Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Original Short Stories. Volume I
Original Short Stories. Volume I
Original Short Stories. Volume I
Stories
Volume I
Original Short
Guy de Maupassant
Notice by Luarna Ediciones
www.luarna.com
A STUDY BY POL. NEVEUX
He bowed.
"Upon my soul, I can't refuse; I cannot hold out
another minute. All is fair in war time, is it not,
madame?" And, casting a glance on those
around, he added:
He called:
"Mademoiselle Elisabeth Rousset?"
"That is my name."
"To me?"
She left the room. All waited for her return be-
fore commencing the meal. Each was distressed
that he or she had not been sent for rather than
this impulsive, quick-tempered girl, and each
mentally rehearsed platitudes in case of being
summoned also.
"But why?"
"When?"
"No."
"No, monsieur."
"Yes."
TWO FRIENDS
"Suppose we go there?"
"Where?"
"Fishing."
"But where?"
"Wilhelm!"
A white-aproned soldier responded to the sum-
mons, and the Prussian, tossing him the catch
of the two murdered men, said:
I
It was after Bourbaki's defeat in the east of
France. The army, broken up, decimated, and
worn out, had been obliged to retreat into Swit-
zerland after that terrible campaign, and it was
only its short duration that saved a hundred
and fifty thousand men from certain death.
Hunger, the terrible cold, forced marches in the
snow without boots, over bad mountain roads,
had caused us 'francs-tireurs', especially, the
greatest suffering, for we were without tents,
and almost without food, always in the van
when we were marching toward Belfort, and in
the rear when returning by the Jura. Of our
little band that had numbered twelve hundred
men on the first of January, there remained
only twenty-two pale, thin, ragged wretches,
when we at length succeeded in reaching Swiss
territory.
His wife did not shed a tear. Her eyes were dry,
her throat was contracted, and she looked at
the lancer's wife steadfastly, and with a calm
ferocity that inspired fear.
"'Yes,' I replied.
THE PRISONERS
When the old man set out like this he took with
him his dogs—two powerful animals with the
jaws of lions-as a safeguard against the wolves,
which were beginning to get fierce, and he left
directions with the two women to barricade
themselves securely within their dwelling as
soon as night fell.
She laughed.
"Hammer away, my good man! Hammer
away!"
"Hullo, Berthine!"
"Hullo, father!"
"Hullo, Berthine!"
"So he will-delighted."
"No-none."
"Pump!!!"
They waited.
"I surrender."
"I did."
"I did."
"Uh huh!"
A COUP D'ETAT
"Yes."
"Cowards!"
"Monsieur de Varnetot!"
M. de Varnetot answered:
Night fell.
"Your name?"
"Pierre Bernard."
"Your profession?"
"Butler to Comte de Ronfi."
'Yes!'
"Why?"
"To Blainville."
"Why?"
"Because there is a French army there."
"Perfectly."
"It is I, monsieur."
The soldiers, wild with delight, clapped their
hands and bore the young girl in triumph into
the midst of the camp, that was just getting to
arms. Presently General Carrel arrived on the
scene. At nine o'clock the Prussians made an
attack. They beat a retreat at noon.
"The best."
Then, turning to the astonished lieutenant, he
presented "Comte de Ronfi-Quedissac."
General de G——remarked:
"'That is all.'
"I said:
I interrupted him:
"I don't care what she was. I tell you that I see
down there a city of the Odyssey. The coast of
Asia and the coast of Europe resemble each
other in their shores, and there is no city on the
other coast of the Mediterranean which awak-
ens in me the memories of the heroic age as this
one does."
"Yes, commandant."
They set out for the city, but failed to find their
abandoned valises on the road.
Had she seen him again? Did she still love him?
And I thought: Here is an instance of modern
love, grotesque and yet heroic. The Homer who
should sing of this new Helen and the adven-
ture of her Menelaus must be gifted with the
soul of a Paul de Kock. And yet the hero of this
deserted woman was brave, daring, handsome,
strong as Achilles and more cunning than Ulys-
ses.
MADEMOISELLE FIFI
A DUEL
"Ah! yes."
He went on:
"No, monsieur."
M. Dubuis replied:
"No, monsieur."
The train had just left the station.
M. Dubuis replied:
"Oh, yes!"
"Fire!"
M. Dubuis fired at random without delay, and
he was amazed to see the Prussian opposite
him stagger, lift up his arms and fall forward,
dead. He had killed the officer.