Милий друг
The Will
CanyouletmehaveyourreplybeforeSaturday?"
Georgesbowed,andtogetherwithhiswifelefttheoffice.Whentheyarrivedhome,DuRoyclosedthedoorandthrowinghishatonthebed,asked:"WhatweretherelationsbetweenyouandVaudrec?"
Madeleine,whowastakingoffherveil,turnedaroundwithashudder:"Betweenus?"
"Yes,betweenyouandhim!Onedoesnotleaveone’sentirefortunetoawomanunless—"
Shetrembled,andcouldscarcelytakeoutthepinswhichfastenedthetransparenttissue.Thenshestammeredinanagitatedmanner:"Youaremad—youare—youare—youdidnotthink—hewouldleaveyouanything!"
Georgesreplied,emphazingeachword:"Yes,hecouldhaveleftmesomething;me,yourhusband,hisfriend;butnotyou,mywifeandhisfriend.Thedistinctionismaterialintheeyesoftheworld."
Madeleinegazedathimfixedly:"Itseemstomethattheworldwouldhaveconsideredalegacyfromhimtoyouverystrange."
"Why?"
"Because,"—shehesitated,thencontinued:"Becauseyouaremyhusband;becauseyouwerenotwellacquainted;becauseIhavebeenhisfriendsolong;becausehisfirstwill,madeduringForestier’slifetime,wasalreadyinmyfavor."
Georgesbegantopacetoandfro.Hefinallysaid:"Youcannotacceptthat."
Sheansweredindifferently:"Verywell;itisnotnecessarythentowaituntilSaturday;youcaninformM.
