the wandering jew, volume 11-第12部分

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that　from　your　highness；　I　am　prepared　for　anything。〃

〃Perhaps；　madame；〃　said　the　princess；　laying　great　stress　on　her　words；
〃if；　for　instance；　I　were　to　tell　you　that　within　twenty…four　hours
suppose　between　this　and　to…morrow…thou　will　be　reduced　to　poverty〃

This　was　so　unexpected；　that　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville　started　in　spite　of
herself；　and　Mother　Bunch　shuddered。

〃Ah；　madame！〃　said　the　princess；　with　triumphant　joy　and　cruel　mildness；
as　she　watched　the　growing　surprise　of　her　niece；　〃confess　that　I　have
astonished　you　a　little。　　You　were　right　in　giving　to　our　interview　the
turn　it　has　taken。　　I　should　have　needed　all　sorts　of　circumlocution　to
say　to　you；　‘Niece；　to…morrow　you　will　be　as　poor　as　you　are　rich　to…
day。'　　But　now　I　can　tell　you　the　fact　quite　plainly　and　simply。〃

Recovering　from　her　first　amazement；　Adrienne　replied；　with　a　calm　smile；
which　checked　the　joy　of　the　princess：　〃Well；　I　confess　frankly；　madame；
that　you　have　surprised　me；　I　expected　from　you　one　of　those　black　pieces
of　malignity；　one　of　those　well…laid　plots；　in　which　you　are　known　to
excel；　and　I　did　not　think　you　would　make　all　this　fuss　about　such　a
trifle。〃

〃To　be　ruinedcompletely　ruined；〃　cried　the　princess。　　〃and　that　by　to…
morrowyou　that　have　been　so　prodigal；　will　see　your　house；　furniture；
horses；　jewels；　even　the　ridiculous　dresses　of　which　you　are　so　vain；　all
taken　from　youdo　you　call　that　a　trifle？　　You；　that　spend　with
indifference　thousands　of　louis；　will　be　reduced　to　a　pension　inferior　to
the　wages　you　gave　your　foot…boydo　you　call　that　a　trifle？〃

To　her　aunt's　cruel　disappointment；　Adrienne；　who　appeared　quite　to　have
recovered　her　serenity　was　about　to　answer　accordingly；　when　the　door
suddenly　opened；　and；　without　being　announced；　Prince　Djalma　entered　the
room。　　A　proud　and　tender　expression　of　delight　beamed　from　the　radiant
brow　of　Adrienne　at　sight　of　the　prince；　and　it　is　impossible　to　describe
the　look　of　triumphant　happiness　and　high　disdain　that　she　cast　upon　the
Princess　de　Saint…Dizier。　　Djalma　himself　had　never　looked　more　handsome；
and　never　had　more　intense　happiness　been　impressed　on　a　human
countenance。　　The　Hindoo　wore　a　long　robe　of　white　Cashmere；　adorned　with
innumerable　stripes　of　gold　and　purple；　his　turban　was　of　the　same　color
and　material；　a　magnificent　figured　shawl　was　twisted　about　his　waist。
On　seeing　the　Indian；　whom　she　had　not　hoped　to　meet　at　Mdlle。　de
Cardoville's；　the　Princess　de　Saint…Dizier　could　not　at　first　conceal　her
extreme　surprise。　　It　was　between　these　four；　then；　that　the　following
scene　took　place。




CHAPTER　LIX。

MEMORIES。

Djalma；　having　never　before　met　the　Princess　de　Saint…Dizier　at
Adrienne's；　at　first　appeared　rather　astonished　at　her　presence。　　The
princess；　keeping　silence　for　a　moment；　contemplated　with　implacable
hatred　and　envy　those　two　beings；　both　so　fair　and　young；　so　loving　and
happy。　　Suddenly　she　started；　as　if　she　had　just　remembered　something　of
great　importance；　and　for　some　seconds　she　remained　absorbed　in　thought。

Adrienne　and　Djalma　availed　themselves　of　this　interval　to　gaze　fondly　on
each　other；　with　a　sort　of　ardent　idolatry；　which　filled　their　eyes　with
sweet　tears。　　Then；　at　a　movement　of　the　Princess　de　Saint…Dizier；　who
seemed　to　rouse　herself　from　her　momentary　trance；　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville
said　to　the　young　prince；　with　a　smile：　〃My　dear　cousin；　I　have　to　repair
an　omission　（voluntary；　I　confess；　and　for　good　reasons）；　in　never　having
before　mentioned　to　you　one　of　my　relations；　whom　I　have　now　the　honor　to
present　to　you。　　The　Princess　de　Saint…Dizier！〃

Djalma　bowed；　but　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville　resumed；　just　as　her　aunt　was
about　to　make　some　reply：　〃Her　Highness　of　Saint…Dizier　came　very　kindly
to　inform　me　of　an　event　which　is　a　most　fortunate　one　for　me；　and　of
which　I　will　speak　to　you　hereafter；　cousinunless　this　amiable　lady
should　wish　to　deprive　me　of　the　pleasure　of　making　such　a
communication。〃

The　unexpected　arrival　of　the　prince；　and　the　recollections　which　had
suddenly　occurred　to　the　princess；　had　no　doubt　greatly　modified　her
first　plans：　for；　instead　of　continuing　the　conversation　with　regard　to
Adrienne's　threatened　loss　of　fortune；　the　princess　answered；　with　a
bland　smile；　that　covered　an　odious　meaning：　〃I　should　be　sorry；　prince；
to　deprive　my　dear　and　amiable　niece　of　the　pleasure　of　announcing　to　you
the　happy　news　to　which　she　alludes；　and　which；　as　a　near　relative；　I
lost　no　time　in　communicating　to　her。　　I　have　here　some　notes　on　this
subject；　added　the　princess；　delivering　a　paper　to　Adrienne；　〃which　I
hope　will　prove；　to　her　entire　satisfaction；　the　reality　of　what　I　have
announced　to　her。〃

〃A　thousand　thanks；　my　dear　aunt；〃　said　Adrienne；　receiving　the　paper
with　perfect　indifference；　〃these　precautions　and　proofs　are　quite
superfluous。　　You　know　that　I　always　believe　you　on　your　word；　when　it
concerns　your　good　feeling　towards　myself。〃

Notwithstanding　his　ignorance　of　the　refined　perfidy　and　cruel　politeness
of　civilized　life；　Djalma；　endowed　with　a　tact　and　fineness　of　perception
common　to　most　natures　of　extreme　susceptibility；　felt　some　degree　of
mental　discomfort　as　he　listened　to　this　exchange　of　false　compliments。
He　could　not　guess　their　full　meaning；　but　they　sounded　hollow　to　his
ear；　and　moreover；　whether　from　instinct　or　presentiment；　he　had
conceived　a　vague　dislike　for　the　Princess　de　Saint…Dizier。　　That　pious
lady；　full　of　the　great　affair　in　hand；　was　a　prey　to　the　most　violent
agitation；　which　betrayed　itself　in　the　growing　color　of　her　cheeks；　her
bitter　smile；　and　the　malicious　brightness　of　her　glance。　　As　he　gazed　on
this　woman；　Djalma　was　unable　to　conquer　his　rising　antipathy；　and　he
remained　silent　and　attentive；　whilst　his　handsome　countenance　lost
something　of　its　former　serenity。　　Mother　Bunch　also　felt　the　influence
of　a　painful　impression。　　She　glanced　in　terror　at　the　princess；　and　then
imploringly　at　Adrienne；　as　though　she　entreated　the　latter　to　but　an　end
to　an　interview　of　which　the　young　sempstress　foresaw　the　fatal
consequences。　　But；　unfortunately；　the　Princess　de　Saint…Dizier　was　too
much　interested　in　prolonging　this　conversation；　and　Mdlle。　de
Cardoville；　gathering　new　courage　and　confidence　from　the　presence　of　the
man　she　adored；　took　delight　in　vexing　the　princess　with　the　exhibition
of　their　happy　love。

After　a　short　silence；　the　Princess　de　Saint…Dizier　observed；　in　a　soft
and　insinuating　tone：　〃Really；　prince；　you　cannot　think　how　pleased　I　was
to　learn　by　public　report　（for　people　talk　of　nothing　else；　and　with　good
reason）　of　your　chivalrous　attachment　to　my　dear　niece；　for；　without
knowing　it；　you　will　extricate　me　from　a　difficult　position。〃

Djalma　made　no　answer；　but　he　looked　at　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville　with　a
surprised　and　almost　sorrowful　air；　as　if　to　ask　what　her　aunt　meant　to
insinuate。

The　latter；　not　perceiving　this　mute　interrogation；　resumed　as　follows：
〃I　will　express　myself　more　clearly；　prince。　　You　can　understand　that；
being　the　nearest　relative　of　this　dear；　obstinate　girl；　I　am　more　or
less　responsible　for　her　conduct　in　the　eyes　of　the　world；　and　you；
prince；　seem　just　to　have　arrived　on　purpose；　from　the　end　of　the　earth；
to　take　charge　of　a　destiny　which　had　caused　me　considerable
apprehension。　　It　is　charming；　it　is　excellent；　and　I　know　not　which　most
to　admire；　your　courage　or　your　good　fortune。〃　　The　princess　threw　a
glance　of　diabolical　malice　at　Adrienne；　and　awaited　her　answer　with　an
air　of　defiance。

〃Listen　to　our　good　aunt；　my　dear　cousin；〃　said　the　young　lady；　smiling
calmly。　　〃Since　our　affectionate　kinswoman　sees　you　and　me　united　and
happy；　her　heart　is　swelling　with　such　a　flood　of　joy；　that　it　must　run
over；　and　the　effects　will　he　delightful。　　Only　have　a　little　patience；
and　you　will　behold　them　in　their　full　beauty。　　I　do　not　know；〃　added
Adrienne；　in　the　most　natural　tone；　〃why；　in　thinking　of　these
outpourings　of　our　dear　aunt's　affection；　I　should　remember　what　you　told
me；　cousin；　of　a　certain　viper　in　your　country　which　sometimes；　in　a
powerless　bite；　breaks　its　fangs；　and；　absorbing　its　own　venom；　becomes
the　victim　of　the　poison　it　distills。　　Come；　my　dear　aunt；　you　that　had
so　good　and　noble　a　heart；　I　am　sure　you　must　feel　interested　in　the　fate
of　those　poor　vipers。〃

The　princess　darted　an　implacable　look　at　her　niece；　and　replied；　in　an
agitated　voice；　〃I　do　not　see　the　object　of　this　selection　of　natural
history。　　Do　you；　prince？〃

Djalma　made　no　answer；　leaning　with　his　arm　on　the　mantelpiece；　he　threw
dark　and　piercing　glances　upon　the　princess。　　His　involuntary　hatred　of
this　woman　filled　his　heart。

〃Ah；　my　dear　aunt！〃　resumed　Adrienne；　in　a　tone　of　self…reproach；　〃have　I
presumed　too　much　on　the　goodness　of　your　heart？　　Have　you　not　even
sympathy　for　vipers？　　For　whom；　then；　have　you　any？　　After　all；　I　can
very　well　understand　it；〃　added　Adrienne；　as　if　to　herself；　〃vipers　are
so　thin。　　But；　to　lay　aside　these　follies；〃　she　continued；　gayly；　as　she
saw　the　ill…repressed　rage　of　the　pious　woman；　〃tell　us　at　once；　my　dear
aunt；　all　the　tender　things　which　the　sight　of　our　happiness　inspires。〃

〃I　hope　to　do　so；　my　amiable　niece。　　First；　I　must　congratulate　this　dear
prince；　on　having　come　so　far　to　take　charge；　in　all　confidence；　and　with
his　eyes　shut；　of　you；　my　poor　child；　whom　we　were　obliged　to　confine　as
mad；　in　order　to　give　a　decent　color　to　your　excesses。　　You　remember　the
handsome　lad；　that　we　found　in　your　apartment。　　You　cannot　be　so
faithless；　as　already　to　have　forgotten　his　name？　　He　was　a　fine；　youth；
and　a　poetone　Agricola　Baudoinand　was　discovered　in　a　secret　place；
attached　to　your　bed…chamber。　　All　Paris　was　amused　with　the　scandalfor
you　are　not　about　to　marry　an　unknown　person；　dear　prince；　her　name　has
been　in　every　mouth。〃

At　these　unexpected　and　dreadful　words；　Adrienne；　Djalma；　and　Mother
Bunch；　though　under　the　influence　of　different　kinds　of　resentment；
remained　for　a　moment　mute　with　surprise；　and　the　princess；　judging　it　no
longer　necessary　to　repress　her　infernal　joy　and　triumphant　hatred；
exclaimed；　as　she　ros