Милий друг
Duroy Learns Something
Thetwomenwalkeddowntheboulevardtogether,whileSaint-PotingaveDuroyasketchofalltheofficialsconnectedwiththepaper,sparingnooneinhiscriticism.WhenhementionedForestier,hesaid:"Asforhim,hewasfortunateinmarryinghiswife."
Duroyasked:"Whatabouthiswife?"
Saint-Potinrubbedhishands."Oh,sheisbelovedbyanoldfellownamedVaudrec—hedotesuponher."
DuroyfeltasifhewouldliketoboxSaint-Potin’sears.Tochangethesubjecthesaid:"Itseemstomethatitislate,andwehavetwonoblelordstocallupon!"
Saint-Potinlaughed:"Youareveryinnocent!DoyouthinkthatIamgoingtointerviewthatChineseandthatIndian?AsifIdidnotknowbetterthantheydowhattheyshouldthinktopleasethereadersof‘LaVieFrancaise’!IhaveinterviewedfivehundredChinese,Prussians,Hindoos,Chilians,andJapanese.Theyallsaythesamething.Ineedonlycopymyarticleonthelastcomer,wordforword,changingtheheading,names,titles,andages:inthattheremustbenoerror,orIshallbehauledoverthecoalsbythe‘Figaro’or‘Gaulois.’Butonthatsubjecttheporterofthehotelswillpostmeinfiveminutes.Wewillsmokeourcigarsandstrollinthatdirection.Total—onehundredsousforcabfare.Thatistheway,mydearfellow."
WhentheyarrivedattheMadeleine,Saint-Potinsaidtohiscompanion:"Ifyouhaveanythingtodo,Idonotneedyou.
