Chapter 2

2- (client) I was acquainted with (London) when I published my first book, and although I was a young man and still had the indiscretion of youth in me, this book caught the attention of everyone who tried to get close to me. I lived next door to Victoria Station - in London everything has changed now - I go shyly by carriage to the salons of literature where I met a group of ladies whom I loved only Rose Ronelle, in whom the cunning of a man and the stubbornness of a woman met. . In her house I met Mister (Samuel Colby)'s wife, at a tea party, to which Miss (Ronel) invited a large group of people who ignored me to talk about other matters, and my confusion was not hidden from Miss (Ronel) as she approached me and said: Let's talk to Mrs. Colby. . She is fond of your book. I asked her with genuine interest inquiring about this lady: What is this Mrs. Colby doing? Hamsa replied: -She is fond of throwing parties. He talks a lot; She invites you to it. Then she brought me to Mrs. Colby and introduced me to her, and after ten minutes we had talked about many things. . This lady had a sweet voice, and I knew that she lived in a high building in (Distminster) overlooking the great cathedral, the same neighborhood in which I used to live, and then the relationship between us was strengthened and I knew my home address. . A few days later, I received an invitation from her for dinner, and I answered the invitation happily. . I arrived a little late and there were the authors (Richard Twenge) and (George Rudd), as well as Mrs. (Jay) and Miss (Runnel). And it was a wonderful party in which we spoke on many subjects, but Mrs. (Colby) did not speak much, but she was a clever compliment, and whenever she felt lukewarm in speaking, she made a new remark that opened the door for discussion. . She was a slightly plump, calm-looking woman, with a pale face, of thirty-seven years old, with jet-black hair neatly styled. . The dining room was neatly arranged, the green curtains draped over its window to match the wallpaper, and after dinner Mrs. Ronel went out into the garden, for it was a spring day. . I told her shortly: - It was an excellent dinner. - Was it really so? I told her, "If she wants to invite the authors, she should have good food." Good advice, but why are you calling the authors around? . . A strange hobby for a lady?! She finds pleasure in their company. That's it! I shook my head understandingly. . Then I asked her: Where is Mister Colby? . . Why don't I see her in his company here? He is a failed human being who works as a stockbroker. It is not in the nature of being present in concerts and literary salons. Are they a happy couple? . . I mean, are their lives good despite their different passions? Yes, they both understand each other, but he is a quiet man, not passionate about literature or writers. It is strange for a nice woman to marry such a loser! Because wise men do not associate with nice women. She said it in a vain, cheerful tone, while I murmured: -I do not think so . . Do they have children? she answered : -yes . . A boy and a girl, still in school. . . And I held other dinner invitations during the summer time with Mrs. (Colby), and I admired her manner of courteousness and courtesy to the servants and her guests, and her house was neat and tidy, full of flowers, and the table was always carefully arranged, and in the parlour hung a picture of her son and daughter, the boy of sixteen and the little girl She is two years younger than him and she looked like her mother with her charcoal black hair, and I told her after I saw this picture: -They look just like you! She said quietly: - Yes, she is very similar to me, another image of me, more than their father. I asked her: Why didn't you introduce me to Mister Colby before? Is there anything to prevent?! She smiled tenderly, her face flushed with embarrassment. . Then she replied, in a tone that suggested that she was trying to hide my flaws and protect me: - Do you want this? He is a business man who does not like literature and does not claim intelligence and has not made money, but he is a good man. It is true that he started as an unsuccessful bank employee, but he is - really - a good man, with a pure heart. murmured: - I think I will miss him. She smiled, saying: -Good . . I will invite you to lunch one day. . But remember, you came of your own volition, don't blame me if you've had a bleak time! *** And one morning Mrs. (Colby) sent me a card in which she said that she had invited him to lunch, but none of her guests came, and she was pleased to take his place. Then she said in her letter: "It's a dreary invitation, and you'll be upset to the end, but your presence will make us very happy." I recognized him, and when you introduced me, he shook my hand coldly; She quickly said in a cheerful tone: I want you to make him feel that you really are my husband, he's starting to doubt it. Mr. Colby laughed feignedly, and then remained silent until the guests came, and I sat silently until the dining room was full, and everyone was talking loudly, and babbled about politics, and about children, and about fairs, and about the weather, but Mr. Colby did not say a word, but remained silent and watched. His wife was in tenderness and amazement, and after the feast, Mr. (Colby) went with the guests, and we, the men, remained, where she knew Mr. (Colby) the truth: he is a useless loser, but a good husband and a faithful worker. At the end of spring, they all packed themselves up for the villages, and Mrs. Colby went to Torfolk Bay. . She invited her to meet in the fall. . I was back in London, and four hours later I met Rose Ronelly on German Street. As soon as I saw Miss Ronel, I said to her, drawing astonishment on my face! -You didn't look very funny today? The girl's eyes flashed and she smiled as if she was carrying a scandal or new news about one of her friends. She murmured: Have you met Mrs. Colby lately? Her voice was telling of a terrible accident . . And I answered her: - No. . what happened? She said in Gomme: - The man ran away from his wife! Miss Ronel saw the effect of her sentence clearly, and said in a calm voice: - I don't know the details. . But a young girl who used to work in a tea shop has quit. Then she smiled and gave a meaningful look, then walked away in quiet heavy steps, and after a while of silence I began to think softly about what I had heard. . How could a man of Mr. Colby's age go so crazy? . . Then I thought to Mrs. (Colby), I had sent her a telegram telling her of my return, but I had not received a reply. Would you refuse to meet me? Perhaps it would have been better not to go and . . But she may need me. . She must be tormented now. . At this point, I wanted to see the effect of this on her. . See, what do I do? Should I go or not?! I found myself . . Without knowing - I knock on her door, and ask the maid to ask her if she wants to meet me or not. . After a few minutes she came back saying in the literature of Jim, and she extended her: -Can you follow me, sir? I felt a gloom at this reception, but I followed her into the parlour, and Mrs. (Colby) was there with Captain (MacAndrew) brother-in-law, standing by the fireplace. . I thought I had bothered them with my curiosity. . I said: I was sure you wouldn't like me here. She said quietly: -both . . I was waiting for you, and you can have tea with us. She saw tears welling up in her eyes. . She continues: No doubt you still remember Captain MacAndrew? . . We ate with him before the end of spring. I shook his hand in confusion. . But she saved the situation, as she started asking me what I had done during the summer. . So I spoke to her, until the maid brought tea: and the captain (MacAndrew) said suddenly: -Do you know what happened? . . Did you get the news? I nodded in the affirmative and said: -yes . . Without a doubt. . You know a lot of rumors circulating here. The captain said in distress: He fled to Paris with a woman . . He fled without letting his family know about him. Mrs. (Colby) could not hold back her tears; She quickly left the room. . -I'm sorry. . but . . What will happen to her and her children? . . What happens after seventeen years? I said in amazement: Seventeen years old? He explained: -yes . . They have been married for seventeen years, and the miserable woman has nothing left to do but ask for a divorce, and this is what I was trying to persuade her to do before you came. Mrs. ( Colby) fell back on one of the chairs, and felt ashamed that I had nothing to say. . But she saved me when she asked: Do people talk a lot? I nodded for a moment, then answered: In fact, I have only been back for a short time, and have only met Rose Ronel. She asked me with interest: Tell me, for God's sake, what did she say to you? I waved my palm, answering: -She said he left. She said eagerly: -Is that all? Did she tell you something about him leaving with one of them? I couldn't tell her about the girl working in the tea shop, so I said liarly: - No. _ She said gratefully: -I thank you . . This is what I wanted to know. Then I decided to leave, and I shook hands with Mrs. (Colby) and said to her respectfully: I am ready to do anything you ask. You can count on me for anything. She smiled and said sadly: - Thank you. . No one can do anything for me at this time. I was about to shake hands with Commander (McAndrew ) , but he did not extend his hand, but said: - I'm going with you. . Aren't you going across Victoria Street? murmured: - Yeah. . let's go . And at the moment we left the door he quickly said: - It hurts. . is not it?! Then he added: We do not know who is the girl we left with. . All we know is that he has gone to Paris. I asked him in silence: Was their married life happy? He nodded his head and said: -yes . . My mother said they had never fought each other in their lives. I said with understanding: So she couldn't believe all this was happening?