the wandering jew, volume 11-第20部分

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had　Agricola　Baudoin　stepped　across　the　threshold；　than　Djalma；　with　the
bound　of　a　tiger；　stabbed　as　it　were　at　once；　so　rapid　were　the　strokes；
both　the　young　lady；　who　fell　dead　on　the　floor；　and　Agricola；　who　sank；
dangerously　wounded；　by　the　side　of　the　unfortunate　victim。　　This　scene
of　murder；　rapid　as　thought；　took　place　in　the　midst　of　a　half　obscurity。
Suddenly　the　faint　light　from　the　chamber　was　completely　extinguished；
and　a　second　after；　Djalma　felt　his　arm　seized　in　the　darkness　by　an　iron
grasp；　and　the　voice　of　Faringhea　whispered：　〃You　are　avenged。　　Come；　we
can　secure　our　retreat。〃　　Inert；　stupefied　at　what　he　had　done；　Djalma
offered　no　resistance；　and　let　himself　be　dragged　by　the　half…caste　into
the　inner　apartment；　from　which　there　was　another　way　out。

When　Rodin　had　exclaimed；　in　his　admiration　of　the　generative　power　of
thought；　that　the　word　NECKLACE　had　been　the　germ　of　the　infernal　project
he　then　contemplated；　it　was；　that　chance　had　brought　to　his　mind　the
remembrance　of　the　too　famous　affair　of　the　diamond　necklace；　in　which　a
woman；　thanks　to　her　vague　resemblance　to　Queen　Marie　Antoinette；　being
dressed　like　that　princess；　and　favored　by　the　uncertainty　of　a　twilight；
had　played　so　skillfully　the　part　of　her　unfortunate　sovereign；　as　to
make　the　Cardinal　Prince　de　Rohan；　though　familiar　with　the　court；　the
complete　dupe　of　the　illusion。　　Having　once　determined　on　his　execrable
design；　Rodin　had　sent　Jacques　Dumoulin　to　Sainte…Colombe；　without
telling　him　the　real　object　of　his　mission；　to　ask　this　experienced　woman
to　procure　a　fine　young　girl；　tall；　and　with　red　hair。　　Once　found；　a
costume　exactly　resembling　that　worn　by　Adrienne；　and　of　which　the
Princess　de　Saint…Dizier　gave　the　description　to　Rodin　（though　herself
ignorant　of　this　new　plot）；　was　to　complete　the　deception。　　The　rest　is
known；　or　may　be　guessed。　　The　unfortunate　girl；　who　acted　as　Adrienne's
double；　believed　she　was　only　aiding　in　a　jest。　　As　for　Agricola；　he　had
received　a　letter；　in　which　he　was　invited　to　a　meeting　that　might　be　of
the　greatest　importance　to　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville。

＇43＇　See　the　strange　effect　of　hasheesh。　　To　the　effect　of　this　is
attributed　the　kind　of　hallucination　which　seized　on　those　unhappy
persons；　whom　the　Prince　of　the　Assassins　（the　Old　Man　of　the　Mountain）
used　as　the　instruments　of　his　vengeance。




CHAPTER　LXV。

THE　NUPTIAL　BED。

The　mild　light　of　a　circular　lamp　of　oriental　alabaster；　suspended　from
the　ceiling　by　three　silver　chains；　spreads　a　faint　lustre　through　the
bed…chamber　of　Adrienne　de　Cardoville。

The　large　ivory　bedstead；　inlaid　with　mother…of…pearl；　is　not　at　present
occupied；　and　almost　disappears　beneath　snowy　curtains　of　lace　and
muslin；　transparent　and　vapory　as　clouds。　　On　the　white　marble
mantlepiece；　from　beneath　which　the　fire　throws　ruddy　beams　on　the　ermine
carpet；　is　the　usual　basket　filled　with　a　bush　of　red　camellias；　in　the
midst　of　their　shining　green　leaves。　　A　pleasant　aromatic　odor；　rising
from　a　warm　and　perfumed　bath　in　the　next　room；　penetrates　every　corner
of　the　bed…chamber。　　All　without　is　calm　and　silent。　　It　is　hardly　eleven
o'clock。　　The　ivory　door；　opposite　to　that　which　leads　to　the　bath…room；
opens　slowly。　　Djalma　appears。　　Two　hours　have　elapsed　since　he　committed
a　double　murder；　and　believed　that　he　had　killed　Adrienne　in　a　fit　of
jealous　fury。

The　servants　of　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville；　accustomed　to　Djalma's　daily
visits；　no　longer　announced　his　arrival；　and　admitted　him　without
difficulty；　having　received　no　orders　to　the　contrary　from　their
mistress。　　He　had　never　before　entered　the　bed…chamber；　but；　knowing　that
the　apartment　the　lady　occupied　was　on　the　first　floor　of　the　house；　he
had　easily　found　it。　　As　he　entered　that　virgin　sanctuary；　his
countenance　was　pretty　calm；　so　well　did　he　control　his　feelings；　only　a
slight　paleness　tarnished　the　brilliant　amber　of　his　complexion。　　He　wore
that　day　a　robe　of　purple　cashmere；　striped　with　silvera　color　which
did　not　show　the　stains　of　blood　upon　it。　　Djalma　closed　the　door　after
him；　and　tore　off　his　white　turban；　for　it　seemed　to　him　as　if　a　band　of
hot　iron　encircled　his　brow。　　His　dark　hair　streamed　around　his　handsome
face。　　He　crossed　his　arms　upon　his　bosom；　and　looked　slowly　about　him。
When　his　eyes　rested　on　Adrienne's　bed；　he　started　suddenly；　and　his
cheek　grew　purple。　　Then　he　drew　his　hand　across　his　brow；　hung　down　his
head；　and　remained　standing　for　some　moments　in　a　dream；　motionless　as　a
statue。

After　a　mournful　silence　of　a　few　seconds'　duration；　Djalma　fell　upon　his
knees；　and　raised　his　eyes　to　heaven。　　The　Asiatic's　countenance　was
bathed　in　tears；　and　no　longer　expressed　any　violent　passion。　　On　his
features　was　no　longer　the　stamp　of　hate；　or　despair；　or　the　ferocious
joy　of　vengeance　gratified。　　It　was　rather　the　expression　of　grief　at
once　simple　and　immense。　　For　several　minutes　he　was　almost　choked　with
sobs；　and　tears　ran　freely　down　his　cheeks。

〃Dead！　dead！〃　he　murmured；　in　a　half…stifled　voice。　　〃She；　who　this
morning　slept　so　peacefully　in　this　chamber！　　And　I　have　killed　her。　　Now
that　she　is　dead；　what　is　her　treachery　to　me？　　I　should　not　have　killed
her　for　that。　　She　had　betrayed　me；　she　loved　the　man　whom　I　slewshe
loved　him！　　Alas！　I　could　not　hope　to　gain　the　preference；〃　added　he；
with　a　touching　mixture　of　resignation　and　remorse；　〃I；　poor；　untaught
youthhow　could　I　merit　her　love？　　It　was　my　fault　that　she　did　not　love
me；　but；　always　generous；　she　concealed　from　me　her　indifference；　that
she　might　not　make　me　too　unhappyand　for　that　I　killed　her。　　What　was
her　crime？　　Did　she　not　meet　me　freely？　　Did　she　not　open　to　me　her
dwelling？　　Did　she　not　allow　me　to　pass　whole　days　with　her？　　No　doubt
she　tried　to　love　me；　and　could　not。　　I　loved　her　with　all　the　faculties
of　my　soul；　but　my　love　was　not　such　as　she　required。　　For　that；　I　should
not　have　killed　her。　　But　a　fatal　delusion　seized　me　and；　after　it　was
done；　I　woke　as　from　a　dream。　　Alas！　it　was　not　a　dream：　I　have　killed
her。　　And　yetuntil　this　eveningwhat　happiness　I　owed　to　herwhat
hopewhat　joy！　She　made　my　heart　better；　nobler；　more　generous。　　All
came　from　her；〃　added　the　Indian；　with　a　new　burst　of　grief。　　〃That
remained　with　meno　one　could　take　from　me　that　treasure　of　the　past
that　ought　to　have　consoled　me。　　But　why　think　of　it？　　I　struck　them
bothher　and　the　manwithout　a　struggle。　　It　was　a　cowardly　murderthe
ferocity　of　the　tiger　that　tears　its　innocent　prey！〃

Djalma　buried　his　face　in　his　hands。　　Then；　drying　his　tears；　he　resumed；
〃I　know；　clearly；　that　I　mean　to　die　also。　　But　my　death　will　not　restore
her　to　life！〃

He　rose　from　the　ground；　and　drew　from　his　girdle　Faringhea's　bloody
dagger；　then；　taking　the　little　phial　from　the　hilt；　he　threw　the　blood…
stained　blade　upon　the　ermine　carpet；　the　immaculate　whiteness　of　which
was　thus　slightly　stained　with　red。

〃Yes；〃　resumed　Djalma；　holding　the　phial　with　a　convulsive　grasp；　〃I　know
well　that　I　am　about　to　die。　　It　is　right。　　Blood　for　blood；　my　life　for
hers。　　How　happens　it　that　my　steel　did　not　turn　aside？　　How　could　I　kill
her？but　it　is　doneand　my　heart　is　full　of　remorse；　and　sorrow；　an
inexpressible　tendernessand　I　have　come　hereto　die！

〃Here；　in　this　chamber；〃　he　continued；　〃the　heaven　of　my　burning
visions！〃　　And　then　he　added；　with　a　heartrending　accent；　as　he　again
buried　his　face　in　his　hands；　〃Dead！　dead！〃

〃Well！　I　too　shall　soon　be　dead；〃　he　resumed；　in　a　firmer　voice。　　〃But；
no！　I　will　die　slowly；　gradually。　　A　few　drops　of　the　poison　will
suffice；　and；　when　I　am　quite　certain　of　dying；　my　remorse　will　perhaps
be　less　terrible。　　Yesterday；　she　pressed　my　hand　when　we　parted。　　Who
could　have　foretold　me　this？〃　　The　Indian　raised　the　phial　resolutely　to
his　lips。　　He　drank　a　few　drops　of　the　liquor　it　contained；　and　replaced
it　on　a　little　ivory　table　close　to　Adrienne's　bed。

〃This　liquor　is　sharp　and　hot；〃　said　he。　　〃Now　I　am　certain　to　die。　　Oh！
that　I　may　still　have　time　to　feast　on　the　sight　and　perfume　of　this
chamberto　lay　my　dying　head　on　the　couch　where　she　has　reposed。〃

Djalma　fell　on　his　knees　beside　the　bed；　and　leaned　against　it　his
burning　brow。　　At　this　moment；　the　ivory　door；　which　communicated　with
the　bath…room；　rolled　gently　on　its　hinges；　and　Adrienne　entered。　　The
young　lady　had　just　sent　away　her　woman；　who　had　assisted　to　undress　her。
She　wore　a　long　muslin　wrapper　of　lustrous　whiteness。　　Her　golden　hair；
neatly　arranged　in　little　plaits；　formed　two　bands；　which　gave　to　her
sweet　face　an　extremely　juvenile　air。　　Her　snowy　complexion　was　slightly
tinged　with　rose…color；　from　the　warmth　of　the　perfumed　bath；　which　she
used　for　a　few　seconds　every　evening。　　When　she　opened　the　ivory　door；
and　placed　her　little　naked　foot；　in　its　white　satin　slipper；　upon　the
ermine　carpet；　Adrienne　was　dazzlingly　beautiful。　　Happiness　sparkled　in
her　eyes；　and　adorned　her　brow。　　All　the　difficulties　relative　to　her
union　with　Djalma　had　now　been　removed。　　In　two　days　she　would　be　his。
The　sight　of　the　nuptial　chamber　oppressed　her　with　a　vague　and　ineffable
languor。　　The　ivory　door　had　been　opened　so　gently；　the　lady's　first
steps　were　so　soft　upon　the　fur　carpet；　that　Djalma；　still　leaning
against　the　bed；　had　heard　nothing。　　But　suddenly　a　cry　of　surprise　and
alarm　struck　upon　his　ear。　　He　turned　round　abruptly。　Adrienne　stood
before　him。

With　an　impulse　of　modesty；　Adrienne　closed　her　nightdress　over　her
bosom；　and　hastily　drew　back；　still　more　afflicted　than　angry　at　what　she
considered　a　guilty　attempt　on　the　part　of　Djalma。　　Cruelly　hurt　and
offended；　she　was　about　to　reproach　him　with　his　conduct；　when　she
perceived　the　dagger；　which　he　had　thrown　down　upon　the　ermine　carpet。
At　sight　of　this　weapon；　and　the　expression　of　fear　and　stupor　which
petrified　the　features　of　Djalma；　who　remained　kneeling；　motionless；　with
his　body　thrown　back；　hands　stretched　out；　his　eyes　fixed　and　wildly
staring　Adrienne；　no　longer　dreading　an　amorous　surprise；　was　seized　with
an　indescribable　terror；　and；　instead　of　flying　from　the　prince；　advanced
several　steps　towards　him；