the crime of sylvestre bonnard-第9节

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　pleasant　thing；　Madame；　while　travelling　over　the　mountains　at　midnight；　to　find　the　muzzle　of　a　carbine　suddenly　pressed　against　your　forehead？〃

〃Oh；　no！〃　she　replied；　〃the　comic…operas　have　made　carbines　absolutely　ridiculous；　and　it　would　be　a　great　misfortune　to　any　young　woman　to　find　herself　in　danger　from　an　absurd　weapon。　　But　it　would　be　quite　different　with　a　knifea　very　cold　and　very　bright　knife　blade；　which　makes　a　cold　shudder　go　right　through　one's　heart。〃

She　shuddered　even　as　she　spoke；　closed　her　eyes；　and　threw　her　head　back。　　Then　she　resumed：

〃People　like　you　are　so　happy！　　You　can　interest　yourselves　in　all　sorts　of　things！〃

She　gave　a　sidelong　look　at　her　husband；　who　was　talking　with　the　innkeeper。　　Then　she　leaned　towards　me；　and　murmured　very　low：

〃You　see；　Dimitri　and　I；　we　are　both　suffering　from　ennui！　　We　have　still　the　match…boxes。　　But　at　last　one　gets　tired　even　of　match…boxes。　　Besides；　our　collection　will　soon　be　complete。　　And　then　what　are　we　going　to　do？〃

〃Oh；　Madame！〃　I　exclaimed；　touched　by　the　moral　unhappiness　of　this　pretty　person；　〃if　you　only　had　a　son；　then　you　would　know　what　to　do。　　You　would　then　learn　the　purpose　of　your　life；　and　your　thoughts　would　become　at　once　more　serious　and　yet　more　cheerful。〃

〃But　I　have　a　son；〃　she　replied。　　〃He　is　a　big　boy；　he　is　eleven　years　old；　and　he　suffers　from　ennui　like　the　rest　of　us。　　Yes；　my　George　has　ennui；　too；　he　is　tired　of　everything。　　It　is　very　wretched。〃

She　glanced　again　towards　her　husband；　who　was　superintending　the　harnessing　of　the　mules　on　the　road　outsidetesting　the　condition　of　girths　and　straps。　　Then　she　asked　me　whether　there　had　been　many　changes　on　the　Quai　Malaquais　during　the　past　ten　years。　　She　declared　she　never　visited　that　neighbourhood　because　it　was　too　far　way。

〃Too　far　from　Monte　Allegro？〃　I　queried。

〃Why；　no！〃　she　replied。　　〃Too　far　from　the　Avenue　des　Champs　Elysees；　where　we　live。〃

And　she　murmured　over　again；　as　if　talking　to　herself；　〃Too　far！too　far！〃　in　a　tone　of　reverie　which　I　could　not　possibly　account　for。　All　at　once　she　smiled　again；　and　said　to　me；

〃I　like　you；　Monsieur　Bonnard！I　like　you　very；　very　much！〃

The　mules　had　been　harnessed。　　The　young　woman　hastily　picked　up　a　few　oranges　which　had　rolled　off　her　lap；　rose　up；　looked　at　me；　and　burst　out　laughing。

〃Oh！〃　she　exclaimed；　〃how　I　should　like　to　see　you　grappling　with　the　brigands！　　You　would　say　such　extraordinary　things　to　them！。。。　　Please　take　my　hat；　and　hold　my　umbrella　for　me；　Monsieur　Bonnard。〃

〃What　a　strange　little　mind！〃　I　thought　to　myself；　as　I　followed　her。　　〃It　could　only　have　been　in　a　moment　of　inexcusable　thoughtlessness　that　Nature　gave　a　child　to　such　a　giddy　little　woman！〃



Girgenti。　　Same　day。


Her　manners　had　shocked　me。　　I　left　her　to　arrange　herself　in　her　lettica；　and　I　made　myself　as　comfortable　as　I　could　in　my　own。　These　vehicles；　which　have　no　wheels；　are　carried　by　two　mulesone　before　and　one　behind。　　This　kind　of　litter；　or　chaise；　is　of　ancient　origin。　　I　had　often　seen　representations　of　similar　ones　in　the　French　MSS。　of　the　fourteenth　century。　　I　had　no　idea　then　that　one　of　those　vehicles　would　be　at　a　future　day　placed　at　my　own　disposal。　We　must　never　be　too　sure　of　anything。

For　three　hours　the　mules　sounded　their　little　bells；　and　thumped　the　calcined　ground　with　their　hoofs。　　On　either　hand　there　slowly　defiled　by　us　the　barren　monstrous　shapes　of　a　nature　totally　African。

Half…way　we　made　a　halt　to　allow　our　animals　to　recover　breath。

Madame　Trepof　came　to　me　on　the　road；　took　my　arm；　and　drew　me　a　little　away　from　the　party。　　Then；　very　suddenly；　she　said　to　me　in　a　tone　of　voice　I　had　never　heard　before：

〃Do　not　think　that　I　am　a　wicked　woman。　　My　George　knows　that　I　am　a　good　mother。〃

We　walked　side　by　side　for　a　moment　in　silence。　　She　looked　up；　and　I　saw　that　she　was　crying。

〃Madame；〃　I　said　to　her；　〃look　at　this　soil　which　has　been　burned　and　cracked　by　five　long　months　of　fiery　heat。　　A　little　white　lily　has　sprung　up　from　it。〃

And　I　pointed　with　my　cane　to　the　frail　stalk；　tipped　by　a　double　blossom。

〃Your　heart；〃　I　said；　〃however　arid　it　be；　bears　also　its　white　lily；　and　that　is　reason　enough　why　I　do　not　believe　that　you　are　what　you　saya　wicked　woman。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　yes！〃　she　cried；　with　the　obstinacy　of　a　child〃I　am　a　wicked　woman。　　But　I　am　ashamed　to　appear　so　before　you　who　are　so　goodso　very；　very　good。〃

〃You　do　not　know　anything　at　all　about　it；〃　I　said　to　her。

〃I　know　it！　　I　know　all　about　you；　Monsieur　Bonnard！〃　she　declared；　with　a　smile。

And　she　jumped　back　into　her　lettica。



Girgenti；　November　30；　1859。


I　awoke　the　following　morning　in　the　House　of　Gellias。　　Gellias　was　a　rich　citizen　of　ancient　Agrigentum。　　He　was　equally　celebrated　for　his　generosity　and　for　his　wealth；　and　he　endowed　his　native　city　with　a　great　number　of　free　inns。　　Gellias　has　been　dead　for　thirteen　hundred　years；　and　nowadays　there　is　no　gratuitous　hospitality　among　civilised　peoples。　　But　the　name　of　Gellias　has　become　that　of　a　hotel　in　which；　by　reason　of　fatigue；　I　was　able　to　obtain　one　good　night's　sleep。

The　modern　Girgenti　lifts　its　high；　narrow；　solid　streets；　dominated　by　a　sombre　Spanish　cathedral；　upon　the　side　of　the　acropolis　of　the　antique　Agrigentum。　　I　can　see　from　my　windows；　half…way　on　the　hillside　towards　the　sea；　the　white　range　of　temples　partially　destroyed。　　The　ruins　alone　have　some　aspect　of　coolness。　　All　the　rest　is　arid。　　Water　and　life　have　forsaken　Agrigentine。　　Waterthe　divine　Nestis　of　the　Agrigentine　Empedoclesis　so　necessary　to　animated　beings　that　nothing　can　live　far　from　the　rivers　and　the　springs。　　But　the　port　of　Girgenti；　situated　at　a　distance　of　three　kilometres　from　the　city；　has　a　great　commerce。　　〃And　it　is　in　this　dismal　city；〃　I　said　to　myself；　〃upon　this　precipitous　rock；　that　the　manuscript　of　Clerk　Alexander　is　to　be　found！〃　　I　asked　my　way　to　the　house　of　Signor　Michel…Angelo　Polizzi；　and　proceeded　thither。

I　found　Signor　Polizzi；　dressed　all　in　white　from　head　to　feet；　busy　cooking　sausages　in　a　frying…pan。　　At　the　sight　of　me；　he　let　go　the　frying…pan；　threw　up　his　arms　in　the　air；　and　uttered　shrieks　of　enthusiasm。　　He　was　a　little　man　whose　pimply　features；　aquiline　nose；　round　eyes；　and　projecting　chin　formed　a　very　expressive　physiognomy。

He　called　me　〃Excellence；〃　said　he　was　going　to　mark　the　day　with　a　white　stone；　and　made　me　sit　down。　　The　hall　in　which　we　were　represented　the　union　of　the　kitchen；　reception…room；　bedchamber；　studio；　and　wine…cellar。　　There　were　charcoal　furnaces　visible；　a　bed；　paintings；　an　easel；　bottles；　strings　of　onions；　and　a　magnificent　lustre　of　coloured　glass　pendants。　　I　glanced　at　the　paintings　on　the　wall。

〃The　arts！　the　arts！〃　cried　Signor　Polizzi；　throwing　up　his　arms　again　to　heaven〃the　arts！　　What　dignity！　what　consolation！　Excellence；　I　am　a　painter！〃

And　he　showed　me　an　unfinished　Saint…Francis；　which　indeed　could　very　well　remain　unfinished　for　ever　without　any　loss　to　religion　or　to　art。　　Next　he　showed　me　some　old　paintings　of　a　better　style；　but　apparently　restored　after　a　decidedly　reckless　manner。

〃I　repair；〃　he　said〃I　repair　old　paintings。　　Oh；　the　Old　Masters！　What　genius；　what　soul！〃

〃Why；　then；〃　I　said　to　him；　〃you　must　be　a　painter；　an　archaeologist；　and　a　wine…merchant　all　in　one？〃

〃At　your　service；　Excellence；〃　he　answered。　　〃I　have　a　zucco　here　at　this　very　momenta　zucco　of　which　every　single　drop　is　a　pearl　of　fire。　　I　want　your　Lordship　to　taste　of　it。〃

〃I　esteem　the　wines　of　Sicily；〃　I　responded；　〃but　it　was　not　for　the　sake　of　your　flagons　that　I　came　to　see　you　；　Signor　Polizzi。〃

He：　　〃Then　you　have　come　to　see　me　about　paintings。　　You　are　an　amateur。　　It　is　an　immense　delight　for　me　to　receive　amateurs。　　I　am　going　to　show　you　the　chef…d'oeuvre　of　Monrealese；　yes；　Excellence；　his　chef…d'oeuvre！　　An　Adoration　of　Shepherds！　　It　is　the　pearl　of　the　whole　Sicilian　school！〃

I：　　〃Later　on　I　will　be　glad　to　see　the　chef…d'oeuvre；　but　let　us　first　talk　about　the　business　which　brings　me　here。〃

His　little　quick　bright　eyes　watched　my　face　curiously；　and　I　perceived；　with　anguish；　that　he　had　not　the　least　suspicion　of　the　purpose　of　my　visit。

A　cold　sweat　broke　out　over　my　forehead；　and　in　the　bewilderment　of　my　anxiety　I　stammered　out　something　to　this　effect：

〃I　have　come　from　Paris　expressly　to　look　at　a　manuscript　of　the　Legende　Doree；　which　you　informed　me　was　in　your　possession。〃

At　these　words　he　threw　up　his　arms；　opened　his　mouth　and　eyes　to　the　widest　possible　extent；　and　betrayed　every　sign　of　extreme　nervousness。

〃Oh！　the　manuscript　of　the　'Golden　Legend！'　　A　pearl；　Excellence！　a　ruby；　a　diamond！　　Two　miniatures　so　perfect　that　they　give　one　the　feeling　of　glimpses　of　Paradise！　　What　suavity！　　Those　colours　ravished　from　the　corollas　of　flowers　make　a　honey　for　the　eyes！　Even　a　Sicilian　could　have　done　no　better！〃

〃Let　me　see　it；　then；〃　I　asked；　unable　to　conceal　either　my　anxiety　or　my　hope。

〃Let　you　see　it！〃　cried　Polizzi。　　〃But　how　can　I；　Excellence？　　I　have　not　got　it　any　longer！　　I　have　not　got　it！〃

And　he　seemed　determined　to　tear