Comedy of Marriage and Other Tales

Автор

Ги де Мопассан

Жанр

Зарубежная классика

Год написания книги

2017

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Did he never come back?

MME. DE SALLUS

Never, until —

JACQUES DE RANDOL [interrupts]

Has he never again tried to tell you of his love?

MME. DE SALLUS

No, never, until —

JACQUES DE RANDOL [interrupts]

Have you regretted it?

MME. DE SALLUS

That is of small importance. What is of importance, though, is that he has had innumerable mistresses whom he entertains, whom he supports, whom he takes out. It is this that has irritated and humiliated me – in fact, cut me to the quick. But then I took heart of grace, and too late, two years too late, I took a lover – you!

JACQUES DE RANDOL [kisses her hand]

And I, Madeline, I love you with my whole soul.

MME. DE SALLUS

Well, all this is not at all proper.

JACQUES DE RANDOL

What do you mean by “all this”?

MME. DE SALLUS

Life in general – my husband – his mistresses – myself – and you.

JACQUES DE RANDOL

Your words – prove beyond a doubt that you do not love me.

MME. DE SALLUS

Why?

JACQUES DE RANDOL

You dare to say of love that it is not proper? If you loved me, it might be divine, but a loving woman would abhor a phrase which should contain such an idea. What! True love not proper?

MME. DE SALLUS

Possibly. It all depends upon the point of view. For myself, I see too much.

JACQUES DE RANDOL

What do you see?

MME. DE SALLUS

I see too well, too far, too clearly.

JACQUES DE RANDOL

You do not love me?

MME. DE SALLUS

If I did not love you – a little – I should have had no excuse for giving myself to you.

JACQUES DE RANDOL

A little – just sufficient to warrant that excuse!

MME. DE SALLUS

But I do not excuse myself: I accuse myself.

JACQUES DE RANDOL

Then you did love me a little – and then – now – you love me no more!

MME. DE SALLUS

Do not let us argue.

JACQUES DE RANDOL

You do nothing else.

MME. DE SALLUS

No, I only judge the present by the past; the only just ideas and sane notions of life one can form are those concerning that which is past.

JACQUES DE RANDOL

And do you regret —

MME. DE SALLUS