the wandering jew, volume 11-第21部分

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an　indescribable　terror；　and；　instead　of　flying　from　the　prince；　advanced
several　steps　towards　him；　and　said；　in　an　agitated　voice；　whilst　she
pointed　to　the　kandjiar；　〃My　friend；　why　are　you　here？　what　ails　you？
why　this　dagger？〃

Djalma　made　no　answer。　　At　first；　the　presence　of　Adrienne　seemed　to　him
a　vision；　which　he　attributed　to　the　excitement　of　his　brain；　already　（it
might　be）　under　the　influence　of　the　poison。　　But　when　the　soft　voice
sounded　in　his　earswhen　his　heart　bounded　with　the　species　of　electric
shock；　which　he　always　felt　when　he　met　the　gaze　of　that　woman　so
ardently　belovedwhen　he　had　contemplated　for　an　instant　that　adorable
face；　so　fresh　and　fair；　in　spite　of　its　expression　of　deep　uneasiness
Djalma　understood　that　he　was　not　the　sport　of　a　dream；　but　that　Mdlle。
de　Cardoville　was　really　before　his　eyes。

Then；　as　he　began　fully　to　grasp　the　thought　that　Adrienne　was　not　dead；
though　he　could　not　at　all　explain　the　prodigy　of　her　resurrection；　the
Hindoo's　countenance　was　transfigured；　the　pale　gold　of　his　complexion
became　warm　and　red；　his　eyes　（tarnished　by　tears　of　remorse）　shone　with
new　radiance；　and　his　features；　so　lately　contracted　with　terror　and
despair；　expressed　all　the　phases　of　the　most　ecstatic　joy。　　Advancing；
still　on　his　knees；　towards　Adrienne；　he　lifted　up　to　her　his　trembling
hands；　and；　too　deeply　affected　to　pronounce　a　word；　he　gazed　on　her　with
so　much　amazement；　love；　adoration；　gratitude；　that　the　young　lady；
fascinated　by　those　inexplicable　looks；　remained　mute　also；　motionless
also；　and　felt；　by　the　precipitate　beating　of　her　heart；　and　by　the
shudder　which　ran　through　her　frame；　that　there　was　here　some　dreadful
mystery　to　be　unfolded。

At　last；　Djalma；　clasping　his　hands　together；　exclaimed　with　an　accent
impossible　to　describe；　〃Thou　art　not　dead！〃

〃Dead！〃　repeated　the　young　lady；　in　amazement。

〃It　was　not　thou；　really　not　thou；　whom　I　killed？　　God　is　kind　and　just！〃

And　as　he　pronounced　these　words　with　intense　joy；　the　unfortunate　youth
forgot　the　victim　whom　he　had　sacrificed　in　error。

More　and　more　alarmed；　and　again　glancing　at　the　dagger　en　which　she　now
perceived　marks　of　blooda　terrible　evidence；　in　confirmation　of　the
words　of　DjalmaMdlle。　de　Cardoville　exclaimed；　〃You　have　killed　some
one；　Djalma！　Oh！　what　does　he　say？　　It　is　dreadful！〃

〃You　are　aliveI　see　youyou　are　here；〃　said　Djalma；　in　a　voice
trembling　with　rapture。　　〃You　are　herebeautiful！　pure！　for　it　was　not
you！　Oh；　no！　had　it　been　you；　the　steel　would　have　turned　back　upon
myself。〃

〃You　have　killed　some　one？〃　cried　the　young　lady；　beside　her　with　this
unforeseen　revelation；　and　clasping　her　hands　in　horror。　　〃Why？　whom　did
you　kill？〃

〃I　do　not　know。　　A　woman　that　was　like　youa　man　that　I　thought　your
loverit　was　an　illusion；　a　frightful　dreamyou　are　aliveyou　are
here！〃

And　the　oriental　wept　for　joy。

〃A　dream？　but　no；　it　is　not　a　dream。　　There　is　blood　upon　that　dagger！〃
cried　the　young　lady；　as　she　pointed　wildly　to　the　kandjiar。　　〃I　tell　you
there　is　blood　upon　it！〃

〃Yes。　　I　threw　it　down　just　now；　when　I　took　the　poison　from　it；　thinking
that　I　had　killed　you。〃

〃The　poison！〃　exclaimed　Adrienne；　and　her　teeth　chattered　convulsively。
〃What　poison？〃

〃I　thought　I　had　killed　you；　and　I　came　here　to　die。〃

〃To　die？　　Oh！　wherefore？　who　is　to　die？〃　cried　the　young　lady；　almost　in
delirium。

〃I；〃　replied　Djalma；　with　inexpressible　tenderness；　〃I　thought　I　had
killed　youand　I　took　poison。〃

〃You！〃　exclaimed　Adrienne；　becoming　pale　as　death。　　〃You！〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Oh！　it　is　not　true！〃　said　the　young　lady；　shaking　her　head。

〃Look！〃　said　the　Asiatic。　　Mechanically；　he　turned　towards　the　bed
towards　the　little　ivory　table；　on　which　sparkled　the　crystal　phial。

With　a　sudden　movement；　swifter　than　thought；　swifter；　it　may　be；　than
the　will；　Adrienne　rushed　to　the　table；　seized　the　phial；　and　applied　it
eagerly　to　her　lips。

Djalma　had　hitherto　remained　on　his　knees；　but　he　now　uttered　a　terrible
cry；　made　one　spring　to　the　drinker's　side；　and　dragged　away　the　phial；
which　seemed　almost　glued　to　her　mouth。

〃No　matter！　I　have　swallowed　as　much　as　you；〃　said　Adrienne；　with　an　air
of　gloomy　triumph。

For　an　instant；　there　followed　an　awful　silence。　　Adrienne　and　Djalma
gazed　upon　each　other；　mute；　motionless；　horror…struck。　　The　young　lady
was　the　first　to　break　this　mournful　silence；　and　said　in　a　tone　which
she　tried　to　make　calm　and　steady；　〃Well！　what　is　there　extraordinary　in
this？　　You　have　killed；　and　death　most　expiate　your　crime。　　It　is　just。
I　will　not　survive　you。　　That　also　is　natural　enough。　　Why　look　at　me
thus？　　This　poison　has　a　sharp　tastedoes　it　act　quickly！　Tell　me；　my
Djalma！〃

The　prince　did　not　answer。　　Shuddering　through　all　his　frame；　he　looked
down　upon　his　hands。　　Faringhea　had　told　the　truth；　a　slight　violet　tint
appeared　already　beneath　the　nails。　　Death　was　approaching；　slowly；
almost　insensibly；　but　not　the　less　certain。　　Overwhelmed　with　despair　at
the　thought　that　Adrienne；　too；　was　about　to　die；　Djalma　felt　his　courage
fail　him。　　He　uttered　a　long　groan；　and　hid　his　face　in　his　hands。　　His
knees　shook　under　him；　and　he　felt　down　upon　the　bed；　near　which　he　was
standing。

〃Already？〃　cried　the　young　lady　in　horror；　as　she　threw　herself　on　her
knees　at　Djalma's　feet。　　〃Death　already？　　Do　you　hide　your　face　from　me？〃

In　her　fright；　she　pulled　his　hands　from　before　his　face。　　That　face　was
bathed　in　tears。

〃No；　not　yet；〃　murmured　he；　through　his　sobs。　　〃The　poison　is　slow。〃

〃Really！〃　cried　Adrienne；　with　ineffable　joy。　　Then；　kissing　the　hands　of
Djalma；　she　added　tenderly；　〃If　the　poison　is　slow；　why　do　you　weep？〃

〃For　you！　for　you！〃　said　the　Indian；　in　a　heart…rending　tone。

〃Think　not　of　me；〃　replied　Adrienne；　resolutely。　　〃You　have　killed；　and
we　must　expiate　the　crime。　　I　know　not　what　has　taken　place；　but　I　swear
by　our　love　that　you　did　not　do　evil　for　evil's　sake。　　There　is　some
horrible　mystery　in　all　this。〃

〃On　a　pretence　which　I　felt　bound　to　believe；〃　replied　Djalma；　speaking
quickly；　and　panting　for　breath；　〃Faringhea　led　me　to　a　certain　house。
Once　there；　he　told　me　that　you　had　betrayed　me。　　I　did　not　believe　him；
but　I　know　not　what　strange　dizziness　seized　upon　meand　then；　through　a
half…obscurity；　I　saw　you〃

〃Me！〃

〃Nonot　youbut　a　woman　resembling　you；　dressed　like　you；　so　that　I
believed　the　illusionand　then　there　came　a　manand　you　flew　to　meet
himand　Imad　with　ragestabbed　her；　stabbed　him；　saw　them　falland
so　came　here　to　die。　　And　now　I　find　you　only　to　cause　your　death。　　Oh；
misery！　misery！　that　you　should　die　through　me！〃

And　Djalma；　this　man　of　formidable　energy；　began　again　to　weep　with　the
weakness　of　a　child。　　At　sight　of　this　deep；　touching；　passionate
despair；　Adrienne；　with　that　admirable　courage　which　women　alone　possess
in　love；　thought　only　of　consoling　Djalma。　　By　an　effort　of　superhuman
passion；　as　the　prince　revealed　to　her　this　infernal　plot；　the　lady's
countenance　became　so　splendid　with　an　expression　of　love　and　happiness；
that　the　East　Indian　looked　at　her　in　amazement；　fearing　for　an　instant
that　he　must　have　lost　his　reason。

〃No　more　tears；　my　adored！〃　cried　the　young　lady；　exultingly。　　〃No　more
tearsbut　only　smiles　of　joy　and　love！　Our　cruel　enemies　shall　not
triumph！〃

〃What　do　you　say？〃

〃They　wished　to　make　us　miserable。　　We　pity　them。　　Our　felicity　shall　be
the　envy　of　the　world！〃

〃Adriennebethink　you〃

〃Oh！　I　have　all　my　senses　about　me。　　Listen　to　me；　my　adored！　　I　now
understand　it　all。　　Falling　into　a　snare；　which　these　wretches　spread　for
you；　you　have　committed　murder。　　Now；　in　this　country；　murder　leads　to
infamy；　or　the　scaffoldand　to…morrowto…night；　perhapsyou　would　be
thrown　into　prison。　　But　our　enemies　have　said：　‘A　man　like　Prince　Djalma
does　not　wait　for　infamy　he　kills　himself。　　A　woman　like　Adrienne　de
Cardoville　does　not　survive　the　disgrace　or　death　of　her　lovershe
prefers　to　die。　　Therefore　a　frightful　death　awaits　them　both；〃　said　the
black…robed　men；　'and　that　immense　inheritance；　which　we　covet'〃

〃And　for　youso　young；　so　beautiful　so　innocentdeath　is　frightful；　and
these　monsters　triumph！〃　cried　Djalma。　　〃They　have　spoken　the　truth！〃

〃They　have　lied！〃　answered　Adrienne。　　〃Our　death　shall　be　celestial。
This　poison　is　slowand　I　adore　you；　my　Djalma！〃

She　spoke　those　words　in　a　low　voice；　trembling　with　passionate　love；
and；　leaning　upon　Djalma's　knees；　approached　so　near；　that　he　felt　her
warm　breath　upon　his　cheek。　　As　he　felt　that　breath；　and　saw　the　humid
flame　that　darted　from　the　large；　swimming　eyes　of　Adrienne；　whose　half…
opened　lips　were　becoming　of　a　still　deeper　and　brighter　hue；　the　Indian
startedhis　young　blood　boiled　in　his　veinshe　forgot　everythinghis
despair；　and　the　approach　of　death；　which　as　yet　（as　with　Adrienne）；　only
showed　itself　in　a　kind　of　feverish　ardor。　　His　face；　like　the　young
girl's；　became　once　more　splendidly　beautiful。

〃Oh；　my　lover！　my　husband！　how　beautiful　you　are！〃　said　Adrienne；　with
idolatry。　　〃Those　eyesthat　browthose　lipshow　I　love　them！How　many
times　has　the　remembrance　of　your　grace　and　beauty；　coupled　with　your
love；　unsettled　my　reason；　and　shaken　my　resolveseven　to　this　moment；
when　I　am　wholly　yours！Yes；　heaven　wills　that　we　should　be　united。
Only　this　morning；　I　gave　to　the　apostolic　man；　that　was　to　bless　our
union；　in　thy　name　and　mine；　a　royal　gifta　gift；　that　will　bring　joy
and　peace　to　the　heart　of　many　an　unfortunate　creature。　　Then　what　have
we　to　regret；　my　beloved？　　Our　immortal　souls　will　pass　away　in　a　kiss；
and　ascend；　full　of　love；　to　that　God　who　is　all　love！〃

〃Adrienne！〃

〃Djalma！〃

The　light；　transparent　curtains　fell　like　a　cloud　over　that　nuptial　and
funereal　couch。　　Yes；　funereal；　for；　two　hours　after；　Adrienne　and　Djalma
breathed　their　last　sigh　in　a　voluptuous　agony。




CHAPTER　LXVI。

A　DUEL　TO　THE　DEATH。

Adrienne　and　Djalma　died　on　the　30th　of　May。　　The　following　scene　took
place　on　the　31st；　the　eve　of　the　day　appointed　for　the　last　convocation
of　the　heirs　of　Marius　de　Rennepont。　　The　reader　will　no　doubt　remember
the　room　o