Милый друг
Poverty
FinallyheturnedtowardtheMadeleineandfollowedthetideofpeople.
Thelarge,well-patronizedcafestemptedDuroy,butwerehetodrinkonlytwoglassesofbeerinanevening,farewelltothemeagersupperthefollowingnight!Yethesaidtohimself:"IwilltakeaglassattheAmericain.ByJove,Iamthirsty."
Heglancedatmenseatedatthetables,menwhocouldaffordtoslaketheirthirst,andhescowledatthem."Rascals!"hemuttered.Ifhecouldhavecaughtoneofthematacornerinthedarkhewouldhavechokedhimwithoutascruple!HerecalledthetwoyearsspentinAfrica,andthemannerinwhichhehadextortedmoneyfromtheArabs.Asmilehoveredabouthislipsattherecollectionofanescapadewhichhadcostthreementheirlives,aforaywhichhadgivenhistwocomradesandhimselfseventyfowls,twosheep,money,andsomethingtolaughaboutforsixmonths.Theculpritswereneverfound;indeed,theywerenotsoughtfor,theArabbeinglookeduponasthesoldier’sprey.
ButinParisitwasdifferent;thereonecouldnotcommitsuchdeedswithimpunity.Heregrettedthathehadnotremainedwherehewas;buthehadhopedtoimprovehiscondition—andforthatreasonhewasinParis!
HepassedtheVaudevilleandstoppedattheCafeAmericain,debatingastowhetherheshouldtakethat"glass."Beforedeciding,heglancedataclock;itwasaquarterpastnine.
