CHAPTER XXVIII. THE WATCHGUARD.

ancingandrecedingunseenthethirdtimemyeyehadscarcedawnedbeyondtheobscurationofthedesk,whenitwascaughtandtransfixedthroughitsverypupil—transfixedbythe“lunettes.”Rosinewasrighttheseutensilshadinthemablankandimmutableterror,beyondthemobilewrathofthewearer’sownunglazedeyes. Inowfoundtheadvantageofproximity:theseshort-sighted“lunettes”wereuselessfortheinspectionofacriminalunderMonsieur’snoseaccordingly,hedoffedthem,andheandIstoodonmoreequalterms. IamgladIwasnotreallymuchafraidofhim—that,indeed,closeinhispresence,Ifeltnoterroratallforuponhisdemandingcordandgibbettoexecutethesentencerecentlypronounced,Iwasabletofurnishhimwithaneedlefulofembroideringthreadwithsuchaccommodatingcivilityascouldnotbutallaysomeportionatleastofhissurplusirritation.OfcourseIdidnotparadethiscourtesybeforepublicview:Imerelyhandedthethreadroundtheangleofthedesk,andattachedit,readynoosed,tothebarredbackoftheProfessor’schair. “Quemevoulez-vous?”saidheinagrowlofwhichthemusicwaswhollyconfinedtohischestandthroat,forhekepthisteethclenchedandseemedregisteringtohimselfaninwardvowthatnothingearthlyshouldwringfromhimasmile. Myanswercommenceduncompromisingly:“Monsieur,”Isaid,“jeveuxl’impossible,deschosesinou?es”andthinkingitbestnottomincematters,buttoadministerthe“douche”withdecision,inalowbutquickvoice,IdeliveredtheAthenianmessage,floridlyexaggeratingitsurgency. Ofcourse,hewouldnothearawordofit.“Hewouldnotgohewouldnotleavehispresentclass,letalltheofficialsofVillettesendforhim.Hewouldnotputhimselfaninchoutofhiswayatthebiddingofking,cabinet,andchamberstogether.” Iknew,however,thathemustgothat,talkashewould,bothhisdutyandinterestcommandedanimmediateandliteralcompliancewiththesummons:Istood,therefore,waitinginsilence,asifhehadnotyetspoken.HeaskedwhatmoreIwanted. “OnlyMonsieur’sanswertodelivertothecommissionaire.” Hewavedanimpatientnegative. Iventuredtostretchmyhandtothebonnet-grecwhichlayingrimreposeonthewindow-sill.Hefollowedthisdaringmovementwithhiseye,nodoubtinmixedpityandamazementatitspresumption. “Ah!”hemuttered,“ifitcametothat—ifMissLucymeddledwithhisbonnet-grec—shemightjustputitonherself,turngar?onfortheoccasion,andbenevolentlygototheAthénéeinhisstead.” Withgreatrespect,Ilaidthebonnetonthedesk,whereitstasselseemedtogivemeanawfulnod. “I’llwriteanoteofapology—thatwilldo!”saidhe,stillbentonevasion. Knowingwellitwouldnotdo,Igentlypushedthebonnettowardshishand.Thusimpelled,itsliddownthepolishedslopeofthevarnishedandunbaizeddesk,carriedbeforeitthelightsteel-framed“lunettes,”and,fearfultorelate,theyfelltotheestrade.AscoreoftimeserenowhadIseenthemfallandreceivenodamage—thistime,asLucySnowe’shaplessluckwouldhaveit,theysofellthateachclearpebblebecameashiveredandshapelessstar. Now,indeed,dismayseizedme—dismayandregret.Iknewthevalueofthese“lunettes”:M.Paul’ssightwaspeculiar,noteasilyfitted,andtheseglassessuitedhim.Ihadheardhimcallthemhistreasures:asIpickedthemup,crackedandworthless,myhandtrembled.FrightenedthroughallmynervesIwastoseethemischiefIhaddone,butIthinkIwasevenmoresorrythanafraid.ForsomesecondsIdarednotlookthebereavedProfessorinthefacehewasthefirsttospeak. “Là!”saidhe:“mevoilàveufdemeslunettes!IthinkMademoiselleLucywillnowconfessthatthecordandgallowsareamplyearnedshetremblesinanticipationofherdoom.Ah,traitress!traitress!Youareresolvedtohavemequiteblindandhelplessinyourhands!” Iliftedmyeyes:hisface,insteadofbeingirate,lowering,andfurrowed,wasoverflowingwiththesmile,colouredwiththebloomIhadseenbrighteningitthateveningattheHotelCrécy.Hewasnotangry—notevengrieved.Fortherealinjuryheshowedhimselffullofclemencyundertherealprovocation,patientasasaint.Thisevent,whichseemedsountoward—whichIthoughthadruinedatoncemychanceofsuccessfulpersuasion—provedmybesthelp.DifficultofmanagementsolongasIhaddonehimnoharm,hebecamegraciouslypliantassoonasIstoodinhispresenceaconsciousandcontriteoffender. Stillgentlyrailingatmeas“unefortefemme—uneAnglaiseterrible—unepetitecasse-tout”—hedeclaredthathedarednotbutobeyonewhohadgivensuchaninstanceofherdangerousprowessitwasabsolutelylikethe“grandEmpereursmashingthevasetoinspiredismay.”So,atlast,crowninghimselfwithhisbonnet-grec,andtakinghisruined“lunettes”frommyhandwithaclaspofkindpardonandencouragement,hemadehisbow,andwentofftotheAthénéeinfirst-ratehumourandspirits. Afterallthisamiability,thereaderwillbesorryformysaketohe