the wandering jew, volume 5-第5部分

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this　carriage　were　two　menone　sent　by　the　unknown　friendthe　other　a
doctor；　sent　by　you　to　attend　upon　Djalma；　and　accompany　him　to　Paris。
It　was　a　charitable　act；　brotherwas　it　not　so？〃

〃Go　on　with　your　story；　sir。〃

〃Djalma　set　out　yesterday。　　By　declaring　that　the　prince's　wound　would
grow　seriously　worse；　if　he　did　not　lie　down　in　the　carriage　during　all
the　journey；　the　doctor　got　rid　of　the　envoy　of　the　unknown　friend；　who
went　away　by　himself。　　The　doctor　wished　to　get　rid　of　me　too；　but　Djalma
so　strongly　insisted　upon　it；　that　I　accompanied　the　prince　and　doctor。
Yesterday　evening；　we　had　come　about　half　the　distance。　　The　doctor
proposed　we　should　pass　the　night　at　an　inn。　　‘We　have　plenty　of　time；'
said　he；　‘to　reach　Paris　by　to…morrow　evening'the　prince　having　told
him；　that　he　must　absolutely　be　in　Paris　by　the　evening　of　the　12th。　　The
doctor　had　been　very　pressing　to　set　out　alone　with　the　prince。　　I　knew
by　Van　Dael's　letter；　that　it　was　of　great　importance　to　you　for　Djalma
not　to　be　here　on　the　13th；　I　had　my　suspicions；　and　I　asked　the　doctor
if　he　knew　you；　he　answered　with　an　embarrassed　air；　and　then　my
suspicion　became　certainty。　　When　we　reached　the　inn；　whilst　the　doctor
was　occupied　with　Djalma；　I　went　up　to　the　room　of　the　former；　and
examined　a　box　full　of　phials　that　he　had　brought　with　him。　　One　of　them
contained　opiumand　then　I　guessed〃

〃What　did　you　guess；　sir？〃

〃You　shall　know。　　The　doctor　said　to　Djalma；　before　he　left　him：　‘Your
wound　is　doing　well；　but　the　fatigue　of　the　journey　might　bring　on
inflammation；　it　will　be　good　for　you；　in　the　course　of　to…morrow；　to
take　a　soothing　potion；　that　I　will　make　ready　this　evening；　to　have　with
us　in　the　carriage。'　The　doctor's　plan　was　a　simple　one；〃　added
Faringhea；　〃to…day　the　prince　was　to　take　the　potion　at　four　or　five
o'clock　in　the　afternoonand　fall　into　a　deep　sleepthe　doctor　to　grow
uneasy；　and　stop　the　carriageto　declare　that　it　would　be　dangerous　to
continue　the　journey　…to　pass　the　night　at　an　inn；　and　keep　close　watch
over　the　prince；　whose　stupor　was　only；　to　cease　when　it　suited　your
purposes。　　That　was　your　designit　was　cleverly　plannedI　chose　to　make
use　of　it　myself；　and　I　have　succeeded。〃

〃All　that　you　are　talking　about；　my　dear　sir；〃　said　Rodin；　biting　his
nails；　〃is　pure　Hebrew　to　me。〃

〃No　doubt；　because　of　my　accent。　　But　tell　me；　have　you　heard　speak　of
arraymow？〃

〃No。〃

〃Your　loss！　　It　is　an　admirable　production　of　the　Island　of　Java；　so
fertile　in　poisons。〃

〃What　is　that　to　me？〃　said　Rodin；　in　a　sharp　voice；　but　hardly　able　to
dissemble　his　growing　anxiety。

〃It　concerns　you　nearly。　　We　sons　of　Bowanee　have　a　horror　of　shedding
blood；〃　resumed　Faringhea；　〃to　pass　the　cord　round　the　neck　of　our
victims；　we　wait　till　they　are　asleep。　　When　their　sleep　is　not　deep
enough；　we　know　how　to　make　it　deeper。　　We　are　skillful　at　our　work；　the
serpent　is　not　more　cunning；　or　the　lion　more　valiant；　Djalma　himself
bears　our　mark。　　The　array…mow　is　an　impalpable　powder；　and；　by　letting
the　sleeper　inhale　a　few　grains　of　it；　or　by　mixing　it　with　the　tobacco
to　be　smoked　by　a　waking　man；　we　can　throw　our　victim　into　a　stupor；　from
which　nothing　will　rouse　him。　　If　we　fear　to　administer　too　strong　a　dose
at　once；　we　let　the　sleeper　inhale　a　little　at　different　times；　and　we
can　thus　prolong　the　trance　at　pleasure；　and　without　any　danger；　as　long
as　a　man　does　not　require　meat　and　drinksay；　thirty　or　forty　hours。
You　see；　that　opium　is　mere　trash　compared　to　this　divine　narcotic。　　I
had　brought　some　of　this　with　me　from　Javaas　a　mere　curiosity；　you
knowwithout　forgetting　the　counter　poison。〃

〃Oh！　there　is　a　counter…poison；　then？〃　said　Rodin；　mechanically。

〃Just　as　there　are　people　quite　contrary　to　what　we　are；　brother　of　the
good　work。　　The　Javanese　call　the　juice　of　this　root　tooboe；　it
dissipates　the　stupor　caused　by　the　array…mow；　as　the　sun　disperses　the
clouds。　　Now；　yesterday　evening；　being　certain　of　the　projects　of　your
emissary　against　Djalma；　I　waited　till　the　doctor　was　in　bed　and　asleep。
I　crept　into　his　room；　and　made　him　inhale　such　a　dose　of　array…mowthat
he　is　probably　sleeping　still。〃

〃Miscreant！〃　cried　Rodin；　more　and　more　alarmed　by　this　narrative；　for
Faringhea　had　dealt　a　terrible　blow　at　the　machinations　of　the　socius　and
his　friends。　　〃You　risk　poisoning　the　doctor。〃

〃Yes；　brother；　just　as　he　ran　the　risk　of　poisoning　Djalma。　　This　morning
we　set　out；　leaving　your　doctor　at　the　inn；　plunged　in　a　deep　sleep。　　I
was　alone　in　the　carriage　with　Djalma。　　He　smoked　like　a　true　Indian；
some　grains　of　array…mow；　mixed　with　the　tobacco　in　his　long　pipe；　first
made　him　drowsy；　a　second　dose；　that　he　inhaled；　sent　him　to　sleep；　and
so　I　left　him　at　the　inn　where　we　stopped。　　Now；　brother；　it　depends　upon
me；　to　leave　Djalma　in　his　trance；　which　will　last　till　to…morrow　evening
or　to　rouse　him　from　it　on　the　instant。　　Exactly　as　you　comply　with　my
demands　or　not；　Djalma　will　or　will　not　be　in　the　Rue　Saint…Francois　to…
morrow。〃

So　saying；　Faringhea　drew　from　his　pocket　the　medal　belonging　to　Djalma；
and　observed；　as　he　showed　it　to　Rodin：　〃You　see　that　I　tell　you　the
truth。　　During　Djalma's　sleep；　took　from　him　this　medal；　the　only
indication　he　has　of　the　place　where　he　ought　to　be　to…morrow。　　I　finish；
then　as　I　began：　Brother；　I　have　come　to　ask　you　for　a　great　deal。〃

For　some　minutes；　Rodin　had　been　biting　his　nails　to　the　quick；　as　was
his　custom　when　seized　with　a　fit　of　dumb　and　concentrated　rage。　　Just
then；　the　bell　of　the　porter's　lodge　rang　three　times　in　a　particular
manner。　　Rodin　did　not　appear　to　notice　it；　and　yet　a　sudden　light
sparkled　in　his　small　reptile　eyes；　while　Faringhea；　with　his　arms
folded；　looked　at　him　with　an　expression　of　triumph　and　disdainful
superiority。　　The　socius　bent　down　his　head；　remained　silent　for　some
seconds；　took　mechanically　a　pen　from　his　desk；　and　began　to　gnaw　the
feather；　as　if　in　deep　reflection　upon　what　Faringhea　had　just　said。
Then；　throwing　down　the　pen　upon　the　desk；　he　turned　suddenly　towards　the
half…caste；　and　addressed　him　with　an　air　of　profound　contempt　〃Now；
really；　M。　Faringheado　you　think　to　make　game　of　us　with　your　cock…and…
bull　stories？〃

Amazed；　in　spite　of　his　audacity；　the　half…caste　recoiled　a　step。

〃What；　sir！〃　resumed　Rodin。　　〃You　come　here　into　a　respectable　house；　to
boast　that　you　have　stolen　letters；　strangled　this　man；　drugged　that
other？Why；　sir；　it　is　downright　madness。　　I　wished　to　hear　you　to　the
end；　to　see　to　what　extent　you　would　carry　your　audacityfor　none　but　a
monstrous　rascal　would　venture　to　plume　himself　on　such　infamous　crimes。
But　I　prefer　believing；　that　they　exist　only　in　your　imagination。〃

As　he　barked　out　these　words；　with　a　degree　of　animation　not　usual　in
him；　Rodin　rose　from　his　seat；　and　approached　the　chimney；　while
Faringhea；　who　had　not　yet　recovered　from　his　surprise；　looked　at　him　in
silence。　　In　a　few　seconds；　however；　the　half…caste　returned；　with　a
gloomy　and　savage　mien：　〃Take　care；　brother；　do　not　force　me　to　prove　to
you　that　I　have　told　the　truth。〃

〃Come；　come；　sir；　you　must　be　fresh　from　the　Antipodes；　to　believe　us
Frenchmen　such　easy　dupes。　　You　have；　you　say；　the　prudence　of　a　serpent；
and　the　courage　of　a　lion。　　I　do　not　know　if　you　are　a　courageous　lion；
but　you　are　certainly　not　a　prudent　serpent。　　What！　you　have　about　you　a
letter　from　M。　Van　Dael；　by　which　I　might　be　compromisedsupposing　all
this　not　to　be　a　fableyou　have　left　Prince　Djalma　in　a　stupor；　which
would　serve　my　projects；　and　from　which　you　alone　can　rouse　himyou　are
able；　you　say；　to　strike　a　terrible　blow　at　my　interestsand　yet　you　do
not　consider　（bold　lion！　crafty　serpent　as　you　are！）　that　I　only　want　to
gain　twenty…four　hours　upon　you。　　Now；　you　come　from　the　end　of　India　to
Paris；　an　unknown　strangeryou　believe　me　to　be　as　great　a　scoundrel　as
yourself；since　you　call　me　brotherand　do　not　once　consider；　that　you
are　here　in　my　powerthat　this　street　and　house　are　solitary；　and　that　I
could　have　three　or　four　persons　to　bind　you　in　a　second；　savage
Strangler　though　you　are！and　that　just　by　pulling　this　bell…rope；〃　said
Rodin；　as　he　took　it　in　his　hand。　　〃Do　not　be　alarmed；〃　added　he；　with　a
diabolical　smile；　as　he　saw　Faringhea　make　an　abrupt　movement　of　surprise
and　fright；　〃would　I　give　you　notice；　if　I　meant　to　act　in　this　manner？
But　just　answer　me。　　Once　bound　and　put　in　confinement　for　twenty…four
hours；　how　could　you　injure　me？　　Would　it　not　be　easy　for　me　to　possess
myself　of　Van　Dael's　letter；　and　Djalma's　medal？　and　the　latter；　plunged
in　a　stupor　till　to…morrow　evening；　need　not　trouble　me　at　all。　　You　see；
therefore；　that　your　threats　are　vain）　because　they　rest　upon　falsehood
because　it　is　not　true；　that　Prince　Djalma　is　here　and　in　your　power。
Begone；　sirleave　the　house；　and　when　next　you　wish　to　make　dupes；　show
more　judgment　in　the　selection。〃

Faringhea　seemed　struck　with　astonishment。　　All　that　he　had　just　heard
seemed　very　probable。　　Rodin　might　seize　upon　him；　the　letter；　and　the
medal；　and；　by　keeping　him　prisoner；　prevent　Djalma　from　being　awakened。
And　yet　Rodin　ordered　him　to　leave　the　house；　at　the　moment　when
Faringhea　had　imagined　himself　so　formidable。　　As　he　thought　for　the
motives　of　this　inexplicable　conduct；　it　struck　him　that　Rodin；
notwithstanding　the　proofs　he　had　brought　him；　did　not　yet　believe　that
Djalma　was　in　his　power。　　On　that　theory；　the　contempt　of　Van　Dael's
correspondent　admitted　of　a　natural　explanation。　　But　Rodin　was　playing　a
bold　and　skillful　game；　and；　while　he　appeared　to　mutter　to　himself；　as
in　anger；　he　was　observing；　with　intense　anxiety；　the　Strangler's
countenance。

The　latter；　almost　certain　that　he　had　divined　the　secret　motive　of
Rodin；　replied：　〃I　am　goingbut　one　word　more。　　You　think　I　deceive
you？〃

〃I　am　certain　of　it。　　You　have　told　me　nothing　but　a　tissue　of　fables；
and　I　have　lost　much　time　in　listening　to　them。　　Spare　me　the　rest；　it　is
lateand　I　should　like　to　be　alone。〃

〃One　minute　more：　you　are　a　man；　I　see；　from　whom　nothing　should　be　hid；〃
said　Faringhea；　〃from　Djalma；　I　could　now　only　expect