the crime of sylvestre bonnard-第15部分

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I　entered　the　great　parlour　without　meeting　anybody；　and　the　young　chestnut…tree　there　spreading　out　its　broad　leaves　seemed　to　me　like　an　old　friend。　　But　the　next　thing　which　I　sawon　the　pier…tablecaused　me　such　a　shock　of　surprise　that　I　readjusted　my　glasses　upon　my　nose　with　both　hands　at　once；　and　then　felt　myself　over　so　as　to　get　at　least　some　superficial　proof　of　my　own　existence。　In　less　than　one　second　there　thronged　from　my　mind　twenty　different　conjecturesthe　most　rational　of　which　was　that　I　had　suddenly　become　crazy。　　It　seemed　to　me　absolutely　impossible　that　what　I　was　looking　at　could　exist；　yet　it　was　equally　impossible　for　me　not　to　see　it　as　a　thing　actually　existing。　　What　caused　my　surprise　was　resting　on　the　pier…table；　above　which　rose　a　great　dull　speckled　mirror。

I　saw　myself　in　that　mirror；　and　I　can　say　that　I　saw　for　once　in　my　life　the　perfect　image　of　stupefaction。　　But　I　made　proper　allowance　for　myself；　I　approved　myself　for　being　so　stupefied　by　a　really　stupefying　thing。

The　object　I　was　thus　examining　with　a　degree　of　astonishment　that　all　my　reasoning　power　failed　to　lessen；　obtruded　itself　on　my　attention　though　quite　motionless。　　The　persistence　and　fixity　of　the　phenomenon　excluded　any　idea　of　hallucination。　　I　am　totally　exempt　from　all　nervous　disorders　capable　of　influencing　the　sense　of　sight。　　The　cause　of　such　visual　disturbance　is；　I　think；　generally　due　to　stomach　trouble；　and；　thank　God！　　I　have　an　excellent　stomach。　　Moreover；　visual　illusions　are　accompanied　with　special　abnormal　conditions　which　impress　the　victims　of　hallucination　themselves；　and　inspire　them　with　a　sort　of　terror。　　Now；　I　felt　nothing　of　this　kind；　the　object　which　I　saw；　although　seemingly　impossible　in　itself；　appeared　to　me　under　all　the　natural　conditions　of　reality。　　I　observed　that　it　had　three　dimensions；　and　colours；　and　that　it　cast　a　shadow。　　Ah！　how　I　stared　at　it！　　The　water　came　into　my　eyes　so　that　I　had　to　wipe　the　glasses　of　my　spectacles。

Finally　I　found　myself　obliged　to　yield　to　the　evidence；　and　to　affirm　that　I　had　really　before　my　eyes　the　Fairy；　the　very　same　Fairy　I　had　been　dreaming　of　in　the　library　a　few　evenings　before。　It　was　she；　it　was　her　very　self；　I　assure　you！　　She　had　the　same　air　of　child…queen；　the　same　proud　supple　poise；　she　held　the　same　hazel　wand　in　her　hand；　she　still　wore　her　double…peaked　head…dress；　and　the　train　of　her　long　brocade　robe　undulated　about　her　little　feet。　　Same　face；　same　figure。　　It　was　she　indeed；　and　to　prevent　any　possible　doubt　of　it；　she　was　seated　on　the　back　of　a　huge　old…　fashioned　book　strongly　resembling　the　〃Cosmography　of　Munster。〃　Her　immobility　but　half　reassured　me；　I　was　really　afraid　that　she　was　going　to　take　some　more　nuts　out　of　her　alms…purse　and　throw　the　shells　at　my　face。

I　was　standing　there；　waving　my　hands　and　gaping；　when　the　musical　and　laughing　voice　of　Madame　de　Gabry　suddenly　rang　in　my　ears。

〃So　you　are　examining　your　fairy；　Monsieur　Bonnard！〃　said　my　hostess。　〃Well；　do　you　think　the　resemblance　good？〃

It　was　very　quickly　said；　but　even　while　hearing　it　I　had　time　to　perceive　that　my　fairy　was　a　statuette　in　coloured　wax；　modeled　with　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。

〃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　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　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…Ge