the wandering jew, volume 11-第23部分

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he　to　meet　his　eye；　he　should　not　be　able　to　answer　for　himself；　but　give
way　to　his　impetuous　feelings。　　On　seeing　the　Jesuit　kneel　down；　and　on
hearing　his　hypocritical　invocation；　the　marshal；　whose　sword　was　in　his
hand；　shook　with　indignation。

〃Stand　up；　scoundrel！〃　he　said；　〃stand　up；　wretch！〃　　And　he　spurned　the
Jesuit　with　his　boot。

At　this　new　insult；　Father　d'Aigrigny　leaped　up；　as　if　he　had　been　moved
by　steel　springs。　　It　was　too　much；　he　could　bear　no　more。　　Blinded　with
rage；　he　rushed　to　the　able；　caught　up　the　other　sword；　and　exclaimed；
grinding　his　teeth　together：　〃Ah！　you　will　have　blood。　　Well　then！　it
shall　be　yoursif　possible！〃

And　the　Jesuit；　still　in　all　the　vigor　of　manhood；　his　face　purple；　his
large　gray　eyes　sparkling　with　hate；　fell　upon　his　guard　with　the　ease
and　skill　of　a　finished　swordsman。

〃At　last！〃　cried　the　marshal；　as　their　blades　were　about　to　cross。

But　once　more　reflection　came　to　damp　the　fire　of　the　Jesuit。　　He
remembered　how　this　hazardous　duel　would　gratify　the　wishes　of　Rodin；
whose　fate　was　in　his　hands；　and　whom　he　hated　perhaps　even　more　than　the
marshal。　　Therefore；　in　spite　of　the　fury　which　possessed　him；　in　spite
of　his　secret　hope　to　conquer　in　this　combat；　so　strong　and　healthy　did
he　feel　himself；　and　so　fatal　had　been　the　effects　of　grief　on　the
constitution　of　Marshal　Simon；　he　succeeded　in　mastering　his　rage；　and；
to　the　amazement　of　the　marshal；　dropped　the　point　of　his　sword；
exclaiming：　〃I　am　a　minister　of　the　Lord；　and　must　not　shed　blood。
Forgive　ne；　heaven！　and；　oh！　forgive　my　brother　also。〃

Then　placing　the　blade　beneath　his　heel；　he　drew　the　hilt　suddenly
towards　him；　and　broke　the　weapon　into　two　pieces。　　The　duel　was　no
longer　possible。　　Father　d'Aigrigny　had　put　it　out　of　his　own　power　to
yield　to　a　new　burst　of　violence；　of　which　he　saw　the　imminent　danger。
Marshal　Simon　remained　for　an　instant　mute　and　motionless　with　surprise
and　indignation；　for　he　also　saw　that　the　duel　was　now　impossible。　　But；
suddenly；　imitating　the　Jesuit；　the　marshal　placed　his　blade　also　under
his　heel；　broke　it　in　half；　and　picking　up　the　pointed　end；　about
eighteen　inches　in　length　tore　off　his　black　silk　cravat；　rolled　it　round
the　broken　part　so　as　to　form　a　handle；　and　said　to　Father　d'Aigrigny：
〃Then　we　will　fight　with　daggers。〃

Struck　with　this　mixture　of　coolness　and　ferocity；　the　Jesuit　exclaimed：
〃Is　this　then　a　demon　of　hell？〃

〃No；　it　is　a　father；　whose　children　have　been　murdered；〃　said　the
marshal；　in　a　hollow　voice；　whilst　he　fitted　the　blade　to　his　hand；　and　a
tear　stood　in　the　eye；　that　instantly　after　became　fierce　and　ardent。

The　Jesuit　saw　that　tear。　　There　was　in　this　mixture　of　vindictive　rage
and　paternal　grief　something　so　awful；　and　yet　so　sacred；　that　for　the
first　time　in　his　life　Father　d'Aigrigny　felt　fearcowardly；　ignoble
fearfear　for　his　own　safety。　　While　a　combat　with　swords　was　in
question；　in　which　skill；　agility；　and　experience　are　such　powerful
auxiliaries　to　courage；　his　only　difficulty　had　been　to　repress　the　ardor
of　his　hatebut　when　he　thought　of　the　combat　proposed；　body　to　body；
face　to　face；　heart　to　heart；　he　trembled；　grew　pale；　and　exclaimed：　〃A
butchery　with　knives？never！〃

His　countenance　and　the　accent　betrayed　his　alarm；　so　that　the　marshal
himself　was　struck　with　it；　and　fearing　to　lose　his　revenge；　he　cried：
〃After　all；　he　is　a　coward！　　The　wretch　had　only　the　courage　or　the
vanity　of　a　fencer。　　This　pitiful　renegadethis　traitor　to　his　country
whom　I　have　cuffed；　kickedyes；　kicked；　most　noble　marquis！shame　of
your　ancient　housedisgrace　to　the　rank　of　gentleman；　old　or　newah！　it
is　not　hypocrisy；　it　is　not　calculation；　as　I　at　first　thoughtit　is
fear！　　You　need　the　noise　of　war；　and　the　eyes　of　spectators　to　give　you
courage〃

〃Sirhave　a　care！〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　stammering　through　his
clenched　teeth；　for　rage　and　hate　now　made　him　forget　his　fear

〃Must　I　then　spit　on　you；　to　make　the　little　blood　you　have　left　rise　to
your　face？〃　cried　the　exasperated　marshal。

〃Oh！　this　is　too　much！　too　much！〃　said　the　Jesuit；　seizing　the　pointed
piece　of　the　blade　that　lay　at　his　feet。

〃It　is　not　enough！〃　said　the　marshal；　panting　for　breath。　　〃There；
Judas！〃　and　he　spat　in　his　face。

〃If　you　will　not　fight　now；〃　added　the　marshal；　〃I　will　beat　you　like　a
dog；　base　child…murderer！〃

On　receiving　the　uttermost　insult　which　can　be　offered　to　an　already
insulted　man；　Father　d'Aigrigny　lost　all　his　presence　of　mind；　forgot　his
interests；　his　resolutions；　his　fears；　forgot　even　Rodinfelt　only　the
frenzied　ardor　of　revengeand；　recovering　his　courage；　rejoiced　in　the
prospect　of　a　close　struggle；　in　which　his　superior　strength　promised
success　over　the　enfeebled　frame　of　the　marshal　for；　in　this　kind　of
brutal　and　savage　combat；　physical　strength　offers　an　immense　advantage。
In　an　instant；　Father　d'Aigrigny　had　rolled　his　handkerchief　round　the
broken　blade；　and　rushed　upon　Marshal　Simon；　who　received　the　shock　with
intrepidity。　　For　the　short　time　that　this　unequal　struggle　lasted
unequal；　for　the　marshal　had　since　some　days　been　a　prey　to　a　devouring
fever；　which　had　undermined　his　strengththe　two　combatants；　mute　in
their　fury；　uttered　not　a　word　or　a　cry。　　Had　any　one　been　present　at
this　horrible　scene；　it　would　have　been　impossible　for　him　to　tell　how
they　dealt　their　blows。　　He　would　have　seen　two　headsfrightful；　livid；
convulsedrising；　falling；　now　here；　now　therearms；　now　stiff　as　bars
of　iron；　and　now　twisting　like　serpentsand；　in　the　midst　of　the
undulation　of　the　blue　coat　of　the　marshal　and　the　black　cassock　of　the
Jesuit；　from　time　to　time　the　sudden　gleam　of　the　steel。　　He　would　have
heard　only　a　dull　stamping；　and　now　and　then　a　deep　breath。　　In　about　two
minutes　at　most；　the　two　adversaries　fell；　and　rolled　one　over　the　other。
One　of　themit　was　Father　d'Aigrignycontrived　to　disengage　himself
with　a　violent　effort；　and　to　rise　upon　his　knees。　　His　arms　fell
powerless　by　his　side；　and　then　the　dying　voice　of　the　marshal　murmured：
〃My　children！　Dagobert！〃

〃I　have　killed　him；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　in　a　weak　voice；　〃but　I
feelthat　I　am　woundedto　death。〃

Leaning　with　one　hand　on　the　ground；　the　Jesuit　pressed　the　other　to　his
bosom。　　His　black　cassock　was　pierced　through　and　through；　but　the
blades；　which　had　served　for　the　combat；　being　triangular　and　very　sharp；
the　blood　instead　of　issuing　from　the　wounds；　was　flowing　inwards。

〃Oh！　I　dieI　choke；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　whose　features　were　already
changing　with　the　approach　of　death。

At　this　moment；　the　key　turned　twice　in　the　door；　Rodin　appeared　on　the
threshold；　and；　thrusting　in　his　head；　he　said　in　a　humble　and　discreet
voice：　〃May　I　come　in？〃

At　this　dreadful　irony；　Father　d'Aigrigny　strove　to　rise；　and　rush　upon
Rodin；　but　he　fell　back　exhausted；　the　blood　was　choking　him。

〃Monster　of　hell！〃　he　muttered；　casting　on　Rodin　a　terrible　glance　of
rage　and　agony。　　〃Thou　art　the　cause　of　my　death。〃

〃I　always　told　you；　my　dear　father；　that　your　old　military　habits　would
be　fatal　to　you；〃　answered　Rodin　with　a　frightful　smile。　　〃Only　a　few
days　ago；　I　gave　you　warning；　and　advised　you　take　a　blow　patiently　from
this　old　swordsmanwho　seems　to　have　done　with　that　work　forever；　which
is　wellfor　the　Scripture　says：　‘All　they　that　take　the　sword　shall
perish　with　the　sword。'　　And　then　this　Marshal　Simon　might　have　had　some
claim　on　his　daughter's　inheritance。　　And；　between　ourselves；　my　dear
father；　what　was　I　to　do？　　It　was　necessary　to　sacrifice　you　for　the
common　interest；　the　rather；　that　I　well　knew　what　you　had　in　pickle　for
me　to…morrow。　　But　I　am　not　so　easily　caught　napping。〃

〃Before　I　die；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　in　a　failing　voice；　〃I　will
unmask　you。〃

〃Oh；　no；　you　will　not；〃　said　Rodin；　shaking　his　head　with　a　knowing　air；
〃I　alone；　if　you　please；　will　receive　your　last　confession。〃

〃Oh！　this　is　horrible；〃　moaned　Father　d'Aigrigny；　whose　eyes　were
closing。　　〃May　God　have　mercy　on　me；　if　it　is　not　too　late！Alas！　at
this　awful　moment；　I　feel　that　I　have　been　a　great　sinner〃

〃And；　above　all；　a　great　fool；〃　said　Rodin；　shrugging　his　shoulders；　and
watching　with　cold　disdain　the　dying　moments　of　his　accomplice。

Father　d'Aigrigny　had　now　but　a　few　minutes　more　to　live。　　Rodin
perceived　it；　and　said：　〃It　is　time　to　call　for　help。〃　　And　the　Jesuit
ran；　with　an　air　of　alarm　and　consternation；　into　the　courtyard　of　the
house。

Others　came　at　his　cries；　but；　as　he　had　promised；　Rodin　had　only　quitted
Father　d'Aigrigny　as　the　latter　had　breathed　his　last　sigh。

That　evening；　alone　in　his　chamber；　by　the　glimmer　of　a　little　lamp；
Rodin　sat　plunged　in　a　sort　of　ecstatic　contemplation；　before　the　print
representing　Sixtus　V。　　The　great　house…clock　struck　twelve。　　At　the　last
stroke；　Rodin　drew　himself　up　in　all　the　savage　majesty　of　his　infernal
triumph；　and　exclaimed：　〃This　is　the　first　of　June。　　There　are　no　more
Renneponts！Methinks；　I　hear　the　hour　from　the　clock　of　St。　Peter's　at
Rome　striking！〃




CHAPTER　LXVII。

A　MESSAGE。

While　Rodin　sat　plunged　in　ambitious　reverie；　contemplating　the　portrait
of　Sixtus　V。；　good　little　Father　Caboccini；　whose　warm　embraces　had　so
much　irritated　the　first　mentioned　personage；　went　secretly　to　Faringhea；
to　deliver　to　him　a　fragment　of　an　ivory　crucifix；　and　said　to　him　with
his　usual　air　of　jovial　good…nature：　〃His　Excellency　Cardinal　Malipieri；
on　my　departure　from　Rome；　charged　me　to　give　you　this　only　on　the　31st
of　May。〃

The　half…caste；　who　was　seldom　affected　by　anything；　started　abruptly；
almost　with　an　expression　of　pain。　　His　face　darkened；　and　bending　upon
the　little　father　a　piercing　look；　he　said　to　him：　〃You　were　to　add
something。〃

〃True；〃　replied　Father　Caboccini；　〃the　words　I　was　to　add　are　these：
'There　is　many　a　slip　'twixt　the　cup　and　the　lip。'〃

〃It　is　well；〃　said　the　other。　　Heaving　a　deep　sigh；　he　joined　the
fragment　of　the　ivory　crucifix　to　a　piece　already　in　his　possession；　it
fitted　exactly。

Father　Caboccini　looked　at　him　with　curiosity；　for　the　cardinal　had　only
told　him　to　deliver　the　ivory　fragment　to　Faringhea；　an