Mme。 Forestier would eat nothing。 The invalid had not stirred。 The
young woman was seated in an easy…chair at the foot of the bed。
Duroy likewise seated himself； and they watched in silence。 A nurse；
sent by the doctor； had arrived and was dozing by the window。
Duroy himself was almost asleep when he felt a presentiment that
something was about to happen。 He opened his eyes just in time to
see Forestier close his。 He coughed slightly； and two streams of
blood issued from the corners of his mouth and flowed upon his night
robe； his hands ceased their perpetual motion； he had breathed his
last。 His wife； perceiving it； uttered a cry and fell upon her knees
by the bedside。 Georges； in surprise and affright； mechanically made
the sign of the cross。
The nurse； awakening； approached the bed and said： 〃It has come。〃
Duroy； recovering his self…possession； murmured with a sigh of
relief： 〃It was not as hard as I feared it would be。〃
That night Mme。 Forestier and Duroy watched in the chamber of death。
They were alone beside him who was no more。 They did not speak；
Georges's eyes seemed attracted to that emaciated face which the
flickering light made more hollow。 That was his friend； Charles
Forestier； who the day before had spoken to him。 For several years
he had lived； eaten； laughed； loved； and hoped as did everyoneand
now all was ended for him forever。
Life lasted a few months or years； and then fled！ One was born；
grew； was happy； and died。 Adieu！ man or woman； you will never
return to earth！ He thought of the insects which live several hours；
of the feasts which live several days； of the men who live several
years； of the worlds which last several centuries。 What was the
difference between one and the other？ A few more dawns； that was
all。
Duroy turned away his eyes in order not to see the corpse。 Mme。
Forestier's head was bowed； her fair hair enhanced the beauty of her
sorrowful face。 The young man's heart grew hopeful。 Why should he
lament when he had so many years still before him？ He glanced at the
handsome widow。 How had she ever consented to marry that man？ Then
he pondered upon all the hidden secrets of their lives。 He
remembered that he had been told of a Count de Vaudrec who had
dowered and given her in marriage。 What would she do now？ Whom would
she marry？ Had she projects； plans？ He would have liked to know。 Why
that anxiety as to what she would do？
Georges questioned himself； and found that it was caused by a desire
to win her for himself。 Why should he not succeed？ He was positive
that she liked him； she would have confidence in him； for she knew
that he was intelligent； resolute； tenacious。 Had she not sent for
him？ Was not that a kind of avowal？ He was impatient to question
her； to find out her intentions。 He would soon have to leave that
villa； for he could not remain alone with the young widow； therefore
he must find out her plans before returning to Paris； in order that
she might not yield to another's entreaties。 He broke the oppressive
silence by saying：
〃You must be fatigued。〃
〃Yes； but above all I am grieved。〃
Their voices sounded strange in that room。 They glanced
involuntarily at the corpse as if they expected to see it move。
Duroy continued：
〃It is a heavy blow for you； and will make a complete change in your
life。〃
She sighed deeply； but did not reply。 He added：
〃It is very sad for a young woman like you to be left alone。〃 He
paused； she still did not reply； and he stammered： 〃At any rate； you
will remember the compact between us； you can command me as you
will。 I am yours。〃
She held out her hand to him and said mournfully and gently：
〃Thanks； you are very kind。 If I can do anything for you； I say too：
'Count on me。'〃
He took her proffered hand； gazed at it； and was seized with an
ardent desire to kiss it。 Slowly he raised it to his lips and then
relinquished it。 As her delicate fingers lay upon her knee the young
widow said gravely：
〃Yes； I shall be all alone； but I shall force myself to be brave。〃
He did not know how to tell her that he would be delighted to wed
her。 Certainly it was no time to speak to her on such a subject；
however； he thought he might be able to express himself by means of
some phrase which would have a hidden meaning and would infer what
he wished to say。 But that rigid corpse lay between them。 The
atmosphere became oppressive； almost suffocating。 Duroy asked： 〃Can
we not open the window a little？ The air seems to be impure。〃
〃Certainly；〃 she replied； 〃I have noticed it too。〃
He opened the window； letting in the cool night air。 He turned：
〃Come and look out； it is delightful。〃
She glided softly to his side。 He whispered： 〃Listen to me。 Do not
be angry that I broach the subject at such a time； but the day after
to…morrow I shall leave here and when you return to Paris it might
be too late。 You know that I am only a poor devil； who has his
position to make； but I have the will and some intelligence； and I
am advancing。 A man who has attained his ambition knows what to
count on； a man who has his way to make does not know what may come…
…it may be better or worse。 I told you one day that my most
cherished dream was to have a wife like you。〃
〃I repeat it to you to…day。 Do not reply； but let me continue。 This
is no proposalthe time and place would render it odious。 I only
wish to tell you that by a word you can make me happy； and that you
can make of me as you will； either a friend or a husbandfor my
heart and my body are yours。 I do not want you to answer me now。 I
do not wish to speak any more on the subject here。 When we meet in
Paris； you can tell me your decision。〃
He uttered these words without glancing at her； and she seemed not
to have heard them； for she stood by his side motionless； staring
vaguely and fixedly at the landscape before her； bathed in
moonlight。
At length she murmured： 〃It is rather chilly；〃 and turned toward the
bed。 Duroy followed her。 They did not speak but continued their
watch。 Toward midnight Georges fell asleep。 At daybreak the nurse
entered and he started up。 Both he and Mme。 Forestier retired to
their rooms to obtain some rest。 At eleven o'clock they rose and
lunched together； while through the open window was wafted the
sweet； perfumed air of spring。 After lunch； Mme。 Forestier proposed
that they take a turn in the garden； as they walked slowly along；
she suddenly said； without turning her head toward him； in a low；
grave voice：
〃Listen to me； my dear friend； I have already reflected upon what
you proposed to me； and I cannot allow you to depart without a word
of reply。 I will； however； say neither yes nor no。 We will wait； we
will see； we will become better acquainted。 You must think it well
over too。 Do not yield to an impulse。 I mention this to you before
even poor Charles is buried； because it is necessary； after what you
have said to me； that you should know me as I am； in order not to
cherish the hope you expressed to me any longer； if you are not a
man who can understand and bear with me。〃
〃Now listen carefully： Marriage； to me； is not a chain but an
association。 I must be free； entirely unfettered； in all my actions…
…my coming and my going； I can tolerate neither control； jealousy；
nor criticism as to my conduct。 I pledge my word； however； never to
compromise the name of the man I marry； nor to render him ridiculous
in the eyes of the world。 But that man must promise to look upon me
as an equal； an ally； and not as an inferior； or as an obedient；
submissive wife。 My ideas； I know； are not like those of other
people； but I shall never change them。 Do not answer me； it would be
useless。 We shall meet again and talk it all over later。 Now take a
walk； I shall return to him。 Good…bye until to…night。〃
He kissed her hand and left her without having uttered a word。 That
night they met at dinner； directly after the meal they sought their
rooms； worn out with fatigue。
Charles Forestier was buried the next day in the cemetery at Cannes
without any pomp； and Georges returned to Paris by the express which
left at one…thirty。 Mme。 Forestier accompanied him to the station。
They walked up and down the platform awaiting the hour of departure
and conversing on indifferent subjects。
The train arrived； the journalist took his seat； a porter cried：
〃Marseilles； Lyons； Paris！ All aboard！〃 The locomotive whistled and
the train moved slowly out of the station。
The young man leaned out of the carriage； and looked at the youthful
widow standing on the platform gazing after him。 Just as she was
disappearing from his sight； he threw her a kiss； which she returned
with a more discreet wave of her hand。
CHAPTER IX。
MARRIAGE
Georges Duroy resumed his old habits。 Installed in the cozy
apartments on Rue de Constantinople； his relations with Mme。 de
Marelle became quite conjugal。
Mme。 Forestier had not returned； she lingered at Cannes。 He；
however； received a letter from her announcing her return about the
middle of April； but containing not a word as to their parting。 He
waited。 He was resolved to employ every means to marry her if she
seemed to hesitate； he had faith in his good fortune； in that power
of attraction which he felt within hima power so irresistible that
all women yielded to it。
At length a short note admonished him that the decisive moment had
arrived。
〃I am in Paris。 Come to see me。〃
〃Madeleine Forestier。〃
Nothing more。 He received it at nine o'clock。 At three o'clock of
the same day he called at her house。 She extended both hands to him
with a sweet smile； and they gazed into each other's eyes for
several seconds； then she murmured：
〃How kind of you to come！〃
He replied： 〃I should have come； whensoever you bade me。〃
They sat down； she inquired about the Walters； his associates； and
the newspaper。
〃I miss that very much；〃 said she。 〃I had become a journalist in
spirit。 I like the profession。〃 She paused。 He fancied he saw in her
smile； in her voice； in her words； a kind of invitation； and
although he had resolved not to hasten matters； he stammered：
〃Wellwhywhy do you not resumethat professionunderthe name
of