the wandering jew, volume 11-第3部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


brought　in　contact　with　the　Oriental；　the　happiness　of　these　two　pagans
appears　bright　and　changeless　as　the　diamond。　　Nothing　bites　into　it；　not
even　Faringhea's　tooth。　　Let　us　hope　that　the　Lord　will　wreak　justice　on
their　vain　and　guilty　felicity！〃

This　conversation　was　here　interrupted　by　Father　d'Aigrigny；　who　entered
the　room　with　an　air　of　triumph；　and　exclaimed；　〃Victory！〃

〃What　do　you　say〃'　asked　the　princess。

〃He　is　gonelast　night；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny。

〃Who？〃　said　Rodin。

〃Marshal　Simon；〃　replied　the　abbe。

〃At　last！〃　said　Rodin；　unable　to　hide　his　joy。

〃It　was　no　doubt　his　interview　with　General　d'Havrincourt　which　filled　up
the　measure；〃　cried　the　princess；　〃for　I　know　he　had　a　long　conversation
with　the　general；　who　like　so　many　others；　believed　the　reports　in
circulation。　　All　means　are　good　against　the　impious！〃　added　the
princess；　by　way　of　moral。

〃Have　you　any　details？〃　asked　Rodin。

〃I　have　just　left　Robert；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny。　　〃His　age　and
description　agree　with　the　marshal's；　and　the　latter　travels　with　his
papers。　　Only　one　thing　has　greatly　surprised　your　emissary。〃

〃What　is　that？〃　said　Rodin。

〃Until　now；　he　had　always　to　contend　with　the　hesitations　of　the　marshal；
and　had　moreover　noticed　his　gloomy　and　desponding　air。　　Yesterday；　on
the　contrary；　he　found　him　so　bright　with　happiness；　that　he　could　not
help　asking　him　the　cause　of　the　alteration。〃

〃Well？〃　said　Rodin　and　the　princess　together；　both　extremely　surprised。

〃The　marshal　answered：　‘I　am　indeed　the　happiest　man　in　the　world；　for　I
am　going　joyfully　to　accomplish　a　sacred　duty！〃

The　three　actors　in　this　scene　looked　at　each　other　in　silence。

〃And　what　can　have　produced　this　sudden　change　in　the　mind　of　the
marshal？〃　said　the　princess；　with　a　pensive　air。　　〃We　rather　reckon　on
sorrow　and　every　kind　of　irritation　to　urge　him　to　engage　in　this
adventurous　enterprise。〃

〃I　cannot　make　it　out；〃　said　Rodin；　reflecting；　〃but　no　matterhe　is
gone。　　We　must　not　lose　a　moment；　to　commence　operations　on　his
daughters。　　Has　he　taken　that　infernal　soldier　with　him？〃

〃No；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　〃unfortunately；　he　has　not　done　so。　　Warned
by　the　past；　he　will　redouble　his　precautions；　and　a　man；　whom　we　might
have　used　against　him　at　a　pinch；　has　just　been　taken　with　the
contagion。〃

〃Who　is　that？〃　asked　the　princess。

〃Morok。　　I　could　count　upon　him　anywhere　and　for　anything。　　He　is　lost　to
us；　for；　should　he　recover　from　the　cholera；　I　fear　he　will　fall　a　victim
to　a　horrible　and　incurable　disease。〃

〃How　so？〃

〃A　few　days　ago；　he　was　bitten　by　one　of　the　mastiffs　of　his　menagerie；
and；　the　next　day；　the　dog　showed　symptoms　of　hydrophobia。〃

〃Ah！　it　is　dreadful；〃　cried　the　princess；　〃and　where　is　this　unfortunate
man？〃

〃He　has　been　taken　to　one　of　the　temporary　hospitals　established　in
Paris；　for　at　present　he　has　only　been　attacked　with　cholera。　　It　is
doubly　unfortunate；　I　repeat；　for　he　was　a　devoted；　determined　fellow；
ready　for　anything。　　Now　this　soldier；　who　has　the　care　of　the　orphans；
will　be　very　difficult　to　get　at；　and　yet　only　through　him　can　we　hope　to
reach　Marshal　Simon's　daughters。〃

〃That　is　clear；〃　said　Rodin；　thoughtfully。

〃Particularly　since　the　anonymous　letters　have　again　awakened　his
suspicions；〃　added　Father　d'Aigrigny　〃and〃

〃Talking　of　the　anonymous　letters；〃　said　Rodin　suddenly；　interrupting
Father　d'Aigrigny；　〃there　is　a　fact　that　you　ought　to　know；　I　will　tell
you　why。〃

〃What　is　it？〃

〃Besides　the　letters　that　you　know　of；　Marshal　Simon　has　received　a
number　of　others　unknown　to　you；　in　which；　by　every　possible　means；　it　is
tried　to　exasperate　his　irritation　against　yourselffor　they　remind　him
of　all　the　reasons　he　has　to　hate　you；　and　mock　at　him；　because　your
sacred　character　shelters　you　from　his　vengeance。〃

Father　d'Aigrigny　looked　at　Rodin　with　amazement；　colored　in　spite　of
himself；　and　said　to　him：　〃But　for　what　purpose　has　your　reverence　acted
in　this　manner？〃

〃First　of　all；　to　clear　myself　of　suspicion　with　regard　to　the　letters；
then；　to　excite　the　rage　of　the　marshal　to　madness；　by　incessantly
reminding　him　of　the　just　grounds　he　has　to　hate　you；　and　of　the
impossibility　of　being　avenged　upon　you。　　This；　joined　to　the　other
emotions　of　sorrow　and　anger；　which　ferment　in　the　savage　bosom　of　this
man　of　bloodshed；　tended　to　urge　him　on　to　the　rash　enterprise；　which　is
the　consequence　and　the　punishment　of　his　idolatry　for　a　miserable
usurper。〃

〃That　may　be；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　with　an　air　of　constraint：　〃but　I
will　observe　to　your　reverence；　that　it　was；　perhaps；　rather　dangerous
thus　to　excite　Marshal　Simon　against　me。〃

〃Why？〃　asked　Rodin；　as　he　fixed　a　piercing　look　upon　Father　d'Aigrigny。

〃Because　the　marshal；　excited　beyond　all　bounds；　and　remembering　only　our
mutual　hate；　might　seek　me　out〃

〃Well！　and　what　then？〃

〃Well！　he　might　forget　that　I　am　a　priest〃

〃Oh；　you　are　afraid　are　you？〃　said　Rodin；　disdainfully；　interrupting
Father　d'Aigrigny。

At　the　words：　〃You　are　afraid；〃　the　reverend　father　almost　started　from
his　chair；　but　recovering　his　coolness；　he　answered：　〃Your　reverence　is
right；　yes；　I　should　be　afraid　under　such　circumstances；　I　should　be
afraid　of　forgetting　that　I　am　a　priest；　and　of　remembering　too　well　that
I　have　been　a　soldier。〃

〃Really？〃　said　Rodin；　with　sovereign　contempt。　　〃You　are　still　no　further
than　that　stupid　and　savage　point　of　honor？　　Your　cassock　has　not　yet
extinguished　the　warlike　fire？　　So　that　if　this　brawling　swordsman；　whose
poor；　weak　head；　empty　and　sonorous　as　a　drum；　is　so　easily　turned　with
the　stupid　jargon　of　‘Military　honor；　oaths；　Napoleon　II。'if　this
brawling　bravo；　I　say；　were　to　commit　some　violence　against　you；　it　would
require　a　great　effort；　I　suppose；　for　you　to　remain　calm？〃

〃It　is　useless；　I　think；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　quite　unable　to　control
his　agitation；　〃for　your　reverence　to　enter　upon　such　questions。〃

〃As　your　superior；〃　answered　Rodin；　severely；　〃I　have　the　right　to　ask。
If　Marshal　Simon　had　lifted　his　hand　against　you〃

〃Sir；〃　cried　the　reverend　father。

〃There　are　no　sirs　herewe　are　only　priests；〃　said　Rodin；　harshly。
Father　d'Aigrigny　held　down　his　head；　scarcely　able　to　repress　his　rage。

〃I　ask　you；〃　continued　Rodin；　obstinately；　〃if　Marshal　Simon　had　struck
you？　　Is　that　clear？〃

〃Enough！　in　mercy；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　〃enough！〃

〃Or；　if　you　like　it　better；　had　Marshal　Simon　left　the　marks　of　his
fingers　on　your　cheek？〃　resumed　Rodin；　with　the　utmost　pertinacity。

Father　d'Aigrigny；　pale　as　death；　ground　his　teeth　in　a　kind　of　fury　at
the　very　idea　of　such　an　insult；　while　Rodin；　who　had　no　doubt　his　object
in　asking　the　question；　raised　his　flabby　eyelids；　and　seemed　to　watch
attentively　the　significant　symptoms　revealed　in　the　agitated　countenance
of　the　ex…colonel。

At　length；　recovering　partly　his　presence　of　mind；　Father　d'Aigrigny
replied；　in　a　forcedly　calm　tone：　〃If　I　were　to　be　exposed　to　such　an
insult；　I　would　pray　heaven　to　give　me　resignation　and　humility。〃

〃And　no　doubt　heaven　would　hear　your　prayers；〃　said　Rodin；　coldly；
satisfied　with　the　trial　to　which　he　had　just　put　him。　　〃Besides；　you　are
now　warned；　and　it　is　not　very　probable；〃　added　he；　with　a　grim　smile；
〃that　Marshal　Simon　will　ever　return　to　test　your　humility。　　But　if　he
were　to　return；〃　said　Rodin；　fixing　on　the　reverend　father　a　long　and
piercing　look；　〃you　would　know　how　to　show　this　brutal　swordsman；　in
spite　of　all　his　violence；　what　resignation　and　humility　there　is　in　a
Christian　soul！〃

Two　humble　knocks　at　the　door　here　interrupted　the　conversation　for　a
moment。　　A　footman　entered；　bearing　a　large　sealed　packet　on　a　salver；
which　he　presented　to　the　princess。　　After　this；　he　withdrew。　　Princess
de　Saint…Dizier；　having　by　a　look　asked　Rodin's　permission　to　open　the
letter；　began　to　read　itand　a　cruel　satisfaction　was　soon　visible　on
her　face。

〃There　is　hope；〃　cried　she　addressing　herself　to　Rodin：　〃the　demand　is
rigorously　legal；　and　the　consequence　may　be　such　as　we　desire。　　In　a
word；　my　niece　may；　any　day；　be　exposed　to　complete　destitution。　　She；
who　is　so　extravagant！　what　a　change　in　her　life！〃

〃We　shall　then　no　doubt　have　some　hold　on　that　untamable　character；〃　said
Rodin　with　a　meditative　air；　〃for；　till　now；　all　has　failed　in　that
direction；　and　one　would　suppose　some　kinds　of　happiness　are
invulnerable；〃　added　the　Jesuit；　gnawing　his　flat　and　dirty　nails。

〃But；　to　obtain　the　result　we　desire；　we　must　exasperate　my　niece's
pride。　　It　is；　therefore；　absolutely　necessary；　that　I　should　see　and
talk　to　her；〃　said　the　Princess　de　Saint…Dizier；　reflecting。

〃Mdlle。　de　Cardoville　will　refuse　this　interview；〃　said　Father
d'Aigrigny。

〃Perhaps；〃　replied　the　princess。　　〃But　she　is　so　happy　that　her　audacity
must　be　at　its　height。　　Yes；　yesI　know　herand　I　will　write　in　such　a
manner；　that　she　will　come。〃

〃You　think　so？〃　asked　Rodin；　with　a　doubtful　air。

〃Do　not　fear　it；　father；〃　answered　the　lady；　〃she　will　come。　　And　her
pride　once　brought　into　play；　we　may　hope　a　good　deal　from　it。〃

〃We　must　then　act；　lady；〃　resumed　Rodin；　〃yes；　act　promptly。　　The　moment
approaches。　　Hate　and　suspicion　are　awake。　　There　is　not　a　moment　to
lose。〃

〃As　for　hate；〃　replied　the　princess；　〃Mdlle。　de　Cardoville　must　have　seen
to　what　her　lawsuit　would　lead；　about　what　she　called　her　illegal
detention　in　a　lunatic　asylum；　and　that　of　the　two　young　ladies　in　St。
Mary's　Convent。　　Thank　heaven；　we　have　friends　everywhere！　　I　know　from
good　authority；　that　the　case　will　break　down　from　want　of　evidence；　in
spite　of　the　animosity　of　certain　parliamentary　magistrates；　who　shall　be
well　remembered。〃

〃Under　these　circumstances；〃　replied　Rodin；　〃the　departure　of　the　marshal
gives　us　every　latitude。　　We　must　act　immediately　on　his　daughters。〃

〃But　how？〃　said　the　princess。

〃We　must　see　them；〃　resumed　Rodin；　〃talk　with　them；　study　them。　　Then　we
shall　act　in　consequence。〃

〃But　the　soldier　will　not　leave　them　a　second；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny。

〃Then；〃　replied　Rodin；　〃we　must　talk　to　them　in　presence　of　the　soldier；
and　get　h