s, then he turned to the clerk and said: "M.
Walter had an appointment with me at three o'clock. At any rate, see if
my friend M. Forestier is here."

He was conducted along a corridor and ushered into a large room in
which four men were writing at a table. Forestier was standing before
the fireplace, smoking a cigarette. After listening to Duroy's story he
said:

"Come with me; I will take you to M. Walter, or else you might remain
here until seven o'clock."

They entered the manager's room. Norbert de Varenne was writing an
article, seated in an easychair; Jacques Rival, stretched upon a divan,
was smoking a cigar. The room had the peculiar odor familiar to all
journalists. When they approached M. Walter, Forestier said: "Here is
my friend Duroy."

The manager looked keenly at the young man and asked:

"Have you brought my article?"

Duroy drew the sheets of manuscript from his pocket.

"Here they are, Monsieur."

The manager seemed delighted and said with a smile: "Very good. You are
a man of your word. Need I look over it, Forestier?"

But Forestier hastened to reply: "It is not necessary, M. Walter; I
helped him in order to initiate him into the profession. It is very
good." Then bending toward him, he whispered: "You know you promised to
engage Duroy to replace Marambot. Will you allow me to retain him on
the same terms?"

"Certainly."

Taking his friend's arm, the journalist drew him away, while M. Walter
returned to the game of ecarte he had been engaged in when they
entered. Forestier and Duroy returned to the room in which Georges had
found his friend. The latter said to his new reporter:

"You must come here every day at three o'clock, and I will tell you
what places to go to. First of all, I shall give you a letter of
introduction to the chief of the police, who will in turn introduce you
to one of his employees. You can arrange with him for all important
news, official and semiofficial. For details you can apply to
Saint-Potin, who is posted; you will see him to-morrow. Above all, you
must learn to make your way everywhere in spite of closed doors. You
will receive two hundred francs a months, two sous a line for original
matter, and two sous a line for articles you are ordered to write on
different subjects."

"What shall I do to-day?" asked Duroy.

"I have no work for you to-day; you can go if you wish to."

"And our--our article?"

"Oh, do not worry about it; I will correct the proo