You must remember, on the contrary---"
Monsieur de Gabry here interrupted me:
"So," he exclaimed, "you know of the Ordonnacne de Blois, you know Baluze, you know Childebert, you know the Capitularies--and you don't know anything about the Code-Napoleon!"I replied that, as a matter of fact, I never had read the Code; and he looked very much surprised.
"And now do you understand," he asked, "the extreme gravity of the action you have committed?"I had not indeed been yet able to understand it fully.But little by little, with the aid of Monsieur Paul's very sensible explanations, I reached the conviction at last that I should not be judged in regard to my motives, which were innocent, but only according to my action, which was punishable.Thereupon I began to feel very despondent, and to utter divers lamentations.
"What am I to do?" I cried out, "what am I to do? Am I then irretrievably ruined?--and have I also ruined the poor child whom Iwanted to save?"
Monsieur de Gabry silently filled his pipe, and lighted it so slowly that his kind broad face remained for at least three or four minutes glowing red behind the light, like a blacksmith's in the gleam of his forge-fire.Then he said, "You want to know what to do? Why, don't do anything, my dear Monsieur Bonnard! For God's sake, and for your own sake, don't do anything at all! Your situation is bad enough as it is; don't try to meddle with it now, unless you want to create new difficulties for yourself.But you must promise me to sustain me in any action that I may take.I shall go to see Monsieur Mouche the very first thing to-morrow morning; and if he turns out to be what I think he is--that is to say, a consummate rascal--I shall very soon find means of making him harmless, even if the devil himself should take sides with him.For everything depends on him.As it is too late this evening to take Mademoiselle Jeanne back to her boarding-school, my wife will keep the young lady here to-night.This of course plainly constitues the misdemeanour of complicity; but it saves the girl from anything like an equivocal position.As for you, my dear Monsieur, you just go back to the Quai Malaquais as quickly as you can; and if they come to look for Jeanne there, it will be very easy for you to prove she is not in your house."While we were thus talking, Madame de Gabry was preparing to make her young lodger comfortable for the night.When she bade me good-bye at the door, she was carrying a pair of clean sheets, scented with lavender, thrown over her arm.
"That," I said, "is a sweet honest smell.""Well, of course," answered Madame de Gabry, "you must remember we are peasants.""Ah!" I answered her, "heaven grant that I also may be able one of these days ti becine a peasant! Heaven grant that one of these days I may be able, as you are at Lusance, to inhale the sweet fresh odour of the country, and live in some little house all hidden among trees;and if this wish of mine be too ambitious on the part of an old man whose life is nearly closed, then I will only wish that my winding-sheet may be as sweetly scented with lavender as that linen you have on your arm."It was agreed that I should come to lunch the following morning.But I was positively forbidden to show myself at the house before midday.
Jeanne, as she kissed me good-bye, begged me not to take her back to the school any more.We felt much affected at parting, and very anxious.
I found Therese waiting for me on the landing, in such a condition of worry about me that it had made her furious.She talked of nothing less than keeping me under lock and key in the future.
What a night I passed! I never closed my eyes for one single instant.
From time to time I could not help laughing like a boy at the success of my prank; and then again, an inexpressible feeling of horror would come upon me at the thought of being dragged before some magistrate, and having to take my place upon the prisoner's bench, to answer for the crime which I had so naturally committed.I was very much afraid; and nevertheless I felt no remorse or regret whatever.The sun, coming into my room at last, merrily lighted upon the foot of my bed, and then I made this prayer:
"My God, Thou who didst make the sky and the dew, as it is said in 'Tristan,' judge me in Thine equity, not indeed according unto my acts, but according only to my motives, which Thou knowest have been upright and pure; and I will say: Glory to Thee in heaven, and peace on earth to men of good-will.I give into Thy hands the child I stole away.Do that for her which I have not known how to do; guard for her from all her enemies;--and blessed for ever be Thy name!"December 29.
When I arrived at Madame de Gabry's, I found Jeanne completely transfigured.
Had she also, like myself, at the very first light of dawn, called upon Him who made the sky and the dew? She smiled with such a sweet calm smile!
Madame de Gabry called her away to arrange her hair for the amiable lady had insisted upon combing and plaiting, with her own hands, the hair of the child confided to her care.As I had come a little before the hour agreed upon, I had interrupted this charming toilet.
By way of punishment I was told to go and wait in the parlour all by myself.Monsieur de Gabry joined me there in a little while.
He had evidently just come in, for I could see on his forehead the mark left my the lining of his hat.His frank face wore an expression of joyful excitement.I thought I had better not ask him any questions; and we all went to lunch.When the servants had finished waiting at table, Monsieur Paul, who had been keeping his good story for the dessert, said to us, "Well! I went to Levallois.""Did you see Maitre Mouche?" excitedly inquired Madame de Gabry.
"No," he replied, curiously watching the expression of disappointment upon our faces.
After having amused himself with our anxiety for a reasonable time, the good fellow added:
