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murmured； 'They have shot him！' I did not know what he meant； and felt
only a vague terror。 I knew afterwards； however； that hew was speaking of
Marshal Ney； who fell on the 7th of December； 1815； under the wall
enclosing some waste ground beside our house。
〃About that time I used often to meet on the stairway an old man （or；
perhaps； not exactly an old man） with little black eyes which flashed with
extraordinary vivacity； and an impassive； swarthy face。 He did not seem to
me aliveor at least he did not seem to me alive in the same way that other
men are alive。 I had once seen； at the residence of Monsieur Denon； where
my father had taken me with him on a visit； a mummy brought from Egypt；
and I believed in good faith that Monsieur Denon's mummy used to get up
when no one was looking； leave its gilded case； put on a brown coat and
powdered wig； and become transformed into Monsieur de Lessay。 And
even to…day； dear Madame； while I reject that opinion as being without
foundation； I must confess that Monsier de Lessay bore a very strong
resemblance to Monsieur Denon's mummy。 The fact is enough to explain
why this person inspired me with fantastic terror。
〃In reality； Monsieur de Lessay was a small gentleman and a great
philosopher。 As a disciple of Mably and Rousseau； he flattered himself on
being a man without any prejudices； and this pretension itself is a very
great prejudice。
〃He professed to hate fanaticism； yet was himself a fanatic on the topic
of toleration。 I am telling you； Madame； about a character belonging to an
age that is past。 I fear I may not be able to make you understand； and I am
sure I shall not be able to interest you。 It was so long ago！ But I will
abridge as much as possible： besides； I did not promise you anything
interesting； and you could not have expected to hear of remarkable
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adventures in the life of Sylvestre Bonnard。〃
Madame de Gabry encouraged me to proceed； and I resumed：
〃Monsieur de Lessay was brusque with men and courteous to ladies。
He used to kiss the hand of my mother； whom the customs of the Republic
and the Empire had not habituated to such gallantry。 In him； I touched the
age of Louis XVI。 Monsieur de Lessay was a geographer； and nobody； I
believe； ever showed more pride then he in occupying himself with the
face of the earth。 Under the Old Regime he had attempted philosophical
agriculture； and thus squandered his estates to the very last acre。 When he
had ceased to own one square foot of ground； he took possession of the
whole globe； and prepared an extraordinary number of maps； based upon
the narratives of travellers。 But as he had been mentally nourished with the
very marrow of the 〃Encyclopedie；〃 he was not satisfied with merely
parking off human beings within so many degrees； minutes； and seconds
of latitude and longitude。 he also occupied himself； alas！ with the question
of their happiness。 It is worthy of remark； Madame； that those who have
given themselves the most concern about the happiness of peoples have
made their neighbors very miserable。 Monsieur de Lessay； who was more
of a geometrician than D'Alembert； and more of a philosopher than Jean
Jacques； was also more of a royalist than Louis XVIII。 But his love for the
King was nothing to his hate for the Emperor。 He had joined the
conspiracy of Georges against the First Consul； but in the framing of the
indictment he was not included among the inculpated parties； having been
either ignored or despised； and this injury he never could forgive
Bonaparte； whom he called the Ogre of Corsica； and to whom he used to
say he would never have confided even the command of a regiment； so
pitiful a soldier he judged him to be。
〃In 1820； Monsieur de Lessay； who had then been a widower for many
years； married again； at the age of sixty； a very young woman； whom he
pitilessly kept at work preparing maps for him； and who gave him a
daughter some years after their marriage； and died in childbed。 My mother
had nursed her during her brief illness； and had taken care of the child。
The name of that child was Clementine。
〃It was from the time of that birth and that death that the relations
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between our family and Monsieur de Lessay began。 In the meanwhile I
had been growing dull as I began to leave my true childhood behind me。 I
had lost the charming power of being able to see and feel； and things no
longer caused me those delicious surprises which form the enchantment of
the more tender age。 For the same reason； perhaps； I have no distinct
remembrance of the period following the birth of Clementine； I only know
that a few months afterwards I had a misfortune； the mere thought of
which still wrings my heart。 I lost my mother。 A great silence； a great
coldness； and a great darkness seemed all at once to fill the house。
〃I fell into a sort of torpor。 My father sent me to the lycee； but I could
only arouse myself from my lethargy with the greatest of effort。
〃Still； I was not altogether a dullard； and my professors were able to
teach me almost everything they wanted； namely； a little Greek and a great
deal of Latin。 My acquaintances were confined to the ancients。 I learned to
esteem Miltiades； and to admire Themistocles。 I became familiar with
Quintus Fabius； as far； at least； as it was possible to become familiar with
so great a Consul。 Proud of these lofty acquaintances； I scarcely ever
condescended to notice little Clementine and her old father； who； in any
event； went away to Normandy one fine morning without my having
deigned to give a moment's thought to their possible return。
〃They came back； however； Madame； they came back！ Influences of
Heaven； forces of nature； all ye mysterious powers which vouchsafe to
man the ability to love； you know how I again beheld Clementine！ They
re…entered our melancholy home。 Monsieur de Lessay no longer wore a
wig。 Bald； with a few grey locks about his ruddy temples； he had all the
aspect of robust old age。 But that divine being whom I saw all resplendent；
as she leaned upon his armshe whose presence illuminated the old faded
parlourshe was not an apparition！ It was Clementine herself！ I am
speaking the simple truth： her violet eyes seemed to me in that moment
supernatural； and even to…day I cannot imagine how those two living
jewels could have endured the fatigues of life； or become subjected to the
corruption of death。
〃She betrayed a little shyness in greeting my father； whom she did not
remember。 Her complexion was slightly pink； and her half…open lips
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smiled with that smile which makes one think of the Infinite perhaps
because it betrays no particular thought； and expresses only the joy of
living and