f into debt.

"I shall have to starve for the next six months."

"Shall I lend you some?" she whispered.

He replied with dignity: "You are very kind, dearest; but do not
mention that again; it wounds me."

She murmured: "You will never know how much I love you." On taking
leave of him, she asked: "Shall we meet again the day after to-morrow?"

"Certainly."

"At the same time?"

"Yes, my darling."

They parted.

When Duroy opened his bedroom door and fumbled in his vest pocket for a
match, he was amazed to find in it a piece of money--a twenty-franc
piece! At first he wondered by what miracle it had got there; suddenly
it occurred to him that Mme. de Marelle had given him alms! Angry and
humiliated, he determined to return it when next they met. The next
morning it was late when he awoke; he tried to overcome his hunger. He
went out and as he passed the restaurants he could scarcely resist
their temptations. At noon he said: "Bah, I shall lunch upon Clotilde's
twenty francs; that will not hinder me from returning the money
to-morrow."

He ate his lunch, for which he paid two francs fifty, and on entering
the office of "La Vie Francaise" he repaid the porter the three francs
he had borrowed from him. He worked until seven o'clock, then he dined,
and he continued to draw upon the twenty francs until only four francs
twenty remained. He decided to say to Mme. de Marelle upon her arrival:

"I found the twenty-franc piece you slipped into my pocket. I will not
return the money to-day, but I will repay you when we next meet."

When Madame came, he dared not broach the delicate subject. They spent
the evening together and appointed their next meeting for Wednesday of
the following week, for Mme. de Marelle had a number of engagements.
Duroy continued to accept money from Clotilde and quieted his
conscience by assuring himself: "I will give it back in a lump. It is
nothing but borrowed money anyway." So he kept account of all that he
received in order to pay it back some day.

One evening, Mme. de Marelle said to him: "Would you believe that I
have never been to the Folies-Bergeres; will you take me there?"

He hesitated, fearing a meeting with Rachel. Then he thought: "Bah, I
am not married after all. If she should see me, she would take in the
situation and not accost me. Moreover, we would have a box."

When they entered the hall, it was crowded; with difficulty they made
their way to their seats. Mme. de