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look　up；　were　in　the　hall；　the　latter　asked：　〃Have　you　been　to　the
cashier's　room？〃

〃No；　why？〃

〃Why？　To　get　your　pay？　You　should　always　get　your　salary　a　month　in
advance。　One　cannot　tell　what　might　happen。　I　will　introduce　you　to
the　cashier。〃

Duroy　drew　his　two　hundred　francs　together　with　twenty…eight　francs
for　his　article　of　the　preceding　day；　which；　in　addition　to　what
remained　to　him　of　his　salary　from　the　railroad　office；　left　him
three　hundred　and　forty　francs。　He　had　never　had　so　much；　and　he
thought　himself　rich　for　an　indefinite　time。　Saint…Potin　took　him　to
the　offices　of　four　or　five　rival　papers；　hoping　that　the　news　he
had　been　commissioned　to　obtain　had　been　already　received　by　them
and　that　he　could　obtain　it　by　means　of　his　diplomacy。

When　evening　came；　Duroy；　who　had　nothing　more　to　do；　turned　toward
the　Folies…Bergeres；　and　walking　up　to　the　office；　he　said：　〃My　name
is　Georges　Duroy。　I　am　on　the　staff　of　'La　Vie　Francaise。'　I　was
here　the　other　night　with　M。　Forestier；　who　promised　to　get　me　a
pass。　I　do　not　know　if　he　remembered　it。〃

The　register　was　consulted；　but　his　name　was　not　inscribed　upon　it。
However；　the　cashier；　a　very　affable　man；　said　to　him：　〃Come　in；　M。
Duroy；　and　speak　to　the　manager　yourself；　he　will　see　that
everything　is　all　right。〃

He　entered　and　almost　at　once　came　upon　Rachel；　the　woman　he　had
seen　there　before。　She　approached　him：　〃Good　evening；　my　dear；　are
you　well？〃

〃Very　well；　how　are　you？〃

〃I　am　not　ill。　I　have　dreamed　of　you　twice　since　the　other　night。〃

Duroy　smiled。　〃What　does　that　mean？〃

〃That　means　that　I　like　you〃；　she　raised　her　eyes　to　the　young　man's
face；　took　his　arm　and　leaning　upon　it；　said：　〃Let　us　drink　a　glass
of　wine　and　then　take　a　walk。　I　should　like　to　go　to　the　opera　like
this；　with　you；　to　show　you　off。〃

　　　　　　*　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　*

At　daybreak　he　again　sallied　forth　to　obtain　a　〃Vie　Francaise。〃　He
opened　the　paper　feverishly；　his　article　was　not　there。　On　entering
the　office　several　hours　later；　he　said　to　M。　Walter：　〃I　was　very
much　surprised　this　morning　not　to　see　my　second　article　on
Algeria。〃

The　manager　raised　his　head　and　said　sharply：　〃I　gave　it　to　your
friend；　Forestier；　and　asked　him　to　read　it；　he　was　dissatisfied
with　it；　it　will　have　to　be　done　over。〃

Without　a　word；　Duroy　left　the　room；　and　entering　his　friend's
office；　brusquely　asked：　〃Why　did　not　my　article　appear　this
morning？〃

The　journalist；　who　was　smoking　a　cigar；　said　calmly：　〃The　manager
did　not　consider　it　good；　and　bade　me　return　it　to　you　to　be
revised。　There　it　is。〃　Duroy　revised　it　several　times；　only　to　have
it　rejected。　He　said　nothing　more　of　his　〃souvenirs；〃　but　gave　his
whole　attention　to　reporting。　He　became　acquainted　behind　the　scenes
at　the　theaters；　and　in　the　halls　and　corridors　of　the　chamber　of
deputies；　he　knew　all　the　cabinet　ministers；　generals；　police
agents；　princes；　ambassadors；　men　of　the　world；　Greeks；　cabmen；
waiters　at　cafes；　and　many　others。　In　short　he　soon　became　a
remarkable　reporter；　of　great　value　to　the　paper；　so　M。　Walter　said。
But　as　he　only　received　ten　centimes　a　line　in　addition　to　his　fixed
salary　of　two　hundred　francs　and　as　his　expenses　were　large；　he
never　had　a　sou。　When　he　saw　certain　of　his　associates　with　their
pockets　full　of　money；　he　wondered　what　secret　means　they　employed
in　order　to　obtain　it。　He　determined　to　penetrate　that　mystery；　to
enter　into　the　association；　to　obtrude　himself　upon　his　comrades；
and　make　them　share　with　him。　Often　at　evening；　as　he　watched　the
trains　pass　his　window；　he　dreamed　of　the　conduct　he　might　pursue。




CHAPTER　V。

THE　FIRST　INTRIGUE


Two　months　elapsed。　It　was　September。　The　fortune　which　Duroy　had
hoped　to　make　so　rapidly　seemed　to　him　slow　in　coming。　Above　all　he
was　dissatisfied　with　the　mediocrity　of　his　position；　he　was
appreciated；　but　was　treated　according　to　his　rank。　Forestier
himself　no　longer　invited　him　to　dinner；　and　treated　him　as　an
inferior。　Often　he　had　thought　of　making　Mme。　Forestier　a　visit；　but
the　remembrance　of　their　last　meeting　restrained　him。　Mme。　de
Marelle　had　invited　him　to　call；　saying：　〃I　am　always　at　home　about
three　o'clock。〃　So　one　afternoon；　when　he　had　nothing　to　do；　he
proceeded　toward　her　house。　She　lived　on　Rue　Verneuil；　on　the　fourth
floor。　A　maid　answered　his　summons；　and　said：　〃Yes；　Madame　is　at
home；　but　I　do　not　know　whether　she　has　risen。〃　She　conducted　Duroy
into　the　drawing…room；　which　was　large；　poorly　furnished；　and
somewhat　untidy。　The　shabby；　threadbare　chairs　were　ranged　along　the
walls　according　to　the　servant's　fancy；　for　there　was　not　a　trace
visible　of　the　care　of　a　woman　who　loves　her　home。　Duroy　took　a　seat
and　waited　some　time。　Then　a　door　opened　and　Mme。　de　Marelle　entered
hastily；　clad　in　a　Japanese　dressing…gown。　She　exclaimed：

〃How　kind　of　you　to　come　to　see　me。　I　was　positive　you　had　forgotten
me。〃　She　held　out　her　hand　to　him　with　a　gesture　of　delight；　and
Duroy；　quite　at　his　ease　in　that　shabby　apartment；　kissed　it　as　he
had　seen　Norbert　de　Varenne　do。

Examining　him　from　head　to　foot；　she　cried：　〃How　you　have　changed！
Well；　tell　me　the　news。〃

They　began　to　chat　at　once　as　if　they　were　old　acquaintances；　and　in
five　minutes　an　intimacy；　a　mutual　understanding；　was　established
between　those　two　beings　alike　in　character　and　kind。　Suddenly　the
young　woman　said　in　surprise：　〃It　is　astonishing　how　I　feel　with
you。　It　seems　to　me　as　if　I　had　known　you　ten　years。　We　shall
undoubtedly　become　good　friends；　would　that　please　you？〃

He　replied：　〃Certainly；〃　with　a　smile　more　expressive　than　words。　He
thought　her　very　bewitching　in　her　pretty　gown。　When　near　Mme。
Forestier；　whose　impassive；　gracious　smile　attracted　yet　held　at　a
distance；　and　seemed　to　say：　〃I　like　you；　yet　take　care；〃　he　felt　a
desire　to　cast　himself　at　her　feet；　or　to　kiss　the　hem　of　her
garment。　When　near　Mme。　de　Marelle；　he　felt　a　more　passionate
desire。

A　gentle　rap　came　at　the　door　through　which　Mme。　de　Marelle　had
entered；　and　she　cried：　〃You　may　come　in；　my　darling。〃

The　child　entered；　advanced　to　Duroy　and　offered　him　her　hand。　The
astonished　mother　murmured：　〃That　is　a　conquest。〃　The　young　man；
having　kissed　the　child；　seated　her　by　his　side；　and　with　a　serious
air　questioned　her　as　to　what　she　had　done　since　they　last　met。　She
replied　in　a　flute…like　voice　and　with　the　manner　of　a　woman。　The
clock　struck　three；　the　journalist　rose。

〃Come　often；〃　said　Mme。　de　Marelle；　〃it　has　been　a　pleasant
causerie。　I　shall　always　be　glad　to　welcome　you。　Why　do　I　never　meet
you　at　the　Forestiers？〃

〃For　no　particular　reason。　I　am　very　busy。　I　hope；　however；　that　we
shall　meet　there　one　of　these　days。〃

In　the　course　of　a　few　days　he　paid　another　visit　to　the
enchantress。　The　maid　ushered　him　into　the　drawing…room　and　Laurine
soon　entered；　she　offered　him　not　her　hand　but　her　forehead；　and
said：　〃Mamma　wishes　me　to　ask　you　to　wait　for　her　about　fifteen
minutes；　for　she　is　not　dressed。　I　will　keep　you　company。〃

Duroy；　who　was　amused　at　the　child's　ceremonious　manner；　replied：
〃Indeed；　Mademoiselle；　I　shall　be　enchanted　to　spend　a　quarter　of　an
hour　with　you。〃　When　the　mother　entered　they　were　in　the　midst　of　an
exciting　game；　and　Mme。　de　Marelle　paused　in　amazement；　crying：
〃Laurine　playing？　You　are　a　sorcerer；　sir！〃　He　placed　the　child；
whom　he　had　caught　in　his　arms；　upon　the　floor；　kissed　the　lady's
hand；　and　they　seated　themselves；　the　child　between　them。　They　tried
to　converse；　but　Laurine；　usually　so　silent；　monopolized　the
conversation；　and　her　mother　was　compelled　to　send　her　to　her　room。

When　they　were　alone；　Mme。　de　Marelle　lowered　her　voice　and　said：　〃I
have　a　great　project。　It　is　this：　As　I　dine　every　week　at　the
Foresters'；　I　return　it　from　time　to　time　by　inviting　them　to　a
restaurant。　I　do　not　like　to　have　company　at　home；　I　am　not　so
situated　that　I　can　have　any。　I　know　nothing　about　housekeeping　or
cooking。　I　prefer　a　life　free　from　care；　therefore　I　invite　them　to
the　cafe　occasionally；　but　it　is　not　lively　when　we　are　only　three。
I　am　telling　you　this　in　order　to　explain　such　an　informal
gathering。　I　should　like　you　to　be　present　at　our　Saturdays　at　the
Cafe　Riche　at　seven…thirty。　Do　you　know　the　house？〃

Duroy　accepted　gladly。　He　left　her　in　a　transport　of　delight　and
impatiently　awaited　the　day　of　the　dinner。　He　was　the　first　to
arrive　at　the　place　appointed　and　was　shown　into　a　small　private
room；　in　which　the　table　was　laid　for　four；　that　table　looked　very
inviting　with　its　colored　glasses；　silver；　and　candelabra。

Duroy　seated　himself　upon　a　low　bench。　Forestier　entered　and　shook
hands　with　him　with　a　cordiality　he　never　evinced　at　the　office。

〃The　two　ladies　will　come　together；〃　said　he。　〃These　dinners　are
truly　delightful。〃

Very　soon　the　door　opened　and　Mesdames　Forestier　and　De　Marelle
appeared；　heavily　veiled；　surrounded　by　the　charming　mystery
necessary　to　a　rendezvous　in　a　place　so　public。　As　Duroy　greeted　the
former；　she　took　him　to　task　for　not　having　been　to　see　her；　then
she　added　with　a　smile：　〃Ah；　you　prefer　Mme。　de　Marelle；　the　time
passes　more　pleasantly　with　her。〃

When　the　waiter　handed　the　wine…list　to　Forestier；　Mme。　de　Marelle
exclaimed：　〃Bring　the　gentle…men　whatever　they　want；　as　for　us；　we
want　nothing　but　champagne。〃

Forestier；　who　seemed　not　to　have　heard　her；　asked：　〃Do　you　object
to　my　closing　the　window？　My　cough　has　troubled　me　for　several
days。〃

〃Not　at　all。〃

His　wife　did　not　speak。　The　various　courses　were　duly　served　and
then　the　guests　began　to　chat。　They　discussed　a　scandal　which　was
being　circulated　about　a　society　belle。　Forestier　was　very　much
amused　by　it。　Duroy　said　with　a　smile：　〃How　many　would　abandon
themselves　to　a　caprice；　a　dream　of　love；　if　they　did　not　fear　that
they　would　pay　for　a　brief　happiness　with　tears　and　an　irremediable
scandal？〃

Both　women　glanced　at　him　approvingly。　Forestier　cried　with　a
sceptical　laugh：　〃The　poor　husbands！〃　Then　they　talked　of　love。
Duroy　said：　〃When　I　love　a　woman；　everything　else　in　the　world　is
forgotten。〃

Mme。　Forestier　murmured