"Frequently."

He felt a desire to return home at once. Forestier's image haunted him,
however; he could think of nothing else. The carriage rolled on toward
the Arc de Triomphe and joined the stream of carriages returning home.
As Georges remained silent, his wife, who divined his thoughts, asked
in her soft voice: "Of what are you thinking? For half an hour you have
not uttered a word."

He replied with a sneer: "I am thinking of all those fools who kiss one
another, and I believe truly that there is something else to be done in
life."

She whispered: "Yes, but it is nice sometimes! It is nice when one has
nothing better to do."

Georges' thoughts were busy with the dead; he said to himself angrily:
"I am foolish to worry, to torment myself as I have done." After
remonstrating thus with himself, he felt more reconciled to the thought
of Forestier, and felt like exclaiming: "Good evening, old fellow!"

Madeleine, who was bored by his silence, asked: "Shall we go to
Tortoni's for ices before returning home?"

He glanced at her from his corner and thought: "She is pretty; so much
the better. Tit for tat, my comrade. But if they begin again to annoy
me with you, it will get somewhat hot at the North Pole!"

Then he replied: "Certainly, my darling," and before she had time to
think he kissed her. It seemed to Madeleine that her husband's lips
were icy. However he smiled as usual and gave her his hand to assist
her to alight at the cafe.

CHAPTER XI.

MADAME WALTER TAKES A HAND

On entering the office the following day, Du Roy sought Boisrenard and
told him to warn his associates not to continue the farce of calling
him Forestier, or there would be war. When Du Roy returned an hour
later, no one called him by that name. From the office he proceeded to
his home, and hearing the sound of ladies' voices in the drawing-room,
he asked the servant: "Who is here?"

"Mme. Walter and Mme. de Marelle," was the reply.

His heart pulsated violently as he opened the door. Clotilde was seated
by the fireplace; it seemed to Georges that she turned pale on
perceiving him.

Having greeted Mme. Walter and her two daughters seated like sentinels
beside her, he turned to his former mistress. She extended her hand; he
took and pressed it as if to say: "I love you still!" She returned the
pressure.

He said: "Have you been well since we last met?"

"Yes; have you, Bel-Ami?" And turning to Madeleine she added: "Will y