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indulgence was vast。 It went even so far as to confuse the scholar and the
ignoramus in the same burst of praise。 And nevertheless one must learn
how to find fault； and it is even an imperative duty to blame when the
blame is deserved。
I remember little Raymond （that was the name we gave him）； he did
not know anything； and his mind was not a mind capable of absorbing any
solid learning； but he was very fond of his mother。 We took very good care
never to utter a hint of the ignorance of so perfect a son； and； thanks； to
our forbearance； little Raymond made his way to the highest positions。 He
had lost his mother then； but honours of all kinds were showered upon him。
He became omnipotentto the grievous injury of his colleagues and of
science。。。。 But here comes my young fiend of the Luxembourg。
〃Good…evening； Gelis。 You look very happy to…day。 What good fortune
has come to you； my dear lad？〃
His good fortune is that he has been able to sustain his thesis very
credibly； and that he has taken high rank in his class。 He tells me this with
the additional information that my own words； which were incidentally
referred to in the course of the examination； had been spoken of by the
college professors in terms of the most unqualified praise。
〃That is very nice；〃 I replied； 〃and it makes me very happy； Gelis； to
find my old reputation thus associated with your own youthful honours。 I
was very much interested； you know； in that thesis of yours；but some
domestic arrangements have been keeping me so busy lately that I quite
forgot this was the day on which you were to sustain it。〃
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The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
Mademoiselle Jeanne made her appearance very opportunely； as if in
order to suggest to him something about the nature of those very domestic
arrangements。 The giddy girl burst into the City of Books like a fresh
breeze； crying at the top of her voice that her room was a perfect little
wonder。 then she became very red indeed on seeing Monsieur Gelis there。
But none of us can escape our destiny。
Monsieur Gelis asked her how she was with the tone of a young fellow
who resumes upon a previous acquaintance； and who proposes to put
himself forward as an old friend。 Oh； never fear！she had not forgotten
him at all； that was very evident from the fact that then and there； right
under my nose； they resumed their last year's conversation on the subject
of the 〃Venetian blond〃！ They continued the discussion after quite an
animated fashion。 I began to ask myself what right I had to be in the room
at all。 The only thing I could do in order to make myself heard was to
cough。 As for getting in a word； they never even gave me a chance。 Gelis
discoursed enthusiastically； not only about the Venetian colourists； but also
upon all other matters relating to nature or to mankind。 And Jeanne kept
answering him； 〃Yes； Monsieur； you are right。〃。。。。 〃That is just what I
supposed； Monsieur。〃。。。。 〃Monsieur； you express so beautifully just what I
feel。〃。。。 〃I am going to think a great deal about what you have just told me；
Monsieur。〃
When I speak； Mademoiselle never answers me in that tone。 It is only
with the very tip of her tongue that she will even taste any intellectual food
which I set before her。 Usually she will not touch it at all。 But Monsieur
Gelis seems to be in her opinion the supreme authority upon all subjects。 It
was always； 〃Oh； yes！〃〃Oh； of course！〃to all his empty chatter。 And；
then； the eyes of Jeanne！ I had never seen them look so large before； I had
never before observed in them such fixity of expression； but her gaze
otherwise remained what it always isartless； frank； and brave。 Gelis
evidently pleased her； she like Gelis； and her eyes betrayed the fact。 They
would have published it to the entire universe！ All very fine； Master
Bonnard！you have been so deeply interested in observing your ward； that
you have been forgetting you are her guardian！ You began only this
morning to exercise that function； and you can already see that it involves
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The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
some very delicate and difficult duties。 Bonnard； you must really try to
devise some means of keeping that young man away from her； you really
ought。。。。 Eh！ how am I to know what I am to do？。。。
I have picked up a book at random from the nearest shelf； I open it；
and I enter respectfully into the middle of a drama of Sophocles。 the older
I grow； the more I learn to love the two civilisations of the antique world；
and now I always keep the poets of Italy and of Greece on a shelf within
easy reach of my arm in the City of Books。
Monsieur and Mademoiselle finally condescend to take some notice of
me； now that I seem too busy to take any notice of them。 I really think that
Mademoiselle Jeanne has even asked me what I am reading。 No； indeed； I
will not tell her what it is。 what I am reading； between ourselves； is the
change of that smooth and luminous Chorus which rolls out its
magnificent tunefulness through a scene of passionate violencethe
Chorus of the Old Men of Thebes'Erws avixate。。。' 〃Invincible Love； O
thou who descendest upon rich houses；Thou who dost rest upon the
delicate cheek of the maiden； Thou who dost traverse all seas；surely
none among the Immortals can escape Thee； nor indeed any among men
who live but for a little space； and he who is possessed by Thee； there is a
madness upon him。〃 And when I had re…read that delicious chant； the face
of Antigone appeared before me in all its passionless purity。 What images！
Gods and goddesses who hover in the highest heights of Heaven！ The
blind old man； the long…wandering beggar…king； led by Antigone； has now
been buried with holy rites； and his daughter； fair as the fairest dream ever
conceived by human soul； resists the will of the tyrant and gives pious
sepulture to her brother。 She loves the son of the tyrant； and that son loves
her also。 And as she goes on her way to execution； the victim of her own
sweet piety； the old men sing； 〃Invincible Love； O Thou who dost descend
upon rich houses； Thou who dos