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His Masterpiece by Émile Zola
page 67 of 507 (13%)
competitive examination in architecture, sometimes a simple sketch, at
others a complete design. There's no time for pleasure if a fellow
wishes to pass his examinations and secure the necessary honourable
mentions, especially if, besides all that, he has to find time to earn
his bread. As for myself, it's almost killing me.'

One of the cushions having slipped upon the floor, he fished it up
with his feet. 'All the same, I'm lucky. There are so many of us
scouring the town every day without getting the smallest job. The day
before yesterday I discovered an architect who works for a large
contractor. You can have no idea of such an ignoramus of an architect
--a downright numskull, incapable even of tracing a plan. He gives me
twenty-five sous an hour, and I set his houses straight for him. It
came just in time, too, for my mother sent me word that she was quite
cleared out. Poor mother, what a lot of money I have to refund her!'

As Dubuche was evidently talking to himself, chewing the cud of his
everyday thoughts--his constant thoughts of making a rapid fortune
--Sandoz did not even trouble to listen to him. He had opened the
little window, and seated himself on a level with the roof, for he
felt oppressed by the heat in the studio. But all at once he
interrupted the architect.

'I say, are you coming to dinner on Thursday? All the other fellows
will be there--Fagerolles, Mahoudeau, Jory, Gagniere.'

Every Thursday, quite a band met at Sandoz's: friends from Plassans
and others met in Paris--revolutionaries to a man, and all animated by
the same passionate love of art.

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