Summary My Angel
S.-G. Colette
My angel
She is almost fifty, he – half as many, their relationship lasts for seven years. She calls him an Angel. He is going to marry: his mother found him a bride – a young Edmey.
Leonie Walson, known as Lea de Louval, completes the successful career of a secured courtesan. She hides her age – only sometimes she languidly confesses that on the slope of life she can afford some whims. The women are delighted with her iron health, and younger women, whom the fashion of 1912 awarded with a stooped back and protruding belly, jealously glance at her tall bust. But most of all, they both envy the young handsome lover.
Once the Angel was for Lea just Fred – the son of her friend Charlotte Pelu. Adorable, like a cherub, the kid has learned all the joys of dissolute childhood. As befits a true prostitute, the mother entrusted his servants, and then surrendered to college. After experiencing her last love adventure, Madame Pelou
Seven years have passed since that night. The envious sighs of aging friends do not disturb Lea. In the end, she does not keep the Angel on a leash – he can leave at any time. Of course, he is divinely beautiful, but at the same time he is greedy, selfish, prudent. In fact, he is just a gigolo: she has been living with her for seven years and is listening to insulting hints in cold blood. Lea convinces himself that he will easily find a replacement for him, and the news of the upcoming wedding is met with skepticism: to give to the angels a young girl – what reckless thought! Edmyo is only eighteen years old, she is charming and timid. As for the Angel, he is confident in his own irresistibility: Edme should bless the fate of unheard of happiness.
Another visit to Neuilly turns into a nightmare: Charlotte was visited by another “girlfriend” – an ugly old Lily with her young lover Guido. When you look at this couple, Leah feels nauseous. Returning home, she tries to sort out her feelings: she is chilled, but there is no temperature. A month ago Angel married – then it’s a pain of loss. Now she and Edmé are in Italy and probably make love. Lea is too proud of his self-control to sink to suffering. She immediately leaves Paris, leaving no address to anyone, and in a short note addressed to Charlotte, she transparently hints that the reason for her departure is a new novel.
The angel returns to Neuilly with his young wife. In the mother’s house, everything seems to him ugly in comparison with the exquisite situation of Lea. Edmy annoys him with his obedience. Charlotte, spiteful by nature, does not miss the opportunity to pin a daughter-in-law. Angel is burdened with a new life and constantly remembers his mistress – with whom, damn it, she left? One day he goes out for a walk, and his feet carry his familiar road to Bugeau Street. But the concierge knows nothing about Leah.
In the restaurant, Angel meets Viscount Desmond, a friend of the former binge days. Suddenly having decided, he goes to the hotel “Morrio, where Desmond takes a number.” Edmond humbly demolishes the flight of her husband Desmond finds life beautiful, because the Angel pays him much more generously than in the years of his youth. After midnight, the Angel always leaves – these walks invariably end at the mansion Leah, the windows on the second floor are gaping dead black, but one day a light breaks in. Servants bring suitcases into the house. “Angel grabs his heart, perhaps this is happiness? Now you can pet poor Edmey.
Spreading out of the suitcases of things, Lea struggles with growing and incomprehensible anguish. Six months passed: she lost weight, rested, amused casual acquaintances and parted with them without any regrets. They were all men of the age, and Leah could not stand the faded body: she was not created to end life in the arms of the old man – for thirty years now she owns shining youngsters and fragile teenagers. These suckers owe her health and beauty – she not only taught them love, but surrounded by a truly motherly concern. Did not she save the Angel? But the second time will not be, although the “ugly little boy” is rumored to have fled the house,
Charlotte Pelou makes a visit to Lea, wishing to inform the glad tidings: Angel returned to his wife. The poor boy needed to get mad, because from the age of eighteen he did not have the opportunity to enjoy a bachelor life. Edme showed herself on the best side – not a word of reproach, not a single complaint! Lovely children reconciled in their bedroom. Leah sees Charlotte with an evil look, mentally wishing her to turn her foot. Unfortunately, this snake differs with amazing caution. Leah reflects on the inevitable old age. Probably, something should be done. Some of the girlfriends succeeded by opening a bar-restaurant and a night cabaret. But Leah realizes that she does not like to work: her counter has always had a bed – it’s a pity that no new clients are expected. Suddenly, in the night silence, a bell rings, and Lea instinctively grabs the powder box. It’s an Angel. He falls with tears to his “Nunun” breast. In the morning Lea looks at the sleeping lover with tenderness. He threw a stupid beautiful wife and returned to her – now forever. She calculates where to build a nest. They both need peace.
The angel does not sleep. Looking at Aya from under his eyelashes, he tries to understand where the great happiness that he experienced the day before went. At breakfast, he looks sadly at his mistress, and Leah flares up, instantly catching pity. She finds the courage to help the unhappy kid again, because it’s so hard for her to hurt her. In the courtyard, Angel hesitantly stops. Leah enthusiastically splashes his hands – he comes back! An old woman in the mirror repeats her gesture, and a young man in the street raises his head towards the spring sky and begins to inhale the air eagerly – like a prisoner released to freedom.
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