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least no one knows you； you can leave it if you wish to at any time。
But when you are once a riding…master all will be over。 You might as
well be a butler in a house to which all Paris comes to dine。 When
you have given riding lessons to men of the world or to their sons；
they will no longer consider you their equal。〃
He paused； reflected several seconds and then asked：
〃Are you a bachelor？〃
〃Yes； though I have been smitten several times。〃
〃That makes no difference。 If Cicero and Tiberius were mentioned
would you know who they were？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Good； no one knows any more except about a score of fools。 It is
not difficult to pass for being learned。 The secret is not to betray
your ignorance。 Just maneuver； avoid the quicksands and obstacles；
and the rest can be found in a dictionary。〃
He spoke like one who understood human nature； and he smiled as the
crowd passed them by。 Suddenly he began to cough and stopped to
allow the paroxysm to spend itself； then he said in a discouraged
tone：
〃Isn't it tiresome not to be able to get rid of this bronchitis？ And
here is midsummer！ This winter I shall go to Mentone。 Health before
everything。〃
They reached the Boulevarde Poissoniere； behind a large glass door
an open paper was affixed； three people were reading it。 Above the
door was printed the legend； 〃La Vie Francaise。〃
Forestier pushed open the door and said： 〃Come in。〃 Duroy entered；
they ascended the stairs； passed through an antechamber in which two
clerks greeted their comrade； and then entered a kind of waiting…
room。
〃Sit down；〃 said Forestier； 〃I shall be back in five minutes；〃 and
he disappeared。
Duroy remained where he was； from time to time men passed him by；
entering by one door and going out by another before he had time to
glance at them。
Now they were young men； very young； with a busy air； holding sheets
of paper in their hands； now compositors； their shirts spotted with
inkcarefully carrying what were evidently fresh proofs。
Occasionally a gentleman entered； fashionably dressed； some reporter
bringing news。
Forestier reappeared arm…in…arm with a tall； thin man of thirty or
forty； dressed in a black coat； with a white cravat； a dark
complexion； and an insolent； self…satisfied air。 Forestier said to
him： 〃Adieu； my dear sir；〃 and the other pressed his hand with： 〃Au
revoir； my friend。〃 Then he descended the stairs whistling； his cane
under his arm。
Duroy asked his name。
〃That is Jacques Rival； the celebrated writer and duelist。 He came
to correct his proofs。 Garin； Montel and he are the best witty and
realistic writers we have in Paris。 He earns thirty thousand francs
a year for two articles a week。〃
As they went downstairs； they met a stout； little man with long
hair； who was ascending the stairs whistling。 Forestier bowed low。
〃Norbert de Varenne；〃 said he； 〃the poet； the author of 'Les Soleils
Morts；'a very expensive man。 Every poem he gives us costs three
hundred francs and the longest has not two hundred lines。 But let us
go into the Napolitain； I am getting thirsty。〃
When they were seated at a table； Forestier ordered two glasses of
beer。 He emptied his at a single draught； while Duroy sipped his
beer slowly as if it were something rare and precious。 Suddenly his
companion asked； 〃Why don't you try journalism？〃
Duroy looked at him in surprise and said： 〃Because I have never
written anything。〃
〃Bah； we all have to make a beginning。 I could employ you myself by
sending you to obtain information。 At first you would only get two
hundred and fifty francs a month but your cab fare would be paid。
Shall I speak to the manager？〃
〃If you will。〃
〃Well； then come and dine with me to…morrow； I will only ask five or
six to meet you； the manager； M。 Walter； his wife； with Jacques
Rival； and Norbert de Varenne whom you have just seen； and also a
friend of Mme。 Forestier； Will you come？〃
Duroy hesitated； blushing and perplexed。 Finally he； murmured： 〃I
have no suitable clothes。〃
Forestier was amazed。 〃You have no dress suit？ Egad； that is
indispensable。 In Paris； it is better to have no bed than no
clothes。〃 Then； fumbling in his vest…pocket； he drew from it two
louis； placed them before his companion； and said kindly： 〃You can
repay me when it is convenient。 Buy yourself what you need and pay
an installment on it。 And come and dine with us at half past seven；
at 17 Rue Fontaine。〃
In confusion Duroy picked up the money and stammered： 〃You are very
kindI am much obligedbe sure I shall not forget。〃
Forestier interrupted him： 〃That's all right； take another glass of
beer。 Waiter； two more glasses！〃 When he had paid the score； the
journalist asked： 〃Would you like a stroll for an hour？〃
〃Certainly。〃
They turned toward the Madeleine。 〃What shall we do？〃 asked
Forestier。 〃They say that in Paris an idler can always find
amusement； but it is not true。 A turn in the Bois is only enjoyable
if you have a lady with you； and that is a rare occurrence。 The cafe
concerts may divert my tailor and his wife； but they do not interest
me。 So what can we do？ Nothing！ There ought to be a summer garden
here； open at night； where a man could listen to good music while
drinking beneath the trees。 It would be a pleasant lounging place。
You could walk in alleys bright with electric light and seat
yourself where you pleased to hear the music。 It would be charming。
Where would you like to go？〃
Duroy did not know what to reply； finally he said： 〃I have never
been to the Folies Bergeres。 I should like to go there。〃
His companion exclaimed： 〃The Folies Bergeres！ Very well！〃
They turned and walked toward the Faubourg Montmartre。 The
brilliantly illuminated building loomed up before them。 Forestier
entered； Duroy stopped him。 〃We forgot to pass through the gate。〃
The other replied in a consequential tone： 〃I never pay；〃 and
approached the box…office。
〃Have you a good box？〃
〃Certainly； M。 Forestier。〃
He took the ticket handed him； pushed open the door； and they were
within the hall。 A cloud of tobacco smoke almost hid the stage and
the opposite side of the theater。 In the spacious foyer which led to
the circular promenade； brilliantly dressed women mingled with
black…coated men。
Forestier forced his way rapidly through the throng and accosted an
usher。
〃Box 17？〃
〃This way； sir。〃
The friends were shown into a tiny box； hung and carpeted in red；
with four chairs upholstered in the same color。 They seated
themselves。 To their right and left were similar boxes。 On the stage
three men were performing on trapezes。 But Duroy paid no heed to
them； his eyes finding more to interest them in the grand promenade。
Forestier remarked upon the motley appearance of the throng； but
Duroy did not listen to him。 A woman； leaning her arms upon the edge
of her loge； was staring at him。 She was a tall； voluptuous
brunette； her face whitened with enamel； her black eyes penciled；
and her lips painted。 With a movement of her head； she summoned a
friend who was passing； a blonde with auburn hair； likewise inclined
to embonpoint； and said to her in a whisper intended to be heard；
〃There is a nic