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believe that I must have been mistaken； and that you never said anything
of the kind before。 In the latter case； please excuse an old man totally
unfamiliar with the usages of society； unaccustomed to the conversation of
ladies； and very contrite for his mistake。〃
Maitre Mouche went back very softly to his place； where； not finding
any more nuts to crack； he began to whittle a cork。
Mademoiselle Prefere； after staring at me for a few moments with an
expression in her little round dry eyes which I had never seen there before；
suddenly resumed her customary sweetness and graciousness。 Then she
cried out in honeyed tones；
〃Oh！ these learned men！these studious men！ They are like children。
Yes； Monsieur Bonnard； you are a real child！〃
Then； turning to the notary； who still sat very quietly in his corner；
with his nose over his cork； she exclaimed； in beseeching tones；
〃Oh； do not accuse him！ Do not accuse him！ Do not think any evil of
him； I beg of you！ Do not think it at all！ Must I ask you upon my knees？〃
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The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
Maitre Mouche continued to examine all the various aspects and
surfaces of his cork without making any further manifestation。
I was very indignant； and I know that my cheeks must have been
extremely red； if I could judge by the flush of heat which I felt rise to my
face。 This would enable me to explain the words I heard through all the
buzzing in my ears：
〃I am frightened about him！ our poor friend！。。。 Monsieur Mouche； be
kind enough to open a window！ It seems to me that a compress of arnica
would do him some good。〃
I rushed out into the street with an unspeakable feeling of shame。
〃My poor Jeanne！〃
December 20。
I passed eight days without hearing anything further in regard to the
Prefere establishment。 Then； feeling myself unable to remain any longer
without some news of Clementine's daughter； and feeling furthermore that
I owed it as a duty to myself not to cease my visits with the school without
more serious cause； I took my way to Les Ternes。
the parlour seemed to me more cold； more damp； more inhospitable；
and more insidious than ever before； and the servant much more silent and
much more scared。 I asked to see Mademoiselle Jeanne； but； after a very
considerable time； it was Mademoiselle Prefere who made her appearance
insteadsevere and pale； with lips compressed and a hard look in her eyes。
〃Monsieur；〃 she said； folding her arms over her pelerine； I regret very
much that I cannot allow you to see Mademoiselle Alexandre to… day； but I
cannot possibly do it。〃
〃Why not？〃 I asked in astonishment。
〃Monsieur；〃 she replied； 〃the reasons which compel me to request that
your visits shall be less frequent hereafter are of an excessively delicate
nature； and I must beg you to spare me the unpleasantness of mentioning
them。〃
〃Madame；〃 I replied； 〃I have been authorized by Jeanne's guardian to
see his ward every day。 Will you please to inform me of your reasons for
opposing the will of Monsieur Mouche？〃
〃The guardian of Mademoiselle Alexandre；〃 she replied （and she dwelt
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The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
upon that word 〃guardian〃 as upon a solid support）； 〃desires； quite as
strongly as I myself do； that your assiduities may come to an end as soon
as possible。〃
〃Then； if that be the case；〃 I said； 〃be kind enough to let me know his
reasons and your own。〃
She looked up at the little spiral of paper on the ceiling； and then
replied； with stern composure；
〃You insist upon it？ Well； although such explanations are very painful
for a woman to make； I will yield to your exaction。 This house； Monsieur
is an honourable house。 I have my responsibility。 I have to watch like a
mother over each one of my pupils。 Your assiduities in regard to
Mademoiselle Alexandre could not possibly be continued without serious
injury to the young girl herself； and it is my duty to insist that they shall
cease。〃
〃I do not really understand you；〃 I repliedand I was telling the plain
truth。 Then she deliberately resumed：
〃Your assiduities in this house are being interpreted； by the most
respectable and the least suspicious persons； in such a manner that I find
myself obliged； both in the interest of my establishment and in the interest
of Mademoiselle Alexandre； to see that they end at once。〃
〃Madame；〃 I cried； 〃I have heard a great many silly things in my life；
but never anything so silly as what you have just said！〃
She answered me quietly；
〃Your words of abuse will not affect me in the slightest。 When one has
a duty to accomplish； one is strong enough to endure all。〃
And she pressed her pelerine over her heart once morenot perhaps on
this occasion to restrain； but doubtless only to caress that generous heart。
〃Madame；〃 I said； shaking my finger at her； 〃you have wantonly
aroused the indignation of an aged man。 Be good enough to act in such a
fashion that the old man may be able at least to forget your existence； and
do not add fresh insults to those which I have already sustained from your
lips。 I give you fair warning that I shall never cease to look after
Mademoiselle Alexandre； and that should you attempt to do her any harm；
in any manner whatsoever； you will have serious reason to regret it！〃
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The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
The more I became excited； the more she became cool； and she
answered in a tone of superb indifference：
〃Monsieur； I am much too well informed in regard to the nature of the
interest which you take in this young girl； not to withdraw her
immediately from that very surveillance with which you threaten me。
After observing the more than equivocal intimacy in which you are living
with your housekeeper； I ought to have taken measures at once to render it
impossible for you ever to come into contact with an innocent child。 In the
future I shall certainly do it。 If up to this time I have been too trustful； it is
for Mademoiselle Alexandre； and not for you； to reproach me with it。 But
she is too artless and too purethanks to me！ever to have suspected the
nature of that danger into which you were trying to lead her。 I scarecly
suppose that you will place me under the necessity of enlightening her
upon the subject。〃
〃Come； my poor old Bonnard；〃 I said to myself； as I shrugged my
shoulders〃so you had to live as long as this in order to learn for the first
time exactly what a wicked woman is。 And now your knowledge of the
subject is complete。〃
I went out without replying； and I had the pleasure of observing； from
the sudden flush which overspread the face of the schoolmistress； that my
silence had wounded her far more than my words。
As I passed through the court I looked about me in every direction for
Jeanne。 She was watching for me； and she ran to me。
〃If anybody touches one little hair of your head； Jeanne； write to me！
Good…bye！〃
〃No； not good…bye。〃
I replied；
〃Well； nonot good…bye！ Write to me！〃
I went straight to Madame de Gabry's reside