Question

responsible for the death of Mother Botemps?

Answer 1

the answer to this question is money

Answer 2

They were both speculating on the life of Mother Bontemps and only thinking about money.

Explanation:-

• In Guy de Maupassant's short story "The Devil", Mother Bontemps was on the verge of death and the doctor gave her a few hours to live. The problem was that his son, Honoré Bontemps, a farmer, had to go to collect the crop because he was poor and needed to harvest it. The doctor refused to leave his mother without any company and threatened to refuse treatment if he himself was ill.
• Hearing this, he agreed and decided to pay La Rapete to live with his mother. However he knew he could not ask for a daily rate for his mother as she was strong and flexible and could last for weeks so he tried to get a fixed rate so that he would not overpay, if he really live longer.
• La Rapet doubted the move and agreed only after setting a higher price.
• And so it became that for every additional day she lived, La Rapet was concerned that she would not make any profit, while Honoré wanted it to last as long as possible so as not to overpay. Thus, they were both speculating on the life of Mother Bontemps and only thinking about money.