"Based on three stories by Guy de Maupassant" "Many attempts have been made to depict three of my tales" "I thought it would be simpler to relate them myself" "I've always loved the night, the darkness" "I'm so happy to be talking in the dark as if I were beside you and maybe I am" "You can imagine my anxiety because these are old tales for your modern times" "But we'll see" "Here is the first story" "One night, there was a ball at the 'Palais de la Danse'" "The lure of the orchestra exploding like a storm crashed through walls and roofs, engulfing all" "Come on, ladies and gentlemen." "Dance and be merry" "The crowd flooded in like water bursting a dam" "Regulars from all over Paris, regardless of class came for rollicking fun and debauchery" "There were workers pimps and, above all, girls" "From rough cotton to the finest cambric" "Rich old women chasing their youth and poor young girls desperate to have fun and entice big spenders" "Elegant suits after young flesh or wilted but still fragrant blooms prowled the excited crowd searching and hunting" "From the crowd a man emerged" "Thin and dressed like a young dandy" "He looked like a waxwork" "A caricature of a fashion designers' dream" "And now, ladies and gentlemen, the great dancer Monsieur Grandval" "His dancing was convincing, but clumsy" "He seemed rusty, trying to imitate the others" "He seemed lost - as graceless as a terrier amongst greyhounds" "You're a good dancer" " What's your name?" " Frimousse." "And you?" "You're gorgeous" "Carry on playing" "Come on, maestro, don't stop the music" " He'll live, won't he?" " Yes, he's just fainted" "Call a doctor, quickly" "At the end of the corridor" "You're needed, doctor" " Where is he?" " On the stairs" " Are you a doctor?" " Yes, but I'm not here to..." "You only have to cross the room." "Someone fainted on the dance floor" "Remember me?" "Last winter in Nice." "We danced together" " I remember" " The rain stopped us" "This time it won't." "I'm delighted to see you again." "You're ravishing" "Are you thirsty?" "Georges, champagne!" "I'll be back at once" "I can't..." "We're unlucky with dances" "These are too tight." "They'll take an hour to undo" "I'll cut them off." "Can I have some scissors?" "Fetch some scissors." "Hurry up" " Your cognac, doctor" " Not now" "What's wrong?" "Don't worry." "You'll be fine" "What happened?" "Where's Frimousse?" "I'm here" "You'll see her later." "Keep still" " Where do you live?" " Rue des A..." "Rue des Amiraux" "It's the other side of Montmartre" "At the end of the Rue des Poissonniers" "You can go home to bed" "My word!" "Rue des Amiraux" "Hold my hat" " Go and dance" " Not alone" "Go on, quickly" "Come in, ladies and gentlemen" "Baron..." "It was a big, but shabby, house" "A house full of miserable wretches and with grimy stairs" "I can't go any further" "Come on, you're nearly there" " What about Frimousse?" " What?" "She'll be waiting" "She can wait" "Is it the next floor?" "Yes, ring twice" "But your wife must be sleeping" "No, she has insomnia" "What is it now?" "It's nothing" "Come on" "He fainted in a public place" " At a ball" " You knew?" "It's not the first time he's ended up flat on his face" "That's a relief" "Come in" "He ate nothing at dinner to be lighter, but had a drink to be merry" "Mind the steps" "Why is he so keen on dancing?" "I'll tell you why." "So people think he's young under the mask" "So women take him for a dandy and let him whisper dirty things to them" "So he can rub against them with all their perfumes, powders and creams" "Can you help me pull off his sleeve?" "That's it" "And now the shoes." "That's harder" "That's it" "If you think he'll move later to make room for me, you're wrong" "I'll have to sleep elsewhere" "You playboy" "So he acts the young man at balls" "All the time." "You can't imagine the state he's in when he comes home" "What drives him to it?" "Regret." "He's not what he used to be" "He was once greater than all the tenors and generals" "He still looks good for his age, doesn't he?" "I'll make him a hot-water bottle" "Are you surprised by his past?" "You didn't know him in his prime" "When I met him, I was hooked" "Hooked like a fish on a line" "He was so sweet I could have cried" "He took me home and I never left him" "Not for a day, despite everything" " Are you married?" " Yes, thankfully" "Or he would have left me like the others." "I've been his wife and maid" " What did he do?" " He was first assistant at Marcel's" "The hairdresser's?" "Yes, by the opera house." "All the actresses used it" "I'll get a face cloth" "The richest asked for Ambroise" " Ambroise?" " Yes, him" "He made a fortune in tips" "They're all the same." "When they fancy a man, they take him." "It's so easy" "I spent nights waiting for him" "He'd finally come home bright-eyed" "He'd say to me:" ""Another one, Denise"" "What a man!" "He felt the need to boast about it" "Some men derive more pleasure from talking than doing" "They called you because you were on duty?" "No, I was there" "You're probably not married, then" "When you are, it'll be different" "I hope so" "Men just have to hunt..." "But he's older now" "When I saw his first white hair, I did my housework with a lighter heart" "After two years, he was unrecognizable" "Women weren't after him any more" "So he started going to dances" "It became an obsession" " He's calling" " I'm all alone" "I'm sorry I told you all that..." "Please, don't apologize." "I've learnt a precious lesson" "Doctor..." "Give me your address in case he gets worse" "I don't think you need worry." "He could go on for years like this" "That's good." "I want him to live long and carry on dancing" "The doctor had witnessed a scene from the eternal drama played out every day in so many forms and settings" "To the 'Palais de la Danse'" "I didn't just write sad stories" "Would you now like something more cheerful, bawdy even?" "A fairy tale for grown-ups?" "It's quite a long story, based in Normandy in a small Channel port" "The setting is not exactly residential if you understand my meaning" "It's the story of a house" "Not exactly a block of rented flats but how can I put it without shocking you?" "It was a house, but a very well kept house" "Men would go there every night meeting in little groups" "They were respectable - shopkeepers, young men..." "They would drink and fondle the girls or talk to Madame whom they all respected" "Too late" "Madame was from a good farming family and saw her trade as no different to a milliner's or linen maid's" "There was less prejudice in the countryside" "Farmers said:" ""It's a good trade" and sent their daughters to run harems as if they were girls' schools" "The house was inherited from an uncle" "The new owners closed their inn and embraced this new venture" "They took over a business which, lacking management, had been failing" "They were nice people, and the staff and neighbors liked them instantly" "Monsieur died two years later" "His new position had made him lazy and fat and he died of a stroke" "The house had two entrances" "On the corner was a shady café open at night for workers and sailors" "Two girls looked after the needs of these clients" "Louise, dressed in the theme of Liberty and nicknamed 'Pet' and Flora, known as 'Swing' for the shocking way she swayed her hips" "Looking like kitchen maids in fancy dress, they enticed men to drink" "Look at these curls." "You have lovely hair" "They worked with Frèdèric, the waiter" "A tall dark-haired boy strong as an ox" "The other ladies formed a kind of aristocracy staying upstairs in the drawing-room with their clients" "Fernande played the pretty blonde and Raphaële the indispensable beautiful Jewess" "I thought of you earlier" "Rosa only stopped drinking to sing and singing to drink" " Give me another" " It's the last one" "'Bye, darling." "See you tomorrow" "'Bye, Fernande." "See you tomorrow" "My cardigan" " Hello, Rosa" " I'll call Raphaële" "All clear" "Monsieur Dupuis, don't get cold" "Above the door was a lantern" "I apologize, but I cannot hide it from you" "It will now be turned off because it must be dark for the story to start" "One night at the end of May the first to arrive, Poulain, a former Mayor found the door closed" "Anybody there?" "Hello, Duvert" "Poulain!" " Where are you going?" " Over there." "Aren't you?" "Don't bother." "The house is closed" "Very funny" "I'm not joking" "I'll go with you if you like, but I assure you it's closed" "There are sailors outside" "You, upstairs!" "You see?" "It's closed." "So is the café" "The police must have locked it" "I would never have allowed it when I was Mayor" " That's how wars get started" " Let's go." "I don't like it" "If we were found here, we'd look..." " We'd look like what we are" " It's not worth it" "The men shouting are English." "They're used to fights" "In their country, it's like fencing" "Look" " It's Tourneveau" " Of course, it's Saturday" "My dear friend, I have some sad news" " We've just been to the house" " It's closed, I know" "Where are you going now?" "Do you know another place?" "I'm afraid not." "I was going back to make sure, but if you're certain..." "Let's go for a walk." "It's a beautiful night" "Why were you so keen to make sure?" "You're forgetting I'm married with children." "I only go out on Saturdays" "You single men are lucky." "You can go when you like" "We don't have families" "But loneliness is tragic, isn't it?" "Worse, even" "Let's walk, then." "It's a beautiful night" "Yes, it is" "The three men met young Philippe, the banker's son, a regular and Pimpesse, the tax collector" "Then Dupuis, the insurance broker" "Then Vasse, the Judge" "What's wrong?" "Is it closed?" "What's happened?" "Why?" "What a shame" "Their walk took them to the jetty" "It's beautiful" "Yes, it's beautiful - the foam on the crests of the waves" "Yes, the monotonous sound of the sea" "It's beautiful" " It's not funny" " No, you're right" "It's typical it shuts on a Saturday" "Why?" " It's bad news for Tourneveau" " That's right" "I'd had such a nice dinner of ceps" "This time of year?" "Obviously not picked locally" "Yes, from around here" "There are no ceps around" "I should know." "I ate them" "But you didn't pick them locally" "No, my eldest daughter did" "She spent two hours in the woods picking them" "She spent two hours in the woods picking!" "What are you laughing at?" "My daughter knows what she's doing" "Oh, yes" "She's almost 17" "I don't know what she's almost, but she's something!" "You're insulting my daughter" "As former Mayor, I say the tax collector is wrong" "Why?" "I found out many things when I was Mayor" "Like what?" "What tax collectors earn" "A new altercation started between the former Mayor and Dupuis about tax collectors' wages and perks" "Insults flew and they'd have fought if the others hadn't stopped them" " You're a scoundrel" " I'll sue you for slander" "He's welcome to see his solicitor." "I won't let him get away with it" "He's not heard the last of it" "How can they argue over nothing?" "You call that nothing?" "At your age, you should be in bed, not criticizing respectable people" " He's only young" " So I'm wrong?" "I didn't say that, but he's young" "Boredom brought out the worst in them" "For a Saturday it's quite a day" "Gradually calm returned to the troubled town" "Only one man still roamed in hope of God knows what" "The house was closed for a First Communion" "Madame's brother was a carpenter in the country" "He knew his sister was doing well and thought of a family reunion for his daughter's Confirmation" "So on Saturday morning, Madame and her friends took the express" "Have a nice holiday, ladies" " What's this, Flora?" " I'm hot." "I never wear so much" "Where do you think you are?" " I thought I was in your house" " Don't be so insolent" ""A diplomatic conflict between Bolivia and Chile"" "It's so far away" ""There are fears of war in the Pacific"" "What does "Pacific" mean?" "It means peace" " Tickets, please" " They've been checked" "I'm checking again" "At Beuzeville a couple got on" "The man was an old farmer wearing a blue smock and an ancient top hat" "His wife wore a rustic outfit and looked like a hen" " Mind the calf" " Yes, yes" "That's what you said last time, and it fell off" "No longer alone, the ladies became serious to make a good impression" "Madame Rosa" "It's a fashionable tune" "The Viscount taught it to me." "Do you understand?" "Your husband?" "How is he?" "Not bad, my dear" "He's away in Paris" "What husband?" "Her husband, Pet" "You don't know him" "He's incredibly thoughtful" "He sends me dresses and jewelry every day" "Even flowers" "We drink champagne with every meal" "He kisses my hands" "He tells me wonderful things" "Sadly I've forgotten them" "As the train was leaving Bolbec, in jumped a bearded man carrying a stick and wearing gold jewelry" "He was weighed down with luggage" "Julien Ledentu, traveler" "Madame Tellier and..." "So you're off to a new garrison?" "Don't be so rude" "I meant to say a new monastery" "You've left your pond?" "You'll soon meet the spit" "They won't come out." "They must have lost their knickers" "Maybe they need braces" "Here are some braces" "They don't want them, but these ladies might" "Whatever for?" "To give to your lovers, of course" "I mean one lover per lady, obviously." "The one dearest to your hearts" " The heart doesn't need braces" " How lovely." "You deserve a reward" ""The heart doesn't need braces"" "Look at these" "Ready?" "Here are the goods" "Look at these garters" "They're silk and I have them in all colors" "I'd like the blue ones" "Here they are" " Pink ones for me" " Here" " The red ones" " There you are" " Lilac ones to match my eyes" " To match your eyes, there you are" "These are bigger, more imposing" "For our boss" "For the boss, there" "At Motteville the farmers got off with their ducks and umbrellas" "The woman was unhappy" "Damned hussies - just like in Paris" "You're right." "They're worthless" "Are you coming?" "Now, my little kittens, let's try them on" "Really?" "For the last time, have some respect" "Fine, I'll take them back" "You could have had them for nothing if you'd tried them on" "Silk garters in all colors" "Free" " What did you say?" " I said "Free"" "Come on, gorgeous" "It's worth it" "Stop it" "It'll only take a second" "I'm telling you, he pinched me" "You expect too much for a few garters" "You can't get something for nothing" "Some men would give diamonds but still act decently, even in a tunnel" "Don't come knocking on my door." "You'll be turned away" "At the next station Joseph Rivet was waiting with a white horse and a cart fitted with chairs" " I'm so happy to see you" " Me too!" "Mind the present, Raphaële" " This is Madame Louise" " Give me your case" "Madame Flora" "Madame Fernande" "Won't you give me a kiss?" "And Madame Rosa" " Hello, give me your case" " Hurry up" " Hello, Monsieur" " It's Joseph" " Did you have to kiss them all?" " I'm polite" " What about me?" " I've kept the best till last" "You still didn't have to kiss them" "We all have to fit in the cart" "Mesdames Raphaële, Fernande and Flora can sit in the front" " You remember all their names?" " I'm not stupid" "Thanks for the chairs" "I'm not used to carrying such a precious load" "It's usually wood or pigs." "You know how it is" "Don't we just!" "I didn't mean any harm" "Julia, you can sit next to me" " What about me?" " Between us" "No." "Raphaële, sit here" "Fernande, over there" "And Flora at the back with Louise" " And me?" " Madame Rosa can sit behind me" "No, she's the lightest." "She'll sit on Madame Fernande's lap" " That's badly arranged" " Watch the road" " It's still badly arranged" " Look after your horse, come on" "Green countryside unfolded." "Here and there, yellow rape spread out like a tablecloth flooding the air with its powerful scent" "A sweet smell carried by the wind" "Amidst fields wreathed in earth's flowers the cart and its even brighter blooms advanced at the horse's pace" "At times the cart disappeared behind large trees, to emerge later into green and yellow fields dappled with red and blue carrying these stunning women in the sunshine" "Is that the service?" "Yes, the Absolution" "Is your girl there?" "Of course." "Children need religion." "They can always give it up later" "I'll fetch her" "Not now." "Let's not disturb the cherubs." "We'll carry on" "What a shame" "Hello, Marie" " Thank you for coming" " My pleasure" "My wife, Madame Rivet" " Did I hurt you?" " Not at all" "My wife" " She's starving" " I'll make you an omelet" "Here we go" "You must taste my cider." "I bet you don't have anything like it in town" "Come on, go inside" " I so wanted to see your girl" " You'll see her at the meal" "Here comes Miss Constance" "Come on, hurry up" " Give your aunt a kiss" " How she's grown." "She's so pretty" "There are beautiful ladies longing to meet you" " Say hello to each lady" " Hello, Madame" "Hello, dear" "She's so pretty" "She's so sweet" "Beautiful hair" "She's like her mum" "She's just a kitten" "Here's the present." "Your aunt's present" "Take a knife and cut here." "I think you're going to love it" " Here's the dress" " It's so beautiful" "Do you like it, darling?" "It's so kind." "I see business is going well" " I didn't say what business" " You talk of sin after Absolution!" "God knows everything" " Don't tear it" " I'll clean her up" " Lift up your arms" " Strap her up first" "Hurry up with the pins" "One at a time" " She's so patient" " What a good girl" " Just like her dad" " You can say that again" "It's the prettiest dress" "What would you know?" "Why not just call me a peasant?" "City men are no match for you" "She knows what she's talking about" "Can't we have a laugh?" "This is a Communion, not a funeral" "Everyone had to fit into the limited space for that night" "Rivet in the workshop on wood shavings" "Julia and Marie in the main bedroom" "Next door, Fernande and Raphaële" "Louise and Flora in the kitchen" "But Rosa couldn't find her cubby-hole above the stairs" "At the end of the corridor" "Good night" "It's so dark" "The village was cloaked in a deep, almost religious silence" "A peaceful, penetrating silence which climbed as high as the stars" " Tell me" " What?" "I feel tense" "I'm shivering all over" "It's because it's so quiet" "You think so?" "It's strange" "You're not sleeping?" "Are you afraid?" "What are you listening to?" "The silence is driving me mad" "I can't sleep a wink." "I'm unsettled" "I can't sleep" "Neither can I" "But I'm all alone." "I'm not used to it" "Join the carpenter" "You're mad." "On a night like this?" "It would be bad luck" " What is it?" " It's me" "I'm coming in" "What's wrong?" "I'm scared" "Scared?" "I'm scared without mum" " Do you want to come with me?" " Yes, I'd like that" "This way you won't be scared any more" "Hold on" "Your doll?" "There's no need to cry" "You won't be scared with me" "You're not scared now, are you?" "Are you comfortable?" "Take your doll" "Sleep well my darling" "At five o'clock, the little church bell woke the ladies who usually slept all morning to rest from their busy nights" "The light ringing of the small bell rose to the sky like a weak voice soon drowned in the blue immensity" "Already high, the sun shone in a radiant sky still pink on the horizon with the fading traces of dawn" "Communicants were emerging" "In their Sunday best, parents walked awkwardly their bodies more used to the rigors of hard work" "The little girls, hidden under clouds of snowy tulle like whipped cream gathered with the nuns" "Meanwhile the boys, looking like miniature waiters their hair sticky with pomade walked carefully to keep their new trousers clean" "Here he comes" "Victoire!" "Here they come" "The glory of having relatives from far away embracing your child!" "The carpenter's triumph was complete" "The Tellier regiment followed Constance walking majestically like soldiers in uniform" "The effect on the village was stunning" " How are you?" " Congratulations" "They're ladies from the town" "Want a seat?" "They'll sit here" "Thank you, Mayor" " There was no need" " But I'm so honored" "These ladies bring us the scents of the town" "I'm going behind" "You can sit there" "Is that the Mayor?" "That's right" "He's handsome" "Madame Rosa, do you think he's handsome?" "That's a matter of taste." "I think you're better looking" "Nearer, my God, to thee" "Nearer to thee" "Such is my humble wish" "Will you save me?" "I will wait every day there in my Savior's love" "Nearer, my God, to thee" "Nearer to thee" "Like the spark that spreads fire through a ripe field Rosa and her friends' tears spread to the crowd in an instant" "Men, women, old people, young men in new smocks everyone was soon sobbing" "Above their heads something superhuman seemed to hover" "An all-pervading soul" "The great breath of an invisible, all-powerful Being" "Don't cry, Madame Rosa" "Dear brothers and sisters" "I thank you with all my heart for giving me my greatest joy ever" "The feast was held in the workshop, on long boards resting on trestles" "The gaiety was still a little reserved after the morning's emotion" "But a jolly, tipsy Rivet was giving his speech for the fourth time" "Ladies I want to thank you" "Again?" " You've done it" " You can never thank people enough" "That's why I want to thank you for coming to our little family party" "And for bringing with you your beauty and youth" "How sweet" " We have to go" " Not yet." "I must thank you" "Thank you for thanking us, but we must catch the 3.55" "No, never" "As long as I'm alive you won't take the 3.55" "After coffee, there's a nip of brandy" "And then another one" "And then dinner" "No dinner and no brandy." "They'd never forgive us closing for two days" " I understand, but..." " What?" "I must thank you" "Do it later, while these ladies get ready" "Everybody down here in five minutes" "Come on, Madame Louise" "Watch your manners, Madame Flora" "Take it with you." "You can eat it on the cart later" "Flora, don't take your clothes off." "Get dressed" "Forgive me, but if we want to be at the station on time..." "Hurry up, Joseph" "Hitch up the cart" "Yes, I'll hitch up" "Madame Rosa!" "I want to thank you..." "Madame Rosa I wanted to thank you" "Come here, Joseph." "Do you hear?" "I'm telling you" "Listen to your sister" "What a rascal" "Joseph, I order you to come here" "I'm ashamed of you." "Joseph, will you listen to me?" "Come on, it's a family occasion" "Shame on you" "Come on, Julia." "I didn't do anything wrong" "Can't I even thank her?" "I didn't mean any harm" " What have you done now?" " Me?" "Nothing" "You were with Madame Rosa?" "Well, yes." "I went to thank her." "They've all been so kind" "I'm going to hitch up the cart" "Tell me, Marie, it was a nice family occasion, wasn't it?" "It's a shame to hitch up now" "Is that the time?" "I must hitch up" "They started their journey home pulled by the lively little horse" "A stunning light flooded the fields covered in flowers" "The ladies couldn't resist" "How I regret my rounded arms my slender legs and passing charms" "My soul was always faithful" "But I do know one thing" "Unless God calls me to Him my confessor will know nothing" "How I regret my rounded arms my slender legs..." "Listen, Madame Rosa" "When I came up to your room earlier, I was a bit drunk and excited" "Please forgive me" "Come on, let's not miss the train" "Raphaële, Fernande, hurry up" "We won't miss it" "Raphaële, mind your ankles with those high heels" "Aren't they lovely?" "Let's go" " What a pity." "We could have had fun" " There's a time for everything" "The train isn't leaving, is it?" "Not without you" "There's room up there" "Here we are, Joseph" "I'm sad to see you leave" "All aboard!" "I might come up next month" "If you like, but you won't get up to any mischief, will you?" "'Bye, then" "See you soon" "See you soon, Madame Rosa" "That night the lantern was lit, announcing the flock's return and the news spread in a flash" "Young Philippe was kind enough to warn Tourneveau, the fish curer" " A sailor with a letter for Monsieur" " Bad news?" "No, he looks happy" " Monsieur Tourneveau, fish curer?" " Yes." "You have a letter for me?" "What is it?" "Read for yourself" ""Come quickly." "Ship returned to port." "Fish found"" "Good." "My coat and hat" "You hadn't mentioned a lost ship" "I didn't want to worry you" "My napkin." "Good night" "The ladies are back?" "I can't believe it" " Who is it?" " Tourneveau" "The ladies are back?" " Where's Madame?" " In her study" "Hello, Raphaële." "Did it go well?" "Yes, it was a real holiday" " Where's Madame?" " In her study" "I'm so glad to see you" "Come in" "I'm so glad to see you" "I'm really grateful you came back." "It would have been a sad week" "I was getting bored" "Where did you take your fish?" " I mean your flock" " To the country" "The ladies will tell you." "They're still moved by it all" "In the meantime, the champagne is on me" "Frèdèric, ten bottles of champagne for Monsieur Tourneveau" "Here comes the champagne" " How much?" " Ten francs a bottle" " It's gone up again?" " For you, six francs then" " How kind" " We don't celebrate everyday" " If you were as generous in love..." " Why not?" "You'd agree?" " Today I want everyone to be happy" " I can't believe my ears" "Frèdèric, I want flowers everywhere" "The evening was turning into a ball, a real celebration" "A wave of pure joy washed through the house" "People were still dancing at midnight" "You've seen pleasure and purity coming together" "'The Mask' related the battle between pleasure and love" "Now we'll see pleasure battle death." "Not a physical, but a moral death" "It's a little tragic, but it ends with a marriage" "The anecdote is told by a Parisian columnist to whom I'll lend my voice" "Of course it's him." "I've known him for twenty years" "Why did he marry that poor woman?" " Out of stupidity, as ever" " Still..." "There's no "still" about it." "We're stupid, so we do stupid things" "For the couple over there, it all came about in a strange way" "The girl risked everything" "I say "risked", but what do I know?" "You can never tell with women" "They lie without knowing or understanding it" "In spite of this, their feelings are genuine and their sudden reactions confuse us and turn our plans upside down" "I was there when they first met" "Jean Summer hesitated between different styles, but hated nudes" "He didn't know the pretty girl was a model" "He was captivated by the way she walked her childlike, sensual face, her slightly gaudy elegance and her divine waist" "Her name was Josèphine." "It wasn't her fault" "She didn't know her fate would be decided in this gallery" "And what a fate!" "He fell in love with her" "She thought he loved her with all his soul" "What a strange thing" "When you love a woman, you think you can never live without her" "Well, he thought he loved her" "Endlessly promising to be forever faithful, he lived with her" "Time to eat" "Let's take a break" " Do you love me?" " Yes, and you?" " For me, it's over" " I'll kill you" " I'm too young" " I'll kill myself, then" "Women always say that" "But I'll do it" "Concentrate on lunch for now" " What are we having today?" " Lovely fish" "Wonderful" "Big ones?" " No idea." "I haven't opened the tin" " Sardines, then" "When you're famous, we'll have salmon" "We'll be too old to enjoy it" "Such is life, my love." "Old age and salmon, youth and sardines" " Why do you keep looking at me?" " I never tire of it" "You're ravishing and..." "And?" "And I like you" "And you love me, I hope" "And I love you" "Could you live without me?" "I don't think so" "You need to be sure" "I'm sure" "I love what you do" "You do the most ordinary things with extraordinary grace" "When you lean over" "When you get into a car or raise your arm" "When you hold out your hand" "When you eat sardines." "I've never seen anyone eat sardines like you" "For three months Jean didn't realize she looked like all the other models" "Anyway, his new style was popular" "I'm buying No.8" " And you are?" " Monsieur Leconte" " Congratulations." "It's sold" " Sold?" "Thank you" "You've sold" "You've sold, my darling" "You know what?" "We'll rent a beautiful country house" "But not a new one." "An old farm we can do up" " That's expensive" " It'll be fine" "And trees." "There'll be a tree that's been struck by lightning" "Not like that, then." "Like this" "I witnessed their first argument" "It happens to us all." "Familiarity breeds contempt" "To spend your life with someone you don't need lust, which soon dies but similar minds, temperaments and moods" "We were walking silently in the woods imbued with the river's coolness cutting through our bodies and drowning our minds in happiness" "Suddenly Josèphine shouted" "Did you see that big fish?" "Yes, I saw it" "No, your back was turned" "True." "I wasn't thinking" "So don't say you saw it" "Will you go to Paris tomorrow?" "I haven't decided yet" "Do you think walking silently is fun?" "Clever people usually talk" "What about you?" "It's relaxing." "People talk too much about nothing" "You mean me?" "Not particularly." "Everyone" "Be quiet, please" "Why?" "Does it bother you?" "Yes, you're spoiling the walk" "What?" "You didn't always say that" "The dreadful, silly scene began with unexpected reproaches, then tears" "You'd be nothing without me" "Three months later she was fighting the invisible ties of the relationship in which she was caught" "What time do you call this?" "I come home when I like" "Meanwhile I cook your dinner and wait for you." "You think I'm your maid?" " If you don't like it, fine" " You want me to leave" "They argued all day, insulting each other and fighting" "You're not going out" "Give me that key" " Give it to me" " You're hurting me" "Give it to me" "Don't touch that" " At least you're working" " It's all I enjoy" "He needs more and more money" "He's smitten" "Or it's for a parting gift" "I doubt it." "Painters can't do that" "You've really left this time" "Well done" "I couldn't throw her out" "Thank you for taking me in" "It's only right" "We won't be in each other's way" "We'll be fine together" "We both have our professions" " What will she do?" " What can she do?" "Put your things down here." "You'll soon forget her" "I'll make up your bed by the window" "Don't worry." "It's not your fault she became unbearable" " Maybe I became unbearable first" " Because you'd had enough" "When it starts to break down..." "Have a seat" "Maybe I was wrong" "Was it love or pride?" "Anyway, she searched everywhere for him" "No one had seen him" "She waited for him every night" "One night, around nine o'clock Jean was working." "He thought he'd escaped" "It's her, isn't it?" "I don't think he can..." "I should have known he was here." "You've always hated me" "I don't want your money" "Or your letter" "Or your dismissal" "I won't be treated like a tart" "I didn't go after you" "You begged me, you took me" "So now keep me" "Are you going to stalk me until I die?" "Let me explain it to her" " There's nothing to explain" " Listen, my dear" "I have something to tell you." "Don't make a scene" "Don't take life so seriously." "It's no use" "He still loves you." "It's just that..." "He still loves you, but it's the same old story" "His family wants to marry him off." "He has to agree" "Do you understand now?" "I understand very well" "So no scene, all right?" "Don't worry about me." "I can't hear a thing" "He says you're getting married" "If you do, I'll kill myself" "I swear if you get married, I'll kill myself" "Kill yourself, then" "You shouldn't dare me" "I'll throw myself out of the window" "It's upstairs" "Upstairs" "What?" "There you are" "When she was found with broken legs I thought he'd go mad with remorse" "Whether he wanted to make amends or was touched by her crazy act he married her" "Because his life was over, all he could do was work" " That's the whole story" " Won't you say hello?" "He never forgave me for interfering." "He was wrong" "He found love, glory and fortune" "Isn't that happiness?" "Still, it's very sad" "But, my friend, happiness is not a joyful thing" "THE END"