the wandering jew, volume 11-第10部分

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something　generousto　help　our　governess。〃

〃And　we　did　not　think　to　die　so　quickly；　and　so　soon。　　Yesterday；　we　were
gay　and　happy。〃

〃Oh；　good　angel！　you　will　appear　to　our　father；　even　as　you　have　appeared
to　us。　　You　will　tell　him　that；　in　dyingthe　last　thought　of　his
childrenwas　of　him。〃

〃We　came　here　without　Dagobert's　knowing　itdo　not　let　our　father　scold
him。〃

〃Blessed　angel！〃　resumed　the　other　sister　in　a　still　more　feeble　voice；
〃appear　to　Dagobert；　also。　　Tell　him；　that　we　ask　his　forgiveness；　for
the　grief　our　death　will　occasion　him。〃

〃And　let　our　old　friend　caress　our　poor　Spoil…sport　for　usour　faithful
guardian；〃　added　Blanche；　trying　to　smile。

〃And　then；〃　resumed　Rose；　in　a　voice　that　was　growing　still　fainter；
〃promise　to　appear　to　two　other　persons；　that　have　been　so　kind　to　us
good　Mother　Bunchand　the　beautiful　Lady　Adrienne。〃

〃We　forget　none　whom　we　have　loved；〃　said　Blanche；　with　a　last　effort。
〃Now；　God　grant　we　may　go　to　our　mother；　never　to　leave　her　more！〃

〃You　promised　it　good　angelyou　know　you　didin　the　dream。　　You　said　to
us：　‘Poor　childrencome　from　so　faryou　will　have　traversed　the　earth
to　rest　on　the　maternal　bosom！'〃

〃Oh！　it　is　dreadfuldreadful！　So　youngand　no　hope！〃　murmured　Gabriel；
as　he　buried　his　face　in　his　hands。　　〃Almighty　Father！　　Thy　views　are
impenetrable。　　Alas！　yet　why　should　these　children　die　this　cruel　death？〃

Rose　heaved　a　deep　sigh　and　said　in　an　expiring　tone：　〃Let　us　be　buried
together！united　in　life；　in　death　not　divided〃

And　the　two　turned　their　dying　looks　upon　Gabriel；　and　stretched　out
towards　him　their　supplicating　hands。

〃Oh；　blessed　martyrs　to　a　generous　devotion！〃　cried　the　missionary；
raising　to　heaven　his　eyes　streaming　with　tears。　　〃Angelic　souls！
treasures　of　innocence　and　truth！　ascend；　ascend　to　heavensince　God
calls　you　to　him；　and　the　earth　is　not　worthy　to　possess　you！〃

〃Sister！　father！〃　were　the　last　words　that　the　orphans　pronounced　with
their　dying　voices。

And　then　the　twins；　by　a　last　instinctive　impulse；　endeavored　to　clasp
each　other；　and　their　eyes　half…opened　to　exchange　yet　another　glance。
They　shuddered　twice　or　thrice；　their　limbs　stiffened；　a　deep　sigh
struggled　from　their　violet…colored　lips。　　Rose　and　Blanche　were　both
dead！　　Gabriel　and　Sister　Martha；　after　closing　the　eyes　of　the　orphans；
knelt　down　to　pray　by　the　side　of　that　funeral　couch。　　Suddenly　a　great
tumult　was　heard　in　the　room。　　Rapid　footsteps；　mingled　with
imprecations；　sounded　close　at　hand；　the　curtain　was　drawn　aside　from
this　mournful　scene；　and　Dagobert　entered　precipitately；　pale；　haggard；
his　dress　in　disorder。　　At　sight　of　Gabriel　and　the　Sister　of　Charity
kneeling　beside　the　corpses　of　his　children；　the　soldier　uttered　a
terrible　roar；　and　tried　to　advancebut　in　vainfor；　before　Gabriel
could　reach　him；　Dagobert　fell　flat　on　the　ground；　and　his　gray　head
struck　violently　on　the　floor。

It　is　nighta　dark　and　stormy　night。　　One　o'clock　in　the　morning　has
just　sounded　from　the　church　of　Montmartre。　　It　is　to　the　cemetery　of
Montmartre　that　is　carried　the　coffin　which；　according　to　the　last　wishes
of　Rose　and　Blanche　contains　them　both。　　Through　the　thick　shadow；　which
rests　upon　that　field　of　death；　may　be　seen　moving　a　pale　light。　　It　is
the　gravedigger。　　He　advances　with　caution；　a　dark　lantern　is　in　his
hand。　　A　man　wrapped　in　a　cloak　accompanies　him。　　He　holds　down　his　head
and　weeps。　　It　is　Samuel。　　The　old　Jewthe　keeper　of　the　house　in　the
Rue　Saint…Francois。　　On　the　night　of　the　funeral　of　Jacques　Rennepont；
the　first　who　died　of　the　seven　heirs；　and　who　was　buried　in　another
cemetery；　Samuel　had　a　similar　mysterious　interview　with　the　gravedigger；
to　obtain　a　favor　at　the　price　of　gold。　　A　strange　and　awful　favor！
After　passing　down　several　paths；　bordered　with　cypress　trees；　by　the
side　of　many　tombs；　the　Jew　and　the　gravedigger　arrived；　at　a　little
glade；　situated　near　the　western　wall　of　the　cemetery。　　The　night　was　so
dark；　that　scarcely　anything　could　be　seen。　　After　moving　his　lantern　up
and　down；　and　all　about；　the　gravedigger　showed　Samuel；　at　the　foot　of　a
tall　yew…tree；　with　long　black　branches；　a　little　mound　of　newly…raised
earth；　and　said：　〃It　is　here。〃

〃You　are　sure　of　it？〃

〃Yes；　yestwo　bodies　in　one　coffin！　it　is　not　such　a　common　thing。〃

〃Alas！　two　in　the　same　coffin！〃　said　the　Jew；　with　a　deep　sigh。

〃Now　that　you　know　the　place；　what　do　you　want　more？〃　asked　the
gravedigger。

Samuel　did　not　answer。　　He　fell　on　his　knees；　and　piously　kissed　the
little　mound。　　Then　rising；　with　his　cheeks　bathed　in　tears；　he
approached　the　gravedigger；　and　spoke　to　him　for　some　moments　in　a
whisperthough　they　were　alone；　and　in　the　centre　of　that　deserted
place。　　Then　began　between　those　two　men　a　mysterious　dialogue；　which　the
night　enveloped　in　shade　and　silence。　　The　gravedigger；　alarmed　at　what
Samuel　asked　him；　at　first　refused　his　request。

But　the　Jew；　employing　persuasions；　entreaties；　tears；　and　at　last　the
seduction　of　the　jingling　gold；　succeeded　in　conquering　the　scruples　of
the　gravedigger。　　Though　the　latter　trembled　at　the　thought　of　what　he
promised；　he　said　to　Samuel　in　an　agitated　tone：　〃To…morrow　night；　then；
at　two　o'clock。〃

〃I　shall　be　behind　the　wall；〃　answered　Samuel；　pointing　out　the　place
with　the　aid　of　a　lantern。　　〃I　will　throw　three　stones　into　the　cemetery；
for　a　signal。〃

〃Yes；　three　stonesas　a　signal；〃　replied　the　gravedigger　shuddering；　and
wiping　the　cold　sweat　from　his　forehead。

With　considerable　remains　of　vigor；　notwithstanding　his　great　age；　Samuel
availed　himself　of　the　broken　surface　of　the　low　wall；　and　climbing　over
it；　soon　disappeared。　　The　gravedigger　returned　home　with　hasty　strides。
From　time　to　time；　he　looked　fearfully　behind　him；　as　though　he　had　been
pursued　by　some　fatal　vision。

On　the　evening　after　the　funeral　of　Rose　and　Blanche；　Rodin　wrote　two
letters。　　The　first；　addressed　to　his　mysterious　correspondent　at　Rome；
alluded　to　the　deaths　of　Jacques　Rennepont；　and　Rose　and　Blanche　Simon；
as　well　as　to　the　cession　of　M。　Hardy's　property；　and　the　donation
of　Gabrielevents　which　reduced　the　claimants　of　the　inheritance　to　two…
…Mdlle。　de　Cardoville　and　Djalma。　　This　first　note　written　by　Rodin　for
Rome；　contained　only　the　following　words：　〃Five　from　seven　leaves　two。
Announce　this　result　to　the　Cardinal…Prince。　　Let　him　go　on。　　I　advance…
advance…advance！〃　　The　second　note；　in　a　feigned　hand；　was　addressed　to
Marshal　Simon；　to　be　delivered　by　a　sure　messenger；　contained　these　few
lines：　〃If　there　is　yet　time；　make　haste　to　return。　　Your　daughters　are
both　dead。　You　shall　learn　who　killed　them。〃




CHAPTER　LVIII。

RUIN。

It　is　the　day　after　the　death　of　Marshal　Simon's　daughters。　　Mdlle。　de
Cardoville　is　yet　ignorant　of　the　sad　end　of　her　young　relatives。　　Her
countenance　is　radiant　with　happiness；　and　never　has　she　looked　more
beautiful；　her　eye　has　never　been　more　brilliant；　her　complexion　more
dazzling　white；　her　lip　of　a　richer　coral。　　According　to　her　somewhat
eccentric　custom　of　dressing　herself　in　her　own　house　in　a　picturesque
style；　Adrienne　wears　to…day；　though　it　is　about　three　o'clock　in　the
afternoon；　a　pale　green　watered…silk　dress；　with　a　very　full　skirt；　the
sleeves　and　bodice　slashed　with　rose…colored　ribbon；　and　adorned　with
white　bugle…beads；　of　exquisite　workmanship；　while　a　slender　network；
also　of　white　bugle…beads；　concealing　the　thick　plait　of　Adrienne's　back…
hair；　forms　an　oriental　head…dress　of　charming　originality；　and　contrasts
agreeably　with　the　long　curls　which　fall　in　front　almost　to　the　swell　of
the　bosom。　　To　the　expression　of　indescribable　happiness　which　marks　the
features　of　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville；　is　added　a　certain　resolute；　cutting；
satirical　air；　which　is　not　habitual　to　her。　　Her　charming　head；　and
graceful；　swan…like　neck；　are　raised　in　an　attitude　of　defiance；　her
small；　rose…colored　nostrils　seem　to　dilate　with　ill…repressed　ardor；　and
she　waits　with　haughty　impatience　for　the　moment　of　an　aggressive　and
ironical　interview。　　Not　far　from　Adrienne　is　Mother　Bunch。　　She　has
resumed　in　the　house　the　place　which　she　at　first　occupied。　　The　young
sempstress　is　in　mourning　for　her　sister；　but　her　countenance　is
expressive　of　a　mild；　calm　sorrow。　　She　looks　at　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville
with　surprise；　for　never；　till　now；　has　she　seen　the　features　of　the　fair
patrician　impressed　with　such　a　character　of　ironical　audacity。　　Mdlle。
de　Cardoville　was　exempt　from　the　slightest　coquetry；　in　the　narrow　and
ordinary　sense　of　the　word。　　Yet　she　now　cast　an　inquiring　look　at　the
glass　before　which　she　was　standing；　and；　having　restored　the　elastic
smoothness　to　one　of　her　long；　golden　curls；　by　rolling　it　for　a　moment
round　her　ivory　finger；　she　carefully　effaced　with　her　hands　some　almost
imperceptible　folds；　which　had　formed　themselves　in　the　thick　material　of
her　elegant　corsage。　　This　movement；　and　that　of　turning　her　back　to　the
glass；　to　see　if　her　dress　sat　perfectly　on　all　points；　revealed；　in
serpentine　undulations；　all　the　charms　and　graces　of　her　light　and
elegant　figure；　for；　in　spite　of　the　rich　fulness　of　her　shoulders；　white
and　firm　as　sculptured　alabaster；　Adrienne　belonged　to　that　class　of
privileged　persons；　who　are　able　at　need　to　make　a　girdle　out　of　a
garter。

Having　performed；　with　indescribable　grace；　these　charming　evolutions　of
feminine　coquetry；　Adrienne　turned　towards　Mother　Bunch；　whose　surprise
was　still　on　the　increase；　and　said　to　her；　smiling：　〃My　dear　Magdalen；
do　not　laugh　at　my　questionbut　what　would　you　say　to　a　picture；　that
should　represent　me　as　I　am　now？〃

〃Why；　lady〃

〃There　you　are　again；　with　your　lady…ing；〃　said　Adrienne；　in　a　tone　of
gentle　reproach。

〃Well；　then；　Adrienne；〃　resumed　Mother　Bunch；　〃I　think　it　would　be　a
charming　picture；　for　you　are　dressed；　as　usual　with　perfect　taste。〃

〃But　am　I　not　better　dressed　than　on　other　days；　my　dear　poetess？　　I
began　by　telling　you　that　I　do　not　ask　the　question　for　my　own　sake；〃
said　Adrienne；　gayly。

〃Well；　I　suppose　so；〃　replied　Mother　Bunch；　with　a　faint　smile。　　〃It　is
certainly　impossible　to　imagine　anything　th