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Hereafter I shall follow his example by laying all my neckties away
between the leaves of the Acta Sanctorum。〃
Therese let me talk on； and keeps looking for the necktie in silence。 I
hear a gentle ringing at our door…bell。
〃Therese；〃 I exclaim； 〃there is somebody ringing the bell！ Give me my
cravat； and go to the door； or； rather； go to the door first； and then； with the
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help of Heaven； you will give me my cravat。 But please do not stand there
between the clothes…press and the door like an old hack…horse between two
saddles。
Therese marched to the door as if advancing upon the enemy。 My
excellent housekeeper becomes more inhospitable the older she grows。
Every stranger is an object of suspicion to her。 According to her own
assertion； this disposition is the result of a long experience with human
nature。 I had not the time to consider whether the same experience on the
part of another experimenter would produce the same results。 Maitre
Mouche was waiting to see me in the ante…room。
Maitre Mouche is still more yellow than I had believed him to be。 He
wears blue glasses； and his eyes keep moving uneasily behind them； like
mice running about behind a screen。
Maitre Mouche excuses himself for having intruded upon me at a
moment when。。。。 He does not characterise the moment； but I think he
means to say a moment in which I happen to be without my cravat。 It is
not my fault； as you very well know。 Maitre Mouche； who does not know；
does not appear to be at all shocked； however。 He is only afraid that he
might have dropped in at the wrong moment。 I succeeded in partially
reassuring him at once upon that point。 He then tells me it is as guardian of
Mademoiselle Alexandre that he has come to talk with me。 First of all； he
desires that I shall not hereafter pay any heed to those restrictions he had
at first deemed necessary to put upon the permit given to visit
Mademoiselle Jeanne at the boarding…school。 Henceforth the
establishment of Mademoiselle Prefere will be open to me any day that I
might choose to callbetween the hours of midday and four o'clock。
Knowing the interest I have taken in the young girl； he considers it his
duty to give me some information about the person to whom he has
confided his ward。 Mademoiselle Prefere； whom he has known for many
years； is in possession of his utmost confidence。 Mademoiselle Prefere is；
in his estimation； an enlightened person； of excellent morals； and capable
of giving excellent counsel。
〃Mademoiselle Prefer；〃 he said to me； 〃has principles； and principles
are rare these days； Monsieur。 Everything has been totally changed； and
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this epoch of ours cannot compare with the preceding ones。〃
〃My stairway is a good example； Monsieur；〃 I replied； 〃twenty…five
years ago it used to allow me to climb it without any trouble； and now it
takes my breath away； and wears my legs out before I have climbed half a
dozen steps。 It has had its character spoiled。 Then there are those journals
and books I used once to devour without difficulty by moonlight： to…day；
even in the brightest sunlight； they mock my curiosity； and exhibit nothing
but a blur of white and black when I have not got my spectacles on。 Then
the gout has got into my limbs。 That is another malicious trick of the
times！〃
〃Not only that； Monsieur；〃 gravely replied Maitre Mouche； 〃but what
is really unfortunate in our epoch is that no one is satisfied with his
position。 From the top of society to the bottom； in every class； there
prevails a discontent； a restlessness； a love of comfort。。。。〃
〃Mon Dieu； Monsieur！〃 I exclaimed。 〃You think this love of comfort is
a sign of the times？ Men have never had at any epoch a love of discomfort。
They have always tried to better their condition。 This constant effort
produces constant changes； and the effort is always going onthat is all
there is about it！〃
〃Ah！ Monsieur；〃 replied Maitre Mouche； 〃it is easy to see that you live
in your booksout of the business world altogether。 You do not see； as I
see them； the conflicts of interest； the struggle for money。 It is the same
effervescence in all minds； great or small。 The wildest speculations are
being everywhere indulged in。 What I see around me simply terrifies me！〃
I wondered within myself whether Maitre Mouche had called upon me
only for the purpose of expressing his virtuous misanthropy； but all at
once I heard words of a more consoling character issue from his lips。
Maitre Mouche began to speak to me of Virginie Prefere as a person
worthy of respect； of esteem； and of sympathy；highly honourable；
capable of great devotedness； cultivated； discreet；able to read aloud
remarkably well； extremely modest； and skillful in the art of applying
blisters。 Then I began to understand that he had only been painting that
dismal picture of universal corruption in order the better to bring out； by
contrast； the virtues of the schoolmistress。 I was further informed that the
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institution in the Rue Demours was well patronised； prosperous； and
enjoyed a high reputation with the public。 Maitre Mouche lifted up his
handwith a black woollen glove on itas if making oath to the truth of
these statements。 Then he added：
〃I am enabled； by the very character of my profession； to know a great
deal about people。 A notary is； to a certain extent； a father…confessor。
〃I deemed it my duty； Monsieur； to give you this agreeable information
at the moment when a lucky chance enabled you to meet Mademoiselle
Prefere。 There is only one thing more which I would like to say。 This lady…
…who is； of course； quite unaware of my action in the matterspoke to me
of you the other day in terms of deepest sympathy。 I could only weaken
their expression by repeating them to you； and furthermore； I could not
repeat them without betraying； to a certain extent； the confidence of
Mademoiselle Prefere。〃
〃Do not betray it； Monsieur； do not betray it！〃 I responded。 〃To tell
you the truth； I had no idea that Mademoiselle Prefere knew anything
whatever about me。 But since you have the influence of an old friend with
her； I will take advantage of your good will； Monsieur； to ask you to
exercise that influence in behalf of Mademoiselle Jeanne Alexandre。 The
childfor she is still a childis overloaded with work。 She is at once a
pupil and a mistressshe is overtasked。 Besides； she is punished in petty
disgusting ways； and hers is one of those generous natures which will be
forced into revolt by such continual humiliation。〃
〃Alas！〃 replied Maitre Mouche； 〃she must be trained to take