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！
Oh； the Communards were certainly right！〃
After dinner he would go out again and look at the shops where the
decorations were sold； and he examined all the emblems of various shapes
and colors。 He would have liked to possess them all； and to have walked
gravely at the head of a procession； with his crush hat under his arm and
his breast covered with decorations； radiant as a star； amid a buzz of
admiring whispers and a hum of respect。
But； alas！ he had no right to wear any decoration whatever。
He used to say to himself： 〃It is really too difficult for any man to
obtain the Legion of Honor unless he is some public functionary。 Suppose
I try to be appointed an officer of the Academy！〃
But he did not know how to set about it； and spoke on the subject to his
wife； who was stupefied。
〃Officer of the Academy！ What have you done to deserve it？〃
He got angry。 〃I know what I am talking about。 I only want to know how
to set about it。 You are quite stupid at times。〃
She smiled。 〃You are quite right。 I don't understand anything about
it。〃
An idea struck him： 〃Suppose you were to speak to M。 Rosselin； the
deputy； he might be able to advise me。 You understand I cannot broach
the subject to him directly。 It is rather difficult and delicate； but
coming from you it might seem quite natural。〃
Mme。 Caillard did what he asked her； and M。 Rosselin promised to speak to
the minister about it； and then Caillard began to worry him； till the
deputy told him he must make a formal application and put forward his
claims。
〃What were his charms？〃 he said。 〃He was not even a Bachelor of Arts。〃
However； he set to work and produced a pamphlet； with the title； 〃The
People's Right to Instruction；〃 but he could not finish it for want of
ideas。
He sought for easier subjects； and began several in succession。 The
first was； 〃The Instruction of Children by Means of the Eye。〃 He wanted
gratuitous theatres to be established in every poor quarter of Paris for
little children。 Their parents were to take them there when they were
quite young； and； by means of a magic lantern； all the notions of human
knowledge were to be imparted to them。 There were to be regular courses。
The sight would educate the mind； while the pictures would remain
impressed on the brain； and thus science would； so to say； be made
visible。 What could be more simple than to teach universal history；
natural history； geography； botany； zoology； anatomy； etc。； etc。； in this
manner？
He had his ideas printed in pamphlets； and sent a copy to each deputy；
ten to each minister； fifty to the President of the Republic； ten to each
Parisian； and five to each provincial newspaper。
Then he wrote on 〃Street Lending…Libraries。〃 His idea was to have little
pushcarts full of books drawn about the streets。 Everyone would have a
right to ten volumes a month in his home on payment of one sou。
〃The people；〃 M。 Caillard said； 〃will only disturb itself for the sake of
its pleasures； and since it will not go to instruction； instruction must
come to it；〃 etc。； etc。
His essays attracted no attention； but he sent in his application； and he
got the usual formal official reply。 He thought himself sure of success；
but nothing came of it。
Then he made up his mind to apply personally。 He begged for an interview
with the Minister of Public Instruction； and he was received by a young
subordinate； who was very grave and important； and kept touching the
knobs of electric bells to summon ushers； and footmen； and officials
inferior to himself。 He declared to M。 Caillard that his matter was
going on quite favorably； and advised him to continue his remarkable
labors； and M。 Caillard set at it again。
M。 Rosselin； the deputy； seemed now to take a great interest in his
success； and gave him a lot of excellent； practical advice。 He； himself；
was decorated； although nobody knew exactly what he had done to deserve
such a distinction。
He told Caillard what new studies he ought to undertake； he introduced
him to learned societies which took up particularly obscure points of
science； in the hope of gaining credit and honors thereby； and he even
took him under his wing at the ministry。
One day； when he came to lunch with his friendfor several months past
he had constantly taken his meals therehe said to him in a whisper as
he shook hands： 〃I have just obtained a great favor for you。 The
Committee of Historical Works is going to intrust you with a commission。
There are some researches to be made in various libraries in France。〃
Caillard was so delighted that he could scarcely eat or drink； and a week
later he set out。 He went from town to town； studying catalogues；
rummaging in lofts full of dusty volumes； and was hated by all the
librarians。
One day； happening to be at Rouen； he thought he should like to go and
visit his wife； whom he had not seen for more than a week； so he took the
nine o'clock train； which would land him at home by twelve at night。
He had his latchkey； so he went in without making any noise； delighted at
the idea of the surprise he was going to give her。 She had locked
herself in。 How tiresome！ However； he cried out through the door：
〃Jeanne； it is I！〃
She must have been very frightened； for he heard her jump out of her bed
and speak to herself； as if she were in a dream。 Then she went to her
dressing room； opened and closed the door； and went quickly up and down
her room barefoot two or three times； shaking the furniture till the
vases and glasses sounded。 Then at last she asked：
〃Is it you； Alexander？〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 he replied； 〃make haste and open the door。〃
As soon as she had done so； she threw herself into his arms； exclaiming：
〃Oh； what a fright！ What a surprise！ What a pleasure！〃
He began to undress himself methodically； as he did everything； and took
from a chair his overcoat； which he was in the habit of hanging up in the
hall。 But suddenly he remained motionless； struck dumb with
astonishmentthere was a red ribbon in the buttonhole：
〃Why；〃 he stammered； 〃thisthisthis overcoat has got the ribbon in
it！〃
In a second； his wife threw herself on him； and； taking it from his
hands； she said：
〃No！ you have made a mistakegive it to me。〃
But he still held it by one of the sleeves； without letting it go；
repeating in a half…dazed manner：
〃Oh！ Why？ Just explain Whose overcoat is it？ It is not mine； as it
has the Legion of Honor on it。〃
She tried to take it from him； terrified and hardly able to say：
〃Listenlisten！ Give it to me！ I must not tell you！ It is a secret。
Listen to me！〃
But he grew angry and turned pale。
〃I want to know how this overcoat comes to be here？ It does not belong
to me。〃
Then she almost screamed at him：
〃Yes； it does； listen！ Swear to mewellyou are decorated！〃
She did not intend to joke at his expense。
He was so overcome that he let the overcoat fall and dropped into an
armchair。
〃I amyou say I amdecorated？〃
〃Yes； but it is a secret； a great secret。〃
She had put the glorious garment into a cupboard； and came to her husband
pale and trembling。
〃Yes；〃 she continued； 〃it