Милий друг
A Step Upward
Laroche-Mathieu,whoismyneighbor,leavesmeatmydooreverytimethatIdinehere."
"WhenshallIseeyouagain?"
"Lunchwithmeto-morrow."
Theypartedwithoutanotherword.Duroydidnotremainlate;ashedescendedthestaircase,hemetNorbertdeVarenne,whowaslikewisegoingaway.Theoldpoettookhisarm;fearingnorivalryonthenewspaper,theirworkbeingessentiallydifferent,hewasveryfriendlytotheyoungman.
"Shallwewalkalongtogether?"
"Ishallbepleasedto,"repliedDuroy.
Thestreetswerealmostdesertedthatnight.Atfirstthetwomendidnotspeak.ThenDuroy,inordertomakesomeremark,said:"ThatM.Laroche-Mathieulooksveryintelligent."
Theoldpoetmurmured:"Doyouthinkso?"
Theyoungermanhesitatedinsurprise:"Why,yes!IshenotconsideredoneofthemostcapablemenintheChamber?"
"Thatmaybe.Inakingdomofblindmentheblindarekings.Allthosepeoplearedividedbetweenmoneyandpolitics;theyarepedantstowhomitisimpossibletospeakofanythingthatisfamiliartous.Ah,itisdifficulttofindamanwhoisliberalinhisideas!Ihaveknownseveral,theyaredead.
