bel ami-第23部分

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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　trying　to　examine
each　other's　consciences。　In　a　low　voice　he　murmured：　〃Come；　confess
your　relations。〃

She　shrugged　her　shoulders。　〃You　are　absurd。　Vaudrec　was　very　fond
of　me；　very；　but　there　was　nothing　more；　never。〃

He　stamped　his　foot。　〃You　lie！　It　is　not　possible。〃

She　replied　calmly：　〃It　is　so；　nevertheless。〃

He　resumed　his　pacing　to　and　fro；　then　pausing　again；　he　said：
〃Explain　to　me；　then；　why　he　left　all　his　fortune　to　you。〃

She　did　so　with　a　nonchalant　air：　〃It　is　very　simple。　As　you　said
just　now；　we　were　his　only　friends；　or　rather；　I　was　his　only
friend；　for　he　knew　me　when　a　child。　My　mother　was　a　governess　in
his　father's　house。　He　came　here　continually；　and　as　he　had　no　legal
heirs；　he　selected　me。　It　is　possible　that　he　even　loved　me　a
little。　But　what　woman　has　never　been　loved　thus？　He　brought　me
flowers　every　Monday。　You　were　never　surprised　at　that；　and　he　never
brought　you　any。　To…day　he　leaves　me　his　fortune　for　the　same
reason；　because　he　had　no　one　else　to　leave　it　to。　It　would　on　the
other　hand　have　been　extremely　surprising　if　he　had　left　it　to　you。〃

〃Why？〃

〃What　are　you　to　him？〃

She　spoke　so　naturally　and　so　calmly　that　Georges　hesitated　before
replying：　〃It　makes　no　difference；　we　cannot　accept　that　bequest
under　those　conditions。　Everyone　would　talk　about　it　and　laugh　at
me。　My　fellow…journalists　are　already　too　much　disposed　to　be
jealous　of　me　and　to　attack　me。　I　have　to　be　especially　careful　of
my　honor　and　my　reputation。　I　cannot　permit　my　wife　to　accept　a
legacy　of　that　kind　from　a　man　whom　rumor　has　already　assigned　to
her　as　her　lover。　Forestier　might　perhaps　have　tolerated　that；　but　I
shall　not。〃

She　replied　gently：　〃Very　well；　my　dear；　we　will　not　take　it；　it
will　be　a　million　less　in　our　pockets；　that　is　all。〃

Georges　paced　the　room　and　uttered　his　thoughts　aloud；　thus　speaking
to　his　wife　without　addressing　her：

〃Yes；　a　millionso　much　the　worse。　He　did　not　think　when　making　his
will　what　a　breach　of　etiquette　he　was　committing。　He　did　not
realize　in　what　a　false；　ridiculous　position　he　was　placing　me。　He
should　have　left　half　of　it　to　methat　would　have　made　matters
right。〃

He　seated　himself；　crossed　his　legs　and　began　to　twist　the　ends　of
his　mustache；　as　was　his　custom　when　annoyed；　uneasy；　or　pondering
over　a　weighty　question。

Madeleine　took　up　a　piece　of　embroidery　upon　which　she　worked
occasionally；　and　said：　〃I　have　nothing　to　say。　You　must　decide。〃

It　was　some　time　before　he　replied；　then　he　said　hesitatingly：　〃The
world　would　never　understand　how　it　was　that　Vaudrec　constituted　you
his　sole　heiress　and　that　I　allowed　it。　To　accept　that　legacy　would
be　to　avow　guilty　relations　on　your　part　and　an　infamous　lack　of
self…respect　on　mine。　Do　you　know　how　the　acceptance　of　it　might　be
interpreted？　We　should　have　to　find　some　adroit　means　of　palliating
it。　We　should　have　to　give　people　to　suppose；　for　instance；　that　he
divided　his　fortune　between　us；　giving　half　to　you　and　half　to　me。〃

She　said：　〃I　do　not　see　how　that　can　be　done；　since　there　is　a
formal　will。〃

He　replied：　〃Oh；　that　is　very　simple。　We　have　no　children；　you　can
therefore　deed　me　part　of　the　inheritance。　In　that　way　we　can
silence　malignant　tongues。〃

She　answered　somewhat　impatiently：　〃I　do　not　see　how　we　can　silence
malignant　tongues　since　the　will　is　there；　signed　by　Vaudrec。〃

He　said　angrily：　〃Do　you　need　to　exhibit　it；　or　affix　it　to　the
door？　You　are　absurd！　We　will　say　that　the　fortune　was　left　us
jointly　by　Count　de　Vaudrec。　That　is　all。　You　cannot；　moreover；
accept　the　legacy　without　my　authority；　I　will　only　consent　on　the
condition　of　a　partition　which　will　prevent　me　from　becoming　a
laughing…stock　for　the　world。〃

She　glanced　sharply　at　him：　〃As　you　will。　I　am　ready。〃

He　seemed　to　hesitate　again；　rose；　paced　the　floor；　and　avoiding　his
wife's　piercing　gaze；　he　said：　〃Nodecidedly　noperhaps　it　would
be　better　to　renounce　it　altogetherit　would　be　more　correctmore
honorable。　From　the　nature　of　the　bequest　even　charitably…disposed
people　would　suspect　illicit　relations。〃

He　paused　before　Madeleine。　〃If　you　like；　my　darling；　I　will　return
to　M。　Lamaneur's　alone；　to　consult　him　and　to　explain　the　matter　to
him。　I　will　tell　him　of　my　scruples　and　I　will　add　that　we　have
agreed　to　divide　it　in　order　to　avoid　any　scandal。　From　the　moment
that　I　accept　a　portion　of　the　inheritance　it　will　be　evident　that
there　is　nothing　wrong。　I　can　say：　'My　wife　accepts　it　because　I；
her　husband；　accept'I；　who　am　the　best　judge　of　what　she　can　do
without　compromising　herself。〃

Madeleine　simply　murmured：　〃As　you　wish。〃

He　continued：　〃Yes；　it　will　be　as　clear　as　day　if　that　is　done。　We
inherit　a　fortune　from　a　friend　who　wished　to　make　no　distinction
between　us；　thereby　showing　that　his　liking　for　you　was　purely
Platonic。　You　may　be　sure　that　if　he　had　given　it　a　thought；　that　is
what　he　would　have　done。　He　did　not　reflecthe　did　not　foresee　the
consequences。　As　you　said　just　n