the wandering jew, volume 11-第16部分

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more　singular　than　important。　　After　the　funeral　of　M。　　Francis　Hardy；
the　coffin；　which　contained　his　remains；　had　been　provisionally　deposited
in　a　vault　beneath　our　chapel；　until　it　could　be　removed　to　the　cemetery
of　the　neighboring　town。　　This　morning；　when　our　people　went　down　into
the　vault；　to　make　the　necessary　preparations　for　the　removal　of　the
bodythe　coffin　had　disappeared。

〃That　is　strange　indeed；〃　said　Rodin　with　a　start。　　Then；　he　continued　to
read：

〃All　search　has　hitherto　been　vain；　to　discover　the　authors　of　the
sacrilegious　deed。　　The　chapel　being；　as　you　know；　at　a　distance　from　the
house；　they　were　able　to　effect　an　entry　without　disturbing　us。　　We
have　found　traces　of　a　four…wheeled　carriage　on　the　damp　ground　in　the
neighborhood；　but；　at　some　little　distance　from　the　chapel；　these　marks
are　lost　in　the　sand；　and　it　has　been　impossible　to　follow　them　any
farther。〃

〃Who　can　have　carried　away　this　body？〃　said　Rodin；　with　a　thoughtful　air。
〃Who　could　have　any　interest　in　doing　so？〃

He　continued　to　read：

〃Luckily；　the　certificate　of　death　is　quite　correct。　　I　sent　for　a　doctor
from　Etampes；　to　prove　the　disease；　and　no　question　can　be　raised　on　that
point。　　The　donation　is　therefore　good　and　valid　in　every　respect；　but　I
think　it　best　to　inform　your　reverence　of　what　has　happened；　that　you　may
take　measures　accordingly；　etc。；　etc。〃

After　a　moment's　reflection；　Rodin　said　to　himself：　〃D'Aigrigny　is　right
in　his　remark；　it　is　more　singular　than　important。　　Still；　it　makes　one
think。　　We　must　have　an　eye　to　this　affair。〃

Turning　towards　the　servant；　who　had　brought　him　the　letter；　Rodin　gave
him　the　note　he　had　just　written　to　Ninny　Moulin；　and　said　to　him：　〃Let
this　letter　be　taken　instantly　to　its　address；　and　let　the　bearer　wait
for　an　answer。〃

〃Yes；　father。〃

At　the　moment　the　servant　left　the　room；　a　reverend　father　entered；　and
said　to　Rodin；　〃Father　Caboccini　of　Rome　has　just　arrived；　with　a　mission
from　our　general　to　your　reverence。〃

At　these　words；　Rodin's　blood　ran　cold；　but　he　maintained　his　immovable
calmness；　and　said　simply：　〃Where　is　Father　Caboccini？〃

〃In　the　next　room；　father。〃

〃Beg　him　to　walk　in；　and　leave　us；〃　said　the　other。

A　second　after；　Father　Caboccini　of　Rome　entered　the　room　and　was　left
alone　with　Rodin。




CHAPTER　LXII。

TO　A　SOCIUS；　A　SOCIUS　AND　A　HALF。

The　Reverend　Father　Caboccini；　the　Roman　Jesuit　who　now　came　to　visit
Rodin；　was　a　short　man　of　about　thirty　years　of　age；　plump；　in　good
condition；　and　with　an　abdomen　that　swelled　out　his　black　cassock。　　The
good　little　father　was　blind　with　one　eye；　but　his　remaining　organ　of
vision　sparkled　with　vivacity。　　His　rosy　countenance　was　gay；　smiling；
joyous；　splendidly　crowned　with　thick　chestnut　hair；　which　curled　like　a
wax　doll's。　　His　address　was　cordial　to　familiarity；　and　his　expansive
and　petulant　manners　harmonized　well　with　his　general　appearance。　　In　a
second；　Rodin　had　taken　his　measure　of　the　Italian　emissary；　and　as　he
knew　the　practice　of　his　Company；　and　the　ways　of　Rome；　he　felt　by　no
means　comfortable　at　sight　of　this　jolly　little　father；　with　such　affable
manners。　　He　would　have　less　feared　some　tall；　bony　priest；　with　austere
and　sepulchral　countenance；　for　he　knew　that　the　Company　loves　to　deceive
by　the　outward　appearance　of　its　agents；　and　if　Rodin　guessed　rightly；
the　cordial　address　of　this　personage　would　rather　tend　to　show　that　he
was　charged　with　some　fatal　mission。

Suspicious；　attentive；　with　eye　and　mind　on　the　watch；　like　an　old　wolf；
expecting　an　attack；　Rodin　advanced　as　usual；　slowly　and　tortuously
towards　the　little　man；　so　as　to　have　time　to　examine　him　thoroughly；　and
penetrate　beneath　his　jovial　outside。　　But　the　Roman　left　him　no　space
for　that　purpose。　　In　his　impetuous　affection　he　threw　himself　right　on
the　neck　of　Rodin；　pressed　him　in　his　arms　with　an　effusion　of
tenderness；　and　kissed　him　over　and　over　again　upon　both　cheeks；　so
loudly　and　plentifully　that　the　echo　resounded　through　the　apartment。　　In
his　life　Rodin　had　never　been　so　treated。　　More　and　more　uneasy　at　the
treachery　which　must　needs　lurk　under　such　warm　embraces；　and　irritated
by　his　own　evil　presentiments；　the　French　Jesuit　did；　all　he　could　to
extricate　himself　from　the　Roman's　exaggerated　tokens　of　tenderness。　　But
the　latter　kept　his　hold；　his　arms；　though　short；　were　vigorous；　and
Rodin　was　kissed　over　and　over　again；　till　the　little　one…eyed　man　was
quite　out　of　breath。　　It　is　hardly　necessary　to　state　that　these　embraces
were　accompanied　by　the　most　friendly；　affectionate；　and　fraternal
exclamationsall　in　tolerably　good　French；　but　with　a　strong　Italian
accent；　which　we　muss　beg　the　reader　to　supply　for　himself；　after　we　have
given　a　single　specimen。　　It　will　perhaps　be　remembered　that；　fully　aware
of　the　danger　he　might　possibly　incur　by　his　ambitious　machinations；　and
knowing　from　history　that　the　use　of　poison　had　often　been　considered　at
Rome　as　a　state　necessity；　Rodin；　on　being　suddenly　attacked　with　the
cholera；　had　exclaimed；　with　a　furious　glance　at　Cardinal　Malipieri；　〃I
am　poisoned！〃

The　same　apprehensions　occurred　involuntarily　to　the　Jesuit's　mind　as　he
tried；　by　useless　efforts；　to　escape　from　the　embraces　of　the　Italian
emissary；　and　he　could　not　help　muttering　to　himself；　〃This　one…eyed
fellow　is　a　great　deal　too　fond。　　I　hope　there　is　no　poison　under　his
Judas…kisses。〃　　At　last；　little　Father　Caboccini；　being　quite　out　of
breath；　was　obliged　to　relinquish　his　hold　on　Rodin's　neck；　who；
readjusting　his　dirty　collar；　and　his　old　cravat　and　waistcoat；　somewhat
in　disorder　in　consequence　of　this　hurricane　of　caresses；　said　in　a　gruff
tone；　〃Your　humble　servant；　father；　but　you　need　not　kiss　quite　so　hard。〃

Without　making　any　answer　to　this　reproach；　the　little　father　riveted　his
one　eye　upon　Rodin　with　an　expression　of　enthusiasm；　and　exclaimed；
whilst　he　accompanied　his　words　with　petulant　gestures；　〃At　lazt　I　zee　te
zuperb　light　of　our　zacred　Company；　and　can　zalute　him　from　my　heart
vonse　more；　vonse　more。〃

As　the　little　father　had　already　recovered　his　breath；　and　was　about　to
rush　once　again　into　Rodin's　arms；　the　latter　stepped　back　hastily；　and
held　out　his　arm　to　keep　him　off；　saying；　in　allusion　to　the　illogical
metaphor　employed　by　Father　Caboccini；　〃First　of　all；　father；　one　does
not　embrace　a　lightand　then　I　am　not　a　lightI　am　a　humble　and　obscure
laborer　in　the　Lord's　vineyard。〃

The　Roman　replied　with　enthusiasm　（we　shall　henceforth　translate　his
gibberish）；　〃You　are　right；　father；　we　cannot　embrace　a　light；　but　we　can
prostrate　ourselves　before　it；　and　admire　its　dazzling　brightness。〃

So　saying；　Caboccini　was　about　to　suit　the　action　to　the　word；　and　to
prostrate　himself　before　Rodin；　had　not　the　latter　prevented　this　mode　of
adulation　by　seizing　the　Roman　by　the　arm　and　exclaiming；　〃This　is　mere
idolatry；　father。　　Pass　over　my　qualities；　and　tell　me　what　is　the　object
of　your　journey。〃

〃The　object；　my　dear　father；　fills　me　with　joy　and　happiness。　　I　have
endeavored　to　show　you　my　affection　by　my　caresses；　for　my　heart　is
overflowing。　　I　have　hardly　been　able　to　restrain　myself　during　my
journey　hither；　for　my　heart　rushed　to　meet　you。　　The　object　transports；
delights；　enchants　me〃

〃But　what　enchants　you？〃　cried　Rodin；　exasperated　by　these　Italian
exaggerations。　　〃What　is　the　object？〃

〃This　rescript　of　our　very　reverend　and　excellent　General　will　inform
you；　my　clear　father。〃

Caboccini　drew　from　his　pocket…book　a　folded　paper；　with　three　seals；
which　he　kissed　respectfully；　and　delivered　to　Rodin；　who　himself　kissed
it　in　his　turn；　and　opened　it　with　visible　anxiety。　　While　he　read　it　the
countenance　of　the　Jesuit　remained　impassible；　but　the　pulsation　of　the
arteries　on　his　temples　announced　his　internal　agitation。　　Yet　he　put　the
letter　coolly　into　his　pocket；　and　looking　at　the　Roman；　said　to　him；　〃Be
it　as　our　excellent　General　has　commanded！〃

〃Then；　father；〃　cried　Caboccini；　with　a　new　effusion　of　tenderness　and
admiration；　〃I　shall　be　the　shadow　of　your　light；　and；　in　fact；　your
second　self。　　I　shall　have　the　happiness　of　being　always　with　you；　day
and　night；　and　of　acting　as　your　socius；　since；　after　having　allowed　you
to　be　without　one　for　some　time；　according　to　your　wish；　and　for　the
interest　of　our　blessed　Company；　our　excellent　General　now　thinks　fit　to
send　me　from　Rome；　to　fill　that　post　about　your　personan　unexpected；　an
immense　favor；　which　fills　me　with　gratitude　to　our　General；　and　with
love　to　you；　my　dear；　my　excellent　father！〃

〃It　is　well　played；〃　thought　Rodin；　〃but　I　am　not　so　soft；　and　'tis　only
among　the　blind　that　your　Cyclops　are　kings！〃

The　evening　of　the　day　in　which　this　scene　took　place　between　the　Jesuit
and　his　new　socius；　Ninny　Moulin；　after　receiving　in　presence　of
Caboccini　the　instructions　of　Rodin；　went　straight　to　Madame　de　la
Sainte…Colombe's。

This　woman　had　made　her　fortune；　at　the　time　of　the　allies　taking　Paris；
by　keeping　one　of　those　〃pretty　milliner's　shops；〃　whose　〃pink　bonnets〃
have　run　into　a　proverb　not　extinct　in　these　days　when　bonnets　are　not
known。　　Ninny　Moulin　had　no　better　well　to　draw　inspiration　from　when；　as
now；　he　had　to　find　out；　as　per　Rodin's　order；　a　girl　of　an　age　and
appearance　which；　singularly　enough；　were　closely　resembling　those　of
Mdlle。　de　Cardoville。

No　doubt　of　Ninny　Moulin's　success　in　this　mission；　for　the　next　morning
Rodin；　whose　countenance　wore　a　triumphant　expression；　put　with　his　own
hand　a　letter　into　the　post。

This　letter　was　addressed：

〃To　M。　Agricola　Baudoin；
〃No。　　2；　Rue　Brise…Miche；
〃Paris。〃




CHAPTER　LXIII。

FARINGHEA'S　AFFECTION。

It　will；　perhaps；　be　remembered　that　Djalma；　when　he　heard　for　the　first
time　that　he　was　beloved　by　Adrienne；　had；　in　the　fulness　of　his　joy；
spoken　thus　to　Faringhea；　whose　treachery　he　had　just　discovered；　〃You
leagued　with　my　enemies；　and　I　had　done　you　no　harm。　　You　are　wicked；
because　you　are　no　doubt　unhappy。　　I　will　strive　to　make　you　happy；　so
that　you　may　be　good。　　Would　you　have　gold？you　shall　have　it。　　Would
you　have　a　friend？though　you　are　a　s