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e that Mademoiselle Jeanne is well； and then shuts the door in my face。 And I am all alone in the street again。
How many times since then have I wandered in the same way under that wall； and passed before the little door；full of shame and despair to find myself even weaker than that poor child； who has no other help of friend except myself in the world！
Finally I overcame my repugnance sufficiently to call upon Maitre Mouche。 The first thing I remarked was that his office is much more dusty and much more mouldy this year that it was last year。 The notary made his appearance after a moment； with his familiar stiff gestures； and his restless eyes quivering behind his eye…glasses。 I made my complaints to him。 He answered me。。。。 But why should I write down； even in a notebook which I am going to burn； my recollections of a downright scoundrel？ He takes sides with Mademoiselle Prefere； whose intelligent mind and irreproachable character he has long appreciated。 He does not feel himself in a position to decide the nature of the question at issue； but he must assure me that appearances have been greatly against me。 That of course makes no difference to me。 He adds（and this does make some sense to me）that the small sum which had been placed in his hands to defray the expenses of the education of his ward has been expended； and that； in view of the circumstances； he cannot but gently admire the disinterestedness of Mademoiselle Prefere in consenting to allow Mademoiselle Jeanne to remain with her。
A magnificent light； the light of a perfect day； floods the sordid place with its incorruptible torrent； and illuminates teh person of that man！
And outside it pours down its splendour upon all the wretchedness of a populous quarter。
How sweet it is；this light with which my eyes have so long been filled； and which ere long I must for ever cease to enjoy！ I wander out with my hands behind me； dreaming as I go； following the line of the fortifications； and I find myself after awhile； I know not how； in an out…of…the…way suburb full of miserable little gardens。 By the dusty roadside I observe a plant whose flower； at once dark and splendid； seems worthy of association with the noblest and purest mouning for the dead。 It is a columbine。 Our fathers called it 〃Our Lady's Glove〃le gant de Notre…Dame。 Only such a 〃Notre…Dame〃 as might make herself very； very small； for the sake of appearing to little children； could ever slip her dainty fingers into the narrow capsue of that flower。
And there is a big bumble…bee who tries to force himself into the flower； brutally； but his mouth cannot reach the nectar； and the poor glutton strives and strives in vain。 He has to give up the attempt； and comes out of the flower all smeared over with pollen。 He flies off in his own heavy lumbering way； but there are not many flowers in this portion of the suburbs； which has been defiled by the soot and smoke of factories。 So he comes back to the columbine again； and this time he pierces the corolla and sucks the honey through the little hole which he has made； I should never have thought that a bumble…bee had so much sense！ Why； that is admirble！ The more I observe； them； the more do insects and flowers fill me with astonishment。 I am like that good Rollin who went wild with delight over the flowers of his peach…trees。 I wish I could have a fine garden； and live at the verge of a wood。
August； September。
It occurred to me one Sunday morning to watch for the moment when Mademoiselle Prefere's pupils were leaving the school in procession to attand Mass at the parish church。 I watched them passing two by two；the little ones first with very serious faces。 There were three of them all dressed exactly alikedumpy； plump； important… looking little creatures； whom I recognized at once as the Mouton girls。 Their elder sister is the artist who drew that terrrible head of Tatius； King of the Sabines。 Beside the column； the assistant school…teacher； with her prayer…book in her hand； was gesturing and frowning。 Then came the next oldest class； and finally the big girls； all whispering to each other； as they went by。 But I did not see Jeanne。
I went to police…headquarters and inquired whether they chanced to have； filed away somewhere or other； any information regarding the establishment in the Rue Demours。 I succeeded in inducing them to send some female inspectors there。 These returned bringing with them the most favourable reports about the establishment。 In their opinion the Prefere School was a model school。 It is evident that if I were to force an investigation； Mademoiselle Prefere would receive academic honours。
October 3。
This Thursday being a school…holiday I had teh chance of meeting the three little Mouton girls in the vicinity of the Rue Demours。 After bowing to their mother； I asked the eldest who appears to be about ten years old； how was her playmate； Mademoiselle Jeanne Alexandre。
The little Mouton girl answered me； all in a breath；
〃Jeanne Alexandre is not my playmate。 She is only kept in the school for charityso they make her sweep the class…rooms。 It was Mademoiselle who said so。 And Jeanne Alexandre is a bad girl； so they lock her up in the dark roomand it serves her rightand I am a good girland I am never locked up in the dark room。〃
The three little girls resumed their walk； and Madame Mouton followed close behind them； looking back over her broad shoulder at me； in a very suspicious manner。
Alas！ I find myself reduced to expedients of a questionable character。 Madame de Gabry will not come back to Paris for at least three months more； at the very soonest。 Without her； I have no tact； I have no common senseI am nothing but a cumbersome； clumsy； mischief…making machine。
Nevertheless； I cannot possibly permit them to make Jeanne a boarding…school servant！
December 28。
The idea that Jeanne was obliged to sweep the rooms had become absolutely unbearable。
The weather was dark and cold。 Night had already begun。 I rang the school…door bell with the tranquillity of a resolute man。 The moment that the timid servant opened the door； I slipped a gold piece into her hand； and promised her another if she would arrange matters so that I could see 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 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