Comedy of Marriage and Other Tales. Guy de Maupassant

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ

      M. DE SALLUS

      True, I have changed.

      MME. DE SALLUS

      And that is to say—

      M. DE SALLUS

      That I have been an idiot.

      MME. DE SALLUS

      And that—

      M. DE SALLUS

      I am sane once more.

      MME. DE SALLUS

      And that—

      M. DE SALLUS

      That I am again in love with my wife.

      MME. DE SALLUS

      You must have returned to your youth.

      M. DE SALLUS

      What do you say?

      MME. DE SALLUS

      I say that you must have returned to your youth.

      M. DE SALLUS

      What do you mean?

      MME. DE SALLUS

      Let me illustrate. When you are young you are always hungry, and when a youth is hungry he often eats things that he would not eat at another time. Well, I am the dish—the dish that you have neglected in your days of plenty, the dish to which you return in the days of scarcity—[slowly] for which I thank you!

      M. DE SALLUS

      I have never looked upon you as you think. You pain me as well as astonish me.

      MME. DE SALLUS

      So much the worse for both of us. If I astonish you, you repel me. Learn now, once for all, that I am not made for the rôle of a substitute.

      M. DE SALLUS [approaches her, takes her hand and presses a long kiss upon it]

      Madeline, I swear to you that I love you, in truth, devotedly, now and forever.

      MME. DE SALLUS [ironically]

      You must really believe it! [Suddenly.] But who is the woman that attracts—and repels you—just now?

      M. DE SALLUS

      Madeline, I swear—

      MME. DE SALLUS

      Oh, a truce to your swearing! I know that you have just broken with one of your mistresses; you need another and you cannot find one, so you come to me. For nearly three years you have forgotten all about me, so that now you find I am somewhat of a novelty. It is not your wife you are seeking now, but a woman with whom you have formerly had a rupture, and with whom you now desire to make up. To speak the truth you are simply playing the game of a libertine.

      M. DE SALLUS

      I do not ask you whether you be my wife or not my wife. You are the woman I love, the woman who possesses my heart. You are the woman of whom I dream, whose image follows me everywhere, whom I continually desire. It happens that you are my wife. So much the worse, or so much the better. What matters it?

      MME. DE SALLUS

      Truly, it is a distinguished part that you offer me. After Mademoiselle Zozo, after Mademoiselle Lilie, Mademoiselle Tata, you have the audacity to offer to your wife—to Madame de Sallus—the place left vacant, asking her to become her husband's mistress for a short space of time.

      M. DE SALLUS

      No; now, and—forever.

      MME. DE SALLUS

      Pardon me. You ask that I should re-become your wife forever? That is out of the question; I have already ceased to entertain the idea. The reason may be obscure, but nevertheless it is real; and after all, the idea of making me your legitimate mistress seems to be far more entertaining to you than assuming the rôle of a faithful husband.

      M. DE SALLUS [laughs]

      Well, why should not the wife become the husband's mistress? You are right in what you say; you are absolutely free and I own my faults. Yet, I am in love with you-for the second time, if you will-and I say to you, here and now, Madeline, since you confess that your heart is empty, have pity upon me, for I tell you that I love you.

      MME. DE SALLUS

      And you ask me to give you a husband's right?

      M. DE SALLUS

      I do.

      MME. DE SALLUS

      And you acknowledge that I am free, absolutely free?

      M. DE SALLUS

      I do.

      MME. DE SALLUS

      And you really wish me to become your mistress?

      M. DE SALLUS

      I do.

      MME. DE SALLUS

      You understand what I mean—your mistress?

      M. DE SALLUS

      Yes.

      MME. DE SALLUS [sarcastically]

      Well, well! I think I would rather accept another offer that I have, but since you are good enough to ask me to give you the preference, I may give it to you—for a fair sum.

      M. DE SALLUS

      What do you mean?

      MME. DE SALLUS

      Just what I say. Listen! Do you consider me as attractive as any of your mistresses? Now, be frank with me.

      M. DE SALLUS

      A thousand times more!

      MME. DE SALLUS

      Really!

      M. DE SALLUS

      I swear it!

      MME. DE SALLUS

      What, better than the best?

      M. DE SALLUS

      A СКАЧАТЬ