A Step Upward

           ThenextmorningGeorgesDuroyarose,dressedhimself,anddeterminedtohavemoney;hesoughtForestier.Hisfriendreceivedhiminhisstudy.

           "Whatmadeyourisesoearly?"heasked.

           "Averyseriousmatter.Ihaveadebtofhonor."

           "Agamingdebt?"

           Hehesitated,thenrepeated:"Agamingdebt."

           "Isitlarge?"

           "Fivehundredfrancs."Heonlyneededtwohundredandeighty.

           Forestieraskedsceptically:"Towhomdoyouowethatamount?"

           Duroydidnotreplyatonce."To—to—a—M.deCarleville."

           "Ah,wheredoeshelive?"

           "Rue—Rue—"

           Forestierlaughed."Iknowthegentleman!Ifyouwanttwentyfrancsyoucanhavethem,butnomore."

           Duroytookthegold-piece,calleduponmorefriends,andbyfiveo’clockhadcollectedeightyfrancs.Asherequiredtwohundredmore,hekeptwhathehadbeggedandmuttered:"Ishallnotworryaboutit.IwillpayitwhenIcan."

           Fortwoweekshelivedeconomically,butattheendofthattime,thegoodresolutionshehadformedvanished,andoneeveninghereturnedtotheFoliesBergeresinsearchofRachel;butthewomanwasimplacableandheapedcoarseinsultsuponhim,untilhefelthischeekstingleandheleftthehall.

           Forestier,outofhealthandfeeble,madeDuroy’sexistenceattheofficeinsupportable.