CHAPTER XIV.
THE WILL
The church was draped in black, and over the door a large escutcheonsurmounted by a coronet announced to the passers-by that a nobleman wasbeing buried. The ceremony was just over; those present went outslowly, passing by the coffin, and by Count de Vaudrec's nephew, whoshook hands and returned salutations.
When Georges du Roy and his wife left the church, they walked alongside by side on their way home. They did not speak; they were bothpreoccupied. At length Georges said, as if talking to himself: "Trulyit 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 anyreason for doing so?" Then after several moments of silence, shecontinued: "Perhaps there is a will at a lawyer's; we should not knowof it."
He replied: "That is possible, for he was our best friend. He dinedwith us twice a week; he came at any time; he was at home with us. Heloved you as a father; he had no family, no children, no brothers norsisters, only a nephew. Yes, there should be a will. I would not carefor much--a remembrance to prove that he thought of us--that herecognized the affection we felt for him. We should certainly have amark of friendship."
She said with a pensive and indifferent air: "It is possible that thereis a will."
When they entered the house, the footman handed Madeleine a letter. Sheopened 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 writeto 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 man--round all over. His head looked likea ball fastened to another ball, which was supported by legs so shortthat they too almost resembled balls.
He bowed, as Du Roy and his wife were shown into his office, pointed toseats, and said, turning to Madeleine: "Madame, I sent for you in orderto inform you of Count de Vaudrec's will, which will be of interest toyou."
Georges could not help muttering: "I suspected that."
The notary continued: "I shall read you the document which is verybrief."
"'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 Augustlast, and took the place of one of the same nature made two years agoin 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 nervouslytwisted his mustache.
The notary continued after a moment's pause: "It is of courseunderstood 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 thescruples which cause you to hesitate. I may add that M. de Vaudrec'snephew, who was informed this morning of his uncle's last wishes,expresses himself as ready to respect them if he be given one hundredthousand francs. In my opinion the will cannot be broken, but a lawsuitwould cause a sensation which you would probably like to avoid. Theworld often judges uncharitably. Can you let me have your reply beforeSaturday?"
Georges bowed, and together with his wife left the office. When theyarrived 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 awoman unless--"
She trembled, and could scarcely take out the pins which fastened thetransparent tissue. Then she stammered in an agitated manner: "You aremad--you are--you are--you did not think--he would leave you anything!"
Georges replied, emphazing each word: "Yes, he could have left mesomething; me, your husband, his friend; but not you, my wife and hisfriend. The distinction is material in the eyes of the world."
Madeleine gazed at him fixedly: "It seems to me that the world wouldhave 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 solong; because his first will, made during Forestier's lifetime, wasalready in my favor."
Georges began to pace to and fro. He finally said: "You cannot acceptthat."
She answered indifferently: "Very well; it is not necessary then towait until Saturday; you can inform M. Lamaneur at once."
He paused before her, and they gazed into one another's eyes as if bythat mute and ardent interrogation they were trying to examine eachother's consciences. In a low voice he murmured: "Come, confess yourrelations."
She shrugged her shoulders. "You are absurd. Vaudrec was very fond ofme, 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: "Explainto me, then, why he left all his fortune to you."
She did so with a nonchalant air: "It is very simple. As you said justnow, we were his only friends, or rather, I was his only friend, for heknew 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 neverbeen loved thus? He brought me flowers every Monday. You were neversurprised at that, and he never brought you any. To-day he leaves mehis fortune for the same reason, because he had no one else to leave itto. It would on the other hand have been extremely surprising if he hadleft it to you."
"Why?"
"What are you to him?"
She spoke so naturally and so calmly that Georges hesitated beforereplying: "It makes no difference; we cannot accept that bequest underthose conditions. Everyone would talk about it and laugh at me. Myfellow-journalists are already too much disposed to be jealous of meand to attack me. I have to be especially careful of my honor and myreputation. I cannot permit my wife to accept a legacy of that kindfrom 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 willbe a million less in our pockets, that is all."
Georges paced the room and uttered his thoughts aloud, thus speaking tohis wife without addressing her:
"Yes, a million--so much the worse. He did not think when making hiswill what a breach of etiquette he was committing. He did not realizein what a false, ridiculous position he was placing me. He should haveleft half of it to me--that would have made matters right."
He seated himself, crossed his legs and began to twist the ends of hismustache, as was his custom when annoyed, uneasy, or pondering over aweighty question.
Madeleine took
up a piece of embroidery upon which she workedoccasionally, and said: "I have nothing to say. You must decide."
It was some time before he replied; then he said hesitatingly: "Theworld would never understand how it was that Vaudrec constituted youhis sole heiress and that I allowed it. To accept that legacy would beto avow guilty relations on your part and an infamous lack ofself-respect on mine. Do you know how the acceptance of it might beinterpreted? We should have to find some adroit means of palliating it.We should have to give people to suppose, for instance, that he dividedhis 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 formalwill."
He replied: "Oh, that is very simple. We have no children; you cantherefore deed me part of the inheritance. In that way we can silencemalignant tongues."
She answered somewhat impatiently: "I do not see how we can silencemalignant 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 byCount de Vaudrec. That is all. You cannot, moreover, accept the legacywithout my authority; I will only consent on the condition of apartition which will prevent me from becoming a laughing-stock for theworld."
She glanced sharply at him: "As you will. I am ready."
He seemed to hesitate again, rose, paced the floor, and avoiding hiswife's piercing gaze, he said: "No--decidedly no--perhaps it would bebetter to renounce it altogether--it would be more correct--morehonorable. From the nature of the bequest even charitably-disposedpeople would suspect illicit relations."
He paused before Madeleine. "If you like, my darling, I will return toM. Lamaneur's alone, to consult him and to explain the matter to him. Iwill tell him of my scruples and I will add that we have agreed todivide it in order to avoid any scandal. From the moment that I accepta portion of the inheritance it will be evident that there is nothingwrong. I can say: 'My wife accepts it because I, her husband,accept'--I, who am the best judge of what she can do withoutcompromising herself."
Madeleine simply murmured: "As you wish."
He continued: "Yes, it will be as clear as day if that is done. Weinherit a fortune from a friend who wished to make no distinctionbetween us, thereby showing that his liking for you was purelyPlatonic. You may be sure that if he had given it a thought, that iswhat he would have done. He did not reflect--he did not foresee theconsequences. As you said just now, he offered you flowers every week,he left you his wealth."
She interrupted him with a shade of annoyance:
"I understand. No more explanations are necessary. Go to the notary atonce."
He stammered in confusion: "You are right; I will go." He took his hat,and, as he was leaving the room, he asked: "Shall I try to compromisewith the nephew for fifty thousand francs?"
She replied haughtily: "No. Give him the hundred thousand francs hedemands, and take them from my share if you wish."
Abashed, he murmured: "No, we will share it. After deducting fiftythousand francs each we will still have a million net." Then he added:"Until later, my little Made."
He proceeded to the notary's to explain the arrangement decided upon,which he claimed originated with his wife. The following day theysigned a deed for five hundred thousand francs, which Madeleine du Roygave up to her husband.
On leaving the office, as it was pleasant, Georges proposed that theytake a stroll along the boulevards. He was very tender, very careful ofher, and laughed joyously while she remained pensive and grave.
It was a cold, autumn day. The pedestrians seemed in haste and walkedalong rapidly.
Du Roy led his wife to the shop into the windows of which he had sooften gazed at the coveted chronometer.
"Shall I buy you some trinket?" he asked.
She replied indifferently: "As you like."
They entered the shop: "What would you prefer, a necklace, a bracelet,or earrings?"
The sight of the brilliant gems made her eyes sparkle in spite ofherself, as she glanced at the cases filled with costly baubles.
Suddenly she exclaimed: "There is a lovely bracelet."
It was a chain, very unique in shape, every link of which was set witha different stone.
Georges asked: "How much is that bracelet?"
The jeweler replied: "Three thousand francs, sir."
"If you will let me have it for two thousand five hundred, I will takeit."
The man hesitated, then replied: "No, sir, it is impossible."
Du Roy said: "See here--throw in this chronometer at fifteen hundredfrancs; that makes four thousand, and I will pay cash. If you do notagree, I will go somewhere else."
The jeweler finally yielded. "Very well, sir."
The journalist, after leaving his address, said: "You can have myinitials G. R. C. interlaced below a baron's crown, engraved on thechronometer."
Madeleine, in surprise, smiled, and when they left the shop, she tookhis arm quite affectionately. She thought him very shrewd and clever.He was right; now that he had a fortune he must have a title.
They passed the Vaudeville on their way arid, entering, secured a box.Then they repaired to Mme, de Marelle's at Georges' suggestion, toinvite her to spend the evening with them. Georges rather dreaded thefirst meeting with Clotilde, but she did not seem to bear him anymalice, or even to remember their disagreement. The dinner, which theytook at a restaurant, was excellent, and the evening altogetherenjoyable.
Georges and Madeleine returned home late. The gas was extinguished, andin order to light the way the journalist from time to time struck amatch. On reaching the landing on the first floor they saw theirreflections in the mirror. Du Roy raised his hand with the lightedmatch in it, in order to distinguish their images more clearly, andsaid, with a triumphant smile:
"The millionaires are passing by."
Bel Ami; Or, The History of a Scoundrel: A Novel Page 14