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.

"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 man--round 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: