the crime of sylvestre bonnard-第7章

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d　valleys；　and　that　Greek　Muse　who　made　Arethusa　and　Maenalus　ring　with　her　divine　accents；　still　sings　for　my　ears　upon　the　barren　mountain　and　in　the　place　of　the　dried…up　spring。　　Yes；　Madame；　when　our　globe；　no　longer　inhabited；　shall；　like　the　moon；　roll　a　wan　corpse　through　space；　the　soil　which　bears　the　ruins　of　Selinonte　will　still　keep　the　seal　of　beauty　in　the　midst　of　universal　death；　and　then；　then；　at　least　there　will　be　no　frivolous　mouth　to　blaspheme　the　grandeur　of　these　solitudes。〃

I　knew　well　enough　that　my　words　were　beyond　the　comprehension　of　the　pretty　little　empty…head　which　heard　them。　　But　an　old　fellow　like　myself　who　has　worn　out　his　life　over　books　does　not　know　how　to　adapt　his　tone　to　circumstances。　　Besides　I　wished　to　give　Madame　Trepof　a　lesson　in　politeness。　　She　received　it　with　so　much　submission；　and　with　such　an　air　of　comprehension；　that　I　hastened　to　add；　as　good…naturedly　as　possible；

〃As　to　whether　the　chance　which　has　enabled　me　to　meet　you　again　be　lucky　or　unlucky；　I　cannot　decide　the　question　until　I　am　sure　that　my　presence　be　not　disagreeable　to　you。　　You　appeared　to　become　weary　of　my　company　very　suddenly　at　Naples　the　other　day。　　I　can　only　attribute　that　misfortune　to　my　naturally　unpleasant　mannersince；　on　that　occasion；　I　had　had　the　honour　of　meeting　you　for　the　first　time　in　my　life。〃

These　words　seem　to　cause　her　inexplicable　joy。　　She　smiled　upon　me　in　the　most　gracious；　mischievous　way；　and　said　very　earnestly；　holding　out　her　hand；　which　I　touched　with　my　lips；

〃Monsieur　Bonnard；　do　not　refuse　to　accept　a　seat　in　my　carriage。　You　can　chat　with　me　on　the　way　about　antiquity；　and　that　will　amuse　me　ever　so　much。〃

〃My　dear；〃　exclaimed　the　prince；　〃you　can　do　just　as　you　please；　but　you　ought　to　remember　that　one　is　horribly　cramped　in　that　carriage　of　yours；　and　I　fear　that　you　are　only　offering　Monsieur　Bonnard　the　chance　of　getting　a　frightful　attack　of　lumbago。〃

Madame　Trepof　simply　shook　her　head　by　way　of　explaining　that　such　considerations　had　no　weight　with　her　whatever；　then　she　untied　her　hat。　　The　darkness　of　her　black　curls　descended　over　her　eyes；　and　bathed　them　in　velvety　shadow。　　She　remained　a　little　while　quite　motionless；　and　her　face　assumed　a　surprising　expression　of　reverie。　But　all　of　a　sudden　she　darted　at　some　oranges　which　the　tavern…keeper　had　brought　in　a　basket；　and　began　to　throw　them；　one　by　one；　into　a　fold　of　her　dress。

〃These　will　be　nice　on　the　road；〃　she　said。　　〃We　are　going　just　where　you　are　goingto　Girgenti。　　I　must　tell　you　all　about　it。　　you　know　that　my　husband　is　making　a　collection　of　match…boxes。　　We　bought　thirteen　hundred　match…boxes　at　Marseilles。　　But　we　heard　there　was　a　factory　of　them　at　Girgenti。　　According　to　what　we　were　told；　it　is　a　very　small　factory；　and　its　productswhich　are　very　uglynever　go　outside　the　city　and　its　suburbs。　　So　we　are　going　to　Girgenti　just　to　buy　match…boxes。　　Dimitri　has　been　a　collector　of　all　sorts　of　things；　but　the　only　kind　of　collection　which　can　now　interest　him　is　a　collection　of　match…boxes。　　He　has　already　got　five　thousand　two　hundred　and　fourteen　different　kinds。　　Some　of　them　gave　us　frightful　trouble　to　find。　　For　instance；　we　knew　that　at　Naples　boxes　were　once　made　with　the　portraits　of　Mazzini　and　Garibaldi　on　them；　and　that　the　police　had　seized　the　plates　from　which　the　portraits　were　printed；　and　put　the　manufacturer　in　gaol。　　Well；　by　dint　of　searching　and　inquiring　for　ever　so　long　a　while；　we　found　one　of　those　boxes　at　last　for　sale　at　one　hundred　francs；　instead　of　two　sous。　　It　was　not　really　too　dear　at　that　price；　but　we　were　denounced　for　buying　it。　　We　were　taken　for　conspirators。　　All　our　baggage　was　searched；　they　could　not　find　the　box；　because　I　had　hidden　it　so　well；　but　they　found　my　jewels；　and　carried　them　off。　They　have　them　still。　　The　incident　made　quite　a　sensation；　and　we　were　going　to　get　arrested。　　But　the　king　was　displeased　about　it；　and　he　ordered　them　to　leave　us　alone。　　Up　to　that　time；　I　used　to　think　it　was　very　stupid　to　collect　match…boxes；　but　when　I　found　that　there　were　risks　of　losing　liberty；　and　perhaps　even　life；　by　doing　it；　I　began　to　feel　a　taste　for　it。　　Now　I　am　an　absolute　fanatic　on　the　subject。　　We　are　going　to　Sweden　next　summer　to　complete　our　series。。。。　　Are　we　not；　Dimitri？〃

I　feltmust　I　confess　it？a　thorough　sympathy　with　these　intrepid　collectors。　　No　doubt　I　would　rather　have　found　Monsieur　and　Madame　Trepof　engaged　in　collecting　antique　marbles　or　painted　vases　in　Sicily。　　I　should　have　like　to　have　found　them　interested　in　the　ruins　of　Syracuse；　or　the　poetical　traditions　of　the　Eryx。　　But　at　all　events；　they　were　making　some　sort　of　a　collectionthey　belonged　to　the　great　confraternityand　I　could　not　possibly　make　fun　of　them　without　making　fun　of　myself。　　Besides；　Madame　Trepof　had　spoken　of　her　collection　with　such　an　odd　mingling　of　irony　and　enthusiasm　that　I　could　not　help　finding　the　idea　a　very　good　one。

We　were　getting　ready　to　leave　the　tavern；　when　we　noticed　some　people　coming　downstairs　from　the　upper　room；　carrying　carbines　under　their　dark　cloaks。　　to　me　they　had　the　look　of　thorough　bandits；　and　after　they　were　gone　I　told　Monsieur　Trepof　my　opinion　of　them。　　He　answered　me；　very　quietly；　that　he　also　thought　they　were　regular　bandits；　and　the　guides　begged　us　to　apply　for　an　escort　of　gendarmes；　but　Madame　Trepof　besought　us　not　to　do　anything　of　the　kind。　　She　declared　that　we　must　not　〃spoil　her　journey。〃

Then；　turning　her　persuasive　eyes　upon　me；　she　asked；

〃Do　you　not　believe；　Monsieur　Bonnard；　that　there　is　nothing　in　life　worth　having　except　sensations？〃

〃Why；　certainly；　Madame；〃　I　answered；　〃but　then　we　must　take　into　consideration　the　nature　of　the　sensations　themselves。　　Those　which　a　noble　memory　or　a　grand　spectacle　creates　within　us　certainly　represent　what　is　best　in　human　life；　but　those　merely　resulting　from　the　menace　of　danger　seem　to　me　sensations　which　one　should　be　very　careful　to　avoid　as　much　as　possible。　　For　example；　would　you　think　it　a　very　pleasant　thing；　Madame；　while　travelling　over　the　mountains　at　midnight；　to　find　the　muzzle　of　a　carbine　suddenly　pressed　against　your　forehead？〃

〃Oh；　no！〃　she　replied；　〃the　comic…operas　have　made　carbines　absolutely　ridiculous；　and　it　would　be　a　great　misfortune　to　any　young　woman　to　find　herself　in　danger　from　an　absurd　weapon。　　But　it　would　be　quite　different　with　a　knifea　very　cold　and　very　bright　knife　blade；　which　makes　a　cold　shudder　go　right　through　one's　heart。〃

She　shuddered　even　as　she　spoke；　closed　her　eyes；　and　threw　her　head　back。　　Then　she　resumed：

〃People　like　you　are　so　happy！　　You　can　interest　yourselves　in　all　sorts　of　things！〃

She　gave　a　sidelong　look　at　her　husband；　who　was　talking　with　the　innkeeper。　　Then　she　leaned　towards　me；　and　murmured　very　low：

〃You　see；　Dimitri　and　I；　we　are　both　suffering　from　ennui！　　We　have　still　the　match…boxes。　　But　at　last　one　gets　tired　even　of　match…boxes。　　Besides；　our　collection　will　soon　be　complete。　　And　then　what　are　we　going　to　do？〃

〃Oh；　Madame！〃　I　exclaimed；　touched　by　the　moral　unhappiness　of　this　pretty　person；　〃if　you　only　had　a　son；　then　you　would　know　what　to　do。　　You　would　then　learn　the　purpose　of　your　life；　and　your　thoughts　would　become　at　once　more　serious　and　yet　more　cheerful。〃

〃But　I　have　a　son；〃　she　replied。　　〃He　is　a　big　boy；　he　is　eleven　years　old；　and　he　suffers　from　ennui　like　the　rest　of　us。　　Yes；　my　George　has　ennui；　too；　he　is　tired　of　everything。　　It　is　very　wretched。〃

She　glanced　again　towards　her　husband；　who　was　superintending　the　harnessing　of　the　mules　on　the　road　outsidetesting　the　condition　of　girths　and　straps。　　Then　she　asked　me　whether　there　had　been　many　changes　on　the　Quai　Malaquais　during　the　past　ten　years。　　She　declared　she　never　visited　that　neighbourhood　because　it　was　too　far　way。

〃Too　far　from　Monte　Allegro？〃　I　queried。

〃Why；　no！〃　she　replied。　　〃Too　far　from　the　Avenue　des　Champs　Elysees；　where　we　live。〃

And　she　murmured　over　again；　as　if　talking　to　herself；　〃Too　far！too　far！〃　in　a　tone　of　reverie　which　I　could　not　possibly　account　for。　All　at　once　she　smiled　again；　and　said　to　me；

〃I　like　you；　Monsieur　Bonnard！I　like　you　very；　very　much！〃

The　mules　had　been　harnessed。　　The　young　woman　hastily　picked　up　a　few　oranges　which　had　rolled　off　her　lap；　rose　up；　looked　at　me；　and　burst　out　laughing。

〃Oh！〃　she　exclaimed；　〃how　I　should　like　to　see　you　grappling　with　the　brigands！　　You　would　say　such　extraordinary　things　to　them！。。。　　Please　take　my　hat；　and　hold　my　umbrella　for　me；　Monsieur　Bonnard。〃

〃What　a　strange　little　mind！〃　I　thought　to　myself；　as　I　followed　her。　　〃It　could　only　have　been　in　a　moment　of　inexcusable　thoughtlessness　that　Nature　gave　a　child　to　such　a　giddy　little　woman！〃



Girgenti。　　Same　day。


Her　manners　had　shocked　me。　　I　left　her　to　arrange　herself　in　her　lettica；　and　I　made　myself　as　comfortable　as　I　could　in　my　own。　These　vehicles；　which　have　no　wheels；　are　carried　by　two　mulesone　before　and　one　behind。　　This　kind　of　litter；　or　chaise；　is　of　ancient　origin。　　I　had　often　seen　representations　of　similar　ones　in　the　French　MSS。　of　the　fourteenth　century。　　I　had　no　idea　then　that　one　of　those　vehicles　would　be　at　a　future　day　placed　at　my　own　disposal。　We　must　never　be　too　sure　of　anything。

For　three　hours　the　mules　sounded　their　little　bells；　and　thumped　the　calcined　ground　with　their　hoofs。　　On　either　hand　there　slowly　defiled　by　us　the　barren　monstrous　shapes　of　a　nature　totally　African。

Half…way　we　made　a　halt　to　allow　our　animals　to　recover　breath。

Madame　Trepof　came　to　me　on　the　road；　took　my　arm；　and　drew　me　a　little　away　from　the　party。　　Then；　very　suddenly；　she　said　to　me　in　a　tone　of　voice　I　had　never　heard　before：

〃Do　not　think　that　I　am　a　wicked　woman。　　My　George　knows　that　I　am　a　good　mother。〃

We　walked　side　by　side　for　a　moment　in　silence。　　She　looked　up；　and　I　saw　that　she　was　crying。

〃Madame；〃　I　said　to　her；　〃look　at　this　soil　which　has　been　burned　and　cracked　by　five　long　months　of　fiery　heat。　　A　little　white　lily　has　sprung　up　from　it。〃

And　I　pointed　with　my　cane　to　the　frail　stalk；　tipped　by　a　double　blossom。

〃Your　heart；〃　I　said；　〃however　arid　it　be；　bears　also　its　white　lily；　and　that　is　reason　enough　why　I　do　not　believe　that　you　are　what　you　saya　wicked　woman。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　yes！〃　she　cried；　with　the　obstinacy　of　a　child〃I　am　a　wicked　woman。　　But　I　am　ashamed　to　appear　so　before　you　who　are　so　goodso　very；　very　good。〃

〃You　do　not　know　anything　at　all　about　it；〃　I　said　to　her。

〃I　know　it！　　I　know　all　about　you；　Monsieur　Bonnard！〃　she　declared；　with　a　smile。

And　she　jumped　back　into　her　lettica。



Girgenti；　November　30；　1859。


I　awoke　the　following　morning　in　the　House　of　Gellias。　　Gellias　was　a　rich　citizen　of　ancient　Agrigentum。　　He　was　equally　celebrated　for　his　generosity　and　for　his　wealth；　and　he　endowed　his　native　city　with　a　great　number　of　free　inns。　　Gellias　has　been　dead　for　thirteen　hundred　years；　and　nowadays　there　is　no　gratuitous　hospitality　among　civilised　peoples。　　But　the　name　of　Gellias　has　become　that　of　a　hotel　in　which；　by　reason　of　fatigue；　I　was　able　to　obtain　one　good