d wrote down the names in order to study them.
Suddenly she cried: "Now I have it," and held toward him a sheet of
paper on which was written: "Mme. Duroy de Cantel."

Gravely he replied: "Yes, it is very nice."

She was delighted, and repeated: "Duroy de Cantel. Mme. Duroy de
Cantel. It is excellent, excellent!"

Then she added with an air of conviction: "You will see how easily it
will be accepted by everyone! After to-morrow, sign your articles 'D.
de Cantel,' and your 'Echoes' simply 'Duroy.' That is done on the press
every day and no one will be surprised to see you take a nom de plume.
What is your father's name?"

"Alexandre."

She murmured "Alexandre!" two or three times in succession; then she
wrote upon a blank sheet:

"M. and Mme. Alexandre du Roy de Cantel announce the marriage of their
son, M. Georges du Roy de Cantel with Mme. Forestier."

She examined her writing, and, charmed with the effect, exclaimed:
"With a little method one can succeed in anything."

When Georges reached the street resolved to call himself, henceforth,
"Du Roy," or even "Du Roy de Cantel," it seemed to him that he was of
more importance. He swaggered more boldly, held his head more erect and
walked as he thought gentlemen should. He felt a desire to inform the
passers-by, "My name is Du Roy de Cantel."

Scarcely had he entered his apartments when the thought of Mme. de
Marelle rendered him uneasy, and he wrote to her immediately,
appointing a meeting for the following day.

"It will be hard," thought he. "There will be a quarrel surely."

The next morning he received a telegram from Madame, informing him that
she would be with him at one o'clock. He awaited her impatiently,
determined to confess at once and afterward to argue with her, to tell
her that he could not remain a bachelor indefinitely, and that, as M.
de Marelle persisted in living, he had been compelled to choose some
one else as a legal companion. When the bell rang, his heart gave a
bound.

Mme. de Marelle entered and cast herself into his arms, saying: "Good
afternoon, Bel-Ami." Perceiving that his embrace was colder than usual,
she glanced up at him and asked: "What ails you?"

"Take a seat," said he. "We must talk seriously."

She seated herself without removing her hat, and waited. He cast down
his eyes; he was preparing to commence.

Finally he said slowly: "My dear friend, you see that I am very much
perplexed, very sad, and very much embarrass