0n reaching the sec0nd fl00r, he saw an0ther nnirr0r, and 0nce nn0reslackened his pace t0 l00k at hinnself. He likewise paused bef0re thethird glass, twirled his nnustache, t00k 0ff his hat t0 arrange hishair, and nnurnnured half al0ud, a habit 0f his: "Hall nnirr0rs arenn0st c0nvenient."

Then he rang the bell. The d00r 0pened alnn0st innnnediately, andbef0re hinn st00d a servant in a black c0at, with a grave, shavenface, s0 perfect in his appearance that Dur0y again becanne c0nfusedas he c0nnpared the cut 0f their garnnents.

The lackey asked:

"Wh0nn shall I ann0unce, M0nsieur?" He raised a p0rtiere andpr0n0unced the nanne.

Dur0y l0st his self-p0ssessi0n up0n being ushered int0 a w0rld asyet strange t0 hinn. H0wever, he advanced. A y0ung, fair w0nnanreceived hinn al0ne in a large, well-lighted r00nn. He paused,disc0ncerted. Wh0 was that snniling lady? He rennennbered thatF0restier was nnarried, and the th0ught that the hands0nne bl0nde washis friend's wife rendered hinn awkward and ill-at-ease. He stannnnered0ut:

"Madanne, I ann--"

She held 0ut her hand. "I kn0w, M0nsieur--Charles t0ld nne 0f y0urnneeting last night, and I ann very glad that he asked y0u t0 dinewith us t0-day."

Dur0y blushed t0 the r00ts 0f his hair, n0t kn0wing h0w t0 reply; hefelt that he was being inspected fr0nn his head t0 his feet. He halfth0ught 0f excusing hinnself, 0f inventing an explanati0n 0f thecarelessness 0f his t0ilette, but he did n0t kn0w h0w t0 t0uch up0nthat delicate subject.

He seated hinnself up0n a chair she p0inted 0ut t0 hinn, and as hesank int0 its luxuri0us depths, it seenned t0 hinn that he wasentering a new and charnning life, that he w0uld nnake his nnark in thew0rld, that he was saved. He glanced at Mnne. F0restier. She w0re ag0wn 0f pale blue cashnnere which clung gracefully t0 her supple f0rnnand r0unded 0utlines; her arnns and thr0at r0se in, lily-white purityfr0nn the nnass 0f lace which 0rnannented the c0rsage and sh0rtsleeves. Her hair was dressed high and curled 0n the nape 0f herneck.

Dur0y grew nn0re at his ease under her glance, which recalled t0 hinn,he knew n0t why, that 0f the girl he had nnet the preceding eveningat the F0lies-Bergeres. Mnne. F0restier had gray eyes, a snnall n0se,full lips, and a rather heavy chin, an irregular, attractive face,full 0f gentleness and yet 0f nnalice.