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·PENGUIR WODERN CLASSICS 1020 CHERI and THE LAST OF CHERI COLETTE Colette had a long varied, and active life. Born in 1873, in Nurgundy, she recented her elemengary education at the local kbank She was frst married at the age of twenty and her fort book appeared under the pseudonym adopted by her husband the norona 'Willy'. When she left bum after years of unhappy marned life she worked for six years on de munc-hali taxe. Then she worked as special reporter an dramatic cinc, and appeared on the legitimate stage un kading roles in dramatizations of her own rovell. And all de bine sc 533 yritng books. In 1935, having divorced ter wand Husband (by shon she had a daustier), she married ML Goudeket sith tom shelised in Paris until her wrath in 1914. For some forty years she was one of the most erinden in France and in 1936 was clected to the Acade Concourt Dorng her last years she was crippled with 1-1 na burbet test for hfe was und rushed (ever dronins Altres La Cioc'Volume flamme (Capp** STADEX., Pazis)

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·INTRODUCTION {* France Madame Colette is accepted as a national glory, something to enjoy as well as to be proud of, like Chambertin or the Luxembourg Gardens or the Provençal spring. In the Englishscaling countrics she is very little known, etcept to those who like reading French. A dozen or so of her books have been translated but so far as I know without creating much stir among either critics or de public. Alust the conclude dat she is one of those writers, like Miss Aussen and Alzurice Bards, hom it is impossible to export I do not see why she should be. She is certainly as French as it is possible to be, carthily Freach in her values, robustly French in her styk. Yet dhe provincial bourgeois life and the characters, moneya minded or devout (sometimes both), dat Francoss Maurisc introduces tous art at least as semorc as anything in Mme Colette from the experience and sympathes of the Englsh-speaking public; despite wuch his novels in transimon have proved popular. The trouble with her books, I think, is that they are perularly difficult to translate. Bclivre considering this point, let me guse some facts about her. Siden:e-Cabnele Colette was born in 1873 in Burgundy. Her mmer aus Parisian, her father a reured officer in the French Army, She mained, before she was twenty-one, Henry Gauthier-Villars, a Leute sell known under his pseudonym 'Willy as a salacious elst and a crtic. Almos: a}} his work was in fact written by a scan of God, to shach lus fexus eventually cnlisted. Mme Cokette's fini sıx borks & cre published under his name. The first of tree, Claudine dr Erble (1900), enjoyed such popular success that leurdered at 10 &nie thote sequels to it, Thic Claudine novelstase satsome of the Ott, but the grrroweries introduced into them by spelry from ler husband delayed die recognition of Nime Colette as a finals krious and lyncal venter Him 14% she left the deplorable Willy, she had already Etienny lot bar un plazure and published under her on passe, Svet Dideerut & Bitct, 13 stuch she realed her insurpassed weredzi una's. Though she not chose to tam ker living inter: Ektalare 25 a dancer and mare, she costrued 10 write. 7 ·Let'zm(1911). L'Enirs Jus Hand L'Erray(tot 1913) dense from this mxriciet. In 1911 she married Fler & jcuvmel an eminerit Troch mlhicus and diploms:ist, by her had a dudes. Clb polub?s ter most famous kih, ampa: in 1925, 115 sequel, La Fisd Chez, in parte For some forty Tas nos aclus been one of ile most bdmiund 6:04 in Frant. The stars of her mais de meptimi IT PRATI feruming to the 57 13 1924 to 37 in a drumurs varian rf La Berita In 1931 she marnel V. Maine Cruder 35 by She non laves in an arement inclking the fundant of the Polis Rosal in three of her mot Cent (and en mis apsien keston refrey) bools, De mot fratr, L'Exode 16:54t, and is final describx the imald's to his samlined by a tritis But, 1:23 min est the privilege of KYin fort last part, in assure her English admirat'ur er response as diferemus etiny pind 1 *****rd that some 22 on? Dhe pulers in eigos Cioc!lerticalch could plus 2t Air tact mara firmy:

·someti za music-hall folk or expensive tarts. She avoids ideas, never discusses religion or politics, and seldom refers to brenture or to any of the arts except the Theatre. Desire, jealousy, animals, duildren, tuod, dank, flowers: these are the beloved themes which she seldom fonzkos. This coeld of Alme Coletie's imaginzuon is likely to surprise mest English readers, and not only by what is left out of it. Flokers av animals, also the landscapes and scascapes and townscapes that she depicts, are of course things the lake very seriously. But how odd 10 te cookery as an exacting art, and, Rorse still, to clevate lovemaking into an erudite, almost religious, ritua!! The purinn, the $0.peter, and the mysucnill agree in being shocked by her scale of Y's Size aceeps the validity of any sensuous pleasure, however abnormal, provided that it does not give pain to others. (Hlere she 11 am unconscious disciple of the English Vislirarians, though they never sentured to carry their principles so far.) She condemns non enly envy, censoniousness, and anything - except love- that leads to unkindness, but also all calculating belaviour, au vulgarity of spint, a'l refusal to apprecare and to enjoy. (Here her morality is, hike Gide's, arstliesc.) ller work is devoted to the visible, tangible, 2.b!, Lasteable, and sellable world. Fler sense of comedy is exuberant; her understanding of character hun ler chosen lumits - is profound, all fier books glow with a genal warmth of heart, and often her imagination rises to lyncal, 3:2c fervour So incense is lict love of life, so responsive are all her Ts3, that she mvelops every experience in poetry. But poetry is 3 EURICT rot only of feelng but of words. Her style is an instrument matchborarely fastuoned to reveal her temperament. Hier immense frestige cone indeed largely from the quality of her prose, which is 1x! for less, in!SkaC, audacious, and utterly individual Hler vacabulary is enormous, and stroury with archaic and personal sordu From lict imagination images rush profusely forth like tem fonalne, polea rors poplass, smoke from 2 garette, Triton from the statise of 4 Voulin Rougs platitudes from 19:03:, or pun nge from Puesto. Slacan foreshoren the French la boidiyos lla!barmé, se lasa na to obey her caprices Lasapory ma cirstas Afic aisch is a perpetual feast to the stader,

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·+ Ech 21 of Bomen is perpetually being subjected to expert skruuay and discussion, as if they were prize caitle (The comparison is Nime Calenie's) in any case the Chéri novels are much more than tract and picfuresque evocanons of a special milseu. They for the classic analysis of a love-acas bers, een a very young man anda middle-aged woman. The Cherubino and Countess of The Nlarriage of Figaro, Oktavian and the lirshalls an Dor Rosenkavalier, are only sketches. Here is fsbewah double parisilSr15 sure to dismay some readers because the machuc fpures tako it for granted that the man or woman who gives us pleasure is nulled to a material tward, a view noc inded endorsed bur accepted by the author as normaal in the society she describes. Those to v bom such a view is utterly revolung should avoid thus sc'uTC Bus once you allow that it exists, and has so fact been widespread in every civilization withi which we are acquainted, trente story of Lex and Clxin becomes amusing, significant, and profoundly touchung RAYMOND MORTIVER Party bar 1950 ·a chronic headache to the translator. Let me quote, almost az random, two short passages with which in this volume Mir Senhouse has been faced: Il vit briller le regard expleite, borné, si peu féminin, que la femme dédie au donacur de plaisir, e il fur offensé dans sa chasteré inavouable. Il répliqua, de haut en bas, par un autre regard, insociable, compliqué, le regarde de l'homme qui se refuse. Rompu à une gymnastique d'impassibilizé, il s'occupait à subir ke capricieux ravage en possédé digne de son démon. The meaning is clear, but no English writer vould think in similar terms, and the English words most nearly equivalent refuse to coalesce. The translator of Mme Colette is always having enther to debilitate the onginal by a comparatively insipid paraphrase or else (which is worse) to disconcert us with plurases that are patently and offensively unnatural. No wonder then that none of the previous anslations 1 Ken strikes me as tolerable; no wonder that Alme Colette is thereforc so little known to the English public. I believe that the series of translations now launched by Messrs Secker and Warburg will be good enough to remedy dus neglect. At the same time I must ask in advance the reader's indulgence. The difficulty of translating her is more nearly desperate than anyone can know who has not tried his hand at it. A final word about Chéri and La Fin de Chéri. In these novels, and in an enchanting story called Gigi, Mme Colette planis us in an unfamiliar world regulated by severe traditions. (Andrée Alvar, en Gigi, is looked down upon by her mother and sunt because she is only a singes at the Opéra Comique, having farled 10 make good in the family profession as an expensive kept woman.) This is ilic world of the grandes cocoties, rivals and successors of La Paiva, Liane de Pougy, Emiltenne d'Alençon, 3 world alrcady invested with period charm The physical details, you may feel, are sometimes too insistent The author keeps showing us, as if she were a beauty specialise with a magnifying glass, the most minute particulars of skin and hair and eye. Such, we must presume, are the preoccupations of the socicty she describes with humorous sympathy. In it die physique of men as 10 ·zxH 21 of Tom is perpetually being subjected to expert scrutiny and discussion, as if they rece prize cattle (The comparison is Mme Coletre') In any case the Chéri novels are much more than exsct and picturesque eyocations of a special milieu They form the classic analysis ofalne-affair betx con a very young mart and a middle-aged woman. Tic Cherubino and Countess of The Marriage of Figaro, Oktavian and the Marschallin in Der Roserteraller, are only sketches. Here is af:I-ength double portrait. It is sure to dismay some readers because the occ figures talou for greated that the 6133 0f oman who Boves sexual plessure is endled to a matenal seward, a viet not Inderd endorsed but accepted by the author as normal in the society the describes. Thiosc to whom such a view is utterly revolung should Ivoid this vo'ute. But once you allow the it exists, and has ja Cact ben ik spread in every sivilszabon with which we are acquainted, een the story of Lia and Chén becomes amusing, signifiant, and pofcurdly touching RAYMOND MOATINER Dezember 1950

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·rell st of Romeo 11 perpetually being subjected to expert scrutiny md discussion, as if they were priza cielle. (The comparison is Alme Colette's) in any case the Chéri novels are fruch more than exact and pic. fresque evocations of a special milieu They form the classic analysis cralormalfuur bera een a very young man and a middle-aged woman. Tre Cherubino and Countess of The Marriage of Figaro, Oktaysan che Marschulin in Der Roscrtavalier, are only sketches. Here is 2C27-ength double portrait. It is sure to dismay some readers because cocues frares tako it for granted tf23: thje man or woman who xxual pleasures myled 10 ) mera) renard, a view not indeed endorsed but accepted by the author as rormal in the society Wd scribes Thos 10 hom such a view is utterly revolung should avoid this solute. But once you allow that I exists, and has in face Loren kidespread in et try civilization with which we are acquainted then the story of Les and Cher becomes amusing, significans, and pxfoundly tauchen RAYMOND MORTINER Destinat a 2930

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·G ITE it me, Les, give me your pearl necklace! Do you hear me, Iha? Give me yoor pearls!' No answe ame from the huge brass-bedecked wroughtirrin ledsed that glimmered in the shadow's like a coat of mail, "Why won't you let me have your necklace? It looks every bit as »cil on me as on you - even better!' Ar the soap of the clasp, nipples spread over the lace-fnlled sheets, 2. from their midst rose to magnificent tlun-wnsted areas, lifting on laugh to lovely lazy hands. *Leave it alone, Chin! You've been playing long enough with luat necklace. 'It amuses me. .. Are you frightened I'll steal it?" Hle Fas Lupening about in front of the sun-drenched rosy-pink Curtan - a graceful demon, black against a glowing furnace; but Wenle prarcel bxk towards the bed, lic turned white again from wop to 16, in his wlure silk pyjamas and lure Moorish slippers, 'I'm :: fnahirenceh,' the soft, deep voice answered from the bed.. *But you'll star out the thread. Those pearls are heavy.' *They certainly arc, 'Chéri said arch due respect. 'Whoever gave you this lorem et meant to make light of you!' He was standing in frort of a pier-glass framed in the space ban sonrX0 x indirus, faring at the reflection of a very youthful, very Exnd lxkin voruns, man, nauulist too short nor too tall, hair with live Llue them ut a blackbird's plumage. Ile unbuttoned his pyjamas, paying, a hard, darkısh chest, curved like a shield; and the whites cfturdukces, lusteeth, and the pearls of the necklace gleamed in theme-a'l tsms flow cf the room. 'Tsi: o t'at necklace! The female voice was insistent. 'Do you Th: Pun: min, innless in front of his stage, rughed sofily t11mx'i 'Yesss I heard 303. I know s9 5T! you're temfied I'll S., 'n pe Bulldid ofict it to you, you're quite apable of inzi

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·Not really? I're lunching at the old girl's? You too? Lazily Lta settled deeper into the bed. Vortre, I'm off duty, I'll go for coliee at half past two, or tea at sir, or for a cigarett at a quarter to eight. Don't worry; she'll always ** Whof me. And besides, I've not been asked.' Clin's sulky face lit up with malice. "I know, I know why! We're going to have high society. We're going to have the Car Slane-Laure, and that poisonous child of hers La brought her big blue wandering eyes to rest 'On, really! The hale girl's charming Less so than her mother, Lut clarrrin, Nor take off that necklace, once and for all "Pory, 'Cén sighed, as he undid the clasp. 'It would look so well in tre trouncem ili raised herself on Lier elbow: 'What trousseau?' Mirc,' Chen said with ludicrous self-importance. Wly trousseau, fall of my letels, for my marriage!' ile bounded in the air, executed a perfect entrechar-sir, returned to canlı, butted lar say through the door curtains, and disappeared, kuling: 'My bath, Rose! And quick about it! I'm lunching at the old pilis "Tart's that,' La dought. 'We'll have a lake in the bathroom and entewels Boating in it, and razor scrapings in the basin. If ool, 11.ad rap bathrooms!' Cut, as on furter occasions, she soon saw that Uus would mean maa: ndara wardrobe and lopping off a comer of her dressing- 19, arden crncluded, as on ſormet occasions. "I shall simply have Mp3: up with all Chér gets married Sin Lay deranantain on ter back and noticed that Chéri, undressing blore, tad thorn his socks on the manie piece, liis panes entrasie, to tie rourd the neck of her portrait bust. She ne belp imot this hasty masculine disorder, and half slusad ker large rangai ses. Thei: blue was a beautiful as eyer, and etc Urk chestnut lashes A: tc of tony.ning, Leonie Vz'lon, calls lez de Lonyal, x1 11*pteedeta sistrat(ul career as a nictly kept courtesan. 5.83 creure, and life had spared let the more fulcring Ca'zim and culiad senaps Siz made a secret of the case of

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·"You really l'n lusching at the old girls! You too?" Lazily Léa settled deeper into the bed. 'Nos me, I'm off duty. I'll go for coffee at half past two, of tea at siz, or for a cigarene ar a quarter to eight. Don't worry; she'll always see enough of me And besides, I've not been asked.' Chari's sulky face lit up with malice. 'I know, I know why! We're going to have high society. We're going to have the far Marie-Laure, and that possonous child of hers.' La brought her big blue wandenng eyes to rest "Oh, rrally! The linie gul's charming. Less so chan her mother, but charming Now take off that necklace, once and for all! *Pury,' Chén sighed, as he undid the clasp. 'It would look so well in the trousseau.' Lla raised herself on her elbow. What trousseau?" Mune," Chen said with ludicrous self-importance. "Aly trousseau, fult of my gesels, for my marnage!' He bounded in the air, executed a perfect entrechat-six, rerumed to earth, butted his way through the door-curtains, and disappeared, shouang: "My bath, Rosel And quick about ni l'o lunching at the old girl's! "Tizat's that,' Léa thought 'We'll have a lake in the bathroom and eight towels floating in it, and razor scrapings in the basin. If only I had two bathrooms!" But, as on former occasions, she soon saw that this would mean getting rid of a wardrobe and lopping off a corner of her dressingmooni, and so concluded, as on ſormer occasions. “I shall simply have. to put up with 1 11]] Chén gets married.' Shelzy down agun on tver back and noticed thar Chéri, undressing the night before, kad thrown hus socks on the mantelpiece, his pants on the writing.cable, hus tie round the neck of her portrait bust. She could not help smiling at this hasty masculine disorder, and half closed her large tranquil eyes. Their blue was as beauuful as ever, and so vers une duck chestnut lashes. At the age of forty-one, Léone Vallon, called Léa de Lonval, 125 nearing the end of a successful career as a richly kept courtesana Sess a good creature, and life led spared her the more flattering catastrophes and exalted sufferiags. She made a secret of the date of 17

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·no longer loved in herself: the vivid complexion, healthy, a little too ruddy - an open-air complexion, well suited to emphasize the pure intensity of her eyes, with their varying shades of blue. Her proud nose stll won her approval. “Marie-Antoinette's nosell Client's mother was in the habit of saying, without ever forgetting to add: and in another two years ous Léa syll have a chin lke Louis Seize.' Her mouth, hiss even row of leeth, seldom opened in a peal of Lauphiter; but she smiled often, a smale that set off to perfection the lazy Autter of her large eyes - a smile a hundred ames lauded, sung, and pluorographed - a deep, confiding smile one never tired of watching, As for her body - "Everyone knort's', Léa would say, 'that a wellmade body lasts a long time.' She could still afford to show her body, pink and whue, endowed with the long legs and straight back of a naiad on an Italian fountain, the dimpled hups, the high-slung breasts, "would lase', Léa used to say, 'ull well after Chéri's wedding She got out of bed, and, slippu into a wrap, went to draw back the long curtains The noonday suns poured into the gay, rosy, overdecorated room its luxury dated double face curtains, rose-bud watered silk on the walls, gilded woodwork, and antique furniture upholstered in modem silks. Léa refused to give up erther this cosy room or its bed, a massive and indestructible masterpiece of wrought iron and brass, grim to the eye and cruel to the stuns. "Come, come!' Chéni's mother protested, 'it's not as bad as all that. Personally, I like tłus room. It belongs to a period. It has a style of us 0%. I suggests La Paiva' The remembrance of this dig made Léa smile as she pinned up her hair. She hurriedly powdered her face on hearing to doors slami, and the lid of a male foot colliding with some delicate piece of furniture. Clén care back into the room in shirt and trousers, his cars #lute with calcum powder. He was in an aggressive mood. "Were's my tie-psa What a wretched hole this is' Have they taken to pinching the jer ellery?' *}farcel must fave stuck it in hus ve to go to the market, Lea grosely replied. Chéri, bo had little or no sense of humour, was brought up short by the little gup like an ant by a lump of coal. Ile stopped his angry 19

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·no longer loved in herself; she vivid complexion, healthy, a link too ruddy - an open-air complexion, well suited to emphasize the pure intensity of her eyes, with the’s varying shades of blue. Her proud noce still wos her approval Marie-Antoinette's nose!' Chéri's mother was in the habit of sazing, without ever forgetting to add: "and in another two years our Léa ml) have a chun like Louis Seize.' Her mouth, with its even som af teeth, seldom opened in a peal of Lauphter, but she smiled ofren, a smile that set off to perfection the Jazy flutter of her large eyes a smile a hundred unes lauded, suns, and photographed - a deep, conhding smile one never tired of watching As for her body -'Everyone knows', la would say, 'that a wellmade body lasts a long tone.' She could still afford za show lur body, pink and a lure, endos,ed with the long legs and straighe back of a naad on an Italian foundin; the dimpled hups, the high-slung breasts, 'would Lisi", Lts used to say, 'ull well after Chér's wedding' She gryt out of bed, and, slipping into a wrap, tvent to draw back D.cong curtains The noonday sun poured into the gay, rosy, over decorated room. Its huxury dated: double lace curtains, rose-bud watcred silk on the walls, gilded woodwors, and antique furniture upholstered in modern silks, Léa refused to give up erther the cosy room os tes bed, a massive and indestructible masterpiece of wrought trong and brass, gom to the eye and cruel to the shrs. "Come comeChen's mother protested, 'It's not as bad as all stust. Personally, I like in toom It belongs to a penod. It has a style of its pan lt suggests La Paiva.' The remembrance of this dig made Léa smile as she pinned up her haut She furnediy powdered her face on hearing tvo doors slam, and dye thud of a male foot colliding with some delicate piece of fumiture. Chén came back into the room in short and trousers, lys cars hule mit talcum pox der He was in an aggressive mood. "Bliese's my tie-pin' What a wretched hole this is! Have they naken to pinching the jewellery "Alarcel mus: fiave stuck it in his ue to go to the market, Léa Braely replied. Chér, ato la little or no sense of humour, was broughcup short by úsc lutle qup like an ant by a lump of cost. He stopped his angry 19

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·wear a peari on top of all that! You ittle dago.... Why nor arrings into the bargun?" His defences were dom. Blissful, Languid, irresolute, supine, he surrendered again to a lazy happiness and clased his eyes. ... 'Nounoune darling ...' he murmureth She brushed the hair of his ears, combed a straighter parting in the bleich locks of his black hair, dabbed a lizue scent on his temples, and give him a quick kiss, unable to resiss the tempong mouth so dose to her own. Chén opered his eyes, and his Lips, thess stsetched out his hands. She moved away. 'No. It's a quarter to one! Be off now, and don't kt me see you again! "Never? 'Never,' she laughed back at hum with uncontrollable tenderness Left to herself, she souled proudly, and a sharp little sigh of defeated destre escaped her as she listened to Chen's footsteps Cressing the way she saw ham opet sed cluster she gates, draft away on his winged feet, only to encounter the adoring glances of three shap girls walung along art-14-ars. "Laks! He's too good to be truel Let's touch him to see if he's rull' Bus Ceen sook it 23 for granted and did not even km round.

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·Dors Madame drink so." "Madame does think so. Add a little turpentine wlule you're melong it in a double saucepan; it's quite easy to do again. You brought up the Vouvray a little 100 soon. Close the shutters as soon as you've cleared the table; we're in for a heat-wave.' "Very good, Madame. Will Alonsieur Ch - Monsieur Peloux be dining?" 'Probably. .. No crime-surprise tonight. We'll just have a strapberry water ice. Coflee in the boudoir.' As she rose from the table, straight and tail, the shape of her legs visible under a dress that moulded her hips, she had ample time to note the 'Madame is beautiful in die burler's discreet glance, and this did not displease her. 'Beautiful, Léa whispered on her way up to the boudoit. 'No. ... No longer. I have now to wear something white near my face, and very pale pink urderclothes and tea-gowns. Beautiful' Posh.... I luardly need to be that any longer.' All the same, she allowed herself no siesta in the painted silk boudoir, wien she had finished with coffee and the newspapers. And it was with batle sofisten on her face that she gave her chauffeur the order. 'To Madame Pelour's.' The tree-lined road through the Bois, dry beneath the young, already and, faded June foisage - the toll-gate - Neuilly-Boulevard d'Intermann - 'llow many times have I come this way?' Lća wondered. She began to count, then tired of counting and softened her read on the gravei outside Madame Peloux's house to overheer any sounds coming from it. "They're in the garden-room, she concluded. She had put on more por der before approaching the house and uglioned the fine-mesi, misty blue veil under her shin. Her answer to de manservant's formal request to come through the house was: 'No, I'd rather to round by the garden.' A real garden - almost a park - completely surrounded the vast mitte villa, pical of the outer suburbs of Paris. Madame Pelour's nila tad been called's country residence' in the days when Neually ·ܙ ·'Goodness, how lovely you are, Marie-Laure! you're perfection itself Marie-Laure deigned to smile. She was a red-haired young woman with brown eyes, whose physical presence alone was enough to take your breath away. She drew attention, almost coquerashly, to the Duises young woman, by saying: 'Bat would you have recognized may daughter Edmde?' Lhalield out a hand which the girl was reluctant to shake. *I should have known you, my child, but a schoolgirl alrers so quickly, and Mane-Laure alters only to become always more disconcestingly losely. Are you quite finished with school now?" 'I should hope so, I should hope so,' exclaimed Madame Peloux. "You can't go on for ever, hiding her under a buskel, such a miracle of grace and charm, and she's nineteen already!' Eighteen,' said Mane-Laure sweetly. Eighteen, eighteen! . Yes of course, eighteent Lés, you temenber: This child was just making her first Communion the year that Chéri ran away from school, surely you remember? Yes, yes, you did, you lzzle good-for-nothing, you ran away and Léa and I were drived early out of our wits! 'I remember perfectly,' Léa sad, and she exchanged an uperoep table little nod with Mane-Laure - something corresponding to the sousha' of a punchlious ſencer. You must get her married soon, you must get her married soon! pursued Madame Pelour, who never failed to repeat a basic truth at least ex acc. 'We'll all come to the wedding.' She brandished her little arms in the air, and the young girl classed at her with ingenuous alarm 'She's just the daughter for Mane-Laure,' thought Lea, gazing a her more closely. 'She has all her mother's dazzling qualities but ma quieter key Butly, ash-brown bass, that looks 2 sf u were powdered; frightened, secretve eyes and 2 mouth she averds opening even to speak or smile. ... Exactly what Marie-Laure needs as a foil - but has she mount bare her! danxe Pelour insinuated a maternal smile between Les and the young gir You ought to have seen hor sell these two young frople diere getting on together in the garden!' 15 -

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·handed them over to Chéri. On her retum, she found that Léa tad taken of her hat and was smoking a cigarette 'Aren't they sweet, those two!' Madane Peloux gasped. 'Don's you think so, Les? Delicious,' Léa breathed out in the side pufi as her cigarette smoke 'But really, that Marie-Laure!' "What's Marie. Laure beers up toasked Chért, as he rejoined thent lloss lovely she is!' "Ah! Ah! Madame Peloux began in formal assent. 'Tut's true, that's true. She has been really lovely." Chen and Les caught each other's eye and laughed. 'Plas boen?' Lea emphasized the past tense. 'But she's the picture of your Not a single wrinkle! And she can wear the palest mauve, such a foul colour! I loathe it and it loathes me.' Madame Pelour noused her big puzless eyes and thin nose from her brandy -glass. "The picture of youth, the picture of youth!' yapped Aladame Pelour. "Pardon me, pardon me! Mane-Laure had Edmée în 1895, n9 ... '94. She'd just run away with a singing-teacher, leaving Khalil Bey fiat, though he'd given her the famous pink diamond skich... No, no! Vau! .. That must have been the year before!' The trumper notes were shnlland of Ley. Léa put a hand over her car, and Chen declared, with some feeling: 'Everytung would be l'eavenly on an aftemoon like this, if only we could be spared my mouice's concell She looked as her son with no sign of anger, accustomed to his insolence. Dignalied, feet dangling, she settled herself back in a basket chair too high for her short legs. In one hand she warmed her ghiss of brandy Lés, rocking herself gently to and fro, glanced ccasionally at Chen, who lay sprawled on a cool cane sestre, erat Unbulfoncd, a agarcie dying between hus lips, a lock of hair over fone sebrox. 'He's a handsonde young blackguard,' she thought admingly There diey mured, peacefully side by side, making no effort to halk ot be sociable, bappy after thesr own fashion Years of close {a Tatianty rendered slonce congensal and Chén slipped back into

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·"Why doesa't she go to sleep.' Ita wondered. 'It's Sunday. She's lunched well. She's expecting her sponging old cronies to drop n for her five o'clock tea. By rights she ought to be having a snooze. If she's not snoozing, it's because she's up to some devilment or other Tyscy had known each other for tyventy-five years. Theirs was the hostile intimacy of light women, enriched and then cast aside by one man, nuused by another: the terchy affection of rivals stalking one another's first wrinkle or white hair. Theirs was the friendship of two practical women of the world, both adepts at the money game; but one of them a miser, and the other a sybarite. These bonds count. Rather late in their day, a stronger bond had come to link then more closely: Chéru Léa could remember Chéri as a little boy- a marvel of beauty with long curls. When quirc small he was known as Fred, and had not yer been chras.cd Chéri. Someumes forgotten and sometimes adored, Chéri grew up aroon wan housemaids and tall sardonic menservants. Although his birth had mysteriously brought svealth to the house, no 'Fräum lein', no 'Mess' was ever to be seen at Chéri's side, and his mother had preserved fum, to the accompaniment of percing shrieks, from "these ghouls. Charlotte Pelout, you belong to another age. The speaker was the morbund, mutimified, but indestructible Baron de Berthelemy, Charlotte Pelour, 19 you I salute the only light woman who ever lsd the courage to bring up her son as the son of a tan! You belong to another age! You never read, you never travel, you make a point of knowing your ncighbour's business, and you abandon your child to the tender mercies of the servants. How perfect! How absolutely About .. Or, tetter sull, tow iskt a novel by Gustav Droz. ... And to thank that you've never heard of estil.... Edpond About (Remix d'un brave hamunt, etc.) and Gustave Destion Brut, Adun at bid, etc.), leht popular novelists of the second all of the Binet erti contury, some of those books appeared in English translaton, Page Anna on Bely, ilustrated by Monn 1997 19

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·hkely to die a comfortable death in your downy bed, I don't altoeller fancy a trustee for my estate. Your cash is mine. Let me go my own way! Men friends cost next to nothing-a dinner and a bortle of diampagne. As for the fair sex, surely, Ma'me Peloux, seeing that I take after you, you can trust me not to treat 'em to more than a Innket - If that! He pirouetred about while she shed tears and proclaimed herself the happiest of mothers. When Chén began buymg motor-cars, she trembled once more; but he simply advised her: 'Keep an eye on the petrol, Ma'me Pelour, if you please!' and sold his horses. He was not above checking the two chauffeurs' books His calculations viere quick and accurzte, and the figures he josted down on slips of paperdaslied of rapidly, round and regular were in marked contrast to fus rather slow and chuldish handwriting. At seventeen he was like a little old man, always fussing over his expenses: still good-looking - but skinny and short-winded. More than once Madame Peloux ran into him on the cellar steps, coming up from clicking the bottles in the racks and bins. 'Would you believe ni' she said to Léa. "It's too wonderful." 'Much 100 wonderful,' Léa answered, 'he'll come to a bad end. Cliên! Show me your tonguel He put out his tongue, made a face, and showed other signs of disrespect. Léa took no notice. She was too intimate a friend, a sort of doung godmother, whom he called by her Cliniscian name. 'Is it true', Léa inquired, 'that you were seen last night at a bar, siturg on old Lili's knees?" 'Hier knces!' scoried Chént. 'She hasn't had any for ages. They fourdered years ago.' 'Isn't it touc, Léa persisted with greater severity, 'that she made you drink gn laced with pepper You know gen as bad for the breath! On one occasion, Chen, ure, snapped back at Léa. 'I can't think why you bother me with all these questions. You must have seen what I was up to, you sere tucked az'ay in that cubby-hole at the Exk, wich Patron your prize-fighter fnend." "That's perfectly correct, Léa ansacred, unmoved. There's 31

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·'Out of politeness to NLa’me Peloux - who would otherwise be drinkırg alone, Chéri anstered. "What are you going to do tomorrow?" 'Dunno, and you?" 'I'm off to Normardy 'That's none of your business." "With our friend Spéleieff?' 'Don't be so stupid. That was over two months ago. You're beliund the times, Spéleieff's in Russia.' *Chéri, darling, what can you be thinking of?' sighed Madame Peloux. 'Don't you remember going last month to the charming dinner given by Léa to celebrate the end of the affair Léa, you've naer kt me luase the recipe for those langoustines I enjoyed so truch Chin sat up, his eyes sparkling. 'Yes, yes, langoustines, swimming in a creamy sauce! How I'd like some now!' "You see, 'Madame Peloux said reproachfully, 'he's got no appetite to speak of and yet he's asking for langoustines.' 'Shut up!' Chén snapped. Léa, are you off to the shady woods with Patron?' "Certainly not, my boy. Patron and I are merely friends. I'm going on my own.' 'Nice to be so nich Chén grew out. "I'll take you with me, if you like there'll be nothing to do but cat and drink and sleep....' "Where is this place of yours?' He had nsen to his feet and was sand.ng over her. 'You know Ilonleur - the Cote de Grice - don't you? Sit down; you're green in the face. Now as you go down the Cote de Grace, jou know those farm gates where we always say, in passing, your mother and I... She turred round to a lere Madame Peloux was sitting. Madame Pelour had disuppeared. The discretion with which she had faded 242) 13 someuung so unlike dhe normal Charlotte Peloux, that Her locked at each other and laughed in surpnse. Chén ser down close to Lís. 'I'm tired,' he said. 2 33 ·nothing of the dissipated schoolboy about Patron. He has other attractions, and a good deal more to recommend him than a perky little face and to black rings round his eyes. That neek Chén had been out on the razzle in Montmartre and is Halles, consorting with ladies of the town who called him 'poppet' and ‘my pet vice', but he had got no kick out of it: he sufíered from migraines and a dry cough. Madame Peloux poured out her heartbreaking noes - 'Life is nothing but a series of crosses for us mothers' - to her masseuse, to her stay-maker, Madame Ribot, to old Lili, to the Baron de Berthellemy, and thus passed painlessly from the state of being the happiest-of-parents to that of the martyrmother. A night in June, when Madame Peloux and Léa and Chéri che together in the garden-mom at Neuillv, was to change the destinies of the young man and the middle-aged woman. Chén's friends had gone off for the evening - Intle Baxter, a wholesale wine-merchant, and the Vicomic Desmond, a hanger-on of his, barely of age, diffculo and arrogant - and so Chéri had retumed to the maternal fold, and habit had drawn Léa there also. For one more evening, in a whole sequence of such occasions, these two women, cach suspicious of the other, found themselos together. They had known each other for th enty years, they shared a past made up of similarly dull evenings; they lached other friends; and, in their later days, they lead become mistrustful, self-indulgent, and cut off from the world, as women are a ho have lived only for love Both were stanng in silence at Chéri, u ho ner er spoke. Mladame Pelour lacked the strength to take her son's health in land, but lured Léa a little more each ume she bent her white neck and glowing checks oser Chéri's pallid cheek and transparent car. She would willingly liave bled that healthy female neck, already arinkled by the so-called lines of Venus, in order to give a touch of colour to lier slim lily-green son: yet it never occurred to her to take her darling away to the country. 'Chéri, why are you drinking brandy,'' Léa scolded. 33 ·up to tidy She shook her head only at the very instant that their lips touched, then she remained absolutely motionless, and hold her breath like someone listening. When he released hus hold, she brode away from hum, rose to ber feel, took a deep breath, and put a hand her wified hass, She turned to him, other pale and with seful tyas, and said, teasingly: "That was 3 bright idea!' He by far back inste sochéng-chais, speechless, and scrutinized hier with a suspicious, questioning gaze, so that she asked: "Whar is ? Nothing.' Chéri said. 'I know that I wanted to know.' She blisshed sich humiliation, then skilfully defended herself. "Whac do you know? That I like your mouth? My poor child, I've kissed ugler. What does that prove? D'you think I'm going to Ning myself at your feet and cry, "Take me!" You talk as if you've koos only see young girls! D you imagine I'm going to lose my head because of a kiss!" She grew calmer wlule speaking and wished to prove her self. control 'Listen, child,' she persisted, as she leaned over him, d'you think * handsome mouth means anything to me!' She smoked down at tuam, completely sure of herself, but unitare F:32 those remained on her face a son of very faint quiver, an appeal. ing sadness, and th37 lver style was like a rabov after a sudden storm "I'm perfectly calm. Even I were to kiss you again, or even if *... She stopped and pouted with scorn. 'No, no, I really can't ve you and me doing that "Nor could you see us doing what we did just now,' Cher sand, taking time over his adds. And yer you don't mind doing it, and na frarry, m'het So now you're thinking of going further, are you! I never suggested such a thing.' They foued each other like themes. Lia was afraid to reveal a desiresha tad not yet kad ante o desclop or to disgwse; she resented this duld, w suddenly cold and perhaps derisive. "You're nghs she conceded lightly. 'Let's say no more about it Si251 ke say insucad dar l'n offering to per you Owi to grass! And the foods begud...my food, 19 other ands.?

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·She shook her head only at the very instant that their lips touclied, then she remained absolutely motionless, and held her breath like someone listening. When he released his hold, she broke away from lum, rose to ber fees, took a deep breath, and put a hand up to udy her unrulled hair. She tumed to him, rather pale and with rueful eyes, and said, teasing!y: 'That was a bright idea!' Ile lay far back in the rocking-chair, speechless, and scrutinized her with a suspicous, questioning gaze, so that she asked. "What Norlung,' Chén said. 'I know what I wanted to know.' She blushed with humuliauon, then skulfully defended herself. 'What do you know. That I like your mouth? My poor child, I've kissed uglict. What does that prove? D'you think I'm going to fing myself at your fect and cry, "Take me!" You talk as if you've knoan only suct young girls! D'you imagine I'm going to lose my head because of a kiss?' She grew calmer while speaking and wished to prove her selfcontrol 'Listen, child,' she persisted, as she leaned over him, 'd'you think a handsome mouth means anythung to ted She smiled down at him, completely sure of herself, but unaware that there remained on her face a sort of very faint quiver, an appeal ing sadness, and that her smile was like a rainbow after a sudden "I'm perfectly calm. Even if I were to kiss you again, or even if *c... She stopped and pouted with scom. 'No, no, I really can't see you and me doing that' "Nor could you see us doing shat we did just now,' Chéri said, taking time over his words. 'And yet you don't mind doing it, and time in a liurry, either. So now you're thinking of going further, are you I never sugged such a thing.' They faced cach other like enemies. It was afraid to reveal a drare skelud not yet had time to des clop or to disguise; she resented this child, so suddenly cold and perhaps densive. "You're nghe,' she conceded lightly. 'Let's say no more about it. Sia! we say instead that I'ma ofiening to put you out to grass! And the food szll be good... my food, in other words.' 35 ak

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·W nex Ita rolled their first summer in Normandy, she - would sum u up impartially: I've had other nanghty than Chéri, latile boys through my hands, Foore amusing more lehcable, 100, and more intelligent. But all the same, never one touch him.' 'it's funny,' she confided to the old Baron de Berthellery, towards the end of the summer of 1906, 'but sometimes I think I'm in bed with a Chince or an African lave you ever had a Chinaman or a Negro?' "Never. "We then 'I don't know, I can't explain. It's just an impression.' The impression had grown upon her slowly, also an astonishment she had not always been able to conceal Her earliest memories of dhe idy li sere abundantly add, but only in pictures of delicious fond, superb fruit, and the pleasure of taking pains over her country d-det. She could still see Chén - paler in the blazing sunlight - draying, along his exhausted body beneath the lime-tree tunnels in Xormandy, ar asleep on the sun-warmed paving beside a pond, Lea used to use Chéri from sleep ra cramt huns s'h strax bernes and cream, fredly malk, and com-fed chicken. With wide, vacane ges, 23 dwugh dasel, he would 31 at dinner wiching the mazy mallions of the moulis found the bond of roses, and then look at his *ritt-watch to see whether clue me had come to go 10 bed: wlule Li, disappouud kui varesentful, pondered over the unfulfiled pruimises of the kiss a: Neuilly and good-fiaturedly bided her time. TU kemp bum congd up in the fastening-pe till the end of August, if need be. Then, back in Paris again - ouf! - ))) pack him o't to be prestous studies. Sle sent to bed merefully early, so that Chésir after nuzzling 2730st! crest he had bollored out a selfishly comfortable position - cuplu get sex sleep. Sometimes, when the lamp was out, she would mach a poi of moonlight shamrening over the polished floor, or 1.200, through the shorts of rustling spets and shrling crickets, 37

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·. stopped myself in time, it would have had a nasty taste of the stitches on my right glase! 'I shpped,' Chéri sud, enraged. "It's not a quesuon of balance, Paron fent on, 'it's a question of midle. You'll never make a boxer. ly mother won't let me, isn't that a pity?' Whether your mother lets you or not, you'll never make a boxer, because you're got a sorten lemper. Rotteri tempers and boring Aim't go together. Aren't I right, Madame Léa" Léa smiled, and revelled in the warfa sun, sitting still and watching t's bouts between these two men, both young and both stripped. In les mind she kept comparing theni 'Ilow handsome Patron is - 13 sold as a house! And the boy's shaping well. You don't find knees like his running about the streets every day of the week, or I'm no judge His back, too, is ... will be .. marvellous. Where the devil did Mother Peloux drop her line to fish up a child like that? And the set of his head! quite a statue! But what a little beast he is! When he lavhs, you'd scar It's a greyhound snarling! She felt happy and maternal - bathed in quiet virtue. 'Id willingly change him for anyone els' she said to herself, with Chért naked in the afternoon beside her under the lime-trec bower, or with Chert naked in the moming on her ermine rug, or Chért naked in the evening on the edge of the warm fountain. 'Yes, handsome as he is, I'd willingly make a chance, if it weren't a question of conscience!" She conícssed her indiference to Patron. "And yer', Parron objected, 'the Lad's very nicely made. There's moules on him now such as you don't see on our French lads; his are more like a coloured boy's - though he couldn't look any whiter, I must say. Nice tutele muscles they are, and not too shavy. He'll never lie biceps like melons.' 'I should hope not, Parron! But then, you know, I didn't take hum on fat has boung!" "Of course not,' Patron acquiesced, lemng hus long lashes droop, there's your feelings to be considered.' He #35 alsays embarrassed by Les's unveiled allusions to stay and by tæt strike- the insistence of the straling eyes she brought to best on hum hennar she spoke of lore.

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·Créne whom they thought either asleep or motoring doen some baking hot road-Chéri, looming into sight, half naked, but equiņped *luh an account book, a stylo tend his eas. "Look at cur Mister Adding-machine,' Patron said admiringly. All got up as a clerk in a bank "Wut can this mean?' Chéri shouted from afar. "Three hundeed and sxenty francs for petrol Somebody must be swilling the stuff! We've been out four times in the fast fortnight- and seventy-sevens france for oull "The motor goes to the market every day,' Lła repbed. 'And while we're on the subject, it appears your chauffeur had three helpings of the joint for has dinner. Don't you think that's stretching our recent a bit fas? ... Whenever a bill sacks in your throat, Jou look just like your mother At a loss for an answer, he stood uncertain for a moment, shifung from one slender foot to the other, possed with winged grace like a young Mercury. Thas ala-ays made Madame Peloux swoon with cight and yelp, 'Me when I was eighteen! Winged fect! winged fcepti ile cast abour for some insolent reton, his whole face 3-quiver, his mouth half opens hus farchiad pulung forward, in a tense attitude ther showed off to advancige the peculiar and diabolic upward kvist of huis gebrows. *Don't bother to think of an answer,' Ita said kindly. 'I know Do late tnc. Come and kiss me. Handsome dal Fallen angel S.!!y goos... lle care, calmed by the softness of her voice, j'et rulled by her and Secung them together, Patron once again let die truth flores on lin gulless los As far as first-ce bodies fo, Monsieur Chin, you have one all night. But sicher 1 look at it, Monsieur Chéri, I feel that if ***a woman I'd say to myself "I'll come back again in ten years' nc. You lear, 3 No says in ton scars' time,' Chért said sasinuatinals, gudry De head of his mistress as she leaned towards ta"\17.30 & sou think of Dard But she dd 5 do in lusien. The young body owed to her its terkadant, 204 she began patung i all over, touching it 4!

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·hear his confession, and pressed her forehead against his, whispering, Speak. Say something. Tell me... But no confession came from those cun ed lips, scarcely anything indeed but sulky or frenzied phrases woven round "Nounoune - the name he had given her when a child and the one he now used in ihe throes of his pleasure, almost like a cry for help. "Yes, I assure you, he might be a Chinee, or an African,' she declared to Anchime de Berthelſemy, and added, 'I can't tell you why.' Tive impression was strong but confused, and she felt lazıly incompetent to find words for the feeling that she and Chén did not speak the same language. Ir tas the end of Sepsember when they returned to Paris, Chéri *enit straight to Neuilly, the very first evening, to 'spring a surprise on Madame Pelour Ile brandished chaus, cracked nuts with his fist, beaped on to the billiard-pable, and played cowboy in the garden af selecis of the terrified watch-dogs. 'Oulli Lea sighed, as she entered her house in the Avenue Bureaud, alonc. How wonderfull-a bed to myselfl' Por az ten o'clock the following eeght she was sipping coffee and trying not to find the evening roo long or the dining-room too large, ben a nervous cry was forced from her lips. Chéri had suddenly appeared, framed in the doorway - Chéri, wafred on silent, winged feet He was not speaking or showing any sign of affection, but just running towards her. 'Are you mad? Sliruang luas shoulders, disdainung all explanations, just runtung trazrds for, lasct asking 'Do you love me?', 'Ilave you already forgotten me!' Running towards her. A moment later they sere lying in the middle of Lea's great brasscrcumbered bed. Chéri pretended to be wom out and sleepy. This ale k cins to gut fas teeth and keep his eyes tight shug sureng *s fic was from a fuous attack of taciturrury. Yes, through his uict.cc, sle ras lastming as she lay beside hum, listening with delight thx divat dekake vibration, to the imprisoned tumult trumm.in a body that sought to conceal its agony, its grstitude, and kyt.

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·lear his confession and pressed her forehead againsı his, whispering, Spesk. Say someslung. Tell me...' But no confession came from those curved lips, szarcely anything indeed but sulky or frenzied phrases woven round Nounoue the narre he had given het then a child and ihe one he 20x used in the drodes of his pleasure, almost like a cry for belp. "Yes, 1 assure you, die might be a Chinee, or an African, she declared to Anthime de Berthellemy, and added, I can't rell you Rhy. The pression was strong but confused, and she felt lazıly Incompoterit to find words for the feeling that she and Chen did not speak the same language. It was the end of September when they retumed to Paris. Chiri *mmastraigha zo Neuilly, the very first evening, to 'spring a surprise en Madanc l'eloux. Ile brandashed chairs, cracked nuts with his fisr, kaped on to the Duhard-cable, and played cox boy in the garden at the heels of the terrified arch-dogs. 'Ouflsegłod, as she entered her house in the Avenue Bespraud, alone, 'Ilm wonderfull-a bed to myselfl' Burarien o'clock the following righe she was sipping coffee and trying not to find the evening 100 long or the dining room too larve, *ben a nervous try was forced from her lipe Chéri had suddenly >ppeared, framed in the doorway - Chéri, kafeed on silent, winged fort. He was nor speaking of showing any sight of affection, bur just running tonards her. mad? Showing his shoulders, descanus all explanations, just running towards for ser asking 'Do you love me, 'Have you already furgraten med Running towards here A moment let they were lyong in the middle of Léa's great brassmcumbered bed. Can preterded to be com out and sleepy. This muuten esiet t3 gru lus test and keep his eyes tighe shut, suffering he was from a fuous artxk of tecumnitz. Yet, through his skrse, she was listening as she by beside him, listening with delich tant delsate brasion to the imprisoned Cumult thrum 5:Shan a body that sought to correst agony, its gratinada "Are you

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·*It's lucky for me that there'll soon be someone else to stop you sistung 01 29 empty stomach "Oni she won't be allowed to have a say in anything.' Chéri dabad She's going to be my wife isn't shie? Let her kiss the sacred grund I read on, and thank hes lucky stars for the privilege. And thors) be that." He exerted the thrust of his chin, clenched his teeth on his tizedder, parted his lips, and, as he stood there in his white silk pyjamas, succeeded only in looking like an Asiatic prince Sora pale un che imponetrable obscunty of palaces LA drew the folds of her pink dressing gown closet abous les the pink she called 'sdispensable'. She was lazily tuming over das mbuchale found tiresome, ideas that she decided to hur) one by one, » Trisales against Chén's assumed composure, "Well, wisy are you marrying the chuld? He put bachelbaw on the table and, unconsciously, assumed the composed features of his mother. 'Well, you see, roy dear girl... Call me Madame of Lea. I'm notcher your housemaid nor a pal of crur Uuti arc. Sho313 aght up is her annduir and chipped her words without raising her voice. Ile wanted to ansact back. He looked defiantly the besutiful (ses, a luzele pale under its por der, and at the frank blue light of her searching eyes. But he softened, and conceded, in a I ne trost unusual for him, 'Nousoune, you asked me to explair. ... It had to come to thus in the end. And besides, there are big interests 21 ske. Whox Mine," he said without a smile. The girl has a considerable for- (LX. Of het op 'From her father Me rocked himself to and fra, kus lees in the ais. 'Oh, how do 1 knak? Missgunl suppose so, You'd ludly expect the fair 842-1-Laurem dos fliten hundred thousand out of her ows bansa *Leint, would you? Fifecen kundred thousand, and some docent {snily jealt in the bargad! and 1. much live you? '01'1mne shan that of my aun,' he said with pride.

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·~ La smiled. But, my darling, I've not the slightest intention of charging my life. Now and then, during the next weck, I'll come Stross a pair of socks, a lie, a handkerchief on my shelves ... and when I say a seck - you know in what excellent order my shelves 3 kepi! Oh, yes, and I'll have the bathroom redone. I've got an ides of putting in cricrusted glass...! Slic fell silent and assumed an almost greedy look as she traced a vaque outline with her finger. Chéri continued to look vindictive. "You aren't pleased! What do you want then? Do you expect me M69 to Normandy to hide my grief. To pine away? To stop dyeing my dau! To have Madame Peloux rushing to my bedside?' And the imitated Madame Pelout, tapping her arms and trumpeting:* "'The sladow of fier former self, the shadow of her former self! The poor unfortunate creature has aged a hundred years, a hundred years!" 1, that what you lle had been listening with a smile chas died on his lips, and a termbling of the nostrils that might be due to emotion. 'Yes!" he ned La rested for smooth, bare, heavy arms on Chén's shoulders. "My poor boyl But at that rate, 1 ought to have died four or five times already! To lose a little lovet. ... To exchange one naughty tinle boy. ... She added in lower, lighter tones: 'I've grown used "?ותנו "We all know that," he said harshly. 'I don't give a damn - d'you ***t me! - I don't give a single damn that I wasn't your first lover. 17122! should lust liked, or other hat would have been ... fitúng ... decent .. is to be your last.' With a twist of his shouldess, 1x slurum off hier superb ams. 'After all, what I am saying to you Du u for you! 0% food' "I understand perfectly. You think only of me. I bunk only of your free. That's all sesy asce, allery natural. It's clear that we broth are fica:t1 of gold.' Semynating for some outrageous rejoinder. But he said ning, and is hurt her to see for the firsz tume a look of discourage- 1914 on Iss fact. Siebert over and put her hands under tas umpics, 'Now than, come along, get your clothes on. I've only 18 Put DE

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·Léa smiled. But, my darling, I've nor de slightest intention of sanging my life. Now and then, during the next week, I'll come ross a pair of socks, a de, 3 handkerchief on my shelves ... and Sven I say a week you know in what excellent order my shelves re kept! Oh, yes, and I'll have the bathroom redone, I've got an Sea of putting in encrusted glass. ...' Slse fel silent and assumed an almost greedy look as she traceda rague outline with her finger. Chén continued to look sindictive. "You aren't pleased! What do you want, then? Da you expect ma agoro Normandy to hide my grief: To pine away To stop dyeing my har? To have Madame Peloux ushing to my bedside?' And she imated Madame Peloux, flapping her arms and trumpeting: ' "Thin szadow of her fomer self, the shadow of her former selfi The poor unfortunate creature has aged a hundred years, a hundred years!" Is that what you want?' He had been listening with a smile that died on inis lips, and utmeling of the postrils that might be due to emotion. "Yes!' the cried. Lea resued'rer smooth, bare, scavy arms on Chen's shoulders. 'Ny pror boy! But at that rate, I ought to have died four or five times already To lose a little lover. .. To exchange one naughty Iittle boy. ... She added in loser, lighter tones: "I've grown used to ille "We all know that, be said harshly 'I don't give a damn d'ysu tirar med - I don't give a single darn that I wasn't your first lover. What I should have liked, or rather wiat would have been ... fitting ... decent, is to be your last.' With a twist of his shoulders, be shrugged off her superb arms. After all, what I am saying to you now is for your own good' 'I wderstand perfectly. You think only of me. I think only of your füncée. That's all very nice, all very natural It's clear that we both have hearts of goid' She rose, waiting for some outrageous rejoinder. But he said nothing, and it hurt her to see for the first ume a look of discouragement on his face She dent over and put her hands under his armpits. *No* then, come along: get your clothes on. I've only to put on

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·*Hey both became extremely gay for the next few weeks. Chér's official duties as a fiancé separated them for a few hours each day, sometimes for a rugle or tho. 'We mustn's ker them lose confidence, Chen declared Lla, kept by Madame Peloxxx at a safe distance from Neuilly, satisfied her curiosity by plying Chen with a hundred questions. Whenever he came back to la's house, he was full of his own importance and heavy with sucrets aluch he at once divulged He was like a schoolboy playing tsuan "Oh, my sainted aunt!' he shoured one day, cramming kis fast dawn on Lea's portrait-buss. 'The goings-on at the Pelour Palace Hotel ever since yesterday!' She began by scolding hu laughing already in anticiparion. "Take your but off that, in the first place. And in the second, don't invoke your wretched aunt in my house. Well, what's been lapperiing now? 'A not, Nounoune! A nior's broken out among the ladies. Manc- Laure and Ma'me Pelous are scratching each other's eyes out over the marriage sertlerdeni!" "No" "Yes! I was a superb sight. (Look out for the olives.... I'm going to impersonate Ma'me Peloux as a windmill ...) "Sepante bank accounts' Separate bank accounts! Why not a trustee? It's a personal insult, a personal insult You forget that my son has his own fortune! May i inform you, Madame * She called her Aladame "She most certainly did. "Let me tell you, Madame, that my son has never had a ha'porth of debts since he came of age and the list of his investments bought since 1910 15 Bonh.." is worth this, chas, and the other, including the skin off my sose, plus the fat of iny bottom. In short, Catherine de Medici in person! But even more artful, of course! Léa's blue eyes plistened with tears of mertiment 'Ok, Chen! you've never been fusser in your life! Whar about the other? Tixe falt Hane-Laure" ·my dress, I'm ready undemeath, and what in the world is there to do on a day like this except to go to Schwabe and choose a pearl for you: You see, I must give you a wedding present' He jumped up, his face aglow: "Top-hole! A pearl for my shirtfront! A pale pink pearl. I know the very one!' 'Not on your life! A white one, something masculine for pity's sake! Don't tell me, I know which one just as well as you It'l run me, as usual. However, think of the money I'm going to save when you're out of the way!' Chéri adopted a more reticent arutude. 'Oh, that ... that depends on my successor.' Léa tumed back at the door of her boudoir and gave him her gayest smile, showing her strong teeth and the fresh blue of her eyes skilfully darkened by bistre. "Your successor? A couple of francs and a packet of cigarettes! And a glass of cassis on Sunday - that's all the job will be wonh! And I'll settle money on your children.'

·'I should hope noul' La sighed. 'Yet all the same... She broke off to reflect, and it seemed to Chen lier enthusiasm s'us flangin 'Well, you must say it was pretty smart of me, eh?" He leaned across the table; and the sunshine, playing over the alver and the white table-cloth, ist him up like a row of foolliglas. "Yes..." All the same,' she was thinking, 'dut poisonous Marie- Laure simply treated him like a ponce... 'Is there any cream cheese, Nounoune?" 'Yes ...' ... and he showed no more surprise than if shc lud thrown hire a flower....! "Nounoune, will you let me have that address the address of the place where you get your cream cheese - for the new cook I've engaged for October?" "Are you mad? It's home-made. I have a cook, you know. Think of the sauce aux moules and vol-au-vent!"... It's true I've practically kept the boy for the last five years.... But all the same he has an income of three hundred thousand francs a year. That's the point. Can you be a ponce with three hundred thousand a year? But why ever not? It doesn't depend on the amount, but on the man.... There are some men I could have given half a million to, and that wouldn't make them a ponce. But how about Chén. After all, I have never actually given him any money. All the same...' *All the same,' she broke into speech 'She treated you like a Bigolo?" Who did> Marie-Laurel He brightened at once, like a child. "Didn't she? Didn't she just, Nounoune? That's what she rocant, wasn't So it seems to me Chers raised fuis glass of Château-Chalon, almost the colour of brandy, 'So here's to Alarie-Laure! What a compliment, eh? And if anyorie can sull say it of me when I'm your age, I shan't ask anything betrert "If that's enough to make you happy ... She listened as him absent-mindedly bill the end of luncheon. Accustomed to her half-silences and her worldly wisdom, he asked SI ·"Her? Oh! terrible, Nounoune. That woman must have at least a dozen corpses in her wake Dalled up in jade green, red hair, parated to look eiglueen, and the inevitable smile. The trumpetings of my revered Mamma failed to make her bat an eyelid. She hield her fire till the assault was over, then she came out with: "It might periaps be wiser, dear Madame, not to talk too loudly about all the money your son pur by in 1910 and the years following. 'Bang! Straight between the eyes! ... Between yours. Where were you while all thus was going on." *MleIn the large armchair.' "You were actually in the room?' She stopped laughing, and canng "You were there? What did you do?'' 'Cracked a joke, of course. Mla'me Pelour had just seized hold of a valuable piece of bric-a-brac, o avengestsy honour, when I stopped her without even getung up. "My adored mother, calm yourself. Follow my example, follow ihat of my charming mother-in-law, wlio's being as sweet as honey ... as sweet as sugar." And that's how I managed to arrange that the settlement should apply only ro property acquired after marriage.' "I simply don't understand.' "The famous sugar plantations eltat the poor little Prince Ceste left to Marie-Laure by his will...' "Yes? "Forged will! Fury of the Ceste family! Latsuit pending! Now d'you get He crotcd “I get it. But how did you get liold of the story?" 'Ah! I'll te! you! Old Lil has just pounced with her full weight upon the younger of the Ceste boys, who's only seventeen and religious. Old Lili What a nightmare!' 'And he babbles family secrets in her ear between every kiss. ..." "Chéri! I feel sick! *And old Lili tipped me off at Niamma's At Home las: Sunday. She simply adores me! Besides, she respects me because I've never wanted 10 go to bed with her, ..."

·Chéri had not expecred fier to say this and showed it. Its face becambe distsgured, and he suddenly tumed white alyut the mourite "He congolled his breasts to avoid än audible gasp, and became him. self again "Nounoune, you'll always be there,' Monsieur overwhcm me." "There'll always be you, Nounounc ....and he lughed awk. wardly, 'whenever I need you to do sometung for me." She did not answer. She bent to pick up a tortoiseshell comb that had fallen to the door and pushed ss back in her hair, humming to herself. She went on huming a little snatch of a song in front of a looking.glass, plessed with herselí, proud of having kept her self control so easily, covered up so suxessfully the only emotional sonvent of thest separation, proud of having held back words that must never be sad. Speak .. beg for what you want, destand it, put your artas sound my neck ... You have suddenly made me tuppy, .

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·"Baroness, don't forget I made ninety,' Madame Aldonza blested He a go1 'Score it, score it, my good friend! All I want is to see everyone tuappy." An endless flow of honied words masked hier savage cruelty. Lea boked ar her closely as if for the first time, felt disgusted, and turned back to Madame Pelour, 'Charlotte, at least, looks human,' she thoughie "What's the matter with you, my Léa? You don't seem your usual self?' Madame Peloux inquired tenderly. Léa drew up her handsome figure and answered: 'Of course I am, Lolotte dear... It's so comfortabl: here in your house, I was merely relaxing, thinking all the whule "Careful now ... she's just as cruel as the other", and she at once assumed an expression of Bartering contentment, of dreamy repletion, and accentuated it by sighing, "I lunched too wel) ... I really must get thinner. I sluall start a strict dret from tomorrow.' Madame Peloux flapped her hands and simpered. "Isn't a broken heart enough to do that? "Oh, oh, oh! Ha-ha! Ho-holl guflawed Madame Aldonza and the Baroness de la Berche. "Ha-ha-ha!' Léa rose to her full height in her autumn dress of sombre green, handsome under her saun hat trimmed with sealskin, youthful among these old ruins over whom she cast a gentle eye. 'Oh, 1a-13, my dears' Give me a dozen such heart-breaks, if that would help me to lose a couple of pounds! *Lea, you're astounding, the old baroness shot at her in a puff of smoke. 'Madame Léa, tlunk of me, please, when you throw away than har, oid Madame Aldonza beggeda 'Madame Charlotte, you remember your blue one? It lasted me two years. Baroness, when you've quite finished ogling Madame Léa, perhaps you'll be kind enough to deal the cards to me,' "Very well, my sweet, and may they brng you luck! Les stopped for a moment by the door, then stepped out into the Barden She picked a tea-rose, which shed its petals. She listened to the breeze in the bstch, to the trams in the Avenue, to the whistle of the fol train The bench stie sat on was warm, and she closed her S5

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·A slim youth with Italian features, enormous empty eyes, and a weak receding chin kissed Léa's land hastily and reared into the shadows without a word. Lili taught him in flight, pulled his head down to her scaly chest, caling the onlockers to witness: 'Do you know that this is, Madame, do you know what this is This, Ladies is the love of my life! *Restrain yourself, Lil!' Madame de la Berche advised in her masculine voice. "But why? But wlay?' from Charlotte Pelour. 'For the sake of decency, said the Baroness. 'Baroness, that's not nice of you! I think they're so swert. AJ!' she sighed, 'they remind me of my own children.' 'I was thinking of them, Lil sad, with a delighted smle.'It's our honeymoon too, Guido's and mine. Indeed, e've just come to ask about the other young couple! We want to hear all abour them." Aladame Pelous became stemn. 'Lili, you don't expect me to go anto details, do you." "Oh, yes, yes, I do,' Lils cried, clapping her hands. She tried to skip, but succeeded only in raising her shouiders and hips a little. "That's always been my besetting sin, and always will bel I adore spicy talk! 231 never be cured of it. That litle wretch there knows how I adore it.' The silent youth, called to bear witness, did not open his mouth The black pupils of lus eyes moved up and down against the whites, like frantic insects. Léa watched him, rooted to the spot "Madame Charlotte told us all about the wedding ceremony bleated Madame Aldonza. 'The young Madame Peloux was a dream in her wreath of orange blossom "A madonna! A madonna! Madame Peloux correcked at the top of her voice, with a burst of religious fervour, 'Never, neves, has anyone looked so desine. My son was in heaven' In heaven, I tell you!.. What a pass they made, what a pair!' "You hear thas, my passion? Orange blossom! Lili murmured. 'And tell me, Charlotte, wliat about our mother-in-law, Mane- Laure> Nadame Pelour's príless eyes sparkled. 'Oh, her! Out of place, absolutely out of place. In total-fizuag black, nke an eel wriggling $7

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·*Buy of course ... Princess Ceste, my dear! la piccola principessa! Piccola principessa, tluat's what my kne Prince always calls me!" She ripped hold of her skirt, and, in tursing, displayed as gold curb-chain where her ankle ought to have been. 'Only', she continucd mysteriously, 'hıs facier .. By now out of breath, she made a sign to that silent young mani, who took up the tale in a low rapid sorce as if he were seciting his piece: "My father, the Duke of Parese, threatens to put me in a convent if I marry Lab. 'In a convent!' Charlotte Peloux squealed. 'A man in a convenil 'A man in a convent' neighed Madame de la Berche in her deep bass. "Egadi if that isn't exciting!' "They're barbanans, Aldonza lamented, joining her misshapen hands together, Lea rose so abruptly that she upset a glass. It's uncloured glass,' Madame Peloux observed with satisfaction. You'll bring good luck to my young couple. Where are you running off to Is your house on fire?' Léa managed to squeeze out a sly little laugh 'Onfire? In a scrise, perhaps. Sshi no questions. It's a secret.' 'Whar Already? It's not possible!' Charloete Peloux clieeped enviously. 'I was just saying to myself that you looked as a ...' "Yes, yes! You must tell us! Tell us everything, yapped the three old women Lil's quited fists, old Aldonza's deformed stumps, Charlotte Peloux's hard fingers had seized upon her wrist, her sleeve, her gold. mesh bag. She snatched her arms away from all these claws and succeeded in lauglung agun, teasingly. 'No, it's far too early in the day, it rould spoil everydung! It's my secret. And she rushed away to Helal But the door opened in front of lier and a desiccated oid fellow, a sort of plaz {uł mummy, took her into his as 'léz, lovely creature, a biss for your lule Berthelemy, or lie won't let you pass! She gave a cry of fnght and impatience, struck off the gloved bones retarding her progress, and fled. 59

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·thought it must be physical, a pain Urar tsisted her lips and dranged from them, in a faucous sob, a single name: 'Cheni' Tears followed, beyond all control a: fisst. As soon as she had regained her self-control, she sat up, wiped her face, and tumed on the lamp amzin. "Ah! That's what it is Now I understand!" She took a thermometer from the draser of ler bedside table and put it under her afts 'My temperature's normal, so it's nothing physical. I sec. I'm just unhappy. Something must be done about it.' She drank some water, got out of bed, bathed her snflamed eyes, put on a bule powder, poked the fire, and rear back to bed. She was on her gourd, full of trustret for an enemy she had never known: grief. She had just said goodbye to thirty years of easy living years 57***t pleasantly, intest often on love, someumes on money. This had left her, at almost fifty, still young and defenceless She made fun of herself, ceased to feel her grief, and smiled. 'I dink I was out of my mind just now. There's nothing wrong with me any longer.' But a movement of her left arm, which bent automaucally to hold and shelter a sleeping head, brought back all her agony, and she sat up with a pump 'Well, this u going to be fun!' she said out loud and Sternly She looked at the clock and saw that it was barely eleven. Overhead passed the slippered tread of the elderly Rose, on her way up the stairs to the atuc foor, Then there was silence. Léa resisted the impulse to call out for help to this deferential old body. 'Don't give the scrvants anything to gossip about. We mustn't have that.' She left her bed again, wrapped herself up watto in a quilted silk dressing-gown and coasted ter feet. Then she half opened her window and listened for she knew not what. A motstand milder wind had brought clouds in its wake, and the lingering leaves in the reignbouring Boxs sighed with every gust Léa shut the window again, picked up newspaper, and looked at the date - 'October the Henty-sexth Exactly a month since Chéri was mamed She never said 'Since Edmee was mamed', Follonis Chén's example, she did not yet count hus young "Tauch of a sife as really abve. Chestnut-bronn eyes, ashy hair which 61

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·thought it must be physical, a pain dar ssisted her lips and dranged from them, in a raucous sob, a single name: 'Chéri!' Tears followed, beyond all control at first As soon as she had regained her self-control, she sat up, wiped her face, and tumed on the lamp agun. 'Ah! That's what it is! Now I underscand! She jock a thermometer from the drawer of her bedside table and put it under her arm. Hy temperature's normal, so it's nousing physical I see. I'm just unhappy. Something must be done about it She drank some water, got out of bed, bathed her inflamed eyes, pur on a huile powder, poked the fire, and went back to bed. She was on her guard, full of mistrust for an enemiy she had never known: srief. She had just said goodbye to thirty years of easy living years spent pleasantly, intenst often on love, sometimes on money. This had Ioft her, as almost fifty, still young and defenceless. She made fun of herself, ceased to feel her grief, and smiled. "I Hunk I was out of my mind just now. There's nothing wrong wich me any longer. But a movement of her left am, wtuch bent aucornaacally to hold and shelter a sleeping hcad, brought bach all her agony, and she sat up with a pump. 'Well, th15 w going to be funt' she sad out loud and sternly She looked at the clock and saw that it was barely eleven. Over head passed the slippered tread of the elderly Ross, on her way up the stairs to the 2016 noor. Then there was silence. Léa resisted the impulse to call out for help to thus deferential oid body, 'Don't give the servants anything to gossip about. We mustn't have that She left her bed again, wrapped herself up warm in a quilted silk dressing-rown and toasted her feet. Then she half opened her window and listened for she knew not what A moist and milder wind had brought clouds in its vake, and she linge ng leaves in the neighbrurng Bois sighed with every gust Léa shut the window again, picked up a newspaper, and looked at the date - October the Inty-sixth Exactly a month suce Chén was married?' She never said "Since Edmée as momed'. Follos ang Chéni's example, she did not yet count hus young *Taith of a wife as really alive. Chestnut-brown eyes, ashy hair which

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·Lla.
1 send you an affectionate kiss. Remember me to the child when he
comes bacit.
Your incorrigible
P.S. - Don's trouble to come and interview my buller or concierge,
no member of my household knows anything at all about it.

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·+ and find you've landed at the Pole- at the North Pole. There hasn't been a flower on the dahlias for the last week. Bu: don't worry, my precious! Your los e-nest will soon be finished. If the architect hadn't gone dosn with paratyphoid, it would be ready for you now. I wamed him. If I told him once, I told him twenty umes: "Monsieur Savaron ..." Chéri, who was standing by the window, turned round sharply. "What was the date on that letter?' Madame Peloux opened her large childlike eyes: 'Whar letter?' “The letter from Léa you showed me.' 'She put no date on it, my love, but I got it the night before my last Sunday At Home in October. "I see. And you don't know who it is?" Who wlar is, my paragon?' "Whoever it was she went away with, of course.' Malsce clothed Madame Peloux's stark features. "No. Would you believe it, nobody has an idea! Old Lali is in Sicily, and none of my set has a clue! A mystery, an enthralling mystery! However, you know me, I've managed to pick up a few scraps here and there...' Chén's dark eyes expanded: 'What's the tattle?' 'It seerns it's a young man ... Madame Peloux whispered 'A young man not ... not particularly desirable, if you know what I mean. very well made, of course!' She was lying, careful to in- Sinuate the worst. Chén shrugged his shoulders. "Well made, did you say? Don't make me laugh! My poor Léal I can see him from bere - a helty little fellow from Patron's trainingquarters - black hairs on his wnsts and clammy bands.... Well, I'm going back to bed now, you make me bred.' Trailing his bedroom slippers, he went back to lus room, dawdling in the long corndors and on the spacious landings of the house he seemed to be discovering for the first time. He ran into a por-bellied wardrobe, and was amared. 'Damned if I knew that thing was there. ... Oh, yes, I vaguely remember ... And who the devil's this chap?' lle was addressing an enlarged photograph, in a deep black frame, hanging funereally near a piece of coloured pottery, equally tnamilar to Chén. 65 1

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·even when çired she still looked fresh. He seemed astonished by the · smoothness of her fully rounded lower eyelids, and by the silvery softness of her cheeks 'How old are you?' he asked suddenly, Edmée opened her eyes, which she had closed voluptuously. Chéri sured at the brown of their pupils and at her small square teeth. "Oh, conte! I shall be nineteen on the fifth of January, and do try and remember it He drew his arm away roughly and the young woman slipped into the hollow of the bed like a discarded scarf. "Nereteers, it's prodigious! Do you know that I'm over twentya. five? 'Bur of course I know shut, Fred... He picked up a pale tontorseshell mixtor from the bed-table and gazed at himself. 'Twenty-five years old Twenty-five years of age and a face of white marble that seemed indesınectible. Twenty-five, but at the outer comens of the eye and deneach it - delicately plagiarizing the classical design of the eyelid. were two lines, viszhle only in full light, ca incisions raced by the lovelace, the most relentless, of fingers. He put back the muror: 'You're younger than I am. That shocks me' Nos met She had answered m a prting voice, full of hidden meaning. He took no notice 'Do you know why my eyes are beautiful!' he asked in all senonsnes *No,' Edmée said. "Perhaps because I love them?" 'Shuffl' Chen said, shrugging kus shoulders 'It's because they're shaped like a sole. Like what 'Like a sole. Ile szt down ntar het to give a demonstration. "Look-here-the corres next the nose is the head of the sole. And then the upper curve that's the back of the sole; whereas the lower line sups perfectly strzight and that's its belly. And the other corner thas tapers up to my temples, that's the sole's tail"

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·sclurett's objections he would aas#er: 'I don't give a dam. I pay, want the work done. To hell with live cost.' But every now and gain he would cast a ruthless cye over an estimate and proclum You can't barnboozle young Pelout.' Indeed, he held forth on standardizanon, fibro-cement, and coloured stucco with unexpected gubness and a memory for exact figures that compelled the contraccor's respect. Rarely did he consult his young wife, although he paraded tus authority for her benefit and took pains, when occasion arose, to cover tus deficiencies by giving curt commands. She was to find that he possessed an instinctive eye for colour, but had only contempo for beauty of shape and period differences. "You simply clutter up your head with all that stuff and nonsense, what's your name, yes, you, Edmée. An idea for the smoking-room? AN nght, here's one. Blue for the walls - a ferocious blue. The Casper purple - purple that plays second fiddle to the blue of the walls. Against that you needn't be afraid of using as much black as you like and a splash of gold in the furtuture and ortaments.' "Yes, you're right, Fred. But it will be rather drastic with all those strong colours. It's going to look sather charmless without a lighter nok somewhere ... a white vase or a statue.' "Nonsense,' he interrupted rather sharply, 'The white vase you want u ul be me- me, stark naked. And we mustn't forget a cushion or some tungurabob in pumpkin-red for when I'm running about stark naked in the smoking-room.' Secretly attracted and at the same turne dasgusted, she cherished these (anaful ideas for twning their future home into a sort of dis. reputable palace, a temple to the greater glory of her husband. She offered httle resistance, just gently requested some lestle comer' fat a small and precious ses of fuminare upholstered with needlework on av hne ground - a present from Marie-Laure. This gentleness masked a determination that was young yet far frora inexperienced, st stood her in good stead during the four months of camping out ad her mother-in-law's house. It enabled her 10 evade, throughout these four months, the enemy stalking her, the traps bid daily to destroy her equanimity, biet sull susceptible guety, and her ext Charlotte Pelow, Orer-excised at the proximity

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·'Yes, we're orphans, and we're so sweet!' She clung to him. They kere alone in the big sitting-room, for Madame Pelour was upstairs concocting, as Chéri put it, hes poisons for the following day. The night was cold and the window panes reflected the larplight and furnishings like a pond. Edmée felt warm and protected, sale in the arms of this unknown man. She liſted her head and gave a cry of alarm. He was staring up at the chandelier above the wick a look of desperation on his magnificent features, and two tears hung glistening between the lids of his half-closed eyes. 'Chen, Chéri, what's the matter with you?' On the spur of the soment she had called him by the too endearing nickname she had never meant to pronounce. He answered its appeal in bewilderment and turned his eyes down to look at her. 'Cheri, oh God! I'ra frightened. What's wrong with you?" He pushed her away a little, and held her facing him. "Oh! Oh! You poor child, you poor little thing! What are you Angheened of?' "He gazed at her with his eyes of velvet, wide-open, peaceful, inscrutable, all the more handsome for his tears. Edmée was about to beg him not to speak, when he said, 'How silly we arel It's the ides that we're orphans It's ndiotic. It's so true.' He resurned his aur of cornic self-importance, and she drew a breath of relief, knowing that he would say no more. He began switching of all the lights with his usual care, and then turned to Edmée with a vanity that was either very simple or very decessful: 'Well, why shouldn't I have a heart like everybody else?'

·next time the one of so tender a victim, was inclined to lose her head and squander bar barbs, using her claws indiscriminately. 'Keep calm, Madame Peloux,' Chéri would throw out from time to time. 'What bones will there be left for you to pick if I don't stop you now.' Edmée raised frightened, grateful eyes to her husband, and did be best not to think too much, not to look too much, at Aſadame Pelou. One evening Charlotte, almost heedlessly, three times tossed across the chrysanthemum table-piece Lea's name instead of Edmée's. Chéri lowered his satanic eyebrows: 'Madame Pelour, I beliet your memory is giving way. Perhaps a rest cure is indicated?' Charlotte Pelous held her tongue for a whole week, bur Edmée never dared to ask hier husband: "Did you get angry on my beha!?? Was it me you were defending? Or tvas it that other woman, before me? Life as a child and then as a girl had taught her patience, hope, silence; and given her a prisoner's proficiency in handling these virtues as weapons. The fair Marie-Laure had never scolded her daughter. she had merely punished her. Never a hard word, nesera tender one. Utter loneliness, then a boarding-school, then again loneliness in the holidays and frequent relegations to a bedroom Finally, the threat of marnage - any marriage - from the moment that the eye of a too beautiful mother had discerned in the daughter the dawn of a rival beauty, shy, timid, looking a victim of tyranny, and all the more touching for that. In companson with this inhuman Fold-and-ivory mother, Charlotte Peloux and her spontaneous malice seemed a bed of roses. 'Are you friglitened of my respected parent?' Chéri asked her one evening Edmée smiled and pouted to show her indifference: 'Fnghtened? No. You aren't frightened when a door slams, though it may make you jump. It's a snake creeping under it that's fnghtening.' 'A terrific snake, Marie-Laure, isn't she?' "Terrific He waited for confidences that did not come and put a brotherly arm round his wife's slender shoulders. 'We're sort of orphans, you and I, aren't we?" 70 ·you want i transparence of a wluite rose in winter, and that their oval contour I had shrunk "Love-letters,' he repeated. 'That's howlingly funny.' He took a step forward, selted ansdul of papers and scartered these; post-cards, restaurane bills, tradespeople's announcements, telegrams from chorus girls met one night and never seen again, presentatiquets of four or five lines from sponging friends; and several close-written pages slustved with the sabre-like script of Madame Pelous Then turned round again to his wrfe: I have no lave-letters." 'Oh she protested. "Why do 'I have none;' he terrupted; 'you can never underseand. I've never noticed it myself until now. I can't have any love-letters because He checked himself. But wait, wait ... Yes, there was ont occasion, i remeirber, when I didn't want to go to La Bourtoule, and it ... Wait, wast.' He began pulling out drayers and fevershly tossing papers to the foor. "That's too bad! What can I have done with it? I could have strom **** the upper left-hand... No....' Hie slammed back úse empty drawers and glovered at Edmie. "You found nothing? You didn't take a letter waich began "Bur bas do you expecz, I'm not in the last bord. There's nothing better than to be separaud one week in every month," and then ent on to something else. I don't remember what, something about honeysuckle climbing high enough ro look in ar the window.' fle broke off, simply because his mernory refused to come to his and, and he as left gesticulaung in his pacience. Shim and recalcitrant, Edmée dà not quail before him. She took refuge in caustic imitabilly, 'No, no, I took noziung. Since when have I been capable of taking things? But if thus letter is so very precious as you how is a you've left slyng about? I've no need to inquire whether it ***t one of Ita's He winced, but not qute in she manner Edmée had expected. The close of a smule hovered over his handsome, urtresponsive features: and sth hire head on one side, an expectan: look in his eyes, and the delicious bow of has mouth caut-stretched, his might well have been listening to the echo of 3 name 7)

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·sat down by her side and continued to stroke her hair. The crisis of kis oan emotion was over, and he felt bored. He ran his eyes over Edmée as she lay sideways upon the unyielding settee. This straga gling body, with its fucked-up frock and trailing scarf, added to the disorder of the room; and this displeased him. Soft as was his sigh of boredom, she heard it and sat up. Yes, 'she said, 'I'm more than you can stand. ... Oh! it would be better to ... He interrupted her, feanng a torrent of words: 'It's not that. It's siraply that I don't know what you want.' "What I want? How d'you mean, what I...' She lifted her face, sull wet with tears. 'Now listen to me.' He sook her bands. She tried to free herself. 'No, no, I know that tone of voice. You're going to treat me to another of those nonsensical outbursts. When you put on that tone of voice and face, I know you're going to prove thar your eye is shaped like a striped super-mullet, or that your mouth looks like the figure three on its side. No, no, I can't stand thact' Her recriminations were childish, and Chéri relaxed, feeling thac after all they were both very young. He pressed het warna hands beraren his own. But you must listen to mel... Good God! I'd like to know what you've got to reproach me with! Do I ever go out in the evenings without you. Nol Do I often leave you on your own during the day? Do I carry on a secret correspondence.”' "I don't know - I don't think som He turned her this way and that like a doll *Do I have a separate room? Don't I make love to you well?' She hesitated, smiling with exquisite suspicion. 'Do you call that love, Fred? "There are other words for it, bur you wouldn't appreciate them' "What you call love ... isn't it possible that it may be really, a. kind .. of alıb?*' She hastened to add, 'I'm merely generalizing, Fred, of course ... I said "may be", in certain cases...' lic dropped Edmée's hands. 'Thar', he said coldly, 'is purting your foot nght in it.' 7$ .

·The full force of Edmée's young and ill-disciplined emotions burst forth in a series of sobs and tears, and her fingers writhed and twisted as if ready to scratch. 'Go away! I hate you! You're noe loved me. I might not so much as exiss, for all the notice you take of me! You hurt me, you despise me, you're insulting, you's you're ... You drink only of that old woman! It's not natural, it's degenerze, it's ... You don't love me! Why, oh why, did you ever marry me? ... You're ... you're...' She was tossing her head like an animal caught by the neck, and as she leaned back to take a deep breath, because she was suffocation the light fell on her string of small, milky, evenly matched pearls Chéri stared in stupefaction at the controlled movements of the lovely throat, at the hands clasped together in appeal, and above all at the tears, hier tears.... He had never seen such a torrent of tears For who had ever pept in front of him, or wept because of bim? No one. Madame Peloux? 'Bur', he thought, 'Madame Pelour's tears don't count' Léa? No. Searching his memory, he appealed to a pair of honest blue eyes; but they had sparkled with pleasure only, or malice, or a rather mocking tendemess. Such floods of tears poured down the cheeks of this writhing young woman. What could be done about all these tears? He did not know. All the same, he stretched out an arm, and as Edmée drew back, fearing some brutality perhaps, be placed his beautiful, gentis, scented hand on her head and patted her ruffled hair. He did his best to copy the tone and speech of a voice whose power he knew so well: 'There, there. ... What's it all about? What's the matter, then. There ... there....' Edmée collapsed suddenly, fell back huddled in a leap on a settec, and broke out into frenzied and passionate sobbing that sounded like yells of laughter or howls of joy. As she lay doubled up, her grace ful body heaved and rocked with grief, jealousy, fury, and an unsuspected servility. And yet, like a wrestler in the heat of a struggle or a swimmer in the hollow of a wave, she felt barhed in some strange new atmosphere, both natural and harsh. She had a good long cry, and recovered by slow degrees, with periods of calm shaken by great shudders and gasps for breathe Chéri 74 ·enesally manages to receive more than she gives. Do you hear what Isy?" What she heard above all was that he was not addressing her like 2 stray acquaintance. "Nincteen years old, white skin, hair that smells of vanilla; and therl, in bed, closed cyes and limpartas. That's all very pretty, but is there anything unusual about it? Do you really think it so very unusual She had started at each word, and each sting had goaded her towards the duel of female versus maale. 'It may be very unusual," she said in a steady vcict, 'how could you know? He did nor ansner, and she hastened to take advanpage of a bit Personally, I saw much handsomer men than you when we were in Ialy. The streets were full of them. My nineteen years are worth those of any other girl of my age, just as one good-looking man is as good as the next. Don' worry, everything can be arranged. Nowadays, marrage is not an important undertaking. Instead of allowing sully scenes to make us bitter ...' Hle pur a srop to what she had to say by an almost pirying shake of the lead. "My poor kıd, it's not so simple as that.' "Why nor. There's such a thing as quick divorce, if one's ready to pay.' She spoke in the peremprory manner of a runaway schoolgirl, and x was pathetic. She had pushed back the hait off ber forehead, ad by anxious, intelligent eyes were made to look all the darker by the soft contours of her cheeks now fringed with Hair: the eyes of an unhappy roman, szes mature and definitive sn a still undeveloped "That wouldn't help at al' Chéri said 'Because *Bacause. He learned forward with his eyelashes tapered into pointed sings, shut his eyes and opened them again as if he had just sta'lored a bittet po!L 'Because you love me.' She noticed that he had resumed the more faluar form of addressin fer, and above all the fulier, rather choked tones of their

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·excung earthy smells of squares and private gardens. E was walking along with a light step, stimulated by the rathe spring, perceptible in the moist gusty wind and the Every now and again a fleeting glimpse in a glass would remind him that he was wearing a becoming felt hat, pulled down over the night cye, a loose-fitting spring coat, Large light-coloured gloves, and a terra-cotta te. The cyes of women followed his progress with silent homage, the more candid among them bestowing that passing stupefaction which can be neither feigned nor hidden. But Chéri never looked at women in the street. He had just come from his house in the Avenue Henri-Martin, having left various orders with the halserers. Orders contradictng ane anacher, but thrown out in a tone of authority On reaching the end of the Avenue, he took a deep breath of the good sprng scents carried up from the Bois on the heavy Moist wing of the west wind, and then hurried on his way to the Porte Dapabine Webina..mitantes de la trachead telomiche Avenue Bugeaud, and there he stopped. For the first time in six months his feet were treading the familiar road. He unbuttoned his coat "I've been walking too fast,' he said to himself. He started off again, then paused and, this time, trained his eyes on one particular spor fifty yards or so down the road – bareheaded, shammy-leather in hand, Emese the concierge - Lea's concierge - was "dosng, the brassa ork of the to:ungs in front of Lea's house. Chéri began to Hurs, realized from the sound of his voice that he never did hum, ard stoppel. "llow are things, Emest? Hard at work as usual?" The concierge brightened respectfully. "Monsieur Pelour! It's a pleasure to see alonsieur again. Monsieur has not changed at all.' Nather have you, Ernest. Madame is well, I hope?" He furned his head away to gaze up at the closed shutters on the first foor.

·happiest hours. In her heart of hearts she acquiesced: 'It's urxe, I love him. At the moment, there's no remedy.' The dinner bell sounded in the garden - a bell which was to small, dating from before Madame Pelour's time, a sad clear be! reminiscent of a country orphanage. Edmée shivered. 'Oh, I don's like that bell...' 'No?* sard Chéri, absent-mindedly, "In our house, dinner will be announced. There'll be no bel There'll be no boarding house habits in our home - you'l see.' She spoke these words without tuming round, while walking down the hospital-green corridor, and so did not see, bchind het, either the fience attenton Chéri paid to her last words, os his silens laughter.

·This last word recalled a siglie dust one hour had sufficed to banish from his mind: a large square room - his own nursery; an anxious young woman scanding by the window; and Charlotte Pelour, sub. dued by a Martial "Oh, no,' he said aloud. Not that! That's all over.' He signailed to a taxi with his rassed stick. To the ... er to the Restaurant du Dragon Blev.' Cher crossed the grill-room to the sound of violins in the glare of the atrocious electric light, and this had a tonic effect. He shook the band of a matcre d'horel who recognized him. Before lum rose the 5100ping figure of a tall young man. Chén gave an affectionare gasp. "Desmond, the very man I wanted to see! Howdydo?' They were shown to a table decorated with pink camnations. A small hand and a towering aigrette beckoned towards Chéri from a neighbouring cable. *It's La Louproze,' Vicomte Desmond warned him. Clien had no recollecton of La Loupiote, but he smiled towards the tonenng aigrette and, without gerung up, touched the small hand with a paper fan lying on his table. Then he put on his most solemn'conquenng hero' look, and swept his eyes over an unknown couple. The woman had forgotten to eat since he had sat down in her vicinity. 'The sian with her looks a regular cuckold, doesn't he? He had leaned over to whisper into his friend's ear, and his eyes sbane nith pleasure as if with rising tears. 'has d'you drink, now you're marned?' Desmond asked. 'Camomile ready *Pommery,' Chen said. And before the Pommery do "Pommery, before and after.' And, dilating his nostnks, he stiffed *ste retsembered some sparkling, rose-scented old champagne of 1857 theu ta kept for his alone. He ordered a meal that a slopgul out on the spree might causecold fish eu ports, a rossz bud, and a piping hot soutie a lich concaled in a shards a red ice, sharp on the tongue

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·This last word recalled a sight that one hour had sufficed to banish from bs mind: a large square room - his own nursery; an anxious young woman sanding by the window; and Charlotte Pelou, subdued by a Martini. "Oh, ag," he said alout. 'Not that! That's all over.' He signalled to a taxi with his raised stick "To the ta che Restaurant du Dragon Bletz' Cheri crossed the grill-room to the sound of violins in the glare of the arrocious electric light, and this had a tonic effect. He shook the hand of a maitre d'hôtel who recognized him. Before him rose the stooping figure of a tall young man. Chéri gave an affectionate gasp. 'Desmond, the very man I wanted to see! Howdydo?" They were shown to a table decorated with pink creations. A small band and a towering aigrette beckoned towards Chéri from a neighbouring cable. "It's La Loupore, ' Vicomte Desmond warned him Chéri had no recollection of La Loupiote, but he smiled towards the tonering aigrette and, without gerung up, touched the small land with a paper fan lying on his table. Then he put on his most solemn conquering hero' look, and swept his eyes over an unknown couple. The woman had forgotten to eat since he had sat down in her vicinity. "The man with her looks a regular cuckold, doesn't he?" He had leaned over to wlusper into hss frend's ear, and his eyes shone with pleasure as if with using tears. What d'you drink, now you're married?' Desmond asked 'Camomile in *Pommery,' Chen said. And before the Pommery) "Pommery, before and after.' And, dilating his nostrils, be sniffed as he remembered some sparkling, rose-scented old champagne of 1889 that Les kept for him alone. 1 ordered a meal shat a shopgul out on the spree might chooseold fish eu porto, a roast burd, and a piping hot soufilé which con. sted in sts anards a red sce, sharp on the tongue.

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·giving Lia's virtues their due. Ble extolled the submissive sweetness of his young wife, and thus found occasion to criticize Léa's independence of character. 'Oh, the old deyil, she had her own ideas about everything, I can tell you!" He weni a step further in bus confidences, speaking of Léa with severity, and even impertinence. He was sheltering behind idiotic words, prompted by the suspicions of a deceived laver, and at the sarre time enjoying the subtle pleasure of being able to speak of her without danger. A little more, and he would have sullied her name, while his heart as rejoicing in his own noemories of her: sullied the soft sweet name which be had been unable to mention freely during the last sit months, and the whole gracious Vision he had of Léa, kaning over him with her nvo or three irreparable wrinkles, and her beauty, now lost to him, but-alas -- ever present. About eleven o'cloch chey rose to go, culled by the emptiness of the almost deserted restaurant. However, ar the next table, La Louprole was busy nung letters and bad called for telegraph forms. She rased her where, moffensive, sheeplike head as the two friends passed by. "Well, aren't you een going to say good evening) 'Good evening,' Chén condescended to say. La Loupiose drew her friend's attention to Chér's good looks. "Vould you believe it! And to think that he's got suck pots of money. Some people have everything!" But when Chéri merely offered her an open cigarette-case, she became vituperauve. 'They have everything, except the knowledge of how to make proper use of it Go back home to your mother, durie! Look here, Chéri said to Desmond when they wert outside in the narrow street. 'Look here, I was about to ask you, Desmond ... Wat ull ne get away from this beastly cord.... The sasi damp evening air had kept people lingering in the streets, but the theatre-goers from the Rue Causmarin onaards had not yet packed the Boulevard Chéri took his fnend by the am. 'Look here, Desmond... I wanted you to make another telephone call,' Desmond stopped, 'Again? "You'll ask for Wagram

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·white bedroom and the imitation Empire furniture of the sittingroom smiled at Chéri like old friends. He took a bath, borrowed one of Desmond's silk night-slurts which was too tight for him, got into bed, and, wedged berween two huge soft pillows, sank into dreamless bliss, into the dark depths of a sleep that protected him from all . lacks

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·The Pal smoked opium, and gave it to others. The instant you came into her modest, ground-floor flas, you smelt escaping gis and stale drues. She won the hearts of her guests by a tearful cordialsty and by a constant incitement to self-piry - both objectionable trasts. She treated Desmond, when he pad her a visit, as 'a great big des perately lonesonde boy', and Chéri as 'a beauty who has got everything and it only makes him more miserable'. Chéri never touched the pipe; he looked at the soal box of cocaine with the repugnance of a cat about to be dosed, and spent most of the night with his back against the cushioned dado, sitting up on a straw mat berem Desmond, who went to sleep, and the Pal, who never stopped smoking. For most of the might he breathed in the funes that satisfy all hunger and thirst, but his self-control and distrust persisted. He appeared to be perfectly happy, except that he scared now and then, with parned and quesnoning intensity, at the Pal's witlicred erroat - a skinny, far too red throat, round which skimmered a string of false pearls. Once, fic stretched out a hand and with the tp of his fingers (cruched the henna-unted hacc on the nape of her teck. He judged the weight of the big light hollow pearls with his hand, then snatched ir back with the nerous shrvct of someone who carches his finger-nail on a piece of frayed silk. Not long after, he got up and went 'Aren't you sick to death of all this,' Desmond asked Chéri, 'sick of these poky holes where sve eat and drink and never have any girls? Six of this hotel with the doors always slarming Sick of the night clubs a here we go in the evenings, and of dashiag in this fast car of yours from Pans to Rouen, Pars to Compiègne, Paris co Ville d'Auray? ... Why not the Rivierz for a change? The season down there isn't December and January, it's March Apal, cr- 'No,' said Chem. "Tren hai?" *Then nathing Centricted to become amisble and pui on What Léa used to call "Es at of orldly superonity *Dearold boy... you don't seem to appreciate the beauty of Paris $2

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·skurts, and shirts as fine as your pants. Desmond, is today she xycareenth' "Yes, why? "The ses enteenth of March In other words, spring. Desmond, people who dink shemselves smar, I mean those in the height of fxshion, Fomen or men - can they afford to wait any losger before buying their sprag wardrobes "Hardly - "The seventeenth, Desmondi Come along at once; everything's all right. We're going to buy a huge bracelet for my srfe, an enomous cigaretre-holder for Madame Pelour, and a tiny tie-pin for you' On more than one such occasion he had felt an overwhelming prescnument that Léa was on the point of returning; that she was already back in her house; that the first floor shutters had been Opered, allowing a glimpse of the powered pink net curtains across the undons, the lace of the full-length curtains at each side, and the Elint of the looking-glasses. ... The fifteenth of April wear by and sell there was no sign of Léa. The rournful monorony of Chen's existence was tempered by Kveral provoking incidents. There was a visic from Madame Peloux, sro thought she was breathing her last when she found Chen lookang 23 tion as a greyhound, eyes wandering, and mouth tight shut. There was the letter from Edmée: a letter all in the same surprising tone, explaning that she would stay on at Neuilly 'uncil further olcss', and had undertaken to pass on to Cheri 'Madame de la Berche's best regards'.... lle though she was laughing at him, did To know what to answer, and ended by throwing any the enigmatic keerd, but he did not go to Newlly. Apul advanced, leafy, cold, bright, and scenting all Paris with Bulip burches of hyzanths, pawlonus, and labumums like droppinquells of gold. Chéri buried himself all the deeper ia austere kes. The harassed, il-treated, angry but well-paid Vicomte Desmond **s given his orders: Row to protece Chéri from familiar jou omen and indiscreet young men; now to recruit bosh secbecsand from a roop, who att, drank, and rushed screaming at the try of their voices beraten Montauantre, the rescurants in the Bois, and the abar's on the left bmk.

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·fle straightened up at the sound of a voice. Emest, the concierge, was shouting in the passage: 'At nine tomorrow, Marcel will help me arry up the big black trunk, Madame.' Cheri turned round in a flash and cat as far as the Avenue du Bois. There he sat down. In front of his eyes danced the image of the electric globe he had been staring ar- dark purple bal} fringed with gold, agzınst a black group of trees in bud. He pressed his hand to his heart, and took a deep breath. Early lilac blossom scented the night air. He threw bus hat away, undid the buttons of his overcoat, and, leaning back on a sest, let humaself go, his legs outstretched and his hands hanging feebly by hus sides. A crushing yet delicious weight had just fallen upon him. 'Ah!' he whispered, 'so this is what they call happiness. I never knew." For a moment he gave way to self-pity and self-contempt. How many good things had he missed by leading such a pointless life-a young man with lots of money and little heart! Then he stopped thinking for a moment, or possibly for an hour. Next, he persuaded kasrascif there was nothing in the world he wanted, not even to go and see Lla. When he found himself shivering in the cold, and heard the blackbirds carolling the dawn, he gor up and, srunbling a little but lightixanted, ses off towards the Hotel Norris without passing through the Avenue Bugeaud. He stretched himself, Gilled his lungs wich the moming air, and overflowed with goodall co all "Now,' he sighed, the devil dnyen out of him, 'non you'll sec just how nice to the geel I sluall be.' Shaved, shod, and impatient -- he had been up since eight-Chén shouk Desmond. Sicer gave him a swollen look, lwid and quite frightfulbke a drosted man. 'Desmond! Hey, Desmond! Up you Este... You look too hideous whert you're asleep!" Te slecquer poke, St up, and turned towards Chéri eyes the okrur dl cluded *gler. He pretended to be fuddled with sleep so that he could make a long and close examinations of Chéri - Chéri dressed in blue, pathetic, superb, and pale under the lightest coat of porder,

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·He straightened up at the sound of a voice. Emest, the concierge, was shouung in the passage: 'At nine tomorrow, Marcel will help me carry up the big black trunk, Madame.' Chéri tumed round in a flash and ran as far as the Avenue du Bois. Tiere he sat down. In front of his eyes danced the image of the ekrtnc globe he had been staring at - a dark purple ball fringed with gold, against a black group of trees in bud. He pressed his hand to his heart, and took a deep breath. Early. Idac blossom scented the rught air. He threw his hat away, undid the buttons of his overcoat, 2nd, leaning back on a seat, let himself go, his legs outstretched and hus hands hanging feebly by hus sides. A crushing yet delicious weight tad just fallen upon him. 'Ah!'he whispered, so this is what they call happiness. I never knew.' For a moment he gave way to self-pity and self-contempt. How many good things had he missed by leading such a pointless life -- a young man with lors of money and little hean! Then he stopped thinking for a moment, or possibly for an hour. Next, he persuaded kimself there was nothing in the world he wanted, not even to go and sec Lća. When he found himself shivering in the cold, and heard the blackbirds carolling the down, he got up and, stumbling a little but light- Imaned, set off con ards the Hotel Morris without passing through the Avenue Bugeaud. He stretched himself, filled his lungs with the morning 21r, and overflosed with goodwill to all. Non,' he sighed, the devil driven out of him, 'now... Oh now you'll see just hou nice to the girl I shall be." Shaved, shod, and impatient - he had been up since eight - Chéri shock Desmond. Sicep gave him a swollen loos, livid and quite frightful, like a drowned man 'Desmond! Hey, Desmond! Up you 8. ... You look too badeous when you're asleep!' The sleeper noke, sat up, and turned towards Chiri eyes the Cobur of clouded water. He pretended to be fuddled with sleep so Har le could make a long and close examination of Chén - Chéri dressed in blue, pathetic, superb, and pale under the lightest coat of poate. 91

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·hilaration dat it dazed him, and be fancied he had heard it actually spoken "What did you say?' be asked Desmond. 'I never said a word,' his well-cained fnend said scifly. 'It must esre becs someone talking outside in the courtyard.' Chlri wem tur, slamming the door behind hits, and retumed 10 Yes OxTt rooms. They were filled with the dim continual hubbub of the fully anakmed Rue de Rivoli, and Chéri, through the open window, could see the spring foluge, the leaves salt and transparens &ke thin jade kane against the sun. He closed the window and sar down on a useless lele chzie which stood against the wall in a dingy comer berteen his bed and the bathroom door, How can it be?... he began in a low voice, and then sad no more. He did not uuriderstand why it was that during the last six and a half months be tud hardly given a thought to Lea's lover. I'm making a perfect forl of myself,' were die actual words of the letter so piously presived by Charlotte Pelous A perfect foola Chers slook bss lead. 'K's funny, bus that's not how I see her at all. What sort of a man can she be in love with: Somebody like Paron - rather than like Desmond, of course. An cily luele Argentinied Maybe. Yet as the syme ...' He smiled a sample smile. Apart from me, who is there she could possibly care fos A cloud pissed over the sun and the room daskesed, Clan leaned Huis lead against the wall "My Nounoune ., Afy Mounout... Have you betrayed me? Are you beastly enough to deceive me? ... Have you really done tam Ile tried to give a sharper edge to his suffering by a misuse of his imaginarion' the words and sights it presented leſs him more astonis red than mrazed. She did his best to evoke the elation of carly timing delight when lie tas kusag sub Lez, the solace of the fm'onged and presfets silenmes of strain aftemoons, rith Lá- alle dklxous sleepy hour in smer spent in 3 karra bed in a fres!ły Boed mors, wish LA ...; but, all the time, in the sulfused cherry coloured afternoon light lame behind the custins of Lea's room, **Win Ili's sims one lover and one loves only-Chéri. Ile jumped en tesived by 4 spontaneous act of likts 'It's as simple as that! If or

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·-- fuck as his case, sniffing the green smell of the newly mown lawns, Cheri entered the house and with a master's step climbed the stairs to the young woman whom he had left behind three months before, much as a sałor from Europe leaves behind, on the other side of the world, a little savage bride.

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·art... Sell, rho are impossible, impossible, impossible....' Sbe heard, so fresh was let memory, voices that had called out to her from the top of horel steps or hailed her with a 'Hoo-loo from afs, acoss golden sands, and slie lowered her head in anger lide a Sre had returned, after an absence of six months, thimer, more Abby, less serene. Now and again a nervous twitch of the jaw jerked her chun dorn against her neck, and careless henna-shampooing had left 100 orange a gline in her hair, but her skin had been terined to amber by sea and wind. This gave her the glowing complexon of a handsome farmer's wife, and she might have done Riduoue rouy. All the same, she would have to arrange sometring crcfully round her neck, not to say cover it up completely; for it Badshrunk and was encircled wuh wrinkles that had been inaccessor 2l to sunburn. Still scared, she daxdled over tidying away her various odds and erds, and her cyes began to glance round the room, as of some chair were masung, But what she was looking for was her old energy, the cid suxery to see at once that everything was as it should be in her omfortable bome 'Ohi That trip!' she sighed. 'How could I? How exhausting is She frosnel, once again with that imirable jerk of her chin, when t'ke rouced the broken glass of a hule picture by Chaplin which she tuul perfectly lossly-the head of a young girl, all silver and rose. And I could pu: both hands through that tear in the lace cur- 2.0 ... And that's only the beginning... What a fool I was to stay uygn langi And all in hu honour! As if i couldn't just as well hase rursed my frief here, ta pesce and comfort!' She pse, desgruntled, and, pathening up the flounces of her fery, en mer to nng the bell, stying to bersell, Get along sich jou, jou old bagkuse!" Het mard cremed, under a heap of underclothes and silk stockings Ekim o'clock, Rose. And my face hasn't been done yel. I'm 'Tist's chars to be use for. There aren't any old raaids now to dziadezeoli on Acurions or turn up at crack of data to pick D 2

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·17... ell, who are impossible, impossible, impossible....' Se beard, so fresh was her memory, voices that had called our to ker from the top of horel steps of hailed her szth a 'Hoo-h00' from alır, rose golden sands, and she lovered her head in anger like a bull. Se had retumed, after an absence of six months, thinner, more Abby, less serente. Now and again a nervous twitch of the jaw jerked berclun down against her neck, and careless herna-shampooirghad left too orange a glint in her hair, but her skin had been med to amber by sca and wind. This gave her the glowing completion of a handsome farmer's wife, and she might luave done without rouge. All the same, she would have to arrange something carefully round her neck, not to say cover it up completely; for it had shrunk and a-as encircled with wrinkles that had been inaccess- El sumbum. Soll scaled, she dawdled over tidying away her various odds and ends, and lier cyes began to glance round the room, as if some chair ce miung Bura har she was looking for was her old energy, the (datuty to sec at once that everything was as it should be in lier cmfortable home *Oh! That trip!' she sighed 'How could I? How exhausting it Slue Munned, once again with that irritable jerk of her chin, when she noticed the broken glass of a little picture by Chaplin which she racu's perfectly lovely-the head of a young girl, all silver and cose. "And I could pur both hands through that tear in the lace cure titl... And that's only the beginning.... What a fool I *as to stay Tay kong! And all in hu honour! As I couldn't just as well have bursed my gnecte, in peace and comfort Skerine, disgruntled, and, guering up the founces of her tezqoyul, Kenzoser to ning the bell, saying to berself, 'Get along with you, yu old baggage Ile midlerned, under a leap of underclothes and stlk stockings 'Elan o'chixi, Rose. And my fat hasn't been done yel I'm * Tixere's sophing to be baie fur. Tecre aren't any old maids now to dazistame un excursions, or tum up 31 crack of cast to pick 97 D

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·os chegooden balcony, all the creature comforts that Léa dispensed with such justifiable pride. Bur the idiot lad fel sore and gone away, keaving lia to the attentions of a suff, handsome officer, greying at the temples, who aspired to massage with 'Madame de Lonval'. Our years, our fortunes, the taste we both have for independence od society, doesn't everything show that we were destined for each other?" murmured the colonel who still kept his slim waist. She laughed, and enjoyed the company of this dry, dapper man, who are nell and kaew how to hold his liquor. He mistook her feelins and he read into vie lovely blue eyes, and the trustful, lingering smiles of tus hostess, de acceptance he was expecting. The end of thrir danning fnendship is marked by a decisive gesture on her Fant, one she regretted in lier heart of hearts and for which she was horest enough to accept the blame. 'It's my own fault. One should meter treat a Colonel Ypoustègue, descendant of an ancient Basque Lamuly, as one would treat a Monsieur Roland. I've never given any- One such a snub. All the same, it would have been gendeminly, and inteligent too, if he had come back as usual the next day in his dog- Cart, to smoke lus agar, meet the two old guls, and pull their lege." She Euled to understand that a middle-aged man could accept his dismissal, but not certain glances - glances appraising his physique, coroaning him in that respect 50 unnustakably with another, unknown and insisible Lls, caught in his sudden kiss, had subjected thm to the searching, formidable gaze of a woman who knows erkty where to find the tcll-tale marks of age. From the dry, wellc2d-for hands, mbbed #th seing and tendons, her glance rose to the pouched chun and furroued bross, returning cruelly to the mouth enrapped berseen double lines of inserted commas. Wherewwn all she aristokrat telinement of the 'Baroness de Lonval'col- Lysed in an 'Oh, ba 13,' so insulnng, so explici, so common, that the 10 de leurs of Colonci Ypoustegue passed through her door for the last umc. 1 'The isst of my id; (1,' ta kas sunking, as she learned out over het vind -lede. But the *83:fat oves Pans was fine, her choing 097732-1 « x dapes, with its laurei tres tising ball-shaped in green 99

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·And she siwok ler lead, laughing softly to hersels, like a mother om son has szay ed out all night for the first time T A bright varnished park-phaeton flashed past her gies, sparkled Lehind its princing lugl-steppers and vanished almost without a Hund on its rubber #heels. "Three gre Spuleiut,"Léa observed, 'he's a good sort. And there fes Alerguillier on tus piebald. clestri o'clock. I son't be long become that dried-up old Berthiellemy passes on his way to thaw out His berats on the Sentier de la Vertu. Curious how people can go on doirg the same thing day after day! I could almost believe I'd never kl Paris, fecept za Chéri isn't here. My poor Cheri! lle's finished will for de present Night-bfe, women, csuing at any hour, drinking to rulu It's a picy. Ile might have turned into a decent sort, pertas , if Ix'd only had pink slaps like a pork-bucher and fat feet...." She haft the window, rubbing her numbed elbows, and shrugged It shoulders. 'Chen could be saved once, but not a second time.' Site polished her nails, breathed on a brnished rins, peered closely ut 16e disasimus sed of her hair and is preying roots, and jotted down a few mies on a pad. She did everything at high speed and with less corpus ure than usual, trying toward off an attack of her old insidious ziekty. Familiar as this was, she denied its connexion 87th her grief and called it her moral indigestion. She begin wanting first one time then sudderly another - a well-sprung victoria with a quiet horse anymopriate to a danager; then a sery fase motor-csr; then a mc cf Dirxtcire furniture. She even thought of doing her hair 2. Tcrently; for renty years she had wom le hich, brushed straight € te deck 'Rolled curls low on the neck, like Lavallière: Then I Kould be sble to cope with this year's loose-vaisited dresses. Wanha Intért, la fit, and my lair properly herned, I cant hope for fenmy he's say five years more of... Wichni miont slie recovered her good sense, her pride, her Lily. A soms like the could never have the courage to call a 1.2Ngoye, my preity, xe've had a good run for our money.' Secursoyed the tal figure, crect, hands on bips smiling at her from the brings as She was st! Lks,

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·And she shook her head, Lughing softly to herself, like a mother those son has stayed our all night for the first time. A bright vamished park-phaeton fiashed past her gates, sparkled behind its prancing high-szeppers and vanished almost without a sound on is rubber #leels. "There goes Spéteief, 'Léa observed, 'he's a good sort, And there goes Merguiller on his prebald. eleven o'clock It won't be long before tiurt dred-up old Bertheileroy passes on lus way to thaw oin Hús bones on the Sentier de la Verte Curious how people can go on doing the same thong day after day! I could almost believe I'd never Ich Paris, except Azar Chén isn's here. My poor Chén' He's finished with, for the present. Night-life, women, esung at any hour, drinking too much. It's a pity. He might have turned into a decent sort, per haps, The'd only had pink chaps like a pork-butcher and har fect... She left the window, rubbing her numbed elbow's, and shrugged her shoulders 'Chén could be saved once, but not a second time." Sne polished her nails, breathed on a carrushed ning, peered closely az zhe disastrous red of her hasr and its greying roots, and jotted down a fex notes on a pad. She did everything at high speed and with less composure than usual, trying toward of an attack of her old insidious muurty. Familiar as this was, she denied its connexion with her grief and called it'her moral indigession. She began wanting first one then, then suddenly another - a well-sprung victoria with a quier borse appropriate to a dowager, then a very fast moror-car, then a Dute of Duterivire furniture. She even thought of doing her hair diferently; for tenty years she had worn it high, brushed straight of the neck, Rolled curls low on the neck, like Lavallière. Then 1 saculd be able to cope with this year's loose-wasted dresses. With a strict dies, in fc, and my fair properly hennaed, I can hope for tenno, let's say five years more of ... With an effors site recovered ber good sense, her pnde, her Fucidity 'A woman like me would never hase the courage to call a Lal' Nonsense, my pretty, Ke've had a good run for our money." She surveyed the tall figure, erect, hands on laps, smhng at her from the looking-glass. She was still Lez. 1

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·athlete, La went as far out as the Place d'Italie, at considerable sisk to her dark sopphire-blue dress, heavy with gold embroidery, to her birds of paradise, her impressive jewels, and her new rich red-united inte. She had had enough after one saiff of the 53 221, vinegar, and curpereine exuded by Patron's 's Pure hopes', and she left, deciding never to venture aggia inside that long, tow, 65-hissing hall. An unaccountable wesriness followed her every attempt to $$ bark into the bustling life of people with nothing to do. "What can be the matter with me She rubbed her ankles, a ledle swollen by evening, looked at her strong teeth, and gums thar bad hardly begun to recede; and thumped her strong ribs and healthy stomach as if sounding a cask. Yer some indefinable weighs, now that the clock tud been knocked from under het, was skifung within her, and dragging her down. It was the Baroness de la Berche-met by chance sa a 'public bar' where she was washing dowa two dozez srails with abbies' white wine-wlto 19 xhe end informed her of the prodigal's return or she told, and of the dawn of a crescent honeymoon in eye Boulevard d'Inkerma. La listered calmly to this Algral Tale; but she tumed pole with emotion the following day when she recognized the blue limousine outside her gates and satv Charlotte Pelout on her way to the house, 'Artuse, at last! Here you are again, lk, my beauty! ... Lovelser than ever' Thinner than last year! Take care, LEA, we mustn't get too thun at our By So far, and no furthed And yet ... But what a treat it is to see you!" Neuct had that birrer tongue sounded so sweet to Léa. She lat Madame Peloux praetle on, thankful for the breathing-space afforded by this and stream. She had settled Charlone Pelour into a deep srmchair, in the soft hghe of the liide pink panelled salon, as in the oid daysAvromatically she had herself aken the scrlight-backed cluir, shich forced her to lift her shoulders and kecp up her chun, as in the old days Between them sunad the table covered by a cloth of heavy embroidery, and on it, as in the old days, the large cut-glass decanter half full of old brandy, the shimmering pecal-thin goblets, iced *281, and shorbread bescuits. Bly beauty, no* e'll be able to see each other agria in pace, in pest. You know my motto: “When a trouble, shut your friends: 103

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·lead the life of a bachelor! And now he's done it with a vengeance!" 'It's a very good thing that he did, 'Léa said, without the flicker of a szule; 'it acts as a sort of guarantee to his wife for the future.' "The very word, the very word I was hunting for barked Madame Peloux, beaming. A guarantee! And ever since tliat dayone long dream! And, you know, when a Peloux does come home agun after being properly out on the sprce, fie never goes off again!' 'Is that a fanuly tradition?' Léa asked. But Charlotte took no notice. 'And what's more, he was very well received when he did return home. His line wife-ah, there's a linle wiſe for you, Léal- and I've seen a fair number of little wives in my time, you know, and I don't mind telling you I've never seen one to hold a candle to Edmde!" "Her mother is so remarkable,' Léa said. "Think, just think, my beauty - Cher left her on my hands for very nearly three months and between you and me she was very lucky to have me there.' *TYuat's exactly what I was thinking,' Léa said. "And then, my dear, never a word of complaint, never a scene, never a tactless word! Nothing, nothing' She was patience itself, and sucetness... and the face of a saint, a saint! 'It's terfying,' Léa said 'And then, kur d'you suppose happened when our young rascal walked in one moming, all smiles, as though he'd just come in from 2 stroll in the Bois? D’you suppose she allowed herself a single commento Not one. Far from it. Nottung. As for bus, though at heart be must have felt just a little ashamed ...' "Oh, why?' Léa asked. "Well, rcally! After all ... He was welcomed with open arms, and pxes hole thing was put nght in their bedroom - in two ticks - just like that no ume lost! Oh, I can assure you for the next hour or 50 there wasn's a lappier woman in the world than me.' 'Except, perhaps, Edmée,' Léa suggested. Bue Nidame Peloux xas all exalcation, and execured a superb soaring movement with her site arms. 'I don't know what you can be chunknz of. Personally, I was only thinking of the happy hearth Md home.'

·- ·lead the life of a bachelor! And now he's done it with a vengeance!" "It's a very good thing that he did, Léa said, Bithout the flicker of smule; 'ez acts as a sort of guarantee to his wiſe for the future." Tie sery word, the very word I was hunting for!' barked Madame Peloux, beaming, 'A guarantee! And ever since that dayone long dream! And, you know, when a Peloux does come home an after being properly out on the spree, he never goes off again!' 'Is that a family traditon Léa asked. But Charlotte took no notice. 'And what's more, he was very well received shers lie did retum home. Flis lude wife-ah, there's a little wife for you, Lés!-- and I've Sehen a fair number of bele prises in my time, you know, and I don't mind telling you I've never seen one to hold a candle 10 Edmée!' "ffer mother is so remarkable, Léa sad. 'Thunk, just think, my beauty - Chéri Jeft her on my hands for very nearly three months' and between you and me she was very lucky to have me there' "That's exactly what I was drinking,' Lea said. 'And then, my dear, never a word of complaint, never a scene, never a tactless word! Nothing, nothing! She was patience itself, and $ucetness .. and the face of a sainz, a saint!' "It's temfying,' Léa sard. "And then, what d'you suppose happened when our young rascal walked in one mortung, al srules, as though he'd just come in from a stroll in the Bois.D'you suppose she allowed herself a single comcient? Not one, Far from it. Nothing. As for lum, though at beart te must have felt xust a linle asblamed ..' "Oh, why? Les asked. "Well, really! After alt ... He was welcomed with open arms, and the shole Uung was put nghiu in their bedroom - in to ocks - yusz like that no titre lost! Oli, I can assure you, for the next hout of there xasn't a lappier woman in the world than me.' Liceps prehaps, Edence Les suggested. Buz Madame Pelous was all exaltauon, and executed a superb Boaning monement mah her linje arms. 'I don't know what you can be testing of Personally, I was only Junking of she happy benih and home

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·'Imperturbable? "That's the word! For instance, when he hnew I was coming to ** you." 'Did he know, then?" An impetuous blush leapt to Lea's cheeks, and she cursed her hot blood and the bright daylight of the kitle drawing-room. Madarde Pelour, a benign expression in her eyes, fed on Léa's confusion. 'Bur of course he knew. That oughtn't to bring a blush to your checks, ray beauty. What a chuld you are!' "In the first place, how did you know I wis back?" "Oh, come, Lés, don't ask suck foolish questions. You've been seen about everywhere. 'Yes, but Chén - did you tell him I was back?' 'No, my beauty, it was he who told me." "Oh, was he who ... That's funny. She heard her heart beating in ber voice and dared not tisk more Dian the shortest answers. "lle even added "Madame Pelous, you'll oblige me by going to find out news of Nounoune." He's still so fond of you, the dear bay. How nice! Madame Pelout, crimson in the fase, seemed to abandon herself to the influence of the old brandy and talked as an a drear, wagging her head from side to side. But her nissel eyes remained fixed and steely, and she kept a close watch on Léa, who was siung bolt uprgte, 2ted against herself, walang for the next thrust. 'It's nice, but it's quire nacural. A stars doesn't forget a woman kike you, Léa dear And.. if you want so know what I really thinks you've only to lift a finger and ... La puta hand on Charlotte Pelour's arm. 'I don't want ta know *hat you really think," she said gently. The comers of Madame Pelous's mouth fell. 'Oh, I can understand, I approxe,' she sighed in a passionless voice. "When one has made other arrangements for one's life, as you have... I haven't even ud 1 vond with you about yourself! *But I kems to me that you have. 'flappy!