按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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
with her； the Commissaire de Police confirmed the fact for me。 Now；
really； could it have been possible for Maitre Mouche to have left the
country at a more opportune moment？ If he had only deferred his escapade
one week longer； he would have been still the representative of society；
and would have had you dragged off to gaol； Monsieur Bonnard； like a
criminal。 At present we have nothing whatever to fear from him。 Here is to
the health of Maitre Mouche！〃 he cried； pouring out a glass of white wine。
I would like to live a long time if it were only to remember that
delightful morning。 We four were all assembled in the big white dining…
159
… Page 160…
The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
room around the waxed oak table。 Monsieur Paul's mirth was' of the hearty
kind；even perhaps a little riotous； and the good man quaffed deeply。
Madame de Gabry smiled at me； with a smile so sweet； so perfect； and so
noble； that I thought such a woman ought to keep smiles like that simply
as a reward for good actions； and thus make everybody who knew her do
all the good of which they were capable。 Then； to reward us for our pains；
Jeanne； who had regained something of her former vivacity； asked us in
less than a quarter of an hour one dozen questions； to answer which would
have required an exhaustive exposition on the nature of man； the nature of
the universe； the science of physics and of metaphysics； the Macrocosm
and the Microcosmnot to speak of the Ineffable and the Unknowable。
Then she drew out of her pocket her little Saint… George； who had suffered
most cruelly during our flight。 His legs and arms were gone； but he still
had his gold helmet with the green dragon on it。 Jeanne solemnly pledged
herself to make a restoration of him in honour of Madame de Gabry。
Delightful friends！ I left them at last overwhelmed with fatigue and
joy。
On re…entering my lodgings I had to endure the very sharpest
remonstrances from Therese； who said she had given up trying to
understand my new way of living。 In her opinion Monsieur had really lost
his mind。
〃Yes； Therese； I am a mad old man and you are a mad old woman。
That is certain！ May the good God bless us both； Therese； and give us new
strength； for we now have new duties to perform。 but let me lie down upon
the sofa； for I really cannot keep myself on my feet any longer。〃
January 15； 186…。
〃Good…morning； Monsieur；〃 said Jeanne； letting herself in； while
Therese remained grumbling in the corridor because she had not been able
to get to the door in time。
〃Mademoiselle； I beg you will be kind enough to address me very
solemnly by my title； and to say to me； 'Good…morning； my guardian。'〃
〃Then it has all been settled？ Oh； how nice！〃 cried the child； clapping
her hands。
〃It has all been arranged； Mademoiselle； in the Salle…commune and
160
… Page 161…
The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
before the Justice of the Peace； and from to…day you are under my
authority。。。。 What are you laughing about； my ward？ I see it in your eyes。
You have some crazy idea in your head this very moment some more
nonsense； eh？〃 〃Oh； no！ Monsieur。。。。 I mean； my guardian。 I was looking
at your white hair。 It curls out from under the edge of your hat like
honeysuckle on a balcony。 It is very handsome； and I like it very much！〃
〃Be good enough to sit down； my ward； and； if you can possibly help
it； stop saying ridiculous things； because I have some very serious things
to say to you。 Listen。 I suppose you are not going to insist upon being sent
back to the establishment of Mademoiselle Prefere？。。。 No。 Well； then； what
would you say if I should take you here to live with me； and to finish your
education； and keep you here until。。。what shall I say？for ever； as the song
has it？〃
〃Oh； Monsieur！〃 she cried； flushing crimson with pleasure。
I continued；
〃Behind there we have a nice little room； which my housekeeper has
cleaned up and furnished for you。 You are going to take the place of the
books which used to be in it； you will succeed them as the day succeeds
night。 Go with Therese and look at it； and see if you think you will be able
to live in it。 Madame de Gabry and I have made up our minds that you can
sleep there to…night。〃
She had already started to run； I called her back for a moment。
〃Jeanne； listen to me a moment longer！ You have always until now
made yourself a favourite with my housekeeper； who； like all very old
people； is apt to be cross at times。 Be gentle and forebearing。 Make every
allowance for her。 I have thought it my duty to make every allowance for
her myself； and to put up with all her fits of impatience。 Now； let me tell
you； Jeanne：Respect her！ And when I say that； I do not forget that she is
my servant and yours； neither will she ever allow herself to forget it for a
moment。 But what I want you to respect in her is her great age and her
great heart。 She is a humble woman who has lived a very； very long time
in the habit of doing good； and she has become hardened and stiffened in
that habit。 Bear patiently with the harsh ways of that upright soul。 If you
know how to command； she will know how to obey。 Go now； my child；
161
… Page 162…
The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
arrange your room in whatever way may seem to you best suited for your
studies and for your repose。〃
Having started Jeanne； with this viaticum； upon her domestic career； I
began to read a Review； which； although conducted by very young men； is
excellent。 The tone of it is somewhat unpolished； but the spirit is zealous。
The article I read was certainly far superior； in point of precision and
positiveness； to anything of the sort ever written when I was a young man。
The author of the article； Monsieur Paul Meyer； points out every error
with a remarkably lucid power of incisive criticism。
We used not in my time to criticise with such strict justice。 Our
indulgence was vast。 It went even so far as