the wandering jew, volume 5-第16部分

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d'Aigrigny　and　M。　Rodin；　I　renew　and　confirm；　freely　and　voluntarily；　the
absolute　donation　made　by　me　to　the　Society　of　Jesus；　in　the　person　of
the　said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　of　all　the　property　which　may　hereafter
belong　to　me；　whatever　may　be　its　value。　　I　swear；　on　pain　of　infamy；　to
perform　tis　irrevocable　promise；　whose　accomplishment　I　regard；　in　my
soul　and　conscience；　as　the　discharge　of　a　debt；　and　the　fulfilment　of　a
pious　duty。

〃This　donation　having　for　its　object　the　acknowledgment　of　past　services；
and　the　relief　of　the　poor；　no　future　occurrences　can　at　all　modify　it。
For　the　very　reason　that　I　know　I　could　one　day　legally　cancel　the
present　free　and　deliberate　act；　I　declare；　that　if　ever　I　were　to
attempt　such　a　thing；　under　any　possible　circumstances；　I　should　deserve
the　contempt　and　horror　of　all　honest　people。

〃In　witness　whereof　I　have　written　this　paper；　on　the　13th　of　February；
1832；　in　Paris；　immediately　before　the　opening　of　the　testament　of　one　of
my　paternal　ancestors。

〃GABRIEL　DE　RENNEPONT。〃


As　he　rose；　the　young　priest　delivered　this　document　to　Rodin；　without
uttering　a　word。　　The　socius　read　it　attentively；　and；　still　impassible；
answered；　as　he　looked　at　Gabriel：　〃Well；　it　is　a　written　oaththat　is
all。〃

Gabriel　dwelt　stupefied　at　the　audacity　of　Rodin；　who　ventured　to　tell
him；　that　this　document；　in　which　he　renewed　his　donation　in　so　noble；
generous；　and　spontaneous　a　manner；　was　not　all　sufficient。　　The　socius
was　the　first　again　to　break　the　silence；　and　he　said　to　Father
d'Aigrigny；　with　his　usual　cool　impudence。　　〃One　of　two　things　must　be。
Either　your　dear　son　means　to　render　his　donation　absolutely　valuable
and　irrevocable；or〃

〃Sir；〃　exclaimed　Gabriel；　interrupting　him；　and　hardly　able　to　restrain
himself；　〃spare　yourself　and　me　such　a　shameful　supposition。〃

〃Well；　then；〃　resumed　Rodin；　impassible　as　ever；　〃as　you　are　perfectly
decided　to　make　this　donation　a　serious　reality；　what　objection　can　you
have　to　secure　it　legally？〃

〃None；　sir；〃　said　Gabriel；　bitterly；　〃since　my　written　and　sworn　promise
will　not　suffice　you。〃

〃My　dear　son；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　affectionately；　〃if　this　were　a
donation　for　my　own　advantage；　believe　me　I　should　require　no　better
security　than　your　word。　　But　here　I　am；　as　it　were；　the　agent　of　the
Society；　or　rather　the　trustee　of　the　poor；　who　will　profit　by　your
generosity。　　For　the　sake　of　humanity；　therefore；　we　cannot　secure　this
gift　by　too　many　legal　precautions；　so　that　the　unfortunate　objects　of
our　care　may　have　certainty　instead　of　vague　hopes　to　depend　upon。　　God
may　call　you　to　him　at　any　moment；　and　who　shall　say　that　your　heirs　will
be　so　ready　to　keep　the　oath　you　have　taken？〃

〃You　are　right；　father；〃　said　Gabriel；　sadly；　〃I　had　not　thought　of　the
case　of　death；　which　is　yet　so　probable。〃

Hereupon；　Samuel　opened　the　door　of　the　room；　and　said：　　〃Gentlemen；　the
notary　has　just　arrived。　　Shall　I　show　him　in？　　At　ten　o'clock　precisely；
the　door　of　the　house　will　be　opened。〃

〃We　are　the　more　glad　to　see　the　notary；〃　said　Rodin；　〃as　we　just　happen
to　have　some　business　with　him。　　Pray　ask　him　to　walk　in。〃

〃I　will　bring　him　to　you　instantly；〃　replied　Samuel；　as　he　went　out。〃

〃Here　is　a　notary；〃　said　Rodin　to　Gabriel。　　〃If　you　have　still　the　same
intentions；　you　can　legalize　your　donation　in　presence　of　this　public
officer；　and　thus　save　yourself　from　a　great　burden　for　the　future。〃

〃Sir；〃　said　Gabriel；　〃happen　what　may；　I　am　as　irrevocably　engaged　by
this　written　promise；　which　I　beg　you　to　keep；　father〃and　he　handed　the
paper　to　Father　d'Aigrigny　〃as　by　the　legal　document；　which　I　am　about　to
sign；〃　he　added；　turning　to　Rodin。

〃Silence；　my　dear　son；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　〃here　is　the　notary；〃
just　as　the　latter　entered　the　room。

During　the　interview　of　the　administrative　officer　with　Rodin；　Gabriel；
and　Father　d'Aigrigny；　we　shall　conduct　the　reader　to　the　interior　of　the
walled…up　house。




CHAPTER　XXII。

THE　RED　ROOM。

As　Samuel　had　said；　the　door　of　the　walled…up　house　had　just　been
disencumbered　of　the　bricks；　lead；　and　iron；　which　had　kept　it　from　view；
and　its　panels　of　carved　oak　appeared　as　fresh　and　sound；　as　on　the　day
when　they　had　first　been　withdrawn　from　the　influence　of　the　air　and
time。　　The　laborers；　having　completed　their　work；　stood　waiting　upon　the
steps；　as　impatient　and　curious　as　the　notary's　clerk；　who　had
superintended　the　operation；　when　they　saw　Samuel　slowly　advancing　across
the　garden；　with　a　great　bunch　of　keys　in　his　hand。

〃Now；　my　friends；〃　said　the　old　man；　when　he　had　reached　the　steps；　〃your
work　is　finished。　　The　master　of　this　gentleman　will　pay　you；　and　I　have
only　to　show　you　out　by　the　street　door。〃

〃Come；　come；　my　good　fellow；〃　cried　the　clerk；　〃you　don't　think。　　We　are
just　at　the　most　interesting　and　curious　moment；　I　and　these　honest
masons　are　burning　to　see　the　interior　of　this　mysterious　house；　and　you
would　be　cruel　enough　to　send　us　away？　　Impossible！〃

〃I　regret　the　necessity；　sir；　but　so　it　must　he。　　I　must　be　the　first　to
enter　this　dwelling；　absolutely　alone；　before　introducing　the　heirs；　in
order　to　read　the　testament。〃

〃And　who　gave　you　such　ridiculous　and　barbarous　orders？〃　cried　the　clerk；
singularly　disappointed。

〃My　father；　sir。〃

〃A　most　respectable　authority；　no　doubt；　but　come；　my　worthy　guardian；　my
excellent　guardian；〃　resumed　the　clerk；　〃be　a　good　fellow；　and　let　us
just　take　a　peep　in　at　the　door。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　sir；　only　a　peep！〃　cried　the　heroes　of　the　trowel；　with　a
supplicating　air。

〃It　is　disagreeable　to　have　to　refuse　you；　gentlemen；〃　answered　Samuel；
〃but　I　cannot　open　this　door；　until　I　am　alone。〃

The　masons；　seeing　the　inflexibility　of　the　old　man；　unwillingly
descended　the　steps；　but　the　clerk　had　resolved　to　dispute　the　ground
inch　by　inch；　and　exclaimed：　〃I　shall　wait　for　my　master。　　I　do　not　leave
the　house　without　him。　　He　may　want　meand　whether　I　remain　on　these
steps　or　elsewhere；　can　be　of　little　consequence　to　you　my　worthy
keeper。〃

The　clerk　was　interrupted　in　his　appeal　by　his　master　himself；　who　called
out　from　the　further　side　of　the　courtyard；　with　an　air　of　business：　〃M。
Piston！　quick；　M。　Pistoncome　directly！〃

〃What　the　devil　does　he　want　with　me？〃　cried　the　clerk；　in　a　passion。
〃He　calls　me　just　at　the　moment　when　I　might　have　seen　something。〃

〃M。　Piston；〃　resumed　the　voice；　approaching；　〃do　you　not　hear？〃

While　Samuel　let　out　the　masons；　the　clerk　saw；　through　a　clump　of　trees；
his　master　running　towards　him　bareheaded；　and　with　an　air　of　singular
haste　and　importance。　　The　clerk　was　therefore　obliged　to　leave　the
steps；　to　answer　the　notary's　summons；　towards　whom　he　went　with　a　very
bad　grace。

〃Sir；　sir；〃　said　M。　Dumesnil；　〃I　have　been　calling　you　this　hour　with　all
my　might。〃

〃I　did　not　hear　you　sir；〃　said　M。　Piston。

〃You　must　be　deaf；　then。　　Have　you　any　change　about　you？〃

〃Yes　sir；〃　answered　the　clerk；　with　some　surprise。

〃Well；　then；　you　must　go　instantly　to　the　nearest　stamp…office；　and　fetch
me　three　or　four　large　sheets　of　stamped　paper；　to　draw　up　a　deed。　　Run！
it　is　wanted　directly。〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　the　clerk；　casting　a　rueful　and　regretful　glance　at　the
door　of　the　walled…up　house。

〃But　make　haste；　will　you；　M。　Piston；〃　said　the　notary。

〃I　do　not　know；　sir；　where　to　get　any　stamped　paper。〃

〃Here　is　the　guardian；〃　replied　M。　Dumesnil。　　〃He　will　no　doubt　be　able
to　tell　you。〃

At　this　instant；　Samuel　was　returning；　after　showing　the　masons　out　by
the　street…door。

〃Sir；〃　said　the　notary　to　him；　〃will　you　please　to　tell　me　where　we　can
get　stamped　paper？〃

〃Close　by；　sir；〃　answered　Samuel；　〃in　the　tobacconist's；　No。　17；　Rue
Vieille…du…Temple。〃

〃You　hear；　M。　Piston？〃　said　the　notary　to　his　clerk。　　〃You　can　get　the
stamps　at　the　tobacconist's；　No。　17；　Rue　Vieille…du…Temple。　　Be　quick！
for　this　deed　must　be　executed　immediately　before　the　opening　of　the
will。　　Time　presses。〃

〃Very　well；　sir；　I　will　make　haste；〃　answered　the　clerk；　discontentedly；
as　he　followed　his　master；　who　hurried　back　into　the　room　where　he　had
left　Rodin；　Gabriel；　and　Father　d'Aigrigny。

During　this　time；　Samuel；　ascending　the　steps；　had　reached　the　door；　now
disencumbered　of　the　stone；　iron；　and　lead　with　which　it　had　been　blocked
up。　　It　was　with　deep　emotion　that　the　old　man　having　selected　from　his
bunch　of　keys　the　one　he　wanted；　inserted　it　in　the　keyhole；　and　made　the
door　turn　upon　its　hinges。　　Immediately　he　felt　on　his　face　a　current　of
damp；　cold　air；　like　that　which　exhales　from　a　cellar　suddenly　opened。
Having　carefully　re…closed　and　double…locked　the　door；　the　Jew　advanced
along　the　hall；　lighted　by　a　glass　trefoil　over　the　arch　of　the　door。
The　panes　had　lost　their　transparency　by　the　effect　of　time；　and　now　had
the　appearance　of　ground…glass。　　This　hall；　paved　with　alternate　squares
of　black　and　white　marble；　was　vast；　sonorous；　and　contained　a　broad
staircase　leading　to　the　first　story。　　The　walls　of　smooth　stone　offered
not　the　least　appearance　of　decay　or　dampness；　the　stair…rail　of　wrought
iron　presented　no　traces　of　rust；　it　was　inserted；　just　above　the　bottom
step；　into　a　column　of　gray　granite；　which　sustained　a　statue　of　black
marble；　representing　a　negro　bearing　a　flambeau。　　This　statue　had　a
strange　countenance；　the　pupils　of　the　eyes　being　made　of　white　marble。

The　Jew's　heavy　tread　echoed　beneath　the　lofty　dome　of　the　hall。　　The
grandson　of　Isaac　Samuel　experienced　a　melancholy　feeling；　as　he
reflected　that　the　footsteps　of　his　ancestor　had　probably　been　the　last
which　had　resounded　through　this　dwelling；　of　which　he　had　closed　the
doors　a　hundred　and　fifty　years　before；　for　the　faithful　friend；　in　favor
of　whom　M。　de　Rennepont　had　made　a　feigned　transfer　of　the　property；　had
afterwards　parted　with　the　same；　to　place　it　in　the　name　of　Samuel's
grandfather；　who　had　transmitted　it　to　his　descendants；　as　if　it　had　been
his　own　inheritance。

To　these　thoughts；　in　which　Samuel　was　wholly　absorbed；　was　joined　the
remembrance　of　the　light　seen　that　morning　through　the　seven　openings　in
the　leaden　cover　of　the　belvedere