Милий друг

           Theyorderedhimtospendthewinterinthesouth,buthowcouldhe?Hewasmarriedandwasajournalistinaresponsibleeditorialposition.

           "Imanagethepoliticaldepartmenton‘LaVieFrancaise’;IreportthedoingsoftheSenatefor‘LeSalut,’andfromtimetotimeIwritefor‘LaPlanete.’ThatiswhatIamdoing."

           Duroy,insurprise,glancedathim.Hewasverymuchchanged.FormerlyForestierhadbeenthin,giddy,noisy,andalwaysingoodspirits.ButthreeyearsoflifeinParishadmadeanothermanofhim;nowhewasstoutandserious,andhishairwasgrayonhistemplesalthoughhecouldnotnumbermorethantwenty-sevenyears.

           Forestierasked:"Whereareyougoing?"

           Duroyreplied:"Nowhereinparticular."

           "Verywell,willyouaccompanymetothe‘VieFrancaise’whereIhavesomeproofstocorrect;andafterwardtakeadrinkwithme?"

           "Yes,gladly."

           Theywalkedalongarm-in-armwiththatfamiliaritywhichexistsbetweenschoolmatesandbrother-officers.

           "WhatareyoudoinginParis?"askedForestier,Duroyshruggedhisshoulders.

           "Dyingofhunger,simply.Whenmytimewasup,Icamehithertomakemyfortune,orrathertoliveinParis—andforsixmonthsIhavebeenemployedinarailroadofficeatfifteenhundredfrancsayear."

           Forestiermurmured:"Thatisnotverymuch."

           "ButwhatcanIdo?"answeredDuroy.