the crime of sylvestre bonnard-第19章

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t　to　a　boarding…　school　at　Les　Ternes；　where　she　is　very　unhappy。〃

We　agreed　at　once　upon　a　day；　I　kissed　Madame　de　Gabry's　hands；　and　we　bade　each　other　good…bye。


From　May　2　to　May　5。


I　have　seen　him　in　his　office；　Maitre　Mouche；　the　guardian　of　Jeanne。　Small；　thin；　and　dry；　his　complexion　looks　as　if　it　was　made　out　of　the　dust　of　his　pigeon…holes。　　He　is　a　spectacled　animal；　for　to　imagine　him　without　his　spectacles　would　be　impossible。　　I　have　heard　him　speak；　this　Maitre　Mouche；　he　has　a　voice　like　a　tin　rattle；　and　he　uses　choice　phrases；　but　I　should　have　been　better　pleased　if　he　had　not　chosen　his　phrases　so　carefully。　　I　have　observed　him；　this　Maitre　Mouche；　he　is　very　ceremonious；　and　watches　his　visitors　slyly　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye。

Maitre　Mouche　is　quite　pleased；　he　informs　us；　he　is　delighted　to　find　we　have　taken　such　an　interest　in　his　ward。　　But　he　does　not　think　we　are　placed　in　this　world　just　to　amuse　ourselves。　　No：　　he　does　not　believe　it；　and　I　am　free　to　acknowledge　that　anybody　in　his　company　is　likely　to　reach　the　same　conclusion；　so　little　is　he　capable　of　inspiring　joyfulness。　　He　fears　that　it　would　be　giving　his　dear　ward　a　false　and　pernicious　idea　of　life　to　allow　her　too　much　enjoyment。　　It　is　for　this　reason　that　he　requests　Madame　de　Gabry　not　to　invite　the　young　girl　to　her　house　except　at　very　long　intervals。

We　left　the　dusty　notary　and　his　dusty　study　with　a　permit　in　due　form　（everything　which　issues　from　the　office　of　Maitre　Mouche　is　in　due　form）　to　visit　Mademoiselle　Jeanne　Alexandre　on　the　first　Thursday　of　each　month　at　Mademoiselle　Prefere's　private　school；　Rue　Demours；　Aux　Ternes。

The　first　Thursday　in　May　I　set　out　to　pay　a　visit　to　Mademoiselle　Prefere；　whose　establishment　I　discerned　from　afar　off　by　a　big　sign；　painted　with　blue　letters。　　That　blue　tint　was　the　first　indication　I　received　of　Mademoiselle　Prefere's　character；　which　I　was　able　to　see　more　of　later　on。　　A　scared…looking　servant　took　my　card；　and　abandoned　me　without　one　word　of　hope　at　the　door　of　a　chilly　parlour　full　of　that　stale　odour　peculiar　to　the　dining…　rooms　of　educational　establishments。　　The　floor　of　this　parlour　had　been　waxed　with　such　pitiless　energy；　that　I　remained　for　awhile　in　distress　upon　the　threshold。　　But　happily　observing　that　little　strips　of　woollen　carpet　had　been　scattered　over　the　floor　in　front　of　each　horse…hair　chair；　I　succeeded；　by　cautiously　stepping　from　one　carpet…island　to　another　in　reaching　the　angle　of　the　mantlepiece；　where　I　sat　down　quite　out　of　breath。

Over　the　mantelpiece；　in　a　large　gilded　frame；　was　a　written　document；　entitled　in　flamboyant　Gothic　lettering；　Tableau　d'Honneur；　with　a　long　array　of　names　underneath；　among　which　I　did　not　have　the　pleasure　of　finding　that　of　Jeanne　Alexandre。　　After　having　read　over　several　times　the　names　of　those　girl…pupils　who　had　thus　made　themselves　honoured　in　the　eyes　of　Mademoiselle　Prefere；　I　began　to　feel　uneasy　at　not　hearing　any　one　coming。　　Mademoiselle　Prefere　would　certainly　have　succeeded　in　establishing　the　absolute　silence　of　interstellar　spaces　throughout　her　pedagogical　domains；　had　it　not　been　that　the　sparrows　had　chosen　her　yard　to　assemble　in　by　legions；　and　chirp　at　the　top　of　their　voices。　　It　was　a　pleasure　to　hear　them。　　But　there　was　no　way　of　seeing　themthrough　the　ground…glass　windows。　　I　had　to　content　myself　with　the　sights　of　the　parlour；　decorated　from　floor　to　ceiling；　on　all　of　its　four　walls；　with　drawings　executed　by　the　pupils　of　the　institution。　There　were　Vestals；　flowers；　thatched　cottages；　column…capitals；　and　an　enormous　head　of　Tatius；　King　of　the　Sabines；　bearing　the　signature　Estelle　Mouton。

I　had　already　passed　some　time　in　admiring　the　energy　with　which　Mademoiselle　Mouton　had　delineated　the　bushy　eyebrows　and　the　fierce　gaze　of　the　antique　warrior；　when　a　sound；　faint　like　the　rustling　of　a　dead　leaf　moved　by　the　wind；　caused　me　to　turn　my　head。　　It　was　not　a　dead　leaf　at　allit　was　Mademoiselle　Prefere。　　With　hands　jointed　before　her；　she　came　gliding　over　the　mirror…polish　of　that　wonderful　floor　as　the　Saints　of　the　Golden　Legend　were　wont　to　glide　over　the　crystal　surface　of　the　waters。　　But　upon　any　other　occasion；　I　am　sure；　Mademoiselle　Prefere　would　not　have　made　me　think　in　the　least　about　those　virgins　dear　to　mystical　fancy。　　Her　face　rather　gave　me　the　idea　of　a　russet…apple　preserved　or　a　whole　winter　in　an　attic　by　some　economical　housekeeper。　　Her　shoulders　were　covered　with　a　fringed　pelerine；　which　had　nothing　at　all　remarkable　about　it；　but　which　she　wore　as　if　it　were　a　sacerdotal　vestment；　or　the　symbol　of　some　high　civic　function。

I　explained　to　her　the　purpose　of　my　visit；　and　gave　her　my　letter　of　introduction。

〃Ah！so　you　are　Monsieur　Mouche！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃Is　his　health　VERY　good？　　He　is　the　most　upright　of　men；　the　most…〃

She　did　not　finish　the　phrase；　but　raised　her　eyes　to　the　ceiling。　　My　own　followed　the　direction　of　their　gaze；　and　observed　a　little　spiral　of　paper　lace；　suspended　from　the　place　of　the　chandelier；　which　was　apparently　destined；　so　far　as　I　could　discover；　to　attract　the　flies　away　from　the　gilded　mirror…frames　and　the　Tableau　d'Honneur。

〃I　have　met　Mademoiselle　Jeanne　Alexandre；〃　I　observed；　〃at　the　residence　of　Madame　de　Gabry　and　had　reason　to　appreciate　the　excellent　character　and　quick　intelligence　of　the　young　girl。　　As　I　used　to　know　her　parents　very　well；　the　friendship　which　I　felt　for　them　naturally　inclines　me　to　take　an　interest　in　her。〃

Mademoiselle　Prefere；　in　lieu　of　making　any　reply；　sighed　profoundly；　pressed　her　mysterious　pelerine　to　her　heart；　and　again　contemplated　the　paper　spiral。

At　last　she　observed；

〃Since　you　were　once　the　friend　of　Monsieur　and　Madame　Alexandre；　I　hope　and　trust　that；　like　Monsieur　Mouche　and　myself；　you　deplore　those　crazy　speculations　which　led　them　to　ruin；　and　reduced　their　daughter　to　absolute　poverty！〃

I　thought　to　myself；　on　hearing　these　words；　how　very　wrong　it　is　to　be　unlucky；　and　how　unpardonable　such　an　error　on　the　part　of　those　previously　in　a　position　worthy　of　envy。　　Their　fall　at　once　avenges　and　flatters　us；　and　we　are　wholly　pitiless。

After　having　answered；　very　frankly；　that　I　knew　nothing　whatever　about　the　history　of　the　bank；　I　asked　the　schoolmistress　if　she　was　satisfied　with　Mademoiselle　Alexandre。

〃That　child　is　indomitable！〃　cried　Mademoiselle　Prefere。

And　she　assumed　an　attitude　of　lofty　resignation；　to　symbolise　the　difficult　situation　she　was　placed　in　by　a　pupil　so　hard　to　train。　Then；　with　more　calmness　of　manner；　she　added：

〃The　young　person　is　not　unintelligent。　　But　she　cannot　resign　herself　to　learn　things　by　rule。〃

What　a　strange　old　maid　was　this　Mademoiselle　Prefere！　　She　walked　without　lifting　her　legs；　and　spoke　without　moving　her　lips！　　Without；　however；　considering　her　peculiarities　for　more　than　a　reasonable　instant；　I　replied　that　principles　were；　no　doubt；　very　excellent　things；　and　that　I　could　trust　myself　to　her　judgement　in　regard　to　their　value；　but　that；　after　all；　when　one　had　learned　something；　it　very　little　difference　what　method　had　been　followed　in　the　learning　of　it。

Mademoiselle　made　a　slow　gesture　of　dissent。　　Then　with　a　sigh；　she　declared；

〃Ah；　Monsieur！　those　who　do　not　understand　educational　methods　are　apt　to　have　very　false　ideas　on　these　subjects。　　I　am　certain　they　express　their　opinions　with　the　best　intentions　in　the　world；　but　they　would　do　better；　a　great　deal　better；　to　leave　all　such　questions　to　competent　people。〃

I　did　not　attempt　to　argue　further；　and　simply　asked　her　whether　I　could　see　Mademoiselle　Alexandre　at　once。

She　looked　at　her　pelerine；　as　if　trying　to　read　in　the　entanglements　of　its　fringes；　as　in　a　conjuring　book；　what　sort　of　answer　she　ought　to　make；　then　said；

〃Mademoiselle　Alexandre　has　a　penance　to　perform；　and　a　class…lesson　to　give；　but　I　should　be　very　sorry　to　let　you　put　yourself　to　the　trouble　of　coming　here　all　to　no　purpose。　　I　am　going　to　send　for　her。　Only　first　allow　me；　Monsieuras　is　our　customto　put　your　name　on　the　visitors'　register。〃

She　sat　down　at　the　table；　opened　a　large　copybook；　and；　taking　out　Maitre　Mouche's　letter　again　from　under　her　pelerine；　where　she　had　placed　it；　looked　at　it；　and　began　to　write。

〃'Bonnard'with　a　'd；'　is　it　not？〃　she　asked。　　〃Excuse　me　for　being　so　particular；　but　my　opinion　is　that　proper　names　have　an　orthography。　　We　have　dictation…lessons　in　proper　names；　Monsieur；　at　this　schoolhistorical　proper　names；　of　course！〃

After　I　had　written　down　my　name　in　a　running　hand；　she　inquired　whether　she　should　not　put　down　after　it　my　profession；　title；　qualitysuch　as　〃retired　merchant；〃　〃employe；〃　〃independent　gentleman；〃　or　something　else。　　There　was　a　column　in　her　register　expressly　for　that　purpose。

〃My　goodness；　Madame！〃　I　said；　〃if　you　must　absolutely　fill　that　column　of　yours；　put　down　'Member　of　the　Institute。'〃

It　was　still　Mademoiselle　Prefere's　pelerine　I　saw　before　me；　but　it　was　not　Mademoiselle　Prefere　who　wore　it；　it　was　a　totally　different　person；　obliging；　gracious；　caressing；　radiant；　happy。　　Her　eyes；　smiled；　the　little　wrinkles　of　her　face　（there　were　a　vast　number　of　them！）　also　smiled；　her　mouth　smiled　likewise；　but　only　on　one　side。　I　discovered　afterwards　that　was　her　best　side。　　She　spoke：　　her　voice　had　also　changed　with　her　manner；　it　was　now　sweet　as　honey。

〃You　said；　Monsieur；　that　our　dear　Jeanne　was　very　intelligent。　　I　discovered　the　same　thing　myself；　and　I　am　proud　of　being　able　to　agree　with　you。　This　young　girl　has　really　made　me　feel　a　great　deal　of　interest　in　her。　　She　has　what　I　call　a　happy　disposition。。。。　But　excuse　me　for　thus　drawing　upon　your　valuable　time。〃

She　summoned　the　servant…girl；　who　looked　much　more　hurried　and　scared　than　before；　and　who　vanished　with　the　order　to　go　and　tell　Mademoiselle　Alexandre　that　Monsieur　Sylvestre　Bonnard；　Member　of　the　Institute；　was　waiting　to　see　her　in　the　parlour。

Mademoiselle　Prefere　had　barely　time　to　confide　in　me　that　she　had　the　most　profound　respect　for　all　decisions　of　the　Institutewhatever　they　might　bewhen　Jeanne　appeared；　out　of　breath；　red　as　a　poppy；　with　her　eyes　very　wide　open；　and　her　arms　dangling　helplessly　at　her　sidescharming　in　her　artless　awkwardness。

〃What　a　state　you　are　in；　my　dear　child！〃　murmured　Mademoiselle　Prefere；　with　maternal　sweetness；　as　she　arranged　the　girl's　collar。

Jeanne　certainly　did　present　an　odd　aspect。　　Her　hair　combed　back；　and　imperfectly　held　by　a　net　from　which　loose　curls　were　escaping；　her　slender　arms；　sheathed　down　to　the　elbows　in　lustring　sleeves；　her　hands；　which　she　did　not　seem　to　know　what　to　do　with；　all　red　with　chillblains；　her　dress；　much　too　short；　revealing　that　she　had　on　stockings　much　too　large　for　her；　and　shoes　worn　down　at　the　heel；　and　a　skipping…rope　tied　round　her　waist　in　lieu　of　a　belt；all　combined　to　lend　Mademoiselle　Jeanne　an　appearance　the　reverse　of　presentable。

〃Oh；　you　crazy　girl！〃　sighed　Mademoiselle　Prefere；　who　now　seemed　no　longer　like　a　mother；　but　rather　like　an　elder　sister。

Then　she　suddenly　left　the　room；　gliding　like　a　shadow　over　the　polished　floor。

I　said　to　Jeanne；

〃S