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general　appearance。　Smiling　to　himself；　Duroy　extended　his　hand　and
expressed　his　astonishment；　pleasure；　and　approbation。　A　door　opened
on　the　staircase；　He　was　afraid　of　being　surprised　and　began　to
ascend　more　rapidly；　fearing　that　he　might　have　been　seen　posing
there　by　some　of　his　friend's　invited　guests。

On　reaching　the　second　floor；　he　saw　another　mirror；　and　once　more
slackened　his　pace　to　look　at　himself。　He　likewise　paused　before　the
third　glass；　twirled　his　mustache；　took　off　his　hat　to　arrange　his
hair；　and　murmured　half　aloud；　a　habit　of　his：　〃Hall　mirrors　are
most　convenient。〃

Then　he　rang　the　bell。　The　door　opened　almost　immediately；　and
before　him　stood　a　servant　in　a　black　coat；　with　a　grave；　shaven
face；　so　perfect　in　his　appearance　that　Duroy　again　became　confused
as　he　compared　the　cut　of　their　garments。

The　lackey　asked：

〃Whom　shall　I　announce；　Monsieur？〃　He　raised　a　portiere　and
pronounced　the　name。

Duroy　lost　his　self…possession　upon　being　ushered　into　a　world　as
yet　strange　to　him。　However；　he　advanced。　A　young；　fair　woman
received　him　alone　in　a　large；　well…lighted　room。　He　paused；
disconcerted。　Who　was　that　smiling　lady？　He　remembered　that
Forestier　was　married；　and　the　thought　that　the　handsome　blonde　was
his　friend's　wife　rendered　him　awkward　and　ill…at…ease。　He　stammered
out：

〃Madame；　I　am〃

She　held　out　her　hand。　〃I　know；　MonsieurCharles　told　me　of　your
meeting　last　night；　and　I　am　very　glad　that　he　asked　you　to　dine
with　us　to…day。〃

Duroy　blushed　to　the　roots　of　his　hair；　not　knowing　how　to　reply；　he
felt　that　he　was　being　inspected　from　his　head　to　his　feet。　He　half
thought　of　excusing　himself；　of　inventing　an　explanation　of　the
carelessness　of　his　toilette；　but　he　did　not　know　how　to　touch　upon
that　delicate　subject。

He　seated　himself　upon　a　chair　she　pointed　out　to　him；　and　as　he
sank　into　its　luxurious　depths；　it　seemed　to　him　that　he　was
entering　a　new　and　charming　life；　that　he　would　make　his　mark　in　the
world；　that　he　was　saved。　He　glanced　at　Mme。　Forestier。　She　wore　a
gown　of　pale　blue　cashmere　which　clung　gracefully　to　her　supple　form
and　rounded　outlines；　her　arms　and　throat　rose　in；　lily…white　purity
from　the　mass　of　lace　which　ornamented　the　corsage　and　short
sleeves。　Her　hair　was　dressed　high　and　curled　on　the　nape　of　her
neck。

Duroy　grew　more　at　his　ease　under　her　glance；　which　recalled　to　him；
he　knew　not　why；　that　of　the　girl　he　had　met　the　preceding　evening
at　the　Folies…Bergeres。　Mme。　Forestier　had　gray　eyes；　a　small　nose；
full　lips；　and　a　rather　heavy　chin；　an　irregular；　attractive　face；
full　of　gentleness　and　yet　of　malice。

After　a　short　silence；　she　asked：　〃Have　you　been　in　Paris　a　long
time？〃

Gradually　regaining　his　self…possession；　he　replied：　〃a　few　months；
Madame。　I　am　in　the　railroad　employ；　but　my　friend　Forestier　has
encouraged　me　to　hope　that；　thanks　to　him；　I　can　enter　into
journalism。〃

She　smiled　kindly　and　murmured　in　a　low　voice：　〃I　know。〃

The　bell　rang　again　and　the　servant　announced：　〃Mme。　de　Marelle。〃
She　was　a　dainty　brunette；　attired　in　a　simple；　dark　robe；　a　red
rose　in　her　black　tresses　seemed　to　accentuate　her　special
character；　and　a　young　girl；　or　rather　a　child；　for　such　she　was；
followed　her。

Mme。　Forestier　said：　〃Good　evening；　Clotilde。〃

〃Good　evening；　Madeleine。〃

They　embraced　each　other；　then　the　child　offered　her　forehead　with
the　assurance　of　an　adult；　saying：

〃Good　evening；　cousin。〃

Mme。　Forestier　kissed　her；　and　then　made　the　introductions：

〃M。　Georges　Duroy；　an　old　friend　of　Charles。　Mme。　de　Marelle；　my
friend；　a　relative　in　fact。〃　She　added：　〃Here；　you　know；　we　do　not
stand　on　ceremony。〃

Duroy　bowed。　The　door　opened　again　and　a　short　man　entered；　upon　his
arm　a　tall；　handsome　woman；　taller　than　he　and　much　younger；　with
distinguished　manners　and　a　dignified　carriage。　It　was　M。　Walter；
deputy；　financier；　a　moneyed　man；　and　a　man　of　business；　manager　of
〃La　Vie　Francaise；〃　with　his　wife；　nee　Basile　Ravalade；　daughter　of
the　banker　of　that　name。

Then　came　Jacques　Rival；　very　elegant；　followed　by　Norbert　de
Varenne。　The　latter　advanced　with　the　grace　of　the　old　school　and
taking　Mme。　Forestier's　hand　kissed　it；　his　long　hair　falling　upon
his　hostess's　bare　arm　as　he　did　so。

Forestier　now　entered；　apologizing　for　being　late；　he　had　been
detained。

The　servant　announced　dinner；　and　they　entered　the　dining…room。
Duroy　was　placed　between　Mme。　de　Marelle　and　her　daughter。　He　was
again　rendered　uncomfortable　for　fear　of　committing　some　error　in
the　conventional　management　of　his　fork；　his　spoon；　or　his　glasses；
of　which　he　had　four。　Nothing　was　said　during　the　soup；　then　Norbert
de　Varenne　asked　a　general　question：　〃Have　you　read　the　Gauthier
case？　How　droll　it　was！〃

Then　followed　a　discussion　of　the　subject　in　which　the　ladies
joined。　Then　a　duel　was　mentioned　and　Jacques　Rival　led　the
conversation；　that　was　his　province。　Duroy　did　not　venture　a　remark；
but　occasionally　glanced　at　his　neighbor。　A　diamond　upon　a　slight；
golden　thread　depended　from　her　ear；　from　time　to　time　she　uttered　a
remark　which　evoked　a　smile　upon　his　lips。　Duroy　sought　vainly　for
some　compliment　to　pay　her；　he　busied　himself　with　her　daughter；
filled　her　glass；　waited　upon　her；　and　the　child；　more　dignified
than　her　mother；　thanked　him　gravely　saying；　〃You　are　very　kind；
Monsieur；〃　while　she　listened　to　the　conversation　with　a　reflective
air。　The　dinner　was　excellent　and　everyone　was　delighted　with　it。

The　conversation　returned　to　the　colonization　of　Algeria。　M。　Walter
uttered　several　jocose　remarks；　Forestier　alluded　to　the　article　he
had　prepared　for　the　morrow；　Jacques　Rival　declared　himself　in　favor
of　a　military　government　with　grants　of　land　to　all　the　officers
after　thirty　years　of　colonial　service。

〃In　that　way；〃　said　he；　〃you　can　establish　a　strong　colony；　familiar
with　and　liking　the　country；　knowing　its　language　and　able　to　cope
with　all　those　local　yet　grave　questions　which　invariably　confront
newcomers。〃

Norbert　de　Varenne　interrupted：　〃Yes；　they　would　know　everything；
except　agriculture。　They　would　speak　Arabic；　but　they　would　not　know
how　to　transplant　beet…root；　and　how　to　sow　wheat。　They　would　be
strong　in　fencing；　but　weak　in　the　art　of　farming。　On　the　contrary；
the　new　country　should　be　opened　to　everyone。　Intelligent　men　would
make　positions　for　themselves；　the　others　would　succumb。　It　is　a
natural　law。〃

A　pause　ensued。　Everyone　smiled。　Georges　Duroy；　startled　at　the
sound　of　his　own　voice；　as　if　he　had　never　heard　it；　said：

〃What　is　needed　the　most　down　there　is　good　soil。　Really　fertile
land　costs　as　much　as　it　does　in　France　and　is　bought　by　wealthy
Parisians。　The　real　colonists；　the　poor；　are　generally　cast　out　into
the　desert；　where　nothing　grows　for　lack　of　water。〃

All　eyes　turned　upon　him。　He　colored。　M。　Walter　asked：　〃Do　you　know
Algeria；　sir？〃

He　replied：　〃Yes；　sir；　I　was　there　twenty…eight　months。〃　Leaving　the
subject　of　colonization；　Norbert　de　Varenne　questioned　him　as　to
some　of　the　Algerian　customs。　Georges　spoke　with　animation；　excited
by　the　wine　and　the　desire　to　please；　he　related　anecdotes　of　the
regiment；　of　Arabian　life；　and　of　the　war。

Mme。　Walter　murmured　to　him　in　her　soft　tones：　〃You　could　write　a
series　of　charming　articles。〃

Forestier　took　advantage　of　the　situation　to　say　to　M。　Walter：　〃My
dear　sir；　I　spoke　to　you　a　short　while　since　of　M。　Georges　Duroy　and
asked　you　to　permit　me　to　include　him　on　the　staff　of　political
reporters。　Since　Marambot　has　left　us；　I　have　had　no　one　to　take
urgent　and　confidential　reports；　and　the　paper　is　suffering　by　it。〃

M。　Walter　put　on　his　spectacles　in　order　to　examine　Duroy。　Then　he
said：　〃I　am　convinced　that　M。　Duroy　is　original；　and　if　he　will　call
upon　me　tomorrow　at　three　o'clock；　we　will　arrange　matters。〃　After　a
pause；　turning　to　the　young　man；　he　said：　〃You　may　write　us　a　short
sketch　on　Algeria；　M。　Duroy。　Simply　relate　your　experiences；　I　am
sure　they　will　interest　our　readers。　But　you　must　do　it　quickly。〃

Mme。　Walter　added　with　her　customary；　serious　grace：　〃You　will　have
a　charming　title：　'Souvenirs　of　a　Soldier　in　Africa。'　Will　he　not；
M。　Norbert？〃

The　old　poet；　who　had　attained　renown　late　in　life；　disliked　and
mistrusted　newcomers。　He　replied　dryly：　〃Yes；　excellent；　provided
that　it　is　written　in　the　right　key；　for　there　lies　the　great
difficulty。〃

Mme。　Forestier　cast　upon　Duroy　a　protecting　and　smiling　glance　which
seemed　to　say：　〃You　shall　succeed。〃　The　servant　filled　the　glasses
with　wine；　and　Forestier　proposed　the　toast：　〃To　the　long　prosperity
of　'La　Vie　Francaise。'〃　Duroy　felt　superhuman　strength　within　him；
infinite　hope；　and　invincible　resolution。　He　was　at　his　ease　now
among　these　people；　his　eyes　rested　upon　their　faces　with　renewed
assurance；　and　for　the　first　time　he　ventured　to　address　his
neighbor：

〃You　have　the　most　beautiful　earrings　I　have　ever　seen。〃

She　turned　toward　him　with　a　smile：　〃It　is　a　fancy　of　mine　to　wear
diamonds　like　this；　simply　on　a　thread。〃

He　murmured　in　reply；　trembling　at　his　audacity：　〃It　is　charming
but　the　ear　increases　the