<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> FEB-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> APR-30-1998 <CASH> 33,875 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 228,918 <ALLOWANCES> (11,422) <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 255,747 <PP&E> 82,945 <DEPRECIATION> (52,459) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 417,715 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 139,138 <BONDS> 123,658 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 149 <OTHER-SE> 149,067 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 417,715 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 195,182 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 116,356 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 67,380 <LOSS-PROVISION> 30 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,273 <INCOME-PRETAX> 9,143 <INCOME-TAX> 4,200 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 4,943 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 4,943 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.33 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.31