Henri Rene Guy De Maupassant..............................................................................................................1 CHAPTER I. POVERTY........................................................................................................................1 CHAPTER II. MADAME FORESTIER.................................................................................................7 CHAPTER III. FIRST ATTEMPTS......................................................................................................12 CHAPTER IV. DUROY LEARNS SOMETHING...............................................................................16 CHAPTER V. THE FIRST INTRIGUE................................................................................................19 CHAPTER VI. A STEP UPWARD......................................................................................................29 CHAPTER VII. A DUEL WITH AN END...........................................................................................36 CHAPTER VIII. DEATH AND A PROPOSAL...................................................................................43 CHAPTER IX. MARRIAGE.................................................................................................................49 CHAPTER X. JEALOUSY...................................................................................................................58 CHAPTER XI. MADAME WALTER TAKES A HAND...................................................................61 CHAPTER XII. A MEETING AND THE RESULT...........................................................................68 CHAPTER XIII. MADAME DE MARELLE.......................................................................................73 CHAPTER XIV. THE WILL................................................................................................................81 CHAPTER XV. SUZANNE..................................................................................................................86 CHAPTER XVI. DIVORCE.................................................................................................................93 CHAPTER XVII. THE FINAL PLOT..................................................................................................98 CHAPTER XVIII. ATTAINMENT....................................................................................................103
BEL AMI
OR
THE HISTORY OF A SCOUNDREL
After changing his five\u2212franc piece Georges Duroy left the restaurant. He twisted his mustache in military style and cast a rapid, sweeping glance upon the diners, among whom were three saleswomen, an untidy music\u2212teacher of uncertain age, and two women with their husbands.
When he reached the sidewalk, he paused to consider what route he should take. It was the twenty\u2212eighth of
June and he had only three francs in his pocket to last him the remainder of the month. That meant two
dinners and no lunches, or two lunches and no dinners, according to choice. As he pondered upon this
unpleasant state of affairs, he sauntered down Rue Notre Dame de Lorette, preserving his military air and
carriage, and rudely jostled the people upon the streets in order to clear a path for himself. He appeared to be
hostile to the passers\u2212by, and even to the houses, the entire city.
