the wandering jew, volume 5-第11部分

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character。　　Your　obedience　and　mildness　were　above　all　exemplary。　　You
made　rapid　progress　in　your　studies。　　I　knew　not　then　to　what　career　you
wished　to　devote　yourself；　but　I　felt　certain　that；　in　every　station　of
life；　you　would　remain　a　faithful　son　of　the　Church。　　I　was　not　deceived
in　my　hopes；　or　rather；　my　dear　son；　you　surpassed　them　all。　　Learning；
by　a　friendly　communication；　that　your　adopted　mother　ardently　desired　to
see　you　take　orders；　you　acceded　generously　and　religiously　to　the　wish
of　the　excellent　woman　to　whom　you　owed　so　much。　　But　as　the　Lord　is
always　just　in　His　recompenses；　He　willed　that　the　most　touching　work　of
gratitude　you　could　show　to　your　adopted　mother；　should　at　the　same　time
be　divinely　profitable　by　making　you　one　of　the　militant　members　of　our
holy　Church。〃

At　these　words；　Gabriel　could　not　repress　a　significant　start；　as　he
remembered　Frances'　sad　confidences。　　But　he　restrained　himself；　whilst
Rodin　stood　leaning　with　his　elbow　on　the　corner　of　the　chimney…piece；
continuing　to　examine　him　with　singular　and　obstinate　attention。

Father　d'Aigrigny　resumed：　〃I　do　not　conceal　from　you；　my　dear　son；　that
your　resolution　filled　me　with　joy。　　I　saw　in　you　one　of　the　future
lights　of　the　Church；　and　I　was　anxious　to　see　it　shine　in　the　midst　of
our　Company。　　You　submitted　courageously　to　our　painful　and　difficult
tests；　you　were　judged　worthy　of　belonging　to　us；　and；　after　taking　in　my
presence　the　irrevocable　and　sacred　oath；　which　binds　you　for　ever　to　our
Company　for　the　greater　glory　of　God；　you　answered　the　appeal　of　our　Holy
Father＇14＇　to　willing　souls；　and　offered　yourself　as　a　missionary；　to
preach　to　savages　the　one　Catholic　faith。　　Though　it　was　painful　to　us　to
part　with　our　dear　son；　we　could　not　refuse　to　accede　to　such　pious
wishes。　　You　set　out　a　humble　missionary　you　return　a　glorious　martyr
and　we　are　justly　proud　to　reckon　you　amongst　our　number。　　This　rapid
sketch　of　the　past　was　necessary；　my　dear　son　to　arrive　at　what　follows；
for　we　wish　now；　if　it　be　possible；　to　draw　still　closer　the　bonds　that
unite　us。　　Listen　to　me；　my　dear　son；　what　I　am　about　to　say　is
confidential　and　of　the　highest　importance；　not　only　for　you；　but　the
whole　Company。〃

〃Then；　father；〃　cried　Gabriel　hastily；　interrupting　the　Abbe　d'Aigrigny；
〃I　cannotI　ought　not　to　hear　you。〃

The　young　priest　became　deadly　pale；　one　saw；　by　the　alteration　of　his
features；　that　a　violent　struggle　was　taking　place　within　him；　but
recovering　his　first　resolution；　he　raised　his　head；　and　casting　an
assured　look　on　Father　d'Aigrigny　and　Rodin；　who　glanced　at　each　other　in
mute　surprise；　he　resumed：　〃I　repeat　to　you；　father；　that　if　it　concerns
confidential　matters　of　the　Company；　I　must　not　hear　you。〃

〃Really；　my　dear　son；　you　occasion　me　the　greatest　astonishment。　　What　is
the　matter？Your　countenance　changes；　your　emotion　is　visible。　　Speak
without　fear；　why　can　you　not　hear　me？〃

〃I　cannot　tell　you；　father；　until　I　also　have；　in　my　turn；　rapidly
sketched　the　pastsuch　as　I　have　learned　to　judge　it　of　late。　　You　will
then　understand；　father；　that　I　am　no　longer　entitled　to　your　confidence；
for　an　abyss　will　doubtlessly　soon　separate　us。〃

At　these　words；　it　is　impossible　to　paint　the　look　rapidly　exchanged
between　Rodin　and　Father　d'Aigrigny。　　The　socius　began　to　bite　his　nails；
fixing　his　reptile　eye　angrily　upon　Gabriel；　Father　d'Aigrigny　grew
livid；　and　his　brow　was　bathed　in　cold　sweat。　　He　asked　himself　with
terror；　if；　at　the　moment　of　reaching　the　goal；　the　obstacle　was　going　to
come　from　Gabriel；　in　favor　of　whom　all　other　obstacles　had　been　removed。
This　thought　filled　him　with　despair。　　Yet　the　reverend　father　contained
himself　admirably；　remained　calm；　and　answered　with　affectionate　unction：
〃It　is　impossible　to　believe；　my　dear　son；　that　you　and　I　can　ever　be
separated　by　an　abyssunless　by　the　abyss　of　grief；　which　would　be
caused　by　any　serious　danger　to　your　salvation。　　But　speak；　I　listen　to
you。〃

〃It　is　true；　that；　twelve　years　ago；　father；〃　proceeded　Gabriel；　in　a
firm　voice；　growing　more　animated　as　he　proceeded；　〃I　entered；　through
your　intervention；　a　college　of　the　Company　of　Jesus。　　I　entered　it
loving；　truthful；　confiding。　　How　did　they　encourage　those　precious
instincts　of　childhood？　　I　will　tell　you。　　The　day　of　my　entrance；　the
Superior　said　to　me；　as　he　pointed　out　two　children　a　little　older　than
myself：　‘These　are　the　companions　that　you　will　prefer。　　You　will　always
walk　three　together。　　The　rules　of　the　house　forbid　all　intercourse
between　two　persons　only。　　They　also　require；　that　you　should　listen
attentively　to　what　your　companions　say；　so　that　you　may　report　it　to　me；
for　these　dear　children　may　have；　without　knowing　it；　bad　thoughts　or
evil　projects。　　Now；　if　you　love　your　comrades；　you　must　inform　me　of
these　evil　tendencies；　that　my　paternal　remonstrances　may　save　them　from
punishment；　it　is　better　to　prevent　evil　than　to　punish　it。'〃

〃Such　are；　indeed；　my　dear　son；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　〃the　rules　of
our　house；　and　the　language　we　hold　to　all　our　pupils　on　their　entrance。〃

〃I　know　it；　father；〃　answered　Gabriel；　bitterly；　〃three　days　after；　a
poor；　submissive；　and　credulous　child；　I　was　already　a　spy　upon　my
comrades；　hearing　and　remembering　their　conversation；　and　reporting　it　to
the　superior；　who　congratulated　me　on　my　zeal。　　What　they　thus　made　me　do
was　shameful；　and　yet；　God　knows！　　I　thought　I　was　accomplishing　a
charitable　duty。　　I　was　happy　in　obeying　the　commands　of　a　superior　whom
I　respected；　and　to　whose　words　I　listened；　in　my　childish　faith；　as　I
should　have　listened　to　those　of　Heaven。　　One　day；　that　I　had　broken　some
rule　of　the　house；　the　superior　said　to　me：　‘My　child；　you　have　deserved
a　severe　punishment；　but　you　will　be　pardoned；　if　you　succeed　in
surprising　one　of　your　comrades　in　the　same　fault　that　you　have
committed。'　And　for　that；　notwithstanding　my　faith　and　blind　obedience；
this　encouragement　to　turn　informer；　from　the　motive　of　personal
interest；　might　appear　odious　to　me；　the　superior　added。　　‘I　speak　to
you；　my　child；　for　the　sake　of　your　comrade's　salvation。　　Were　he　to
escape　punishment；　his　evil　habits　would　become　habitual。　　But　by
detecting　him　in　a　fault；　and　exposing　him　to　salutary　correction；　you
will　have　the　double　advantage　of　aiding　in　his　salvation；　and　escaping
yourself　a　merited　punishment；　which　will　have　been　remitted　because　of
your　zeal　for　your　neighbor〃

〃Doubtless；〃　answered　Father　d'Aigrigny；　more　and　more　terrified　by
Gabriel's　language；　〃and　in　truth；　my　dear　son；　all　this　is　conformable
to　the　rule　followed　in　our　colleges；　and　to　the　habits　of　the　members　of
our　Company；　‘who　may　denounce　each　other　without　prejudice　to　mutual
love　and　charity；　and　only　for　their　greater　spiritual　advancement；
particularly　when　questioned　by　their　superior；　or　commanded　for　the
greater　glory　of　God；'　as　our　Constitution　has　it。〃

〃I　know　it；〃　cried　Gabriel；　〃I　know　it。　　'Tis　in　the　name　of　all　that　is
most　sacred　amongst　men；　that　we　are　encouraged　to　do　evil。〃

〃My　dear　son；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　trying　to　conceal　his　secret　and
growing　terror　beneath　an　appearance　of　wounded　dignity；　〃from　you　to　me
these　words　are　at　least　strange。〃

At　this；　Rodin　quitted　the　mantelpiece；　on　which　he　had　been　leaning；
begin　to　walk　up　and　down　the　room；　with　a　meditative　air；　and　without
ceasing　to　bite　his　nails。

〃It　is　cruel　to　be　obliged　to　remind　you；　my　dear　son；　that　your　are
indebted　to　us　for　the　education　you　have　received；〃　added　Father
d'Aigrigny。

〃Such　were　its　fruits；　father；〃　replied　Gabriel。　　〃Until　then　I　had　been
a　spy　on　the　other　children；　from　a　sort　of　disinterestedness；　but　the
orders　of　the　superior　made　me　advance　another　step　on　that　shameful
road。　　I　had　become　an　informer；　to　escape　a　merited　punishment。　　And
yet；　such　was　my　faith；　my　humility；　my　confidence；　that　I　performed　with
innocence　and　candor　this　doubly　odious　part。　　Once；　indeed；　tormented　by
vague　scruples；　the　last　remains　of　generous　aspirations　that　they　were
stifling　within　me；　I　asked　myself　if　the　charitable　and　religious　end
could　justify　the　means；　and　I　communicated　my　doubts　to　the　superior。
He　replied；　that　I　had　not　to　judge；　but　to　obey；　and　that　to　him　alone
belonged　the　responsibility　of　my　acts。〃

〃Go　on；　my　dear　son；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　gelding；　in　spite　of
himself；　to　the　deepest　dejection。　　〃Alas！　I　was　right　in　opposing　your
travel　to　America。〃

〃And　yet　it　was　the　will　of　Providence；　in　that　new；　productive；　and　free
country；　that；　enlightened　by　a　singular　chance；　on　past　and　present；　my
eyes　were　at　length　opened。　　Yes！〃　cried　Gabriel；　〃it　was　in　America
that；　released　from　the　gloomy　abode　where　I　had　spent　so　many　years　of
my　youth；　and　finding　myself　for　the　first　time　face　to　face　with　the
divine　majesty　of　Nature；　in　the　heart　of　immense　solitudes　through　which
I　journeyedit　was　there　that；　overcome　by　so　much　magnificence　and
grandeur；　I　made　a　vow〃　Here　Gabriel　interrupted　himself；　to　continue：
〃Presently；　father；　I　will　explain　to　you　that　vow；　but　believe　me；〃
added　the　missionary；　with　an　accent　of　deep　sorrow；　〃it　was　a　fatal　day
to　me　when　I　first　learned　to　fear　and　condemn　all　that　I　had　hitherto
most　revered　and　blessed。　　Oh！　I　assure　you　father；〃　added　Gabriel；　with
moist　eyes；　〃it　was　not　for　myself　alone；　that　I　then　wept。〃

〃I　know　the　goodness　of　your　heart；　my　dear　son；〃　replied　Father
d'Aigrigny；　catching　a　glimpse　of　hope；　on　seeing　Gabriel's　emotion；　〃I
fear　that　you　have　been　led　astray。　　But　trust　yourself　to　us；　as　to　your
spiritual　fathers；　and　I　doubt　not　we　shall　confirm　your　faith；　so
unfortunately　shaken；　and　disperse　the　darkness　which　at　present　obscures
your　sight。　　Alas；　my　dear　son；　in　your　vain　illusions；　you　have　mistaken
some　false　glimmer　for　the　pure　light　of　day。　　But　go　on。〃

Whilst　Father　d'Aigrigny　was　thus　speaking；　Rodin　stopped；　took　a　pocket…
book　from　his　coat；　and　wrote　down　several　notes。　　Gabriel　was　becoming
more　and　more　pale　and　agitated。　　It　required　no　small　courage　in　him；　to
speak　as　he　was　speaking；　for；　since