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to embonpoint； and said to her in a whisper intended to be heard；
〃There is a nice fellow！〃
Forestier heard it； and said to Duroy with a smile： 〃You are lucky；
my dear boy。 My congratulations！〃
The ci…devant soldier blushed and mechanically fingered the two
pieces of gold in his pocket。
The curtain fellthe orchestra played a valseand Duroy said：
〃Shall we walk around the gallery？〃
〃If you like。〃
Soon they were carried along in the current of promenaders。 Duroy
drank in with delight the air； vitiated as it was by tobacco and
cheap perfume； but Forestier perspired； panted； and coughed。
〃Let us go into the garden；〃 he said。 Turning to the left； they
entered a kind of covered garden in which two large fountains were
playing。 Under the yews； men and women sat at tables drinking。
〃Another glass of beer？〃 asked Forestier。
〃Gladly。〃
They took their seats and watched the promenaders。 Occasionally a
woman would stop and ask with a coarse smile： 〃What have you to
offer； sir？〃
Forestier's invariable answer was： 〃A glass of water from the
fountain。〃 And the woman would mutter； 〃Go along；〃 and walk away。
At last the brunette reappeared； arm…in…arm with the blonde。 They
made a handsome couple。 The former smiled on perceiving Duroy； and
taking a chair she calmly seated herself in front of him； and said
in a clear voice： 〃Waiter； two glasses。〃
In astonishment； Forestier exclaimed： 〃You are not at all bashful！〃
She replied： 〃Your friend has bewitched me； he is such a fine
fellow。 I believe he has turned my head。〃
Duroy said nothing。
The waiter brought the beer； which the women swallowed rapidly； then
they rose； and the brunette； nodding her head and tapping Duroy's
arm with her fan； said to him： 〃Thank you； my dear！ However； you are
not very talkative。〃
As they disappeared； Forestier laughed and said： 〃Tell； me； old man；
did you know that you had a charm for the weaker sex？ You must be
careful。〃
Without replying； Duroy smiled。 His friend asked： 〃Shall you remain
any longer？ I am going； I have had enough。〃
Georges murmured： 〃Yes； I will stay a little longer： it is not
late。〃
Forestier arose： 〃Very well； then； good…bye until to…morrow。 Do not
forget： 17 Rue Fontaine at seven thirty。〃
〃I shall not forget。 Thank you。〃
The friends shook hands and the journalist left Duroy to his own
devices。
Forestier once out of sight； Duroy felt free； and again he joyously
touched the gold pieces in his pocket； then rising； he mingled with
the crowd。
He soon discovered the blonde and the brunette。 He went toward them；
but when near them dared not address them。
The brunette called out to him： 〃Have you found your tongue？〃
He stammered： 〃Zounds！〃 too bashful to say another word。 A pause
ensued； during which the brunette took his arm and together they
left the hall。
CHAPTER II。
MADAME FORESTIER
〃Where does M。 Forestier live？〃
〃Third floor on the left；〃 said the porter pleasantly； on learning
Duroy's destination。
Georges ascended the staircase。 He was somewhat embarrassed and ill…
at…ease。 He had on a new suit but he was uncomfortable。 He felt that
it was defective； his boots were not glossy； he had bought his shirt
that same evening at the Louvre for four francs fifty； his trousers
were too wide and betrayed their cheapness in their fit； or rather；
misfit； and his coat was too tight。
Slowly he ascended the stairs； his heart beating； his mind anxious。
Suddenly before him stood a well…dressed gentleman staring at him。
The person resembled Duroy so close that the latter retreated； then
stopped； and saw that it was his own image reflected in a pier…
glass！ Not having anything but a small mirror at home； he had not
been able to see himself entirely； and had exaggerated the
imperfections of his toilette。 When he saw his reflection in the
glass； he did not even recognize himself； he took himself for some
one else； for a man…of…the…world； and was really satisfied with his
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 spec