Volume I Part 62 (1/2)
”Ah! there spoke my blockhead! instead of keeping quiet, of making the most of the mistake--in short, of being happy! My chatterbox spoils everything by jabbering like a magpie! Why, you wretch, if you hadn't breathed a word, you would be at this moment the conqueror of the haughty Thelenie!”
”You should say, that if it had gone any further, she'd have killed me when she found that she'd been deceived, as she was so enraged by the few kisses she gave me!”
”She wouldn't have killed you; women don't kill men for that sort of offence.”
”What about Lucretia?”
”What in the devil has Lucretia to do with it; what connection is there between Thelenie and Tarquin's wife?--I say, on the contrary, that she wouldn't have driven you away, because, when a thing is done, why, it's done! She'd have scolded you at first, but then she'd have forgiven you because she couldn't do anything else.”
”Is it possible? Do you really think she would have forgiven me, Freluchon?--Oh! unlucky wretch that I am! why did I speak? why did I let her hear my voice? He is right; it began so well! _Nox erat! Ardebat Alexim!_ Oh! I am in despair to think that I spoke!”
”And when one has done one's utmost to make one's friend happy, to gratify his most ardent desires, monsieur appears in a rage, he complains, he almost threatens one with his wrath!”
”I was wrong, Freluchon; forgive me, my dear fellow. I realize now that I was wrong. But what can you expect? all these things upset me--these alternations of joy and sorrow; I no longer know where I am; I can't seem to see.--Come, my dear fellow; you have forgiven me--what do you advise now?”
”What do I advise? Oh! now, my poor friend, your case is ruined, totally ruined, the best thing that you can do is not to think of this woman any more, to forget her entirely!”
Chamoureau rushed about the room, crying:
”But I can't do it! it's impossible! every time that she maltreats me and spurns me, I am more in love than ever! Forget that magnificent woman!--for she is magnificent; and in her anger, when she glared at me like a panther that contemplates devouring you, she was superb! I have never seen anything so fine as those eyes when she said to me: 'I will be revenged; say to your friends that this jest will cost them dear!'”
”Ah! she said that, did she?”
”Yes; so you and Monsieur Edmond are duly warned.”
”Oh! we have no fear of that woman's vengeance!”
”If I were in your place, I should dread it; she's one of the women who don't look as if they weren't up to snuff, as the plebeians say!”
”Forget her, Chamoureau; that's all I have to say to you.”
”Forget her! why, it's more impossible than ever, now that I have tasted her kisses! now that I know her way of kissing!--Ah! my friend! I had never been kissed like that, even by Eleonore!”
”I can believe that! Your wife knew that it was you she was kissing, while this woman took you for another.”
”That isn't it at all! it's because Eleonore wasn't pa.s.sionate, loving, maddening, like the lovely Thelenie.”
”Aha! you propose to cry down your wife now, do you? That's very pretty!
We are becoming ungrateful! Chamoureau, you make me blus.h.!.+ I shall not be surprised to hear you say in a day or two: 'How glad I am that I'm a widower!'”
”That isn't what I meant.”
”No, but that is your thought!--Look you, I am speaking seriously now, so be reasonable; your love for this woman is absolutely devoid of sense.”
”Adieu, Freluchon!”
”Come some day and dine with me; we'll go to the _Folies-Nouvelles_, a charming little theatre, where one always sees some very light-hearted females; you will very soon find someone to divert your thoughts.”
”Adieu, Freluchon!”