frightened those men are； and how they love Him！ Look at His head；
His eyes； how simple and supernatural He is at the same time！〃
Suzanne cried： 〃Why； He looks like you； Bel…Ami！ I am sure He looks
like you。 The resemblance is striking。〃
She made him stand beside the painting and everyone recognized the
likeness。 Du Roy was embarrassed。 Walter thought it very singular；
Madeleine； with a smile； remarked that Jesus looked more manly。 Mme。
Walter stood by motionless； staring fixedly at her lover's face； her
cheeks as white as her hair。
CHAPTER XVI。
DIVORCE
During the remainder of the winter； the Du Roys often visited the
Walters。 Georges； too； frequently dined there alone； Madeleine
pleading fatigue and preferring to remain at home。 He had chosen
Friday as his day； and Mme。 Walter never invited anyone else on that
evening； it belonged to Bel…Ami。 Often in a dark corner or behind a
tree in the conservatory； Mme。 Walter embraced the young man and
whispered in his ear： 〃I love you； I love you！ I love you
desperately！〃
But he always repulsed her coldly； saying： 〃If you persist in that；
I will not come again。〃
Toward the end of March people talked of the marriage of the two
sisters： Rose was to marry； Dame Rumor said； Count de Latour…Ivelin
and Suzanne； the Marquis de Cazolles。 The subject of Suzanne's
possible marriage had not been broached again between her and
Georges until one morning； the latter having been brought home by M。
Walter to lunch； he whispered to Suzanne： 〃Come； let us give the
fish some bread。〃
They proceeded to the conservatory in which was the marble basin
containing the fish。 As Georges and Suzanne leaned over its edge；
they saw their reflections in the water and smiled at them。
Suddenly； he said in a low voice： 〃It is not right of you to keep
secrets from me； Suzanne。〃
She asked：
〃What secrets； Bel…Ami？〃
〃Do you remember what you promised me here the night of the fete？〃
〃No。〃
〃To consult me every time you received a proposal。〃
〃Well？〃
〃Well； you have received one！〃
〃From whom？〃
〃You know very well。〃
〃No； I swear I do not。〃
〃Yes； you do。 It is from that fop of a Marquis de Cazolles。〃
〃He is not a fop。〃
〃That may be； but he is stupid。 He is no match for you who are so
pretty； so fresh； so bright！〃
She asked with a smile： 〃What have you against him？〃
〃I？ Nothing！〃
〃Yes； you have。 He is not all that you say he is。〃
〃He is a fool； and an intriguer。〃
She glanced at him： 〃What ails you？〃
He spoke as if tearing a secret from the depths of his heart： 〃I am…
…I am jealous of him。〃
She was astonished。
〃You？〃
〃Yes； I。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because I love you and