ds--is it settled?"

"It is."

Having observed the effect of his last compliment, he said: "If you
ever become a widow, I have put in my application!" Then he left the
room hastily in order not to allow her time to be angry.

Duroy did not like to call on Mme. Walter, for he had never been
invited, and he did not wish to commit a breach of etiquette. The
manager had been kind to him, appreciated his services, employed him to
do difficult work, why should he not profit by that show of favor to
call at his house? One day, therefore, he repaired to the market and
bought twenty-five pears. Having carefully arranged them in a basket to
make them appear as if they came from a distance he took them to Mme.
Walter's door with his card on which was inscribed:

"Georges Duroy begs Mme. Walter to accept the fruit which he
received this morning from Normandy."

The following day he found in his letter-box at the office an envelope
containing Mme, Walter's card on which was written:

"Mme. Walter thanks M. Georges Duroy very much, and is at home
on Saturdays."

The next Saturday he called. M. Walter lived on Boulevard Malesherbes
in a double house which he owned. The reception-rooms were on the first
floor. In the antechamber were two footmen; one took Duroy's overcoat,
the other his cane, put it aside, opened a door and announced the
visitor's name. In the large mirror in the apartment Duroy could see
the reflection of people seated in another room. He passed through two
drawing-rooms and entered a small boudoir in which four ladies were
gathered around a tea-table. Notwithstanding the assurance he had
gained during his life in Paris, and especially since he had been
thrown in contact with so many noted personages, Duroy felt abashed. He
stammered:

"Madame, I took the liberty."

The mistress of the house extended her hand and said to him: "You are
very kind, M. Duroy, to come to see me." She pointed to a chair. The
ladies chatted on. Visitors came and went. Mme. Walter noticed that
Duroy said nothing, that no one addressed him, that he seemed
disconcerted, and she drew him into the conversation which dealt with
the admission of a certain M. Linet to the Academy. When Duroy had
taken his leave, one of the ladies said: "How odd he is! Who is he?"

Mme. Walter replied: "One of our reporters; he only occupies a minor
position, but I think he will advance rapidly."

In the meantime, while he was being di