Summary

In the section dated February 1831, Aurore tells of her first meeting with a publisher of a daily newspaper called Le Figaro. The newspaper lampooned King Louis-Philippe and reported gossip. He told Aurore that her book manuscript needed much work, but offered her a writing job for his newspaper to help develop her talent. Her initial job was to review plays and she was responsible for buying her own tickets. Women were made to sit in box seats, which cost more than the cheaper areas where men were allowed to sit. The publisher suggested she dress like a man so she could buy the less expensive tickets. Her mother had done the same thing when dating her father because they did not have money for the expensive box seats. Sophie said disguising herself was fun, so Aurore decided to do it too. With long...