the wandering jew, volume 5-第15部分

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oppressed　with　persecutions。　　I　can；　therefore；　comprehend　and
appreciate；　my　dear　son；　the　motive　which　under　such　circumstances；
induces　you　to　separate　from　us。〃

〃Father！〃　cried　Gabriel；　with　as　much　indignation　as　grief；　〃you　do　not
think　that　of　meyou　cannot　think　it。〃

Without　noticing　the　protestations　of　Gabriel；　Father　d'Aigrigny
continued　his　imaginary　picture　of　the　dangers　of　the　Company；　which；　far
from　being　really　in　peril；　was　already　beginning　secretly　to　recover　its
influence。

〃Oh！　if　our　Company　were　now　as　powerful　as　it　was　some　years　ago；〃
resumed　the　reverend　father；　〃if　it　were　still　surrounded　by　the　respect
and　homage　which　are　due　to　it　from　all　true　believersin　spite　of　the
abominable　calumnies　with　which　we　are　assailedthen；　my　dear　son；　we
should　perhaps　have　hesitated　to　release　you　from　your　vows；　and　have
rather　endeavored　to　open　your　eyes　to　the　light；　and　save　you　from　the
fatal　delusion　to　which　you　are　a　prey。　　But　now　that　we　are　weak；
oppressed；　threatened　on　every　side；　it　is　our　duty；　it　is　an　act　of
charity；　not　to　force　you　to　share　in　perils　from　which　you　have　the
prudence　to　wish　to　withdraw　yourself。〃

So；　saying；　Father　d'Aigrigny　cast　a　rapid　glance　at　his　socius；　who
answered　with　a　nod　of　approbation；　accompanied　by　a　movement　of
impatience　that　seemed　to　say：　　〃Go　on！　go　on！〃

Gabriel　was　quite　overcome。　　There　was　not　in　the　whole　world　a　heart
more　generous；　loyal；　and　brave　than　his。　　We　may　judge　of　what　he　must
have　suffered；　on　hearing　the　resolution　he　had　come　to　thus
misinterpreted。

〃Father；〃　he　resumed；　in　an　agitated　voice；　whilst　his　eyes　filled　with
tears；　〃your　words　are　cruel　and　unjust。　　You　know　that　I　am　not　a
coward。〃

〃No；〃　said　Rodin；　in　his　sharp；　cutting　voice；　addressing　Father
d'Aigrigny；　and　pointing　to　Gabriel　with　a　disdainful　look；　〃your　dear
son　is　only　prudent。〃

These　words　from　Rodin　made　Gabriel　start；　a　slight　blush　colored　his
pale　cheeks；　his　large　and　blue　eyes　sparkled　with　a　generous　anger；
then；　faithful　to　the　precepts　of　Christian　humility　and　resignation；　he
conquered　this　irritable　impulse；　hung　down　his　head；　and；　too　much
agitated　to　reply；　remained　silent；　and　brushed　away　an　unseen　tear。
This　tear　did　not　escape　the　notice　of　the　socius。　　He　saw　in　it　no
doubt；　a　favorable　symptom；　for　he　exchanged　a　glance　of　satisfaction
with　Father　d'Aigrigny。　　The　latter　was　about　to　touch　on　a　question　of
great　interest；　so；　notwithstanding　his　self…command；　his　voice　trembled
slightly；　but　encouraged；　or　rather　pushed　on　by　a　look　from　Rodin；　who
had　become　extremely　attentive；　he　said　to　Gabriel：　〃Another　motive
obliges　us　not　to　hesitate　in　releasing　you　from　your　vow；　my　dear　son。
It　is　a　question　of　pure　delicacy。　　You　probably　learned　yesterday　from
your　adopted　mother；　that　you　will　perhaps　be　called　upon　to　take
possession　of　an　inheritance；　of　which　the　value　is　unknown。〃

Gabriel　raised　his　head　hastily　and　said　to　Father　d'Aigrigny：　〃As　I　have
already　stated　to　M。　Rodin；　my　adopted　mother　only　talked　of　her　scruples
of　conscience；　and　I　was　completely　ignorant　of　the　existence　of　the
inheritance　of　which　you　speak。〃

The　expression　of　indifference　with　which　the　young　priest　pronounced
these　last　words；　was　remarked　by　Rodin。

〃Be　it　so；〃　replied　Father　d'Aigrigny。　　〃You　were　not　aware　of　itI
believe　youthough　all　appearances　would　tend　to　prove　the　contraryto
prove；　indeed；　that　the　knowledge　of　this　inheritance　was　not　unconnected
with　your　resolution　to　separate　from　us。〃

〃I　do　not　understand　you；　Father。〃

〃It　is　very　simple。　　Your　rupture　with　us　would　then　have　two　motives。
First；　we　are　in　danger；　and　you　think　it　prudent　to　leave　us〃

〃Father！〃

〃Allow　me　to　finish；　my　dear　son；　and　come　to　the　second　motive。　　If　I　am
deceived；　you　can　tell　me　so。　　These　are　the　facts。　　Formerly；　on　the
hypothesis　that　your　family；　of　which　you　knew　nothing；　might　one　day
leave　you　some　property；　you　made；　in　return　for　the　care　bestowed　on　you
by　the　Company；　a　free　gift　of　all　you　might　hereafter　possess；　not　to
usbut　to　the　poor；　of　whom　we　are　the　born　shepherds。〃

〃Well；　father？〃　asked　Gabriel；　not　seeing　to　what　this　preamble　tended。

〃Well；　my　dear　sonnow　that　you　are　sure　of　enjoying　a　competence；　you
wish；　no　doubt；　by　separating　from　us；　to　annul　this　donation　made　under
other　circumstances。〃

〃To　speak　plainly；　you　violate　your　oath；　because　we　are　persecuted；　and
because　you　wish　to　take　back　your　gifts；〃　added　Rodin；　in　a　sharp　voice；
as　if　to　describe　in　the　clearest　and　plainest　manner　the　situation　of
Gabriel　with　regard　to　the　Society。

At　this　infamous　accusation；　Gabriel　could　only　raise　his　hands　and　eyes
to　heaven；　and　exclaim；　with　an　expression　of　despair；　〃Oh；　heaven！〃

Once　more　exchanging　a　look　of　intelligence　with　Rodin；　Father　d'Aigrigny
said　to　him；　in　a　severe　tone；　as　if　reproaching　him　for　his　too　savage
frankness：　〃I　think　you　go　too　far。　　Our　dear　son　could　only　have　acted
in　the　base　and　cowardly　manner　you　suggest；　had　he　known　his　position　as
an　heir；　but；　since　he　affirms　the　contrary；　we　are　bound　to　believe　him…
…in　spite　of　appearances。〃

〃Father；〃　said　Gabriel；　pale；　agitated　trembling；　and　with　half…
suppressed　grief　and　indignation；　〃I　thank　you；　at　least；　for　having
suspended　your　judgment。　　No；　I　am　not　a　coward；　for　heaven　is　my
witness；　that　I　knew　of　no　danger　to　which　the　Society　was　exposed。　　Nor
am　I　base　and　avaricious；　for　heaven　is　also　my　witness；　that　only　at
this　moment　I　learn　from　you；　father；　that　I　may　be　destined　to　inherit
property；　and〃

〃One　word；　my　dear　son。　　It　is　quite　lately　that　I　became　informed　of
this　circumstance；　by　the　greatest　chance　in　the　world；〃　said　Father
d'Aigrigny；　interrupting　Gabriel；　〃and　that　was　thanks　to　some　family
papers　which　your　adopted　mother　had　given　to　her　confessor；　and　which
were　entrusted　to　us　when　you　entered　our　college。　　A　little　before　your
return　from　America；　in　arranging　the　archives　of　the　Company；　your　file
of　papers　fell　into　the　hands　of　our　father…attorney。　　It　was　examined；
and　we　thus　learned　that　one　of　your　paternal　ancestors；　to　whom　the
house　in　which　we　now　are　belonged；　left　a　will　which　is　to　be　opened　to…
day　at　noon。　　Yesterday；　we　believed　you　one　of　us；　our　statutes　command
that　we　should　possess　nothing　of　our　own；　you　had　corroborated　those
statutes；　by　a　donation　in　favor　of　the　patrimony　of　the　poorwhich　we
administer。　　It　was　no　longer　you；　therefore；　but　the　Company；　which；　in
my　person；　presented　itself　as　the　inheritor　in　your　place；　furnished
with　your　titles；　which　I　have　here　ready　in　order。　　But　now；　my　clear
son；　that　you　separate　from　us；　you　must　present　yourself　in　your　own
name。　　We　came　here　as　the　representatives　of　the　poor；　to　whom　in　former
days　you　piously　abandoned　whatever　goods　might　fall　to　your　share。　　Now；
on　the　contrary；　the　hope　of　a　fortune　changes　your　sentiments。　　You　are
free　to　resume　your　gifts。〃

Gabriel　had　listened　to　Father　d'Aigrigny　with　painful　impatience。　　At
length　he　exclaimed。　　〃Do　you　mean　to　say；　father；　that　you　think　me
capable　of　canceling　a　donation　freely　made；　in　favor　of　the　Company；　to
which　I　am　indebted　for　my　education？　　You　believe　me　infamous　enough　to
break　my　word；　in　the　hope　of　possessing　a　modest　patrimony？〃

〃This　patrimony；　my　dear；　son；　may　be　small；　but　it　may　also　be
considerable。〃

〃Well；　father！　if　it　were　a　king's　fortune；〃　cried　Gabriel；　with　proud
and　noble　indifference；　〃I　should　not　speak　otherwiseand　I　have；　I
think；　the　right　to　be　believed　listen　to　my　fixed　resolution。　　The
Company　to　which　I　belong　runs；　you　say；　great　dangers。　　I　will　inquire
into　these　dangers。　　Should　they　prove　threateningstrong　in　the
determination　which　morally　separates　me　from　youI　will　not　leave　you
till　I　see　the　end　of　your　perils。　　As　for　the　inheritance；　of　which　you
believe　me　so　desirous；　I　resign　it　to　you　formally；　father；　as　I　once
freely　promised。　　My　only　wish　is；　that　this　property　may　be　employed　for
the　relief　of　the　poor。　　I　do　not　know　what　may　be　the　amount　of　this
fortune；　but　large　or　small；　it　belongs　to　the　Company；　because　I　have
thereto　pledged　my　word。　　I　have　told　you；　father；　that　my　chief　desire
is　to　obtain　a　humble　curacy　in　some　poor　villagepoor；　above　all
because　there　my　services　will　be　most　useful。　　Thus；　father；　when　a　man；
who　never　spoke　falsehood　in　his　life；　affirms　to　you；　that　he　only　sighs
for　so　humble　an　existence；　you　ought；　I　think；　to　believe　him　incapable
of　snatching　back；　from　motives　of　avarice；　gifts　already　made。〃

Father　d'Aigrigny　had　now　as　much　trouble　to　restrain　his　joy；　as　he
before　had　to　conceal　his　terror。　　He　appeared；　however；　tolerably　calm；
and　said　to　Gabriel：　〃I　did　not　expect　less　from　you；　my　dear　son。〃

Then　he　made　a　sign　to　Rodin；　to　invite　him　to　interpose。　　The　latter
perfectly　understood　his　superior。　　He　left　the　chimney；　drew　near　to
Gabriel；　and　leaned　against　the　table；　upon　which　stood　paper　and
inkstand。　　Then；　beginning　mechanically　to　beat　the　tattoo　with　the　tips
of　his　coarse　fingers；　in　all　their　array　of　flat　and　dirty　nails；　he
said　to　Father　d'Aigrigny：　〃All　this　is　very　fine！　but　your　dear　son
gives　you　no　security　for　the　fulfilment　of　his　promise　except　an　oath
and　that；　we　know；　is　of　little　value。〃

〃Sir！〃　cried　Gabriel

〃Allow　me；〃　said　Rodin；　coldly。　　〃The　law　does　not　acknowledge　our
existence　and　therefore　can　take　no　cognizance　of　donations　made　in　favor
of　the　Company。　　You　might　resume　to…morrow　what　you　are　pleased　to　give
us　to…day。〃

〃But　my　oath；　sir！〃　cried　Gabriel。

Rodin　looked　at　him　fixedly；　as　he　answered：　〃Your　oath？　　Did　you　not
swear　eternal　obedience　to　the　Company；　and　never　to　separate　from　us？
and　of　what　weight　now　are　these　oaths？〃

For　a　moment　Gabriel　was　embarrassed；　but；　feeling　how　false　was　this
logic；　he　rose；　calm　and　dignified；　went　to　seat　himself　at　the　desk；
took　up　a　pen；　and　wrote　as　follows：

〃Before　God；　who　sees　and　hears　me；　and　in　the　presence　of　you；　Father
d'Aigrigny　and　M。　Rodin；　I　renew　and　confirm；　freely　and　voluntarily；　the
ab