The Essential Guy de Maupassant Collection. Guy de Maupassant

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ mistress?

      MME. DE SALLUS

      Yes and no. I find it difficult to express myself. To avoid my suspicions he found himself obliged, doubtless, to dissimulate from time to time, although rarely, and to feign a certain affection for his legitimate wife, the woman who had the right to his affection. I told him that he might abstain in future from such a mockery of love.

      JACQUES DE RANDOL

      How did you tell him that?

      MME. DE SALLUS

      I don't remember.

      JACQUES DE RANDOL

      It must have been amusing.

      MME. DE SALLUS

      No, he appeared very much surprised at first. Then I formulated a nice little speech and learned it by heart, in which I asked him to carry such intermittent fancies elsewhere. He understood me, saluted me very courteously, and--did as I asked him.

      JACQUES DE RANDOL

      Did he never come back?

      MME. DE SALLUS

      Never, until--

      JACQUES DE RANDOL [_interrupts_]

      Has he never again tried to tell you of his love?

      MME. DE SALLUS

      No, never, until--

      JACQUES DE RANDOL [_interrupts_]

      Have you regretted it?

      MME. DE SALLUS

      That is of small importance. What is of importance, though, is that he has had innumerable mistresses whom he entertains, whom he supports, whom he takes out. It is this that has irritated and humiliated me--in fact, cut me to the quick. But then I took heart of grace, and too late, two years too late, I took a lover--you!

      JACQUES DE RANDOL [_kisses her hand_]

      And I, Madeline, I love you with my whole soul.

      MME. DE SALLUS

      Well, all this is not at all proper.

      JACQUES DE RANDOL

      What do you mean by "all this"?

      MME. DE SALLUS

      Life in general--my husband--his mistresses--myself--and you.

      JACQUES DE RANDOL

      Your words--prove beyond a doubt that you do not love me.

      MME. DE SALLUS

      Why?

      JACQUES DE RANDOL

      You dare to say of love that it is not proper? If you loved me, it might be divine, but a loving woman would abhor a phrase which should contain such an idea. What! True love not proper?

      MME. DE SALLUS

      Possibly. It all depends upon the point of view. For myself, I see too much.

      JACQUES DE RANDOL

      What do you see?

      MME. DE SALLUS

      I see too well, too far, too clearly.

      JACQUES DE RANDOL

      You do not love me?

      MME. DE SALLUS

      If I did not love you--a little--I should have had no excuse for giving myself to you.

      JACQUES DE RANDOL

      A little--just sufficient to warrant that excuse!

      MME. DE SALLUS

      But I do not excuse myself: I accuse myself.

      JACQUES DE RANDOL

      Then you did love me a little--and then--now--you love me no more!

      MME. DE SALLUS

      Do not let us argue.

      JACQUES DE RANDOL

      You do nothing else.

      MME. DE SALLUS

      No, I only judge the present by the past; the only just ideas and sane notions of life one can form are those concerning that which is past.

      JACQUES DE RANDOL

      And do you regret--

      MME. DE SALLUS

      Perhaps!

      JACQUES DE RANDOL

      And what about to-morrow?

      MME. DE SALLUS

      I do not know.

      JACQUES DE RANDOL

      Is it nothing to you to have one who is yours, body and soul? MME. DE SALLUS [_shrugs her shoulders_]

      Yes, mine to-day.

      JACQUES DE RANDOL [_vehemently_]

      And to-morrow!

      MME. DE SALLUS [_shrugs her shoulders again_]

      Yes, the to-morrow that follows to-night, but not the to-morrow of a year hence.

      JACQUES DE RANDOL [_emphatically_]

      You shall see. But how about your husband?

      MME. DE SALLUS

      Does he annoy you?

      JACQUES DE RANDOL By heaven--

      MME. DE SALLUS

      Hush! [_Archly._] My husband has fallen in love with me again.

      JACQUES DE RANDOL

      Is it possible?

      MME. DE SALLUS [_indignantly_]

      What do you mean by such an insolent question, and why should it not be possible?

      JACQUES СКАЧАТЬ