Милий друг
Death and a Proposal
Suddenlyheshudderedandgasped:"Thecemetery—me—myGod!"Hedidnotspeakagain.Helaytheremotionlessandghastly.Thehoursdraggedon;theclockofaneighboringconventchimednoon.
Duroylefttheroomtoobtainsomefood.Hereturnedanhourlater;Mme.Forestierwouldeatnothing.Theinvalidhadnotstirred.Theyoungwomanwasseatedinaneasy-chairatthefootofthebed.Duroylikewiseseatedhimself,andtheywatchedinsilence.Anurse,sentbythedoctor,hadarrivedandwasdozingbythewindow.
Duroyhimselfwasalmostasleepwhenhefeltapresentimentthatsomethingwasabouttohappen.HeopenedhiseyesjustintimetoseeForestierclosehis.Hecoughedslightly,andtwostreamsofbloodissuedfromthecornersofhismouthandfloweduponhisnightrobe;hishandsceasedtheirperpetualmotion;hehadbreathedhislast.Hiswife,perceivingit,utteredacryandfelluponherkneesbythebedside.Georges,insurpriseandaffright,mechanicallymadethesignofthecross.
Thenurse,awakening,approachedthebedandsaid:"Ithascome."Duroy,recoveringhisself-possession,murmuredwithasighofrelief:"ItwasnotashardasIfeareditwouldbe."
ThatnightMme.ForestierandDuroywatchedinthechamberofdeath.Theywerealonebesidehimwhowasnomore.Theydidnotspeak,Georges’seyesseemedattractedtothatemaciatedfacewhichtheflickeringlightmademorehollow.Thatwashisfriend,CharlesForestier,whothedaybeforehadspokentohim.
