human
He may never have told you so till to-day, but he has often told me. 'I tell you, Camille,' he used to say, 'because I can trust you: I can't trust a white man in a matter like this.' He told you? Yes; then you know that I speak the truth. But one thing you did not know; that this intention of his was the result of my earnest advice.--Stop! Madame Brouillard--if you please--we have no time for amazement or questions now; and less than none for expressions of gratitude. Listen to me. You know he was always afraid he would die some day suddenly? Yes, of course; everybody knew that. One night--our meetings were invariably at night--he said to me, 'Camille, my dear friend, if I should go all of a sudden some day before I write that will, _you know what to do_.' Those were his exact words: 'Camille, my dear friend, _you know what to do_.' All this was said to the back of Attalie's head and neck; but now the speaker touched her with one finger:
gpt
Madame, are your lodgers all up town?
human
Good. And you have but the one servant. Go tell her that our dear friend has been in great suffering but is now much better, quite free from pain, in fact, and wants to attend to some business. Send her to Exchange alley, to the office of Eugene Favre. He is a notary public --He murmured some further description.
gpt
Understand?
human
She must tell him, he continued,
gpt
What are you going to do, Michié Ducour?
human
We are going to make you sole legatee.
gpt
I do not want it! How are you going to do it? How?
human
In a way which he knows about and approves.
gpt
I cannot leave him. Do what you please, only let me stay here. Oh! let me stay here.
human
I see, said Camille, with cold severity,
gpt
He waited a moment for these words to take effect upon her motionless form, and then, seeing that--again like a woman--she was waiting and wishing for compulsion, he lifted her by one arm.
human
Come. Go. And make haste to get back again; we are losing priceless time.
gpt
Well?
human
O Michié Ducour! the trembling woman whispered,
gpt
Madame Brouillard, the one you owe the most to will be the best witness. Well? What next?
human
O my dear friend! what is this going to cost?--in money, I mean. I am so afraid of lawyers' accounts! I have nothing, and if it turns out that he has very, very little--It is true that I sent for you, but--I did not think you--what must you charge?
gpt
Nothing! whispered Camille.
human
Madame Brouillard, whether he leaves you little or much, this must be for me a labor of love to him who was secretly my friend, or I will not touch it. He certainly had something, however, or he would not have tried to write a will. But, my dear madame, if you do not right here, now, stop looking scared, as if you were about to steal something instead of saving something from being stolen, it will cost us a great deal. Go. Make haste! That's right!--Ts-s-st! Hold on! Which is your own bedroom, upstairs?--Never mind why I ask; tell me. Yes; all right I Now, go!--Ts-s-st! Bring my hat up as you return.