the wandering jew, volume 5-第14部分

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was　terrified。　　I　read　the　casuists。　　Oh；　father！　that　was　a　new　and
dreadful　revelation；　when；　at　every　page；　I　read　the　excuse　and
justification　of　robbery；　slander；　adultery；　perjury；　murder；　regicide。
When　I　considered　that　I；　the　priest　of　a　God　of　charity；　justice；
pardon；　and　love；　was　to　belong　henceforth　to　a　Company；　whose　chiefs
professed　and　glorified　in　such　doctrines；　I　made　a　solemn　oath　to　break
for　ever　the　ties　which　bound　me　to　it！〃＇19＇

On　these　words　of　Gabriel；　Father　d'Aigrigny　and　Rodin　exchanged　a　look
of　terror。　　All　was　lost；　their　prey　had　escaped　them。　　Deeply　moved　by
the　remembrances　he　recalled；　Gabriel　did　not　perceive　the　action　of　the
reverend　father　and　the　socius；　and　thus　continued：　〃In　spite　of　my
resolution；　father；　to　quit　the　Company；　the　discovery　I　had　made　was
very　painful　to　me。　　Oh！　believe　me；　for　the　honest　and　loving　soul；
nothing　is　more　frightful　than　to　have　to　renounce　what　it　has　long
respected！I　suffered　so　much；　that；　when　I　thought　of　the　dangers　of　my
mission；　I　hoped；　with　a　secret　joy；　that　God　would　perhaps　take　me　to
Himself　under　these　circumstances：　but；　on　the　contrary；　He　watched　over
me　with　providential　solicitude。〃

As　he　said　this；　Gabriel　felt　a　thrill；　for　he　remembered　a　Mysterious
Woman　who　had　saved　his　life　in　America。　　After　a　moment's　silence；　he
resumed：　〃My　mission　terminated；　I　returned　hither　to　beg；　father；　that
you　would　release　me　from　my　vows。　　Many　times　but　in　vain；　I　solicited
an　interview。　　Yesterday；　it　pleased　Providence　that　I　should　have　a　long
conversation　with　my　adopted　mother；　from　her　I　learned　the　trick　by
which　my　vocation　had　been　forced　upon　meand　the　sacrilegious　abuse　of
the　confessional；　by　which　she　had　been　induced　to　entrust　to　other
persons　the　orphans　that　a　dying　mother　had　confided　to　the　care　of　an
honest　soldier。　　You　understand；　father；　that；　if　even　I　had　before
hesitated　to　break　these　bonds；　what　I　have　heard　yesterday　must　have
rendered　my　decision　irrevocable。　　But　at　this　solemn　moment；　father；　I
am　bound　to　tell　you；　that　I　do　not　accuse　the　whole　Society；　many
simple；　credulous；　and　confiding　men；　like　myself；　must　no　doubt　form
part　of　it。　　Docile　instruments；　they　see　not　in　their　blindness　the　work
to　which　they　are　destined。　　I　pity　them；　and　pray　God　to　enlighten　them；
as　he　has　enlightened　me。〃

〃So；　my　son；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　rising　with　livid　and　despairing
look；　〃you　come　to　ask　of　me　to　break　the　ties　which　attach　you　to　the
Society？〃

〃Yes；　father；　you　received　my　vowsit　is　for　you　to　release　me　from
them。〃

〃So；　my　son；　you　understand　that　engagements　once　freely　taken　by　you；
are　now　to　be　considered　as　null　and　void？〃

〃Yes；　father。〃

〃So；　my　son；　there　is　to　be　henceforth　nothing　in　common　between　you　and
our　Company？〃

〃No；　fathersince　I　request　you　to　absolve　me　of　my　vows。〃

〃But；　you　know；　my　son；　that　the　Society　may　release　youbut　that　you
cannot　release　yourself。〃

〃The　step　I　take　proves　to　you；　father；　the　importance　I　attach　to　an
oath；　since　I　come　to　you　to　release　me　from　it。　　Nevertheless；　were　you
to　refuse　me；　I　should　not　think　myself　bound　in　the　eyes　of　God　or　man。〃

〃It　is　perfectly　clear；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny　to　Rodin；　his　voice
expiring　upon　his　lips；　so　deep　was　his　despair。

Suddenly；　whilst　Gabriel；　with　downcast　eyes；　waited　for　the　answer　of
Father　d'Aigrigny；　who　remained　mute　and　motionless；　Rodin　appeared
struck　with　a　new　idea；　on　perceiving　that　the　reverend　father　still　held
in　his　hand　the　note　written　in　pencil。　　The　socius　hastily　approached
Father　d'Aigrigny；　and　said　to　him　in　a　whisper；　with　a　look　of　doubt　and
alarm：　〃Have　you　not　read　my　note？〃

〃I　did　not　think　of　it；〃　answered　the　reverend　father；　mechanically。

Rodin　appeared　to　make　a　great　effort　to　repress　a　movement　of　violent
rage。　　Then　he　said　to　Father　d'Aigrigny；　in　a　calm　voice：　〃Read　it　now。〃

Hardly　had　the　reverend　father　cast　his　eyes　upon　this　note；　than　a
sudden　ray　of　hope　illumined　his　hitherto　despairing　countenance。
Pressing　the　hand　of　the　socius　with　an　expression　of　deep　gratitude；　he
said　to　him　in　a　low　voice：　〃You　are　right。　　Gabriel　is　ours。〃

＇16＇　The　statutes　formally　state　that　the　Company　can　expel　all　drones
and　wasps；　but　that　no　man　can　break　his　ties；　if　the　Order　wishes　to
retain　him。

＇17＇　This　is　their　own　command。　　The　constitution　expressly　bids　the
novice　wait　for　this　decisive　climax　of　the　ordeal　before　taking　the　vows
of　God。

＇18＇　It　is　impossible；　even　in　Latin；　to　give　our　readers　an　idea　of　this
infamous　work。

＇19＇　This　is　true。　　See　the　extracts　from　the　Compendium　for　the　use　of
Schools；　published　under　the　title　of　〃Discoveries　by　a　Bibliophilist。〃
Strasburg；　1843。　　For　regicide；　see　Sanchez　and　others。




CHAPTER　XXI。

THE　CHANGE。

Before　again　addressing　Gabriel；　Father　d'Aigrigny　carefully　reflected；
and　his　countenance；　lately　so　disturbed；　became　gradually　once　more
serene。　　He　appeared　to　meditate　and　calculate　the　effects　of　the
eloquence　he　was　about　to　employ；　upon　an　excellent　and　safe　theme；　which
the　socius　struck　with　the　danger　of　the　situation；　had　suggested　in　a
few　lines　rapidly　written　with　a　pencil；　and　which；　in　his　despair；　the
reverend　father　had　at　first　neglected。　　Rodin　resumed　his　post　of
observation　near　the　mantelpiece；　on　which　he　leaned　his　elbow；　after
casting　at　Father　d'Aigrigny　a　glance　of　disdainful　and　angry
superiority；　accompanied　by　a　significant　shrug　of　the　shoulders。

After　this　involuntary　manifestation；　which　was　luckily　not　perceived　by
Father　d'Aigrigny；　the　cadaverous　face　of　the　socius　resumed　its　icy
calmness；　and　his　flabby　eyelids；　raised　a　moment　with　anger　and
impatience；　fell；　and　half…veiled　his　little；　dull　eyes。　　It　must　be
confessed　that　Father　d'Aigrigny；　notwithstanding　the　ease　and　elegance
of　his　speech；　notwithstanding　the　seduction　of　his　exquisite　manners；
his　agreeable　features；　and　the　exterior　of　an　accomplished　and　refined
man　of　the　world；　was　often　subdued　and　governed　by　the　unpitying
firmness；　the　diabolical　craft　and　depth　of　Rodin；　the　old；　repulsive；
dirty；　miserably　dressed　man；　who　seldom　abandoned　his　humble　part　of
secretary　and　mute　auditor。　　The　influence　of　education　is　so　powerful；
that　Gabriel；　notwithstanding　the　formal　rupture　he　had　just　provoked；
felt　himself　still　intimidated　in　presence　of　Father　d'Aigrigny；　and
waited　with　painful　anxiety　for　the　answer　of　the　reverend　father　to　his
express　demand　to　be　released　from　his　old　vows。　　His　reverence　having；
doubtless；　regularly　laid　his　plan　of　attack；　at　length　broke　silence；
heaved　a　deep　sigh；　gave　to　his　countenance；　lately　so　severe　and
irritated；　a　touching　expression　of　kindness；　and　said　to　Gabriel；　in　an
affectionate　voice：　〃Forgive　me；　my　dear　son；　for　having　kept　silence　so
long；　but　your　abrupt　determination　has　so　stunned　me；　and　has　raised
within　me　so　many　painful　thoughts；　that　I　have　had　to　reflect　for　some
moments；　to　try　and　penetrate　the　cause　of　this　rupture；　and　I　think　I
have　succeeded。　　You　have　well　considered；　my　dear　son；　the　serious
nature　of　the　step　you　are　taking？〃

〃Yes；　father。〃

〃And　you　have　absolutely　decided　to　abandon　the　Society；　even　against　my
will？〃

〃It　would　be　painful　to　me；　fatherbut　I　must　resign　myself　to　it。〃

〃It　should　be　very　painful　to　you；　indeed；　my　dear　son；　for　you　took　the
irrevocable　vow　freely；　and　this　vow；　according　to　our　statutes；　binds
you　not　to　quit　the　Society；　unless　with　the　consent　of　your　superiors。〃

〃I　did　not　then　know；　father；　the　nature　of　the　engagement　I　took。　　More
enlightened　now；　I　ask　to　withdraw　myself；　my　only　desire　is　to　obtain　a
curacy　in　some　village　far　from　Paris。　　I　feel　an　irresistible　vocation
for　such　humble　and　useful　functions。　　In　the　country；　there　is　so　much
misery；　and　such　ignorance　of　all　that　could　contribute　to　ameliorate　the
condition　of　the　agricultural　laborer；　that　his　existence　is　as　unhappy
as　that　of　a　negro　slave；　for　what　liberty　has　he？　　and　what　instruction？
Oh！　it　seems　to　me；　that；　with　God's　help；　I　might；　as　a　village　curate；
render　some　services　to　humanity。　　It　would　therefore　be　painful　to　me；
father；　to　see　you　refuse〃

〃Be　satisfied；　my　son；〃　answered　Father　d'Aigrigny　；　〃I　will　no　longer
seek　to　combat　your　desire　to　separate　yourself　from　us。〃

〃Then；　father；　you　release　me　from　my　vows？〃

〃I　have　not　the　power　to　do　so；　my　dear　son；　but　I　will　write　immediately
to　Rome；　to　ask　the　necessary　authority　from　our　general。〃

〃I　thank　you；　father。〃

〃Soon；　my　dear　son；　you　will　be　delivered　from　these　bonds；　which　you
deem　so　heavy；　and　the　men　you　abandon　will　not　the　less　continue　to　pray
for　you；　that　God　may　preserve　you　from　still　greater　wanderings。　　You
think　yourself　released　with　regard　to　us；　my　dear　son；　but　we　do　not
think　ourselves　released　with　regard　to　you。　　It　is　not　thus　that　we　can
get　rid　of　the　habit　of　paternal　attachment。　　What　would　you　have？　　We
look　upon　ourselves　as　bound　to　our　children；　by　the　very　benefits　with
which　we　have　loaded　them。　　You　were　poor；　and　an　orphan；　we　stretched
out　our　arms　to　you；　as　much　from　the　interest　which　you　deserved；　my
dear　son；　as　to　spare　your　excellent　adopted　mother　too　great　a　burden。〃

〃Father；〃　said　Gabriel；　with　suppressed　emotion；　〃I　am　not　ungrateful。〃

〃I　wish　to　believe　so；　my　dear　son。　　For　long　years；　we　gave　to　you；　as
to　our　beloved　child；　food　for　the　body　and　the　soul。　　It　pleases　you　now
to　renounce　and　abandon　us。　　Not　only　do　we　consent　to　itbut　now　that　I
have　penetrated　the　true　motives　of　your　rupture　with　us；　it　is　my　duty
to　release　you　from　your　vow。〃

〃Of　what　motives　do　you　speak；　Father？〃

〃Alas！　my　dear　son；　I　understand　your　fears。　　Dangers　menace　usyou　know
it　well。〃

〃Dangers；　father？〃　cried　Gabriel。

〃It　is　impossible；　my　dear　son；　that　you　should　not　be　aware　that；　since
the　fall　of　our　legitimate　sovereigns；　our　natural　protectors；
revolutionary　impiety　becomes　daily　more　and　more　threatening。　　We　are
oppressed　with　persecutions。　　I　can；　therefore；　comprehend　and
appreciate；　my　dear　son；　the　motive　wh