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a coat…of…arms painted on it； that was stopping before the door？〃
〃Parbleu！Madame Trepof；〃 I exclaimed。
〃I don't know anything about any Madame Trepof；〃 answered my
housekeeper。 〃The woman I saw just now was dressed like a duchess； and
had a little boy with her； with lace…frills all along the seams of his clothes。
And it was that same little Madame Coccoz you once sent a log to； when
she was lying…in here about eleven years ago。 I recognized her at once。〃
〃What！〃 I exclaimed； 〃you mean to say it was Madame Coccoz； the
widow of the almanac…peddler？〃
〃Herself； Monsieur！ The carriage…door was open for a minute to let her
little boy； who had just come from I don't know where； get in。 She hasn't
changed scarcely at all。 Well； why should those women change？they
never worry themselves about anything。 Only the Coccoz woman looks a
little fatter than she used to be。 And the idea of a woman that was taken in
here out of pure charity coming to show off her velvets and diamonds in a
carriage with a crest painted on it！ Isn't it shameful！〃
〃Therese！〃 I cried； in a terrible voice； 〃if you ever speak to me again
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about that lady except in terms of the deepest respect； you and I will fall
out！ 。。。Bring me the Sevres vases to put those violets in； which now give
the City of Books a charm it never had before。〃
While Therese went off with a sigh to get the Sevres vases； I continued
to contemplate those beautiful scattered violets； whose odour spread all
about me like the perfume of some sweet presence； some charming soul；
and I asked myself how it had been possible for me never to recognise
Madame Coccoz in the person of the Princess Trepof。 But that vision of
the young widow； showing me her little child on the stairs； had been a very
rapid one。 I had much more reason to reproach myself for having passed
by a gracious and lovely soul without knowing it。
〃Bonnard；〃 I said to myself； 〃thou knowest how to decipher old texts；
but thou dost not know how to read in the Book of Life。 That giddy little
Madame Trepof； whom thou once believed to possess no more soul than a
bird； has expended； in pure gratitude； more zeal and finer tact than thou
didst ever show for anybody's sake。 Right royally hath she repaid thee for
the log…fire of her churching…day！
〃Therese！ Awhile ago you were a magpie； now you are becoming a
tortoise！ Come and give some water to these Parmese violets。〃
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The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
Part II The Daughter of
Clementine
Chapter I The Fairy
When I left the train at the Melun station； night had already spread its
peace over the silent country。 The soil； heated through all the long day by
a strong sunby a 〃gros soleil；〃 as the harvesters of the Val de Vire say
still exhaled a warm heavy smell。 Lush dense odours of grass passed over
the level of the fields。 I brushed away the dust of the railway carriage； and
joyfully inhaled the pure air。 My travelling…bagfilled by my housekeeper
wit linen and various small toilet articles； munditiis； seemed so light in my
hand that I swung it about just as a schoolboy swings his strapped package
of rudimentary books when the class is let out。
Would to Heaven that I were again a little urchin at school！ But it is
fully fifty years since my good dead mother made me some tartines of
bread and preserves； and placed them in a basket of which she slipped the
handle over my arm； and then led me； thus prepared； to the school kept by
Monsieur Douloir； at a corner of the Passage du Commerce well known to
the sparrows； between a court and a garden。 The enormous Monsieur
Douloir smiled upon us genially； and patted my cheek to show； no doubt；
the affectionate interest which my first appearance had inspired。 But when
my mother had passed out of the court； startling the sparrows as she went；
Monsieur Douloir ceased to smilehe showed no more affectionate
interest； he appeared； on the contrary； to consider me as a very
troublesome little fellow。 I discovered； later on； that he entertained the
same feelings towards all his pupils。 He distributed whacks of his ferule
with an agility no one could have expected on the part of so corpulent a
person。 But his first aspect of tender interest invariably reappeared when
he spoke to any of our mothers in our presence； and always at such times；
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while warmly praising our remarkable aptitudes； he would cast down upon
us a look of intense affection。 Still； those were happy days which I passed
on the benches of the Monsieur Couloir with my little playfellows； who；
like myself； cried and laughed by turns with all their might； from morning
till evening。
After a whole half…century these souvenirs float up again； fresh and
bright as ever； to the surface of memory； under this starry sky； whose face
has in no wise changed since then； and whose serene and immutable lights
will doubtless see many other schoolboys such as I was slowly turn into
grey…headed servants； afflicted with catarrh。
Stars； who have shown down upon each wise or foolish head among
all my forgotten ancestors； it is under your soft light that I now feel stir
within me a certain poignant regret！ I would that I could have a son who
might be able to see you when I shall see you no more。 How I should love
him！ Ah！ such a son wouldwhat am I saying？ why； he would be no just
twenty years old if you had only been willing； Clementineyou whose
cheeks used to look so ruddy under your pink hood！ But you are married
to that young bank clerk； Noel Alexandre； who made so many millions
afterwards！ I never met you again after your marriage； Clementine； but I
can see you now； with your bright curls and your pink hood。
A looking…glass！ a looking…glass！ a looking…glass！ Really； it would be
curious to see what I look like now； with my white hair； sighing
Clementine's name to the stars！ Still； it is not right to end with sterile irony
the thought begun in the spirit of faith and love。 No； Clementine； if your
name came to my lips by chance this beautiful night； be it for ever blessed；
your dear name！ and may you ever； as a happy mother； a happy
grandmother； enjoy to the very end of life with your rich husband the
utmost degree of that happiness which you had the right to believe you
could not win with the poor young scholar who loved you！ Ifthough I
cannot even now imagine itif your beautiful hair has become white；
Clementine； bear worthily the bundle of keys confided to you by Noel
Alexandre； and impart to your grandchildren the knowledge of all
domestic virtues！
Ah！ beautiful Night！ She rules； with such noble repose； over men and
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animals alike； kindly loosed by her from the yoke of daily toil； and even I
feel her beneficent influence； although my habits of sixty years