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followed was still more lamentablebut why dwell further upon the folly
of two old men。 Finally I succeeded in separating them。 Monsieur de
Lessay made a sign to his daughter and left the room。 As she was
following him； I ran out into the stairway after her。
〃'Mademoiselle；' I said to her； wildly； taking her hand as I spoke； 'I
love you！ I love you！'
〃For a moment she pressed my hand； her lips opened。 What was it that
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she was going to say to me？ But suddenly； lifting her eyes towards her
father ascending the stairs； she drew her hand away； and made me a
gesture of farewell。
〃I never saw her again。 Her father went to live in the neighbourhood of
the Pantheon； in an apartment which he had rented for the sale of his
historical atlas。 He died in a few months afterward of an apoplectic stroke。
His daughter； I was told； retired to Caen to live with some aged relative。 It
was there that； later on； she married a bank…clerk； the same Noel
Alexandre who became so rich and died so poor。
〃As for me； Madame； I have lived alone； at peace with myself； my
existence； equally exempt from great pains and great joys； has been
tolerably happy。 But for many years I could never see an empty chair
beside my own of a winter's evening without feeling a sudden painful
sinking at my heart。 Last year I learned from you； who had known her； the
story of her old age and death。 I saw her daughter at your house。 I have
seen her； but I cannot yet say like the aged mad of Scripture； 'And now； O
Lord； let thy servant depart in peace！' For if an old fellow like me can be
of any use to anybody； I would wish； with your help； to devote my last
energies and abilities to the care of this orphan。〃
I had uttered these last words in Madame de Gabry's own vestibule；
and I was about to take leave of my kind guide when she said to me；
〃My dear Monsieur； I cannot help you in this matter as much as I
would like to do。 Jeanne is an orphan and a minor。 You cannot do anything
for her without the authorisation of her guardian。〃
〃Ah！〃 I exclaimed； 〃I had not the least idea in the wold that Jeanne had
a guardian！〃
Madame de Gabry looked at me with visible surprise。 She had not
expected to find the old man quite so simple。
She resumed：
〃The guardian of Jeanne Alexandre is Maitre Mouche； notary at
Levallois…Perret。 I am afraid you will not be able to come to any
understanding with him； for he is a very serious person。〃
〃Why！ good God！〃 I cried； 〃with what kind of people can you expect
me to have any sort of understanding at my age； except serious persons。〃
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She smiled with a sweet mischievousnessjust as my father used to
smileand answered：
〃With those who are like youthe innocent folks who wear their hearts
on their sleeves。 Monsieur Mouche is not exactly that kind。 He is cunning
and light…fingered。 But although I have very little liking for him； we will
go together and see him； if you wish； and ask his permission to visit
Jeanne； whom he has sent to a boarding… school at Les Ternes； where she
is very unhappy。〃
We agreed at once upon a day； I kissed Madame de Gabry's hands； and
we bade each other good…bye。
From May 2 to May 5。
I have seen him in his office； Maitre Mouche； the guardian of Jeanne。
Small； thin； and dry； his complexion looks as if it was made out of the dust
of his pigeon…holes。 He is a spectacled animal； for to imagine him without
his spectacles would be impossible。 I have heard him speak； this Maitre
Mouche； he has a voice like a tin rattle； and he uses choice phrases； but I
should have been better pleased if he had not chosen his phrases so
carefully。 I have observed him； this Maitre Mouche； he is very
ceremonious； and watches his visitors slyly out of the corner of his eye。
Maitre Mouche is quite pleased； he informs us； he is delighted to find
we have taken such an interest in his ward。 But he does not think we are
placed in this world just to amuse ourselves。 No： he does not believe it；
and I am free to acknowledge that anybody in his company is likely to
reach the same conclusion； so little is he capable of inspiring joyfulness。
He fears that it would be giving his dear ward a false and pernicious idea
of life to allow her too much enjoyment。 It is for this reason that he
requests Madame de Gabry not to invite the young girl to her house except
at very long intervals。
We left the dusty notary and his dusty study with a permit in due form
（everything which issues from the office of Maitre Mouche is in due form）
to visit Mademoiselle Jeanne Alexandre on the first Thursday of each
month at Mademoiselle Prefere's private school； Rue Demours； Aux
Ternes。
The first Thursday in May I set out to pay a visit to Mademoiselle
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Prefere； whose establishment I discerned from afar off by a big sign；
painted with blue letters。 That blue tint was the first indication I received
of Mademoiselle Prefere's character； which I was able to see more of later
on。 A scared…looking servant took my card； and abandoned me without one
word of hope at the door of a chilly parlour full of that stale odour peculiar
to the dining… rooms of educational establishments。 The floor of this
parlour had been waxed with such pitiless energy； that I remained for
awhile in distress upon the threshold。 But happily observing that little
strips of woollen carpet had been scattered over the floor in front of each
horse…hair chair； I succeeded； by cautiously stepping from one carpet…
island to another in reaching the angle of the mantlepiece； where I sat
down quite out of breath。
Over the mantelpiece； in a large gilded frame； was a written document；
entitled in flamboyant Gothic lettering； Tableau d'Honneur； with a long
array of names underneath； among which I did not have the pleasure of
finding that of Jeanne Alexandre。 After having read over several times the
names of those girl…pupils who had thus made themselves honoured in the
eyes of Mademoiselle Prefere； I began to feel uneasy at not hearing any
one coming。 Mademoiselle Prefere would certainly have succeeded in
establishing the absolute silence of interstellar spaces throughout her
pedagogical domains； had it not been that the sparrows had chosen her
yard to assemble in by legions； and chirp at the top of their voices。 It was a
pleasure to hear them。 But there was no way of seeing themthrough the
ground…glass windows。 I had to content myself with the sights of the
parlour； decorated from floor to ceiling； on all of it