Chapter 4

DUROY LEARNS SOMETHING

Georges Duroy did not sleep well, so anxious was he to see his
article in print. He rose at daybreak, and was on the street long
before the newsboys. When he secured a paper and saw his name at the
end of a column in large letters, he became very much excited. He
felt inclined to enact the part of a newsboy and cry out to the
hurrying throng: "Buy this! it contains an article by me!" He
strolled along to a cafe and seated himself in order to read the
article through; that done he decided to go to the railroad office,
draw his salary, and hand in his resignation.

With great pomposity he informed the chief clerk that he was on the
staff of "La Vie Francaise," and by that means was avenged for many
petty insults which had been offered him. He then had some cards
written with his new calling beneath his name, made several
purchases, and repaired to the office of "La Vie Francaise."
Forestier received him loftily as one would an inferior.

"Ah, here you are! Very well; I have several things for you to do.
Just wait ten minutes till I finish this work." He continued
writing.

At the other end of the table sat a short, pale man, very stout and
bald. Forestier asked him, when his letter was completed, "Saint-
Potin, at what time shall you interview those people?"

"At four o'clock."

"Take Duroy, who is here, with you and initiate him into the
business."

"Very well."

Then turning to his friend, Forestier added: "Have you brought the
other paper on Algeria? The article this morning was very
successful."

Duroy stammered: "No, I thought I should have time this afternoon. I
had so much to do--I could not."

The other shrugged his shoulders. "If you are not more careful, you
will spoil your future. M. Walter counted on your copy. I will tell
him it will be ready to-morrow. If you think you will be paid for
doing nothing, you are mistaken." After a pause, he added: "You
should strike while the iron is hot."

Saint-Potin rose: "I am ready," said he.

Forestier turned around in his chair and said, to Duroy: "Listen.
The Chinese general Li-Theng-Fao, stopping at the Continental, and
Rajah Taposahib Ramaderao Pali, stopping at Hotel Bishop, have been
in Paris two days. You must interview them." Addressing Saint-Potin,
he said: "Do not forget the principal points I indicated to you. Ask
the general and the rajah their opinions on the dealings of England
in the extreme East, their ideas of their system of colonization and
government, their hopes relative to the intervention of Europe and