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guide among the ruins here。 I will show you the temple of Castor and
Pollux； the temple of the Olympian Jupiter； the temple of the Lucinian
Juno； the antique well； the tomb of Theron； and the Gate of Gold！ All the
professional guides are asses； but wewe shall make excavations； if you
are willingand we shall discover treasures！ I know the science of
discovering hidden treasuresthe secret art of finding their whereaboutsa
gift from Heaven！〃
I succeeded in tearing myself away from his grasp。 But he ran after me
again； stopped me at the foot of the stairs； and said in my ear；
〃Listen； Excellence。 I will conduct you about the city； I will introduce
you to some Girgentines！ What a race！ what types！ what forms！ Sicilian
girls； Signor！the antique beauty itself！〃
〃Go to the devil！〃 I cried at last； in anger； and rushed into the street；
leaving him still writhing in the loftiness of his enthusiasm。
When I had got out of his sight； I sank down upon a stone； and began
to think； with my face in my hands。
〃And it was for this；〃 I said to myself〃it was to hear such
propositions as this that I came to Sicily！ That Polizzi is simply a
scoundrel； and his son another； and they made a plan together to ruin me。〃
But what was their scheme？ I could not unravel it。 Meanwhile； it may be
imagined how discouraged and humiliated I felt。
A merry burst of laughter caused me to turn my head； and I saw
Madame Trepof running in advance of her husband； and holding up
something which I could not distinguish clearly。
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She sat down beside me； and showed melaughing more merrily all
the whilean abominable little paste…board box； on which was printed a
red and blue face； which the inscription declared to be the face of
Empedocles。
〃Yes； Madame；〃 I said； 〃but that abominable Polizzi； to whom I advise
you not to send Monsieur Trepof； has made me fall out for ever with
Empedocles； and this portrait is not at all of a nature to make me feel more
kindly to the ancient philosopher。〃
〃Oh！〃 declared Madame Trepof； 〃it is ugly； but it is rare！ These boxes
are not exported at all； you can buy them only where they are made。
Dimitri has six others just like this in his pocket。 We got them so as to
exchange with other collectors。 You understand？ At none o'clock this
morning we were at the factory。 You see we did not waste our time。〃
〃So I certainly perceive； Madame；〃 I replied； bitterly； 〃but I have lost
mine。〃
I then saw that she was a naturally good…hearted woman。 All her
merriment vanished。
〃Poor Monsieur Bonnard！ poor Monsieur Bonnard！〃 she murmured。
And； taking my hand in hers； she added：
〃Tell me about your troubles。〃
I told her about them。 My story was long； but she was evidently
touched by it； for she asked me quite a number of circumstantial questions；
which I took for proof of her friendly interest。 She wanted to know the
exact title of the manuscript； its shape； its appearance； and its age； she
asked me for the address of Signor Rafael Polizzi。
And I gave it to her； thus doing （O destiny！） precisely what the
abominable Polizzi had told me to do。
It is sometimes difficult to check oneself。 I recommenced my plaints
and my imprecations。 But this time Madame Trepof only burst out
laughing。
〃Why do you laugh？〃 I asked her。
〃Because I am a wicked woman；〃 she answered。
And she fled away； leaving me all disheartened on my stone。
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The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
Paris； December 8； 1859。
My unpacked trunks still encumbered the hall。 I was seated at a
tabled covered with all those good things which the land of France
produces for the delectation of gourmets。 I was eating a pate le Chartres；
which is alone sufficient to make one love one's country。 Therese； standing
before me with her hands joined over her white apron； was looking at me
with benignity； with anxiety； and with pity。 Hamilcar was rubbing himself
against my legs； wild with delight。
These words of an old poet came back to my memory：
〃Happy is he who； like Ulysses； hath made a goodly journey。〃
。。。〃Well；〃 I thought to myself； 〃I travelled to no purpose； I have come
back with empty hands； but； like Ulysses； I made a goodly journey。〃
And having taken my last sip of coffee； I asked Therese for my hat and
cane； which she gave me not without dire suspicions； she feared I might be
going upon another journey。 But I reassured her by telling her to have
dinner ready at six o'clock。
It had always been a keen pleasure for me to breathe the air in those
Parisian streets whose every paving…slab and every stone I love devotedly。
But I had an end in view； and I took my way straight to the Rue Lafitte。 I
was not long in find the establishment of Signor Rafael Polizzi。 It was
distinguishable by a great display of old paintings which； although all
bearing the signature of some illustrious artist； had a certain family air of
resemblance that might have suggested some touching idea about the
fraternity of genius； had it not still more forcibly suggested the
professional tricks of Polizzi senior。 Enriched by these doubtful works of
art； the shop was further rendered attractive by various petty curiosities：
poniards； drinking…vessels； goblets； figulines； brass guadrons； and
Hispano…Arabian wares of metallic lustre。
Upon a Portuguese arm…chair； decorated with an escutcheon； lay a
copy of the 〃Heures〃 of Simon Vostre； open at the page which has an
astrological figure on it； and an old Vitruvius； placed upon a quaint chest；
displayed its masterly engravings of caryatides and telamones。 This
apparent disorder which only masked cunning arrangement； this factitious
hazard which had placed the best objects in the most favourable light；
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The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
would have increased my distrust of the place； but that the distrust which
the mere name of Polizzi had already inspired could not have been
increased by any circumstancesbeing already infinite。
Signor Rafael； who sat there as the presiding genius of all these vague
and incongruous shapes； impressed me as a phlegmatic young man； with a
sort of English character。 he betrayed no sign whatever of those
transcendent faculties displayed by his father in the arts of mimcry and
declamation。
I told him what I had come for； he opened a cabinet and drew from it a
manuscript； which he placed on a table that I might examine it at my
leisure。
Never in my life did I experience such an emotionexcept； indeed；
during some few brief months of my youth； months wh