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wore her double…peaked head…dress； and the train of her long brocade robe
undulated about her little feet。 Same face； same figure。 It was she indeed；
and to prevent any possible doubt of it； she was seated on the back of a
huge old… fashioned book strongly resembling the 〃Cosmography of
Munster。〃 Her immobility but half reassured me； I was really afraid that
she was going to take some more nuts out of her alms…purse and throw the
shells at my face。
I was standing there； waving my hands and gaping； when the musical
and laughing voice of Madame de Gabry suddenly rang in my ears。
〃So you are examining your fairy； Monsieur Bonnard！〃 said my
hostess。 〃Well； do you think the resemblance good？〃
It was very quickly said； but even while hearing it I had time to
perceive that my fairy was a statuette in coloured wax； modeled with
much taste and spirit by some novice hand。 But the phenomenon； even
thus reduced by a rational explanation； did not cease to excite my surprise。
How； and by whom； had the Lady of the Cosmography been enabled to
assume plastic existence？ That was what remained for me to learn。
Turning towards Madame de Gabry； I perceived that she was not alone。
A young girl dressed in black was standing beside her。 She had large
intelligent eyes； of a grey as sweet as that of the sky of the Isle of France；
and at once artless and characteristic in their expression。 At the extremities
of her rather thin arms were fidgeting uneasily two slender hands； supple
but slightly red； as it becomes the hands of young girls to be。 Sheathed in
her closely fitting merino robe； she had the slim grace of a young tree； and
her large mouth bespoke frankness。 I could not describe how much the
child pleased me at first sight！ She was not beautiful； but the three dimples
of her cheeks and chin seemed to laugh； and her whole person； which
revealed the awkwardness of innocence； had something in it indescribably
good and sincere。
My gaze alternated from the statuette to the young girl； and I saw her
blushso frankly and fully！the crimson passing over her face as by
waves。
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The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
〃Well；〃 said my hostess； who had become sufficiently accustomed to
my distracted moods to put the same question to me twice； 〃is that the
very same lady who came in to see you through the window that you left
open？ She was very saucy； but then you were quite imprudent！ Anyhow；
do you recognise her？〃
〃It is her very self；〃 I replied； 〃I see her now on that pier…table
precisely as I saw her on the table in the library。〃
〃Then； if that be so；〃 replied Madame de Gabry； 〃you have to blame
for it； in the first place； yourself； as a man who； although devoid of all
imagination； to use your own words； knew how to depict your dream in
such vivid colours； in the second place； me； who was able to remember
and repeat faithfully all your dream； and lastly； Mademoiselle Jeanne；
whom I now introduce to you； for she herself modeled that wax figure
precisely according to my instructions。〃
Madame de Gabry had taken the young girl's hand as she spoke； but
the latter had suddenly broken away from her； and was already running
through the park with the speed of a bird。
〃Little crazy creature！〃 Madame de Gabry cried after her。 〃How can
one be so shy？ Come back here to be scolded and kissed！〃
But it was all of no avail； the frightened child disappeared among the
shrubbery。 Madame de Gabry seated herself in the only chair remaining in
the dilapidated parlour。
〃I should be much surprised；〃 she said； 〃If my husband had not already
spoken to you of Jeanne。 She is a sweet child； and we both lover her very
much。 Tell me the plain truth； what do you think of her statuette？〃
I replied that the work was full of good taste and spirit； but that it
showed some want of study and practice on the author's part； otherwise I
had been extremely touched to think that those young fingers should have
thus embroidered an old man's rough sketch of fancy； and given form so
brilliantly to the dreams of a dotard like myself。
〃The reason I ask your opinion；〃 replied Madame de Gabry； seriously；
〃is that Jeanne is a poor orphan。 Do you think she could earn her living by
modelling statuettes like this one？〃
〃As for that； no！〃 I replied； 〃and I think there is no reason to regret the
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The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
fact。 You say the girl is affectionate and sensitive； I can well believe you； I
could believe it from her face alone。 There are excitements in artist…life
which impel generous hearts to act out of all rule and measure。 This young
creature is made to love； keep her for the domestic hearth。 There only is
real happiness。〃
〃But she has no dowry！〃 replied Madame de Gabry。
Then； extending her hand to me； she continued：
〃You are our friend； I can tell you everything。 The father of this child
was a banker； and one of our friends。 He went into a colossal speculation；
and it ruined him。 He survived only a few months after his failure； in
which； as Paul must have told you； three…fourths of my uncle's fortune
were lost； and more than half of our own。
〃We had made his acquaintance at Manaco； during the winter we
passed there at my uncle's house。 He had an adventurous disposition； but
such an engaging manner！ He deceived himself before ever he deceived
others。 After all； it is in the ability to deceive oneself that the greatest
talent is shown； is it not？ Well； we were capturedmy husband； my uncle；
and I； and we risked much more than a reasonable amount in a very
hazardous undertaking。 But； bah！ as Paul says； since we have no children
we need not worry about it。 Besides； we have the satisfaction of knowing
that the friend in whom we trusted was an honest man。。。。 You must know
his name； it was so often in the papers an on public placardsNoel
Alexandre。 His wife was a very sweet person。 I knew her only when she
was already past her prime； with traces of having once been very pretty；
and a taste for fashionable style and display which seemed quite becoming