the wandering jew, volume 11-第2部分

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mountain；　without　once　looking　at　the　skywithout　even　perceiving　the
Calvarywithout　seeing　the　image　upon　the　cross。　　He　thought　of　the　last
descendants　of　his　race。　　He　felt；　by　the　sinking　of　his　heart；　that
great　perils　continued　to　threaten　him。　　And　in　the　bitterness　of　a
despair；　wild　and　deep　as　the　ocean；　the　cobbler　of　Jerusalem　seated
himself　at　the　foot　of　the　cross。　　At　this　moment　a　farewell　ray　of　the
setting　sun；　piercing　the　dark　mass　of　clouds；　threw　a　refection　upon　the
Calvary；　vivid　as　a　conflagration's　glare。　　The　Jew　rested　his　forehead
upon　his　hand。　　His　long　hair；　shaken　by　the　evening　breeze；　fell　over
his　pale　facewhen　sweeping　it　back　from　his　brow；　he　started　with
surprisehe；　who　had　long　ceased　to　wonder　at　anything。　　With　eager
glance　he　contemplated　the　long　lock　of　hair　that　he　held　between　his
fingers。　　That　hair；　until　now　black　as　night；　had　become　gray。　　He　also；
like　unto　Herodias；　was　growing　older。

His　progress　towards　old　age；　stopped　for　eighteen　hundred　years；　had
resumed　its　course。　　Like　the　Wandering　Jewess；　he　might　henceforth　hope
for　the　rest　of　the　grave。　　Throwing　himself　on　his　knees；　he　stretched
his　hands　towards　heaven；　to　ask　for　the　explanation　of　the　mystery　which
filled　him　with　hope。　　Then；　for　the　first　time；　his　eyes　rested　on　the
Crucified　One；　looking　down　upon　the　Calvary；　even　as　the　Wandering
Jewess　had　fixed　her　gaze　on　the　granite　eyelids　of　the　Blessed　Martyr。

The　Saviour；　his　head　bowed　under　the　weight　of　his　crown　of　thorns；
seemed　from　the　cross　to　view　with　pity；　and　pardon　the　artisan；　who　for
so　many　centuries　had　felt　his　curseand　who；　kneeling；　with　his　body
thrown　backward　in　an　attitude　of　fear　and　supplication；　now　lifted
towards　the　crucifix　his　imploring　hands。

〃Oh；　Messiah！〃　cried　the　Jew；　〃the　avenging　arm　of　heaven　brings　me　back
to　the　foot　of　this　heavy　cross；　which　thou　didst　bear；　when；　stopping　at
the　door　of　my　poor　dwelling；　thou　wert　repulsed　with　merciless
harshness；　and　I　said　unto　thee：　‘Go　on！　　go　on！'After　my　long　life　of
wanderings；　I　am　again　before　this　cross；　and　my　hair　begins　to　whiten。
Oh　Lord！　in　thy　divine　mercy；　hast　thou　at　length　pardoned　me？　　Have　I
reached　the　term　of　my　endless　march？　　Will　thy　celestial　clemency　grant
me　at　length　the　repose　of　the　sepulchre；　which；　until　now；　alas！　has
ever　fled　before　me？Oh！　if　thy　mercy　should　descend　upon　me；　let　it
fall　likewise　upon　that　woman；　whose　woes　are　equal　to　mine　own！　　Protect
also　the　last　descendants　of　my　race！　　What　will　be　their　fate？　　Already；
Lord；　one　of　themthe　only　one　that　misfortune　had　pervertedhas
perished　from　the　face　of　the　earth。　　Is　it　for　this　that　my　hair　grows
gray？　　Will　my　crime　only　be　expiated　when　there　no　longer　remains　in
this　world　one　member　of　our　accursed　race？　　Or　does　this　proof　of　thy
powerful　goodness；　Lord；　which　restores　me　to　the　condition　of　humanity；
serve　also　as　a　sign　of　the　pardon　and　happiness　of　my　family？　　Will　they
at　length　triumph　over　the　perils　which　beset　them？　　Will　they；
accomplishing　the　good　which　their　ancestor　designed　for　his　fellow…
creatures；　merit　forgiveness　both　for　themselves　and　me？　　Or　will　they；
inexorably　condemned　as　the　accursed　scions　of　an　accursed　stock；　expiate
the　original　stain　of　my　detested　crime？

〃Oh；　tell　metell　me；　gracious　Lord！　shall　I　be　forgiven　with　them；　or
will　they　be　punished　with　me？〃


The　twilight　gave　place　to　a　dark　and　stormy　night；　yet　the　Jew　continued
to　pray；　kneeling　at　the　foot　of　the　cross。




CHAPTER　LII。

THE　COUNCIL。

The　following　scene　took　place　at　Saint…Dizier　House；　two　days　after　the
reconciliation　of　Marshal　Simon　with　his　daughters。　　The　princess　is
listening　with　the　most　profound　attention　to　the　words　of　Rodin。　　The
reverend　father；　according　to　his　habit；　stands　leaning　against　the
mantelpiece；　with　his　hands　thrust　into　the　pockets　of　his　old　brown
great…coat。　　His　thick；　dirty　shoes　have　left　their　mark　on　the　ermine
hearth…rug。　　A　deep　sense　of　satisfaction　is　impressed　on　the　Jesuit's
cadaverous　countenance。　　Princess　de　Saint…Dizier；　dressed　with　that　sort
of　modest　elegance　which　becomes　a　mother　of　the　church；　keeps　her　eyes
fixed　on　Rodinfor　the　latter　has　completely　supplanted　Father
d'Aigrigny　in　the　good　graces　of　this　pious　lady。　　The　coolness；　audacity
lofty　intelligence；　and　rough　and　imperious　character　of　the　ex…socius
have　overawed　this　proud　woman；　and　inspired　her　with　a　sincere
admiration。　　Even　his　filthy　habits　and　often　brutal　repartees　have　their
charm　for　her；　and　she　now　prefers　them　to　the　exquisite　politeness　and
perfumed　elegance　of　the　accomplished　Father　d'Aigrigny。

〃Yes；　madame；〃　said　Rodin；　in　a　sanctified　tone；　for　these　people　do　not
take　off　their　masks　even　with　their　accomplices；　〃yes；　madame；　we　have
excellent　news　from　our　house　at　St。　Herem。　　M。　Hardy；　the　infidel；　the
freethinker；　has　at　length　entered　the　pale　of　the　holy　Roman　Catholic
and　Apostolic　Church。〃　　Rodin　pronounced　these　last　word　with　a　nasal
twang；　and　the　devout　lady　bowed　her　head　respectfully。

〃Grace　has　at　length　touched　the　heart　of　this　impious　man；〃　continued
Rodin；　〃and　so　effectually　that；　in　his　ascetic　enthusiasm；　he　has
already　wished　to　take　the　vows　which　will　bind　him　forever　to　our　divine
Order。〃

〃So　soon；　father？〃　said　the　princess；　in　astonishment。

〃Our　statutes　are　opposed　to　this　precipitation；　unless　in　the　case　of　a
penitent　in　articulo　mortison　the　very　gasp　of　deathshould　such　a
person　consider　it　necessary　for　his　salvation　to　die　in　the　habit　of　our
Order；　and　leave　us　all　his　wealth　for　the　greater　glory　of　the　Lord。〃

〃And　is　M。　Hardy　in　so　dangerous　a　condition；　father？〃

〃He　has　a　violent　fever。　　After　so　many　successive　calamities；　which　have
miraculously　brought　him　into　the　path　of　salvation；〃　said　Rodin；
piously；　〃his　frail　and　delicate　constitution　is　almost　broken　up；
morally　and　physically。　　Austerities；　macerations；　and　the　divine　joys　of
ecstasy；　will　probably　hasten　his　passage　to　eternal　life；　and　in　a　few
clays；〃　said　the　priest；　shaking　his　head　with　a　solemn　air；　〃perhaps〃

〃So　soon　as　that；　father？〃

〃It　is　almost　certain。　　I　have　therefore　made　use　of　my　dispensations；　to
receive　the　dear　penitent；　as　in　articulo　mortis；　a　member　of　our　divine
Company；　to　which；　in　the　usual　course；　he　has　made　over　all　his
possessions；　present　and　to　comeso　that　now　he　can　devote　himself
entirely　to　the　care　of　his　soul；　which　will　be　one　victim　more　rescued
from　the　claws　of　Satan。〃

〃Oh；　father！〃　cried　the　lady；　in　admiration；　〃it　is　a　miraculous
conversion。　　Father　d'Aigrigny　told　me　how　you　had　to　contend　against　the
influence　of　Abbe　Gabriel。〃

〃The　Abbe　Gabriel；〃　replied　Rodin；　〃has　been　punished　for　meddling　with
what　did　not　concern　him。　　I　have　procured　his　suspension；　and　he　has
been　deprived　of　his　curacy。　　I　hear　that　he　now　goes　about　the　cholera…
hospitals　to　administer　Christian　consolation；　we　cannot　oppose　thatbut
this　universal　comforter　is　of　the　true　heretical　stamp。〃

〃He　is　a　dangerous　character；　no　doubt；〃　answered　the　princess；　〃for　he
has　considerable　influence　over　other　men。　　It　must　have　needed　all　your
admirable　and　irresistible　eloquence　to　combat　the　detestable　counsels　of
this　Abbe　Gabriel；　who　had　taken　it　into　his　head　to　persuade　M。　Hardy　to
return　to　the　life　of　the　world。　　Really；　father；　you　are　a　second　St。
Chrysostom。〃

〃Tut；　tut；　madame！〃　said　Rodin；　abruptly；　for　he　was　very　little　sensible
to　flattery；　〃keep　that　for　others。〃

〃I　tell　you　that　you're　a　second　St。　Chrysostom　father；〃　repeated　the
princess　with　enthusiasm；　〃like　him；　you　deserve　the　name　of　Golden
Mouth。〃

〃Stuff；　madame！〃　said　Rodin；　brutally；　shrugging　his　shoulders；　〃my　lips
are　too　pale；　my　teeth　too　black；　for　a　mouth　of　gold。　　You　must　be　only
joking。〃

〃But；　father〃

〃No；　madame；　you　will　not　catch　old　birds　with　chaff；〃　replied　Rodin；
harshly。　　〃I　hate　compliments；　and　I　never　pay　them。〃

〃Your　modesty　must　pardon　me；　father；〃　said　the　princess；　humbly；　〃I
could　not　resist　the　desire　to　express　to　you　my　admiration；　for；　as　you
almost　predicted；　or　at　least　foresaw；　two　members　of　the　Rennepont
family；　have；　within　the　last　few　months；　resigned　all　claim　to　the
inheritance。〃

Rodin　looked　at　Madame　de　Saint…Dizier　with　a　softened　and　approving　air；
as　he　heard　her　thus　describe　the　position　of　the　two　defunct　claimants。
For；　in　Rodin's　view　of　the　case；　M。　Hardy；　in　consequence　of　his
donation　and　his　suicidal　asceticism；　belonged　no　longer　to　this　world。

The　lady　continued：　〃One　of　these　men；　a　wretched　artisan；　has　been　led
to　his　ruin　by　the　exaggeration　of　his　vices。　　You　have　brought　the　other
into　the　path　of　salvation；　by　carrying　out　his　loving　and　tender
qualities。　　Honor；　then。　to　your　foresight；　father！　for　you　said　that　you
would　make　use　of　the　passions　to　attain　your　end。〃

〃Do　not　boast　too　soon；〃　said　Rodin；　impatiently。　　〃Have　you　forgotten
your　niece；　and　the　Hindoo；　and　the　daughters　of　Marshal　Simon？　　Have
they　also　made　a　Christian　end；　or　resigned　their　claim　to　share　in　this
inheritance？〃

〃No；　doubtless。〃

〃Hence；　you　see；　madame；　we　should　not　lose　time　in　congratulating
ourselves　on　the　past；　but　make　ready　for　the　future。　　The　great　day
approaches。　　The　first　of　June　is　not　far　off。　　Heaven　grant　we　may　not
see　the　four　surviving　members　of　the　family　continue　to　live　impenitent
up　to　that　period；　and　so　take　possession　of　this　enormous　propertythe
source　of　perdition　in　their　handsbut　productive　of　the　glory　of　the
Church　in　the　hands　of　our　Company！〃

〃True；　father！〃

〃By　the　way；　you　were　to　see　your　lawyers　on　the　subject　of　your　niece？〃

〃I　have　seen　them；　father。　　However　uncertain　may　be　the　chance　of　which
I　spoke；　it　is　worth　trying。　　I　shall　know　to…day；　I　hope；　if　it　is
legally　possible。〃

〃Perhaps　then；in　the　new　condition　of　life　to　which　she　would　be
reduced；　we　might　find　means　to　effect　her　conversion；〃　said　Rodin；　with
a　strange　and　hideous　smile；　〃until　now；　since　she　has　been　so　fatally
brought　in　contact　with　the　Oriental；　the　happiness　of　these　two　pagans
appe