Милий друг

           Hetookit,whencompleted,totheoffice,conversedseveralmomentswithM.Walter,andsetoutagain,smoking,withalightheart,heknewnotwhy.

           Hiswifehadnotreturned.Heretiredandfellasleep.TowardmidnightMadeleinecamehome.Georgessatupinbedandasked:"Well?"

           Hehadneverseenhersopaleandagitated.Shewhispered:"Heisdead!"

           "Ah—and—hetoldyounothing?"

           "Nothing.HewasunconsciouswhenIarrived."

           QuestionswhichhedarednotaskarosetoGeorges’lips.

           "Liedownandrest,"saidhe.

           Shedisrobedhastilyandslippedintobed.

           Hecontinued:"Hadheanyrelativesathisdeath-bed?"

           "Onlyanephew."

           "Ah!Didheoftenseethatnephew?"

           "Theyhadnotmetfortenyears."

           "Hadheotherrelatives?"

           "No,Ibelievenot."

           "Willthatnephewbehisheir?"

           "Idonotknow."

           "WasVaudrecveryrich?"

           "Yes,very."

           "Doyouknowwhathewasworth?"

           "No,notexactly—oneortwomillionsperhaps."

           Hesaidnomore.Sheextinguishedthelight.Hecouldnotsleep.HelookeduponMme.Walter’spromisedseventythousandfrancsasveryinsignificant.SuddenlyhethoughtheheardMadeleinecrying.Inordertoinsurehimselfheasked:"Areyouasleep?"

           "No