the crime of sylvestre bonnard-第1章

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The　Crime　of　Sylvestre　Bonnard

by　Anatole　France





Part　IThe　Log




December　24；　1849。


I　had　put　on　my　slippers　and　my　dressing…gown。　　I　wiped　away　a　tear　with　which　the　north　wind　blowing　over　the　quay　had　obscured　my　vision。　　A　bright　fire　was　leaping　in　the　chimney　of　my　study。　　Ice…crystals；　shaped　like　fern…leaves；　were　sprouting　over　the　windowpanes　and　concealed　from　me　the　Seine　with　its　bridges　and　the　Louvre　of　the　Valois。

I　drew　up　my　easy…chair　to　the　hearth；　and　my　table…volante；　and　took　up　so　much　of　my　place　by　the　fire　as　Hamilcar　deigned　to　allow　me。　　Hamilcar　was　lying　in　front　of　the　andirons；　curled　up　on　a　cushion；　with　his　nose　between　his　paws。　　His　think　find　fur　rose　and　fell　with　his　regular　breathing。　　At　my　coming；　he　slowly　slipped　a　glance　of　his　agate　eyes　at　me　from　between　his　half…opened　lids；　which　he　closed　again　almost　at　once；　thinking　to　himself；　〃It　is　nothing；　it　is　only　my　friend。〃

〃Hamilcar；〃　I　said　to　him；　as　I　stretched　my　legs〃Hamilcar；　somnolent　Prince　of　the　City　of　Booksthou　guardian　nocturnal！　　Like　that　Divine　Cat　who　combated　the　impious　in　Heliopolisin　the　night　of　the　great　combatthou　dost　defend　from　vile　nibblers　those　books　which　the　old　savant　acquired　at　the　cost　of　his　slender　savings　and　indefatigable　zeal。　　Sleep；　Hamilcar；　softly　as　a　sultana；　in　this　library；　that　shelters　thy　military　virtues；　　for　verily　in　thy　person　are　united　the　formidable　aspect　of　a　Tatar　warrior　and　the　slumbrous　grace　of　a　woman　of　the　Orient。　　Sleep；　thou　heroic　and　voluptuous　Hamilcar；　while　awaiting　the　moonlight　hour　in　which　the　mice　will　come　forth　to　dance　before　the　Acta　Sanctorum　of　the　learned　Bolandists！〃

The　beginning　of　this　discourse　pleased　Hamilcar；　who　accompanied　it　with　a　throat…sound　like　the　song　of　a　kettle　on　the　fire。　　But　as　my　voice　waxed　louder；　Hamilcar　notified　me　by　lowering　his　ears　and　by　wrinkling　the　striped　skin　of　his　brow　that　it　was　bad　taste　on　my　part　so　to　declaim。

〃This　old…book　man；〃　evidently　thought　Hamilcar；　〃talks　to　no　purpose　at　all　while　our　housekeeper　never　utters　a　word　which　is　not　full　of　good　sense；　full　of　significancecontaining　either　the　announcement　of　a　meal　or　the　promise　of　a　whipping。　　One　knows　what　she　says。　But　this　old　man　puts　together　a　lot　of　sounds　signifying　nothing。〃

So　thought　Hamilcar　to　himself。　　Leaving　him　to　his　reflections；　I　opened　a　book；　which　I　began　to　read　with　interest；　　for　it　was　a　catalogue　of　manuscripts。　　I　do　not　know　any　reading　more　easy；　more　fascinating；　more　delightful　than　that　of　a　catalogue。　　The　one　which　I　was　readingedited　in　1824　by　Mr。　Thompson；　librarian　to　Sir　Thomas　Raleighsins；　it　is　true；　by　excess　of　brevity；　and　does　not　offer　that　character　of　exactitude　which　the　archivists　of　my　own　generation　were　the　first　to　introduce　into　works　upon　diplomatics　and　paleography。　　It　leaves　a　good　deal　to　be　desired　and　to　be　divined。　　This　is　perhaps　why　I　find　myself　aware；　while　reading　it；　of　a　state　of　mind　which　in　nature　more　imaginative　than　mine　might　be　called　reverie。　　I　had　allowed　myself　to　drift　away　this　gently　upon　the　current　of　my　thoughts；　when　my　housekeeper　announced；　in　a　tone　of　ill…humor；　that　Monsieur　Coccoz　desired　to　speak　with　me。

In　fact；　some　one　had　slipped　into　the　library　after　her。　　He　was　a　little　mana　poor　little　man　of　puny　appearance；　wearing　a　thin　jacket。　　He　approached　me　with　a　number　of　little　bows　and　smiles。　But　he　was　very　pale；　and；　although　still　young　and　alert；　he　looked　ill。　　I　thought　as　I　looked　at　him；　of　a　wounded　squirrel。　　He　carried　under　his　arm　a　green　toilette；　which　he　put　upon　a　chair；　then　unfastening　the　four　corners　of　the　toilette；　he　uncovered　a　heap　of　little　yellow　books。

〃Monsieur；〃　he　then　said　to　me；　〃I　have　not　the　honour　to　be　known　to　you。　　I　am　a　book…agent；　Monsieur。　　I　represent　the　leading　houses　of　the　capital；　and　in　the　hope　that　you　will　kindly　honour　me　with　your　confidence；　I　take　the　liberty　to　offer　you　a　few　novelties。〃

Kind　gods！　just　gods！　such　novelties　as　the　homunculus　Coccoz　showed　me！　　The　first　volume　that　he　put　in　my　hand　was　〃L'Histoire　de　la　Tour　de　Nesle；〃　　with　the　amours　of　Marguerite　de　Bourgogne　and　the　Captain　Buridan。

〃It　is　a　historical　book；〃　he　said　to　me；　with　a　smile〃a　book　of　real　history。〃

〃In　that　case；〃　I　replied；　〃it　must　be　very　tiresome；　for　all　the　historical　books　which　contain　no　lies　are　extremely　tedious。　　I　write　some　authentic　ones　myself；　and　if　you　were　unlucky　enough　to　carry　a　copy　of　any　of　them　from　door　to　door　you　would　run　the　risk　of　keeping　it　all　your　life　in　that　green　baize　of　yours；　without　ever　finding　even　a　cook　foolish　enough　to　buy　it　from　you。〃

〃Certainly　Monsieur；〃　the　little　man　answered；　out　of　pure　good…nature。

And；　all　smiling　again；　he　offered　me　the　〃Amours　d'Heloise　et　d'Abeilard〃；　but　I　made　him　understand　that；　at　my　age；　I　had　no　use　for　love…stories。

Still　smiling；　he　proposed　me　the　〃Regle　des　Jeux　de　la　Societe〃　piquet；　bezique；　ecarte；　whist；　dice；　draughts；　and　chess。

〃Alas！〃　　I　said　to　him；　〃if　you　want　to　make　me　remember　the　rules　of　bezique；　give　me　back　my　old　friend　Bignan；　with　whom　I　used　to　play　cards　every　evening　before　the　Five　Academies　solemnly　escorted　him　to　the　cemetery；　or　else　bring　down　to　the　frivolous　level　of　human　amusements　the　grave　intelligence　of　Hamilcar；　whom　you　see　on　that　cushion；　for　he　is　the　sole　companion　of　my　evenings。〃

The　little　man's　smile　became　vague　and　uneasy。

〃Here；〃　he　said；　〃is　a　new　collection　of　society　amusementsjokes　and　punswith　a　receipt　for　changing　a　red　rose　to　a　white　rose。〃

I　told　him　that　I　had　fallen　out　with　the　roses　for　a　long　time；　and　that；　as　to　jokes；　I　was　satisfied　with　those　which　I　unconsciously　permitted　myself　to　make　in　the　course　of　my　scientific　labours。

The　homunculus　offered　me　his　last　book；　with　his　last　smile。　　He　said　to　me：

〃Here　is　the　Clef　des　Songesthe　'Key　of　Dreams'with　the　explanation　of　any　dreams　that　anybody　can　have；　dreams　of　gold；　dreams　of　robbers；　dreams　of　death；　dreams　of　falling　from　the　top　of　a　tower。。。。　　It　is　exhaustive。〃

I　had　taken　hold　of　the　tongs；　and；　brandishing　them　energetically；　I　replied　to　my　commercial　visitor：

〃Yes；　my　friend；　but　those　dreams　and　a　thousand　others；　joyous　or　tragic；　are　all　summed　up　in　onethe　Dream　of　Life；　is　your　little　yellow　book　able　to　give　me　the　key　to　that？〃

〃Yes；　Monsieur；〃　answered　the　homunculus；　〃the　book　is　complete；　and　it　is　not　dearone　franc　twenty…five　centimes；　Monsieur。〃

I　called　my　housekeeperfor　there　is　no　bell　in　my　roomand　said　to　her：

〃Therese；　Monsieur　Coccozwhom　I　am　going　to　ask　you　to　show　outhas　a　book　here　which　might　interest　you：　　the　'Key　of　Dreams。'　　I　shall　be　very　glad　to　buy　it　for　you。〃

My　housekeeper　responded：

〃Monsieur；　when　one　has　not　even　time　to　dream　awake；　one　has　still　less　time　to　dream　asleep。　　Thank　God；　my　days　are　just　enough　for　my　work　and　my　work　for　my　days；　and　I　am　able　to　say　every　night；　'Lord；　bless　Thou　the　rest　which　I　am　going　to　take。'　　I　never　dream；　either　on　my　feet　or　in　bed；　and　I　never　mistake　my　eider…down　coverlet　for　a　devil；　as　my　cousin　did；　and；　if　you　will　allow　me　to　give　my　opinion　about　it；　I　think　you　have　books　enough　here　now。　　Monsieur　has　thousands　and　thousands　of　books；　which　simply　turn　his　head；　and　as　for　me；　I　have　just　tow；　which　are　quite　enough　for　all　my　wants　and　purposesmy　Catholic　prayer…book　and　my　Cuisiniere　Bourgeoise。〃

And　with　those　words　my　housekeeper　helped　the　little　man　to　fasten　up　his　stock　again　within　the　green　toilette。

The　homunculus　Coccoz　had　ceased　to　smile。　　His　relaxed　features　took　such　an　expression　of　suffering　that　I　felt　sorry　to　have　made　fun　of　so　unhappy　a　man。　　I　called　him　back；　and　told　him　that　I　had　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　copy　of　the　〃Histoire　d'Estelle　et　de　Nemorin；〃　which　he　had　among　his　books；　that　I　was　very　fond　of　shepherds　and　shepherdesses；　and　that　I　would　be　quite　willing　to　purchase；　at　a　reasonable　price；　the　story　of　these　two　perfect　lovers。

〃I　will　sell　you　that　book　for　one　franc　twenty…five　centimes；　Monsieur；〃　replied　Coccoz；　whose　face　at　once　beamed　with　joy。　　〃It　is　historical；　and　you　will　be　pleased　with　it。　　I　know　now　just　what　suits　you。　　I　see　that　you　are　a　connoisseur。　　To…morrow　I　will　bring　you　the　Crimes　des　Papes。　　It　is　a　good　book。　　I　will　bring　you　the　edition　d'amateur；　with　coloured　plates。〃

I　begged　him　not　to　do　anything　of　the　sort；　and　sent　him　away　happy。　When　the　green　toilette　and　the　agent　had　disappeared　in　the　shadow　of　the　corridor　I　asked　my　housekeeper　whence　this　little　man　had　dropped　upon　us。

〃Dropped　is　the　word；〃　she　answered；　〃he　dropped　on　us　from　the　roof；　Monsieur；　where　he　lives　with　his　wife。〃

〃You　say　he　has　a　wife；　Therese？　　That　is　marvelous！　　Women　are　very　strange　creatures！　　This　one　must　be　a　very　unfortunate　little　woman。〃

〃I　don't　really　know　what　she　is；〃　answered　Therese；　〃but　every　morning　I　see　her　trailing　a　silk　dress　covered　with　grease…spots　over　the　stairs。　　She　makes　soft　eyes　at　people。　　And；　in　the　name　of　common　sense！　does　it　become　a　woman　that　has　been　received　here　out　of　charity　to　make　eyes　and　to　wear　dresses　like　that？　　For　they　allowed　the　couple　to　occupy　the　attic　during　the　time　the　roof　was　being　repaired；　in　consideration　of　the　fact　that　the　husband　is　sick　and　the　wife　in　an　interesting　condition。　　The　concierge　even　says　that　the　pain　came　on　her　this　morning；　and　that　she　is　now　confined。　　They　must　have　been　very　badly　off　for　a　child！〃

〃Therese；〃　I　replied；　〃they　had　no　need　of　a　child；　doubtless。　　But　Nature　had　decided　that　they　should　bring　one　into　the　world；　Nature　made　them　fall　into　her　snare。　　One　must　have　exceptional　prudence　to　defeat　Nature's　schemes。　　Let　us　be　sorry　for　them　and　not　blame　them！　　As　for　silk　dresses；　there　is　no　young　woman　who　does　not　like　them。　　The　daughters　of　Eve　adore　adornment。　　You　yourself；　Therese　who　are　so　serious　and　sensiblewhat　a　fuss　you　make　when　you　have　no　white　apron　to　wait　at　table　in！　　But；　tell　me；　have　they　got　everything　necessary　in　their　attic？〃

〃How　could　they　have　it；　Monsieur？〃　　my　housekeeper　made　answer。　　〃The　husband；　whom　you　have　just　seen；　used　to　be　a　jewellery…peddler　at　least；　so　the　concierge　tells　meand　nobody　knows　why　he　stopped　selling　watches。　　you　have　just　seen　that　his　is　now　selling　almanacs。　　That　is　no　way　to　make　an　honest　living；　and　I　never　will　believe　that　God's　blessing　can　come　to　an　almanac…peddler。　　Between　ourselves；　the　wife　looks　to　me　for　all　the　world　like　a　good…for…nothing　a　Marie…couche　toi…la。　　I　think　she　would　be　just　as　capable　of　bringing　up　a　child　as　I　should　be　of　playing　the　guitar。　　Nobody　seems　to　know　where　they　came　from；　but　I　am　sure　they　must　have　come　by　Misery's　coach　from　the　country　of　Sans…souci。〃

〃Wherever　they　have　come　from；　Therese；　they　are　unfortunate；　and　their　attic　is　cold。〃

〃Pardi！the　roof　is　broken　in　several　places　and　the　rain　comes　through　in　streams。　　They　have　neither　furniture　nor　clothing。　　I　don't　think　cabinet…makers　and　weavers　work　much　for　Christians　of　that　sect！〃

〃That　is　very　sad；　Therese