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The extremely disconsolate…looking servant served up some liquid to
which they gave the name of creamI do not know whyand vanished
away like a ghost。
Then Mademoiselle Prefere related to Maitre Mouche； with
extraordinary transports of emotion； all that she had said to me in the City
of Books； during the time that my housekeeper was sick in bed。 Her
admiration for a Member of the Institute； her terror lest I should be taken
ill while unattended； and the certainty she felt that any intelligent woman
would be proud and happy to share my existenceshe concealed nothing；
but； on the contrary； added many fresh follies to the recital。 Maitre
Mouche kept nodding his head in approval while cracking nuts。 Then；
after all this verbiage； he demanded； with an agreeable smile； what my
answer had been。
Mademoiselle Prefere； pressing her hand upon her heart and extending
the other towards me； cried out；
〃He is so affectionate； so superior； so good； and so great！ He
answered。。。 But I could never； because I am only a humble womanI
could never repeat the words of a Member of the Institute。 I can only utter
the substance of them。 He answered； 'Yes； I understand youyes。'〃
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And with these words she reached out and seized one of my hands。
Then Maitre Mouche； also overwhelmed with emotion； arose and seized
my other hand。
〃Monsieur；〃 he said； 〃permit me to offer my congratulations。〃
Several times in my life I have known fear； but never before had I
experienced any fright of so nauseating a character。 A sickening terror
came upon me。
I disengaged by two hands； and； rising to my feet； so as to give all
possible seriousness to my words； I said；
〃Madame； either I explained myself very badly when you were at my
house； or I have totally misunderstood you here in your own。 In either case；
a positive declaration is absolutely necessary。 Permit me； Madame； to
make it now； very plainly。 NoI never did understand you； I am totally
ignorant of the nature of this marriage project that you have been planning
for meif you really have been planning one。 In any event； I should not
think of marrying。 It would be unpardonable folly at my age； and even
now； at this moment； I cannot conceive how a sensible person like you
could ever have advised me to marry。 Indeed； I am strongly inclined to
believe that I must have been mistaken； and that you never said anything
of the kind before。 In the latter case； please excuse an old man totally
unfamiliar with the usages of society； unaccustomed to the conversation of
ladies； and very contrite for his mistake。〃
Maitre Mouche went back very softly to his place； where； not finding
any more nuts to crack； he began to whittle a cork。
Mademoiselle Prefere； after staring at me for a few moments with an
expression in her little round dry eyes which I had never seen there before；
suddenly resumed her customary sweetness and graciousness。 Then she
cried out in honeyed tones；
〃Oh！ these learned men！these studious men！ They are like children。
Yes； Monsieur Bonnard； you are a real child！〃
Then； turning to the notary； who still sat very quietly in his corner；
with his nose over his cork； she exclaimed； in beseeching tones；
〃Oh； do not accuse him！ Do not accuse him！ Do not think any evil of
him； I beg of you！ Do not think it at all！ Must I ask you upon my knees？〃
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The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
Maitre Mouche continued to examine all the various aspects and
surfaces of his cork without making any further manifestation。
I was very indignant； and I know that my cheeks must have been
extremely red； if I could judge by the flush of heat which I felt rise to my
face。 This would enable me to explain the words I heard through all the
buzzing in my ears：
〃I am frightened about him！ our poor friend！。。。 Monsieur Mouche； be
kind enough to open a window！ It seems to me that a compress of arnica
would do him some good。〃
I rushed out into the street with an unspeakable feeling of shame。
〃My poor Jeanne！〃
December 20。
I passed eight days without hearing anything further in regard to the
Prefere establishment。 Then； feeling myself unable to remain any longer
without some news of Clementine's daughter； and feeling furthermore that
I owed it as a duty to myself not to cease my visits with the school without
more serious cause； I took my way to Les Ternes。
the parlour seemed to me more cold； more damp； more inhospitable；
and more insidious than ever before； and the servant much more silent and
much more scared。 I asked to see Mademoiselle Jeanne； but； after a very
considerable time； it was Mademoiselle Prefere who made her appearance
insteadsevere and pale； with lips compressed and a hard look in her eyes。
〃Monsieur；〃 she said； folding her arms over her pelerine； I regret very
much that I cannot allow you to see Mademoiselle Alexandre to… day； but I
cannot possibly do it。〃
〃Why not？〃 I asked in astonishment。
〃Monsieur；〃 she replied； 〃the reasons which compel me to request that
your visits shall be less frequent hereafter are of an excessively delicate
nature； and I must beg you to spare me the unpleasantness of mentioning
them。〃
〃Madame；〃 I replied； 〃I have been authorized by Jeanne's guardian to
see his ward every day。 Will you please to inform me of your reasons for
opposing the will of Monsieur Mouche？〃
〃The guardian of Mademoiselle Alexandre；〃 she replied （and she dwelt
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upon that word 〃guardian〃 as upon a solid support）； 〃desires； quite as
strongly as I myself do； that your assiduities may come to an end as soon
as possible。〃
〃Then； if that be the case；〃 I said； 〃be kind enough to let me know his
reasons and your own。〃
She looked up at the little spiral of paper on the ceiling； and then
replied； with stern composure；
〃You insist upon it？ Well； although such explanations are very painful