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The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
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 get
home。。。。 As for you； monsieur； your way lies over there！〃
She made a vague gesture in the direction of some dark vicolo； pushed
her husband the opposite way； and called to me； without even turning her
head。
〃Adieu； Monsieur！ We shall not go to Posilippo to…morrow； nor the
day after； either。 I have a frightful headache！。。。 Dimitri； you are
unendurable！ will you not walk faster？〃
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The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
I remained for the moment stupefied； vainly trying to think what I
could have done to offend Madame Trepof。 I had also lost my way； and
seemed doomed to wander about all night。 In order to ask my way； I would
have to see somebody； and it did not seem likely that I should find a single
human being who could understand me。 In my despair I entered a street at
randoma street； or rather a horrible alley that had the look of a
murderous place。 It proved so in fact； for I had not been two minutes in it
before I saw two men fighting with knives。 They were attacking each other
more fiercely with their tongues than with their weapons； and I concluded
from the nature of the abuse they were showering upon each other that it
was a love affair。 I prudently made my way into a side alley while those
two good fellows were still much too busy with their own affairs to think
about mine。 I wandered hopelessly about for a while； and at last sat down；
completely discouraged； on a stone bench； inwardly cursing the strange
caprices of Madame Trepof。
〃How are you； Signor？ Are you back from San Carlo？ Did you hear
the diva sing？ It is only at Naples you can hear singing like hers。〃
I looked up； and recognised my host。 I had seated myself with my back
to the facade of my hotel； under the window of my own room。
Monte…Allegro； November 30； 1859。
We were all restingmyself； my guides； and their muleson a road
from Sciacca to Girgenti； at a tavern in the miserable village of Monte…
Allegro； whose inhabitants； consumed by the mal aria； continually shiver
in the sun。 But nevertheless they are Greeks； and their gaiety triumphs
over all circumstances。 A few gather about the tavern； full of smiling
curiosity。 One good story would have sufficed； had I known how to tell it
to them； to make them forget all the woes of life。 They had all a look of
intelligence！ and their women； although tanned and faded； wore their long
black cloaks with much grace。
Before me I could see old ruins whitened by the sea…windruins about
which no grass ever grows。 The dismal melancholy of deserts prevails
over this arid land； whose cracked surface can barely nourish a few
shriveled mimosas； cacti； and dwarf palms。 Twenty yards away； along the
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The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
course of a ravine； stones were gleaming whitely like a long line of
scattered bones。 They told me that was the bed of a stream。
I had been fifteen days in Sicily。 On coming into the Bay of Palermo
which opens between the two mighty naked masses of the Pelligrino and
the Catalfano； and extends inward along the 〃Golden Conch〃the view
inspired me with such admiration that I resolved to travel a little in this
island； so ennobled by historic memories； and rendered so beautiful by the
outlines of its hills； which reveal the principles of Greek art。 Old pilgrim
though I was； grown hoary in the Gothic OccidentI dared to venture
upon that classic soil； and； securing a guide； I went from Palermo to
Trapani； from Trapani to Selinonte； from Selinonte to Sciaccawhich I left
this morning to go to Girgenti； where I am to find the MS。 of Clerk
Alexander。 The beautiful things I have seen are still so vivid in my mind
that I feel the task of writing them would be a useless fatigue。 Why spoil
my pleasure…trip by collecting notes？ Lovers who love truly do not write
down their happiness。
Wholly absorbed by the melancholy of the present and the poetry of
the past； my thoughts people with beautiful shapes； and my eyes ever
gratified by the pure and harmonious lines of the landscape； I was resting
in the tavern at Monte…Allegro； sipping a glass of heavy； fiery wine； when
I saw two persons enter the waiting…room； whom； after a moment's
hesitation； I recognised as the Prince and Princess Trepof。
This time I saw the princess in the lightand what a light！ He who has
known that of Sicily can better comprehend the words of Sophocles： 〃Oh
holy light！。。。 Eye of the Golden Day！〃 Madame Trepof； dressed in a
brown…holland and wearing a broad…brimmed straw hat； appeared to me a
very pretty woman of about twenty…eight。 Her eyes were luminous as a
child's； but her slightly plump chin indicated the age of plenitude。 She is； I
must confess it； quite an attractive person。 She is supple and changeful；
her mood is like water itselfand； thank Heaven！ I am no navigator。 I
thought I discerned in her manner a sort of ill…humour； which I attributed
presently； by reason of some observations she uttered at random； to the
fact that she had met no brigands upon her route。
〃Such things only happen to us！〃 she exclaimed； with a gesture of
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The Crime of Sy