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punishable。 Thereupon I began to feel very despondent； and to utter divers
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lamentations。
〃What am I to do？〃 I cried out； 〃what am I to do？ Am I then
irretrievably ruined？and have I also ruined the poor child whom I wanted
to save？〃
Monsieur de Gabry silently filled his pipe； and lighted it so slowly that
his kind broad face remained for at least three or four minutes glowing red
behind the light； like a blacksmith's in the gleam of his forge…fire。 Then he
said；
〃You want to know what to do？ Why； don't do anything； my dear
Monsieur Bonnard！ For God's sake； and for your own sake； don't do
anything at all！ Your situation is bad enough as it is； don't try to meddle
with it now； unless you want to create new difficulties for yourself。 But
you must promise me to sustain me in any action that I may take。 I shall
go to see Monsieur Mouche the very first thing to…morrow morning； and if
he turns out to be what I think he isthat is to say； a consummate rascalI
shall very soon find means of making him harmless； even if the devil
himself should take sides with him。 For everything depends on him。 As it
is too late this evening to take Mademoiselle Jeanne back to her boarding…
school； my wife will keep the young lady here to…night。 This of course
plainly constitues the misdemeanour of complicity； but it saves the girl
from anything like an equivocal position。 As for you； my dear Monsieur；
you just go back to the Quai Malaquais as quickly as you can； and if they
come to look for Jeanne there； it will be very easy for you to prove she is
not in your house。〃
While we were thus talking； Madame de Gabry was preparing to make
her young lodger comfortable for the night。 When she bade me good…bye
at the door； she was carrying a pair of clean sheets； scented with lavender；
thrown over her arm。
〃That；〃 I said； 〃is a sweet honest smell。〃
〃Well； of course；〃 answered Madame de Gabry； 〃you must remember
we are peasants。〃
〃Ah！〃 I answered her； 〃heaven grant that I also may be able one of
these days ti becine a peasant！ Heaven grant that one of these days I may
be able； as you are at Lusance； to inhale the sweet fresh odour of the
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country； and live in some little house all hidden among trees； and if this
wish of mine be too ambitious on the part of an old man whose life is
nearly closed； then I will only wish that my winding… sheet may be as
sweetly scented with lavender as that linen you have on your arm。〃
It was agreed that I should come to lunch the following morning。 But I
was positively forbidden to show myself at the house before midday。
Jeanne； as she kissed me good…bye； begged me not to take her back to the
school any more。 We felt much affected at parting； and very anxious。
I found Therese waiting for me on the landing； in such a condition of
worry about me that it had made her furious。 She talked of nothing less
than keeping me under lock and key in the future。
What a night I passed！ I never closed my eyes for one single instant。
From time to time I could not help laughing like a boy at the success of
my prank； and then again； an inexpressible feeling of horror would come
upon me at the thought of being dragged before some magistrate； and
having to take my place upon the prisoner's bench； to answer for the crime
which I had so naturally committed。 I was very much afraid； and
nevertheless I felt no remorse or regret whatever。 The sun； coming into my
room at last； merrily lighted upon the foot of my bed； and then I made this
prayer：
〃My God； Thou who didst make the sky and the dew； as it is said in
'Tristan；' judge me in Thine equity； not indeed according unto my acts； but
according only to my motives； which Thou knowest have been upright and
pure； and I will say： Glory to Thee in heaven； and peace on earth to men of
good…will。 I give into Thy hands the child I stole away。 Do that for her
which I have not known how to do； guard for her from all her enemies；
and blessed for ever be Thy name！〃
December 29。
When I arrived at Madame de Gabry's； I found Jeanne completely
transfigured。
Had she also； like myself； at the very first light of dawn； called upon
Him who made the sky and the dew？ She smiled with such a sweet calm
smile！
Madame de Gabry called her away to arrange her hair for the amiable
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lady had insisted upon combing and plaiting； with her own hands； the hair
of the child confided to her care。 As I had come a little before the hour
agreed upon； I had interrupted this charming toilet。 By way of punishment
I was told to go and wait in the parlour all by myself。 Monsieur de Gabry
joined me there in a little while。 He had evidently just come in； for I could
see on his forehead the mark left my the lining of his hat。 His frank face
wore an expression of joyful excitement。 I thought I had better not ask him
any questions； and we all went to lunch。 When the servants had finished
waiting at table； Monsieur Paul； who had been keeping his good story for
the dessert； said to us；
〃Well！ I went to Levallois。〃
〃Did you see Maitre Mouche？〃 excitedly inquired Madame de Gabry。
〃No；〃 he replied； curiously watching the expression of disappointment
upon our faces。
After having amused himself with our anxiety for a reasonable time；
the good fellow added：
〃Maitre Mouche is no longer at Levallois。 Maitre Mouche has gone
away from France。 The day after to…morrow will make just eight days
since he decamped； taking with him all the money of his clientsa
tolerably large sum。 I found the office closed。 A woman who lived close
by told me all about it with an abundance of curses and imprecations。 The
notary did not take the 7：55 train all by himself； he took with him the
daughter of the hairdresser of Levallois； a young person quite famous in
that part of the country for her beauty and her accomplishments；they say
she could shave better than her father。 Well； anyhow Mouche has run away