Милий друг
The Will
Lamaneuratonce."
Hepausedbeforeher,andtheygazedintooneanother’seyesasifbythatmuteandardentinterrogationtheyweretryingtoexamineeachother’sconsciences.Inalowvoicehemurmured:"Come,confessyourrelations."
Sheshruggedhershoulders."Youareabsurd.Vaudrecwasveryfondofme,very,buttherewasnothingmore,never."
Hestampedhisfoot."Youlie!Itisnotpossible."
Sherepliedcalmly:"Itisso,nevertheless."
Heresumedhispacingtoandfro;thenpausingagain,hesaid:"Explaintome,then,whyheleftallhisfortunetoyou."
Shedidsowithanonchalantair:"Itisverysimple.Asyousaidjustnow,wewerehisonlyfriends,orrather,Iwashisonlyfriend,forheknewmewhenachild.Mymotherwasagovernessinhisfather’shouse.Hecameherecontinually,andashehadnolegalheirs,heselectedme.Itispossiblethatheevenlovedmealittle.Butwhatwomanhasneverbeenlovedthus?HebroughtmeflowerseveryMonday.Youwereneversurprisedatthat,andheneverbroughtyouany.To-dayheleavesmehisfortuneforthesamereason,becausehehadnooneelsetoleaveitto.Itwouldontheotherhandhavebeenextremelysurprisingifhehadleftittoyou."
"Why?"
"Whatareyoutohim?"
ShespokesonaturallyandsocalmlythatGeorgeshesitatedbeforereplying:"Itmakesnodifference;wecannotacceptthatbequestunderthoseconditions.
