Madame Forestier

           "WheredoesM.Forestierlive?"

           "Thirdfloorontheleft,"saidtheporterpleasantly,onlearningDuroy’sdestination.

           Georgesascendedthestaircase.Hewassomewhatembarrassedandill-at-ease.Hehadonanewsuitbuthewasuncomfortable.Hefeltthatitwasdefective;hisbootswerenotglossy,hehadboughthisshirtthatsameeveningattheLouvreforfourfrancsfifty,histrousersweretoowideandbetrayedtheircheapnessintheirfit,orrather,misfit,andhiscoatwastootight.

           Slowlyheascendedthestairs,hisheartbeating,hismindanxious.Suddenlybeforehimstoodawell-dressedgentlemanstaringathim.ThepersonresembledDuroysoclosethatthelatterretreated,thenstopped,andsawthatitwashisownimagereflectedinapier-glass!Nothavinganythingbutasmallmirrorathome,hehadnotbeenabletoseehimselfentirely,andhadexaggeratedtheimperfectionsofhistoilette.Whenhesawhisreflectionintheglass,hedidnotevenrecognizehimself;hetookhimselfforsomeoneelse,foraman-of-the-world,andwasreallysatisfiedwithhisgeneralappearance.Smilingtohimself,Duroyextendedhishandandexpressedhisastonishment,pleasure,andapprobation.Adooropenedonthestaircase,Hewasafraidofbeingsurprisedandbegantoascendmorerapidly,fearingthathemighthavebeenseenposingtherebysomeofhisfriend’sinvitedguests.

           Onreachingthesecondfloor,hesawanothermirror,andoncemoreslackenedhispacetolookathimself.