the crime of sylvestre bonnard(西维斯特·博拉德的罪行)-第51章
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eyes and tail for the dragon。 Oh the eyes！ the eyes； above all！ I never
stopped working at them till I got them so that they had red pupils and
white eye… lids and eye…brows and everything！ I know I am very silly； I
had an idea that I was going to die as soon as my little Saint…George would
be finished。 I worked at it during recreation…hours； and Mademoiselle
Prefere used to let me alone。 One day I learned that you were in the
parlour with the schoolmistress； I watched for you； we said 'Au revoir！'
that day to each other。 I was a little consoled by seeing you。 But； some
time after that； my guardian came and wanted to make me go to his
house；but please don't ask me why； Monsieur。 He answered me； quite
gently； that I was a very whimsical little girl。 And then he left me alone。
But the next day Mademoiselle Prefere came to me with such a wicked
look on her face that I was really afraid。 She had a letter in her hand。
'Mademoiselle；' she said to me； 'I am informed by your guardian that he
has spent all the money which belonged to you。 Don't be afraid！ I do not
intend to abandon you； but； you must acknowledge yourself； it is only
right that you should earn your own livelihood。' Then she put me to work
house…cleaning； and whenever I made a mistake she would lock me up in
the garet for days together。 And that is what has happened to me since I
saw you last。 Even if I had been able to write to you I do not know
whether I should have done it； because I did not think you could possibly
take me away from the school； and； as Maitre Mouche did not come back
to see me； there was no hurry。 I thought I could wait for awhile in the
garret and the kitchen。
〃Jeanne；〃 I cried； 〃even if we should have to flee to Oceania； the
abominable Prefere shall never get hold of you again。 I will take a great
oath on that！ And why should we not go to Oceania？ The climate is very
healthy； and I read in a newspaper the other day that they have pianos
there。 But； in the meantime； let us go to the house of Madame de Gabry；
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who returned to Paris； as luck would have it； some three or four days ago；
for you and I are two innocent fools； and we have great need of some one
to help us。〃
Even as I was speaking Jeanne's features suddenly became pale； and
seemed to shrink into lifelessness； her eyes became all dim； her lips； half
open； contracted with an expression of pain。 Then her head sank sideways
on her shoulder；she had fainted。
I lifter her in my arms； and carried her up Madame de Gabry's
staircase like a little baby asleep。 But I was myself on the point of fainting
from emotional excitement and fatigue together； when she came to herself
again。
〃Ah！ it is you。〃 she said： 〃so much the better！〃
Such was our condition when we rang our friend's door…bell。
Same day。
It was eight o'clock。 Madame de Gabry； as might be supposed； was
very much surprised by our unexpected appearance。 But she welcomed the
old man and the child with that glad kindness which always expresses
itself in her beautiful gestures。 It seems to me；if I might use the language
of devotion so familiar to her；it seems to me as though some heavenly
grace streams from her hands when ever she opens them； and even the
perfume which impregnates her robes seems to inspire the sweet calm zeal
of charity and good works。 Surprised she certainly was； but she asked us
no question；and that silence seemed to me admirable。
〃Madame；〃 I said to her； 〃we have both come to place ourselves under
your protection。 And； first of all； we are going to ask you to give us some
superor to give Jeanne some； at least； for a moment ago； in the carriage；
she fainted from weakness。 As for myself； I could not eat a bite at this late
hour without passing a night of agony in consequence。 I hope that
Monsieur de Gabry is well。〃
〃Oh； he is here！〃 she said。
And she called him immediately。
〃Come in here； Paul！ Come and see Monsieur Bonnard and
Mademoiselle Alexandre。〃
He came。 It was a pleasure for me to see his frank broad face； and to
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press his strong square hand。 Then we went； all four of us； into the dining…
room； and while some cold meat was being cut for Jeannewhich she
never touched notwithstandingI related our adventure。 Paul de Gabry
asked me permission to smoke his pipe； after which he listened to me in
silence。 When I had finished my recital he scratched the short； stiff beard
upon his chin； and uttered a tremendous 〃Sacrebleu！〃 But； seeing Jeanne
stare at each of us in turn； with a frightened look in her face； he added：
〃We will talk about this matter to…morrow morning。 Come into my
study for a moment； I have an old book to show you that I want you to tell
me something about。〃
I followed him into his study； where the steel of guns and hunting
knives； suspended against the dark hangings； glimmered in the lamp… light。
There； pulling me down beside him upon a leather…covered sofa； he
exclaimed；
〃What have you done？ Great God！ Do you know what you have done？
Corruption of a minor； abduction； kidnapping！ You have got yourself into
a nice mess！ You have simply rendered yourself liable to a sentence of
imprisonment of not less than five nor more than ten years。〃
〃Mercy on us！〃 I cried； 〃ten years imprisonment for having saved an
innocent child。〃
〃That is the law！〃 answered Monsieur de Gabry。 〃You see； my dear
Monsieur Bonnard； I happen to know the Code pretty wellnot because I
ever studied law as a profession； but because； as mayor of Lusance； I was
obliged to teach myself something about it in order to be able to give
information to my subordinates。 Mouche is a rascal； that woman Prefere is
a vile hussy； and you are a。。。Well！ I really cannot find a word strong
enough to signify what you are！〃
After opening his bookcase； where dog…collars； riding…whips； stirrups；
spurs； cigar…boxes； and a few books of reference were indiscriminately
stowed away； he took out of it a copy of the Code； and began to turn over
the leaves。
〃'CRIMES AND MISDEMEANOURS'。。。'SEQUESTRATION OF
PERSONS'that is not your case。。。。 'ABDUCTION OF MINORS'here
we are。。。。'ARTICLE 354'：'Whosever shall； either by fraud or violence；
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have abducted or have caused to be abducted any minor or minors； or shall
have enticed them； or turned them away from； or forcibly removed them；
or shall have caused them to be enticed； or turned away from or forcibly
removed from the places in which they have been placed by those to
whose authority or direction they have been submitted or confided； shall
be liable to the penalty of imprisonment。 See PENAL CODE； 21 and 28。'
