the world, Greeks, cabmen, waiters at cafes, and many others. In
short he soon became a remarkable reporter, of great value to the
paper, so M. Walter said. But as he only received ten centimes a line
in addition to his fixed salary of two hundred francs and as his
expenses were large, he never had a sou. When he saw certain of his
associates with their pockets full of money, he wondered what secret
means they employed in order to obtain it. He determined to penetrate
that mystery, to enter into the association, to obtrude himself upon
his comrades, and make them share with him. Often at evening, as he
watched the trains pass his window, he dreamed of the conduct he might
pursue.

CHAPTER V.

THE FIRST INTRIGUE

Two months elapsed. It was September. The fortune which Duroy had hoped
to make so rapidly seemed to him slow in coming. Above all he was
dissatisfied with the mediocrity of his position; he was appreciated,
but was treated according to his rank. Forestier himself no longer
invited him to dinner, and treated him as an inferior. Often he had
thought of making Mme. Forestier a visit, but the remembrance of their
last meeting restrained him. Mme. de Marelle had invited him to call,
saying: "I am always at home about three o'clock." So one afternoon,
when he had nothing to do, he proceeded toward her house. She lived on
Rue Verneuil, on the fourth floor. A maid answered his summons, and
said: "Yes, Madame is at home, but I do not know whether she has
risen." She conducted Duroy into the drawing-room, which was large,
poorly furnished, and somewhat untidy. The shabby, threadbare chairs
were ranged along the walls according to the servant's fancy, for there
was not a trace visible of the care of a woman who loves her home.
Duroy took a seat and waited some time. Then a door opened and Mme. de
Marelle entered hastily, clad in a Japanese dressing-gown. She
exclaimed:

"How kind of you to come to see me. I was positive you had forgotten
me." She held out her hand to him with a gesture of delight; and Duroy,
quite at his ease in that shabby apartment, kissed it as he had seen
Norbert de Varenne do.

Examining him from head to foot, she cried: "How you have changed!
Well; tell me the news."

They began to chat at once as if they were old acquaintances, and in
five minutes an intimacy, a mutual understanding, was established
between those two beings alike in character and kind. Suddenly the
young woman said