the crime of sylvestre bonnard(西维斯特·博拉德的罪行)-第43章
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than would those Preces Piae compiled for the use of Queen Claude。 I
have taken great pains to collect and to preserve all those rare and curious
editions which people the City of Books； and for a long time I used to
believe that they were as necessary to my life as air and light。 I have loved
them well； and even now I cannot prevent myself from smiling at them
and caressing them。 Those morocco bindings are so delightful to the eye！
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These old vellums are so soft to the touch！ There is not a single one
among those books which is not worthy； by reason of some special merit；
to command the respect of an honourable man。 What other owner would
ever know how to dip into hem in the proper way？ Can I be even sure that
another owner would not leave them to decay in neglect； or mutilate them
at the prompting of some ignorant whim？ Into whose hands will fall that
incomparable copy of the 〃Histoire de l'Abbaye de Saint…Germain…des…
Pres；〃 on the margins of which the author himself； in the person of Jacques
Bouillard； made such substantial notes in his own handwriting？。。。 Master
Bonnard； you are an old fool！ Your housekeeperpoor soul！is nailed
down upon her bed with a merciless attack of rheumatism。 Jeanne is to
come with her chaperon； and； instead of thinking how you are going to
receive them； you are thinking about a thousand stupidities。 Sylvestre
Bonnard； you will never succeed at anything in this world； and it is I
myself who tell you so！
And at this very moment I catch sight of them from my window； as
they get out of the omnibus。 Jeanne leaps down lie a kitten； but
Mademoiselle Prefere intrusts herself to the strong arm of the conductor；
with the shy grace of a Virginia recovering after the shipwreck； and this
time quite resigned to being saved。 Jeanne looks up； sees me； laughs； and
Mademoiselle Prefere has to prevent her from waving her umbrella at me
as a friendly signal。 There is a certain stage of cvilisation to which
Mademoiselle Jeanne never can be brought。 You can teach her all the arts
if you like （it is not exactly to Mademoiselle Prefere that I am now
speaking）； but you will never be able to teach her perfect manners。 As a
charming child she makes the mistake of being charming only in her own
way。 Only an old fool like myself could forgive her pranks。 As for young
foolsand there are several of them still to be foundI do not know what
they would think about it； and what they might think is none of my
business。 Just look at her running along the pavement； wrapped in her
cloak； with her hat tilted back on her head； and her feather fluttering in the
wind； like a schooner in full rig！ And really she has a grace of poise and
motion which suggests a fine sailing…vessel so much so； indeed； that she
makes me remember seeing one day； when I was at Havre。。。。 But； Bonnard；
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my friend； how many times is it necessary to tell you that your
housekeeper is in bed； and that you must go and open the door yourself？
Open； Old Man Winter！ 'tis Spring who rings the bell。
It is Jeanne herselfJeanne is all flushed like a rose。 Mademoiselle
Prefere； indignant and out of breath； has still another whole flight to climb
before reaching our lobby。
I explained the condition of my housekeeper； and proposed that we
should dine at a restaurant。 But Thereseall…powerful still； even upon her
sick…beddecided that we should dine at home； whether we wanted to or
no。 Respectable people； in her opinion； never dined at restaurants。
Moreover； she had made all necessary arrangements the dinner had been
bought； the concierge would cook it。
The audacious Jeanne insisted upon going to see whether the old
woman wanted anything。 As you might suppose； she was sent back to the
parlour with short shrift； but not so harshly as I had feared。
〃If I want anybody to do anything for me； which； thank God； I do not；〃
Therese had replied； 〃I would get somebody less delicate and dainty than
you are。 What I want is rest。 That is a merchandise which is not sold at
fairs under the sign of 'Motus with finger on lip。' Go and have your fun；
and don't stay herefor old age might be catching。〃
Jeanne； after telling us what she had said； added that she liked very
much to hear old Therese talk。 Whereupon Mademoiselle Prefere
reproached her for expressing such unladylike tastes。
I tried to excuse her by citing the example of Moliere。 Just at that
moment it came to pass that； while climbing the ladder to get a book； she
upset a whole shelf…row。 There was a heavy crash； and Mademoiselle
Prefere； being； of course； a very delicate person； almost fainted。 Jeanne
quickly followed the books to the foot of the ladder。 she made one think of
a kitten suddenly transformed into a woman； catching mice which had
been transformed into old books。 While picking them up； she found one
which happened to interest her； and she began to read it； squatting down
upon her heels。 It was the 〃Prince Grenouille；〃 she told us。 Mademoiselle
Prefere took occasion to complain that Jeanne had so little taste for poetry。
It was impossible to get her to recite Casimir Delavigne's poem on the
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death of Joan of Arc without mistakes。 It was the very most she could do
to learn 〃Le Petit Savoyard。〃 The schoolmistress did not think that any one
should read the 〃Prince Grenouille〃 before learning by heart the stanzas to
Duperrier； and； carried away by her enthusiasm； she began to recite them
in a voice sweeter than the bleating of a sheep：
〃 Ta douleur； Duperrier； sera donc eternelle； Et les tristes discours Que
te met en l'esprit l'amitie paternelle L'augmenteront toujours；
。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
〃 Je sais de quels appas son enfance etait pleine； Et n'ai pas entrepris；
Injurieux ami； de consoler ta peine Avecque son mepris。〃
Then in ecstacy； she exclaimed；
〃How beautiful that is！ What harmony！ How is it possible for any one
not to admire such exquisite； such touching verses！ But why did Malherbe
call that poor Monsieur Duperrier his injurieux ami at a time when he had
been so severely tied by the death of his daughter？ Injurieux amiyou
must acknowledge that the term is very harsh。〃
I explained to this poetical person that the phrase 〃Injurieux ami；〃
which shocked her so much； was in apposition； etc。 etc。 What I said；
however； had so little effect towards clearing her head that she was seized
with a severe and prolonged fit of sneezing。 Meanwhile it was evident that
the history of 〃Prince Grenouille〃 had proved extremely funny； for it was
all that Jeanne could do； as she crouched down there on the carpet； to keep
herself from bursting into a wild fit of laughter。 But when she had finished
with the prince and princess of the story；
