in journalism a long time?"

Duroy replied: "Only a few months." His embarrassment wearing off, he
began to consider the situation very amusing. He gazed at M. de
Marelle, serious and dignified, and felt a desire to laugh aloud. At
that moment Mme. de Marelle entered and approached Duroy, who in the
presence of her husband dared not kiss her hand. Laurine entered next,
and offered her brow to Georges. Her mother said to her:

"You do not call M. Duroy Bel-Ami to-day."

The child blushed as if it were a gross indiscretion to reveal her
secret.

When the Forestiers arrived, Duroy was startled at Charles's
appearance. He had grown thinner and paler in a week and coughed
incessantly; he said they would leave for Cannes on the following
Thursday at the doctor's orders. They did not stay late; after they had
left, Duroy said, with a shake of his head:

"He will not live long."

Mme. de Marelle replied calmly: "No, he is doomed! He was a lucky man
to obtain such a wife."

Duroy asked: "Does she help him very much?"

"She does all the work; she is well posted on every subject, and she
always gains her point, as she wants it, and when she wants it! Oh, she
is as maneuvering as anyone! She is a treasure to a man who wishes to
succeed."

Georges replied: "She will marry very soon again, I have no doubt."

"Yes! I should not even be surprised if she had some one in view--a
deputy! but I do not know anything about it."

M. de Marelle said impatiently: "You infer so many things that I do not
like! We should never interfere in the affairs of others. Everyone
should make that a rule."

Duroy took his leave with a heavy heart. The next day he called on the
Forestiers, and found them in the midst of packing. Charles lay upon a
sofa and repeated: "I should have gone a month ago." Then he proceeded
to give Duroy innumerable orders, although everything had been arranged
with M. Walter. When Georges left him, he pressed his comrade's hand
and said:

"Well, old fellow, we shall soon meet again."

Mme. Forestier accompanied him to the door and he reminded her of their
compact. "We are friends and allies, are we not? If you should require
my services in any way, do not hesitate to call upon me. Send me a
dispatch or a letter and I will obey."

She murmured: "Thank you, I shall not forget."

As Duroy descended the staircase, he met M. de Vaudrec ascending. The
Count seemed sad--perhaps at the approaching departure.

The j