France -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
I went down, and for the first time in two years felt a delicious
pleasure in being on the street. I walked fast, with supple movements,
a victorious gait, interested in the simplest things about me which
seemed so new. And I asked myself with amazement how in the world I
could have been unhappy so long, why my eyes had not opened to the
truth much sooner than they did.... Ah, that despicable Juliette! How
she must have laughed at my submission, my blindness, my pitifulness,
my inconceivable folly! No doubt, she told her casual lovers of my
idiotic grief. But I was going to have my revenge and it would be
terrible! Juliette would soon lie prostrate at my feet begging my
pardon.
"No, no, you miserable creature, never!... When I cried, did you
comfort me?... Did you spare me a single suffering, a single one? Did
you ever for a moment consent to share my misery, to live my life with
me? You don't deserve to share my glory. No ... go!"
And to show my absolute contempt for her, I would throw millions in her
face.
"Here are your millions! You said you wanted millions? Here are some
more!"
Juliette would wring her arms in despair.
"Have mercy, Jean! Have pity on me! I don't want your money! What I
want is to live in obscurity and humbly in your shadow, happy if a
single ray of light surrounding you will some day come to rest upon
your poor Juliette. Have pity on me!"
"Did you have pity on me when I asked for it! No! Women like you should
be killed with blows of gold. Here! Have some more! Here! Some more
still!"
I was walking with long strides, talking aloud, moving my hands as if
throwing millions into space. "Here, wretch, here!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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