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She was touched by those words； and in a soft voice； placing her
hand upon his arm； she said： 〃I am going to begin my offices at
once。 You are not diplomatic〃 she hesitated。 〃May I speak freely？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Call upon Mme。 Walter who has taken a fancy to you。 But be guarded
as to your compliments； for she is virtuous。 You will make a better
impression there by being careful in your remarks。 I know that your
position at the office is unsatisfactory； but do not worry； all
their employees are treated alike。〃
He said： 〃Thanks； you are an angela guardian angel。〃
As he took his leave； he asked again： 〃Are we friendsis it
settled？〃
〃It is。〃
Having observed the effect of his last compliment； he said： 〃If you
ever become a widow； I have put in my application！〃 Then he left the
room hastily in order not to allow her time to be angry。
Duroy did not like to call on Mme。 Walter； for he had never been
invited； and he did not wish to commit a breach of etiquette。 The
manager had been kind to him； appreciated his services； employed him
to do difficult work； why should he not profit by that show of favor
to call at his house？ One day； therefore； he repaired to the market
and bought twenty…five pears。 Having carefully arranged them in a
basket to make them appear as if they came from a distance he took
them to Mme。 Walter's door with his card on which was inscribed：
〃Georges Duroy begs Mme。 Walter to accept the fruit which he
received this morning from Normandy。〃
The following day he found in his letter…box at the office an
envelope containing Mme； Walter's card on which was written：
〃Mme。 Walter thanks M。 Georges Duroy very much； and is at home
on Saturdays。〃
The next Saturday he called。 M。 Walter lived on Boulevard
Malesherbes in a double house which he owned。 The reception…rooms
were on the first floor。 In the antechamber were two footmen； one
took Duroy's overcoat； the other his cane； put it aside； opened a
door and announced the visitor's name。 In the large mirror in the
apartment Duroy could see the reflection of people seated in another
room。 He passed through two drawing…rooms and entered a small
boudoir in which four ladies were gathered around a tea…table。
Notwithstanding the assurance he had gained during his life in
Paris； and especially since he had been thrown in contact with so
many noted personages； Duroy felt abashed。 He stammered：
〃Madame； I took the liberty。〃
The mistress of the house extended her hand and said to him： 〃You
are very kind； M。 Duroy； to come to see me。〃 She pointed to a chair。
The ladies chatted on。 Visitors came and went。 Mme。 Walter noticed
that Duroy said nothing； that no one addressed him； that he seemed
disconcerted； and she drew him into the conversation which dealt
with the admission of a certain M。 Linet to the Academy。 When Duroy
had taken his leave； one of the ladies said： 〃How odd he is！ Who is
he？〃
Mme。 Walter replied： 〃One of our reporters； he only occupies a minor
position； but I think he will advance rapidly。〃
In the meantime； while he was being discussed； Duroy walked gaily
down Boulevard Malesherbes。
The following week he was appointed editor of the 〃Echoes；〃 and
invited to dine at Mme。 Walter's。 The 〃Echoes〃 were； M。 Walter said；
the very pith of the paper。 Everything and everybody should be
remembered； all countries； all professions； Paris and the provinces；
the army； the arts； the clergy； the schools； the rulers； and the
courtiers。 The man at the head of that department should be wide
awake； always on his guard； quick to judge of what was best to be
said and best to be omitted； to divine what would please the public
and to present it well。 Duroy was just the man for the place。
He was enjoying the fact of his promotion； when he received an
engraved card which read：
〃M。 and Mme。 Walter request the pleasure of M。 Georges Duroy's
company at dinner on Thursday； January 20。〃
He was so delighted that he kissed the invitation as if it had been
a love…letter。
Then he sought the cashier to settle the important question of his
salary。 At first twelve hundred francs were allowed Duroy； who
intended to save a large share of the money。 He was busy two days
getting settled in his new position； in a large room； one end of
which he occupied； and the other end of which was allotted to
Boisrenard； who worked with him。
The day of the dinner…party he left the office in good season； in
order to have time to dress； and was walking along Rue de Londres
when he saw before him a form which resembled Mme。 de Marelle's。 He
felt his cheeks glow and his heart throb。 He crossed the street in
order to see the lady's face； he was mistaken； and breathed more
freely。 He had often wondered what he should do if he met Clotilde
face to face。 Should he bow to her or pretend not to see her？ 〃I
should not see her；〃 thought he。
When Duroy entered his rooms he thought： 〃I must change my
apartments； these will not do any longer。〃 He felt both nervous and
gay； and said aloud to himself： 〃I must write to my father。〃
Occasionally he wrote home； and his letters always delighted his old
parents。 As he tied his cravat at the mirror he repeated： 〃I must
write home to…morrow。 If my father could see me this evening in the
house to which I am going； he would be surprised。 Sacristi； I shall
soon give a dinner which has never been equaled！〃
Then he recalled his old home； the faces of his father and mother。
He saw them seated at their homely board； eating their soup。 He
remembered every wrinkle on their old faces； every movement of their
hands and heads； he even knew what they said to each other every
evening as they supped。 He thought： 〃I will go to see them some
day。〃 His toilette completed； he extinguished his light and
descended the stairs。
On reaching his destination； he boldly entered the antechamber；
lighted by bronze lamps； and gave his cane and his overcoat to the
two lackeys who approached him。 All the salons were lighted。 Mme。
Walter received in the second； the largest。 She greeted Duroy with a
charming smile； and he shook hands with two men who arrived after
him； M。 Firmin and M。 Laroche…Mathieu； the latter had especial
authority at the office on account of his influence in the chamber
of deputies。
Then the Forestiers arrived； Madeleine looking charming in pink。
Charles had become very much emaciated and coughed incessantly。
Norbert de Varenne and Jacques Rival came together。 A door opened at
the end of the room； and M。 Walter entered with two tall young girls
of sixteen and seventeen； one plain； the other pretty。 Duroy knew
that the manager was a paterfamilias； but he was astonished。 He had
thought of the manager's daughters as one thinks of a distant
country one will never see。 Then； too； he had fancied them children；
and he saw women。 They shook hands upon being introduced and seated
themselves at a table set apart for them。 One of the guests had not
arrived； and that embarrassing silence which precedes dinners in
general reigned supreme。
Duroy happening to glance at the walls； M。 Walter said： 〃You are
looking at my pictures？ I will show them