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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 beauty of the ornament。〃
She thanked him with a glance。 As he turned his head； he met Mme。
Forestier's eyes； in which he fancied he saw a mingled expression of
gaiety； malice； and encouragement。 All the men were talking at the
same time； their discussion was animated。
When the party left the dining…room； Duroy offered his arm to the
little girl。 She thanked him gravely and stood upon tiptoe in order
to lay her hand upon his arm。 Upon entering the drawing…room； the
young man carefully surveyed it。 It was not a large room； but there
were no bright colors； and one felt at ease； it was restful。 The
walls were draped with violet hangings covered with tiny embroidered
flowers of yellow silk。 The portieres were of a grayish blue and the
chairs were of all shapes； of all sizes； scattered about the room
were couches and large and small easy…chairs； all covered with Louis
XVI。 brocade； or Utrecht velvet； a cream colored ground with garnet
flowers。
〃Do you take coffee； M。 Duroy？〃 Mme。 Forestier offered him a cup；
with the smile