The next day after dinner, Lionel, Maupassant, and others did not go back to the small island in the middle of the river, but gathered in Mr. Zola's study on the top floor of his Meudon villa.
Besides a huge oak desk, the most striking feature here was the stone fireplace, which cost 1,200 francs to build.
Engraved on the wall above the fireplace was Zola's motto – "Never a day without a line."
Seeing these words, Lionel gave Mr. Zola a thumbs up:
"Émile, your diligence puts me to shame! I truly hope that one day I can engrave these words on my own fireplace..."
Although he didn't know why Lionel was particularly interested in this motto, Zola still smiled proudly.
Once everyone was seated, glasses raised, cigars or cigarettes lit, several pairs of eyes turned to Maupassant.
It was his turn to tell a story.
Maupassant set his glass aside, stood up, and paced to the center of the study, beginning in an emotional tone:
"Friends, Émile's story was tragic and profound. My story, however, might be a little different.
Its protagonist is a prostitute, a round and plump prostitute, so fat she looked like she was dripping with oil..."
As soon as Maupassant finished this sentence, Zola and Huysmans exchanged "I knew it" glances and chuckled mischievously.
Henri Céard even offered encouragement:
"Guy, this is what you do best – I'm even more eager for this story now."
Only Lionel smiled silently, gently swirling the wine in his glass, quietly awaiting the birth of a world-renowned masterpiece.
Maupassant's old face flushed, but he quickly recovered and continued his narration, his tone sometimes light with irony, sometimes heavy with oppression:
"...Rouen had fallen. The city reeked of failure and fear. A public coach, granted permission to leave the occupied zone and travel to Le Havre, became the ark of hope for ten people fleeing hell."
"The passengers on the coach included Loiseau, the wine merchant, and his wife; Mr. and Mrs. Carré-Lamadon, the wealthy merchant; Count and Countess Hubert de Bréville; Cornudet, the democrat; and two nuns...
From every angle, they were the most respectable group of people in the locality."
As Maupassant spoke, a small society within a carriage was vividly depicted.
These individuals represented the mainstream groups of what was then called France's "upper society"—wealthy merchants, aristocrats, politicians, and clergy.
Maupassant's tone suddenly rose:
"But a prostitute, a prostitute who had gained weight prematurely, was fat enough to drip oil, and whose very fingers were plump, also appeared in this coach, sitting next to Cornudet..."
Maupassant meticulously described the prostitute's appearance, from her "breasts so plump they seemed about to burst from her gown" and her "face like a red apple or a blooming peony," to her "dark, beautiful large eyes" and "small, charming mouth," finally revealing her nickname: "Boule de Suif!"
Huysmans, listening nearby, almost drooled, rashly interrupting his friend's narration to ask curiously:
"Where did you… encounter this beautiful and charming girl? Why haven't I seen her?"
Maupassant shot him a displeased glance:
"She's fictional... All right, I'll continue."
What followed was an extremely contrasting and ironic passage from "Boule de Suif"—
The gentlemen and their wives in the carriage, along with the two nuns, all expressed their contempt for "Boule de Suif";
But when they were ravenously hungry, and "Boule de Suif" produced a basket of plentiful food from under her skirt and generously invited them to share, these sanctimonious "respectable people" seemed to forget their earlier attitudes, and began to feast without any psychological burden, devouring the entire basket of food.
In Maupassant's vivid depiction, the simplicity and kindness of "Boule de Suif" contrasted sharply with the hypocrisy and shamelessness of the "respectable people," brought out in full display in this narrative.
However, this was clearly not enough to expose the ugly side of France's "upper society."
Maupassant continued his narrative, but his tone grew cold:
"...However, the coach was detained in Tôtes by an arrogant Prussian officer.
The reason?
Simple, and utterly shameless—he had taken a fancy to Boule de Suif, implying he wanted her 'company' for a night; otherwise, no one on the coach would be allowed to leave."
To everyone's surprise—including the "respectable people" in the story, and most of those listening in the study—"Boule de Suif" angrily refused.
Though of humble origin, she had her dignity and patriotism.
The initial "righteous indignation" of the respectable people was quickly replaced by anxiety.
Travel delays meant loss of money, meant risk! One day, two days...
The relentless persuasion began.
First, the shrewd Mrs. Loiseau lobbied with the national cause of "sacrificing oneself for the greater good";
Then the Countess spoke from experience, implying that chastity was insignificant before "lofty goals";
Even the two nuns brought up the story of Rahab the harlot from the Bible, suggesting that "sacrificing oneself" for the benefit of "everyone" would be forgiven by God...
Maupassant's tone lowered, filled with anger: "'Boule de Suif' was isolated and helpless; her anger and persistence crumbled under the collective 'persuasion' of the group.
She yielded, for this group of 'respectable people.'
The next day, the coach was finally allowed to proceed.
The 'respectable people' were relieved and joyous.
They took out their treasured food, feasted in the carriage, chatted and laughed, as if nothing had happened last night.
No one looked at 'Boule de Suif,' no one offered her even a small piece of bread.
She huddled in a corner, cold and hungry, tears of humiliation silently streaming down her face."
Just like Zola the day before, Maupassant added an even more ironic ending to this story—
"Cornudet hummed 'La Marseillaise'—
'Sacred love of the Fatherland,
Support and guide our avenging arms,
Liberty, cherished Liberty,
Fight with your defenders...'
The other passengers hummed along.
Boule de Suif kept weeping, sometimes a sob could be heard in the pauses between two sections of the melody."
The story ended abruptly, and the study fell into a dead silence.
There was no applause, only heavy breathing and the sound of the Seine flowing outside the window.
Maupassant's story brought not tragedy, but a bone-chilling coldness.
It ruthlessly exposed the selfishness, hypocrisy, and coldness of France's "respectable people," especially their naked exploitation of the weak and their ugly moral superiority.
After a long while, Zola finally exhaled slowly:
"Guy... this story... is like a dagger plunged into my heart.
It has no heroes, only truth... heartbreaking and infuriating truth.
Extraordinary! Well done! Your story is even more brilliant than mine!"
Paul Alexis murmured:
"My God... those people's faces... they're terrifying, and so real!"
Huysmans, for a moment, forgot to ask where he could find such a prostitute, and instead fell into deep shock and contemplation.
Lionel was also savoring it—even though he had read "Boule de Suif" many, many times, Maupassant's spoken version was much simpler compared to the final written one, but it was far more impactful than reading the text!
He felt somewhat fortunate that he had left this story to Maupassant; only through his voice could it be rendered so movingly.
Lionel couldn't help but compliment Maupassant:
"Guy, you didn't waste your money on pretty girls! With this story, you'll earn it back a hundredfold, a thousandfold!"
Maupassant was bewildered; was Lionel complimenting him or being sarcastic?
But it didn't matter.
He said gratefully, "Leon, without you, there would be no 'Boule de Suif' story..."
Zola looked at the two with interest:
"Oh? Guy's story was inspired by you? Lionel, then you shall provide tomorrow night's story!"
————
It was almost midnight when Lionel returned to 64 Rue Laffitte.
Under the dim streetlights, a young man stood at the entrance of the apartment building, arguing with the doorman about something.
Upon seeing Lionel, the doorman quickly said:
"Mr. Sorel, you've come at just the right time. This vagrant insists on going upstairs to see you!"
Hearing the name
"Mr. Sorel,"
The young man excitedly turned around. As he clearly saw Lionel's appearance, he spoke with a trembling voice:
"Mr. Lionel Sorel? My God, I've finally found you!
I came from Russia, from Moscow, for a whole half a month, just to see you..."
(End of Chapter)
---------------------
Support me on P@treon
[email protected]/charaz
$3 -> 50 chapters in advance
$5 -> 100 chapters in advance
$10 -> 200+ chapters in advance
Check my pinned post on P@treon