Милий друг
Duroy Learns Something
"Whatdoesthatmean?"
"ThatmeansthatIlikeyou";sheraisedhereyestotheyoungman’sface,tookhisarmandleaninguponit,said:"Letusdrinkaglassofwineandthentakeawalk.Ishouldliketogototheoperalikethis,withyou,toshowyouoff."
***
Atdaybreakheagainsalliedforthtoobtaina"VieFrancaise."Heopenedthepaperfeverishly;hisarticlewasnotthere.Onenteringtheofficeseveralhourslater,hesaidtoM.Walter:"IwasverymuchsurprisedthismorningnottoseemysecondarticleonAlgeria."
Themanagerraisedhisheadandsaidsharply:"Igaveittoyourfriend,Forestier,andaskedhimtoreadit;hewasdissatisfiedwithit;itwillhavetobedoneover."
Withoutaword,Duroylefttheroom,andenteringhisfriend’soffice,brusquelyasked:"Whydidnotmyarticleappearthismorning?"
Thejournalist,whowassmokingacigar,saidcalmly:"Themanagerdidnotconsideritgood,andbademereturnittoyoutoberevised.Thereitis."Duroyreviseditseveraltimes,onlytohaveitrejected.Hesaidnothingmoreofhis"souvenirs,"butgavehiswholeattentiontoreporting.Hebecameacquaintedbehindthescenesatthetheaters,andinthehallsandcorridorsofthechamberofdeputies;heknewallthecabinetministers,generals,policeagents,princes,ambassadors,menoftheworld,Greeks,cabmen,waitersatcafes,andmanyothers
