the crime of sylvestre bonnard(西维斯特·博拉德的罪行)-第20节
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week in the quiet but profound enjoyment of observing the living engaged
in their various daily occupations even while I was thinking of the dead。
As for the purpose of my researches； I made only a few mediocre
discoveries； which caused me only a mediocre joy； and one therefore
salubrious and not at all fatiguing。 I copied a few interesting epitaphs； and
I added to this little collection a few recipes for cooking country dishes；
which a certain good priest kindly gave me。
With these riches； I returned to Lusance； and I crossed the court… of…
honour with such secret satisfaction as a bourgeois fells on entering his
own home。 This was the effect of the kindness of my hosts； and the
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impression I received on crossing their threshold proves； better than any
reasoning could do； the excellence of their hospitality。
I entered the great parlour without meeting anybody； and the young
chestnut…tree there spreading out its broad leaves seemed to me like an old
friend。 But the next thing which I sawon the pier…tablecaused me such a
shock of surprise that I readjusted my glasses upon my nose with both
hands at once； and then felt myself over so as to get at least some
superficial proof of my own existence。 In less than one second there
thronged from my mind twenty different conjecturesthe most rational of
which was that I had suddenly become crazy。 It seemed to me absolutely
impossible that what I was looking at could exist； yet it was equally
impossible for me not to see it as a thing actually existing。 What caused
my surprise was resting on the pier…table； above which rose a great dull
speckled mirror。
I saw myself in that mirror； and I can say that I saw for once in my life
the perfect image of stupefaction。 But I made proper allowance for myself；
I approved myself for being so stupefied by a really stupefying thing。
The object I was thus examining with a degree of astonishment that all
my reasoning power failed to lessen； obtruded itself on my attention
though quite motionless。 The persistence and fixity of the phenomenon
excluded any idea of hallucination。 I am totally exempt from all nervous
disorders capable of influencing the sense of sight。 The cause of such
visual disturbance is； I think； generally due to stomach trouble； and； thank
God！ I have an excellent stomach。 Moreover； visual illusions are
accompanied with special abnormal conditions which impress the victims
of hallucination themselves； and inspire them with a sort of terror。 Now； I
felt nothing of this kind； the object which I saw； although seemingly
impossible in itself； appeared to me under all the natural conditions of
reality。 I observed that it had three dimensions； and colours； and that it cast
a shadow。 Ah！ how I stared at it！ The water came into my eyes so that I
had to wipe the glasses of my spectacles。
Finally I found myself obliged to yield to the evidence； and to affirm
that I had really before my eyes the Fairy； the very same Fairy I had been
dreaming of in the library a few evenings before。 It was she； it was her
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very self； I assure you！ She had the same air of child…queen； the same
proud supple poise； she held the same hazel wand in her hand； she still
wore her double…peaked head…dress； and the train of her long brocade robe
undulated about her little feet。 Same face； same figure。 It was she indeed；
and to prevent any possible doubt of it； she was seated on the back of a
huge old… fashioned book strongly resembling the 〃Cosmography of
Munster。〃 Her immobility but half reassured me； I was really afraid that
she was going to take some more nuts out of her alms…purse and throw the
shells at my face。
I was standing there； waving my hands and gaping； when the musical
and laughing voice of Madame de Gabry suddenly rang in my ears。
〃So you are examining your fairy； Monsieur Bonnard！〃 said my
hostess。 〃Well； do you think the resemblance good？〃
It was very quickly said； but even while hearing it I had time to
perceive that my fairy was a statuette in coloured wax； modeled with
much taste and spirit by some novice hand。 But the phenomenon； even
thus reduced by a rational explanation； did not cease to excite my surprise。
How； and by whom； had the Lady of the Cosmography been enabled to
assume plastic existence？ That was what remained for me to learn。
Turning towards Madame de Gabry； I perceived that she was not alone。
A young girl dressed in black was standing beside her。 She had large
intelligent eyes； of a grey as sweet as that of the sky of the Isle of France；
and at once artless and characteristic in their expression。 At the extremities
of her rather thin arms were fidgeting uneasily two slender hands； supple
but slightly red； as it becomes the hands of young girls to be。 Sheathed in
her closely fitting merino robe； she had the slim grace of a young tree； and
her large mouth bespoke frankness。 I could not describe how much the
child pleased me at first sight！ She was not beautiful； but the three dimples
of her cheeks and chin seemed to laugh； and her whole person； which
revealed the awkwardness of innocence； had something in it indescribably
good and sincere。
My gaze alternated from the statuette to the young girl； and I saw her
blushso frankly and fully！the crimson passing over her face as by
waves。
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〃Well；〃 said my hostess； who had become sufficiently accustomed to
my distracted moods to put the same question to me twice； 〃is that the
very same lady who came in to see you through the window that you left
open？ She was very saucy； but then you were quite imprudent！ Anyhow；
do you recognise her？〃
〃It is her very self；〃 I replied； 〃I see her now on that pier…table
precisely as I saw her on the table in the library。〃
〃Then； if that be so；〃 replied Madame de Gabry； 〃you have to blame
for it； in the first place； yourself； as a man who； although devoid of all
imagination； to use your own words； knew how to depict your dream in
such vivid colours； in the second place； me； who was able to remember
and repeat faithfully all your dream； and lastly； Mademoiselle Jeanne；
whom I now introduce to you； for she herself modeled that wax figure
precisely according to my instructions。〃
Madame de Gabry had taken the young girl's hand as she spoke； but
the latter had suddenly broken away from her； and was already running
through the park with the speed of a bird。
〃Little crazy creature！〃 Madame de Gabry cried after her。 〃How can
one be so shy？ Come back here to be scolded and kissed！〃
But it was all of no avail； the frightened child disappeared among the
shrubbery。 Madame de Gabry seated herself in the only chair remaining in
the dilapidated parlour。
〃I should be much surprised；〃 she said； 〃If my husband had not already
spoken to you of Jeanne。 She is a sweet child； and we both lover her very
much。 Tell me the plain truth； what do you think of her statuette？〃
I replied that the work was full of good taste and spirit； but that it
showed some want of study and practice on the author's part； otherwise I
had been extremely touched to think that those young fingers should have
thus embroidered an old man's rough sketch of fancy； and given form so
brilliantly to the dreams of a dotard like myself。
〃The reason I ask your opinion；〃 replied Madame de Gabry； seriously；
〃is that Jeanne is a poor orphan。 Do you think she could earn her living by
modelling statuettes like this one？〃
〃As for that； no！〃 I replied； 〃and I think there is no reason to regret the
