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some traces of the elegant gallantry of the eighteenth century。 A heap of
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The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
still…glowing asheswhich testified to the pains taken to dispel humidity
filled the fireplace； whose marble mantlepiece supported a bust of Marie
Antoinette in bisuit。 Attached to the frame of the tarnished and discoloured
mirror； two brass hooks； that had once doubtless served the ladies of old…
fashioned days to hang their chatelaines on； seemed to offer a very
opportune means of suspending my watch； which I took care to wind up
beforehand； for； contrary to the opinion of the Thelemites； I hold that man
is only master of time； which is Life itself； when he has divided it into
hours； minutes and secondsthat is to say； into parts proportioned to the
brevity of human existence。
And I thought to myself that life really seems short to us only because
we measure it irrationally by our own mad hopes。 We have all of us； like
the old man in the fable； a new wing to add to our building。 I want； for
example； before I die； to finish my 〃History of the Abbots of Saint…
Germain…de…Pres。〃 The time God allots to each one of us is like a precious
tissue which we embroider as we best know how。 I had begun my woof
with all sorts of philological illustrations。。。。 So my thoughts wandered on；
and at last； as I bound my foulard about my head； the notion of Time led
me back to the past； and for the second time within the same round of the
dial I thought of you； Clementineto bless you again in your prosperity； if
you have any； before blowing out my candle and falling asleep amid the
chanting of the frogs。
Chapter II
During breakfast I had many opportunities to appreciate the good
taste； tact； and intelligence of Madame de Gabry； who told me that the
chateau had its ghosts； and was especially haunted by the 〃Lady… with…
three…wrinkles…in…her…back；〃 a prisoner during her lifetime； and thereafter
a Soul…in…pain。 I could never describe how much wit and animation she
gave to this old nurse's tale。 We took out； coffee on the terrace； whose
balusters； clasped and forcibly torn away from their stone coping by a
vigorous growth of ivy； remained suspended in the grasp of the amorous
plant like bewildered Athenian women in the arms of ravishing Centaurs。
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The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
The chateau； shaped something like a four…wheeled wagon； with a
turret at each of the four angles； had lost all original character by reason of
repeated remodellings。 It was merely a fine spacious building； nothing
more。 It did not appear to me to have suffered much damage during its
abandonment of thirty…two years。 But when Madame de Gabry conducted
me into the great salon of the ground… floor； I saw that the planking was
bulged in and out； the plinths rotten； the wainscotings split apart； the
paintings of the piers turned black and hanging more than half out of their
settings。 A chestnut…tree； after forcing up the planks of the floor； had
grown tall under the ceiling； and was reaching out its large…leaved
branches towards the glassless windows。
This spectacle was not devoid of charm； but I could not look at it
without anxiety as I remembered that the rich library of Monsieur Honore
de Gabry； in an adjoining apartment； must have been exposed for the same
length of time to the same forces of decay。 Yet； as I looked at the young
chestnut…tree in the salon； I could not but admire the magnificent vigour of
Nature； and that resistless power which forces every germ to develop into
life。 On the other hand I felt saddened to think that； whatever effort we
scholars may make to preserve dead things from passing away； we are
labouring painfully in vain。 Whatever has lived becomes the necessary
food of new existences。 And the Arab who builds himself a hut out of the
marble fragments of a Palmyra temple is really more of a philosopher than
all the guardians of museums at London； Munich； or Paris。
August 11。
All day long I have been classifying MSS。。。。 The sun came in through
the loft uncurtained windows； and； during my reading； often very
interesting； I could hear the languid bumblebees bump heavily against the
windows； and the flies intoxicated with light and heat； making their wings
hum in circles around my head。 So loud became their humming about
three o'clock that I looked up from the document I was readinga
document containing very precious materials for the history of Melun in
the thirteenth centuryto watch the concentric movements of those tiny
creatures。 〃Bestions；〃 Lafontaine calls them： he found this form of the
word in the old popular speech； whence also the term； tapisserie…a…bestions；
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The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
applied to figured tapestry。 I was compelled to confess that the effect of
heat upon the wings of a fly is totally different from that it exerts upon the
brain of a paleographical archivist； for I found it very difficult to think；
and a rather pleasant languor weighing upon me； from which I could rouse
myself only by a very determined effort。 The dinner…bell then startled me
in the midst of my labours； and I had barely time to put on my new dress…
coat； so as to make a respectable appearance before Madame de Gabry。
The repast； generously served； seemed to prolong itself for my benefit。
I am more than a fair judge of wine； and my hostess； who discovered my
knowledge in this regard； was friendly enough to open a certain bottle of
Chateau…Margaux in my honour。 With deep respect I drank of this famous
and knightly old wine； which comes from the slopes of Bordeaux； and of
which the flavour and exhilarating power are beyond praise。 The ardour of
it spread gently through my veins； and filled me with an almost juvenile
animation。 Seated beside Madame de Gabry on the terrace； in the
gloaming which gave a charming melancholy to the park； and lent to every
object an air of mystery； I took pleasure in communicating my impression
of the scene to my hostess。 I discoursed with a vivacity quite remarkable
on the part of a man so devoid of imagination as I am。 I described to her
spontaneously； without quoting from an old texts； the caressing
melancholy of the evening； and the beauty of that natal earth which feeds
us； not only with bread and wine； but also with ideas； sentiments； and
beliefs； and which will at last take us all back to her maternal breast again；
like so many tired little children at the close of a long day。
〃Monsieur；〃 said the kind lady； 〃you see these old towers； those trees；
that sky； is it not quite natural that the personage of the popular tales and
folk…songs should have been evoked by such scenes？ Why； over there is
the very path which Little Red Riding…hood followed when she went to the
woods to pick nuts。 Across this changeful and always vapoury sky the
fairy chariots used to roll； and the north tower mi