bel ami-第25节

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He　was　not　at　all　uneasy　as　to　Clotilde's　anger；　knowing　that　she
would　soon　forgive　him。

When　he　asked　the　janitor　of　the　house　in　which　Count　de　Vaudrec
lived：　〃How　is　M。　de　Vaudrec？　I　have　heard　that　he　has　been　ailing
of　late；〃　the　man　replied；　〃The　Count　is　very　ill；　sir；　they　think
he　will　not　live　through　the　night；　the　gout　has　reached　his　heart。〃

Du　Roy　was　so　startled　he　did　not　know　what　to　do！　Vaudrec　dying！　He
stammered：　〃ThanksI　will　call　again〃unconscious　of　what　he　was
saying。　He　jumped　into　a　cab　and　drove　home。　His　wife　had　returned。
He　entered　her　room　out　of　breath：　〃Did　you　know？　Vaudrec　is　dying！〃

She　was　reading　a　letter　and　turning　to　him　asked：　〃What　did　you
say？〃

〃I　said　that　Vaudrec　is　dying　of　an　attack　of　gout。〃

Then　he　added：　〃What　shall　you　do？〃

She　rose；　her　face　was　livid；　she　burst　into　tears　and　buried　her
face　in　her　hands。　She　remained　standing；　shaken　by　sobs；　torn　by
anguish。　Suddenly　she　conquered　her　grief　and　wiping　her　eyes；　said：
〃I　am　going　to　himdo　not　worry　about　meI　do　not　know　what　time　I
shall　returndo　not　expect　me。〃

He　replied：　〃Very　well。　Go。〃

They　shook　hands　and　she　left　in　such　haste　that　she　forgot　her
gloves。　Georges；　after　dining　alone；　began　to　write　his　article。　He
wrote　it　according　to　the　minister's　instructions；　hinting　to　the
readers　that　the　expedition　to　Morocco　would　not　take　place。　He　took
it；　when　completed；　to　the　office；　conversed　several　moments　with　M。
Walter；　and　set　out　again；　smoking；　with　a　light　heart；　he　knew　not
why。

His　wife　had　not　returned。　He　retired　and　fell　asleep。　Toward
midnight　Madeleine　came　home。　Georges　sat　up　in　bed　and　asked：
〃Well？〃

He　had　never　seen　her　so　pale　and　agitated。　She　whispered：　〃He　is
dead！〃

〃Ahandhe　told　you　nothing？〃

〃Nothing。　He　was　unconscious　when　I　arrived。〃

Questions　which　he　dared　not　ask　arose　to　Georges'　lips。

〃Lie　down　and　rest；〃　said　he。

She　disrobed　hastily　and　slipped　into　bed。

He　continued：　〃Had　he　any　relatives　at　his　death…bed？〃

〃Only　a　nephew。〃

〃Ah！　Did　he　often　see　that　nephew？〃

〃They　had　not　met　for　ten　years。〃

〃Had　he　other　relatives？〃

〃No；　I　believe　not。〃

〃Will　that　nephew　be　his　heir？〃

〃I　do　not　know。〃

〃Was　Vaudrec　very　rich？〃

〃Yes；　very。〃

〃Do　you　know　what　he　was　worth？〃

〃No；　not　exactlyone　or　two　millions　perhaps。〃

He　said　no　more。　She　extinguished　the　light。　He　could　not　sleep。　He
looked　upon　Mme。　Walter's　promised　seventy　thousand　francs　as　very
insignificant。　Suddenly　he　thought　he　heard　Madeleine　crying。　In
order　to　insure　himself　he　asked：　〃Are　you　asleep？〃

〃No。〃　Her　voice　was　tearful　and　unsteady。

He　continued：　〃I　forgot　to　tell　you　that　your　minister　has　deceived
us。〃

〃How？〃

He　gave　her　a　detailed　account　of　the　combination　prepared　by
Laroche　and　Walter。　When　he　concluded　she　asked：　〃How　did　you　know
that？〃

He　replied：　〃Pardon　me　if　I　do　not　tell　you！　You　have　your　means　of
obtaining　information　into　which　I　do　not　inquire；　I　have　mine　which
I　desire　to　keep。　I　can　vouch　at　any　rate　for　the　truth　of　my
statements。〃

She　muttered：　〃It　may　be　possible。　I　suspected　that　they　were　doing
something　without　our　knowledge。〃

As　she　spoke　Georges　drew　near　her；　she　paid　no　heed　to　his
proximity；　however；　and　turning　toward　the　wall；　he　closed　his　eyes
and　fell　asleep。




CHAPTER　XIV。

THE　WILL


The　church　was　draped　in　black；　and　over　the　door　a　large　escutcheon
surmounted　by　a　coronet　announced　to　the　passers…by　that　a　nobleman
was　being　buried。　The　ceremony　was　just　over；　those　present　went　out
slowly；　passing　by　the　coffin；　and　by　Count　de　Vaudrec's　nephew；　who
shook　hands　and　returned　salutations。

When　Georges　du　Roy　and　his　wife　left　the　church；　they　walked　along
side　by　side　on　their　way　home。　They　did　not　speak；　they　were　both
preoccupied。　At　length　Georges　said；　as　if　talking　to　himself：
〃Truly　it　is　very　astonishing！〃

Madeleine　asked：　〃What；　my　friend？〃

〃That　Vaudrec　left　us　nothing。〃

She　blushed　and　said：　〃Why　should　he　leave　us　anything？　Had　he　any
reason　for　doing　so？〃　Then　after　several　moments　of　silence；　she
continued：　〃Perhaps　there　is　a　will　at　a　lawyer's；　we　should　not
know　of　it。〃

He　replied：　〃That　is　possible；　for　he　was　our　best　friend。　He　dined
with　us　twice　a　week；　he　came　at　any　time；　he　was　at　home　with　us。
He　loved　you　as　a　father；　he　had　no　family；　no　children；　no　brothers
nor　sisters；　only　a　nephew。　Yes；　there　should　be　a　will。　I　would　not
care　for　mucha　remembrance　to　prove　that　he　thought　of　usthat　he
recognized　the　affection　we　felt　for　him。　We　should　certainly　have　a
mark　of　friendship。〃

She　said　with　a　pensive　and　indifferent　air：　〃It　is　possible　that
there　is　a　will。〃

When　they　entered　the　house；　the　footman　handed　Madeleine　a　letter。
She　opened　it　and　offered　it　to　her　husband。

　　　　〃OFFICE　OF　M。　LAMANEUR；
　　　　　Notary。
　　　　　17　Rue　des　Vosges；〃

　　　　〃Madame：　Kindly　call　at　my　office　at　a　quarter　past　two　o'clock
　　　　　Tuesday；　Wednesday；　or　Thursday；　on　business　which　concerns
　　　　　you。〃

　　　　〃Yours　respectfully；〃

　　　　〃LAMANEUR。〃

Georges；　in　his　turn；　colored。

〃That　is　as　it　should　be。　It　is　strange；　however；　that　he　should
write　to　you　and　not　to　me；　for　I　am　the　head　of　the　family
legally。〃

〃Shall　we　go　at　once？〃　she　asked。

〃Yes；　I　should　like　to。〃

After　luncheon　they　set　out　for　M。　Lamaneur's　office。

The　notary　was　a　short；　round　manround　all　over。　His　head　looked
like　a　ball　fastened　to　another　ball；　which　was　supported　by　legs　so
short　that　they　too　almost　resembled　balls。

He　bowed；　as　Du　Roy　and　his　wife　were　shown　into　his　office；　pointed
to　seats；　and　said；　turning　to　Madeleine：　〃Madame；　I　sent　for　you　in
order　to　inform　you　of　Count　de　Vaudrec's　will；　which　will　be　of
interest　to　you。〃

Georges　could　not　help　muttering：　〃I　suspected　that。〃

The　notary　continued：　〃I　shall　read　you　the　document　which　is　very
brief。〃

　　　〃'I；　the　undersigned；　Paul　Emile　Cyprien　Gontran；　Count　de
　　　　　Vaudrec；　sound　both　in　body　and　mind；　here　express　my　last
　　　　　wishes。　As　death　might　take　me　away　at　any　moment；　I　wish　to
　　　　　take　the　precaution　of　drawing　up　my　will；　to　be　deposited　with
　　　　　M。　Lamaneur。'〃

　　　〃'Having　no　direct　heirs；　I　bequeath　all　my　fortune；　comprising
　　　　　stocks　and　bonds　for　six　hundred　thousand　francs　and　landed
　　　　　property　for　five　hundred　thousand；　to　Mme。　Claire　Madeleine　du
　　　　　Roy　unconditionally。　I　beg　her　to　accept　that　gift　from　a　dead
　　　　　friend　as　a　proof　of　devoted；　profound；　and　respectful
　　　　　affection。'〃

The　notary　said：　〃That　is　all。　That　document　bears　the　date　of
August　last；　and　took　the　place　of　one　of　the　same　nature　made　two
years　ago　in　the　name　of　Mme。　Claire　Madeleine　Forestier。　I　have　the
first　will；　which　would　prove；　in　case　of　contestation　on　the　part
of　the　family；　that　Count　de　Vaudrec　had　not　changed　his　mind。〃

Madeleine　cast　down　her　eyes；　her　cheeks　were　pale。　Georges
nervously　twisted　his　mustache。

The　notary　continued　after　a　moment's　pause：　〃It　is　of　course
understood　that　Madame　cannot　accept　that　legacy　without　your
consent。〃

Du　Roy　rose　and　said　shortly：　〃I　ask　time　for　reflection。〃

The　notary　smiled；　bowed；　and　replied　pleasantly：　〃I　comprehend　the
scruples　which　cause　you　to　hesitate。　I　may　add　that　M。　de　Vaudrec's
nephew；　who　was　informed　this　morning　of　his　uncle's　last　wishes；
expresses　himself　as　ready　to　respect　them　if　he　be　given　one
hundred　thousand　francs。　In　my　opinion　the　will　cannot　be　broken；
but　a　lawsuit　would　cause　a　sensation　which　you　would　probably　like
to　avoid。　The　world　often　judges　uncharitably。　Can　you　let　me　have
your　reply　before　Saturday？〃

Georges　bowed；　and　together　with　his　wife　left　the　office。　When　they
arrived　home；　Du　Roy　closed　the　door　and　throwing　his　hat　on　the
bed；　asked：　〃What　were　the　relations　between　you　and　Vaudrec？〃

Madeleine；　who　was　taking　off　her　veil；　turned　around　with　a
shudder：　〃Between　us？〃

〃Yes；　between　you　and　him！　One　does　not　leave　one's　entire　fortune
to　a　woman　unless〃

She　trembled；　and　could　scarcely　take　out　the　pins　which　fastened
the　transparent　tissue。　Then　she　stammered　in　an　agitated　manner：
〃You　are　madyou　areyou　areyou　did　not　thinkhe　would　leave
you　anything！〃

Georges　replied；　emphazing　each　word：　〃Yes；　he　could　have　left　me
something；　me；　your　husband；　his　friend；　but　not　you；　my　wife　and
his　friend。　The　distinction　is　material　in　the　eyes　of　the　world。〃

Madeleine　gazed　at　him　fixedly：　〃It　seems　to　me　that　the　world　would
have　considered　a　legacy　from　him　to　you　very　strange。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Because；〃she　hesitated；　then　continued：　〃Because　you　are　my
husband；　because　you　were　not　well　acquainted；　because　I　have　been
his　friend　so　long；　because　his　first　will；　made　during　Forestier's
lifetime；　was　already　in　my　favor。〃

Georges　began　to　pace　to　and　fro。　He　finally　said：　〃You　cannot
accept　that。〃

She　answered　indifferently：　〃Very　well；　it　is　not　necessary　then　to
wait　until　Saturday；　you　can　inform　M。　Lamaneur　at　once。〃

He　paused　before　her；　and　they　gazed　into　one　another's　eyes　as　if
by　that　mute　and　ardent　interrogation　they　were　tr