original short stories-13-第21节

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certificate　of　indigency　from　the　commissary　of　police　of　their　district。
If　you　knew　how　distressing　it　is　to　see　them　come　in！　　I　visited　their
part　of　our　building　once　only；　and　I　will　never　go　again。　　The　place
itself　is　almost　as　good　as　this　part；　almost　as　luxurious　and
comfortable；　but　they　themselves　。　　。　　。　　they　themselves！！！　　If　you
could　see　them　arriving；　the　old　men　in　rags　coming　to　die；　persons　who
have　been　dying　of　misery　for　months；　picking　up　their　food　at　the　edges
of　the　curbstone　like　dogs　in　the　street；　women　in　rags；　emaciated；　sick；
paralyzed；　incapable　of　making　a　living；　who　say　to　us　after　they　have
told　us　their　story：　'You　see　that　things　cannot　go　on　like　that；　as　I
cannot　work　any　longer　or　earn　anything。'　　I　saw　one　woman　of　eighty…
seven　who　had　lost　all　her　children　and　grandchildren；　and　who　for　the
last　six　weeks　had　been　sleeping　out　of　doors。　　It　made　me　ill　to　hear　of
it。　　Then　we　have　so　many　different　cases；　without　counting　those　who　say
nothing；　but　simply　ask：　'Where　is　it？'　　These　are　admitted　at　once　and
it　is　all　over　in　a　minute。〃

With　a　pang　at　my　heart　I　repeated：

〃And　。　　。　　。　　where　is　it？〃

〃Here；〃　and　he　opened　a　door；　adding：

〃Go　in；　this　is　the　part　specially　reserved　for　club　members；　and　the　one
least　used。　　We　have　so　far　had　only　eleven　annihilations　here。〃

〃Ah！　　You　call　that　an　。　　。　　。　　annihilation！〃

〃Yes；　monsieur。　　Go　in。〃

I　hesitated。　　At　length　I　went　in。　　It　was　a　wide　corridor；　a　sort　of
greenhouse　in　which　panes　of　glass　of　pale　blue；　tender　pink　and　delicate
green　gave　the　poetic　charm　of　landscapes　to　the　inclosing　walls。
In　this　pretty　salon　there　were　divans；　magnificent　palms；　flowers；
especially　roses　of　balmy　fragrance；　books　on　the　tables；　the　Revue　des
Deuxmondes；　cigars　in　government　boxes；　and；　what　surprised　me；　Vichy
pastilles　in　a　bonbonniere。

As　I　expressed　my　surprise；　my　guide　said：

〃Oh；　they　often　come　here　to　chat。〃　　He　continued：　〃The　public　corridors
are　similar；　but　more　simply　furnished。〃

In　reply　to　a　question　of　mine；　he　pointed　to　a　couch　covered　with　creamy
crepe　de　Chine　with　white　embroidery；　beneath　a　large　shrub　of　unknown
variety　at　the　foot　of　which　was　a　circular　bed　of　mignonette。

The　secretary　added　in　a　lower　tone：

〃We　change　the　flower　and　the　perfume　at　will；　for　our　gas；　which　is
quite　imperceptible；　gives　death　the　fragrance　of　the　suicide's　favorite
flower。　　It　is　volatilized　with　essences。　　Would　you　like　to　inhale　it
for　a　second？〃

〃'No；　thank　you；〃　I　said　hastily；　〃not　yet　。　　。　　。　　。〃

He　began　to　laugh。

〃Oh；　monsieur；　there　is　no　danger。　　I　have　tried　it　myself　several
times。〃

I　was　afraid　he　would　think　me　a　coward；　and　I　said：

〃Well；　I'll　try　it。〃

〃Stretch　yourself　out　on　the　'endormeuse。〃'

A　little　uneasy　I　seated　myself　on　the　low　couch　covered　with　crepe　de
Chine　and　stretched　myself　full　length；　and　was　at　once　bathed　in　a
delicious　odor　of　mignonette。　　I　opened　my　mouth　in　order　to　breathe　it
in；　for　my　mind　had　already　become　stupefied　and　forgetful　of　the　past
and　was　a　prey；　in　the　first　stages　of　asphyxia；　to　the　enchanting
intoxication　of　a　destroying　and　magic　opium。

Some　one　shook　me　by　the　arm。

〃Oh；　oh；　monsieur；〃　said　the　secretary；　laughing；　〃it　looks　to　me　as　if
you　were　almost　caught。〃

But　a　voice；　a　real　voice；　and　no　longer　a　dream　voice；　greeted　me　with
the　peasant　intonation：

〃Good　morning；　m'sieu。　　How　goes　it？〃

My　dream　was　over。　　I　saw　the　Seine　distinctly　in　the　sunlight；　and；
coming　along　a　path；　the　garde　champetre　of　the　district；　who　with　his
right　hand　touched　his　kepi　braided　in　silver。　　I　replied：

〃Good　morning；　Marinel。　　Where　are　you　going？〃

〃I　am　going　to　look　at　a　drowned　man　whom　they　fished　up　near　the
Morillons。　　Another　who　has　thrown　himself　into　the　soup。　　He　even　took
off　his　trousers　in　order　to　tie　his　legs　together　with　them。〃






End