Bel Ami

Chapter 14

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 much--a remembrance to prove that he thought of us--that 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.