Chinese and the Hindu? Isn’t it funny? It has amused everyone. And I did not even get a glimpse of them.”
Duroy, who had not read anything, at once took up the paper and ran his eye over a long article headed: “India and China,” while the reporter pointed out the most interesting passages.
Forestier came in puffing, in a hurry, with a busy air, saying:
“Good; I want both of you.”
And he mentioned a number of items of political information that would have to be obtained that very afternoon.
Duroy held out his article.
“Here is the continuation about Algeria.”
“Very good; hand it over; and I will give it to the governor.”
That was all.
Saint-Potin led away his new colleague, and when they were in the passage, he said to him: “Have you seen the cashier?”
“No; why?”
“Why? To draw your money. You see you should always draw a month in advance. One never knows what may happen.”
“But—I ask for nothing better.”
“I will introduce you to the cashier. He will make no difficulty about it. They pay up well here.”
Duroy went and drew his two hundred francs, with twenty-eight more for his article of the day before, which, added to what remained of his