Милий друг

           Atfirstyouwouldonlygettwohundredandfiftyfrancsamonthbutyourcabfarewouldbepaid.ShallIspeaktothemanager?"

           "Ifyouwill."

           "Well,thencomeanddinewithmeto-morrow;Iwillonlyaskfiveorsixtomeetyou;themanager,M.Walter,hiswife,withJacquesRival,andNorbertdeVarennewhomyouhavejustseen,andalsoafriendofMme.Forestier,Willyoucome?"

           Duroyhesitated,blushingandperplexed.Finallyhe,murmured:"Ihavenosuitableclothes."

           Forestierwasamazed."Youhavenodresssuit?Egad,thatisindispensable.InParis,itisbettertohavenobedthannoclothes."Then,fumblinginhisvest-pocket,hedrewfromittwolouis,placedthembeforehiscompanion,andsaidkindly:"Youcanrepaymewhenitisconvenient.Buyyourselfwhatyouneedandpayaninstallmentonit.Andcomeanddinewithusathalfpastseven,at17RueFontaine."

           InconfusionDuroypickedupthemoneyandstammered:"Youareverykind—Iammuchobliged—besureIshallnotforget."

           Forestierinterruptedhim:"That’sallright,takeanotherglassofbeer.Waiter,twomoreglasses!"Whenhehadpaidthescore,thejournalistasked:"Wouldyoulikeastrollforanhour?"

           "Certainly."

           TheyturnedtowardtheMadeleine."Whatshallwedo?"askedForestier."TheysaythatinParisanidlercanalwaysfindamusement,butitisnottrue.