Chapter 4
When I heard that Emile had this mysterious butterfly, I was ecstatic and couldn't wait for the moment I could see it.
As soon as I was able to go out after lunch, I crossed the courtyard and went up to the fourth floor of the house next door.
There, the teacher's son had his own room, albeit a small one.
I can't tell you how envious I was of that.
On the way, I met no one.
When I reached the fourth floor, I knocked on the door, but there was no answer.
Emile was not there.
I turned the door handle and found it open.
I went inside, hoping to at least see the butterfly.
I immediately picked up the two large boxes where Emile kept his collection.
I couldn't find it in either box, but it occurred to me that the butterfly might still be on the display board.
And sure enough, there it was.
The Sloe Emperor Moth's auburn velvet wings were stretched across strips of paper, holding it in place on a display board.
I crouched over it and examined every detail up close: its hairy reddish-brown antennae, the elegant, infinitely subtly colored wing edges, and the fine, woolly hairs on the inner edges of its lower wings.
Unfortunately, I couldn't see the famous spots.
They were hidden beneath the strip.
My heart pounding, I resisted the temptation to remove the paper and instead removed the needle.
Then the four large, mysterious spots stared back at me, far more beautiful and magnificent than in the illustration.
I felt an irresistible desire to possess this treasure, and for the first time in my life, I committed theft.
