the wandering jew, volume 5-第7部分

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and　brambles。　　The　trees；　left　to　themselves；　had　shot　forth　and　mingled
their　branches　in　all　directions；　some　straggling　vines；　reproduced　from
offshoots；　had　crept　along　the　ground　to　the　foot　of　the　trees；　and；
climbing　up　their　trunks；　had　twined　themselves　about　them；　and　encircled
their　highest　branches　with　their　inextricable　net。　　You　could　only　pass
through　this　virgin　forest　by　following　the　path　made　by　the　guardian；　to
go　from　the　grating　to　the　house；　the　approaches　to　which　were　a　little
sloped　to　let　the　water　run　off；　and　carefully　paved　to　the　width　of
about　ten　feet。　　Another　narrow　path　which　extended　all　around　the
enclosure；　was　every　night　perambulated　by　two　or　three　Pyrenees　dogsa
faithful　race；　which　had　been　perpetuated　in　the　house　during　a　century
and　a　half。　　Such　was　the　habitation　destined　for　the　meeting　of　the
descendants　of　the　family　of　Rennepont。　　The　night　which　separated　the
12th　from　the　13th　day　of　February　was　near　its　close。　　A　calm　had
succeeded　the　storm；　and　the　rain　had　ceased；　the　sky　was　clear　and　full
of　stars；　the　moon；　on　its　decline；　shone　with　a　mild　lustre；　and　threw　a
melancholy　light　over　that　deserted；　silent　house；　whose　threshold　for　so
many　years　no　human　footstep　had　crossed。

A　bright　gleam　of　light；　issuing　from　one　of　the　windows　of　the
guardian's　dwelling；　announced　that　Samuel　was　awake。　　Figure　to　yourself
a　tolerably　large　room；　lined　from　top　to　bottom　with　old　walnut
wainscoting　browned　to　an　almost　black；　with　age。　　Two　half…extinguished
brands　are　smoking　amid　the　cinders　on　the　hearth。　　On　the　stone
mantelpiece；　painted　to　resemble　gray　granite；　stands　an　old　iron
candlestick；　furnished　with　a　meagre　candle；　capped　by　an　extinguisher。
Near　it　one　sees　a　pair　of　double…barrelled　pistols；　and　a　sharp　cutlass；
with　a　hilt　of　carved　bronze；　belonging　to　the　seventeenth　century。
Moreover；　a　heavy　rifle　rests　against　one　of　the　chimney　jambs。　　Four
stools；　an　old　oak　press；　and　a　square　table　with　twisted　legs；　formed
the　sole　furniture　of　this　apartment。　　Against　the　wall　were
systematically　suspended　a　number　of　keys　of　different　sizes；　the　shape
of　which　bore　evidence　to　their　antiquity；　whilst　to　their　rings　were
affixed　divers　labels。　　The　back　of　the　old　press；　which　moved　by　a
secret　spring；　had　been　pushed　aside；　and　discovered；　built　in　the　wall；
a　large　and　deep　iron　chest；　the　lid　of　which；　being　open；　displayed　the
wondrous　mechanism　of　one　of　those　Florentine　locks　of　the　sixteenth
century；　which；　better　than　any　modern　invention；　set　all　picklocks　at
defiance；　and；　moreover；　according　to　the　notions　of　that　age；　are
supplied　with　a　thick　lining　of　asbestos　cloth；　suspended　by　gold　wire　at
a　distance　from　the　sides　of　the　chest；　for　the　purpose　of　rendering
incombustible　the　articles　contained　in　it。　　A　large　cedar…wood　box　had
been　taken　from　the　chest；　and　placed　upon　a　stool；　it　contained　numerous
papers；　carefully　arranged　and　docketed。　　By　the　light　of　a　brass　lamp；
the　old　keeper　Samuel；　was　writing　in　a　small　register；　whilst　Bathsheba；
his　wife；　was　dictating　to　him　from　an　account。　　Samuel　was　about　eighty…
two　years　old；　and；　notwithstanding　his　advanced　age；　a　mass　of　gray
curling　hair　covered　his　head。　　He　was　short；　thin；　nervous；　and　the
involuntary　petulance　of　his　movements　proved　that　years　had　not　weakened
his　energy　and　activity；　though；　out　of　doors；　where；　however；　he　made
his　appearance　very　seldom；　he　affected　a　sort　of　second　childhood；　as
had　been　remarked　by　Rodin　to　Father　d'Aigrigny。　　An　old　dressing…gown；
of　maroon…colored　camlet；　with　large　sleeves；　completely　enveloped　the
old　man；　and　reached　to　his　feet。

Samuel's　features　were　cast　in　the　pure；　Eastern　mould　of　his　race。　　His
complexion　was　of　a　dead　yellow；　his　nose　aquiline；　his　chin　shaded　by　a
little　tuft　of　white　beard；　while　projecting　cheek…bones　threw　a　harsh
shadow　upon　the　hollow　and　wrinkled　cheeks。　　His　countenance　was　full　of
intelligence；　fine　sharpness；　and　sagacity。　　On　his　broad；　high　forehead
one　might　read　frankness；　honesty；　and　firmness；　his　eyes；　black　and
brilliant　as　an　Arab's；　were　at　once　mild　and　piercing。

His　wife；　Bathsheba；　some　fifteen　years　younger　than　himself；　was　of　tall
stature；　and　dressed　entirely　in　black。　　A　low　cap；　of　starched　lawn；
which　reminded　one　of　the　grave　head…dresses　of　Dutch　matrons；　encircled
a　pale　and　austere　countenance；　formerly　of　a　rare　and　haughty　beauty；
and　impressed　with　the　Scriptural　character。　　Some　lines　in　the　forehead；
caused　by　the　almost　continual　knitting　of　her　gray　brows；　showed　that
this　woman　had　often　suffered　from　the　pressure　of　intense　grief。

At　this　very　moment　her　countenance　betrayed　inexpressible　sorrow。　　Her
look　was　fixed；　her　head　resting　on　her　bosom。　　She　had　let　her　right
hand；　which　held　a　small　account…book；　fall　upon　her　lap；　while　the　other
hand　grasped　convulsively　a　long　tress　of　jet…black　hair；　which　she　bore
about　her　neck。　　It　was　fastened　by　a　golden　clasp；　about　an　inch　square；
in　which；　under　a　plate　of　crystal；　that　shut　in　one　side　of　it　like　a
relic…case；　could　be　seen　a　piece　of　linen；　folded　square；　and　almost
entirely　covered　with　dark　red　spots　that　resembled　blood　a　long　time
dried。

After　a　short　silence；　during　which　Samuel　was　occupied　with　his
register；　he　read　aloud　what　he　had　just　been　writing：　〃Per　contra；　5；000
Austrian　Metallics　of　1；000　florins；　under　date　of　October　19th；　1826。〃

After　which　enumeration；　Samuel　raised　his　head；　and　said　to　his　wife：
〃Well；　is　it　right；　Bathsheba？　　Have　you　compared　it　with　the　account…
book？〃

Bathsheba　did　not　answer。　　Samuel　looked　at　her；　and；　seeing　that　she　was
absorbed　in　grief；　said　to　her；　with　an　expression　of　tender　anxiety：
〃What　is　the　matter？　　Good　heaven！　what　is　the　matter　with　you？〃

〃The　19th　of　October；　1826；〃　said　she；　slowly；　with　her　eyes　still　fixed；
and　pressing　yet　more　closely　the　lock　of　black　hair　which　she　wore　about
her　neck；　〃It　was　a　fatal　dayfor；　Samuel；　it　was　the　date　of　the　last
letter　which　we　received　from〃

Bathsheba　was　unable　to　proceed。　　She　uttered　a　long　sigh；　and　concealed
her　face　in　her　hands。

〃Oh！　I　understand　you；〃　observed　the　old　man；　in　a　tremulous　voice；　〃a
father　may　be　taken　up　by　the　thought　of　other　cares；　but　the　heart　of　a
mother　is　ever　wakeful。〃　　Throwing　his　pen　down　upon　the　table；　Samuel
leaned　his　forehead　upon　his　hands　in　sorrow。

Bathsheba　resumed；　as　if　she　found　a　melancholy　pleasure　in　these　cruel
remembrances：　〃Yes；　that　was　the　last　day　on　which　our　son；　Abel；　wrote
to　us　from　Germany；　to　announce　to　us　that　he　had　invested　the　funds
according　to　your　desire　and　was　going　thence　into　Poland；　to　effect
another　operation。〃

〃And　in　Poland　he　met　the　death　of　a　martyr；〃　added　Samuel。　　〃With　no
motive　and　no　proof；　they　accused　him　falsely　of　coming　to　organize
smuggling；　and　the　Russian　governor；　treating　him　as　they　treat　our
brothers　in　that　land　of　cruel　tyranny；　condemned　him　to　the　dreadful
punishment　of　the　knout；　without　even　hearing　him　in　his　defence。　　Why
should　they　hear　a　Jew？　　What　is　a　Jew？　　A　creature　below　a　serf；　whom
they　reproach　for　all　the　vices　that　a　degrading　slavery　has　engendered。
A　Jew　beaten　to　death？　　Who　would　trouble　themselves　about　it？〃

〃And　poor　Abel；　so　good；　so　faithful；　died　beneath　their　stripes；　partly
from　shame；　partly　from　the　wounds；　said　Bathsheba；　shuddering。　　〃One　of
our　Polish　brethren　obtained　with　great　difficulty　permission　to　bury
him。　　He　cut　off　this　lode　of　beautiful　black　hairwhich；　with　this
scrap　of　linen；　bathed　in　the　blood　of　our　dear　son；　is　all　that　now
remains　to　us　of　him。〃　　Bathsheba　covered　the　hair　and　clasp　with
convulsive　kisses。

〃Alas！〃　said　Samuel；　drying　his　tears；　which　had　burst　forth　at　these　sad
recollections；　〃the　Lord　did　not　at　last　remove　our　child；　until　the　task
which　our　family　has　accomplished　faithfully　for　a　century　and　a　half　was
nearly　at　an　end。　　Of　what　use　will　our　race　be　henceforth　upon　earth？〃
added　Samuel；　most　bitterly。　　〃Our　duty　is　performed。　　This　casket
contains　a　royal　fortuneand　yonder　house；　walled　up　for　a　hundred　and
fifty　years；　will　be　opened　to…morrow　to　the　descendants　of　my　ancestor's
benefactor。〃　　So　saying；　Samuel　turned　his　face　sorrowfully　towards　the
house；　which　he　could　see　through　the　window。　　The　dawn　was　just　about　to
appear。　　The　moon　had　set；　belvedere；　roof；　and　chimneys　formed　a　black
mass　upon　the　dark　blue　of　the　starry　firmament。

Suddenly；　Samuel　grew　pale；　and；　rising　abruptly；　said　to　his　wife　in　a
tremulous　tone；　whilst　he　still　pointed　to　the　house：　〃Bathsheba！　the
seven　points　of　lightjust　as　it　was　thirty　years　ago。　　Look！　look：〃

Indeed；　the　seven　round　holes；　bored　in　the　form　of　a　cross　in　the　leaden
plates　which　covered　the　window　of　the　belvedere；　sparkled　like　so　many
luminous　points；　as　if　some　one　in　the　house　ascended　with　a　light　to　the
roof。




CHAPTER　XVIII。

DEBIT　AND　CREDIT。

For　some　seconds；　Samuel　and　Bathsheba　remained　motionless；　with　their
eyes　fixed　in　fear　and　uneasiness　on　the　seven　luminous　points；　which
shone　through　the　darkness　of　the　night　from　the　summit　of　the　belvedere；
while；　on　the　horizon；　behind　the　house；　a　pale；　rosy　hue　announced　the
dawn　of　day。

Samuel　was　the　first　to　break　silence；　and　he　said　to　his　wife；　as　he
drew　his　hand　across　his　brow：　〃The　grief　caused　by　the　remembrance　of
our　poor　child　has　prevented　us　from　reflecting　that；　after　all；　there
should　be　nothing　to　alarm　us　in　what　we　see。〃

〃How　so；　Samuel？〃

〃My　father　always　told　me　that　he；　and　my　grandfather　before　him；　had
seen　such　lights　at　long　intervals。〃

〃Yes；　Samuelbut　without　being　able；　any　more　than　ourselves；　to　explain
the　cause。〃

〃Like　my　father　and　grandfather；　we　can　only　suppose　that　some　secret
passage　gives　admittance　to　persons　who；　like　us；　have　some　mysterious
duty　to　fulfil　in　this　dwelling。　　Besides；　my　father　warned　me　not　to　be
uneasy　at　these　appearances；　foretold　by　him；　and　now　visible　for　the
second　time　in　thirty　years。〃

〃No　matter　for　that；　Samuel；　it　does　strike　one　as　if　it　was　something
supernatural。〃