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