the crime of sylvestre bonnard-第43章
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rascalI shall very soon find means of making him harmless； even if the devil himself should take sides with him。 For everything depends on him。 As it is too late this evening to take Mademoiselle Jeanne back to her boarding…school； my wife will keep the young lady here to…night。 This of course plainly constitues the misdemeanour of complicity； but it saves the girl from anything like an equivocal position。 As for you； my dear Monsieur； you just go back to the Quai Malaquais as quickly as you can； and if they come to look for Jeanne there； it will be very easy for you to prove she is not in your house。〃
While we were thus talking； Madame de Gabry was preparing to make her young lodger comfortable for the night。 When she bade me good…bye at the door； she was carrying a pair of clean sheets； scented with lavender； thrown over her arm。
〃That；〃 I said； 〃is a sweet honest smell。〃
〃Well； of course；〃 answered Madame de Gabry； 〃you must remember we are peasants。〃
〃Ah！〃 I answered her； 〃heaven grant that I also may be able one of these days ti becine a peasant！ Heaven grant that one of these days I may be able； as you are at Lusance； to inhale the sweet fresh odour of the country； and live in some little house all hidden among trees； and if this wish of mine be too ambitious on the part of an old man whose life is nearly closed； then I will only wish that my winding… sheet may be as sweetly scented with lavender as that linen you have on your arm。〃
It was agreed that I should come to lunch the following morning。 But I was positively forbidden to show myself at the house before midday。 Jeanne； as she kissed me good…bye； begged me not to take her back to the school any more。 We felt much affected at parting； and very anxious。
I found Therese waiting for me on the landing； in such a condition of worry about me that it had made her furious。 She talked of nothing less than keeping me under lock and key in the future。
What a night I passed！ I never closed my eyes for one single instant。 From time to time I could not help laughing like a boy at the success of my prank； and then again； an inexpressible feeling of horror would come upon me at the thought of being dragged before some magistrate； and having to take my place upon the prisoner's bench； to answer for the crime which I had so naturally committed。 I was very much afraid； and nevertheless I felt no remorse or regret whatever。 The sun； coming into my room at last； merrily lighted upon the foot of my bed； and then I made this prayer：
〃My God； Thou who didst make the sky and the dew； as it is said in 'Tristan；' judge me in Thine equity； not indeed according unto my acts； but according only to my motives； which Thou knowest have been upright and pure； and I will say： Glory to Thee in heaven； and peace on earth to men of good…will。 I give into Thy hands the child I stole away。 Do that for her which I have not known how to do； guard for her from all her enemies；and blessed for ever be Thy name！〃
December 29。
When I arrived at Madame de Gabry's； I found Jeanne completely transfigured。
Had she also； like myself； at the very first light of dawn； called upon Him who made the sky and the dew？ She smiled with such a sweet calm smile！
Madame de Gabry called her away to arrange her hair for the amiable lady had insisted upon combing and plaiting； with her own hands； the hair of the child confided to her care。 As I had come a little before the hour agreed upon； I had interrupted this charming toilet。 By way of punishment I was told to go and wait in the parlour all by myself。 Monsieur de Gabry joined me there in a little while。 He had evidently just come in； for I could see on his forehead the mark left my the lining of his hat。 His frank face wore an expression of joyful excitement。 I thought I had better not ask him any questions； and we all went to lunch。 When the servants had finished waiting at table； Monsieur Paul； who had been keeping his good story for the dessert； said to us；
〃Well！ I went to Levallois。〃
〃Did you see Maitre Mouche？〃 excitedly inquired Madame de Gabry。
〃No；〃 he replied； curiously watching the expression of disappointment upon our faces。
After having amused himself with our anxiety for a reasonable time； the good fellow added：
〃Maitre Mouche is no longer at Levallois。 Maitre Mouche has gone away from France。 The day after to…morrow will make just eight days since he decamped； taking with him all the money of his clientsa tolerably large sum。 I found the office closed。 A woman who lived close by told me all about it with an abundance of curses and imprecations。 The notary did not take the 7：55 train all by himself； he took with him the daughter of the hairdresser of Levallois； a young person quite famous in that part of the country for her beauty and her accomplishments；they say she could shave better than her father。 Well； anyhow Mouche has run away with her； the Commissaire de Police confirmed the fact for me。 Now； really； could it have been possible for Maitre Mouche to have left the country at a more opportune moment？ If he had only deferred his escapade one week longer； he would have been still the representative of society； and would have had you dragged off to gaol； Monsieur Bonnard； like a criminal。 At present we have nothing whatever to fear from him。 Here is to the health of Maitre Mouche！〃 he cried； pouring out a glass of white wine。
I would like to live a long time if it were only to remember that delightful morning。 We four were all assembled in the big white dining…room around the waxed oak table。 Monsieur Paul's mirth was' of the hearty kind；even perhaps a little riotous； and the good man quaffed deeply。 Madame de Gabry smiled at me； with a smile so sweet； so perfect； and so noble； that I thought such a woman ought to keep smiles like that simply as a reward for good actions； and thus make everybody who knew her do all the good of which they were capable。 Then； to reward us for our pains； Jeanne； who had regained something of her former vivacity； asked us in less than a quarter of an hour one dozen questions； to answer which would have required an exhaustive exposition on the nature of man； the nature of the universe； the science of physics and of metaphysics； the Macrocosm and the Microcosmnot to speak of the Ineffable and the Unknowable。 Then she drew out of her pocket her little Saint… George； who had suffered most cruelly during our flight。 His legs and arms were gone； but he still had his gold helmet with the green dragon on it。 Jeanne solemnly pledged herself to make a restoration of him in honour of Madame de Gabry。
Delightful friends！ I left them at last overwhelmed with fatigue and joy。
On re…entering my lodgings I had to endure the very sharpest remonstrances from Therese； who said she had given up trying to understand my new way of living。 In her opinion Monsieur had really lost his mind。
〃Yes； Therese； I am a mad old man and you are a mad old woman。 That is certain！ May the good God bless us both； Therese； and give us new strength； for we now have new duties to perform。 but let me lie down upon the sofa； for I really cannot keep myself on my feet any longer。〃
January 15； 186…。
〃Good…morning； Monsieur；〃 said Jeanne； letting herself in； while Therese remained grumbling in the corridor because she had not been able to get to the door in time。
〃Mademoiselle； I beg you will be kind enough to address me very solemnly by my title； and to say to me； 'Good…morning； my guardian。'〃
〃Then it has all been settled？ Oh； how nice！〃 cried the child； clapping her hands。
〃It has all been arranged； Mademoiselle； in the Salle…commune and before the Justice of the Peace； and from to…day you are under my authority。。。。 What are you laughing about； my ward？ I see it in your eyes。 You have some crazy idea in your head this very moment some more nonsense； eh？〃
〃Oh； no！ Monsieur。。。。 I mean； my guardian。 I was looking at your white hair。 It curls out from under the edge of your hat like honeysuckle on a balcony。 It is very handsome； and I like it very much！〃
〃Be good enough to sit down； my ward； and； if you can possibly help it； stop saying ridic
