Милый друг
Death and a Proposal
Atfirstitwasnothing,onlyaslightattack,butitgrewworseandturnedtoasortofhiccough—arattle;Forestierchoked,andeverytimehetriedtobreathehecoughedviolently.Nothingquietedhim.Hehadtobecarriedfromthelandautohisroom.Theheatofthebeddidnotstoptheattack,whichlasteduntilmidnight.Thefirstwordsthesickmanutteredweretoaskforabarber,forheinsistedonbeingshavedeverymorning.Herosetobeshaved,butwasobligedtogotobedatonce,andbegantobreathesopainfullythatMme.ForestierinaffrightwokeDuroyandaskedhimtofetchthedoctor.HereturnedalmostimmediatelywithDr.Gavantwhoprescribedforthesickman.Whenthejournalistaskedhimhisopinion,hesaid:"Itisthefinalstage.Hewillbedeadto-morrowmorning.Preparethatpoor,youngwifeandsendforapriest.Icandonothingmore.However,Iamentirelyatyourdisposal"DuroywenttoMme.Forestier."Heisgoingtodie.Thedoctoradvisesmetosendforapriest.Whatwillyoudo?"
Shehesitatedamomentandthensaidslowly:
"Iwillgoandtellhimthatthecurewishestoseehim.Willyoubekindenoughtoprocureonewhowillrequirenothingbuttheconfession,andwhowillnotmakemuchfuss?"
Theyoungmanbroughtwithhimakind,oldpriestwhoaccommodatedhimselftocircumstances.Whenhehadenteredthedeathchamber,Mme.ForestierwentoutandseatedherselfwithDuroyinanadjoiningroom.
"Thathasupsethim,"saidshe.
