s the
brat howling about?"

A woman's voice replied: "Nicolas has been tripped up on the
landing-place by the journalist's sweetheart."

Duroy retreated, for he heard the rustling of skirts. Soon there was a
knock at his door, which he opened, and Mme. de Marelle rushed in,
crying: "Did you hear?" Georges feigned ignorance of the matter.

"No; what?"

"How they insulted me?"

"Who?"

"Those miserable people below."

"Why, no; what is it? Tell me."

She sobbed and could not speak. He was forced to place her upon his bed
and to lay a damp cloth upon her temples. When she grew calmer, anger
succeeded her agitation. She wanted Duroy to go downstairs at once, to
fight them, to kill them.

He replied: "They are working-people. Just think, it would be necessary
to go to court where you would be recognized; one must not compromise
oneself with such people."

She said: "What shall we do? I cannot come here again."

He replied: "That is very simple. I will move."

She murmured: "Yes, but that will take some time."

Suddenly she said: "Listen to me, I have found a means; do not worry
about it. I will send you a 'little blue' to-morrow morning." She
called a telegram a "little blue."

She smiled with delight at her plans, which she would not reveal. She
was, however, very much affected as she descended the staircase and
leaned with all her strength upon her lover's arm. They met no one.

He was still in bed the following morning when the promised telegram
was handed him. Duroy opened it and read:

"Come at five o'clock to Rue de Constantinople, No. 127. Ask
for the room rented by Mme. Duroy. CLO."

At five o'clock precisely he entered a large furnished house and asked
the janitor: "Has Mme. Duroy hired a room here?"

"Yes, sir."

"Will you show me to it, if you please?"

The man, accustomed no doubt to situations in which it was necessary to
be prudent, looked him straight in the eyes; then selecting a key, he
asked: "Are you M. Duroy?"

"Certainly."

He opened a small suite, comprising two rooms on the ground floor.

Duroy thought uneasily: "This will cost a fortune. I shall have to run
into debt. She has done a very foolish thing."

The door opened and Clotilde rushed in. She was enchanted. "Is it not
fine? There are no stairs to climb; it is on the ground floor! One
could come and go through the window without the porter seeing one."

He embraced her nervously, not daring to ask the que