the wandering jew, volume 11-第26部分

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humble　remains　of　the　inheritance　of　the　most　noble　of　men；　whom　the
plots　of　the　sons　of　Loyola　drove　to　suicidethis　fortune；　which　has
since　become　royal　in　amount；　thanks　to　the　sacred　probity　of　three
generations　of　faithful　servantsthis　fortune　shall　never　be　the　reward
of　falsehood；　hypocrisy　and　murder。　　No！　the　eternal　justice　of　heaven
will　not　allow　it。〃

〃On　murder？　what　do　you　mean；　sir？〃　asked　Rodin；　boldly。

Samuel　made　no　answer。　　He　stamped　his　foot；　and　extended　his　arm　slowly
towards　the　extremity　of　the　apartment。　　Then　Rodin　and　Father　Caboccini
beheld　an　awful　spectacle。　　The　draperies　on　the　wall　were　drawn　aside；
as　if　by　an　invisible　hand。　　Round　a　funeral　vault；　faintly　illumined…by
the　bluish　light　of　a　silver　lamp；　six　dead　bodies　were　ranged　upon　black
biers；　dressed　in　long　black　robes。　　They　were：　Jacques　Rennepont
Francois　HardyRose　and　Blanche　SimonAdrienne　and　Djalma。　　They
appeared　to　be　asleep。　　Their　eyelids　were　closed；　their　hands　crossed
over　their　breasts。　　Father　Caboccini；　trembling　in　every　limb；　made　the
sign　of　the　cross；　and　retreating　to　the　opposite　wall；　buried　his　face
in　his　hands。　　Rodin　on　the　contrary；　with　agitated　countenance；　staring
eyes；　and　hair　standing　on　end；　yielding　to　an　invincible　attraction；
advanced　towards　those　inanimate　forms。　　One　would　have　said　that　these
last　of　the　Renneponts　had　only　just　expired。　　They　seemed　to　be　in　the
first　hour　of　the　eternal　sleep。＇44＇

〃Behold　those　whom　thou　host　slain！〃　cried　Samuel；　in　a　voice　broken　with
sobs。　　〃Yea！　your　detestable　plots　caused　their　deathand；　as　they　fell
one　by　one；　it　was　my　pious　care　to　obtain　possession　of　their　poor
remains；　that　they　may　all　repose　in　the　same　sepulchre。　　Oh！cursed
cursedcursedbe　thou　who　has　killed　them！　　But　their　spoils　shall
escape　thy　murderous　hands。〃

Rodin；　still　drawn　forward　in　spite　of　himself；　had　approached　the
funeral　couch　of　Djalma。　　Surmounting　his　first　alarm；　the　Jesuit；　to
assure　himself　that　he　was　not　the　sport　of　frightful　dream；　ventured　to
touch　the　hands　of　the　Asiaticand　found　that　they　were　damp　and　pliant；
though　cold　as　ice。

The　Jesuit　drew　back　in　horror。　　For　some　seconds；　he　trembled
convulsively。　　But；　his　first　amazement　over；　reflection　returned；　and；
with　reflection　came　that　invincible　energy；　that　infernal　obstinacy　of
character；　that　gave　him　so　much　power。　　Steadying　himself　on　his　legs；
drawing　his　hand　across　his　brow；　raising　his　head；　moistening　his　lips
two　or　three　times　before　he　spokefor　his　throat　and　mouth　grew　ever
drier　and　hotter；　without　his　being　able　to　explain　the　causehe
succeeded　in　giving　to　his　features　an　imperious　and　ironical　expression；
and；　turning　towards　Samuel；　who　wept　in　silence；　he　said　to　him；　in　a
hoarse；　guttural　voice：　〃I　need　not　show　you　the　certificates　of　their
death。　　There　they　are　in　person。〃　　And　he　pointed　with　his　bony　hand　to
the　six　dead　bodies。

At　these　words　of　his　General；　Father　Caboccini　again　made　the　sign　of
the　cross；　as　if　he　had　seen　a　fiend。

〃Oh；　my　God！〃　cried　Samuel；　〃Thou　hast　quite　abandoned　this　man。　　With
what　a　calm　look　he　contemplates　his　victims！〃

〃Come；　sir！〃　said　Rodin；　with　a　horrid　smile；　〃this　is　a　natural　waxwork
exhibition；　that　is　all。　　My　calmness　proves　my　innocenceand　we　had
best　come　at　once　to　business。　　I　have　an　appointment　at　two　o'clock。　　So
let　us　carry　down　this　casket。〃

He　advanced　towards　the　marble　slab。　　Seized　with　indignation　and　horror；
Samuel　threw　himself　before　him；　and；　pressing　with　all　his　might　on　a
knob　in　the　lid　of　the　casketa　knob　which　yielded　to　the　pressurehe
exclaimed：　〃Since　your　infernal　soul　is　incapable　of　remorse；　it　may
perhaps　be　shaken　by　disappointed　avarice。〃

〃What　does　he　say？〃　cried　Rodin。　　〃What　is　he　doing？〃

〃Look！〃　said　Samuel；　in　his　turn　assuming　an　air　of　savage　triumph。　　〃I
told　you；　that　the　spoils　of　your　victims　should　escape　your　murderous
hands。〃

Hardly　had　he　uttered　these　words；　before　through　the　open…work　of　the
iron　casket　rose　a　light　cloud　of　smoke；　and　an　odor　as　of　burnt　paper
spread　itself　through　the　room。　　Rodin　understood　it　instantly。　　〃Fire！〃
he　exclaimed；　as　he　rushed　forward　to　seize　the　casket。　　It　had　been　made
fast　to　the　heavy　marble　slab。

〃Yes；　fire；〃　said　Samuel。　　〃In　a　few　minutes；　of　that　immense　treasure
there　will　remain　nothing　but　ashes。　　And　better　so；　than　that　it　should
belong　to　you　or　yours。　　This　treasure　is　not　mine；　and　it　only　remains
for　me　to　destroy　itsince　Gabriel　de　Rennepont　will　be　faithful　to　the
oath　he　has　taken。〃

〃Help！　water！　water！〃　cried　Rodin；　as　he　covered　the　casket　with　his
body；　trying　in　vain　to　extinguish　the　flames；　which；　fanned　by　the
current　of　air；　now　issued　from　the　thousand　apertures　in　the　lid；　but
soon　the　intensity　of　the　fire　diminished；　a　few　threads　of　bluish　smoke
alone　mounted　upwardsand　then；　all　was　extinct。

The　work　was　done！　　Breathless　and　faint；　Rodin　leaned　against　the　marble
slab。　　For　the　first　time　in　his　life；　he　wept；　large　tears　of　rage
rolled　down　his　cadaverous　cheeks。　　But　suddenly；　dreadful　pains；　at
first　dull；　but　gradually　augmenting　in　intensity；　seized　on　him　with　so
much　fury；　though　he　employed　all　his　energy　to　struggle　against　them；
that　he　fell　on　his　knees；　and；　pressing　his　two　hands　to　his　chest；
murmured　with　an　attempt　to　smile：　〃It　is　nothing。　　Do　not　be　alarmed。　　A
few　spasmsthat　is　all。　　The　treasure　is　destroyedbut　I　remain　General
of　the　Order。　　Oh！　I　suffer。　　What　a　furnace！〃　he　added；　writhing　in
agony。　　〃Since　I　entered　this　cursed　house；　I　know　not　what　ails　me。　　If
I　had　not　lived　on　rootswaterbreadwhich　I　go　myself　to　buyI
should　thinkI　was　poisonedfor　I　triumphand　Cardinal　Malipieri　has
long　arms。　　YesI　still　triumphfor　I　will　not　diethis　time　no　more
than　the　otherI　will　not　die！〃

Then；　as　he　stretched　out　his　arms　convulsively；　he　continued：　〃It　is
fire　that　devours　my　entrails。　　No　doubt；　they　have　tried　to　poison　me。
But　when？　but　how？〃

After　another　pause；　Rodin　again　cried　out；　in　a　stifled　voice：　〃Help！
help　me；　you　that　stand　looking　onlike；　spectres！Help　me；　I　say！〃

Horror…struck　at　this　dreadful　agony；　Samuel　and　Father　Caboccini　were
unable　to　stir。

〃Help！〃　repeated　Rodin；　in　a　tone　of　strangulation；　〃This　poison　is
horrible。But　how〃　　Then；　with　a　terrific　cry　of　rage；　as　if　a　sudden
idea　had　struck　him；　he　exclaimed：　〃Ha！　Faringheathis　morningthe　holy
waterhe　knows　such　subtle　poisons。　　Yesit　is　hehe　had　an　interview
with　Malipieri。　　The　demon！Oh！　it　was　well　played。　　The　Borgias　are
still　the　same。　　Oh！　it　is　all　over。　　I　die。　　They　will　regret　me；　the
fools！Oh！　hell！　hell！　　The　Church　knows　not　its　lossbut　I　burn
help！〃

They　came　to　his　assistance。　　Quick　steps　were　heard　upon　the　stairs；　and
Dr。　Baleinier；　followed　by　the　Princess　de　Saint…Dizier；　appeared　at　the
entrance　of　the　Hall　of　Mourning。　　The　princess　had　learned　vaguely　that
morning　the　death　of　Father　d'Aigrigny；　and　had　come　to　question　Rodin
upon　the　subject。　　When　this　woman；　entering　the　room；　suddenly　saw　the
frightful　spectacle　that　offered　itself　to　her　viewwhen　she　saw　Rodin
writhing　in　horrible　agony；　and；　further　on；　by　the　light　of　the
sepulchral　lamp；　those　six　corpsesand；　amongst　them；　her　own　niece；　and
the　two　orphans　whom　she　had　sent　to　meet　their　deathshe　stood
petrified　with　horror；　and　her　reason　was　unable　to　withstand　the　shock。
She　looked　slowly　round　her；　and　then　raised　her　arms　on　high；　and　burst
into　a　wild　fit　of　laughter。　　She　had　gone　mad。　　Whilst　Dr。　Baleinier
supported　the　head　of　Rodin；　who　expired　in　his　arms；　Faringhea　appeared
at　the　door；　remaining　in　the　shade；　he　cast　a　ferocious　glance　at　the
corpse　of　the　Jesuit。　　〃He　would　have　made　himself　the　chief　of　the
Company　of　Jesus；　to　destroy　it；〃　said　he；　〃with　me；　the　Company　of　Jesus
stands　in　the　place　of　Bowanee。　　I　have　obeyed　the　cardinal！〃

＇44＇　Should　this　appear　incredible；　we　would　remind　the　reader　of　the
marvellous　discoveries　in　the　art　of　embalmingparticularly　Dr。
Gannal's。




EPILOGUE。

CHAPTER　I。

FOUR　YEARS　AFTER。

Four　years　had　elapsed；　since　the　events　we　have　just　related；　when
Gabriel　de　Rennepont　wrote　the　following　letter　to　Abbe　Joseph
Charpentier；　curate　of　the　Parish　of　Saint…Aubin；　a　hamlet　of　Sologne：

〃Springwater　Farm；
〃June　2d；　1836。

〃Intending　to　write　to　you　yesterday；　my　bear　Joseph；　I　seated　myself　at
the　little　old　black　table；　that　you　will　remember　well。　　My　window
looks；　you　know；　upon　the　farmyard；　and　I　can　see　all　that　takes　place
there。　　These　are　grave　preliminaries；　my　friend；　but　I　am　coming　to　the
point。　　I　had　just　taken　my　seat　at　the　table；　when；　looking　from　the
window；　this　is　what　I　saw。　　You；　my　dear　Joseph；　who　can　draw　so　well；
should　have　been　there　to　have　sketched　the　charming　scene。　　The　sun　was
sinking；　the　sky　serene；　the　air　warm　and　balmy　with　the　breath　of　the
hawthorn；　which；　flowering　by　the　side　of　a　little　rivulet；　forms　the
edge　which　borders　the　yard。　　Under　the　large　pear…tree；　close　to　the
wall　of　the　barn；　sat　upon　the　stone　bench　my　adopted　father；　Dagobert；
that　brave　and　honest　soldier　whom　you　love　so　much。　　He　appeared
thoughtful；　his　white　head　was　bowed　on　his　bosom；　with　absent　mind；　he
patted　old　Spoil…sport；　whose　intelligent　face　was　resting　on　his
master's　knees。　　By　his　side　was　his　wife；　my　dear　adopted　mother；
occupied　with　her　sewing；　and　near　them；　on　a　stool；　sat　Angela；　the　wife
of　Agricola；　nursing　her　last…born　child；　while　the　gentle　Magdalen；　with
the　eldest　boy　in　her　lap；　was　occupied　in　teaching　him　the　letters　of
the　alphabet。　　Agricola　had　just　returned　from　the　fields；　and　was
beginning　to　unyoke　his　cattle；　when；　struck；　like　me；　no　doubt；　with
this　picture；　he　stood　gazing　on　it　for　a　moment；　with　his　hand　still
leaning　on　the　yoke；　beneath　which　bent　submissive　the　broad　foreheads　of
his　two　large　black　oxen。　　I　cannot　express　to　you；　my　friend；　the
enchanting　repose　of　this　picture；　lighted　by　the　last　rays　of　the　sun；
here　and　there　broken　by　the　thick　foliage。　　What　various　and　touching
types！　　The　venerable　face　of　the　soldierthe　good