m, or treat him with insolence? If he
did not approach her, what would people think? He said to himself: "I
will gain time, at any rate." He was so moved that for a moment he
thought of feigning a sudden illness, which would allow him to withdraw.
The examination of the walls was over. The governor went to put down his
lamp and welcome the last comer, while Duroy began to re-examine the
pictures as if he could not tire of admiring them. He was quite upset.
What should he do? Madame Forestier called to him: "Monsieur Duroy." He
went to her. It was to speak to him of a friend of hers who was about
to give a fete, and who would like to have a line to that effect in the
_Vie Francaise_. He gasped out: "Certainly, Madame, certainly."

Madame de Marelle was now quite close to him. He dared not turn round to
go away. All at once he thought he was going mad; she had said aloud:
"Good evening, Pretty-boy. So you no longer recognize me."

He rapidly turned on his heels. She stood before him smiling, her eyes
beaming with sprightliness and affection, and held out her hand. He took
it tremblingly, still fearing some trick, some perfidy. She added,
calmly: "What has become of you? One no longer sees anything of you."

He stammered, without being able to recover his coolness: "I have a
great deal to do, Madame, a great deal to do. Monsieur Walter has
entrusted me with new duties which give me a great deal of occupation."

She replied, still looking him in the face, but without his being able
to discover anything save good will in her glance: "I know it. But that
is no reason for forgetting your friends."

They were separated by a lady who came in, with red arms and red face, a
stout lady in a very low dress, got up with pretentiousness, and walking
so heavily that one guessed by her motions the size and weight of her
legs. As she seemed to be treated with great attention, Duroy asked
Madame Forestier: "Who is that lady?"

"The Viscomtesse de Percemur, who signs her articles 'Lily Fingers.'"

He was astounded, and seized on by an inclination to laugh.

"'Lily Fingers!' 'Lily Fingers!' and I imagined her young like
yourself. So that is 'Lily Fingers.' That is very funny, very funny."

A servant appeared in the doorway and announced dinner. The dinner was
commonplace and lively, one of those dinners at which people talk about
everything, without saying anything. Duroy found himself between the
elder daughter of the master of the