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ch； although extending over a length of billions of leagues； could be contained in a small bottle。 My father； a little surprised at my unusual eloquence； watched me with his peculiar； placid； ironical smile。 But one cannot always remain in heaven。 I spoke； as I looked at Clementine； of a certain comete of diamonds； which I had been admiring in a jeweller's window the evening before。 It was a most unfortunate inspiration of mine。
〃'Ah！ my nephew；' cried Uncle Victor； that 〃comete〃 of yours was nothing to the one which the Empress Josephine wore in her hair when she came to Strasburg to distribute crosses to the army。'
〃'That little Josephine was very fond of finery and display；' observed Monsieur de Lessay； between two sips of coffee。 'I do not blame her for it； she had good qualities； though rather frivolous in character。 She was a Tascher； and she conferred a great honour on Bonaparte by marrying him。 To say a Tascher does not； of course； mean a great deal； but to say a Bonaparte simply means nothing at all。'
〃'What do you mean by that； Monsieur the Marquis？' demanded Captain Victor。
〃'I am not a marquis；' dryly responded Monsieur de Lessay； 'and I mean simply that Bonaparte would have been very well suited had he married one of those cannibal women described by Captain Cook in his voyagesnaked； tattooed； with a ring in her nosedevouring with delight putrefied human flesh。'
〃I had foreseen it； and in my anguish （O pitiful human heart！） my first idea was about the remarkable exactness of my anticipations。 I must say that the captain's reply belonged to the sublime order。 He put his arms akimbo； eyed Monsieur de Lessay contemptuously from head to food； and said；
〃'Napoleon； Monsieur the Vidame； had another spouse besides Josephine； another spouse besides Marie…Louise。 that companion you know nothing of； but I have seen her； close to me。 She wears a mantle of azure gemmed with stars； she is crowned with laurels； the Cross…of…Honour flames upon her breast。 Her name is GLORY！'
〃Monsieur de Lessay set his cup on the mantlepiece and quietly observed；
〃'Your Bonaparte was a blackguard！'
〃My father rose up calmly； extended his arm； and said very softly to Monsieur de Lessay；
〃Whatever the man was who died at St。 Helena； I worked for ten years in his government； and my brother…in…law was three times wounded under his eagles。 I beg of you； dear sir and friend； never to forget these facts in future。'
〃What the sublime and burlesque insolence of the captain could not do； the courteous remonstrance of my father effected immediately； throwing Monsieur de Lessay into a furious passion。
〃'I did forget；' he exclaimed； between his set teeth； livid in his rage； and fairly foaming at the mouth； 'the herring…cask always smells of herring and when one has been in the service of rascals…'
〃As he uttered the word； the Captain sprang at his throat； I am sure he would have strangled him upon the spot but for his daughter and me。
〃My father； a little paler than his wont； stood there with his arms folded； and watched the scene with a look of inexpressible pity。 What followed was still more lamentablebut why dwell further upon the folly of two old men。 Finally I succeeded in separating them。 Monsieur de Lessay made a sign to his daughter and left the room。 As she was following him； I ran out into the stairway after her。
〃'Mademoiselle；' I said to her； wildly； taking her hand as I spoke； 'I love you！ I love you！'
〃For a moment she pressed my hand； her lips opened。 What was it that she was going to say to me？ But suddenly； lifting her eyes towards her father ascending the stairs； she drew her hand away； and made me a gesture of farewell。
〃I never saw her again。 Her father went to live in the neighbourhood of the Pantheon； in an apartment which he had rented for the sale of his historical atlas。 He died in a few months afterward of an apoplectic stroke。 His daughter； I was told； retired to Caen to live with some aged relative。 It was there that； later on； she married a bank…clerk； the same Noel Alexandre who became so rich and died so poor。
〃As for me； Madame； I have lived alone； at peace with myself； my existence； equally exempt from great pains and great joys； has been tolerably happy。 But for many years I could never see an empty chair beside my own of a winter's evening without feeling a sudden painful sinking at my heart。 Last year I learned from you； who had known her； the story of her old age and death。 I saw her daughter at your house。 I have seen her； but I cannot yet say like the aged mad of Scripture； 'And now； O Lord； let thy servant depart in peace！' For if an old fellow like me can be of any use to anybody； I would wish； with your help； to devote my last energies and abilities to the care of this orphan。〃
I had uttered these last words in Madame de Gabry's own vestibule； and I was about to take leave of my kind guide when she said to me；
〃My dear Monsieur； I cannot help you in this matter as much as I would like to do。 Jeanne is an orphan and a minor。 You cannot do anything for her without the authorisation of her guardian。〃
〃Ah！〃 I exclaimed； 〃I had not the least idea in the wold that Jeanne had a guardian！〃
Madame de Gabry looked at me with visible surprise。 She had not expected to find the old man quite so simple。
She resumed：
〃The guardian of Jeanne Alexandre is Maitre Mouche； notary at Levallois…Perret。 I am afraid you will not be able to come to any understanding with him； for he is a very serious person。〃
〃Why！ good God！〃 I cried； 〃with what kind of people can you expect me to have any sort of understanding at my age； except serious persons。〃
She smiled with a sweet mischievousnessjust as my father used to smileand answered：
〃With those who are like youthe innocent folks who wear their hearts on their sleeves。 Monsieur Mouche is not exactly that kind。 He is cunning and light…fingered。 But although I have very little liking for him； we will go together and see him； if you wish； and ask his permission to visit Jeanne； whom he has sent to a boarding… school at Les Ternes； where she is very unhappy。〃
We agreed at once upon a day； I kissed Madame de Gabry's hands； and we bade each other good…bye。
From May 2 to May 5。
I have seen him in his office； Maitre Mouche； the guardian of Jeanne。 Small； thin； and dry； his complexion looks as if it was made out of the dust of his pigeon…holes。 He is a spectacled animal； for to imagine him without his spectacles would be impossible。 I have heard him speak； this Maitre Mouche； he has a voice like a tin rattle； and he uses choice phrases； but I should have been better pleased if he had not chosen his phrases so carefully。 I have observed him； this Maitre Mouche； he is very ceremonious； and watches his visitors slyly out of the corner of his eye。
Maitre Mouche is quite pleased； he informs us； he is delighted to find we have taken such an interest in his ward。 But he does not think we are placed in this world just to amuse ourselves。 No： he does not believe it； and I am free to acknowledge that anybody in his company is likely to reach the same conclusion； so little is he capable of inspiring joyfulness。 He fears that it would be giving his dear ward a false and pernicious idea of life to allow her too much enjoyment。 It is for this reason that he requests Madame de Gabry not to invite the young girl to her house except at very long intervals。
We left the dusty notary and his dusty study with a permit in due form （everything which issues from the office of Maitre Mouche is in due form） to visit Mademoiselle Jeanne Alexandre on the first Thursday of each month at Mademoiselle Prefere's private school； Rue Demours； Aux Ternes。
The first Thursday in May I set out to pay a visit to Mademoiselle Prefere； whose establishment I discerned from afar off by a big sign； painted with blue letters。 That blue tint was the first indication I received of Mademoiselle Prefere's character； which I was able to see more of later on。 A scared…looking servant took my card； and abandoned me without one word of hope at the door of a chilly parlour full of that stale odour peculiar to the dining… rooms