Милий друг
Madame Forestier
TheywouldspeakArabic,buttheywouldnotknowhowtotransplantbeet-root,andhowtosowwheat.Theywouldbestronginfencing,butweakintheartoffarming.Onthecontrary,thenewcountryshouldbeopenedtoeveryone.Intelligentmenwouldmakepositionsforthemselves;theotherswouldsuccumb.Itisanaturallaw."
Apauseensued.Everyonesmiled.GeorgesDuroy,startledatthesoundofhisownvoice,asifhehadneverheardit,said:
"Whatisneededthemostdownthereisgoodsoil.ReallyfertilelandcostsasmuchasitdoesinFranceandisboughtbywealthyParisians.Therealcolonists,thepoor,aregenerallycastoutintothedesert,wherenothinggrowsforlackofwater."
Alleyesturneduponhim.Hecolored.M.Walterasked:"DoyouknowAlgeria,sir?"
Hereplied:"Yes,sir,Iwastheretwenty-eightmonths."Leavingthesubjectofcolonization,NorbertdeVarennequestionedhimastosomeoftheAlgeriancustoms.Georgesspokewithanimation;excitedbythewineandthedesiretoplease,herelatedanecdotesoftheregiment,ofArabianlife,andofthewar.
Mme.Waltermurmuredtohiminhersofttones:"Youcouldwriteaseriesofcharmingarticles."
ForestiertookadvantageofthesituationtosaytoM.Walter:"Mydearsir,IspoketoyouashortwhilesinceofM.GeorgesDuroyandaskedyoutopermitmetoincludehimonthestaffofpoliticalreporters.
