Милий друг
The Final Plot
"
Sheproceededtoherdaughter’sroom.Sheentered;itwasempty;thebedhadnotbeensleptin.Ahorriblesuspicionpossessedherandsheflewtoherhusband.Hewasinbed,reading.
Shegasped:"HaveyouseenSuzanne?"
"No—why?"
"Sheis—gone!sheisnotinherroom."
Withoneboundhewasoutofbed;herushedtohisdaughter’sroom;notfindingherthere,hesankintoachair.Hiswifehadfollowedhim.
"Well?"sheasked.
Hehadnotthestrengthtoreply:hewasnolongerangry;hegroaned:"Hehasher—wearelost."
"Lost,how?"
"Why,hemustmarryhernow!"
Shecriedwildly:"Marryher,never!Areyoumad?"
Herepliedsadly:"Itwilldonogoodtoyell!Hehasdisgracedher.Thebestthingtobedoneistogivehertohim,andatonce,too;thennoonewillknowofthisescapade."
Sherepeatedingreatagitation:"Never;heshallneverhaveSuzanne."
Overcome,Waltermurmured:"Buthehasher.Andhewillkeepheraslongaswedonotyield;therefore,toavoidascandalwemustdosoatonce."
Buthiswifereplied:"No,no,Iwillneverconsent."
Impatientlyhereturned:"Itisamatterofnecessity.Ah,thescoundrel—howhehasdeceivedus!Butheisshrewdatanyrate.Shemighthavedonebetterasfarasposition,butnotintelligenceandfuture,isconcerned.
