Милый друг
The Will
"OFFICEOFM.LAMANEUR,Notary.17RuedesVosges,"
"Madame:Kindlycallatmyofficeataquarterpasttwoo’clockTuesday,Wednesday,orThursday,onbusinesswhichconcernsyou."
"Yoursrespectfully,"
"LAMANEUR."
Georges,inhisturn,colored.
"Thatisasitshouldbe.Itisstrange,however,thatheshouldwritetoyouandnottome,forIamtheheadofthefamilylegally."
"Shallwegoatonce?"sheasked.
"Yes,Ishouldliketo."
AfterluncheontheysetoutforM.Lamaneur’soffice.
Thenotarywasashort,roundman—roundallover.Hisheadlookedlikeaballfastenedtoanotherball,whichwassupportedbylegssoshortthattheytooalmostresembledballs.
Hebowed,asDuRoyandhiswifewereshownintohisoffice,pointedtoseats,andsaid,turningtoMadeleine:"Madame,IsentforyouinordertoinformyouofCountdeVaudrec’swill,whichwillbeofinteresttoyou."
Georgescouldnothelpmuttering:"Isuspectedthat."
Thenotarycontinued:"Ishallreadyouthedocumentwhichisverybrief."
"‘I,theundersigned,PaulEmileCyprienGontran,CountdeVaudrec,soundbothinbodyandmind,hereexpressmylastwishes.Asdeathmighttakemeawayatanymoment,Iwishtotaketheprecautionofdrawingupmywill,tobedepositedwithM.Lamaneur.
