. The old poet said: "This
is what they call amusing themselves. After a while they will dance,
then they will retire, and the young girls will be satisfied. Take some
champagne; it is excellent."

Georges scarcely heard his words. He was looking for Suzanne, who had
gone off with the Marquis de Cazolles; he left Norbert de Varenne
abruptly and went in pursuit of the young girl. The thirsty crowd
stopped him; when he had made his way through it, he found himself face
to face with M. and Mme. de Marelle. He had often met the wife, but he
had not met the husband for some time; the latter grasped both of his
hands and thanked him for the message he had sent him by Clotilde
relative to the stocks.

Du Roy replied: "In exchange for that service I shall take your wife,
or rather offer her my arm. Husband and wife should always be
separated."

M. de Marelle bowed. "Very well. If I lose you we can meet here again
in an hour."

The two young people disappeared in the crowd, followed by the husband.
Mme. de Marelle said: "There are two girls who will have twenty or
thirty millions each, and Suzanne is pretty in the bargain."

He made no reply; his own thought coming from the lips of another
irritated him. He took Clotilde to see the painting. As they crossed
the conservatory he saw his wife seated near Laroche-Mathieu, both of
them almost hidden behind a group of plants. They seemed to say: "We
are having a meeting in public, for we do not care for the world's
opinion."

Mme. de Marelle admired Karl Marcovitch's painting, and they turned to
repair to the other rooms. They were separated from M. de Marelle. He
asked: "Is Laurine still vexed with me?"

"Yes. She refuses to see you and goes away when you are mentioned."

He did not reply. The child's sudden enmity grieved and annoyed him.

Suzanne met them at a door and cried: "Oh, here you are! Now, Bel-Ami,
you are going to be left alone, for I shall take Clotilde to see my
room." And the two women glided through the throng. At that moment a
voice at his side murmured: "Georges!"

It was Mme. Walter. She continued in a low voice: "How cruel you are!
How needlessly you inflict suffering upon me. I bade Suzanne take that
woman away that I might have a word with you. Listen: I must speak to
you this evening--or--or--you do not know what I shall do. Go into the
conservatory. You will find a door to the left through which you can
reach the garden. Follow the walk directly