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〃Ah！ Excellence！〃 he cried； 〃what a city is this city of ours！ It gave birth to Empedocles！ Empedocles！ What a great man what a great citizen！ What audacity of thought！ what virtue！ what soul！ At the port over there is a statue of Empedocles； before which I bare my head each time that I pass by！ When Rafael； my son； was going away to found an establishment of antiquities in the Rue Lafitte； at Paris； I took him to the port； and there； at the foot of that statue of Empedocles； I bestowed upon him my paternal benediction！ 'Always remember Empedocles！' I said to him。 Ah！ Signor； what our unhappy country needs to…day is a new Empedocles！ Would you not like me to show you the way to his statue； Excellence？ I will be your guide among the ruins here。 I will show you the temple of Castor and Pollux； the temple of the Olympian Jupiter； the temple of the Lucinian Juno； the antique well； the tomb of Theron； and the Gate of Gold！ All the professional guides are asses； but wewe shall make excavations； if you are willingand we shall discover treasures！ I know the science of discovering hidden treasuresthe secret art of finding their whereaboutsa gift from Heaven！〃
I succeeded in tearing myself away from his grasp。 But he ran after me again； stopped me at the foot of the stairs； and said in my ear；
〃Listen； Excellence。 I will conduct you about the city； I will introduce you to some Girgentines！ What a race！ what types！ what forms！ Sicilian girls； Signor！the antique beauty itself！〃
〃Go to the devil！〃 I cried at last； in anger； and rushed into the street； leaving him still writhing in the loftiness of his enthusiasm。
When I had got out of his sight； I sank down upon a stone； and began to think； with my face in my hands。
〃And it was for this；〃 I said to myself〃it was to hear such propositions as this that I came to Sicily！ That Polizzi is simply a scoundrel； and his son another； and they made a plan together to ruin me。〃 But what was their scheme？ I could not unravel it。 Meanwhile； it may be imagined how discouraged and humiliated I felt。
A merry burst of laughter caused me to turn my head； and I saw Madame Trepof running in advance of her husband； and holding up something which I could not distinguish clearly。
She sat down beside me； and showed melaughing more merrily all the whilean abominable little paste…board box； on which was printed a red and blue face； which the inscription declared to be the face of Empedocles。
〃Yes； Madame；〃 I said； 〃but that abominable Polizzi； to whom I advise you not to send Monsieur Trepof； has made me fall out for ever with Empedocles； and this portrait is not at all of a nature to make me feel more kindly to the ancient philosopher。〃
〃Oh！〃 declared Madame Trepof； 〃it is ugly； but it is rare！ These boxes are not exported at all； you can buy them only where they are made。 Dimitri has six others just like this in his pocket。 We got them so as to exchange with other collectors。 You understand？ At none o'clock this morning we were at the factory。 You see we did not waste our time。〃
〃So I certainly perceive； Madame；〃 I replied； bitterly； 〃but I have lost mine。〃
I then saw that she was a naturally good…hearted woman。 All her merriment vanished。
〃Poor Monsieur Bonnard！ poor Monsieur Bonnard！〃 she murmured。
And； taking my hand in hers； she added：
〃Tell me about your troubles。〃
I told her about them。 My story was long； but she was evidently touched by it； for she asked me quite a number of circumstantial questions； which I took for proof of her friendly interest。 She wanted to know the exact title of the manuscript； its shape； its appearance； and its age； she asked me for the address of Signor Rafael Polizzi。
And I gave it to her； thus doing （O destiny！） precisely what the abominable Polizzi had told me to do。
It is sometimes difficult to check oneself。 I recommenced my plaints and my imprecations。 But this time Madame Trepof only burst out laughing。
〃Why do you laugh？〃 I asked her。
〃Because I am a wicked woman；〃 she answered。
And she fled away； leaving me all disheartened on my stone。
Paris； December 8； 1859。
My unpacked trunks still encumbered the hall。 I was seated at a tabled covered with all those good things which the land of France produces for the delectation of gourmets。 I was eating a pate le Chartres； which is alone sufficient to make one love one's country。 Therese； standing before me with her hands joined over her white apron； was looking at me with benignity； with anxiety； and with pity。 Hamilcar was rubbing himself against my legs； wild with delight。
These words of an old poet came back to my memory：
〃Happy is he who； like Ulysses； hath made a goodly journey。〃
。。。〃Well；〃 I thought to myself； 〃I travelled to no purpose； I have come back with empty hands； but； like Ulysses； I made a goodly journey。〃
And having taken my last sip of coffee； I asked Therese for my hat and cane； which she gave me not without dire suspicions； she feared I might be going upon another journey。 But I reassured her by telling her to have dinner ready at six o'clock。
It had always been a keen pleasure for me to breathe the air in those Parisian streets whose every paving…slab and every stone I love devotedly。 But I had an end in view； and I took my way straight to the Rue Lafitte。 I was not long in find the establishment of Signor Rafael Polizzi。 It was distinguishable by a great display of old paintings which； although all bearing the signature of some illustrious artist； had a certain family air of resemblance that might have suggested some touching idea about the fraternity of genius； had it not still more forcibly suggested the professional tricks of Polizzi senior。 Enriched by these doubtful works of art； the shop was further rendered attractive by various petty curiosities： poniards； drinking…vessels； goblets； figulines； brass guadrons； and Hispano…Arabian wares of metallic lustre。
Upon a Portuguese arm…chair； decorated with an escutcheon； lay a copy of the 〃Heures〃 of Simon Vostre； open at the page which has an astrological figure on it； and an old Vitruvius； placed upon a quaint chest； displayed its masterly engravings of caryatides and telamones。 This apparent disorder which only masked cunning arrangement； this factitious hazard which had placed the best objects in the most favourable light； would have increased my distrust of the place； but that the distrust which the mere name of Polizzi had already inspired could not have been increased by any circumstancesbeing already infinite。
Signor Rafael； who sat there as the presiding genius of all these vague and incongruous shapes； impressed me as a phlegmatic young man； with a sort of English character。 he betrayed no sign whatever of those transcendent faculties displayed by his father in the arts of mimcry and declamation。
I told him what I had come for； he opened a cabinet and drew from it a manuscript； which he placed on a table that I might examine it at my leisure。
Never in my life did I experience such an emotionexcept； indeed； during some few brief months of my youth； months whose memories； though I should live a hundred years； would rema