III

As soon as they were back in the reporters’ room Forestier at once took up his cup and ball, and as he began to play with it again, said to Duroy, breaking his sentences in order to count: “You will come here every day at three o’clock, and I will tell you the places you are to go to, either during the day or in the evening, or the next morning⁠—one⁠—I will give you, first of all, a letter of introduction to the head of the First Department of the Prefecture of Police⁠—two⁠—who will put you in communication with one of his clerks. You will settle with him about all the important information⁠—three⁠—from the Prefecture, official and quasi-official information, you know. In all matters of detail you will apply to Saint-Potin, who is up in the work⁠—four⁠—You can see him by-and-by, or tomorrow. You must, above all, cultivate the knack of dragging information out of men I send you to see⁠—five⁠—and to get in everywhere, in spite of closed doors⁠—six⁠—You will have for this a salary of two hundred francs a month, with two sous a line for the paragraphs you glean⁠—seven⁠—and two sous a line for all articles written