the wandering jew, volume 11-第11部分

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〃Well；　I　suppose　so；〃　replied　Mother　Bunch；　with　a　faint　smile。　　〃It　is
certainly　impossible　to　imagine　anything　that　would　suit　you　better。　　The
light　green　and　the　pale　rose…color；　with　the　soft　lustre　of　the　white
ornaments；　harmonize　so　well　with　your　golden　hair；　that　I　cannot
conceive；　I　tell　you；　a　more　graceful　picture。〃

The　speaker　felt　what　she　said；　and　she　was　happy　to　be　able　to　express
it；　for　we　know　the　intense　admiration　of　that　poetic　soul　for　all　that
was　beautiful。

〃Well！〃　went　on　Adrienne；　gayly；　〃I　am　glad；　my　dear；　that　you　find　me
better　dressed　than　usual。〃

〃Only；〃　said　the　hunchback；　hesitating。

〃Only？〃　repeated　Adrienne；　looking　at　her　with　an　air　of　interrogation。

〃Why；　only；〃　continued　the　other；　〃if　I　have　never　seen　you　look　more
pretty；　I　have　also　never　observed　in　your　features　the　resolute　and
ironical　expression　which　they　had　just　now。　　It　was　like　an　air　of
impatient　defiance。〃

〃And　so　it　was；　my　dear　little　Magdalen；〃　said　Adrienne；　throwing　her
arms　round　the　girl's　neck　with　joyous　tenderness。　　〃I　must　kiss　you；　for
having　guessed　it。　　You　see；　I　expect　a　visit　from　my　dear　aunt。〃

〃The　Princess　de　Saint…Dizier？〃　cried　Mother　Bunch；　in　alarm。　　〃That
wicked　lady；　who　did　you　so　much　evil？〃

〃The　very　same。　　She　has　asked　for　an　interview；　and　I　shall　be　delighted
to　receive　her。〃

〃Delighted？〃

〃Yesa　somewhat　ironical　and　malicious　delight；　it　is　true；〃　answered
Adrienne；　still　more　gayly。　　〃You　shall　judge　for　yourself。　　She　regrets
her　gallantries；　her　beauty；　her　youtheven　her　size　afflicts　the　holy
woman！and　she　will　see　me　young；　fair；　belovedand　above　all　thin
yes；　thin；〃　added　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville；　laughing　merrily。　　〃And　you　may
imagine；　my　dear；　how　much　envy　and　despair；　the　sight　of　a　young；　thin
woman　excites　in　a　stout　one　of　a　certain　age！〃

〃My　friend；〃　said　Mother　Bunch；　gravely；　〃you　speak　in　jest。　　And　yet；　I
know　not　why；　the　coming　of　this　princess　alarms　me。〃

〃Dear；　gentle　soul；　be　satisfied！〃　answered　Adrienne；　affectionately。　　〃I
do　not　fear　this　womanI　no　longer　have　any　fear　of　herand　to　prove　it
to　her　confusion；　I　will　treat　hera　monster　of　hypocrisy　and
wickedness；　who　comes　here；　no　doubt；　on　some　abominable　designI　will
treat　her　as　an　inoffensive；　ridiculous　fat　woman！〃　　And　Adrienne　again
laughed。

A　servant　here　entered　the　room；　and　interrupted　the　mirth　of　Adrienne；
by　saying：　〃The　Princess　de　Saint…Dizier　wishes　to　know　if　you　can
receive　her？〃

〃Certainly；〃　said　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville；　and　the　servant　retired。　　Mother
Bunch　was　about　to　rise　and　quit　the　room；　but　Adrienne　held　her　back；
and　said　to　her；　taking　her　hand　with　an　air　of　serious　tenderness：
〃Stay；　my　dear　friend；　I　entreat　you。〃

〃Do　you　wish　it？〃

〃Yes；　I　wishstill　in　revenge；　you　know；〃　said　Adrienne；　with　a　smile；
〃to　prove　to　her　highness　of　Saint…Dizier；　that　I　have　an　affectionate
friendthat　I　have；　in　fact；　every　happiness。〃

〃But；　Adrienne；〃　replied　the　other；　timidly；　〃consider〃

〃Silence！　here　is　the　princess。　　Remain！　I　ask　it　as　a　favor。　　The
instinct　of　your　heart　will　discover　any　snare　she　may　have　laid。　　Did
not　your　affection　warn　me　of　the　plots　of　Rodin？〃

Mother　Bunch　could　not　refuse　such　a　request。　　She　remained；　but　was
about　to　draw　back　from　the　fireplace。　　Adrienne；　however；　took　her　by
the　hand；　and　made　her　resume　her　seat　in　the　arm…chair；　saying：　〃My　dear
Magdalen；　keep　your　place。　　You　owe　nothing　to　the　lady。　　With　me　it　is
different；　she　comes　to　my　house。〃

Hardly　had　Adrienne　uttered　these　words；　than　the　princess　entered　with
head　erect；　and　haughty　air　（we　have　said；　she　could　carry　herself　most
loftily）；　and　advanced　with　a　firm　step。　　The　strongest　minds　have　their
side　of　puerile　weakness；　a　savage　envy；　excited　by　the　elegance；　wit；
and　beauty　of　Adrienne；　bore　a　large　part　in　the　hatred　of　the　princess
for　her　niece；　and　though　it　was　idle　to　think　of　eclipsing　Adrienne；　and
the　Princess　de　Saint…Dizier　did　not　seriously　mean　to　attempt　it；　she
could　not　forbear；　in　preparing　for　the　interview　she　had　demanded；
taking　more　pains　even　than　usual　in　the　arrangement　of　her　dress。
Beneath　her　robe　of　shot　silk；　she　was　laced　in　and　tightened　to　excess
a　pressure　which　considerably　increased　the　color　in　her　cheeks。　　The
throng　of　jealous　and　hateful　sentiments；　which　inspired　her　with　regard
to　Adrienne；　had　so　troubled　the　clearness　of　her　ordinarily　calm
judgment；　that；　instead　of　the　plain　and　quiet　style；　in　which；　as　a
woman　of　tact　and　taste；　she　was　generally　attired；　she　now　committed　the
folly　of　wearing　a　dress　of　changing　hues；　and　a　crimson　hat；　adorned
with　a　magnificent　bird　of　paradise。　　Hate；　envy；　the　pride　of　triumph
for　she　thought　of　the　skillful　perfidy　with　which　she　had　sent　to　almost
certain　death　the　daughters　of　Marshal　Simonand　the　execrable　hope　of
succeeding　in　new　plots；　were　all　expressed　in　the　countenance　of　the
Princess　de　Saint…Dizier；　as　she　entered　her　niece's　apartment。

Without　advancing　to　meet　her　aunt；　Adrienne　rose　politely　from　the　sofa
on　which　she　was　seated；　made　a　half…curtsey；　full　of　grace　and　dignity；
and　immediately　resumed　her　former　posture。　　Then；　pointing　to　an　arm…
chair　near　the　fireplace；　at　one　corner　of　which　sat　Mother　Bunch；　and
she　herself　at　the　other；　she　said：　〃Pray　sit　down；　your　highness。〃　　The
princess　turned　very　red；　remained　standing；　and　cast　a　disdainful　glance
of　insolent　surprise　at　the　sempstress；　who；　in　compliance　with
Adrienne's　wish；　only　bowed　slightly　at　the　entrance　of　the　Princess　de
Saint…Dizier；　wihout　offering　to　give　up　her　place。　　In　acting　thus；　the
young　sempstress　followed　the　dictates　of　her　conscience；　which　told　her
that　the　real　superiority　did　not　belong　to　this　base；　hypocritical；　and
wicked　princess；　but　rather　to　such　a　person　as　herself；　the　admirable
and　devoted　friend。

〃Let　me　beg　your　highness　to　sit　down；〃　resumed　Adrienne；　in　a　mild　tone；
as　she　pointed　to　the　vacant　chair。

〃The　interview　I　have　demanded；　niece；〃　said　the　princess　〃must　be　a
private　one。〃

〃I　have　no　secrets；　madame；　from　my　best　friend；　you　may　speak　in　the
presence　of　this　young　lady。〃

〃I　have　long　known；〃　replied　Madame　de　Saint…Dizier；　with　bitter　irony；
〃that　in　all　things　you　care　little　for　secrecy；　and　that　you　are　easy　in
the　choice　of　what　you　call　your　friends。　　But　you　will　permit　me　to　act
differently　from　you。　　If　you　have　no　secrets；　madame；　I　haveand　I　do
not　choose　to　confide　them　to　the　first　comer。〃

So　saying；　the　pious　lady　glanced　contemptuously　at　the　sempstress。　　The
latter；　hurt　at　the　insolent　tone　of　the　princess；　answered　mildly　and
simply：

〃I　do　not　see　what　can　be　the　great　difference　between　the　first　and　the
last　comer　to　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville's。〃

〃What！　can　it　speak！〃　cried　the　princess；　insolently。

〃It　can　at　least　answer；　madame；〃　replied　Mother　Bunch；　in　her　calm
voice。

〃I　wish　to　see　you　alone；　nieceis　that　clear？〃　said　the　princess；
impatiently；　to　her　niece。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　but　I　do　not　quite　understand　your　highness；〃　said
Adrienne；　with　an　air　of　surprise。　　〃This　young　lady；　who　honors　me　with
her　friendship；　is　willing　to　be　present　at　this　interview；　which　you
have　asked　forI　say　she　has　consented　to　be　present；　for　it　needs；　I
confess；　the　kindest　condescension　in　her　to　resign　herself；　from
affection　for　me；　to　hear　all　the　graceful；　obliging；　and　charming　things
which　you　have　no　doubt　come　hither　to　communicate。〃

〃Madame〃　began　the　princess；　angrily。

〃Permit　me　to　interrupt　your　highness；〃　returned　Adrienne；　in　a　tone　of
perfect　amenity；　as　if　she　were　addressing　the　most　flattering
compliments　to　her　visitor。　　〃To　put　you　quite　at　your　ease　with　the　lady
here；　I　will　begin　by　informing　you　that　she　is　quite　aware　of　all　the
holy　perfidies；　pious　wrongs；　and　devout　infamies；　of　which　you　nearly
made　me　the　victim。　　She　knows　that　you　are　a　mother　of　the　Church；　such
as　one　sees　but　few　of　in　these　days。　　May　I　hope；　therefore；　that　your
highness　will　dispense　with　this　delicate　and　interesting　reserve？〃

〃Really；〃　said　the　princess；　with　a　sort　of　incensed　amazement；　〃I
scarcely　know　if　I　wake　or　sleep。〃

〃Dear　me！〃　said　Adrienne；　in　apparent　alarm；　〃this　doubt　as　to　the　state
of　your　faculties　is　very　shocking；　madame。　　I　see　that　the　blood　flies
to　your　head；　for　your　face　sufficiently　shows　it；　you　seem　oppressed；
confined；　uncomfortableperhaps　（we　women　may　say　so　between　ourselves）；
perhaps　you　are　laced　a　little　too　tightly；　madame？〃

These　words；　pronounced　by　Adrienne　with　an　air　of　warm　interest　and
perfect　simplicity；　almost　choked　the　princess　with　rage。　　She　became
crimson；　seated　herself　abruptly；　and　exclaimed：　〃Be　it　so；　madame！　　I
prefer　this　reception　to　any　other。　　It　puts　me　at　my　ease；　as　you　say。〃

〃Does　it　indeed；　madame？〃　said　Adrienne；　with　a　smile。　　〃You　may　now　at
least　speak　frankly　all　that　you　feel；　which　must　for　you　have　the　charm
of　novelty！　　Confess　that　you　are　obliged　to　me　for　enabling　you；　even
for　a　moment；　to　lay　aside　that　mask　of　piety；　amiability；　and　goodness；
which　must　be　so　troublesome　to　you。〃

As　she　listened　to　the　sarcasms　of　Adrienne　（an　innocent　and　excusable
revenge；　if　we　consider　all　the　wrongs　she　had　suffered）；　Mother　Bunch
felt　her　heart　sink　within　her；　for　she　dreaded　the　malignity　of　the
princess；　who　replied；　with　the　utmost　calmness：　〃A　thousand　thanks；
madame；　for　your　excellent　intentions　and　sentiments。　　I　appreciate　them
as　I　ought；　and　I　hope　in　a　short　time　to　prove　it　to　you。〃

〃Well；　madame；〃　said　Adrienne；　playfully；　〃let　us　have　it　all　at　once。　　I
am　full　of　impatient　curiosity。〃

〃And　yet；〃　said　the　princess；　feigning　in　her　turn　a　bitter　and　ironical
delight；　〃you　are　far　from　having　the　least　notion　of　what　I　am　about　to
announce　to　you。〃

〃Indeed！　I　fear　that　your　highness's　candor　and　modesty　deceive　you；〃
replied　Adrienne；　with　the　same　mocking　affability；　〃for　there　are　very
few　things　on　your　part　that　can　surprise　me；　madame。　　You　must　be　aware
that　from　your　highness；　I　am　prepared　for　anything。〃

〃Perhaps；　madame；〃　said　the　princess；　laying　great