the crime of sylvestre bonnard(西维斯特·博拉德的罪行)-第17章
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much taste and spirit by some novice hand。 But the phenomenon； even
thus reduced by a rational explanation； did not cease to excite my surprise。
How； and by whom； had the Lady of the Cosmography been enabled to
assume plastic existence？ That was what remained for me to learn。
Turning towards Madame de Gabry； I perceived that she was not alone。
A young girl dressed in black was standing beside her。 She had large
intelligent eyes； of a grey as sweet as that of the sky of the Isle of France；
and at once artless and characteristic in their expression。 At the extremities
of her rather thin arms were fidgeting uneasily two slender hands； supple
but slightly red； as it becomes the hands of young girls to be。 Sheathed in
her closely fitting merino robe； she had the slim grace of a young tree； and
her large mouth bespoke frankness。 I could not describe how much the
child pleased me at first sight！ She was not beautiful； but the three dimples
of her cheeks and chin seemed to laugh； and her whole person； which
revealed the awkwardness of innocence； had something in it indescribably
good and sincere。
My gaze alternated from the statuette to the young girl； and I saw her
blushso frankly and fully！the crimson passing over her face as by
waves。
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〃Well；〃 said my hostess； who had become sufficiently accustomed to
my distracted moods to put the same question to me twice； 〃is that the
very same lady who came in to see you through the window that you left
open？ She was very saucy； but then you were quite imprudent！ Anyhow；
do you recognise her？〃
〃It is her very self；〃 I replied； 〃I see her now on that pier…table
precisely as I saw her on the table in the library。〃
〃Then； if that be so；〃 replied Madame de Gabry； 〃you have to blame
for it； in the first place； yourself； as a man who； although devoid of all
imagination； to use your own words； knew how to depict your dream in
such vivid colours； in the second place； me； who was able to remember
and repeat faithfully all your dream； and lastly； Mademoiselle Jeanne；
whom I now introduce to you； for she herself modeled that wax figure
precisely according to my instructions。〃
Madame de Gabry had taken the young girl's hand as she spoke； but
the latter had suddenly broken away from her； and was already running
through the park with the speed of a bird。
〃Little crazy creature！〃 Madame de Gabry cried after her。 〃How can
one be so shy？ Come back here to be scolded and kissed！〃
But it was all of no avail； the frightened child disappeared among the
shrubbery。 Madame de Gabry seated herself in the only chair remaining in
the dilapidated parlour。
〃I should be much surprised；〃 she said； 〃If my husband had not already
spoken to you of Jeanne。 She is a sweet child； and we both lover her very
much。 Tell me the plain truth； what do you think of her statuette？〃
I replied that the work was full of good taste and spirit； but that it
showed some want of study and practice on the author's part； otherwise I
had been extremely touched to think that those young fingers should have
thus embroidered an old man's rough sketch of fancy； and given form so
brilliantly to the dreams of a dotard like myself。
〃The reason I ask your opinion；〃 replied Madame de Gabry； seriously；
〃is that Jeanne is a poor orphan。 Do you think she could earn her living by
modelling statuettes like this one？〃
〃As for that； no！〃 I replied； 〃and I think there is no reason to regret the
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fact。 You say the girl is affectionate and sensitive； I can well believe you； I
could believe it from her face alone。 There are excitements in artist…life
which impel generous hearts to act out of all rule and measure。 This young
creature is made to love； keep her for the domestic hearth。 There only is
real happiness。〃
〃But she has no dowry！〃 replied Madame de Gabry。
Then； extending her hand to me； she continued：
〃You are our friend； I can tell you everything。 The father of this child
was a banker； and one of our friends。 He went into a colossal speculation；
and it ruined him。 He survived only a few months after his failure； in
which； as Paul must have told you； three…fourths of my uncle's fortune
were lost； and more than half of our own。
〃We had made his acquaintance at Manaco； during the winter we
passed there at my uncle's house。 He had an adventurous disposition； but
such an engaging manner！ He deceived himself before ever he deceived
others。 After all； it is in the ability to deceive oneself that the greatest
talent is shown； is it not？ Well； we were capturedmy husband； my uncle；
and I； and we risked much more than a reasonable amount in a very
hazardous undertaking。 But； bah！ as Paul says； since we have no children
we need not worry about it。 Besides； we have the satisfaction of knowing
that the friend in whom we trusted was an honest man。。。。 You must know
his name； it was so often in the papers an on public placardsNoel
Alexandre。 His wife was a very sweet person。 I knew her only when she
was already past her prime； with traces of having once been very pretty；
and a taste for fashionable style and display which seemed quite becoming
to her。 She was naturally fond of social excitement； but she showed a great
deal of courage and dignity after the death of her husband。 She died a year
after him； leaving Jeanne alone in the world。〃
〃Clementine！〃 I cried out。
And on thus learning what I had never imaginedthe mere idea of
which would have set all the forces of my soul in revoltupon hearing that
Clementine was no longer in this world； something like a great silence
came upon me； and the feeling which flooded my whole being was not a
keen； strong pain； but a quiet and solemn sorrow。 Yet I was conscious of
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some incomprehensible sense of alleviation； and my thought rose suddenly
to heights before unknown。
〃From wheresoever thou art at this moment； Clementine；〃 I said to
myself； 〃look down upon this old heart now indeed cooled by age； yet
whose blood once boiled for thy sake； and say whether it is not reanimated
by the mere thought of being able to love all that remains of thee on earth。
Everything passes away since thou thyself hast passed away； but Life is
immortal； it is that Life we must love in its forms eternally renewed。 All
the rest is child's play； and I myself； with all my books； am only like a
child playing with marbles。 The purpose of lifeit is thou； Clementine；
who has revealed it to me！〃。。。
Madame de Gabry aroused me from my thoughts by murmuring；
〃The child is poor。〃
〃The daughter of Clementine is poor！〃 I exclaimed aloud； 〃how
fortunate that is so！ I would not whish that any one by myself should
proved for her and dower her！ No！ the daughter of Clementine must not
have her dowry from any one but me。〃
And； approaching Madame de Gabry as she rose from her chair； I took
her right hand； I kissed that hand； and placed it on my arm； and said：
〃You will conduct me to the grave of the widow of Noel Alexandre。〃
And I heard Madame de Gabry asking me：
〃Why are you crying？〃
Chapter IV The Little Saint…George
April 16。
Saint Drocoveus and the early abbots of Saint…Germain…des…Pres
have been occupying me for the past forty years； but I do not know if I
shall be able to write their history before I go to join them。 It is already
quite a long time since I became an old man。 One day last year； on the
Pont des Arts； one of my fellow members at the Institute was lamenting
before me over the ennui of becoming old。
〃Still；〃 Saint…Beuve replied to him； 〃it is the only way that has yet
been found of living a long time。〃
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I have tried this way； and I know just what it is worth。 The trouble of it
is not that one lasts too long； but that one sees all about him pass away
mother； wife； friends； children。 Nature makes and unmakes all these divine
treasures with gloomy indifference； and at last we find that we have not
loved； we have only been embracing shadows。 But how sweet some
shadows are！ If ever creature glided like a shadow through the life of a
man； it was certainly that young girl whom I fell in love with when
incredible though it now seemsI was myself a youth。
A Christian sarcophagus from the catacombs of Rome bears a formula
of imprecation； the whole terrible meaning of which I only learned with
time。 It says： 〃Whatsoever impious man violates this sepulchre； may he
die the last of his own people！〃 In my capacity of archaeologist； I have
opened tombs and disturbed ashes in order to collect the shreds of apparel；
metal ornaments； or gems that were mingled with those ashes。 But I did it
only through that scientific curiosity which does not exclude feelings of
reverence and of piety。 May that malediction graven by some one of the
first followers of the apostles upon a martyr's tomb never fall upon me！ I
ought not to fear to survive my own people so long as there are men in the
world； for there are always some whom one can love。
But the power of love itself weakens and gradually becomes lost with
age； like all the other energies of man。 Example proves it； and it is this
which terrifies me。 Am I sure that I have not myself already suffered this
great loss？ I should surely have felt it； but for the happy meeting which
