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to show you the chef…d'oeuvre of Monrealese； yes； Excellence； his chef…
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d'oeuvre！ An Adoration of Shepherds！ It is the pearl of the whole Sicilian
school！〃
I： 〃Later on I will be glad to see the chef…d'oeuvre； but let us first talk
about the business which brings me here。〃
His little quick bright eyes watched my face curiously； and I perceived；
with anguish； that he had not the least suspicion of the purpose of my visit。
A cold sweat broke out over my forehead； and in the bewilderment of
my anxiety I stammered out something to this effect：
〃I have come from Paris expressly to look at a manuscript of the
Legende Doree； which you informed me was in your possession。〃
At these words he threw up his arms； opened his mouth and eyes to the
widest possible extent； and betrayed every sign of extreme nervousness。
〃Oh！ the manuscript of the 'Golden Legend！' A pearl； Excellence！ a
ruby； a diamond！ Two miniatures so perfect that they give one the feeling
of glimpses of Paradise！ What suavity！ Those colours ravished from the
corollas of flowers make a honey for the eyes！ Even a Sicilian could have
done no better！〃
〃Let me see it； then；〃 I asked； unable to conceal either my anxiety or
my hope。
〃Let you see it！〃 cried Polizzi。 〃But how can I； Excellence？ I have not
got it any longer！ I have not got it！〃
And he seemed determined to tear out his hair。 He might indeed have
pulled every hair in his head out of his hide before I should have tried to
prevent him。 But he stopped of his own accord； before he had done
himself any grievous harm。
〃What！〃 I cried out in anger〃what！ you make me come all the way
from Paris to Girgenti； by promising to show me a manuscript； and now；
when I come； you tell me you have not got it！ It is simply infamous；
Monsieur！ I shall leave your conduct to be judged by all honest men！〃
Anybody who could have seen me at that moment would have been
able to form a good idea of the aspect of a furious sheep。
〃It is infamous！ it is infamous！〃 I repeated； waving my arms； which
trembled from anger。
Then Michel…Angelo Polizzi let himself fall into a chair in the attitude
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The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
of a dying hero。 I saw his eyes fill with tears； and his hairuntil then
flamboyant and erect upon his headfall down in limp disorder over his
brow。
〃I am a father； Excellence！ I am a father！〃 he groaned； wringing his
hands。
He continued； sobbing：
〃My son Rafaelthe son of my poor wife； for whose death I have been
mourning fifteen yearsRafael； Excellence； wanted to settle at Paris； he
hired a shop in the Rue Lafitte for the sale of curiosities。 I gave him
everything precious which I hadI gave him my finest majolicas； my most
beautiful Urbino ware； my masterpieces of art； what paintings； Signor！
Even now they dazzle me with I see them only in imagination！ And all of
them signed！ Finally； I gave him the manuscript of the 'Golden Legend'！ I
would have given him my flesh and my blood！ An only son； Signor！ the
son of my poor saintly wife！〃
〃So；〃 I said； 〃while Irelying on your written word； Monsieurwas
travelling to the very heart of Sicily to find the manuscript of the Clerk
Alexander； the same manuscript was actually exposed for sale in a
window in the Rue Lafitte； only fifteen hundred yards from my house？〃
〃Yes； it was there！ that is positively true！〃 exclaimed Signor Polizzi；
suddenly growing calm again； 〃and it is there stillat least I hope it is；
Excellence。〃
He took a card from a shelf as he spoke； and offered it to me； saying；
〃Here is the address of my son。 Make it known to your friends； and
you will oblige me。 Faience and enameled wares； hangings； pictures。 He
has a complete stock of objects of artall at the fairest possible pricesand
everything authentic； I can vouch for it； upon my honour！ Go and see him。
He will show you the manuscript of the 'Golden Legend。' Two miniatures
miraculously fresh in colour！〃
I was feeble enough to take the card he held out to me。
The fellow was taking further advantage of my weakness to make me
circulate the name of Rafael Polizzi among the Societies of the learned！
My hand was already on the door…knob； when the Sicilian caught me
by the arm； he had a look as of sudden inspiration。
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〃Ah！ Excellence！〃 he cried； 〃what a city is this city of ours！ It gave
birth to Empedocles！ Empedocles！ What a great man what a great citizen！
What audacity of thought！ what virtue！ what soul！ At the port over there is
a statue of Empedocles； before which I bare my head each time that I pass
by！ When Rafael； my son； was going away to found an establishment of
antiquities in the Rue Lafitte； at Paris； I took him to the port； and there； at
the foot of that statue of Empedocles； I bestowed upon him my paternal
benediction！ 'Always remember Empedocles！' I said to him。 Ah！ Signor；
what our unhappy country needs to…day is a new Empedocles！ Would you
not like me to show you the way to his statue； Excellence？ I will be your
guide among the ruins here。 I will show you the temple of Castor and
Pollux； the temple of the Olympian Jupiter； the temple of the Lucinian
Juno； the antique well； the tomb of Theron； and the Gate of Gold！ All the
professional guides are asses； but wewe shall make excavations； if you
are willingand we shall discover treasures！ I know the science of
discovering hidden treasuresthe secret art of finding their whereaboutsa
gift from Heaven！〃
I succeeded in tearing myself away from his grasp。 But he ran after me
again； stopped me at the foot of the stairs； and said in my ear；
〃Listen； Excellence。 I will conduct you about the city； I will introduce
you to some Girgentines！ What a race！ what types！ what forms！ Sicilian
girls； Signor！the antique beauty itself！〃
〃Go to the devil！〃 I cried at last； in anger； and rushed into the street；
leaving him still writhing in the loftiness of his enthusiasm。
When I had got out of his sight； I sank down upon a stone； and began
to think； with my face in m