"de Musset, Alfred - Frederic and Bernerette" - читать интересную книгу автора (Musset Alfred De)

took up the piece of paper which had remained folded on his table and,
explaining by signs as well as he could, asked her to write to him or to receive
a note from him. But the reply was not more favorable than the first time. The
grisette again shook her head and the same thing happened for eight days. Kisses
came readily enough, but as for letters, he had to give them up.
At the end of a week, Frederic, vexed at these repeated refusals, tore up the
paper before his neighbor's eyes. At first she laughed, remained for some time
undecided, and then drew from the pocket of her apron a letter which she showed
to the student. You may well understand that he did not shake his head. Unable
to speak, he wrote in big letters on a large sheet of drawing-paper these three
words: "I adore you." Then he placed the sheet on a chair and arranged a lighted
candle on each side. The lovely grisette, with the aid of a lorgnette, was thus
enabled to read her lover's first declaration. She answered with a smile and
motioned to Frederic to go down and get the note she had shown him.
It was dark and a heavy mist was rising. The young man hurriedly descended,
crossed the street, and entered his neighbor's house. The door was open and the
young lady was at the foot of the stairs. Frederic, throwing his arms round her,
was quicker to kiss her than to speak. She ran away trembling.
"What have you written to me?" he asked. "When and how can I see you again?"
She stopped, retraced her steps, and slipping her note into Frederic's hand
replied:
"Here, take it, and do not pass your nights away from home."
The fact is, the student, in spite of his wisdom, had for some time, been
spending his nights away from his lodgings and the grisette had noticed this.
When two lovers agree, obstacles count for little. The note handed to Frederic
enjoined the greatest precaution, spoke of hidden danger, and asked where they
could meet each other. It could not be, she said, in the young man's room. So
they must find a room somewhere in the neighborhood. The Latin quarter is full
of them. The first meeting was arranged, when Frederic received the following
letter:
"You say you adore me, but you do not say if you think me pretty. You have
scarcely seen me and, to be able to love me, you must see me better. I am
going out with my servant. You go out too and meet me in the road. You will
approach me, as an acquaintance, say a few words and, during this time, look
at me well. If you do not think me pretty, tell me so, and I shall not be
angry. It is quite simple, and, besides, I am not so bad.
"A thousand kisses.
"BERNERETTE."
Frederic obeyed the orders of his mistress, and I need only say the result was
satisfactory. Yet Bernerette, by a refinement of coquetry, instead of loading
herself with all her finery for this meeting, appeared in negligee, her hair
done up under her hat. The student saluted her respectfully, told her that he
thought her more beautiful than ever, and then went home delighted with his new
conquest. But she appeared still more beautiful the following day, when she came
to the rendezvous, and here he saw that she could dispense with all finery and
was equally as charming in the simplest costume.
CHAPTER II
FREDERIC and Bernerette had given way to their love almost before they had
exchanged a single word and, from the very start, began to thee and thou each
other. Wrapt in each other's arms they sat near the fireplace, where a small