the wandering jew, volume 11-第18部分

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exclaimed；　as　he　seized　the　other's　hand：　〃Calm　this　fury；　and　listen　to
the　voice　of　friendship！　It　will　disperse　this　evil　influence。　　Speak　to
me！〃

〃No；　no！　it　is　too　dreadful！〃

〃Speak；　I　bid　thee。〃

〃No！　leave　the　wretch　to　his　despair！〃

〃Do　you　think　me　capable　of　that？〃　said　Djalma；　with　a　mixture　of
mildness　and　dignity；　which　seemed　to　make　an　impression　on　the　half…
caste。

〃Alas！〃　replied　he；　hesitating；　〃do　you　wish　to　hear　more；　my　lord？〃

〃I　wish　to　hear　all。〃

〃Well；　then！　I　have　not　told　you　allfor；　at　the　moment　of　making　this
confession；　shame　and　the　fear　of　ridicule　kept　me　back。　　You　asked　me
what　reason　I　had　to　believe　myself　betrayed。　　I　spoke　to　you　of　vague
suspicions；　refusals；　coldness。　　That　is　not　allthis　evening〃

〃Go　on！〃

〃This　eveningshe　made　an　appointmentwith　a　man　that　she　prefers　to
me。〃

〃Who　told　you　so？〃

〃A　stranger　who　pitied　my　blindness。〃

〃And　suppose　the　man　deceived　youor　deceives　himself？〃

〃He　has　offered　me　proofs　of　what　he　advances。〃

〃What　proofs？〃

〃He　will　enable　me　this　evening　to　witness　the　interview。　　‘It　may　be；'
said　he；　‘that　this　appointment　may　have　no　guilt　in　it；　notwithstanding
appearances　to　the　contrary。　　Judge　for　yourself；　have　courage；　and　your
cruel　indecision　will　be　at　an　end。'〃

〃And　what　did　you　answer？〃

〃Nothing；　my　lord。　　My　head　wandered　as　it　does　now　and　I　came　to　you　for
advice。〃

Then；　making　a　gesture　of　despair；　he　proceeded　with　a　savage　laugh：
〃Advice？　　It　is　from　the　blade　of　my　kand…jiar　that　I　should　ask　counsel！
It　would　answer：　‘Blood！　blood！'〃

Faringhea　grasped　convulsively　the　long　dagger　attached　to　his　girdle。
There　is　a　sort　of　contagion　in　certain　forms　of　passion。　　At　sight　of
Faringhea's　countenance；　agitated　by　jealous　fury；　Djalma　shudderedfor
he　remembered　the　fit　of　insane　rage；　with　which　he　had　been　possessed；
when　the　Princess　de　Saint…Dizier　had　defied　Adrienne　to　contradict　her；
as　to　the　discovery　of　Agricola　Baudoin　in　her　bed…chamber。　　But　then；
reassured　by　the　lady's　proud　and　noble　bearing；　Djalma　had　soon　learned
to　despise　the　horrible　calumny；　which　Adrienne　had　not　even　thought
worthy　of　an　answer。　　Still；　two　or　three　times；　as　the　lightning　will
flash　suddenly　across　the　clearest　sky；　the　remembrance　of　that　shameful
accusation　had　crossed　the　prince's　mind；　like　a　streak　of　fire；　but　had
almost　instantly　vanished；　in　the　serenity　and　happiness　of　his　ineffable
confidence　in　Adrienne's　heart。　　These　memories；　however；　whilst　they
saddened　the　mind　of　Djalma；　only　made　him　more　compassionate　with　regard
to　Faringhea；　than　he　might　have　been　without　this　strange　coincidence
between　the　position　of　the　half…caste　and　his　own。　　Knowing；　by　his　own
experience；　to　what　madness　a　blind　fury　may　be　carried；　and　wishing　to
tame　the　half…caste　by　affectionate　kindness；　Djalma　said　to　him　in　a
grave　and　mild　tone：　〃I　offered　you　my　friendship。　　I　will　now　act
towards　you　a　friend。〃

But　Faringhea；　seemingly　a　prey　to　a　dull　and　mute　frenzy；　stood　with
fixed　and　haggard　eyes；　as　though　he　did　not　hear　Djalma。

The　latter　laid　his　hand　on　his　shoulder；　and　resumed：　〃Faringhea；　listen
to　me！〃

〃My　lord；〃　said　the　half…caste；　starting　abruptly；　as　from　a　dream；
〃forgive　mebut〃

〃In　the　anguish　occasioned　by　these　cruel　suspicions；　it　is　not　of　your
kandjiar　that　you　must　take　counselbut　of　your　friend。〃

〃My　lord〃

〃To　this　interview；　which　will　prove　the　innocence　or　the　treachery　of
your　beloved；　you　will　do　well　to　go。〃

〃Oh；　yes！〃　said　the　half…caste；　in　a　hollow　voice；　and　with　a　bitter
smile：　〃I　shall　be　there。〃

〃But　you　must　not　go　alone。〃

〃What　do　you　mean；　my　lord？〃　cried　the　half…caste。　　〃Who　will　accompany
me？〃

〃I　will。〃

〃You；　my　lord？〃

〃Yesperhaps；　to　save　you　from　a　crimefor　I　know　how　blind　and　unjust
is　the　earliest　outburst　of　rage。〃

〃But　that　transport　gives　us　revenge！〃　cried　the　half…caste；　with　a　cruel
smile。

〃Faringhea；　this　day　is　all　my　own。　　I　shall　not　leave　you；〃　said　the
prince；　resolutely。　　〃Either　you　shall　not　go　to　this　interview；　or　I
will　accompany　you。〃

The　half…caste　appeared　conquered　by　this　generous　perseverance。　　He　fell
at　the　feet　of　Djalma；　pressed　the　prince's　hand　respectfully　to　his
forehead　and　to　his　lips；　and　said：　〃My　lord；　be　generous　to　the　end！
forgive　me！〃

〃For　what　should　I　forgive　you？〃

〃Before　I　spoke　to　you；　I　had　the　audacity　to　think　of　asking　for　what
you　have　just　freely　offered。　　Not　knowing　to　what　extent　my　fury　might
carry　me；　I　had　thought　of　asking　you　this　favor；　which　you　would　not
perhaps　grant　to　an　equal；　but　I　did　not　dare　to　do　it。　　I　shrunk　even
from　the　avowal　of　the　treachery　I　have　cause　to　fear；　and　I　came　only　to
tell　you　of　my　miserybecause　to　you　alone　in　all　the　world　I　could　tell
it。〃

It　is　impossible　to　describe　the　almost　candid　simplicity；　with　which　the
half…breed　pronounced　these　words；　and　the　soft　tones；　mingled　with
tears；　which　had　succeeded　his　savage　fury。　　Deeply　affected；　Djalma
raised　him　from　the　ground；　and　said：　〃You　were　entitled　to　ask　of　me　a
mark　of　friendship。　　I　am　happy　in　having　forestalled　you。　　Courage！　be
of　good　cheer！　　I　will　accompany　you　to　this　interview；　and　if　my　hopes
do　not　deceive　me；　you　will　find　you　have　been　deluded　by　false
appearances。〃

When　the　night　was　come；　the　half…breed　and　Djalma；　wrapped　in　their
cloaks；　got　into　a　hackney…coach。　　Faringhea　ordered　the　coachman　to
drive　to　the　house　inhabited　by　Sainte…Colombe。




CHAPTER　LXIV。

AN　EVENING　AT　SAINTE…COLOMBE'S。

Leaving　Djalma　and　Faringhea　in　the　coach；　on　their　way；　a　few　words　are
indispensable　before　continuing　this　scene。　　　Ninny　Moulin；　ignorant　of
the　real　object　of　the　step　he　took　at　the　instigation　of　Rodin；　had；　on
the　evening　before；　according　to　orders　received　from　the　latter；　offered
a　considerable　sum　to　Sainte…Colombe；　to　obtain　from　that　creature
（still　singularly　rapacious）　the　use　of　her　apartments　for　whole　day。
Sainte…Colombe；　having　accepted　this　proposition；　too　advantageous　to　be
refused；　had　set　out　that　morning　with　her　servants；　to　whom　she　wished；
she　said；　in　return　for　their　good　services；　to　give　a　day's　pleasure　in
the　country。　　Master　of　the　house；　Rodin；　in　a　black　wig；　blue
spectacles；　and　a　cloak；　and　with　his　mouth　and　chin　buried　in　a　worsted
comforterin　a　word；　perfectly　disguisedhad　gone　that　morning　to　take
a　look　at　the　apartments；　and　to　give　his　instructions　to　the　half…caste。
The　latter；　in　two　hours　from　the　departure　of　the　Jesuit；　had；　thanks　to
his　address　and　intelligence；　completed　the　most　important　preparation
and　returned　in　haste　to　Djalma；　to　play　with　detestable　hypocrisy　the
scene　at　which　we　have　just　been　present。

During　the　ride　from　the　Rue　de　Clichy　to　the　Rue　de　Richelieu；　Faringhea
appeared　plunged　in　a　mournful　reverie。　　Suddenly；　he　said　to　Djalma　to　a
quick　tone：　〃My　lord；　if　I　am　betrayed；　I　must　have　vengeance。〃

〃Contempt　is　a　terrible　revenge；〃　answered　Djalma。

〃No；　no；〃　replied　the　half…caste；　with　an　accent　of　repressed　rage。　　〃It
is　not　enough。　　The　nearer　the　moment　approaches；　the　more　I　feel　I　must
have　blood。〃

〃Listen　to　me　〃

〃My　lord；　have　pity　on　me！　　I　was　a　coward　to　draw　back　from　my　revenge。
Let　me　leave　you；　my　lord！　　I　will　go　alone　to　this　interview。〃

So　saying；　Faringhea　made　a　movement；　as　if　he　would　spring　from　the
carriage。

Djalma　held　him　by　the　arm；　and　said：　〃Remain！　　I　wilt　not　leave　you。　　If
you　are　betrayed；　you　shall　not　shed　blood。　　Contempt　will　avenge　and
friendship　will　console　you。〃

〃No；　no；　my　lord；　I　am　resolved。　　When　I　have　killedthen　I　will　kill
myself；〃　cried　the　half…caste；　with　savage　excitement。　　〃This　kandjiar
for　the　false　ones！〃　added　he；　laying　his　hand　on　his　dagger。　　〃The
poison　in　the　hilt　for　me。〃

〃Faringhea〃

〃If　I　resist　you；　my　lord；　forgive　me！　　My　destiny　must　be　accomplished。〃

Time　pressed；　and　Djalma；　despairing　to　calm　the　other's　ferocious　rage；
resolved　to　have　recourse　to　a　stratagem。

After　some　minutes'　silence；　he　said　to　Faringhea　：　I　will　not　leave　you。
I　will　do　all　I　can　to　save　you　from　a　crime。　　If　I　do　not　succeed；　the
blood　you　shed　be　on　your　own　head。　　This　hand　shall　never　again　be
locked　in　yours。〃

These　words　appeared　to　make　a　deep　impression　on　Faringhea。　　He　breathed
a　long　sigh；　and；　bowing　his　head　upon　his　breast；　remained　silent　and
full　of　thought。　　Djalma　prepared；　by　the　faint　light　of　the　lamps；
reflected　in　the　interior　of　the　coach；　to　throw　himself　suddenly　on　the
half…caste；　and　disarm　him。　　But　the　latter；　who　saw　at　a　glance　the
intention　of　the　prince；　drew　his　kandjiar　abruptly　from　his　girdle；　and
holding　it　still　in　its　sheath；　said　to　the　prince　in　a　half…solemn；
half…savage　tone：　〃This　dagger；　in　a　strong　hand；　is　terrible；　and　in
this　phial　is　one　of　the　most　subtle　poisons　of　our　country。〃

He　touched　a　spring；　and　the　knob　at　the　top　of　the　hilt　rose　like　a　lid；
discovering　the　mouth　of　a　small　crystal　phial　concealed　in　this
murderous　weapon。

〃Two　or　three　drops　of　this　poison　upon　the　lips；〃　resumed　the　half…
caste；　〃and　death　comes　slowly　and　peacefully；　in　a　few　hours；　and
without　pain。　　Only；　for　the　first　symptom；　the　nails　turn　blue。　　But　he
who　emptied　this　phial　at　a　draught　would　fall　dead；　as　if　struck　by
lightning。〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Djalma；　〃I　know　that　our　country　produces　such　mysterious
poisons。　　But　why　lay　such　stress　on　the　murderous　properties　of　this
weapon？〃

〃To　show　you；　my　lord；　that　this　kandjiar　would　ensure　the　success　and
impunity　of　my　vengeance。　　With　the　blade　I　could　destroy；　and　by　the
poison　escape　from　human　justice。　　Well；　my　lord！　this　kandjiartake　it…
…I　give　it　up　to　youI　renounce　my　vengeancerather　than　render　myself
unworthy　to　clasp　again　your　hand！〃

He　presented　the　dagger　to　the　prince；　who；　as　pleased　as　surprised　at
this　unexpected　determination；　hastily　secured　the　terrible　weapon
beneath　his　own　girdle；　whilst　the　half…breed　continued；　in　a　voice　of
emotion：　〃Deep　this　kandjiar；　my　lordand　when　you　have　seen　and　heard
all　that　we　go　to　hear　and　seeyou　shall　either　give　me　t