Милый друг

           Hisfriendasked:"Shallyouremainanylonger?Iamgoing;Ihavehadenough."

           Georgesmurmured:"Yes,Iwillstayalittlelonger:itisnotlate."

           Forestierarose:"Verywell,then,good-byeuntilto-morrow.Donotforget:17RueFontaineatseventhirty."

           "Ishallnotforget.Thankyou."

           ThefriendsshookhandsandthejournalistleftDuroytohisowndevices.

           Forestieronceoutofsight,Duroyfeltfree,andagainhejoyouslytouchedthegoldpiecesinhispocket;thenrising,hemingledwiththecrowd.

           Hesoondiscoveredtheblondeandthebrunette.Hewenttowardthem,butwhennearthemdarednotaddressthem.

           Thebrunettecalledouttohim:"Haveyoufoundyourtongue?"

           Hestammered:"Zounds!"toobashfultosayanotherword.Apauseensued,duringwhichthebrunettetookhisarmandtogethertheyleftthehall.