the wandering jew, volume 11-第25部分

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Caboccini；　Samuel　and　Bathsheba　exchanged　a　bitter　smile；　notwithstanding
the　despair　impressed　on　their　countenances。

Ascending　the　steps；　followed　by　the　two　reverend　fathers；　Samuel　entered
the　vestibule　of　the　house；　in　which　a　lamp　was　burning。　　Endowed　with　an
excellent　local　memory；　Rodin　was　about　to　take　the　direction　of　the　Red
Saloon；　in　which　had　been　held　the　first　convocation　of　the　heirs；　when
Samuel　stopped　him；　and　said：　〃It　is　not　that　way。〃

Then；　taking　the　lamp；　he　advanced　towards　a　dark　staircase；　for　the
windows　of　the　house　had　not　been　un…bricked。

〃But；〃　said　Rodin；　〃the　last　time；　we　met　in　a　saloon　on　the　ground
floor。〃

To…day；　we　must　go　higher；〃　answered　Samuel；　as　he　began　slowly　to　ascend
the　stairs。

〃Where　to？　higher！〃　said　Rodin；　following　him。

〃To　the　Hall　of　Mourning；〃　replied　the　Jew；　and　he　continued　to　ascend。

〃What　is　the　Hall　of　Mourning？〃　resumed　Rodin；　in　some　surprise。

〃A　place　of　tears　and　death；〃　answered　the　Israelite；　and　he　kept　on
ascending　through　the　darkness；　for　the　little　lamp　threw　but　a　faint
light　around。

〃But；〃　said　Rodin；　more　and　more　astonished；　and　stopping　short　on　the
stairs；　〃why　go　to　this　place？〃

〃The　money　is　there；〃　answered　Samuel；　and　he　went　on；

〃Oh？　if　the　money　is　there；　that　alters　the　case；〃　replied　Rodin；　and　he
made　haste　to　regain　the　few　steps　he　had　lost　by　stopping。

Samuel　continued　to　ascend；　and；　at　a　turn　of　the　staircase；　the　two
Jesuits　could　see　by　the　pale　light　of　the　little　lamp；　the　profile　of
the　old　Israelite；　in　the　space　left　between　the　iron　balustrade　and　the
wall；　as　he　climbed　on　with　difficulty　above　them。　　Rodin　was　struck　with
the　expression　of　Samuel's　countenance。　　His　black　eyes；　generally　so
calm；　sparkled　with　ardor。　　His　features；　usually　impressed　with　a
mixture　of　sorrow；　intelligence；　and　goodness；　seemed　to　grow　harsh　and
stern；　and　his　thin　lips　wore　a　strange　smile。

〃It　is　not　so　very　high；〃　whispered　Rodin　to　Caboccini。　　〃and　yet　my　legs
ache；　and　I　am　quite　out　of　breath。　　There　is　a　strange　throbbing　too　in
my　temples。〃

In　fact；　Rodin　breathed　hard；　and　with　difficulty。　　To　this　confidential
communication；　good　little　Father　Caboccini；　in　general　so　full　of　tender
care　for　his　colleague；　made　no　answer。　　He　seemed　to　be　in　deep　thought。

〃Will　we　soon　be　there？〃　said　Rodin；　impatiently；　to　Samuel。

〃We　are　there；〃　replied　the　Israelite。

〃And　a　good　thing　too；〃　said　Rodin。

〃Very　good；〃　said　the　Jew。

Stopping　in　the　midst　of　a　corridor；　he　pointed　with　the　hand　in　which　he
held　the　lamp　to　a　large　door　from　which　streamed　a　faint　light。　　In
spite　of　his　growing　surprise。　　Rodin　entered　resolutely；　followed　by
Father　Caboccini　and　Samuel。　　The　apartment　in　which　these　three
personage；　now　found　themselves　was　very　large。　　The　daylight　only
entered　from　a　belvedere　in　the　roof；　the　four　sides　of　which　had　been
covered　with　leaden　plates；　each　of　which　was　pierced　with　seven　holes；
forming　a　cross；　thus：
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Now；　the　light　being　only　admitted　through　these　holes；　the　obscurity
would　have　been　complete；　had　it　not　been　for　a　lamp；　which　burned　on　a
large　massive　slab　of　black　marble；　fixed　against　one　of　the　walls。　　One
would　have　taken　it　for　a　funeral　chamber；　for　it　was　all　hung　with　black
curtains；　fringed　with　white。　　There　was　no　furniture；　save　the　slab　of
black　marble　we　have　already　mentioned。　　On　this　slab　was　an　iron　casket；
of　the　manufacture　of　the　seventeenth　century；　admirably　adorned　with
open　work；　like　lace　made　of　metal。

Addressing　Rodin；　who　was　wiping　his　forehead　with　his　dirty
handkerchief；　and　looking　round　him　with　surprise；　but　not　fear；　Samuel
said　to　him：　〃The　will　of　the　testator；　however　strange　it　may　appear；　is
sacred　with　me；　and　must　be　accomplished　in　all　things。〃

〃Certainly；〃　said　Rodin；　〃but　what　are　we　to　do　here？〃

〃You　will　know　presently；　sir。　　You　are　the　representative　of　the　only
remaining　heir　of　the　Rennepont　family；　the　Abbe　Gabriel　de　Rennepont？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　and　here　are　my　papers；〃　replied　Rodin。

〃To　save　time；〃　resumed　Samuel；　〃I　will；　previous　to　the　arrival　of　the
magistrate；　go　through　the　inventory　of　the　securities　contained　in　this
casket；　which　I　withdrew　yesterday　from　the　custody　of　the　Bank　of
France。〃

〃The　securities　are　there？〃　cried　Rodin；　advancing　eagerly　towards　the
casket。

〃Yes；　sir；〃　replied　Samuel；　〃as　by　the　list。　　Your　secretary　will　call
them　over；　and　I　will　produce　each　in　turn。　　They　can　then　be　replaced　in
the　casket；　which　I　will　deliver　up　to　you　in　presence　of　the
magistrate。〃

〃All　this　seems　perfectly　correct；〃　said　Rodin。

Samuel　delivered　the　list　to　Father　Caboccini；　and　approaching　the
casket；　touched　a　spring；　which　was　not　seen　by　Rodin。　　The　heavy　lid
flew　open；　and；　while　Father　Caboccini　read　the　names　of　the　different
securities；　Samuel　showed　them　to　Rodin；　who　returned　them　to　the　old
Jew；　after　a　careful　examination。　　This　verification　did　not　last　long；
for　this　immense　fortune　was　all　comprised；　as　we　already　know；　in　eight
government　securities；　five　hundred　thousand　francs　in　bank…note；　thirty…
five　thousand　francs　in　gold；　and　two　hundred　and　fifty　francs　in　silver…
…making　in　all　an　amount　of　two　hundred　and　twelve　millions；　one　hundred
and　seventy…five　thousand　francs。　　When　Rodin　had　counted　the　last　of　the
five　hundred　bank…notes；　of　a　thousand　francs　each；　he　said；　as　he
returned　them　to　Samuel：　〃It　is　quite　right。　　Two　hundred　and　twelve
millions；　one　hundred　and　seventy…five　thousand　francs！〃

He　was　no　doubt　almost　choked　with　joy；　for　he　breathed　with　difficulty；
his　eyes　closed；　and　he　was　obliged　to　lean　upon　Father　Caboccini's　arm；
as　he　said　to　him　in　an　altered　voice：　〃It　is　singular。　　I　thought　myself
proof　against　all　such　emotions；　but　what　I　feel　is　extraordinary。〃

The　natural　paleness　of　the　Jesuit　increased　so　much；　and　he　seemed　so
much　agitated　with　convulsive　movements；　that　Father　Caboccini　exclaimed：
〃My　dear　father；　collect　yourself；　do　not　let　success　overcome　you　thus。〃

Whilst　the　little　one…eyed　man　was；　attending　to　Rodin；　Samuel　carefully
replaced　the　securities　in　the　iron　casket。　　Thanks　to　his　unconquerable
energy；　and　to　the　joy　he　felt　at　seeing　himself　so　near　the　term　of　his
labors；　Rodin　mastered　this　attack　of　weakness；　and　drawing　himself　up；
calm　and　proud；　he　said　to　Caboccini：　〃It　is　nothing。　　I　did　not　survive
the　cholera　to　die　of　joy　on　the　first　of　June。〃

And；　though　still　frightfully　pale；　the　countenance　of　the　Jesuit　shone
with　audacious　confidence。　　But　now；　when　Rodin　appeared　to　be　quite
recovered；　Father　Caboccini　seemed　suddenly　transformed。　　Though　short；
fat；　and　one…eyed；　his　features　assumed　on　the　instant　so　firm；　harsh；
and　commanding　an　expression；　that　Rodin　recoiled　a　step　as　he　looked　at
him。　　Then　Father　Caboccini；　drawing　a　paper　from　his　pocket；　kissed　it
respectfully；　glanced　sternly　at　Rodin；　and　read　as　follows；　in　a　severe
and　menacing　tone：

〃‘On　receipt　of　the　present　rescript；　the　Reverend　Father　Rodin　will
deliver　up　all　his　powers　to　the　Reverend　Father　Caboccini；　who　is　alone
commissioned；　with　the　Reverend　Father　d'Aigrigny；　to　receive　the
inheritance　of　the　Rennepont　family；　if；　in　His　eternal　justice；　the　Lord
should　restore　this　property；　of　which　our　Company　has　been　wronged。

〃‘Moreover；　on　receipt　of　the　present　rescript；　the　Reverend　Father
Rodin；　in　charge　of　a　person　to　be　named　by　the　Reverend　Father
Caboccini；　shall　be　conveyed　to　our　house　in　the　Town　of　Laval；　to　be
kept　in　strict　seclusion　in　his　cell　until　further　orders。'〃

Then　Father　Caboccini　handed　the　rescript　to　Rodin；　that　the　latter　might
read　the　signature　of　the　General　of　the　Company。　　Samuel；　greatly
interested　by　this　scene；　drew　a　few　steps　nearer；　leaving　the　casket
half…open。　　Suddenly；　Rodin　burst　into　a　loud　laugha　laugh　of　joy；
contempt　and　triumph；　impossible　to　describe。　　Father　Caboccini
looked　at　him　with　angry　astonishment；　when　Rodin；　growing　still　more
imperious　and　haughty；　and　with　an　air　of　more　sovereign　disdain　than
ever；　pushed　aside　the　paper　with　the　back　of　his　dirty　hand　and　said：
〃What　is　the　date　of　that　scribble？〃

〃The　eleventh　of　May；〃　answered　Father　Caboccini　in　amazement。

〃Here　is　a　brief；　that　I　received　last　night　from　Rome；　under　date　of　the
eighteenth。　　It　informs　me　that　I　am　appointed　GENERAL　OF　THE　ORDER。
Read！〃

Father　Caboccini　took　the　paper；　read　it；　and　remained　thunderstruck。
Then；　returning　it　humbly　to　Rodin；　he　respectfully　bent　his　knee　before
him。　　Thus　seemed　the　ambitious　views　of　Rodin　accomplished。　　In　spite　of
the　hatred　and　suspicion　of　that　party；　of　which　Cardinal　Malipieri　was
the　representative　and　the　chief；　Rodin；　by　address　and　craft；　audacity
and　persuasion；　and　in　consequence　of　the　high　esteem　in　which　his
partisans　at　Rome　held　his　rare　capacity；　had　succeeded　in　deposing　his
General；　and　in　procuring　his　own　elevation　to　that　eminent　post。　　Now；
according　to　his　calculation；　aided　by　the　millions　he　was　about　to
possess；　it　would　be　but　one　step　from　that　post　to　the　pontifical
throne。　　A　mute　witness　of　this　scene；　Samuel　smiled　also　with　an　air　of
triumph；　as　he　closed　the　casket　by　means　of　the　spring　known　only　to
himself。　　That　metallic　sound　recalled　Rodin　from　the　heights　of　his　mad
ambition　to　the　realities　of　life；　and　he　said　to　Samuel　in　a　sharp
voice：　〃You　have　heard？　　These　millions　must　be　delivered　to　me　alone。〃

He　extended　his　hands　eagerly　and　impatiently　towards　the　casket；　as　if
he　would　have　taken　possession　of　it；　before　the　arrival　of　the
magistrate。　　Then　Samuel　in　his　turn　seemed　transfigured；　and；　folding
his　arms　upon　his　breast；　and　drawing　up　his　aged　form　to　its　full
height；　he　assumed　a　threatening　and　imposing　air。　　His　eyes　flashed　with
indignation；　and　he　said　in　a　solemn　tone：　〃This　fortuneat　first　the
humble　remains　of　the　inheritance　of　the　most　noble　of　men；　whom　the
plots　of　the　sons　of　Loyola　drove　to　suicidethis　fortune