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: “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 mad — you are — you are — you did not think — he 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 million — so 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 me — that 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: “no — decidedly no — perhaps it would be better to renounce it altogether — it would be more correct — more 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 reflect — he did not foresee the consequences. 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 at once.”
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 compromise with the nephew for fifty thousand francs?”
she replied haughtily: “no. give him the hundred thousand francs he demands, and take them from my share if you wish.”
abashed, he murmured: “no, we will share it. after deducting fifty thousand 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 they signed a deed for five hundred thousand francs, which madeleine du roy gave up to her husband.
on leaving the office, as it was pleasant, georges proposed that they take a stroll along the boulevards. he was very tender, very careful of her, and laughed joyously while she remained pensive and grave.
it was a cold, autumn day. the pedestrians seemed in haste and walked along rapidly.
du roy led his wife to the shop into the windows of which he had so often 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 of herself, 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 with a 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 take it.”
the man hesitated, then replied: “no, sir, it is impossible.”
du roy said: “see here — throw in this chronometer at fifteen hundred francs; that makes four thousand, and i will pay cash. if you do not agree, i will go somewhere else.”
the jeweler finally yielded. “very well, sir.”
the journalist, after leaving his address, said: “you can have my initials g. r. c. interlaced below a baron’s crown, engraved on the chronometer.”
madeleine, in surprise, smiled, and when they left the shop, she took his 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, to invite her to spend the evening with them. georges rather dreaded the first meeting with clotilde, but she did not seem to bear him any malice, or even to remember their disagreement. the dinner, which they took at a restaurant, was excellent, and the evening altogether enjoyable.
georges and madeleine returned home late. the gas was extinguished, and in order to light the way the journalist from time to time struck a match. on reaching the landing on the first floor they saw their reflections in the mirror. du roy raised his hand with the lighted match in it, in order to distinguish their images more clearly, and said, with a triumphant smile:
“the millionaires are passing by.”
教堂里挂着黑色的帷幔，门楣上方的纹章上扎了个花圈，告诉过往行人，这里正在给一位绅士举行葬礼。
有关仪式刚刚结束，前来参加吊唁的人正缓步从沃德雷克的灵柩前和他侄儿的身边走过。后者同众人一一握手，以示谢意。
乔治·杜·洛瓦和妻子走出教堂后，两人便肩并肩地走着，打算回家去。双方谁也没有说话，一副心事重重的样子。
到后来，杜·洛瓦终于开了口，但又像是在自言自语：
“这事可也真有点儿怪！”
“你说什么，亲爱的？”玛德莱娜问道。
“我是说沃德雷克怎么什么也没给我们留下。”
玛德莱娜倏地面红耳赤，一张粉脸从颈部往上仿佛罩了一层粉红色面纱：
“他干吗要给我们留点什么呢？一点道理也没有。”
过了一会儿，见杜·洛瓦没有答话，她又说道：
“公证人那儿恐怕会有遗嘱，只是我们还一无所知。”
“是的，这完全可能，”杜·洛瓦想了想，说道，“因为不管怎样，我们俩是他最要好的朋友。他每星期来家里吃两餐晚饭，不论什么时候，想来就来。他在我们家就像在自己家里一样。他对你简直俨如慈父，因为他孑然一身，既无子女，也无兄弟姐妹，只有一个侄儿，而且是远房的。你说得很对，他可能会留有遗嘱。我并不指望会得到多少东西，只是希望能有个纪念，说明他想到了我们，对我们有着真挚的感情，对我们同他的情谊感念不忘。因此，一点友好的表示是一定会有的。”
若有所思的玛德莱娜漫不经心地答道：
“是的，恐怕不会没有遗嘱。”
他们一踏进家门，仆人立即递给玛德莱娜一封信。玛德莱娜拆开看了看，随手递给杜·洛瓦。
信是设在沃热街十七号的拉马纳尔公证人事务所寄来的，全文如下：
夫人，
我荣幸地通知阁下，因一事与您有关，请于便中来本事务所面商。星期二至星期四下午二时至四时皆可。
顺致崇高的敬礼，
拉马纳尔
现在轮到杜·洛瓦满面羞红了，只见他说道：
“准是有关遗嘱的事。然而奇怪的是，他找的是你而不是我，因为从法律上来讲，我才是一家之主。”
玛德莱娜起先未予答理，后经过片刻考虑，说道：
“待会儿咱们一起去，你看怎样？”
“行，我很想去。”
吃过午饭，他们便出了家门。
到达拉马纳尔的事务所，接待他们的首席书记显得分外热情，立刻领他们进了公证人的办公室。
公证人是个五短身材，浑身上下，没有一处不胖得要命。脑袋像个圆球，镶嵌在由两条腿支撑的另一个圆球上。这两条腿是那样地粗而且短，看去也像是两个球似的。
他欠了欠身，指了指椅子，请来客坐下。然后，他转向玛德莱娜说道：
“夫人，德·沃德雷克伯爵生前留有一份遗嘱，此遗嘱涉及到您。我请您来，就是想把有关情况告诉您。”
“我早已料到就是为了这个，”杜·洛瓦按捺不住地嘟哝道。
“我现在就将这份遗嘱念给您听，”公证人又说，“所幸遗嘱倒也不长。”
他在桌上的一个纸盒里拿起一张纸，读了起来：
立遗嘱人德·沃德雷克伯爵，原名保罗—爱弥尔—
西皮里昂—贡特朗，身体健康，精神正常。今特在此将其生后意愿陈述如下：
人生短暂，生死难卜。为防不测，今特立遗嘱一份，存于公证人拉马纳尔先生处为证。
本人之财产计有交易所证券六十万法郎，不动产约
五十万法郎。因无直系亲属继承，本人愿将上述财产全部遗赠克莱尔—玛德莱娜·杜·洛瓦夫人，不附加任何条件或义务。此馈赠乃一亡友对该夫人忠诚友情之深切表示，望能哂纳。
公证人读完后，接着说道：
“以上就是遗嘱的全部内容。此遗嘱立于今年八月，以取代两年前所立内容完全相同、受赠人为克莱尔—玛德莱娜·弗雷斯蒂埃夫人的遗嘱。这前一份遗嘱尚存我处，若家庭内部发生争议，可足以证明德·沃德雷克伯爵先生的初衷，始终未变。”
玛德莱娜面色苍白，两只眼睛一直看着地下，杜·洛瓦则神情紧张地用手捻着嘴角的胡髭。停了一会儿，公证人又向杜·洛瓦说道：
“先生，不言而喻，夫人要接受这笔遗产，必须得到您的赞同。”
杜·洛瓦站起来，干巴巴地说了一句：
“我希望考虑考虑后再说。”
公证人笑着欠了欠身，十分和蔼地说道：
“先生，对于您的谨慎和犹豫不决，我完全理解。我想补充一点，德·沃德雷克先生的侄儿今天上午已得悉遗嘱的内容。他表示，若能给他十万法郎，他对此遗嘱将予尊重。我个人认为，就遗嘱本身而言，是没有任何空子可钻的，问题是如果闹到法院，则必会弄得满城风雨，因此你们恐怕还是尽量避免这种结局为好。须知人言可畏呀。不管怎样，望你们能在星期六之前对上述各点作出答复。”
“好的，先生，”杜·洛瓦欠了欠身说道，接着便彬彬有礼地向公证人躬身告辞。待始终一言未发的玛德莱娜先行退出后，他才脸色铁青地走了出去。此情此景公证人看在眼里，脸上的笑容早已无影无踪。
回到家里后，杜·洛瓦砰的一下关上房门，将帽子往床上一扔，说道：
“你过去是不是沃德雷克的相好？”
正在摘面纱的玛德莱娜，不禁一怔，将身子转了过来：
“你是说我吗？”
“对，就是你。一个男人在他死后是不会将他的财产全部送给一个女人的，除非……”
玛德莱娜浑身颤抖，面纱上的别针怎么也拔不下来。
她想了想，神情激动地说道：
“这是……怎么啦？……你难道……疯了？……你自己……刚才……不也希望……他能留点什么给你吗？”
杜·洛瓦依然站在她身旁，注视着其表情的微小变化，如同一位法官在努力捕捉犯人失去镇定的情绪。他一字一顿地说道：
“完全对……我是你丈夫……他若作为一个朋友……留点什么给我……当然可以……听明白没有？……而他若作为一个朋友……给你留点什么……那就不行……因为你是我妻子。从社会习俗……和社会舆论来说，二者之间存在着本质区别。”
现在是玛德莱娜目不转睛地看着他了。她一反常态，以其深邃的目光紧紧地盯着他那明亮的双眼，好像要从中发现什么，洞穿他那令人捉摸不透的心灵。因为此人的内心世界是那样地神秘，只有在他稍不经心而未加提防的短短一瞬间，方可像那略略开启的门扉，让人隐隐看到一点。只见玛德莱娜这时慢条斯理地说道：
“可是我觉得，他若……将这样一大笔遗产留给你，外人定会同样感到奇怪的……”
“何以见得？”杜·洛瓦急忙追问。
“因为……”玛德莱娜欲言又止，“因为你是我丈夫……你认识他才多少时候？……而我同他的交往却很有年头了……他在弗雷斯蒂埃还活着的时候立的前一份遗嘱，便已写明让我继承他的遗产。”
杜·洛瓦大步在房内走来走去，说道：
“这遗产你不能要。”
玛德莱娜毫不在乎地说道：
“行呀，不过这样的话，也就不用等到星期六，马上就可派个人去告诉拉马纳尔先生。”
杜·洛瓦在她面前停了下来，两人再次相视良久，都想洞穿对方的内心隐秘和真实意图。通过这心急火燎、默默无言的探询，双方都竭力想将对方的心思一览无余，因此这是一种心智的较量。这两个人虽然朝夕相处，但彼此之间始终缺乏了解，更不要说心灵深处的一些见不得人的东西了，故而常常互相猜疑，多方探测和窥伺。
杜·洛瓦这时忽然凑近玛德莱娜的面庞，低声向她说道：
“别装蒜啦，你就承认了吧，你曾是沃德雷克的情妇。”
玛德莱娜耸了耸肩：
“你可真是个榆木疙瘩……沃德雷克对我确有感情，而且很深。但我们的关系也就仅此而已……从未有过越轨行为。”
“你在撒谎，这不可能，”杜·洛瓦使劲跺着脚。
“然而事实就是这样，”玛德莱娜说道，语气十分平静。
杜·洛瓦又在房里走了起来，过了一会儿，又停在她面前：
“那你说，他干吗把遗产全都给了你？”
“这很简单，”玛德莱娜不慌不忙地说道，“正如你刚才所说，我们，更确切地说我，是他唯一的朋友。在我很小的时候，我们便已相识了。我母亲曾在他的一个亲戚家当过伴娘。正因为如此，他常来这儿看我。由于他没有子女，在遗产继承问题上便自然想到了我。如果说他曾有点儿爱我，这是完全可能的。可是哪个女人未曾这样被人爱过？他或许正是因为这种藏于心底的爱，而在安排自己的后事时，将我的名字写到了他的遗嘱上。每个星期一，他都要给我带来几束鲜花，你对此并未感到奇怪，而且他一朵花也未送过你，难道不是吗？他今天又将遗产送给我，道理是一样的，况且这遗产他也无人可送。相反，他若让你来继承这笔遗产，那就太为滑稽了。他干吗要这样做呢？你是他什么人？”
这几句神态自然，从容不迫的话语，说得杜·洛瓦张口结舌。不过他依然寸步不让：
“不管怎样，我们不能按照遗嘱所作规定接受这笔遗产。否则后果将不堪设想。人人都会以为有那么回事，从而对我飞短流长，拿我取笑。同事们本来就对我嫉妒得要命，这样一来岂不会更加肆无忌惮地诽谤我？我必须比任何人都更加注意维护自己的荣誉和名声。外间已有谣传，说某人是我妻子的情夫，我不能让我妻子接受这种不干不净的遗产。”
“那好，亲爱的，”玛德莱娜依然和颜悦色，“我们就放弃好了，不就是少得一百万吗？”
杜·洛瓦仍在房间里来回走着。听了这句话，他大声地自言自语起来，有意让玛德莱娜能够听到：
“是啊……这一百万……只好算了……他在立遗嘱的时候，竟没有想到这样做是多么地缺乏考虑，忘掉了起码的习俗。他没有看到，这会让我处于多么尴尬、难堪的境地……生活中，什么事都应考虑周全……他若将此遗产给我一半，也就不会有此麻烦。”
他坐了下来，跷起了二郎腿，同时用手捻着嘴角的胡髭。每当他遇到棘手问题而感到烦闷和怏怏不乐时，他总爱这样。
玛德莱娜拿起一个她每逢有空便绣几针的刺绣活儿，一边挑选绒线，一边说道：
“我的话已经说完，该怎么做由你考虑。”
杜·洛瓦沉吟不语，后来吞吞吐吐地说道：
“世人将永远无法理解，沃德雷克为何选中你为他唯一的继承人，而且我竟也甘心赞同。因此如按现在这种方式接受这笔遗产，就你而言将等于承认……你们俩关系暧昧，就我而言将等于承认自己甘愿趋奉，无耻之尤……所以对于我们的接受，别人会怎样想，不能不加以考虑。必须想个万全之策，使之得以避免。比如可以让他们相信，他将这笔遗产给了我们两个人，丈夫一半，妻子一半。”
“既然遗嘱写得明明白白，”玛德莱娜说道，“我看不出这怎么可以。”
“有什么难的？”杜·洛瓦说，“你可以用生前馈赠的方式将此遗产的一半分给我。我们又没有子女，这样做完全可以。
这样的话，便可将那些心怀叵测之徒的嘴封住。”
“我仍旧不明白，这怎么会使外人不去议论，”玛德莱娜有点不耐烦了，“因为遗嘱分明是白纸黑字，且有沃德雷克的签字。”
“我们难道要将这份遗嘱贴到墙上，让人人知晓？”杜·洛瓦气愤地说，“说到底，你这个人真是蠢得很。我们就说，德·沃德雷克伯爵给了我们一份遗产，每人一半……不就得了？……总之，没有我同意，你是拿不到这份遗产的，而要我同意，则必须分我一半，以免我成为他人的笑料。”
玛德莱娜又以其犀利的目光看了看他，说道：
“随你的便，我怎么都行。”
杜·洛瓦站起身，又在房内来回走了起来。他似乎仍有点犹豫不决，现在是竭力避开妻子的锐利目光：
“不行……绝对不行……看来还是彻底放弃为好……这样做将更加妥帖……更加恰当……更有体面……这样一来，谁也不会说三道四，什么也说不了，并使那些谨小慎微者感到由衷的佩服。”
然而话音刚落，他又在妻子面前停了下来：
“你看这样好不好，亲爱的？若你愿意，便由我单独去找一下拉马纳尔先生，把情况告诉他，听听他的意见。我将把我的顾虑和盘托出，并对他说我们已经谈妥，决定对此遗产实行平分，以免他人闲话。既然我也得到其中的一半，他人显然将无法讥笑我。个中道理非常明显：我妻子所以接受，是因为我这个做丈夫的也接受了；作为她的丈夫，我对她这样做不会有损自己的名声，总是再清楚不过的。如若不然，这件事定会闹得满城风雨。”
“你爱怎样就怎样吧，”玛德莱娜淡淡地说了一句。
杜·洛瓦的话也就更多了：
“情况确实如此。如果对半分，事情将变得无比明晰。一个朋友给了我们一笔遗产，他不愿对我们区别对待，不愿厚此薄彼，不愿给人这样的印象：‘我生前喜欢这一位或另一位，身后也仍然如此。’不言而喻，他更喜欢的是你，但在将其遗产给予我们两人时，他想明确表示的是，他的这种偏爱不过是一种柏拉图式的纯洁感情。可以肯定，他若想到这一点，必会交待明白的。可是他没有考虑到，更没有估计到可能产生的后果。正如你刚才所说，他每星期都要给你送来几束鲜花，死后也仍要给你留点什么，作为最后的纪念，只是没有想到……”
“行啦，我明白了，”玛德莱娜没好气地打断他。“你也不必再罗里罗唆了，快去见公证人吧。”
杜·洛瓦满脸通红，半晌说道：
“说得对，我这就去走一趟。”
他拿起帽子，临走之际又说了一句：
“对于沃德雷克的侄儿所索要的数额，我将努力以五万法郎解决这一棘手问题，你看怎样？”
“不，”玛德莱娜高傲地答道：“他要十万法郎，就如数给他吧。如你愿意，这笔钱可由我那一份出。”
“不行，”杜·洛瓦满面羞愧，”还是共同分担吧。每人让出五万法郎，我们还有整整一百万呢。”
“就这样，亲爱的玛德，一会儿见，”他接着说道。
他跑去向公证人讲了讲上述安排，说此安排是他妻子想出来的。
第二天，他们在有关文书上签了字。玛德莱娜·杜·洛瓦在此文书中以生前馈赠的方式，表示让给丈夫五十万法郎。
走出公证人事务所，杜·洛瓦见天气晴朗，便提议去大街上走走。他今天显得格外随和，对妻子关怀备至，温情脉脉。他脸上笑嘻嘻的，似乎对什么都感到满意，而玛德莱娜却始终是一副若有所思的样子，面容严肃。
时当寒气袭人的深秋，街上行人步履迅疾，似乎都是一副急匆匆的样子。杜·洛瓦领着妻子走到一家店铺前。店内的一只怀表他已看了多次，早就想购买了。
“我想送你一件首饰，你觉得怎样？”他向妻子问道。
“我无所谓，你看着办，”玛德莱娜淡淡地说。
他们走了进去，杜·洛瓦问：
“你想要什么？是项链、镯子还是耳环？”
店内陈列的各类金器和精美宝石，琳琅满目。玛德莱娜一见，脸上始终挂着的冷漠神情蓦然烟消云散。她兴致勃勃，怀着浓厚的好奇，逐一看了看橱柜内摆着的金银珠宝。
“这个镯子倒是不错，”她突然有点心动。
她说的是一条外形奇特的金手链，每一节上都镶着一颗不同的宝石。
“这条手链要卖多少？”杜·洛瓦于是问珠宝商。
“三千法郎，先生。”
“两千五怎样？如果行，我们就要了。”
“不行，先生，我不能卖，”珠宝商想了想，最后说道。“这样好啦，”杜·洛瓦又说，“我再出一千五百法郎买下这块怀表，加在一起就是四千法郎，以现金支付，你看怎样？如果还是不行，我们就去别处看看。”
店老板面有难色，但考虑再三还是同意了：
“好吧，先生，就这个数。”
杜·洛瓦随即告诉他应送往何处，然后说道：
“请用花体字在怀表上刻上我的姓名缩写g．r．c，并在这几个字母的上方刻一个男爵的冠冕。”
玛德莱娜将这一切看在眼内，感到深为惊异，不禁笑了起来。从店里出来时，她带着某种柔情挽起了杜·洛瓦的胳臂，觉得他确实为人精干，很有魄力。他现在既已有了年金收入，总该有个头衔，这是自不待言的。
“男爵先生，”店老板在招呼他们离去时说道，“请放心，这字星期四便可刻好。”
他们走到一家滑稽歌舞剧院门前，见这里正在上演一出新剧。杜·洛瓦立即说道：
“若你同意，我们今晚来看看戏，现在先去订个包厢。”
包厢还有，他们立刻订了一个。
“咱们找个小餐馆去吃餐饭，你看怎样？”
“好呀，我同意。”
杜·洛瓦的心情简直不知有多好，接着又想了个可供消遣的去处：
“我们现在去找德·马莱尔夫人，邀他们出来同我们一起吃晚饭，你看好吗？据说她丈夫已经回来，我很希望能见见他。”
他们因而到了德·马莱尔夫人家。杜·洛瓦心里仍想着上次同他这位情妇的那场不快，他感到庆幸的是，今日有他妻子在场，可不必作任何解释。
不想克洛蒂尔德已将过去的事忘得一干二净。她甚至急切地要丈夫接受他们的邀请。
晚餐的气氛十分愉快，整个晚上都过得很好。
杜·洛瓦和玛德莱娜很晚才回来。楼道里的灯已经熄灭，杜·洛瓦只得不时划根火柴，照亮楼梯。
到了二楼楼梯口，突然划着的火柴光焰，使楼梯边的那面镜子，在一灯黑暗中映照出两人忽隐忽现的身影，恰似来去无踪的幽灵一般。
杜·洛瓦高举手臂，使镜中两人的面影显得更为清晰。
“瞧，两个百万富翁在走上楼去，”他不无得意地笑道。
