the crime of sylvestre bonnard-第22章

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？〃

Therese　did　not　deign　to　answer　me。

Therese　no　longer　allows　me　to　arrange　anything。　　I　cannot　even　have　a　handkerchief　without　asking　her　for　it；　and　as　she　is　deaf；　crippled；　and；　what　is　worse；　beginning　to　lose　her　memory；　I　languish　in　perpetual　destitution。　　But　she　exercises　her　domestic　authority　with　such　quiet　pride　that　I　do　not　feel　the　courage　to　attempt　a　coup　d'etat　against　her　government。

〃My　cravat！　　Therese！do　you　hear？my　cravat！　if　you　drive　me　wild　like　this　with　your　slow　ways；　it　will　not　be　a　cravat　I　shall　need；　but　a　rope　to　hang　myself！〃

〃You　must　be　in　a　very　great　hurry；　Monsieur；〃　replied　Therese。　〃Your　cravat　is　not　lost。　　Nothing　is　ever　lost　in　this　house；　because　I　have　charge　of　everything。　　But　please　allow　me　the　time　at　least　to　find　it。〃

〃Yet　here；〃　I　thought　to　myself〃here　is　the　result　of　half　a　century　of　devotedness　and　self…sacrifice！。。。　　Ah！　if　by　any　happy　chance　this　inexorable　Therese　had　once　in　her　whole　life；　only　once；　failed　in　her　duty　as　a　servantif　she　had　ever　been　at　fault　for　one　single　instant；　she　could　never　have　assumed　this　inflexible　authority　over　me；　and　I　should　at　least　have　the　courage　to　resist　her。　　But　how　can　one　resist　virtue？　　The　people　who　have　no　weaknesses　are　terrible；　there　is　no　way　of　taking　advantage　of　them。　Just　look　at　Therese；　for　example；　she　has　not　a　single　fault　for　which　you　can　blame　her！　　She　has　no　doubt　of　herself；　nor　of　God；　nor　of　the　world。　　She　is　the　valiant　woman；　the　wise　virgin　of　Scripture；　others　may　know　nothing　about　her；　but　I　know　her　worth。　In　my　fancy　I　always　see　her　carrying　a　lamp；　a　humble　kitchen　lamp；　illuminating　the　beams　of　some　rustic　roofa　lamp　which　will　never　go　out　while　suspended　from　that　meagre　arm　of　hers；　scraggy　and　strong　as　a　vine…branch。

〃Therese；　my　cravat！　　Don't　you　know；　wretched　woman；　that　to…day　is　the　first　Thursday　in　June；　and　that　Mademoiselle　Jeanne　will　be　waiting　for　me？　　The　schoolmistress　has　certainly　had　the　parlour　floor　vigorously　waxed：　　I　am　sure　one　can　look　at　oneself　in　it　now；　and　it　will　be　quite　a　consolation　for　me　when　I　slip　and　break　my　old　bones　upon　itwhich　is　sure　to　happen　sooner　or　laterto　see　my　rueful　countenance　reflected　in　it　as　in　a　looking…glass。　　Then　taking　for　my　model　that　amiable　and　admirable　hero　whose　image　is　carved　upon　the　handle　of　Uncle　Victor's　walking…stick；　I　will　control　myself　so　as　not　to　make　too　ugly　a　grimace。。。。　　See　what　a　splendid　sun！　　The　quays　are　all　gilded　by　it；　and　the　Seine　smiles　in　countless　little　flashing　wrinkles。　The　city　is　gold：　　a　dust…haze；　blonde　and　gold…toned　as　a　woman's　hair；　floats　above　its　beautiful　contours。。。。　　Therese；　my　cravat！。。。　Ah！　　I　can　now　comprehend　the　wisdom　of　that　old　Chrysal　who　used　to　keep　his　neckbands　in　a　big　Plutarch。　　Hereafter　I　shall　follow　his　example　by　laying　all　my　neckties　away　between　the　leaves　of　the　Acta　Sanctorum。〃

Therese　let　me　talk　on；　and　keeps　looking　for　the　necktie　in　silence。　I　hear　a　gentle　ringing　at　our　door…bell。

〃Therese；〃　I　exclaim；　〃there　is　somebody　ringing　the　bell！　　Give　me　my　cravat；　and　go　to　the　door；　or；　rather；　go　to　the　door　first；　and　then；　with　the　help　of　Heaven；　you　will　give　me　my　cravat。　　But　please　do　not　stand　there　between　the　clothes…press　and　the　door　like　an　old　hack…horse　between　two　saddles。

Therese　marched　to　the　door　as　if　advancing　upon　the　enemy。　　My　excellent　housekeeper　becomes　more　inhospitable　the　older　she　grows。　Every　stranger　is　an　object　of　suspicion　to　her。　　According　to　her　own　assertion；　this　disposition　is　the　result　of　a　long　experience　with　human　nature。　　I　had　not　the　time　to　consider　whether　the　same　experience　on　the　part　of　another　experimenter　would　produce　the　same　results。　　Maitre　Mouche　was　waiting　to　see　me　in　the　ante…room。

Maitre　Mouche　is　still　more　yellow　than　I　had　believed　him　to　be。　He　wears　blue　glasses；　and　his　eyes　keep　moving　uneasily　behind　them；　like　mice　running　about　behind　a　screen。

Maitre　Mouche　excuses　himself　for　having　intruded　upon　me　at　a　moment　when。。。。　　He　does　not　characterise　the　moment；　but　I　think　he　means　to　say　a　moment　in　which　I　happen　to　be　without　my　cravat。　　It　is　not　my　fault；　as　you　very　well　know。　　Maitre　Mouche；　who　does　not　know；　does　not　appear　to　be　at　all　shocked；　however。　　He　is　only　afraid　that　he　might　have　dropped　in　at　the　wrong　moment。　　I　succeeded　in　partially　reassuring　him　at　once　upon　that　point。　　He　then　tells　me　it　is　as　guardian　of　Mademoiselle　Alexandre　that　he　has　come　to　talk　with　me。　　First　of　all；　he　desires　that　I　shall　not　hereafter　pay　any　heed　to　those　restrictions　he　had　at　first　deemed　necessary　to　put　upon　the　permit　given　to　visit　Mademoiselle　Jeanne　at　the　boarding…school。　　Henceforth　the　establishment　of　Mademoiselle　Prefere　will　be　open　to　me　any　day　that　I　might　choose　to　callbetween　the　hours　of　midday　and　four　o'clock。　　Knowing　the　interest　I　have　taken　in　the　young　girl；　he　considers　it　his　duty　to　give　me　some　information　about　the　person　to　whom　he　has　confided　his　ward。　　Mademoiselle　Prefere；　whom　he　has　known　for　many　years；　is　in　possession　of　his　utmost　confidence。　　Mademoiselle　Prefere　is；　in　his　estimation；　an　enlightened　person；　of　excellent　morals；　and　capable　of　giving　excellent　counsel。

〃Mademoiselle　Prefer；〃　he　said　to　me；　〃has　principles；　and　principles　are　rare　these　days；　Monsieur。　　Everything　has　been　totally　changed；　and　this　epoch　of　ours　cannot　compare　with　the　preceding　ones。〃

〃My　stairway　is　a　good　example；　Monsieur；〃　I　replied；　〃twenty…five　years　ago　it　used　to　allow　me　to　climb　it　without　any　trouble；　and　now　it　takes　my　breath　away；　and　wears　my　legs　out　before　I　have　climbed　half　a　dozen　steps。　　It　has　had　its　character　spoiled。　　Then　there　are　those　journals　and　books　I　used　once　to　devour　without　difficulty　by　moonlight：　　to…day；　even　in　the　brightest　sunlight；　they　mock　my　curiosity；　and　exhibit　nothing　but　a　blur　of　white　and　black　when　I　have　not　got　my　spectacles　on。　　Then　the　gout　has　got　into　my　limbs。　　That　is　another　malicious　trick　of　the　times！〃

〃Not　only　that；　Monsieur；〃　gravely　replied　Maitre　Mouche；　〃but　what　is　really　unfortunate　in　our　epoch　is　that　no　one　is　satisfied　with　his　position。　　From　the　top　of　society　to　the　bottom；　in　every　class；　there　prevails　a　discontent；　a　restlessness；　a　love　of　comfort。。。。〃

〃Mon　Dieu；　Monsieur！〃　I　exclaimed。　　〃You　think　this　love　of　comfort　is　a　sign　of　the　times？　　Men　have　never　had　at　any　epoch　a　love　of　discomfort。　　They　have　always　tried　to　better　their　condition。　　This　constant　effort　produces　constant　changes；　and　the　effort　is　always　going　onthat　is　all　there　is　about　it！〃

〃Ah！　Monsieur；〃　replied　Maitre　Mouche；　〃it　is　easy　to　see　that　you　live　in　your　booksout　of　the　business　world　altogether。　　You　do　not　see；　as　I　see　them；　the　conflicts　of　interest；　the　struggle　for　money。　　It　is　the　same　effervescence　in　all　minds；　great　or　small。　　The　wildest　speculations　are　being　everywhere　indulged　in。　What　I　see　around　me　simply　terrifies　me！〃

I　wondered　within　myself　whether　Maitre　Mouche　had　called　upon　me　only　for　the　purpose　of　expressing　his　virtuous　misanthropy；　but　all　at　once　I　heard　words　of　a　more　consoling　character　issue　from　his　lips。　　Maitre　Mouche　began　to　speak　to　me　of　Virginie　Prefere　as　a　person　worthy　of　respect；　of　esteem；　and　of　sympathy；highly　honourable；　capable　of　great　devotedness；　cultivated；　discreet；able　to　read　aloud　remarkably　well；　extremely　modest；　and　skillful　in　the　art　of　applying　blisters。　　Then　I　began　to　understand　that　he　had　only　been　painting　that　dismal　picture　of　universal　corruption　in　order　the　better　to　bring　out；　by　contrast；　the　virtues　of　the　schoolmistress。　　I　was　further　informed　that　the　institution　in　the　Rue　Demours　was　well　patronised；　prosperous；　and　enjoyed　a　high　reputation　with　the　public。　　Maitre　Mouche　lifted　up　his　handwith　a　black　woollen　glove　on　itas　if　making　oath　to　the　truth　of　these　statements。　　Then　he　added：

〃I　am　enabled；　by　the　very　character　of　my　profession；　to　know　a　great　deal　about　people。　　A　notary　is；　to　a　certain　extent；　a　father…confessor。

〃I　deemed　it　my　duty；　Monsieur；　to　give　you　this　agreeable　information　at　the　moment　when　a　lucky　chance　enabled　you　to　meet　Mademoiselle　Prefere。　　There　is　only　one　thing　more　which　I　would　like　to　say。　　This　ladywho　is；　of　course；　quite　unaware　of　my　action　in　the　matterspoke　to　me　of　you　the　other　day　in　terms　of　deepest　sympathy。　　I　could　only　weaken　their　expression　by　repeating　them　to　you；　and　furthermore；　I　could　not　repeat　them　without　betraying；　to　a　certain　extent；　the　confidence　of　Mademoiselle　Prefere。〃

〃Do　not　betray　it；　Monsieur；　do　not　betray　it！〃　I　responded。　　〃To　tell　you　the　truth；　I　had　no　idea　that　Mademoiselle　Prefere　knew　anything　whatever　about　me。　　But　since　you　have　the　influence　of　an　old　friend　with　her；　I　will　take　advantage　of　your　good　will；　Monsieur；　to　ask　you　to　exercise　that　influence　in　behalf　of　Mademoiselle　Jeanne　Alexandre。　　The　childfor　she　is　still　a　childis　overloaded　with　work。　　She　is　at　once　a　pupil　and　a　mistressshe　is　overtasked。　　Besides；　she　is　punished　in　petty　disgusting　ways；　and　hers　is　one　of　those　generous　natures　which　will　be　forced　into　revolt　by　such　continual　humiliation。〃

〃Alas！〃　replied　Maitre　Mouche；　〃she　must　be　trained　to　take　her　part　in　the　struggle　of　life。　　One　does　not　come　into　this　world　simply　to　amuse　oneself；　and　to　do　just　what　one　pleases。〃

〃One　comes　into　this　world；〃　I　responded；　rather　warmly；　〃to　enjoy　what　is　beautiful　and　what　is　good；　and　to　do　as　one　pleases；　when　the　things　one　wants　to　do　are　noble；　intelligent；　and　generous。　An　education　which　does　not　cultivate　the　will；　is　an　education　that　depraves　the　mind。　　It　is　a　teacher's　duty　to　teach　the　pupil　HOW　to　will。〃

I　perceived　that　Maitre　Mouche　began　to　think　me　a　rather　silly　man。　With　a　great　deal　of　quiet　self…assurance；　he　proceeded：

〃You　must　remember；　Monsieur；　that　the　education　of　the　poor　has　to　be　conducted　with　a　great　deal　of　circumspection；　and　with　a　view　to　that　future　state　of　dependence　they　must　occupy　in　society。　　Perhaps　you　are　not　aware　that　the　late　Noel　Alexandre　died　a　bankrupt；　and　that　his　daughter　is　being　educated　almost　by　charity？〃

〃Oh！　Monsieur！〃　I　exclaimed；　〃do　not　say　it！　　To　say　it　is　to　pay　oneself　back；　and　then　the　statement　ceases　to　be　true。〃

〃The　liabilities　of　the　estate；〃　continued　the　notary；　〃exceeded　the　assets。　　But　I　was　able　to　effect　a　settlement　with　the　creditors　in　favour　of　the　minor。〃

He　undertook　to　explain　matters　in　detail。　　　I　declined　to　listen　to　these　explanations；　being　incapable　of　understanding　business　methods　in　general；　and　those　of　Maitre　Mouche　in　particular。　　The　notary　then　took　it　upon　himself　to　justify　Mademoiselle　Prefere's　educational　system；　and　observed　by　way　of　conclusion；

〃It　is　not　by　amusing　oneself　that　one　can　learn。〃

〃It　is　only　by　amusing　oneself　that　one　can　learn；〃　I　replied。　　〃The　whole　art　of　teaching　is　only　the　art　of　awakening　the　natural　curiosity　of　young　minds　for　the　purpose　of　satisfying　it　afterwards；　and　curiosity　itself　can　be　vivid　and　wholesome　only　in　proportion　as　the　mind　is　contented　and　happy。　　Those　acquirements　cra