Volume VI Part 9 (1/2)

His office was a large, gloo al in winter It looked into a narrow court-yard, with other offices on the further side of it There were eight clerks there, besides a sub-chief hidden behind a screen in one corner

Duroy first went to get the hundred and eighteen francs twenty-five centimes enclosed in a yellow envelope, and placed in the drawer of the clerk entrusted with such paye room in which he had already spent so many days

As soon as he came in the sub-chief, Monsieur Potel, called out to him: ”Ah! it is you, Monsieur Duroy? The chief has already asked for you several times You know that he will not allow anyone to plead illness two days running without a doctor's certificate”

Duroy, as standing in thehis sensational effect, replied in a loud voice:

”I don't care a damn whether he does or not”

There was athe clerks, and Monsieur Potel's features showed affrightedly over the screen which shut him up as in a box He barricaded hihts, for he was rheuh the paper to keep an eye on his staff A pin th the sub-chief said, hesitatingly: ”You said?”

”I said that I don't care a danation I aed on the staff of the _Vie Francaise_ at five hundred francs a month, and extra pay for all I write Indeed, I ”

He had promised himself to spin out his enjoyment, but had not been able to resist the te it all out at once

The effect, too, was overwhelo and inforood-bye”

And he went out in search of the chief, who exclai him: ”Ah, here you are You know that I won't have--”

His late subordinate cut hi like that”

Monsieur Perthuis, a stout man, as red as a turkey cock, was choked with bewilderh of this crib Iin journalisood position I have the honor to bid you good-day” And he went out He was avenged

As he proues, who scarcely dared to speak to hi themselves, for they had overheard his conversation with the chief, the door having reain, with his salary in his pocket He stood hiood but cheap restaurant he was acquainted with, and having again purchased the _Vie Francaise_, and left it on the table, went into several shops, where he bought so thee Duroy,” with the addition, ”I aave the na care to add: ”Leave it with the doorkeeper”

As he had still sorapher, who executed visiting cards at a moment's notice before the eyes of passers-by, and had a hundred, bearing his new occupation under his name, printed off while he waited

Then he went to the office of the paper

Forestier received him loftily, as one receives a subordinate ”Ah! here you are Good I have several things for you to attend to Just wait ten minutes I will just finish what I a

At the other end of the large table a fat, bald littlehead, riting, with his nose on the paper owing to extrehtedness Forestier said to hi to interview those people?”

”At four o'clock”

”Will you take young Duroy here with you, and let hiht”

Then turning to his friend, Forestier added: ”Have you brought the continuation of the Algerian article? The opening thiswas very successful”

Duroy, taken aback, staht I should have tis to do I was not able”