Chapter 6

A STEP UPWARD

The next morning Georges Duroy arose, dressed himself, and
determined to have money; he sought Forestier. His friend received
him in his study.

"What made you rise so early?" he asked.

"A very serious matter. I have a debt of honor."

"A gaming debt?"

He hesitated, then repeated: "A gaming debt."

"Is it large?"

"Five hundred francs." He only needed two hundred and eighty.

Forestier asked sceptically: "To whom do you owe that amount?"

Duroy did not reply at once. "To--to--a--M. de Carleville."

"Ah, where does he live?"

"Rue--Rue--"

Forestier laughed. "I know the gentleman! If you want twenty francs
you can have them, but no more."

Duroy took the gold-piece, called upon more friends, and by five
o'clock had collected eighty francs. As he required two hundred
more, he kept what he had begged and muttered: "I shall not worry
about it. I will pay it when I can."

For two weeks he lived economically, but at the end of that time,
the good resolutions he had formed vanished, and one evening he
returned to the Folies Bergeres in search of Rachel; but the woman
was implacable and heaped coarse insults upon him, until he felt his
cheeks tingle and he left the hall.

Forestier, out of health and feeble, made Duroy's existence at the
office insupportable. The latter did not reply to his rude remarks,
but determined to be avenged. He called upon Mme. Forestier. He
found her reclining upon a couch, reading. She held out her hand
without rising and said: "Good morning, Bel-Ami!"

"Why do you call me by that name?"

She replied with a smile: "I saw Mme. de Marelle last week and I
know what they have christened you at her house."

He took a seat near his hostess and glanced at her curiously; she
was a charming blonde, fair and plump, made for caresses, and he
thought: "She is certainly nicer than the other one." He did not
doubt that he would only have to extend his hand in order to gather
the fruit. As he gazed upon her she chided him for his neglect of
her.

He replied: "I did not come because it was for the best--"

"How? Why?"

"Why? Can you not guess?"

"No!"

"Because I loved you; a little, only a little, and I did not wish to
love you any more."

She did not seem surprised, nor flattered; she smiled indifferently
and replied calmly: "Oh, you can come just the same; no one loves me
long."

"Why not?"

"Because