按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
parlour； decorated from floor to ceiling； on all of its four walls； with
drawings executed by the pupils of the institution。 There were Vestals；
flowers； thatched cottages； column…capitals； and an enormous head of
Tatius； King of the Sabines； bearing the signature Estelle Mouton。
I had already passed some time in admiring the energy with which
Mademoiselle Mouton had delineated the bushy eyebrows and the fierce
gaze of the antique warrior； when a sound； faint like the rustling of a dead
leaf moved by the wind； caused me to turn my head。 It was not a dead leaf
at allit was Mademoiselle Prefere。 With hands jointed before her； she
came gliding over the mirror…polish of that wonderful floor as the Saints of
94
… Page 95…
The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
the Golden Legend were wont to glide over the crystal surface of the
waters。 But upon any other occasion； I am sure； Mademoiselle Prefere
would not have made me think in the least about those virgins dear to
mystical fancy。 Her face rather gave me the idea of a russet…apple
preserved or a whole winter in an attic by some economical housekeeper。
Her shoulders were covered with a fringed pelerine； which had nothing at
all remarkable about it； but which she wore as if it were a sacerdotal
vestment； or the symbol of some high civic function。
I explained to her the purpose of my visit； and gave her my letter of
introduction。
〃Ah！so you are Monsieur Mouche！〃 she exclaimed。 〃Is his health
VERY good？ He is the most upright of men； the most…〃
She did not finish the phrase； but raised her eyes to the ceiling。 My
own followed the direction of their gaze； and observed a little spiral of
paper lace； suspended from the place of the chandelier； which was
apparently destined； so far as I could discover； to attract the flies away
from the gilded mirror…frames and the Tableau d'Honneur。
〃I have met Mademoiselle Jeanne Alexandre；〃 I observed； 〃at the
residence of Madame de Gabry and had reason to appreciate the excellent
character and quick intelligence of the young girl。 As I used to know her
parents very well； the friendship which I felt for them naturally inclines
me to take an interest in her。〃
Mademoiselle Prefere； in lieu of making any reply； sighed profoundly；
pressed her mysterious pelerine to her heart； and again contemplated the
paper spiral。
At last she observed；
〃Since you were once the friend of Monsieur and Madame Alexandre；
I hope and trust that； like Monsieur Mouche and myself； you deplore those
crazy speculations which led them to ruin； and reduced their daughter to
absolute poverty！〃
I thought to myself； on hearing these words； how very wrong it is to be
unlucky； and how unpardonable such an error on the part of those
previously in a position worthy of envy。 Their fall at once avenges and
flatters us； and we are wholly pitiless。
95
… Page 96…
The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
After having answered； very frankly； that I knew nothing whatever
about the history of the bank； I asked the schoolmistress if she was
satisfied with Mademoiselle Alexandre。
〃That child is indomitable！〃 cried Mademoiselle Prefere。
And she assumed an attitude of lofty resignation； to symbolise the
difficult situation she was placed in by a pupil so hard to train。 Then； with
more calmness of manner； she added：
〃The young person is not unintelligent。 But she cannot resign herself
to learn things by rule。〃
What a strange old maid was this Mademoiselle Prefere！ She walked
without lifting her legs； and spoke without moving her lips！ Without；
however； considering her peculiarities for more than a reasonable instant； I
replied that principles were； no doubt； very excellent things； and that I
could trust myself to her judgement in regard to their value； but that； after
all； when one had learned something； it very little difference what method
had been followed in the learning of it。
Mademoiselle made a slow gesture of dissent。 Then with a sigh； she
declared；
〃Ah； Monsieur！ those who do not understand educational methods are
apt to have very false ideas on these subjects。 I am certain they express
their opinions with the best intentions in the world； but they would do
better； a great deal better； to leave all such questions to competent people。〃
I did not attempt to argue further； and simply asked her whether I
could see Mademoiselle Alexandre at once。
She looked at her pelerine； as if trying to read in the entanglements of
its fringes； as in a conjuring book； what sort of answer she ought to make；
then said；
〃Mademoiselle Alexandre has a penance to perform； and a class…lesson
to give； but I should be very sorry to let you put yourself to the trouble of
coming here all to no purpose。 I am going to send for her。 Only first allow
me； Monsieuras is our customto put your name on the visitors'
register。〃
She sat down at the table； opened a large copybook； and； taking out
Maitre Mouche's letter again from under her pelerine； where she had
96
… Page 97…
The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
placed it； looked at it； and began to write。
〃'Bonnard'with a 'd；' is it not？〃 she asked。 〃Excuse me for being so
particular； but my opinion is that proper names have an orthography。 We
have dictation…lessons in proper names； Monsieur； at this school
historical proper names； of course！〃
After I had written down my name in a running hand； she inquired
whether she should not put down after it my profession； title； qualitysuch
as 〃retired merchant；〃 〃employe；〃 〃independent gentleman；〃 or something
else。 There was a column in her register expressly for that purpose。
〃My goodness； Madame！〃 I said； 〃if you must absolutely fill that
column of yours； put down 'Member of the Institute。'〃
It was still Mademoiselle Prefere's pelerine I saw before me； but it was
not Mademoiselle Prefere who wore it； it was a totally different person；
obliging； gracious； caressing； radiant； happy。 Her eyes； smiled； the little
wrinkles of her face （there were a vast number of them！） also smiled； her
mouth smiled likewise； but only on one side。 I discovered afterwards that
was her best side。 She spoke： her voice had also changed with her manner；
it was now sweet as honey。
〃You said； Monsieur； that our dear Jeanne was very intelligent。 I
discovered the same thing myself； and I am proud of being able to agree
with you。 This young girl has really made me feel a great deal of interest
in her。 She has what I call a happy disposition。。。。 But excuse me for thus
drawing upon your valuable time。〃
She summoned the servant…girl； who looked much more hurried and
scared than before； and who vanished with the order to go and tell
Mademo