the crime of sylvestre bonnard-第30节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ose　articles　of　furniture　seemed　to　have　been　made　expressly　for　her。

Jeanne；　on　the　other　hand；　devoted　her　attention　to　the　books　and　picturesgazing　at　them　in　a　kindly；　expressive；　half…sad　way；　as　if　she　were　bidding　them　an　affectionate　farewell。

〃Here；〃　I　said　to　her；　〃amuse　yourself　with　this　book；　which　I　am　sure　you　cannot　help　liking；　because　it　is　full　of　beautiful　engravings。〃　　And　I　threw　open　before　her　Vecellio's　collection　of　costume…designsnot　the　commonplace　edition；　by　your　leave；　so　meagrely　reproduced　by　modern　artists；　but　in　truth　a　magnificent　and　venerable　copy　of　that　editio　princeps　which　is　noble　as　those　noble　dames　who　figure　upon　its　yellowed　leaves；　made　beautiful　by　time。

While　turning　over　the　engravings　with　artless　curiousity；　Jeanne　said　to　me；

〃We　were　talking　about　taking　a　walk；　but　this　is　a　great　journey　you　are　making　me　take。　　And　I　would　like　to　travel　very；　very　far　away！〃

〃In　that　case；　Mademoiselle；〃　I　said　to　her；　〃you　must　arrange　yourself　as　comfortably　as　possible　for　travelling。　　But　you　are　now　sitting　on　one　corner　of　your　chair；　so　that　the　chair　is　standing　upon　only　one　leg；　and　that　Vecellio　must　tire　your　knees。　　Sit　down　comfortably；　put　your　chair　on　its　four　feet；　and　put　your　book　on　the　table。〃

She　obeyed　me　with　a　laugh。

I　watched　her。　　She　cried　out　suddenly；

〃Oh；　come　look　at　this　beautiful　costume！〃　　（It　was　that　of　the　wife　of　a　Doge　of　Venice。）　　〃How　noble　it　is！　　What　magnificent　ideas　it　gives　one　of　that　life！　　Oh；　I　must　tell　youI　adore　luxury！〃

〃You　must　not　express　such　thoughts　as　those；　Mademoiselle；〃　said　the　schoolmistress；　lifting　up　her　little　shapeless　nose　from　her　work。

〃Nevertheless；　it　was　a　very　innocent　utterance；〃　I　replied。　　〃There　are　splendid　souls　in　whom　the　love　of　splendid　things　is　natural　and　inborn。〃

The　little　shapeless　nose　went　down　again。

〃Mademoiselle　Prefere　likes　luxury　too；〃　said　Jeanne；　〃she　cuts　out　paper　trimmings　and　shades　for　the　lamps。　　It　is　economical　luxury；　but　it　is　luxury　all　the　same。〃

Having　returned　to　the　subject　of　Venice；　we　were　just　about　to　make　the　acquaintance　of　a　certain　patrician　lady　attired　in　an　embroidered　dalmatic；　when　I　heard　the　bell　ring。　　I　thought　it　was　some　peddler　with　his　basket；　but　the　gate　of　the　City　of　Books　opened；　and。。。Well；　Master　Sylvestre　Bonnard；　you　were　wishing　awhile　ago　that　the　grace　of　your　protegee　might　be　observed　by　some　other　eyes　than　old　withered　ones　behind　spectacles。　　Your　wishes　have　been　fulfilled　in　a　most　unexpected　manner；　and　a　voice　cries　out　to　you　as　to　the　imprudent　Theseus；

〃Craignez；　Seigneur；　craignez　que　le　Ciel　rigoureux　　Ne　vous　Haisse　assez　pour　exaucer　vos　voeux！　　Souvent　dans　sa　colere　il　recoit　nos　victimes；　　Ses　presents　sont　souvent　la　peine　de　nos　crimes。〃

＇〃Beware　my　lord！　Beware　lest　stern　Heaven　　　hate　you　enough　to　hear　your　prayers！　　　Often　'tis　in　wrath　that　Heaven　receives　our　sacrifices：　　　its　gifts　are　often　the　punishment　of　our　crimes。〃＇

The　gate　of　the　City　of　Books　had　opened；　and　a　handsome　young　man　made　his　appearance；　ushered　in　by　Therese。　　That　good　old　soul　only　knows　how　to　open　the　door　for　people　and　to　shut　it　behind　them；　she　has　no　idea　whatever　of　the　tact　requisite　for　the　waiting…　room　and　for　the　parlour。　　It　is　not　in　her　nature　either　to　make　any　announcements　or　to　make　anybody　wait。　　She　either　throws　people　out　on　the　lobby；　or　simply　pitches　them　at　your　head。

And　here　is　this　handsome　young　man　already　inside；　and　I　cannot　really　take　the　girl　at　once　and　hide　her　like　a　secret　treasure　in　the　next　room。　　I　wait　for　him　to　explain　himself；　he　does　it　without　the　least　embarrassment；　but　it　seems　to　me　that　he　has　already　observed　the　young　girl　who　is　still　bending　over　the　table　looking　at　Vecellio。　　As　I　observe　the　young　man　it　occurs　to　me　that　I　have　seen　him　somewhere　before；　or　else　I　must　be　very　much　mistaken。　His　name　is　Gelis。　　That　is　a　name　which　I　have　heard　somewhere；I　can't　remember　where。　　At　all　events；　Monsieur　Gelis　（since　there　is　a　Gelis）　is　a　fine…looking　young　fellow。　　He　tells　me　that　this　is　his　third　class…year　at　the　Ecole　des　Chartes；　and　that　he　has　been　working　for　the　past　fifteen　or　eighteen　months　upon　his　graduation　thesis；　the　subject　of　which　is　the　Condition　of　the　Benedictine　Abbeys　in　1700。　　He　has　just　read　my　works　upon　the　〃Monasticon〃；　and　he　is　convinced　that　he　cannot　terminate　this　thesis　successfully　without　my　advice；　to　begin　with；　and　in　the　second　place　without　a　certain　manuscript　which　I　possess；　and　which　is　nothing　less　than　the　〃Register　of　the　Accounts　of　the　Abbey　of　Citeaux　from　1683　to　1704。〃

Having　thus　explained　himself；　he　hands　me　a　letter　of　introduction　bearing　the　signature　of　one　of　the　most　illustrious　of　my　colleagues。

Good！　　Now　I　know　who　he　is！　　Monsieur　Gelis　is　the　very　same　young　man　who　last　year　under　the　chestnut…trees　called　me　an　idiot！　　And　while　unfolding　his　letter　of　introduction　I　think　to　myself：

〃Aha！　my　unlucky　youth；　you　are　very　far　from　suspecting　that　I　overheard　what　you　said；　and　that　I　know　what　you　think　of　meor；　at　least；　what　you　did　think　of　me　that　day；　for　these　young　minds　are　so　fickle？　　I　have　got　you　now；　my　friend！　　You　have　fallen　into　the　lion's　den；　and　so　unexpectedly；　in　good　sooth；　that　the　astonished　old　lion　does　not　know　what　to　do　with　his　prey。　　But　come　now；　old　lion！　do　not　act　like　an　idiot！　　Is　it　not　possible　that　you　were　an　idiot？　　If　you　are　not　one　now；　you　certainly　were　one！　　You　were　a　fool　to　have　been　listening　to　Monsieur　Gelis　at　the　foot　of　the　statue　of　Marguerite　de　Valois；　you　were　doubly　a　fool　to　have　heard　what　he　said；　and　you　were　trebly　a　fool　not　to　have　forgotten　what　it　would　have　been　much　better　never　to　have　heard。〃

Having　thus　scolded　the　old　lion；　I　exhorted　him　to　show　clemency。　He　did　not　appear　to　require　much　coaxing；　and　gradually　became　so　good…natured　that　he　had　some　difficulty　in　restraining　himself　from　bursting　out　into　joyous　roarings。　　From　the　way　in　which　I　had　read　my　colleague's　letter　one　might　have　supposed　me　a　man　who　did　not　know　his　alphabet。　　I　took　a　long　while　to　read　it；　and　Monsieur　Gelis　might　have　become　very　tired　under　different　circumstances；　but　he　was　watching　Jeanne；　and　endured　the　trial　with　exemplary　patience。　　Jeanne　occasionally　turned　her　face　in　our　direction。　　Well　you　could　not　expect　a　person　to　remain　perfectly　motionless；　could　you？　　Mademoiselle　Prefere　was　arranging　her　curls；　and　her　bosom　occasionally　swelled　with　little　sighs。　It　may　be　observed　that　I　have　myself　often　been　honoured　with　those　little　sighs。

〃Monsieur；〃　I　said；　as　I　folded　up　the　letter；　〃I　shall　be　very　happy　to　be　of　any　service　to　you。　　You　are　occupied　with　researches　in　which　I　myself　have　always　felt　a　very　lively　interest。　　I　have　done　all　that　lay　in　my　power。　　I　know；　as　you　doand　still　better　than　you　can　knowhow　much　there　remains　to　do。　　The　manuscript　you　asked　for　is　at　your　disposal；　you　may　take　it　home　with　you；　but　it　is　not　a　manuscript　of　the　smallest　kind；　and　I　am　afraid…〃

〃Oh；　Monsieur；〃　said　Gelis；　〃big　books　have　never　been　able　to　make　me　afraid　of　them。〃

I　begged　the　young　man　to　wait　for　me；　and　I　went　into　the　next　room　to　get　the　Register；　which　I　could　not　find　at　first；　and　which　I　almost　despaired　of　finding；　as　I　discerned；　from　certain　familiar　signs；　that　Therese　had　been　setting　the　room　in　order。　　But　the　Register　was　so　big　and　so　heavy　that；　luckily　for　me；　Therese　had　not　been　able　to　put　it　in　order　as　she　had　doubtless　wished　to　do。　I　could　scarcely　lift　it　up　myself；　and　I　had　the　pleasure　of　finding　it　quite　as　heavy　as　I　could　have　hoped。

〃Wait；　my　boy；〃　I　said；　with　a　smile　which　must　have　been　very　sarcastic〃wait！　　I　am　going　to　give　you　something　to　do　which　will　break　your　arms　first；　and　afterwards　your　head。　　That　will　be　the　first　vengeance　of　Sylvestre　Bonnard。　　Later　on　we　shall　see　what　else　there　is　to　be　done。〃

When　I　returned　to　the　City　of　Books　I　heard　Monsieur　Gelis　and　Mademoiselle　Jeanne　chattingchatting　together；　if　you　please！　as　if　they　were　the　best　friends　in　the　world。　　Mademoiselle　Prefere；　being　full　of　decorum；　did　not　say　anything；　but　the　other　two　were　chatting　like　birds。　　And　what　about？　　About　the　blond　tint　used　by　Venetian　painters！　　Yes；　about　the　〃Venetian　blond。〃　　That　little　serpent　of　a　Gelis　was　telling　Jeanne　the　secret　of　the　dye　with　which；　according　to　the　best　authorities；　the　women　of　Titian　and　of　Veronese　tinted　their　hair。　　And　Mademoiselle　Jeanne　was　expressing　her　opinion　very　prettily　about　the　honey　tint　and　the　golden　tint。　I　understood　that　that　scamp　of　a　Vecellio　was　responsiblethat　they　had　been　bending　over　the　book　together；　and　that　they　had　been　admiring　either　that　Doge's　wife　we　had　been　looking　at　awhile　before；　or　some　other　patrician　woman　of　Venice。

Never　mind！　　I　appeared　with　my　enormous　old　book；　thinking　that　Gelis　was　going　to　make　a　grimace。　　It　was　as　much　as　one　could　have　asked　a　porter　to　carry；　and　my　arms　were　stiff　merely　with　lifting　it。　　But　the　young　man　caught　it　up　like　a　feather；　and　slipped　it　under　his　arm　with　a　smile。　　T