858 Les Miserables
do, and hid herself, every time that she desired to contem-
plate it. If she heard a footstep in the corridor, she closed the
cupboard again as hastily as it was possible with her aged
hands. As soon as it was mentioned to her, she became si-
lent, she who was so fond of talking. The most curious were
baffled by her silence and the most tenacious by her obstina-
cy. Thus it furnished a subject of comment for all those who
were unoccupied or bored in the convent. What could that
treasure of the centenarian be, which was so precious and
so secret? Some holy book, no doubt? Some unique chaplet?
Some authentic relic? They lost themselves in conjectures.
When the poor old woman died, they rushed to her cup-
board more hastily than was fitting, perhaps, and opened it.
They found the object beneath a triple linen cloth, like some
consecrated paten. It was a Faenza platter representing little
Loves flitting away pursued by apothecary lads armed with
enormous syringes. The chase abounds in grimaces and in
comical postures. One of the charming little Loves is al-
ready fairly spitted. He is resisting, fluttering his tiny wings,
and still making an effort to fly, but the dancer is laugh-
ing with a satanical air. Moral: Love conquered by the colic.
This platter, which is very curious, and which had, possibly,
the honor of furnishing Moliere with an idea, was still in
existence in September, 1845; it was for sale by a bric-a-brac
merchant in the Boulevard Beaumarchais.
This good old woman would not receive any visits from
outside because, said she, the parlor is too gloomy.