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"If you would like just once to see your wife in a good mood, go on Thursday to the Bal des Incohérents at the Moulin-Rouge. She will be there, with a mask and disguised as a Congolese Dugout. A word to the wise is sufficient! A FRIEND." |
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The same morning, Marguerite received the following message: |
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"If you would like just once to see your husband in a good mood, go on Thursday to the Bal des Incohérents at the Moulin-Rouge. He will be there, with a mask and disguised as a fin-de-siècle Knight Templar. A word to the wise is sufficient! A FRIEND." |
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These missives did not fall on deaf ears. |
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With their intentions admirably dissimulated, when the fatal day arrived: |
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"My dear," Raoul said with his innocent look, "I shall be forced to leave you until tomorrow. Business of the greatest urgency summons me to Dunkirk." |
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"Why that's perfect," said Marguerite with delightful candor, "I've just received a telegram from Aunt Aspasia, who, desperately ill, bids me to her bedside." |
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In which today's wild youth is observed in the whirl of the most illusory and transitory pleasures, instead of thinking on eternity. |
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The social column of the Diable boiteux was unanimous in proclaiming this year's Bal des Incohérents as having unaccustomed brilliance. |
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Lots of shoulders, no few legs, not to mention accessories. |
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Two of those present seemed not to take part in the general madness: a fin-de-siècle Knight Templar and a Congolese Dugout, both hermetically masked. |
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At the stroke of three A.M. exactly, the Knight Templar approached the Dugout and invited her to dine with him. |
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In reply the Dugout placed a tiny hand on the robust arm of the Templar, and the couple went off. |
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In which the plot thickens. |
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"Leave us for a moment," said the Templar to the waiter, "we will make our choice and call you." |
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