the crime of sylvestre bonnard(西维斯特·博拉德的罪行)-第45节
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door。
I might have been there several minutes； when the little door quivered；
then opened； and a young girl's head made its appearance through the
opening。 I took hold of it； I pulled it towards me。
〃Come； Jeanne！ come！〃
She stared at me uneasily。 Certainly she must have been afraid that I
had gone mad； but； on the contrary； I was very rational indeed。
〃Come； my child！ come！〃
〃Where？〃
〃To Madame de Gabry's。〃
Then she took my arm。 For some time we ran like a couple of thieves。
But running is an exercise ill…suited to one as corpulent as I am； and；
finding myself out of breath at last； I stopped and leaned upon something
which turned out to be the stove of a dealer in roasted chestnuts； who was
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doing business at the corner of a wine… seller's shop； where a number of
cabmen were drinking。 One of them asked us if we did not want a cab。
Most assuredly we wanted a cab！ The driver； after setting down his glass
on the zinc counter； climbed upon his seat and urged his horse forward。
We were saved。
〃Phew！〃 I panted； wiping my forehead。 For； in spite of the cold； I was
perspiring profusely。
What seemed very odd was that Jeanne appeared to be much more
conscious than I was of the enormity which we had committed。 She
looked very serious indeed； and was visibly uneasy。
〃In the kitchen！〃 I cried out； with indignation。
She shook her head； as if to say； 〃Well； there or anywhere else； what
does it matter to me？〃 And by the light of the street…lamps； I observed with
pain that her face was very thin and her features all pinched。 I did not find
in her any of that vivacity； any of those bright impulses； any of that
quickness of expression； which used to please me so much。 Her gaze had
become timid； her gestures constrained； her whole attitude melancholy。 I
took her handa little cold hand； which had become all hardened and
bruised。 The poor child must have suffered very much。 I questioned her。
She told me very quietly that Mademoiselle Prefere had summoned her
one day； and called her a little monster and a little viper； for some reason
which she had never been able to learn。
She had added； 〃You shall not see Monsieur Bonnard any more； for he
has been giving you bad advice； and he has conducted himself in a most
shameful manner towards me。〃 〃I then said to her； 'That； Mademoiselle；
you will never be able to make me believe。' Then Mademoiselle slapped
my face and sent me back to the school…room。 The announcement that I
should never be allowed to see you again made me feel as if night had
come down upon me。 Don't you know those evenings when one feels so
sad to see the darkness come？well； just imagine such a moment stretched
out into weeksinto whole months！ Don't you remember my little Saint…
George？ Up to that time I had worked at it as well as I couldjust simply
to work at itjust to amuse myself。 But when I lost all hope of ever seeing
you again I took my little wax figure； and I began to work at it in quite
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another way。 I did not try to model it with wooden matches any more； as I
had been doing； but with hair pins。 I even made use of epingles a la neige。
But perhaps you do not know what epingles a la neige are？ Well； I became
more particular about than you can possibly imagine。 I put a dragon on
Saint…George's helmet； and I passed hours and hours in making a head and
eyes and tail for the dragon。 Oh the eyes！ the eyes； above all！ I never
stopped working at them till I got them so that they had red pupils and
white eye… lids and eye…brows and everything！ I know I am very silly； I
had an idea that I was going to die as soon as my little Saint…George would
be finished。 I worked at it during recreation…hours； and Mademoiselle
Prefere used to let me alone。 One day I learned that you were in the
parlour with the schoolmistress； I watched for you； we said 'Au revoir！'
that day to each other。 I was a little consoled by seeing you。 But； some
time after that； my guardian came and wanted to make me go to his
house；but please don't ask me why； Monsieur。 He answered me； quite
gently； that I was a very whimsical little girl。 And then he left me alone。
But the next day Mademoiselle Prefere came to me with such a wicked
look on her face that I was really afraid。 She had a letter in her hand。
'Mademoiselle；' she said to me； 'I am informed by your guardian that he
has spent all the money which belonged to you。 Don't be afraid！ I do not
intend to abandon you； but； you must acknowledge yourself； it is only
right that you should earn your own livelihood。' Then she put me to work
house…cleaning； and whenever I made a mistake she would lock me up in
the garet for days together。 And that is what has happened to me since I
saw you last。 Even if I had been able to write to you I do not know
whether I should have done it； because I did not think you could possibly
take me away from the school； and； as Maitre Mouche did not come back
to see me； there was no hurry。 I thought I could wait for awhile in the
garret and the kitchen。
〃Jeanne；〃 I cried； 〃even if we should have to flee to Oceania； the
abominable Prefere shall never get hold of you again。 I will take a great
oath on that！ And why should we not go to Oceania？ The climate is very
healthy； and I read in a newspaper the other day that they have pianos
there。 But； in the meantime； let us go to the house of Madame de Gabry；
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who returned to Paris； as luck would have it； some three or four days ago；
for you and I are two innocent fools； and we have great need of some one
to help us。〃
Even as I was speaking Jeanne's features suddenly became pale； and
seemed to shrink into lifelessness； her eyes became all dim； her lips； half
open； contracted with an expression of pain。 Then her head sank sideways
on her shoulder；she had fainted。
I lifter her in my arms； and carried her up Madame de Gabry's
staircase like a little baby asleep。 But I was myself on the point of fainting
from emotional excitement and fatigue together； when she came to herself
again。
〃Ah！ it is you。〃 she said： 〃so much the better！〃
Such was our condition when we rang our friend's door…bell。
Same day。
It was eight o'clock。 Madame de Gabry； as might be supposed； was
very much surprised by our unexpected appearance。 But she welcomed the
old man and the child with that glad kindness which always expresses
itself in her beautiful gestures。 It seems to me；if I might use the language
of devotion so familiar to her；it seems to me as though some heavenly
grace streams from her hands when ever she opens them； and even the
perfume which impregnates her robes seems to inspire the sweet calm zeal
of charity and good works。 Surprised she certainly was； but she asked us
no question；and that silence seemed to me admirable。
〃Madame；〃 I said to her； 〃we have both come to place ourselves under
your protection。 And； first of all； we are going to ask you to give us some
superor to give Jeanne some； at least； for a moment ago； in the carriage；
she fainted from weakness。 As for myself； I could not eat a bite at this late
hour without passing a night of agony in consequence。 I hope that
Monsieur de Gabry is well。〃
〃Oh； he is here！〃 she said。
And she called him immediately。
〃Come in here； Paul！ Come and see Monsieur Bonnard and
Mademoiselle Alexandre。〃
He came。 It was a pleasure for me to see his frank broad face； and to
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press his strong square hand。 Then we went； all four of us； into the dining…
room； and
