the crime of sylvestre bonnard-第18章

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sand　delicate　shades　of　expression；　and　never　pronounced　an　opinion　without　all　sorts　of　reservations。　These　conversational　habits；　natural　to　a　finely　trained　mind；　used　greatly　to　irritate　the　dry；　terse　old　aristocrat；　who　was　never　in　the　least　disarmed　by　the　moderation　of　an　adversaryquite　the　contrary！　　I　always　foresaw　one　danger。　　That　danger　was　Bonaparte。　My　father　had　not　himself　retained　an　particular　affection　for　his　memory；　but；　having　worked　under　his　direction；　he　did　not　like　to　hear　him　abused；　especially　in　favour　of　the　Bourbons；　against　whom　he　had　serious　reason　to　feel　resentment。　　Monsieur　de　Lessay；　more　of　a　Voltairean　and　a　Legitimist　than　ever；　now　traced　back　to　Bonaparte　the　origin　of　every　social；　political；　and　religious　evil。　Such　being　the　situation；　the　idea　of　Uncle　Victor　made　me　feel　particularly　uneasy。　　This　terrible　uncle　had　become　absolutely　unsufferable　now　that　his　sister　was　no　longer　there　to　calm　him　down。　　The　harp　of　David　was　broken；　and　Saul　was　wholly　delivered　over　to　the　spirit　of　madness。　　The　fall　of　Charles　X。　had　increased　the　audacity　of　the　old　Napoleonic　veteran；　who　uttered　all　imaginable　bravadoes。　　He　no　longer　frequented　our　house；　which　had　become　too　silent　for　him。　　But　sometimes；　at　the　dinner…hour；　we　would　see　him　suddenly　make　his　appearance；　all　covered　with　flowers；　like　a　mausoleum。　　Ordinarily　he　would　sit　down　to　table　with　an　oath；　growled　out　from　the　very　bottom　of　his　chest；　and　brag；　between　every　two　mouthfuls；　of　his　good　fortune　with　the　ladies　as　a　vieux　brave。　　Then；　when　the　dinner　was　over；　he　would　fold　up　his　napkin　in　the　shape　of　a　bishop's　mitre；　gulp　down　half　a　decanter　of　brandy；　and　rush　away　with　the　hurried　air　of　a　man　terrified　at　the　mere　idea　of　remaining　for　any　length　of　time；　without　drinking；　in　conversation　with　an　old　philosopher　and　a　young　scholar。　　I　felt　perfectly　sure　that；　if　ever　he　and　Monsieur　de　Lessay　should　come　together；　all　would　be　lost。　　But　that　day　came；　Madame！

〃The　captain　was　almost　hidden　by　flowers　that　day；　and　seemed　so　much　like　a　monument　commemorating　the　glories　of　the　Empire　that　one　would　have　liked　to　pass　a　garland　of　immortelles　over　each　of　his　arms。　　He　was　in　an　extraordinarily　good　humour；　and　the　first　person　to　profit　by　that　good　humour　was　our　cookfor　he　put　his　arm　around　her　waist　while　she　was　placing　the　roast　on　the　table。

〃After　dinner　he　pushed　away　the　decanter　presented　to　him；　observing　that　he　was　going　to　burn　some　brandy　in　his　coffee　later　on。　　I　asked　him　tremblingly　whether　he　would　not　prefer　to　have　his　coffee　at　once。　　He　was　very　suspicious；　and　not　at　all　dull　of　comprehensionmy　Uncle　Victor。　　My　precipitation　seemed　to　him　in　very　bad　taste；　for　he　looked　at　me　in　a　peculiar　way；　and　said；

〃'Patience！　my　nephew。　　It　isn't　the　business　of　the　baby　of　the　regiment　to　sound　the　retreat！　　Devil　take　it！　　You　must　be　in　a　great　hurry；　Master　Pedant；　to　see　if　I've　got　spurs　on　my　boots！'

〃It　was　evident　the　captain　had　divined　that　I　wanted　him　to　go。　And　I　knew　him　well　enough　to　be　sure　that　he　was　going　to　stay。　He　stayed。　　The　least　circumstances　of　that　evening　remain　impressed　on　my　memory。　　My　uncle　was　extremely　jovial。　　The　mere　idea　of　being　in　somebody's　way　was　enough　to　keep　him　in　good　humour。　　He　told　us；　in　regular　barrack　style；　ma　foi！　a　certain　story　about　a　monk；　a　trumpet；　and　five　bottles　of　Chambertin；　which　must　have　been　much　enjoyed　in　the　garrison　society；　but　which　I　would　not　venture　to　repeat　to　you；　Madame；　even　if　I　could　remember　it。　　When　we　passed　into　the　parlour；　the　captain　called　attention　to　the　bad　condition　of　our　andirons；　and　learnedly　discoursed　on　the　merits　of　rotten…stone　as　a　brass…polisher。　　Not　a　word　on　the　subject　of　politics。　　He　was　husbanding　his　forces。　Eight　o'clock　sounded　from　the　ruins　of　Carthage　on　the　mantlepiece。　It　was　Monsieur　de　Lessay's　hour。　　A　few　moments　later　he　entered　the　parlour　with　his　daughter。　　The　ordinary　evening　chat　began。　Clementine　sat　down　and　began　to　work　on　some　embroidery　beside　the　lamp；　whose　shade　left　her　pretty　head　in　a　soft　shadow；　and　threw　down　upon　her　fingers　a　radiance　that　made　them　seem　almost　self…　luminous。　　Monsieur　de　Lessay　spoke　of　a　comet　announced　by　the　astronomers；　and　developed　some　theories　in　relation　to　the　subject；　which；　however　audacious；　betrayed　at　least　a　certain　degree　of　intellectual　culture。　　My　father；　who　knew　a　good　deal　about　astronomy；　advanced　some　sound　ideas　of　his　own；　which　he　ended　up　with　his　eternal；　'But　what　do　we　know　about　it；　after　all？'　　In　my　turn　I　cited　the　opinion　of　our　neighbour　of　the　Observatory　the　great　Arago。　　My　Uncle　Victor　declared　that　comets　had　a　peculiar　influence　on　the　quality　of　wines；　and　related　in　support　of　this　view　a　jolly　tavern…story。　　I　was　so　delighted　with　the　turn　the　conversation　had　taken　that　I　did　all　in　my　power　to　maintain　it　in　the　same　groove；　with　the　help　of　my　most　recent　studies；　by　a　long　exposition　of　the　chemical　composition　of　those　nebulous　bodies　which；　although　extending　over　a　length　of　billions　of　leagues；　could　be　contained　in　a　small　bottle。　　My　father；　a　little　surprised　at　my　unusual　eloquence；　watched　me　with　his　peculiar；　placid；　ironical　smile。　　But　one　cannot　always　remain　in　heaven。　　I　spoke；　as　I　looked　at　Clementine；　of　a　certain　comete　of　diamonds；　which　I　had　been　admiring　in　a　jeweller's　window　the　evening　before。　　It　was　a　most　unfortunate　inspiration　of　mine。

〃'Ah！　my　nephew；'　cried　Uncle　Victor；　that　〃comete〃　of　yours　was　nothing　to　the　one　which　the　Empress　Josephine　wore　in　her　hair　when　she　came　to　Strasburg　to　distribute　crosses　to　the　army。'

〃'That　little　Josephine　was　very　fond　of　finery　and　display；'　observed　Monsieur　de　Lessay；　between　two　sips　of　coffee。　　'I　do　not　blame　her　for　it；　she　had　good　qualities；　though　rather　frivolous　in　character。　　She　was　a　Tascher；　and　she　conferred　a　great　honour　on　Bonaparte　by　marrying　him。　　To　say　a　Tascher　does　not；　of　course；　mean　a　great　deal；　but　to　say　a　Bonaparte　simply　means　nothing　at　all。'

〃'What　do　you　mean　by　that；　Monsieur　the　Marquis？'　demanded　Captain　Victor。

〃'I　am　not　a　marquis；'　dryly　responded　Monsieur　de　Lessay；　'and　I　mean　simply　that　Bonaparte　would　have　been　very　well　suited　had　he　married　one　of　those　cannibal　women　described　by　Captain　Cook　in　his　voyagesnaked；　tattooed；　with　a　ring　in　her　nosedevouring　with　delight　putrefied　human　flesh。'

〃I　had　foreseen　it；　and　in　my　anguish　（O　pitiful　human　heart！）　my　first　idea　was　about　the　remarkable　exactness　of　my　anticipations。　I　must　say　that　the　captain's　reply　belonged　to　the　sublime　order。　He　put　his　arms　akimbo；　eyed　Monsieur　de　Lessay　contemptuously　from　head　to　food；　and　said；

〃'Napoleon；　Monsieur　the　Vidame；　had　another　spouse　besides　Josephine；　another　spouse　besides　Marie…Louise。　　that　companion　you　know　nothing　of；　but　I　have　seen　her；　close　to　me。　　She　wears　a　mantle　of　azure　gemmed　with　stars；　she　is　crowned　with　laurels；　the　Cross…of…Honour　flames　upon　her　breast。　　Her　name　is　GLORY！'

〃Monsieur　de　Lessay　set　his　cup　on　the　mantlepiece　and　quietly　observed；

〃'Your　Bonaparte　was　a　blackguard！'

〃My　father　rose　up　calmly；　extended　his　arm；　and　said　very　softly　to　Monsieur　de　Lessay；

〃Whatever　the　man　was　who　died　at　St。　Helena；　I　worked　for　ten　years　in　his　government；　and　my　brother…in…law　was　three　times　wounded　under　his　eagles。　　I　beg　of　you；　dear　sir　and　friend；　never　to　forget　these　facts　in　future。'

〃What　the　sublime　and　burlesque　insolence　of　the　captain　could　not　do；　the　courteous　remonstrance　of　my　father　effected　immediately；　throwing　Monsieur　de　Lessay　into　a　furious　passion。

〃'I　did　forget；'　he　exclaimed；　between　his　set　teeth；　livid　in　his　rage；　and　fairly　foaming　at　the　mouth；　'the　herring…cask　always　smells　of　herring　and　when　one　has　been　in　the　service　of　rascals…'

〃As　he　uttered　the　word；　the　Captain　sprang　at　his　throat；　I　am　sure　he　would　have　strangled　him　upon　the　spot　but　for　his　daughter　and　me。

〃My　father；　a　little　paler　than　his　wont；　stood　there　with　his　arms　folded；　and　watched　the　scene　with　a　look　of　inexpressible　pity。　What　followed　was　still　more　lamentablebut　why　dwell　further　upon　the　folly　of　two　old　men。　　Finally　I　succeeded　in　separating　them。　Monsieur　de　Lessay　made　a　sign　to　his　daughter　and　left　the　room。　As　she　was　following　him；　I　ran　out　into　the　stairway　after　her。

〃'Mademoiselle；'　I　said　to　her；　wildly；　taking　her　hand　as　I　spoke；　'I　love　you！　I　love　you！'

〃For　a　moment　she　pressed　my　hand；　her　lips　opened。　　What　was　it　that　she　was　going　to　say　to　me？　　But　suddenly；　lifting　her　eyes　towards　her　father　ascending　the　stairs；　she　drew　her　hand　away；　and　made　me　a　gesture　of　farewell。

〃I　never　saw　her　again。　　Her　father　went　to　live　in　the　neighbourhood　of　the　Pantheon；　in　an　apartment　which　he　had　rented　for　the　sale　of　his　historical　atlas。　　He　died　in　a　few　months　afterward　of　an　apoplectic　stroke。　　His　daughter；　I　was　told；　retired　to　Caen　to　live　with　some　aged　relative。　　It　was　there　that；　later　on；　she　married　a　bank…clerk；　the　same　Noel　Alexandre　who　became　so　rich　and　died　so　poor。

〃As　for　me；　Madame；　I　have　lived　alone；　at　peace　with　myself；　my　existence；　equally　exempt　from　great　pains　and　great　joys；　has　been　tolerably　happy。　　But　for　many　years　I　could　never　see　an　empty　chair　beside　my　own　of　a　winter's　evening　without　feeling　a　sudden　painful　sinking　at　my　heart。　　Last　year　I　learned　from　you；　who　had　known　her；　the　story　of　her　old　age　and　death。　　I　saw　her　daughter　at　your　house。　　I　have　seen　her；　but　I　cannot　yet　say　like　the　aged　mad　of　Scripture；　'And　now；　O　Lord；　let　thy　servant　depart　in　peace！'　　For　if　an　old　fellow　like　me　can　be　of　any　use　to　anybody；　I　would　wish；　with　your　help；　to　devote　my　last　energies　and　abilities　to　the　care　of　this　orphan。〃

I　had　uttered　these　last　words　in　Madame　de　Gabry's　own　vestibule；　and　I　was　about　to　take　leave　of　my　kind　guide　when　she　said　to　me；

〃My　dear　Monsieur；　I　cannot　help　you　in　this　matter　as　much　as　I　would　like　to　do。　　Jeanne　is　an　orphan　and　a　minor。　　You　cannot　do　anything　for　her　without　the　authorisation　of　her　guardian。〃

〃Ah！〃　I　exclaimed；　〃I　had　not　the　least　idea　in　the　wold　that　Jeanne　had　a　guardian！〃

Madame　de　Gabry　looked　at　me　with　visible　surprise。　　She　had　not　expected　to　find　the　old　man　quite　so　simple。

She　resumed：

〃The　guardian　of　Jeanne　Alexandre　is　Maitre　Mouche；　notary　at　Levallois…Perret。　　I　am　afraid　you　will　not　be　able　to　come　to　any　understanding　with　him；　for　he　is　a　very　serious　person。〃

〃Why！　good　God！〃　I　cried；　〃with　what　kind　of　people　can　you　expect　me　to　have　any　sort　of　understanding　at　my　age；　except　serious　persons。〃

She　smiled　with　a　sweet　mischievousnessjust　as　my　father　used　to　smileand　answered：

〃With　those　who　are　like　youthe　innocent　folks　who　wear　their　hearts　on　their　sleeves。　　Monsieur　Mouche　is　not　exactly　that　kind。　He　is　cunning　and　light…fingered。　　But　although　I　have　very　little　liking　for　him；　we　will　go　together　and　see　him；　if　you　wish；　and　ask　his　permission　to　visit　Jeanne；　whom　he　has　sent　to　a　boarding…　school　at　Les　Ternes；　where　she　is　very　unhappy。〃

We　agreed　at　once　upon　a　day；