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the first Thursday in June； and that Mademoiselle Jeanne will be waiting
for me？ The schoolmistress has certainly had the parlour floor vigorously
waxed： I am sure one can look at oneself in it now； and it will be quite a
consolation for me when I slip and break my old bones upon itwhich is
sure to happen sooner or laterto see my rueful countenance reflected in it
as in a looking…glass。 Then taking for my model that amiable and
admirable hero whose image is carved upon the handle of Uncle Victor's
walking…stick； I will control myself so as not to make too ugly a grimace。。。。
See what a splendid sun！ The quays are all gilded by it； and the Seine
smiles in countless little flashing wrinkles。 The city is gold： a dust…haze；
blonde and gold…toned as a woman's hair； floats above its beautiful
contours。。。。 Therese； my cravat！。。。 Ah！ I can now comprehend the wisdom
of that old Chrysal who used to keep his neckbands in a big Plutarch。
Hereafter I shall follow his example by laying all my neckties away
between the leaves of the Acta Sanctorum。〃
Therese let me talk on； and keeps looking for the necktie in silence。 I
hear a gentle ringing at our door…bell。
〃Therese；〃 I exclaim； 〃there is somebody ringing the bell！ Give me my
cravat； and go to the door； or； rather； go to the door first； and then； with the
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help of Heaven； you will give me my cravat。 But please do not stand there
between the clothes…press and the door like an old hack…horse between two
saddles。
Therese marched to the door as if advancing upon the enemy。 My
excellent housekeeper becomes more inhospitable the older she grows。
Every stranger is an object of suspicion to her。 According to her own
assertion； this disposition is the result of a long experience with human
nature。 I had not the time to consider whether the same experience on the
part of another experimenter would produce the same results。 Maitre
Mouche was waiting to see me in the ante…room。
Maitre Mouche is still more yellow than I had believed him to be。 He
wears blue glasses； and his eyes keep moving uneasily behind them； like
mice running about behind a screen。
Maitre Mouche excuses himself for having intruded upon me at a
moment when。。。。 He does not characterise the moment； but I think he
means to say a moment in which I happen to be without my cravat。 It is
not my fault； as you very well know。 Maitre Mouche； who does not know；
does not appear to be at all shocked； however。 He is only afraid that he
might have dropped in at the wrong moment。 I succeeded in partially
reassuring him at once upon that point。 He then tells me it is as guardian of
Mademoiselle Alexandre that he has come to talk with me。 First of all； he
desires that I shall not hereafter pay any heed to those restrictions he had
at first deemed necessary to put upon the permit given to visit
Mademoiselle Jeanne at the boarding…school。 Henceforth the
establishment of Mademoiselle Prefere will be open to me any day that I
might choose to callbetween the hours of midday and four o'clock。
Knowing the interest I have taken in the young girl； he considers it his
duty to give me some information about the person to whom he has
confided his ward。 Mademoiselle Prefere； whom he has known for many
years； is in possession of his utmost confidence。 Mademoiselle Prefere is；
in his estimation； an enlightened person； of excellent morals； and capable
of giving excellent counsel。
〃Mademoiselle Prefer；〃 he said to me； 〃has principles； and principles
are rare these days； Monsieur。 Everything has been totally changed； and
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The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
this epoch of ours cannot compare with the preceding ones。〃
〃My stairway is a good example； Monsieur；〃 I replied； 〃twenty…five
years ago it used to allow me to climb it without any trouble； and now it
takes my breath away； and wears my legs out before I have climbed half a
dozen steps。 It has had its character spoiled。 Then there are those journals
and books I used once to devour without difficulty by moonlight： to…day；
even in the brightest sunlight； they mock my curiosity； and exhibit nothing
but a blur of white and black when I have not got my spectacles on。 Then
the gout has got into my limbs。 That is another malicious trick of the
times！〃
〃Not only that； Monsieur；〃 gravely replied Maitre Mouche； 〃but what
is really unfortunate in our epoch is that no one is satisfied with his
position。 From the top of society to the bottom； in every class； there
prevails a discontent； a restlessness； a love of comfort。。。。〃
〃Mon Dieu； Monsieur！〃 I exclaimed。 〃You think this love of comfort is
a sign of the times？ Men have never had at any epoch a love of discomfort。
They have always tried to better their condition。 This constant effort
produces constant changes； and the effort is always going onthat is all
there is about it！〃
〃Ah！ Monsieur；〃 replied Maitre Mouche； 〃it is easy to see that you live
in your booksout of the business world altogether。 You do not see； as I
see them； the conflicts of interest； the struggle for money。 It is the same
effervescence in all minds； great or small。 The wildest speculations are
being everywhere indulged in。 What I see around me simply terrifies me！〃
I wondered within myself whether Maitre Mouche had called upon me
only for the purpose of expressing his virtuous misanthropy； but all at
once I heard words of a more consoling character issue from his lips。
Maitre Mouche began to speak to me of Virginie Prefere as a person
worthy of respect； of esteem； and of sympathy；highly honourable；
capable of great devotedness； cultivated； discreet；able to read aloud
remarkably well； extremely modest； and skillful in the art of applying
blisters。 Then I began to understand that he had only been painting that
dismal picture of universal corruption in order the better to bring out； by
contrast； the virtues o