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my own pen； and I tried to smile。 Much more！I even found speech。
〃Madame；〃 I said； with dignified politeness； 〃you accord the honour of a visit not to a silly child； not to a boor； but to a bibliophile who is very happy to make your acquaintance； and who knows that long ago you used to make elf…knots in the manes of mares at the crib； drink the milk from the skimming…pails； slip graines…a…gratter down the backs of our great…grandmothers； make the hearth sputter in the faces of the old folks； and； in short； fill the house with disorder and gaiety。 You can also boast of giving the nicest frights in the world to lovers who stayed out in the woods too late of evenings。 But I thought you had vanished out of existence at least three centuries ago。 Can it really be； Madame； that you are still to be seen in this age of railways and telegraphs？ My concierge； who used to be a nurse in her young days； does not know your story； and my little boy…neighbour； whose nose is still wiped for him by his bonne； declares that you do not exist。〃
〃What do you yourself think about it？〃 she cried； in a silvery voice； straightening up her royal little figure in a very haughty fashion； and whipping the back of the 〃Cosmography of Munster〃 as though it were a hippogriff。
〃I don't really know；〃 I answered rubbing my eyes。
This reply； indicating a deeply scientific scepticism； had the most deplorable effect upon my questioner。
〃Monsieur Sylvestre Bonnard；〃 she said to me； 〃you are nothing but an old pedant。 I always suspected as much。 The smallest little ragamuffin who goes along the road with his shirt…tail sticking out through a hole in his pantaloons knows more about me than all the old spectacled folks in your Institutes and your Academies。 To know is nothing at all； to imagine is everything。 Nothing exists except that which is imagined。 I am imaginary。 That is what it is to exist； I should think！ I am dreamed of； and I appear。 Everything is only dream； and as nobody ever dreams about you； Sylvestre Bonnard； it is YOU who do not exist。 I charm the world； I am everywhereon a moon…beam； in the trembling of a hidden spring； in the moving of leaves that murmur； in the white vapours that rise each morning from the hollow meadow； in the thickets of pink briereverywhere！。。。 I am seen； I am loved。 There are sighs uttered； weird thrills of pleasure felt by those who follow the light print of my feet； as I make the dead leaves whisper。 I make the little children smile； I give wit to the dullest…minded nurses。 Leaning above the cradles； I play； I comfort； I lull to sleepand you doubt whether I exist！ Sylvestre Bonnard； your warm coat covers the hide of an ass！〃
She ceased speaking； her delicate nostrils swelled with indignation； and while I admired； despite my vexation； the heroic anger of this little person； hse pushed my pen about in the ink…bottle； backward and forward； like an oar； and then suddenly threw it at my nose； point first。
I rubbed by face； and felt it all covered with ink。 She had disappeared。 My lamp was extinguished。 A ray of moonlight streamed down through a window and descended upon the 〃Cosmography of Munster。〃 A strong cool wind； which had arisen very suddenly without my knowledge； was blowing my papers； pens； and wafers about。 My table was all stained with ink。 I had left my window open during the storm。 What an imprudence！
Chapter III
I wrote to my housekeeper； as I promised； that I was safe and sound。 But I took good care not to tell her that I had caught a cold from going to sleep in the library at night with the window open； for the good woman would have been as unsparing in her remonstrances to me as parliaments to kings。 〃At your age； Monsieur；〃 she would have been sure to say； 〃one ought to have more sense。〃 She is simple enough to believe that sense grows with age。 I seem to her an exception to this rule。
Not having any similar motive for concealing my experiences from Madame de Gabry； I told her all about my vision； which she seemed to enjoy very much。
〃Why； that was a charming dream of yours；〃 she said； 〃and one must have real genius to dream such a dream。〃
〃Then I am a real genius when I am asleep；〃 I responded。
〃When you dream；〃 she replied； 〃and you are always dreaming。〃
I know that Madame de Gabry； in making this remark； only wished to please me； but that intention alone deserves my utmost gratitude； and it is therefore in a spirit of thankfulness and kindliest remembrance that I write down her words； which I will read over and over again until my dying day； and which will never be read by any one save myself。
I passed the next few days in completing the inventory of the manuscripts in the Lusance library。 Certain confidential observations dropped by Monsieur Paul de Gabry； however； caused me some painful surprise； and made me decide to pursue the work after a different manner from that in which I had begun it。 From those few words I learned that the fortune of Monsieur Honore de Gabry； which had been badly managed for many years； and subsequently swept away to a large extent through the failure of a banker whose name I do not know； had been transmitted to the heirs of the old French nobleman only under the form of mortgaged real estate and irrecoverable assets。
Monsieur Paul； by agreement with his joint heirs； had decided to sell the library； and I was intrusted with the task of making arrangements to have the sale effected upon advantageous terms。 But totally ignorant as I was of all the business methods and trade…customs； I thought it best to get the advice of a publisher who was one of my private friends。 I wrote him at once to come and join me at Lusance； and while waiting for his arrival I took my hat and cane and made visits to the different churches of the diocese； in several of which I knew there were certain mortuary inscriptions to be found which had never been correctly copied。
So I left my hosts and departed my pilgrimage。 Exploring the churches and the cemeteries every day； visiting the parish priests and the village notaries； supping at the public inns with peddlers and cattle… dealers； sleeping at night between sheets scented with lavender； I passed one whole week in the quiet but profound enjoyment of observing the living engaged in their various daily occupations even while I was thinking of the dead。 As for the purpose of my researches； I made only a few mediocre discoveries； which caused me only a mediocre joy； and one therefore salubrious and not at all fatiguing。 I copied a few interesting epitaphs； and I added to this little collection a few recipes for cooking country dishes； which a certain good priest kindly gave me。
With these riches； I returned to Lusance； and I crossed the court… of…honour with such secret satisfaction as a bourgeois fells on entering his own home。 This was the effect of the kindness of my hosts； and the impression I received on crossing their threshold proves； better than any reasoning could do； the excellence of their hospitality。
I entered the great parlour without meeting anybody； and the young chestnut…tree there spreading out its broad leaves seemed to me like an old friend。 But the