Poverty

           Afterchanginghisfive-francpieceGeorgesDuroylefttherestaurant.Hetwistedhismustacheinmilitarystyleandcastarapid,sweepingglanceuponthediners,amongwhomwerethreesaleswomen,anuntidymusic-teacherofuncertainage,andtwowomenwiththeirhusbands.

           Whenhereachedthesidewalk,hepausedtoconsiderwhatrouteheshouldtake.Itwasthetwenty-eighthofJuneandhehadonlythreefrancsinhispockettolasthimtheremainderofthemonth.Thatmeanttwodinnersandnolunches,ortwolunchesandnodinners,accordingtochoice.Ashepondereduponthisunpleasantstateofaffairs,hesauntereddownRueNotreDamedeLorette,preservinghismilitaryairandcarriage,andrudelyjostledthepeopleuponthestreetsinordertoclearapathforhimself.Heappearedtobehostiletothepassers-by,andeventothehouses,theentirecity.

           Tall,well-built,fair,withblueeyes,acurledmustache,hairnaturallywavyandpartedinthemiddle,herecalledtheheroofthepopularromances.

           Itwasoneofthosesultry,Parisianeveningswhennotabreathofairisstirring;thesewersexhaledpoisonousgasesandtherestaurantsthedisagreeableodorsofcookingandofkindredsmells.Portersintheirshirt-sleeves,astridetheirchairs,smokedtheirpipesatthecarriagegates,andpedestriansstrolledleisurelyalong,hatsinhand.

           WhenGeorgesDuroyreachedtheboulevardhehaltedagain,undecidedastowhichroadtochoose.