Милый друг

           Heknewthatwhenthebeerwasplacedinfrontofhim,hewoulddrinkit;andthenwhatwouldhedoateleveno’clock?Sohewalkedon,intendingtogoasfarastheMadeleineandreturn.

           WhenhereachedthePlacedel’Opera,atall,youngmanpassedhim,whosefacehefanciedwasfamiliar.Hefollowedhim,repeating:"WherethedeucehaveIseenthatfellow?"

           Foratimeherackedhisbraininvain;thensuddenlyhesawthesameman,butnotsocorpulentandmoreyouthful,attiredintheuniformofaHussar.Heexclaimed:"Wait,Forestier!"andhasteninguptohim,laidhishandupontheman’sshoulder.Thelatterturned,lookedathim,andsaid:"Whatdoyouwant,sir?"

           Duroybegantolaugh:"Don’tyourememberme?"

           "No."

           "NotrememberGeorgesDuroyoftheSixthHussars."

           Forestierextendedbothhands.

           "Ah,mydearfellow,howareyou?"

           "Verywell.Andhowareyou?"

           "Oh,Iamnotverywell.IcoughsixmonthsoutofthetwelveasaresultofbronchitiscontractedatBougival,aboutthetimeofmyreturntoParisfouryearsago."

           "Butyoulookwell."

           Forestier,takinghisformercomrade’sarm,toldhimofhismalady,oftheconsultations,theopinionsandtheadviceofthedoctorsandofthedifficultyoffollowingtheiradviceinhisposition.