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that the captain's reply belonged to the sublime order。 He put his arms
akimbo； eyed Monsieur de Lessay contemptuously from head to food； and
said；
〃'Napoleon； Monsieur the Vidame； had another spouse besides
Josephine； another spouse besides Marie…Louise。 that companion you
know nothing of； but I have seen her； close to me。 She wears a mantle of
azure gemmed with stars； she is crowned with laurels； the Cross…of…
Honour flames upon her breast。 Her name is GLORY！'
〃Monsieur de Lessay set his cup on the mantlepiece and quietly
observed；
〃'Your Bonaparte was a blackguard！'
〃My father rose up calmly； extended his arm； and said very softly to
Monsieur de Lessay；
〃Whatever the man was who died at St。 Helena； I worked for ten years
in his government； and my brother…in…law was three times wounded under
his eagles。 I beg of you； dear sir and friend； never to forget these facts in
future。'
〃What the sublime and burlesque insolence of the captain could not do；
the courteous remonstrance of my father effected immediately； throwing
Monsieur de Lessay into a furious passion。
〃'I did forget；' he exclaimed； between his set teeth； livid in his rage；
and fairly foaming at the mouth； 'the herring…cask always smells of herring
and when one has been in the service of rascals…'
〃As he uttered the word； the Captain sprang at his throat； I am sure he
would have strangled him upon the spot but for his daughter and me。
〃My father； a little paler than his wont； stood there with his arms
folded； and watched the scene with a look of inexpressible pity。 What
followed was still more lamentablebut why dwell further upon the folly
of two old men。 Finally I succeeded in separating them。 Monsieur de
Lessay made a sign to his daughter and left the room。 As she was
following him； I ran out into the stairway after her。
〃'Mademoiselle；' I said to her； wildly； taking her hand as I spoke； 'I
love you！ I love you！'
〃For a moment she pressed my hand； her lips opened。 What was it that
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she was going to say to me？ But suddenly； lifting her eyes towards her
father ascending the stairs； she drew her hand away； and made me a
gesture of farewell。
〃I never saw her again。 Her father went to live in the neighbourhood of
the Pantheon； in an apartment which he had rented for the sale of his
historical atlas。 He died in a few months afterward of an apoplectic stroke。
His daughter； I was told； retired to Caen to live with some aged relative。 It
was there that； later on； she married a bank…clerk； the same Noel
Alexandre who became so rich and died so poor。
〃As for me； Madame； I have lived alone； at peace with myself； my
existence； equally exempt from great pains and great joys； has been
tolerably happy。 But for many years I could never see an empty chair
beside my own of a winter's evening without feeling a sudden painful
sinking at my heart。 Last year I learned from you； who had known her； the
story of her old age and death。 I saw her daughter at your house。 I have
seen her； but I cannot yet say like the aged mad of Scripture； 'And now； O
Lord； let thy servant depart in peace！' For if an old fellow like me can be
of any use to anybody； I would wish； with your help； to devote my last
energies and abilities to the care of this orphan。〃
I had uttered these last words in Madame de Gabry's own vestibule；
and I was about to take leave of my kind guide when she said to me；
〃My dear Monsieur； I cannot help you in this matter as much as I
would like to do。 Jeanne is an orphan and a minor。 You cannot do anything
for her without the authorisation of her guardian。〃
〃Ah！〃 I exclaimed； 〃I had not the least idea in the wold that Jeanne had
a guardian！〃
Madame de Gabry looked at me with visible surprise。 She had not
expected to find the old man quite so simple。
She resumed：
〃The guardian of Jeanne Alexandre is Maitre Mouche； notary at
Levallois…Perret。 I am afraid you will not be able to come to any
understanding with him； for he is a very serious person。〃
〃Why！ good God！〃 I cried； 〃with what kind of people can you expect
me to have any sort of understanding at my age； except serious persons。〃
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She smiled with a sweet mischievousnessjust as my father used to
smileand answered：
〃With those who are like youthe innocent folks who wear their hearts
on their sleeves。 Monsieur Mouche is not exactly that kind。 He is cunning
and light…fingered。 But although I have very little liking for him； we will
go together and see him； if you wish； and ask his permission to visit
Jeanne； whom he has sent to a boarding… school at Les Ternes； where she
is very unhappy。〃
We agreed at once upon a day； I kissed Madame de Gabry's hands； and
we bade each other good…bye。
From May 2 to May 5。
I have seen him in his office； Maitre Mouche； the guardian of Jeanne。
Small； thin； and dry； his complexion looks as if it was made out of the dust
of his pigeon…holes。 He is a spectacled animal； for to imagine him without
his spectacles would be impossible。 I have heard him speak； this Maitre
Mouche； he has a voice like a tin rattle； and he uses choice phrases； but I
should have been better pleased if he had not chosen his phrases so
carefully。 I have observed him； this Maitre Mouche； he is very
ceremonious； and watches his visitors slyly out of the corner of his eye。
Maitre Mouche is quite pleased； he informs us； he is delighted to find
we have taken such an interest in his ward。 But he does not think we are
placed in this world just to amuse ourselves。 No： he does not believe it；
and I am free to acknowledge that anybody in his company is likely to
reac