Part 61 (1/2)
”It is as I have the honor to tell you, and, between ourselves, I believe that she never really loved her husband--which explains why she wasted so little regret on him.”
”All that you tell me surprises me so that I can't collect my thoughts.
f.a.n.n.y widowed! f.a.n.n.y free!”
”Yes, widowed, and more than six months pa.s.sed already! By the way,--and this is the first question I should have asked you,--do you still love her?”
”Do I still love her! Ah! my dear Arthur, can you doubt it?”
”It seems to me that you have had plenty of time and a perfect right to forget her. I seem to recall that that was your hope when you went away.”
”That may be; but I have not been able to do it. I tried to distract my thoughts, to fall in love with other women. One day, I fancied that I was; but the illusion soon vanished; and then, the last time I met f.a.n.n.y, she was so sweet with me that the memory of that occasion was not well calculated to destroy my love.”
”Then you love her? you are sure of it?”
”Nonsense, my dear fellow! why do you ask me that?”
”Oh! because I had thought of something else; and if you were no longer in love with the widow---- But, as you are still daft over her, why, that's at an end; and I believe that things will go on now to suit you.”
”I am going to see Adolphine, f.a.n.n.y's sister, to-day.”
”Why shouldn't you go to see f.a.n.n.y herself? I should say that that would be the shortest way. I can give you her address.”
”Oh! you can't mean that, my friend! that I should go to that young widow's house at once--I, who have not been to see her since her marriage! It wouldn't be proper. She must give me permission first.”
”But, as she urged you to call on her when she was a married woman, it seems to me that she can afford to receive you now that she's a widow.”
”To be sure, but not right away; I must see her first, at her father's.
She must go there often, now?”
”I should rather see you go to the little widow's than to her father's.”
”Why so?”
”Why, indeed! That's the sequel of the idea I spoke about just now.
However, do as you think best; the main point is that you have come in time, and that you should stay in Paris; because I am horribly bored while you are away. On my word, I seem to miss something.”
”Dear Arthur! I am really touched by the interest you take in everything that concerns me.--And yourself, my friend--are you happy, are you doing well in business?”
”I can't do badly, because I do no business at all. I am content--because I am a philosopher! I am happy--when I have my cue; but I haven't had it for some time.”
”I'll bet that you have no money.”
”You would win very often if you made that bet.”
”And you didn't say a word about it! Am I no longer your friend?”
”My dear Gustave, you overwhelm me;--but I owe you something now, and----”
”What does that matter? Do friends keep accounts with one another? Isn't he who can oblige the other the happier?”