Милий друг

           Itisnotdifficulttopassforbeinglearned.Thesecretisnottobetrayyourignorance.Justmaneuver,avoidthequicksandsandobstacles,andtherestcanbefoundinadictionary."

           Hespokelikeonewhounderstoodhumannature,andhesmiledasthecrowdpassedthemby.Suddenlyhebegantocoughandstoppedtoallowtheparoxysmtospenditself;thenhesaidinadiscouragedtone:

           "Isn’tittiresomenottobeabletogetridofthisbronchitis?Andhereismidsummer!ThiswinterIshallgotoMentone.Healthbeforeeverything."

           TheyreachedtheBoulevardePoissoniere;behindalargeglassdooranopenpaperwasaffixed;threepeoplewerereadingit.Abovethedoorwasprintedthelegend,"LaVieFrancaise."

           Forestierpushedopenthedoorandsaid:"Comein."Duroyentered;theyascendedthestairs,passedthroughanantechamberinwhichtwoclerksgreetedtheircomrade,andthenenteredakindofwaiting-room.

           "Sitdown,"saidForestier,"Ishallbebackinfiveminutes,"andhedisappeared.

           Duroyremainedwherehewas;fromtimetotimemenpassedhimby,enteringbyonedoorandgoingoutbyanotherbeforehehadtimetoglanceatthem.

           Nowtheywereyoungmen,veryyoung,withabusyair,holdingsheetsofpaperintheirhands;nowcompositors,theirshirtsspottedwithink—carefullycarryingwhatwereevidentlyfreshproofs.Occasionallyagentlemanentered,fashionablydressed,somereporterbringingnews.