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nearly closed； then I will only wish that my winding… sheet may be as
sweetly scented with lavender as that linen you have on your arm。〃
It was agreed that I should come to lunch the following morning。 But I
was positively forbidden to show myself at the house before midday。
Jeanne； as she kissed me good…bye； begged me not to take her back to the
school any more。 We felt much affected at parting； and very anxious。
I found Therese waiting for me on the landing； in such a condition of
worry about me that it had made her furious。 She talked of nothing less
than keeping me under lock and key in the future。
What a night I passed！ I never closed my eyes for one single instant。
From time to time I could not help laughing like a boy at the success of
my prank； and then again； an inexpressible feeling of horror would come
upon me at the thought of being dragged before some magistrate； and
having to take my place upon the prisoner's bench； to answer for the crime
which I had so naturally committed。 I was very much afraid； and
nevertheless I felt no remorse or regret whatever。 The sun； coming into my
room at last； merrily lighted upon the foot of my bed； and then I made this
prayer：
〃My God； Thou who didst make the sky and the dew； as it is said in
'Tristan；' judge me in Thine equity； not indeed according unto my acts； but
according only to my motives； which Thou knowest have been upright and
pure； and I will say： Glory to Thee in heaven； and peace on earth to men of
good…will。 I give into Thy hands the child I stole away。 Do that for her
which I have not known how to do； guard for her from all her enemies；
and blessed for ever be Thy name！〃
December 29。
When I arrived at Madame de Gabry's； I found Jeanne completely
transfigured。
Had she also； like myself； at the very first light of dawn； called upon
Him who made the sky and the dew？ She smiled with such a sweet calm
smile！
Madame de Gabry called her away to arrange her hair for the amiable
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lady had insisted upon combing and plaiting； with her own hands； the hair
of the child confided to her care。 As I had come a little before the hour
agreed upon； I had interrupted this charming toilet。 By way of punishment
I was told to go and wait in the parlour all by myself。 Monsieur de Gabry
joined me there in a little while。 He had evidently just come in； for I could
see on his forehead the mark left my the lining of his hat。 His frank face
wore an expression of joyful excitement。 I thought I had better not ask him
any questions； and we all went to lunch。 When the servants had finished
waiting at table； Monsieur Paul； who had been keeping his good story for
the dessert； said to us；
〃Well！ I went to Levallois。〃
〃Did you see Maitre Mouche？〃 excitedly inquired Madame de Gabry。
〃No；〃 he replied； curiously watching the expression of disappointment
upon our faces。
After having amused himself with our anxiety for a reasonable time；
the good fellow added：
〃Maitre Mouche is no longer at Levallois。 Maitre Mouche has gone
away from France。 The day after to…morrow will make just eight days
since he decamped； taking with him all the money of his clientsa
tolerably large sum。 I found the office closed。 A woman who lived close
by told me all about it with an abundance of curses and imprecations。 The
notary did not take the 7：55 train all by himself； he took with him the
daughter of the hairdresser of Levallois； a young person quite famous in
that part of the country for her beauty and her accomplishments；they say
she could shave better than her father。 Well； anyhow Mouche has run away
with her； the Commissaire de Police confirmed the fact for me。 Now；
really； could it have been possible for Maitre Mouche to have left the
country at a more opportune moment？ If he had only deferred his escapade
one week longer； he would have been still the representative of society；
and would have had you dragged off to gaol； Monsieur Bonnard； like a
criminal。 At present we have nothing whatever to fear from him。 Here is to
the health of Maitre Mouche！〃 he cried； pouring out a glass of white wine。
I would like to live a long time if it were only to remember that
delightful morning。 We four were all assembled in the big white dining…
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room around the waxed oak table。 Monsieur Paul's mirth was' of the hearty
kind；even perhaps a little riotous； and the good man quaffed deeply。
Madame de Gabry smiled at me； with a smile so sweet； so perfect； and so
noble； that I thought such a woman ought to keep smiles like that simply
as a reward for good actions； and thus make everybody who knew her do
all the good of which they were capable。 Then； to reward us for our pains；
Jeanne； who had regained something of her former vivacity； asked us in
less than a quarter of an hour one dozen questions； to answer which would
have required an exhaustive exposition on the nature of man； the nature of
the universe； the science of physics and of metaphysics； the Macrocosm
and the Microcosmnot to speak of the Ineffable and the Unknowable。
Then she drew out of her pocket her little Saint… George； who had suffered
most cruelly during our flight。 His legs and arms were gone； but he still
had his gold helmet with the green dragon on it。 Jeanne solemnly pledged
herself to make a restoration of him in honour of Madame de Gabry。
Delightful friends！ I left them at last overwhelmed with fatigue and
joy。
On re…entering my lodgings I had to endure the very sharpest
remonstrances from Therese； who said she had given up trying to
understand my new way of living。 In her opinion Monsieur had really lost
his mind。
〃Yes； Therese； I am a mad old man and you are a mad old woman。
That is certain！ May the good God bless us both； Therese； and give us new
strength； for we now have new duties to perform。 but let me lie down upon
the sofa； for I really cannot keep myself on my feet any longer。〃
January 15； 186…。
〃Good…morning； Monsieur；〃 said Jeanne； letting herself in； while
Therese remained grumbling in the corridor because she had not been able
to get to the door in time。
〃Mademoiselle； I beg you will be kind enough to address me very
solemnly by my title； and to say to me； 'Good…morning； my guardian。'〃
〃Then it has all been settled？ Oh； how nice！〃 cried the child； clapping
her hands。
〃It has all been arranged； Mademoiselle； in the Salle…commune and
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before the Justice of the Peace； and from to…day you are under my
authority。。。。 What are you laughing about； my ward？ I see it in your eyes。
You have some crazy idea in your head this very moment some more
nonsense； eh？〃 〃Oh； no！ Monsieur。。。。 I mean； my guardian。 I was looking
at your white hair。 It curls out from under the edge of your hat like