Chapter 4 - Page 2

of France in particular." To Duroy he said: "Observe what Saint-
Potin says; he is an excellent reporter, and try to learn how to
draw out a man in five minutes." Then he resumed his work.

The two men walked down the boulevard together, while Saint-Potin
gave Duroy a sketch of all the officials connected with the paper,
sparing no one in his criticism. When he mentioned Forestier, he
said: "As for him, he was fortunate in marrying his wife."

Duroy asked: "What about his wife?"

Saint-Potin rubbed his hands. "Oh, she is beloved by an old fellow
named Vaudrec--he dotes upon her."

Duroy felt as if he would like to box Saint-Potin's ears. To change
the subject he said: "It seems to me that it is late, and we have
two noble lords to call upon!"

Saint-Potin laughed: "You are very innocent! Do you think that I am
going to interview that Chinese and that Indian? As if I did not
know better than they do what they should think to please the
readers of 'La Vie Francaise'! I have interviewed five hundred
Chinese, Prussians, Hindoos, Chilians, and Japanese. They all say
the same thing. I need only copy my article on the last comer, word
for word, changing the heading, names, titles, and ages: in that
there must be no error, or I shall be hauled over the coals by the
'Figaro' or 'Gaulois.' But on that subject the porter of the hotels
will post me in five minutes. We will smoke our cigars and stroll in
that direction. Total--one hundred sous for cabfare. That is the
way, my dear fellow."

When they arrived at the Madeleine, Saint-Potin said to his
companion: "If you have anything to do, I do not need you."

Duroy shook hands with him and walked away. The thought of the
article he had to write that evening haunted him. Mentally he
collected the material as he wended his way to the cafe at which he
dined. Then he returned home and seated himself at his table to
work. Before his eyes was the sheet of blank paper, but all the
material he had amassed had escaped him. After trying for an hour,
and after filling five pages with sentences which had no connection
one with the other, he said: "I am not yet familiar with the work. I
must take another lesson."

At ten o'clock the following morning he rang the bell, at his
friend's house. The servant who opened the door, said: "Monsieur is
busy."

Duroy had not expected to find Forestier at home. However he said:
"Tell him it is M. Duroy on important business."

In the course of five minutes he was ushered into the room in which
he had spent so happy a morning. In the place Mme. Forestier had
occupied, her husband was