Милий друг
Death and a Proposal
Hewouldsoonhavetoleavethatvilla,forhecouldnotremainalonewiththeyoungwidow;thereforehemustfindoutherplansbeforereturningtoParis,inorderthatshemightnotyieldtoanother’sentreaties.Hebroketheoppressivesilencebysaying:
"Youmustbefatigued."
"Yes,butaboveallIamgrieved."
Theirvoicessoundedstrangeinthatroom.Theyglancedinvoluntarilyatthecorpseasiftheyexpectedtoseeitmove.Duroycontinued:
"Itisaheavyblowforyou,andwillmakeacompletechangeinyourlife."
Shesigheddeeply,butdidnotreply.Headded:
"Itisverysadforayoungwomanlikeyoutobeleftalone."Hepaused;shestilldidnotreply,andhestammered:"Atanyrate,youwillrememberthecompactbetweenus;youcancommandmeasyouwill.Iamyours."
Sheheldoutherhandtohimandsaidmournfullyandgently:"Thanks,youareverykind.IfIcandoanythingforyou,Isaytoo:‘Countonme.’"
Hetookherprofferedhand,gazedatit,andwasseizedwithanardentdesiretokissit.Slowlyheraisedittohislipsandthenrelinquishedit.Asherdelicatefingerslayuponherkneetheyoungwidowsaidgravely:
"Yes,Ishallbeallalone,butIshallforcemyselftobebrave."
Hedidnotknowhowtotellherthathewouldbedelightedtowedher.
