ButI had only to remind myself that she had not
even offered to let mesee her Elstirs.
Swann in what connexion I had fawned upon
M.
I had not ventured to bow to him,for he had given
me no sign of recognition.
Of adifferent order were the quarrels of Bloch and
his friends.
Isoon discovered that this young man was extremely
pushing.
Dont you see, its the idea that she issuffering at
this moment that I cant bear. But I no longer felt thisdesire, I was no longer in
love with Gilberte. She can be happy without me, if she must; thatsall I
ask.
You never know; very likely when she sees me with
it, she will admitthat shes been in the wrong.
I dont see at what stage in his life I canfit her
in exactly; and it interests me, because of M. He, while admitting serious defects
in hisaunts character, was genuinely fond of her. Did you see the Duchesse de
Guermantes just now?
Between ourselves, on his side at least, I canfeel
its a life and death friendship.
It is true, Robert de Saint-Loup says hes a
pest,but. I was anxious nevertheless for information with regard not only
toMme.
He did not knowthe work of this poet and had never
heard his name, of which he made anote. But until I getdown there what will she be
thinking of me? But since the Duchess did not bow to Mme.
This was going a little too fast, and exposinghis
hand. It seems you made agreat impression on the wench, and she hoped to see more of
you. And look at Mamma in the innocence of her heart goingacross to disturb
them.
But I am in no hurry, I replied; besides, I must
wait for M.
And in fact he bore no resentment and was only
amused atthis little instance of her thrift. Nor do I consider that Robertwas
altogether mistaken. Oh, of course, if it was intentional, it is allright, said
M.
Not having seen her for so long I did not know what
to talk toher about.
Dont you see, its the idea that she issuffering at
this moment that I cant bear.
ButI had only to remind myself that she had not
even offered to let mesee her Elstirs. And as she listened to him I saw the same
throb, like that of a mightywing, which Mme.
With her its fifty thousandfrancs or nothing.
Having heard me, earlier in the afternoon, make some reference toBlochs uncle, M.
You dont mind if we go a little way on foot? She can be happy without me, if she
must; thatsall I ask.
Heis still talking to that idiot the Duc de
Guermantes, I added.
But apart from this, to whomcould he have told the
story of the money order? Seeking no longervengeance but a sincere reconciliation,
now was the time for him tokeep silence.