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Mademoiselle Alexandre。 Her answer was； 〃In one hour from now； at the
grated window。〃
And she slammed the door in my face so rudely that she knocked my
hat into the gutter。 I waited for one very long hour in a violent snow…storm；
then I approached the window。 Nothing！ The wind raged； and the snow
fell heavily。 Workmen passing by with their implements on their shoulders；
and their heads bent down to keep the snow from coming in their faces；
rudely jostled me。 Still nothing。 I began to fear I had been observed。 I
knew that I had done wrong in bribing a servant； but I was not a bit sorry
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for it。 Woe to the man who does not know how to break through social
regulations in case of necessity！ Another quarter of an hour passed。
Nothing。 At last the window was partly opened。
〃Is that you； Monsieur Bonnard？〃
Is that you； Jeanne？tell me at once what has become of you。〃
〃I am wellvery well。〃
〃But what else！〃
〃They have put me in the kitchen； and I have to sweep the school…
rooms。〃
〃In the kitchen！ Sweepingyou！ Gracious goodness！〃
〃Yes； because my guardian does not pay for my schooling any longer。〃
〃Gracious goodness！ Your guardian seems to me to be a thorough
scoundrel。〃
〃Then you know…〃
〃What？〃
〃Oh！ don't ask me to tell you that！but I would rather die than find
myself alone with him again。〃
〃And why did you not write to me？〃
〃I was watched。〃
At this instant I formed a resolve which nothing in this world could
have induced me to change。 I did； indeed； have some idea that I might be
acting contrary to law； but I did not give myself the least concern about
that idea。 And； being firmly resolved； I was able to be prudent。 I acted with
remarkable coolness。
〃Jeanne；〃 I asked； 〃tell me！ does that room you are in open into the
court…yard？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Can you open the street…door from the inside yourself？〃
〃Yes；if there is nobody in the porter's lodge。〃
〃Go and see if there is any one there； and be careful that nobody
observes you。〃
Then I waited； keeping a watch on the door and window。
In six or seven seconds Jeanne reappeared behind the bars； and said；
〃The servant is in the porter's lodge。〃
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〃Very well；〃 I said； 〃have you a pen and ink？〃
〃No。〃
〃A pencil？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Pass it out here。〃
I took an old newspaper out of my pocket； andin a wind which blew
almost hard enough to put the street…lamps out； in a downpour of snow
which almost blinded meI managed to wrap up and address that paper to
Mademoiselle Prefere。
While I was writing I asked Jeanne；
〃When the postman passes he puts the papers and letters in the box；
doesn't he？ He rings the bell and goes away？ Then the servant opens the
letter…box and takes whatever she finds there to Mademoiselle Prefere
immediately； is not that about the way the thing is managed whenever
anything comes by post？〃
Jeanne thought it was。
〃Then we shall soon see。 Jeanne； go and watch again； and； as soon as
the servant leaves the lodge； open the door and come out here to me。〃
Having said this； I put my newspaper in the box； gave the bell a
tremendous pull； and then hid myself in the embrasure of a neighbouring
door。
I might have been there several minutes； when the little door quivered；
then opened； and a young girl's head made its appearance through the
opening。 I took hold of it； I pulled it towards me。
〃Come； Jeanne！ come！〃
She stared at me uneasily。 Certainly she must have been afraid that I
had gone mad； but； on the contrary； I was very rational indeed。
〃Come； my child！ come！〃
〃Where？〃
〃To Madame de Gabry's。〃
Then she took my arm。 For some time we ran like a couple of thieves。
But running is an exercise ill…suited to one as corpulent as I am； and；
finding myself out of breath at last； I stopped and leaned upon something
which turned out to be the stove of a dealer in roasted chestnuts； who was
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doing business at the corner of a wine… seller's shop； where a number of
cabmen were drinking。 One of them asked us if we did not want a cab。
Most assuredly we wanted a cab！ The driver； after setting down his glass
on the zinc counter； climbed upon his seat and urged his horse forward。
We were saved。
〃Phew！〃 I panted； wiping my forehead。 For； in spite of the cold； I was
perspiring profusely。
What seemed very odd was that Jeanne appeared to be much more
conscious than I was of the enormity which we had committed。 She
looked very serious indeed； and was visibly uneasy。
〃In the kitchen！〃 I cried out； with indignation。
She shook her head； as if to say； 〃Well； there or anywhere else； what
does it matter to me？〃 And by the light of the street…lamps； I observed with
pain that her face was very thin and her features all pinched。 I did not find
in her any of that vivacity； any of those bright impulses； any of that
quickness of expression； which used to please me so much。 Her gaze had
become timid； her gestures constrained； her whole attitude melancholy。 I
took her handa little cold hand； which had become all hardened and
bruised。 The poor child must have suffered very much。 I questioned her。
She told me very quietly that Mademoiselle Prefere had summoned her
one day； and called her a little monster and a little viper； for some reason
which she had never been able to learn。
She had added； 〃You shall not see Monsieur Bonnard any more； for he
has been giving you bad advice； and he has conducted himself in a most
shameful manner towards me。〃 〃I then said to her； 'That； Mademoiselle；
you will never be able to make me believe。' Then Mademoiselle slapped
my face and sent me back to the school…room。 The announcement that I
should never be allowed to see you again made me feel as if night had
come down upon me。 Don't you know those evenings when one feels so
sad to see the darkness come？well； just imagine such a moment stretched
out into weeksinto whole months！ Don't you remember my little Saint…
George？ Up to that time I had worked at it as well as I couldjust simply
to work at itjust to amuse myself。 But when I lost all hope of ever seeing
you again I took my little wax figure； and I began to work at it in quite
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another way。 I did not try to model it with wooden matches any more； as I
had been doing； but with hair pins。 I even made use of epingles a la neige。
But perhaps you do not know what epingles a la neige are？ Well； I became
more particular about than you can possibly imagine。 I put a dragon on
Saint…George's helmet； and I passed hours and hours in making a head and
eyes and tail for the dragon。 Oh the eyes！ the eyes； above all！