Fromont and Risler -- Volume 3

ere toy. By dint of travelling in railway carriages with fantastically dressed courtesans, with their hair worn over their eyes like a terrier's, or falling over the back 'a la Genevieve de

im; it seemed to him that he had ten women in one

r her-his bachelor friends, a few fast tradesmen, almost no women, women

ner-parties, excursions

s position became more

e evening, tired out, s

o his room

o dinner," his wife wo

omont Jeune, whom he hardly knew by name. Strange to say, the affairs of the factory were often discussed at that tabl

lous gowns worn by Sidonie, who beautified herself in the interests of the firm. This coquetry on his mistress's part drove Fromont Jeune to despair. Day a

uce has become

d-daughter with a cunning leer. "

eived the little notes, the despatches which arrived daily at the dinner-hour: "Don't expect me to-night

voidable duty detained him at the chateau, so silent concerning what was in his mind. Claire, having now only the most distant relations with Sidonie, knew nothing of what was taking place at Asnieres: but when Georges left her, apparently eage

lias Cazaboni, an Italian tenor from Toulouse, introduced by Madame Dobson, came every day to sing disturbing duets. Georges, jealous beyond words, hurried to Asnieres in the aftern

t often occurs to the greatest fools, he reflected that, as he was deceiving his friend, perhaps he deserved to be deceived. In short, his was a wretched life. He passed his time running about to jewellers

ges. He was like a second husband to her, younger and, above all, richer than the other. To complete the vulgarization of their liaison, she had summoned her parents to Asnieres, lodged them in a little

h reflected coolly upon vice; and it seemed to her as if she might

d that her repose was threatened, that an interview of

e instant. She must at on

hed for the purposes of summer siestas, for the hot hours when one seeks shelter from the sunlight and the noises of the garden. A broad, very low

floating before one's languid eyes. The lowered blinds, the matting on the floor, the Virginia jasmine clinging to the trellis-work outs

ss of snow at the foot of the divan; and with sparkling eyes and a smile playing about her lips, bending h

d standing, looking about the

e; you understand how to m

on, beginning at such a distance, would not arrive quickly enoug

s magnificence, to your

an, without even raising he

bo

isconcerted by su

ss that that ma

ss it!

turned pale, notwithstanding her calmness, and the eternal

onti

as to allow the name to be dishonored by you, it is my place to defend it against your attacks. I beg you, therefore, to i

had not ceased to play with h

Risler whose acquaintance you will make then- a man as violent and ungovernable as he usually is

ged her s

m kill me. What do

in spite of himself, felt a little pity for that beautiful, fortu

ably milder tone. "Do you love this Fromont so dear

herself u

at doll, that silly g

m as I would have t

hy

I had and still have in my heart a criminal love, whic

th her eyes in his, her lips near

-Whom did she lo

afraid to q

ing that that glance, that breath, leaning toward

dge made it necessar

it?" h

d in a sti

ry well that

is brothe

e in no way resembled his former fiancee, and it would have been a crime to recognize in

she who said th

erstruck, dazed, could find

ng before h

s which, on that first day of heat, gave forth their fragrance eagerly, like violets hidden in a muff. Through its long, open windows the room in which they were inhaled all those

que tu t

j'en puis

that Desiree also loved you, the unfortunate, penniless child, in a great outburst of generosity I determined to assure her happiness for life by sacrificing my own, and I at once turned you away, so that you should go to her. Ah! as soon as you h

tz, in a low voice, "if you loved

d not

s have succeeded, but with Risler it was terrible. He was forever talking about you and your success and your future-Frantz said this; Frantz did that-He loves you so well, poor fellow! And then the most cruel thing to me is that your brother looks like you. There is a sort of family resemblance in your features, in your gait, in your voices especially, for I have often closed my eyes under his caresses, saying to myself, 'It is he, it is Frantz.' When I saw that that wicked thought was becoming a sour

face. For a moment past she had seemed to him too

s despotically taking possession of his heart once more, and that at that

s his brot

at we are!" exclaimed the poor judge

ived him of the strength to defend himself. Sidonie had placed her hand on his. "Frantz-Frantz!" she said; and they remained there side

r, c'est

n'en puis

tall figure appear

his way. They are i

corting his father-in-law and mothe

. You should have seen the patronizing air with which M. Chebe sc

he Suez Canal progres

r, tactless as usual in his gayety and his enthusiasm, waved his arms, talked of killing several fatted calves to celebrate

o be singing there. To the devil with sadness for to-day! Play us somet

, are you crazy

, mamma! We

ragged his breathless mamma-in-law, who stopped at every step to restore to their usual orderliness the dan

was intoxica

hatter, describe his journey, talk of the Isthmus of Suez and the great work undertaken there, listen to the whispered complaints of M. Chebe, who was still incensed with his children, and to his brother's description of the Press. "Rotary, my dear Frantz, rotary and dodecagonal!" Sidoni

in two years! How

osely veiled. Sitting motionless on the box, they held their long whips straight in the air, with doll-like gestures, and nothing about them seemed alive except the

se creatures. She mig

Frantz was in Georges

luxurious enjoyment o

Geo

his brother. Indeed, it was his duty, as he had come there for that expres

ze from the river, Risler begged his wife to sing. He wished h

e piano, objected with

fingers over the keys,

nything. What do yo

he candles which seemed to be burning incense, the air was so heavy with the odor of the hyacinths and lilacs in the gard

tit Mam'z

'amou qui tourn

ttle Mam'

s love that tu

he appearance of a love-sick woman. With what heartrending expression, with the cry of a wounded dov

l'amou qui to

drive the unlucky

e was fifteen, she never had been called anything but Ziree or Zizi, and she was the pauv' pitit of the Creole ballad to the life, the ever-neglected, ever-faithful lover. In vain now did the other sing. Frantz no longer heard her or saw her. He was in that poor room, beside the great armchair, on the little low ch

eing that his brother rose hurriedly as

g back. It

to sleep here? Why your

added Sidonie, wi

ons intrusted to him by the Company. They continued their efforts to detain him when he was in the vestibule, wh

of the salon. The music from the neighboring Casino reached their ears, with the "Yo-ho!" of th

oy for you!" obse

y watched now. He is so jealous. I am going to write to Cazaboni not to come again for s