Милий друг
Poverty
"Iamalone,Iknownoone,Ihavenorecommendations.Thespiritisnotlacking,butthemeansare."
Hiscompanionlookedathimfromheadtofootlikeapracticalmanwhoisexaminingasubject;thenhesaid,inatoneofconviction:"Yousee,mydearfellow,alldependsonassurance,here.Ashrewd,observingmancansometimesbecomeaminister.Youmustobtrudeyourselfandyetnotaskanything.Buthowisityouhavenotfoundanythingbetterthanaclerkshipatthestation?"
Duroyreplied:"Ihuntedeverywhereandfoundnothingelse.ButIknowwhereIcangetthreethousandfrancsatleast—asriding-masteratthePellerinschool."
Forestierstoppedhim:"Don’tdoit,foryoucanearntenthousandfrancs.Youwillruinyourprospectsatonce.Inyourofficeatleastnooneknowsyou;youcanleaveitifyouwishtoatanytime.Butwhenyouareonceariding-masterallwillbeover.YoumightaswellbeabutlerinahousetowhichallPariscomestodine.Whenyouhavegivenridinglessonstomenoftheworldortotheirsons,theywillnolongerconsideryoutheirequal."
Hepaused,reflectedseveralsecondsandthenasked:
"Areyouabachelor?"
"Yes,thoughIhavebeensmittenseveraltimes."
"Thatmakesnodifference.IfCiceroandTiberiuswerementionedwouldyouknowwhotheywere?"
"Yes."
"Good,nooneknowsanymoreexceptaboutascoreoffools.
