the crime of sylvestre bonnard-第6部分

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howed　his　good　sense　when　he　told　you　to　take　life　wisely　and　to　filter　your　Greek　wines〃Sapias；　vina　liques。〃　　Even　thus　the　sight　of　a　fair　land　under　a　spotless　sky　urges　to　the　pursuit　of　quiet　pleasures。　　but　there　are　souls　for　ever　harassed　by　some　sublime　discontent；　those　are　the　noblest。　　You　were　of　such；　Leuconoe；　and　I；　visiting　for　the　first　time；　in　my　declining　years；　that　city　where　your　beauty　was　famed　of　old；　I　salute　with　deep　respect　your　melancholy　memory。　　Those　souls　of　kin　to　your　own　who　appeared　in　the　age　of　Chrisitianity　were　souls　of　saints；　and　the　〃Golden　Legend〃　is　full　of　the　miracles　they　wrought。　　Your　friend　Horace　left　a　less　noble　posterity；　and　I　see　one　of　his　descendants　in　the　person　of　that　tavern　poet；　who　at　this　moment　is　serving　out　wine　in　cups　under　the　epicurean　motto　of　his　sign。

And　yet　life　decides　in　favour　of　friend　Flaccus；　and　his　philosophy　is　the　only　one　which　adapts　itself　to　the　course　of　events。　　There　is　a　fellow　leaning　against　that　trellis…work　covered　with　vine…　leaves；　and　eating　an　ice；　while　watching　the　stars。　　He　would　not　stoop　even　to　pick　up　the　old　manuscript　I　am　going　to　seek　with　so　much　trouble　and　fatigue。　　And　in　truth　man　is　made　rather　to　eat　ices　than　to　pore　over　old　texts。

I　continued　to　wander　about　among　the　drinkers　and　the　singers。　　There　were　lovers　biting　into　beautiful　fruit；　each　with　an　arm　about　the　other's　waist。　　Man　must　be　naturally　bad；　for　all　this　strange　joy　only　evoked　in　me　a　feeling　of　uttermost　despondency。　That　thronging　populace　displayed　such　artless　delight　in　the　simple　act　of　living；　that　all　the　shynesses　begotten　by　my　old　habits　as　an　author　awoke　and　intensified　into　something　like　fright。　Furthermore；　I　found　myself　much　discouraged　by　my　inability　to　understand　a　word　of　all　the　storm　of　chatter　about　me。　　It　was　a　humiliating　experience　for　a　philologist。　　Thus　I　had　begun　to　feel　quite　sulky；　when　I　was　startled　to　hear　someone　behind　me　observe：

〃Dimitri；　that　old　man　is　certainly　a　Frenchman。　　He　looks　so　bewildered　that　I　really　fell　sorry　for　him。　　Shall　I　speak　to　him？　。。。He　has　such　a　goo…natured　look；　with　that　round　back　of　hisdo　you　not　think　so；　Dimitri？〃

It　was　said　in　French　by　a　woman's　voice。　　For　the　moment　it　was　disagreeable　to　hear　myself　spoken　of　as　an　old　man。　　Is　a　man　old　at　sixty…two？　　Only　the　other　day；　on　the　Pont　des　Arts；　my　colleague　Perrot　d'Avrignac　complimented　me　on　my　youthful　appearance；　and　I　should　think　him　a　better　authority　about　one's　age　than　that　young　chatterbox　who　has　taken　it　on　herself　to　make　remarks　about　my　back。　　My　back　is　round；　she　says。　　Ah！　ah！　　I　had　some　suspicion　myself　to　that　effect；　but　I　am　not　going　now　to　believe　it　at　all；　since　it　is　the　opinion　of　a　giddy…headed　young　woman。　　Certainly　I　will　not　turn　my　head　round　to　see　who　it　was　that　spoke；　but　I　am　sure　it　was　a　pretty　woman。　　Why？　　Because　she　talks　like　a　capricious　person　and　like　a　spoiled　child。　　Ugly　women　may　be　naturally　quite　as　capricious　as　pretty　ones；　but　as　they　are　never　petted　and　spoiled；　and　as　no　allowances　are　made　for　them；　they　soon　find　themselves　obliged　either　to　suppress　their　whims　or　to　hide　them。　　On　the　other　hand；　the　pretty　women　can　be　just　as　fantastical　as　they　please。　　My　neighbour　is　evidently　one　of　the　latter。。。。　　　But；　after　all；　coming　to　think　it　over；　she　really　did　nothing　worse　than　to　express；　in　her　own　way；　a　kindly　thought　about　me；　for　which　I　ought　to　feel　grateful。

These　reflectionsinclude　the　last　and　decisive　onepassed　through　my　mind　in　less　than　a　second；　and　if　I　have　taken　a　whole　minute　to　tell　them；　it　is　characteristic　of　most　philologists。　　In　less　than　a　second；　therefore；　after　the　voice　had　ceased；　I　did　turn　round；　and　saw　a　pretty　little　womana　sprightly　brunette。

〃Madame；〃　I　said；　with　a　bow；　〃excuse　my　involuntary　indiscretion。　I　could　not　help　overhearing　what　you　have　just　said。　　You　would　like　to　be　of　service　to　a　poor　old　man。　　And　the　wish；　Madame；　has　already　been　fulfilledthe　mere　sound　of　a　French　voice　has　given　me　such　pleasure　that　I　must　thank　you。〃

I　bowed　again；　and　turned　to　go　away；　but　my　foot　slipped　upon　a　melon…rind；　and　I　should　certainly　have　embraced　the　Parthenopean　soil　had　not　the　young　lady　put　out　her　hand　and　caught　me。

There　is　a　force　in　circumstanceseven　in　the　very　smallest　circumstancesagainst　which　resistance　is　vain。　　I　resigned　myself　to　remain　the　protege　of　the　fair　unknown。

〃It　is　late；〃　she　said；　〃do　you　not　wish　to　go　back　to　your　hotel；　which　must　be　quite　close　to　oursunless　it　be　the　same　one？〃

〃Madame；〃　I　replied；　〃I　do　not　know　what　time　it　is；　because　somebody　has　stolen　my　watch；　but　I　think；　as　you　say；　that　it　must　be　time　to　retire；　and　I　shall　be　very　glad　to　regain　my　hotel　in　the　company　of　such　courteous　compatriots。〃

So　saying；　I　bowed　once　more　to　the　young　lady；　and　also　saluted　her　companion；　a　silent　colossus　with　a　gentle　and　melancholy　face。

After　having　gone　a　little　way　with　them；　I　learned；　among　other　matters；　that　my　new　acquaintances　were　the　Prince　and　Princess　Trepof；　and　that　they　were　making　a　trip　round　the　world　for　the　purpose　of　finding　match…boxes；　of　which　they　were　making　a　collection。

We　proceeded　along　a　narrow；　tortuous　vicoletto；　lighted　only　by　a　single　lamp　burning　in　the　niche　of　a　Madonna。　　The　purity　and　transparency　of　the　air　gave　a　celestial　softness　and　clearness　to　the　very　darkness　itself；　and　one　could　find　one's　way　without　difficulty　under　such　a　limpid　night。　　But　in　a　little　while　we　began　to　pass　through　a　〃venella；〃　or；　in　Neopolitan　parlance；　a　sottoportico；　which　led　under　so　many　archways　and　so　many　far…　projecting　balconies　that　no　gleam　of　light　from　the　sky　could　reach　us。　　My　young　guide　had　made　us　take　this　route　as　a　short　cut；　she　assured　us；　but　I　think　she　did　so　quite　as　much　simply　in　order　to　show　that　she　felt　at　home　in　Naples；　and　knew　the　city　thoroughly。　　Indeed；　she　needed　to　know　it　very　thoroughly　to　venture　by　night　into　that　labyrinth　of　subterranean　alleys　and　flights　of　steps。　　If　ever　any　many　showed　absolute　docility　in　allowing　himself　to　be　guided；　that　man　was　myself。　　Dante　never　followed　the　steps　of　Beatrice　with　more　confidence　than　I　felt　in　following　those　of　Princess　Trepof。

The　lady　appeared　to　find　some　pleasure　in　my　conversation；　for　she　invited　me　to　take　a　carriage…drive　with　her　on　the　morrow　to　visit　the　grotto　of　Posilippo　and　the　tomb　of　Virgil。　　She　declared　she　had　seen　me　somewhere　before；　but　she　could　not　remember　if　it　had　been　a　Stockholm　or　at　Canton。　　In　the　former　event　I　was　a　very　celebrated　professor　of　geology；　in　the　latter；　a　provision…　merchant　whose　courtesy　and　kindness　had　been　much　appreciated。　One　thing　certain　was　that　she　had　seen　my　back　somewhere　before。

〃Excuse　me；〃　she　added；　〃we　are　continually　travelling；　my　husband　and　I；　to　collect　match…boxes　and　to　change　our　ennui　by　changing　country。　　Perhaps　it　would　be　more　reasonable　to　content　ourselves　with　a　single　variety　of　ennui。　　But　we　have　made　all　our　preparations　and　arrangements　for　travelling：　　all　our　plans　have　been　laid　out　in　advance；　and　it　gives　us　no　trouble；　whereas　it　would　be　very　troublesome　for　us　to　stop　anywhere　in　particular。　I　tell　you　all　this　so　that　you　many　not　be　surprised　if　my　recollections　have　become　a　little　mixed　up。　　But　from　the　moment　I　first　saw　you　at　a　distance　this　evening；　I　feltin　fact　I　knew　that　I　had　seen　you　before。　　Now　the　question　is；　'Where　was　it　that　I　saw　you？'　　You　are　not　then；　either　the　geologist　or　the　provision…merchant？〃

〃No；　Madame；〃　I　replied；　〃I　am　neither　the　one　nor　the　other；　and　I　am　sorry　for　itsince　you　have　had　reason　to　esteem　them。　　There　is　really　nothing　about　me　worthy　of　your　interest。　　I　have　spent　all　my　life　poring　over　books；　and　I　have　never　traveled：　　you　might　have　known　that　from　my　bewilderment；　which　excited　your　compassion。　　I　am　a　member　of　the　Institute。〃

〃You　are　a　member　of　the　Institute！　　How　nice！　　Will　you　not　write　something　for　me　in　my　album？　　Do　you　know　Chinese？　　I　would　like　so　much　to　have　you　write　something　in　Chinese　or　Persian　in　my　album。　　I　will　introduce　you　to　my　friend；　Miss　Fergusson；　who　travels　everywhere　to　see　all　the　famous　people　in　the　world。　　She　will　be　delighted。。。。　　Dimitri；　did　you　hear　that？this　gentleman　is　a　member　of　the　Institute；　and　he　has　passed　all　his　life　over　books。〃

The　prince　nodded　approval。

〃Monsieur；〃　I　said；　trying　to　engage　him　in　our　conversation；　〃it　is　true　that　something　can　be　learned　from　books；　but　a　great　deal　more　can　be　learned　by　travelling；　and　I　regret　that　I　have　not　been　able　to　go　round　the　world　like　you。　　I　have　lived　in　the　same　house　for　thirty　years　and　I　scarcely　every　go　out。〃

〃Lived　in　the　same　house　for　thirty　years！〃　cried　Madame　Trepof；　〃is　it　possible？〃

〃Yes；　Madame；〃　I　answered。　　〃But　you　must　know　the　house　is　situated　on　the　bank　of　the　Seine；　and　in　the　very　handsomest　and　most　famous　part　of　the　world。　　From　my　window　I　can　see　the　Tuileries　and　the　Louvre；　the　Pont…Neuf；　the　towers　of　Notre…Dame；　the　turrets　of　the　Palais　de　Justice；　and　the　spire　of　the　Sainte…Chapelle。　　All　those　stones　speak　to　me；　they　tell　me　stories　about　the　days　of　Saint…Louis；　of　the　Valois；　of　Henri　IV。；　and　of　Louus　XIV。　　I　understand　them；　and　I　love　them　all。　　It　is　only　a　very　small　corner　of　the　world；　but　honestly；　Madame；　where　is　there　a　more　glorious　spot？〃

At　this　moment　we　found　ourselves　upon　a　public　squarea　largo　steeped　in　the　soft　glow　of　the　night。　　Madame　Trepof　looked　at　me　in　an　uneasy　manner；　her　lifted　eyebrows　almost　touched　the　black　curls　about　her　forehead。

〃Where　do　you　live　then？〃　she　demanded　brusquely。

〃On　the　Quai　Malaquais；　Madame；　and　my　name　is　Bonnard。　　It　is　not　a　name　very　widely　known；　but　I　am　contented　if　my　friends　do　not　forget　it。〃

This　revelation；　unimportant　as　it　was；　produced　an　extraordinary　effect　upon　Madame　Trepof。　　She　immediately　turned　her　back　upon　me　and　caught　her　husband's　arm。

〃Come；　Dimitri！〃　she　exclaimed；　〃do　walk　a　little　faster。　　I　am　horribly　tired；　and　you　will　not　hurry　yourself　in　the　least。　　We　shall　never