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Michel Germain would have had printed but for the one irremediable
hindrance which is rarely foreseen and never avoided。 Dom Michel
Germain would have had printed but for the one irremediable hindrance
which is rarely foreseen and never avoided。 Dom Michel Germain left his
manuscript complete； however； and in good order when he died。 Shall I be
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able to do as much with mine？but that is not the present question。 So far
as I am able to understand； Monsieur Gelis intends to devote a brief
archaeological notice to each of the abbeys pictured by the humble
engravers of Dom Michel Germain。
His friend asked him whether he was acquainted with all the
manuscripts and printed documents relating to the subject。 It was then that
I pricked up my ears。 They spoke at first of original sources； and I must
confess they did so in a satisfactory manner； despite their innumerable and
detestable puns。 Then they began to speak about contemporary studies on
the subject。
〃Have you read；〃 asked Boulmier； 〃the notice of Courajod？〃
〃Good！〃 I thought to myself。
〃Yes；〃 replied Gelis； 〃it is accurate。〃
〃Have you read；〃 said Boulmier； 〃the article of Tamisey de Larroque in
the 'Revue des Questions Historiques'？〃
〃Good！〃 I thought to myself； for the second time。
〃Yes；〃 replied Gelis； 〃it is full of things。〃。。。
〃Have you read；〃 said Boulmier； 〃the 'Tableau des Abbayes
Benedictines en 1600；' by Sylvestre Bonnard？〃
〃Good！〃 I said to myself； for the third time。
〃Mai foi！ no！〃 replied Gelis。 〃Bonnard is an idiot！〃 Turning my head； I
perceived that the shadow had reached the place where I was sitting。 It
was growing chilly； and I thought to myself what a fool I was to have
remained sitting there； at the risk of getting rheumatism； just to listen to
the impertinence of those two young fellows！
〃Well！ well！〃 I said to myself as I got up。 〃Let this prattling fledgling
write his thesis and sustain it！ He will find my colleague； Quicherat； or
some other professor at the school； to show him what an ignoramus he is。 I
consider him neither more nor less than a rascal； and really； now that I
come to think of it； what he said about Michelet awhile ago was quite
insufferable； outrageous！ To talk in that way about an old master replete
with genius！ It was simply abominable！〃
April 17。
〃Therese； give me my new hat； my best frock…coat； and my silver…
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The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
headed cane。〃
But Therese is deaf as a sack of charcoal and slow as Justice。 Years
have made her so。 The worst is that she thinks she can hear well and move
about well； and； proud of her sixty years of upright domesticity； she serves
her old master with the most vigilant despotism。
〃What did I tell you？〃 。。。And now she will not give me my silver…
headed cane； for fear that I might lose it！ It is true that I often forget
umbrellas and walking…sticks in the omnibuses and booksellers' shops。 But
I have a special reason for wanting to take out with me to…day my old cane
with the engraved silver head representing Don Quixote charging a
windmill； lance in rest； while Sancho Panza； with uplifted arms； vainly
conjures him to a stop。 That cane is all that came to me from the heritage
of my uncle； Captain Victor； who in his lifetime resembled Don Quixote
much more than Sancho Panza； and who loved blows quite as much as
most people fear them。
For thirty years I have been in the habit of carrying this cane upon all
memorable or solemn visits which I make； and those two figures of knight
and squire give me inspiration and counsel。 I imagine I can hear them
speak。 Don Quixote says；
〃Think well about great things； and know that thought is the only
reality in this world。 Lift up Nature to thine own stature； and let the whole
universe be for thee no more than the reflection of thine own heroic soul。
Combat for honour's sake： that alone is worthy of a man！ and if it should
fall thee to receive wounds； shed thy blood as a beneficent dew； and
smile。〃
And Sancho Panza says to me in his turn；
〃Remain just what heaven made thee； comrade！ Prefer the bread…crust
which has become dry in thy wallet to all the partridges that roast in the
kitchen of lords。 Obey thy master； whether he by a wise man or a fool； and
do not cumber thy brain with too many useless things。 Fear blows； 'tis
verily tempting God to seek after danger！〃
But if the incomparable knight and his matchless squire are imagined
only upon this cane of mine； they are realities to my inner conscience。
Within every one of us there lives both a Don Quixote and a Sancho Panza
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The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
to whom we hearken by turns； and though Sancho most persuades us； it is
Don Quixote that we find ourselves obliged to admire。。。。 But a truce to this
dotage！and let us go to see Madame de Gabry about some matters more
important than the everyday details of life。。。。
Same day。
I found Madame de Gabry dressed in black； just buttoning her gloves。
〃I am ready；〃 she said。
Ready！so I have always found her upon any occasion of doing a
kindness。
After some compliments about the good health of her husband； who
was taking a walk at the time； we descended the stairs and got into the
carriage。
I do not know what secret influence I feared to dissipate by breaking
silence； but we followed the great deserted drives without speaking；
looking at the crosses； the monumental columns； and the mortuary wreaths
awaiting sad purchasers。
The vehicle at last halted at the extreme verge of the land of the living；
before the gate upon which words of hope are graven。
〃Follow me；〃 said Madame de Gabry； whose tall stature I noticed then
for the first time。 She first walked down an alley of cypresses； and then
took a very narrow path contrived between the to