Милый друг
The Will
Everyonewouldtalkaboutitandlaughatme.Myfellow-journalistsarealreadytoomuchdisposedtobejealousofmeandtoattackme.Ihavetobeespeciallycarefulofmyhonorandmyreputation.Icannotpermitmywifetoacceptalegacyofthatkindfromamanwhomrumorhasalreadyassignedtoherasherlover.Forestiermightperhapshavetoleratedthat,butIshallnot."
Sherepliedgently:"Verywell,mydear,wewillnottakeit;itwillbeamillionlessinourpockets,thatisall."
Georgespacedtheroomandutteredhisthoughtsaloud,thusspeakingtohiswifewithoutaddressingher:
"Yes,amillion—somuchtheworse.Hedidnotthinkwhenmakinghiswillwhatabreachofetiquettehewascommitting.Hedidnotrealizeinwhatafalse,ridiculouspositionhewasplacingme.Heshouldhavelefthalfofittome—thatwouldhavemademattersright."
Heseatedhimself,crossedhislegsandbegantotwisttheendsofhismustache,aswashiscustomwhenannoyed,uneasy,orponderingoveraweightyquestion.
Madeleinetookupapieceofembroideryuponwhichsheworkedoccasionally,andsaid:"Ihavenothingtosay.Youmustdecide."
Itwassometimebeforehereplied;thenhesaidhesitatingly:"TheworldwouldneverunderstandhowitwasthatVaudrecconstitutedyouhissoleheiressandthatIallowedit.Toacceptthatlegacywouldbetoavowguiltyrelationsonyourpartandaninfamouslackofself-respectonmine.
