Charles's absence gave Duroy increased importance in the editorial
department of the _Vie Francaise_. He signed several leaders besides his
"Echoes," for the governor insisted on everyone assuming the
responsibility of his "copy." He became engaged in several newspaper
controversies, in which he acquitted himself creditably, and his
constant relations with different statesmen were gradually preparing him
to become in his turn a clever and perspicuous political editor. There
was only one cloud on his horizon. It came from a little free-lance
newspaper, which continually assailed him, or rather in him assailed the
chief writer of "Echoes" in the _Vie Francaise_, the chief of "Monsieur
Walter's startlers," as it was put by the anonymous writer of the
_Plume_. Day by day cutting paragraphs, insinuations of every kind,
appeared in it.