Милий друг
First Attempts
Heawokeearly,and,rising,openedhiswindowtoinhalethefreshair.Inafewmomentsheseatedhimselfathistable,dippedhispenintheink,restedhisheaduponhishandandthought—butinvain!However,hewasnotdiscouraged,butinthoughtreassuredhimself:"Bah,Iamnotaccustomedtoit!Itisaprofessionthatmustbelearnedlikeallprofessions.Someonemusthelpmethefirsttime.I’llgotoForestier.He’llstartmyarticleformeintenminutes."
Whenhereachedthestreet,Duroydecidedthatitwasratherearlytopresenthimselfathisfriend’shouse,sohestrolledalongunderthetreesononeoftheboulevardsforatime.OnarrivingatForestier’sdoor,hefoundhisfriendgoingout.
"Youhere—atthishour!CanIdoanythingforyou?"
Duroystammeredinconfusion:"I—I—cannotwritethatarticleonAlgeriathatM.Walterwants.Itisnotverysurprising,seeingthatIhaveneverwrittenanything.Itrequirespractice.Icouldwriteveryrapidly,Iamsure,ifIcouldmakeabeginning.IhavetheideasbutIcannotexpressthem."Hepausedandhesitated.
Forestiersmiledmaliciously:"Iunderstandthat."
Duroycontinued:"Yes,anyoneisliabletohavethattroubleatthebeginning;and,well—Ihavecometoaskyoutohelpme.Intenminutesyoucansetmeright.Youcangivemealessoninstyle;withoutyouIcandonothing."
Theothersmiledgaily.
