Милый друг
A Step Upward
Themanattheheadofthatdepartmentshouldbewideawake,alwaysonhisguard,quicktojudgeofwhatwasbesttobesaidandbesttobeomitted,todivinewhatwouldpleasethepublicandtopresentitwell.Duroywasjustthemanfortheplace.
Hewasenjoyingthefactofhispromotion,whenhereceivedanengravedcardwhichread:
"M.andMme.WalterrequestthepleasureofM.GeorgesDuroy’scompanyatdinneronThursday,January20."
Hewassodelightedthathekissedtheinvitationasifithadbeenalove-letter.
Thenhesoughtthecashiertosettletheimportantquestionofhissalary.AtfirsttwelvehundredfrancswereallowedDuroy,whointendedtosavealargeshareofthemoney.Hewasbusytwodaysgettingsettledinhisnewposition,inalargeroom,oneendofwhichheoccupied,andtheotherendofwhichwasallottedtoBoisrenard,whoworkedwithhim.
Thedayofthedinner-partyhelefttheofficeingoodseason,inordertohavetimetodress,andwaswalkingalongRuedeLondreswhenhesawbeforehimaformwhichresembledMme.deMarelle’s.Hefelthischeeksglowandhisheartthrob.Hecrossedthestreetinordertoseethelady’sface;hewasmistaken,andbreathedmorefreely.HehadoftenwonderedwhatheshoulddoifhemetClotildefacetoface.Shouldhebowtoherorpretendnottoseeher?"Ishouldnotseeher,"thoughthe.
