the wandering jew, volume 11-第19部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


all　that　we　go　to　hear　and　seeyou　shall　either　give　me　the　dagger　to
strike　a　wretchor　the　poison；　to　die　without　striking。　　You　shall
command；　I　will　obey。〃

Djalma　was　about　to　reply；　when　the　coach　stopped　at　the　house　inhabited
by　Sainte…Colombe。　　The　prince　and　the　half…caste；　well　enveloped　in
their　mantles；　entered　a　dark　porch；　and　the　door　was　closed　after　them。
Faringhea　exchanged　a　few　words　with　the　porter；　and　the　latter　gave　him
a　key。　　The　two　Orientals　soon　arrived　at　Sainte…Colombe's　apartments；
which　had　two　doors　opening　upon　the　landing…place；　besides　a　private
entrance　from　the　courtyard。　　As　he　put　the　key　into　the　lock；　Faringhea
said　to　Djalma；　in　an　agitated　voice：　〃Pity　my　weakness；　my　lordbut；　at
this　terrible　moment；　I　tremble　and　hesitate。　　It　were　perhaps　better　to
doubtor　to　forget！〃

Then；　as　the　prince　was　about　to　answer；　the　half…caste　exclaimed：　〃No！
we　must　have　no　cowardice！〃　and；　opening　the　door　precipitately；　he
entered；　followed　by　Djalma。

When　the　door　was　again　closed；　the　prince　and　the　half…caste　found
themselves　in　a　dark　and　narrow　passage。　　〃Your　hand；　my　lordlet　me
guide　youwalk　lightly；〃　said　Faringhea；　in　a　low　whisper。

He　extended　his　hand　to　the　prince；　who　took　hold　of　it；　and　they　both
advanced　silently　through　the　darkness。　　After　leading　Djalma　some
distance；　and　opening　and　closing　several　doors；　the　half…caste　stopped
abruptly；　and　abandoning　the　hand　which　he　had　hitherto　held；　said　to　the
prince：　〃My　lord；　the　decisive　moment　approaches；　let　us　wait　here　for　a
few　seconds。〃

A　profound　silence　followed　these　words　of　the　half…caste。　　The　darkness
was　so　complete；　that　Djalma　could　distinguish　nothing。　　In　about　a
minute；　he　heard　Faringhea　moving　away　from　him；　and　then　a　door　was
suddenly　opened；　and　as　abruptly　closed　and　locked。　　This　circumstance
made　Djalma　somewhat　uneasy。　　By　a　mechanical　movement；　he　laid　his　hand
upon　his　dagger；　and　advanced　cautiously　towards　the　side；　where　he
supposed　the　door　to　be。

Suddenly；　the　half…caste's　voice　struck　upon　his　ear；　though　it　was
impossible　to　guess　whence　it　came。　　〃My　lord；〃　it　said；　〃you　told　me；
you　were　my　friend。　　I　act　as　a　friend。　　If　I　have　employed　stratagem　to
bring　you　hither；　it　is　because　the　blindness　of　your　fatal　passion　would
otherwise　have　prevented　your　accompanying　me。　　The　Princess　de　Saint…
Dizier　named　to　you　Agricola　Baudoin；　the　lover　of　Adrienne　de
Cardoville。　　Listenlookjudge！〃

The　voice　ceased。　　It　appeared　to　have　issued　from　one　corner　of　the
room。　　Djalma；　still　in　darkness；　perceived　too　late　into　what　a　snare　he
had　fallen；　and　trembled　with　ragealmost　with　alarm。

〃Faringhea！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃where　am　I？　　where　are　you？　　Open　the　door　on
your　life！　　I　would　leave　this　place　instantly。〃

Extending　his　arms；　the　prince　advanced　hastily　several　steps；　but　he
only　touched　a　tapestried　wall；　he　followed　it；　hoping　to　find　the　door；
and　he　at　length　found　it；　but　it　was　locked；　and　resisted　all　his
efforts。　　He　continued　his　researches；　and　came　to　a　fireplace　with　no
fire　in　it；　and　to　a　second　door；　equally　fast。　　In　a　few　moments；　he　had
thus　made　the　circle　of　the　room；　and　found　himself　again　at　the
fireplace。　　The　anxiety　of　the　prince　increased　more　and　more。　　He　called
Faringhea；　in　a　voice　trembling　with　passion。　　There　was　no　answer。
Profound　silence　reigned　without；　and　complete　darkness　within。　　Ere
long；　a　perfumed　vapor；　of　indescribable　sweetness；　but　very　subtle　and
penetrating；　spread　itself　insensibly　through　the　little　room　in　which
Djalma　was。　　It　might　be；　that　the　orifice　of　a　tube；　passing　through　one
of　the　doors　of　the　room；　introduced　this　balmy　current。　　At　the　height
of　angry　and　terrible　thoughts；　Djalma　paid　no　attention　to　this　odor
but　soon　the　arteries　of　his　temples　began　to　beat　violently；　a　burning
heat　seemed　to　circulate　rapidly　through　his　veins；　he　felt　a　sensation
of　pleasure；　his　resentment　died　gradually　away；　and　a　mild；　ineffable
torpor　crept　over　him；　without　his　being　fully　conscious　of　the　mental
transformation　that　was　taking　place。　　Yet；　by　a　last　effort　of　the
wavering　will；　Djalma　advanced　once　more　to　try　and　open　one　of　the
doors；　he　found　it　indeed；　but　at　this　place　the　vapor　was　so　strong；
that　its　action　redoubled；　and；　unable　to　move　a　step　further；　Djalma　was
obliged　to　support　himself　by　leaning　against　the　wall。＇43＇

Then　a　strange　thing　happened。　　A　faint　light　spread　itself　gradually
through　an　adjoining　apartment；　and　Djalma　now　perceived；　for　the　first
time；　the　existence　of　a　little　round　window；　in　the　wall　of　the　room　in
which　he　was。　　On　the　side　of　the　prince；　this　opening　was　protected　by　a
slight　but　strong　railing；　which　hardly　intercepted　the　view。　　On　the
other　side　a　thick　piece　of　plate…glass　was　fixed　at　the　distance　of　two
or　three　inches　from　the　railing　in　question。　　The　room；　which　Djalma　saw
through　this　window；　and　through　which　the　faint　light　was　now　gradually
spreading；　was　richly　furnished。　　Between　two　windows；　hung　with　crimson
silk　curtains；　stood　a　kind　of　wardrobe；　with　a　looking…glass　front；
opposite　the　fireplace　in　which　glowed　the　burning　coals；　was　a　long；
wide　divan；　furnished　with　cushions。

In　another　second　a　woman　entered　this　apartment。　　Her　face　and　figure
were　invisible；　being　wrapped　in　a　long；　hooded　mantle；　of　peculiar　form；
and　a　dark　color。　　The　sight　of　this　mantle　made　Djalma　start。　　To　the
pleasure　he　at　first　felt　succeeded　a　feverish　anxiety；　like　the　growing
fumes　of　intoxication。　　There　was　that　strange　buzzing　in　his　ears　which
we　experience　when　we　plunge　into　deep　waters。　　It　was　in　a　kind　of
delirium　that　Djalma　looked　on　at　what　was　passing　in　the　next　room。　　The
woman　who　had　just　appeared　entered　with　caution；　almost　with　fear。
Drawing　aside　one　of　the　window　curtains；　she　glanced　through　the　closed
blinds　into　the　street。　　Then　she　returned　slowly　to　the　fireplace；　where
she　stood　for　a　moment　pensive；　still　carefully　enveloped　in　her　mantle。
Completely　yielding　to　the　influence　of　the　vapor；　which　deprived　him　of
his　presence　of　mindforgetting　Faringhea；　and　all　the　circumstances
that　had　accompanied　his　arrival　at　this　houseDjalma　concentrated　all
the　powers　of　his　attention　on　the　spectacle　before　him；　at　which　he
seemed　to　be　present　as　in　a　dream。

Suddenly　Djalma　saw　the　woman　leave　the　fireplace　and　advance　towards　the
looking…glass。　　Turning　her　face　toward　it；　she　allowed　the　mantle　to
glide　down　to　her　feet。　　Djalma　was　thunderstruck。　　He　saw　the　face　of
Adrienne　de　Cardoville。　　Yes；　Adrienne；　as　he　had　seen　her　the　night
before；　attired　as　during　her　interview　with　the　Princess　de　Saint…
Dizierthe　light　green　dress；　the　rose…colored　ribbons；　the　white　head
ornaments。　　A　network　of　white　beads　concealed　her　back　hair；　and
harmonized　admirably　with　the　shining　gold　of　her　ringlets。　　Finally；　as
far　as　the　Hindoo　could　judge　through　the　railing　and　the　thick　glass；
and　in　the　faint　light；　it　was　the　figure　of　Adrienne；　with　her　marble
shoulders　and　swan…like　neck；　so　proud　and　so　graceful。　　In　a　word；　he
could　not；　he　did　not　doubt　that　it　was　Adrienne　de　Cardoville。　　Djalma
was　bathed　in　a　burning　dew；　his　dizzy　excitement　increased；　and；　with
bloodshot　eye　and　heaving　bosom；　he　remained　motionless；　gazing　almost
without　the　power　of　thought。　　The　young　lady；　with　her　back　still　turned
towards　Djalma；　arranged　her　hair　with　graceful　art；　took　off　the　network
which　formed　her　head…dress；　placed　it　on　the　chimney…piece；　and　began　to
unfasten　her　gown；　then；　withdrawing　from　the　looking…glass；　she
disappeared　for　an　instant　from　Djalma's　view。

〃She　is　expecting　Agricola　Baudoin；　her　lover；〃　said　a　voice；　which
seemed　to　proceed　from　the　wall　of　the　dark　room　in　which　Djalma　was。

Notwithstanding　his　bewilderment；　these　terrible　words；　〃She　is　expecting
Agricola　Baudoin；　her　lover；〃　passed　like　a　stream　of　fire　through　the
brain　and　heart　of　the　prince。　　A　cloud　of　blood　came　over　his　eyes；　he
uttered　a　hollow　moan；　which　the　thickness　of　the　glass　prevented　from
being　heard　in　the　next　room；　and　broke　his　nails　in　attempting　to　tear
down　the　iron　railing　before　the　window。

Having　reached　this　paroxysm　of　delirious　rage；　Djalma　saw　the　uncertain
light　grow　still　fainter；　as　if　it　had　been　discreetly　obscured；　and；
through　the　vapory　shadow　that　hung　before　him；　he　perceived　the　young
lady　returning；　clad　in　a　long　white　dressing…gown；　and　with　her　golden
curls　floating　over　her　naked　arms　and　shoulders。　　She　advanced
cautiously　in　the　direction　of　a　door　which　was　hid　from　Djalma's　view。
At　this　moment；　one　of　the　doors　of　the　apartment　in　which　the　prince　was
concealed　was　gently　opened　by　an　invisible　hand。　　Djalma　noticed　it　by
the　click　of　the　lock；　and　by　the　current　of　fresh　air　which　streamed
upon　his　face；　for　he　could　see　nothing。　　This　door；　left　open　for
Djalma；　like　that　in　the　next　room；　to　which　the　young　lady　had　drawn
near；　led　to　a　sort　of　ante…chamber　communicating　with　the　stairs；　which
some　one　now　rapidly　ascended；　and；　stopping　short；　knocked　twice　at　the
outer　door。

〃Here　comes　Agricola　Baudoin。　　Look　and　listen！〃　said　the　same　voice　that
the　prince　had　already　heard。

Mad；　intoxicated；　but　with　the　fixed　idea　and　reckless　determination　of　a
madman　or　a　drunkard；　Djalma　drew　the　dagger　which　Faringhea　had　left　in
his　possession；　and　stood　in　motionless　expectation。　　Hardly　were　the　two
knocks　heard　before　the　young　lady　quitted　the　apartment；　from　which
streamed　a　faint　ray　of　light；　ran　to　the　door　of　the　staircase；　so　that
some　faint　glimmer　reached　the　place　where　Djalma　stood　watching；　his
dagger　in　his　hand。　　He　saw　the　young　lady　pass　across　the　ante…chamber；
and　approach　the　door　of　the　staircase；　where　she　said　in　a　whisper：　〃Who
is　there？〃

〃It　is　IAgricola　Baudoin；〃　answered；　from；　without；　a　manly　voice。

What　followed　was　rapid　as　lightning；　and　must　be　conceived　rather　than
described。　　Hardly　had　the　young　lady　drawn　the　bolt　of　the　door；　hardly
had　Agricola　Baudoin　stepped　across　the　threshold；　than　Djalma；　with　the
bound　of　a　tiger；　stabbed　as　it　were　at　once；　so