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The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
discouragement。
She called for a glass of iced water； which the landlord presented to
her with a gesture that recalled to me those scenes of funeral offerings
painted upon Greek vases。
I was in no hurry to introduce myself to a lady who had so abruptly
dropped my acquaintance in the public square at Naples； but she perceived
me in my corner； and her frown notified me very plainly that our
accidental meeting was disagreeable to her。
After she had sipper her ice…water for a few momentswhether
because her whim had suddenly changed； or because my loneliness
aroused her pity； I did not knowshe walked directly to me。
〃Good…day； Monsieur Bonnard；〃 she said。 〃How do you do？ What
strange chance enables us to meet again in this frightful country？〃
〃This country is not frightful； Madame；〃 I replied。 〃Beauty is so great
and so august a quality that centuries of barbarism cannot efface it so
completely that adorable vestiges of it will not always remain。 The
majesty of the antique Ceres still overshadows these arid valleys； and that
Greek Muse who made Arethusa and Maenalus ring with her divine
accents； still sings for my ears upon the barren mountain and in the place
of the dried…up spring。 Yes； Madame； when our globe； no longer inhabited；
shall； like the moon； roll a wan corpse through space； the soil which bears
the ruins of Selinonte will still keep the seal of beauty in the midst of
universal death； and then； then； at least there will be no frivolous mouth to
blaspheme the grandeur of these solitudes。〃
I knew well enough that my words were beyond the comprehension of
the pretty little empty…head which heard them。 But an old fellow like
myself who has worn out his life over books does not know how to adapt
his tone to circumstances。 Besides I wished to give Madame Trepof a
lesson in politeness。 She received it with so much submission； and with
such an air of comprehension； that I hastened to add； as good…naturedly as
possible；
〃As to whether the chance which has enabled me to meet you again be
lucky or unlucky； I cannot decide the question until I am sure that my
presence be not disagreeable to you。 You appeared to become weary of my
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The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
company very suddenly at Naples the other day。 I can only attribute that
misfortune to my naturally unpleasant mannersince； on that occasion； I
had had the honour of meeting you for the first time in my life。〃
These words seem to cause her inexplicable joy。 She smiled upon me
in the most gracious； mischievous way； and said very earnestly； holding
out her hand； which I touched with my lips；
〃Monsieur Bonnard； do not refuse to accept a seat in my carriage。 You
can chat with me on the way about antiquity； and that will amuse me ever
so much。〃
〃My dear；〃 exclaimed the prince； 〃you can do just as you please； but
you ought to remember that one is horribly cramped in that carriage of
yours； and I fear that you are only offering Monsieur Bonnard the chance
of getting a frightful attack of lumbago。〃
Madame Trepof simply shook her head by way of explaining that such
considerations had no weight with her whatever； then she untied her hat。
The darkness of her black curls descended over her eyes； and bathed them
in velvety shadow。 She remained a little while quite motionless； and her
face assumed a surprising expression of reverie。 But all of a sudden she
darted at some oranges which the tavern…keeper had brought in a basket；
and began to throw them； one by one； into a fold of her dress。
〃These will be nice on the road；〃 she said。 〃We are going just where
you are goingto Girgenti。 I must tell you all about it。 you know that my
husband is making a collection of match…boxes。 We bought thirteen
hundred match…boxes at Marseilles。 But we heard there was a factory of
them at Girgenti。 According to what we were told； it is a very small
factory； and its productswhich are very uglynever go outside the city
and its suburbs。 So we are going to Girgenti just to buy match…boxes。
Dimitri has been a collector of all sorts of things； but the only kind of
collection which can now interest him is a collection of match…boxes。 He
has already got five thousand two hundred and fourteen different kinds。
Some of them gave us frightful trouble to find。 For instance； we knew that
at Naples boxes were once made with the portraits of Mazzini and
Garibaldi on them； and that the police had seized the plates from which
the portraits were printed； and put the manufacturer in gaol。 Well； by dint
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The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
of searching and inquiring for ever so long a while； we found one of those
boxes at last for sale at one hundred francs； instead of two sous。 It was not
really too dear at that price； but we were denounced for buying it。 We were
taken for conspirators。 All our baggage was searched； they could not find
the box； because I had hidden it so well； but they found my jewels； and
carried them off。 They have them still。 The incident made quite a sensation；
and we were going to get arrested。 But the king was displeased about it；
and he ordered them to leave us alone。 Up to that time； I used to think it
was very stupid to collect match…boxes； but when I found that there were
risks of losing liberty； and perhaps even life； by doing it； I began to feel a
taste for it。 Now I am an absolute fanatic on the subject。 We are going to
Sweden next summer to complete our series。。。。 Are we not； Dimitri？〃
I feltmust I confess it？a thorough sympathy with these intrepid
collectors。 No doubt I would rather have found Monsieur and Madame
Trepof engaged in collecting antique marbles or painted vases in Sicily。 I
should have like to have found them interested in the ruins of Syracuse； or
the poetical traditions of the Eryx。 But at all events； they were making
some sort of a collectionthey belonged to the great confraternityand I
could not possibly make fun of them without making fun of myself。
Besides； Madame Trepof had spoken of her collection with such an odd
mingling of irony and enthusiasm that I could not help finding the idea a
very good one。
We were getting ready to leave the tavern； when we noticed some
people coming downstairs from the upper room； carrying carbines under
their dark cloaks。 to me they had the look of thorough bandits； and after
they were gone I told Monsieur Trepof my opinion of them。 He answered
me； very quietly； that he also thought they were regular bandits； and the
guides begged us to apply for an escort of gendarmes； but Madame Trepof
besought us not to do anything of the kind。 She declared that we must not
〃spoil her journey。〃
Then； turning her persuasive eyes upon me； she asked；
〃Do you not believe； Monsieur Bonnard； that there is nothing in life
worth having except sensations？〃
〃Why； certainly； Madame；〃 I answered； 〃but th