the wandering jew, volume 11-第5部分

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his　letters。〃

〃True！　well　then；　I　have　an　idea。　　Let　us　address　letters　to　him　here；
Dagobert　can　put　them　into　the　post；　and；　on　his　return；　our　father　will
read　our　correspondence。〃

〃That　will　be　charming！　　What　nonsense　we　will　write　to　him；　since　he
takes　pleasure　in　it！〃

〃And　we；　too；　like　to　amuse　ourselves。〃

〃Oh；　certainly！　father's　last　words　have　given　us　so　much　courage。〃

〃As　I　listened　to　them；　I　felt　quite　reconciled　to　his　going。〃

〃When　he　said　to　us：　‘My　children；　I　will　confide　in　you　all　I　can。　　I　go
to　fulfill　a　sacred　duty；　and　I　must　be　absent　for　some　time；　for　though；
when　I　was　blind　enough　to　doubt　your　affection；　I　could　not　make　up　my
mind　to　leave　you；　my　conscience　was　by　no　means　tranquil。　　Grief　takes
such　an　effect　on　us；　that　I　had　not　the　strength　to　come　to　a　decision；
and　my　days　were　passed　in　painful　hesitation。　　But　now　that　I　am　certain
of　your　tenderness；　all　this　irresolution　has　ceased；　and　I　understand
how　one　duty　is　not　to　be　sacrificed　to　another；　and　that　I　have　to
perform　two　duties　at　once；　both　equally　sacred；　and　this　I　now　do　with
joy；　and　delight；　and　courage！'〃

〃Go　on；　sister！〃　cried　Blanche；　rising　to　draw　nearer　to　Rose。　　〃I　think
I　hear　our　father　when　I　remember　those　words；　which　must　console　and
support　us　during　his　absence。〃

〃And　then　our　father　continued：　‘Instead　of　grieving　at　my　departure；　you
would　rejoice　in　it；　you　should　be　proud　and　happy。　　I　go　to　perform　a
good　and　generous　act。　　Fancy　to　yourselves；　that　there　is　somewhere　a
poor　orphan；　oppressed　and　abandoned　by　alland　that　the　father　of　that
orphan　was　once　my　benefactor；　and　that　I　had　promised　him　to　protect　his
sonand　that　the　life　of　that　son　is　now　in　periltell　me；　my　children；
would　you　regret　that　I　should　leave　you　to　fly　to　the　aid　of　such　an
orphan？'〃

〃‘No；　no；　brave　father！'　we　answered：　‘we　should　not　then　be　your
daughters！'〃　continued　Rose；　with　enthusiasm。　　〃‘Count　upon　us！　　We
should　be　indeed　unhappy　if　we　thought　that　our　sorrow　could　deprive　thee
of　thy　courage。　　Go！　and　every　day　we　will　say　to　ourselves　proudly；　〃It
was　to　perform　a　great　and　noble　duty　that　our　father　left　uswe　can
wait　calmly　for　his　return。〃

〃How　that　idea　of　duty　sustains　one；　sister！〃　resumed　Rose；　with　growing
enthusiasm。　　〃It　gave　our　father　the　courage　to　leave　us　without　regret；
and　to　us　the　courage　to　bear　his　absence　gayly！〃

〃And　then；　how　calm　we　are　now！　　Those　mournful　dreams；　which　seemed　to
portend　such　sad　events；　no　longer　afflict　us。〃

〃I　tell　you；　sister；　this　time　we　are　really　happy　once　for　all。〃

〃And　then；　do　you　feel　like　me？　　I　fancy；　that　I　am　stronger　and　more
courageous　and　that　I　could　brave　every　danger。〃

〃I　should　think　so！　　We　are　strong　enough　now。　　Our　father　in　the　midst；
you　on　one　side；　I　on　the　other〃

〃Dagobert　in　the　vanguard；　and　Spoil…sport　in　the　rear！　　Then　the　army
will　be　complete；　and　let　'em　come　on　by　thousands！〃　added　a　gruff；　but
jovial　voice；　interrupting　the　girl；　as　Dagobert　appeared　at　the　half…
open　door　of　the　room。　　It　was　worth　looking　at　his　face；　radiant　with
joy；　for　the　old　fellow　had　somewhat　indiscreetly　been　listening　to　the
conversation。

〃Oh！　you　were　listening；　Paul　Pry！〃　said　Rose　gayly；　as　she　entered　the
adjoining　room　with　her　sister；　and　both　affectionately　embraced　the
soldier。

〃To　be　sure；　I　was　listening；　and　I　only　regretted　not　to　have　ears　as
large　as　Spoil…sport's！　　Brave；　good　girls！　that's　how　I　like　to　see　you…
…bold　as　brass；　and　saying　to　care　and　sorrow：　‘Right　about　face！　march！
go　to　the　devil！'〃

〃He　will　want　to　make　us　swear；　now；〃　said　Rose　to　her　sister；　laughing
with　all　her　might。

〃Well！　now　and　then；　it　does　no　harm；〃　said　the　soldier；　〃it　relieves　and
calms　one；　when　if　one　could　not　swear　by　five　hundred　thousand　de〃

〃That's　enough！〃　said　Rose；　covering　with　her　pretty　hand　the　gray
moustache；　so　as　to　stop　Dagobert　in　his　speech。　　〃If　Madame　Augustine
heard　you〃

〃Our　poor　governess！　so　mild　and　timid；〃　resumed　Blanche。　　〃How　you　would
frighten　her！〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Dagobert；　as　he　tried　to　conceal　his　rising　embarrassment；
〃but　she　does　not　hear　us。　　She　is　gone　into　the　country。〃

〃Good；　worthy　woman！〃　replied　Blanche；　with　interest。　　〃She　said
something　of　you；　which　shows　her　excellent　heart。〃

〃Certainly；〃　resumed　Rose；　〃for　she　said　to　us；　in　speaking　of　you；　‘Ah；
young　ladies！　my　affection　must　appear　very　little；　compared　with　M。
Dagobert's。　　But　I　feel　that　I　also　have　the　right　to　devote　myself　to
you。'〃

〃No　doubt；　no　doubt！　she　has　a　heart　of　gold；〃　answered　Dagobert。　　Then
he　added　to　himself；　〃It's　as　if　they　did　it　on　purpose；　to　bring　the
conversation　back　to　this　poor　woman。〃

〃Father　made　a　good　choice；〃　continued　Rose。　　〃She　is　the　widow　of　an　old
officer；　who　was　with　him　in　the　wars。〃

〃When　we　were　out　of　spirits；〃　said　Blanche；　〃you　should　have　seen　her
uneasiness　and　grief；　and　how　earnestly　she　set　about　consoling　us。〃

〃I　have　seen　the　tears　in　her　eyes　when　she　looked　at　us；〃　resumed　Rose。
〃Oh！　she　loves　us　tenderly；　and　we　return　her　affection。　　With　regard　to
that；　Dagobert；　we　have　a　plan　as　soon　as　our　father　comes　back。〃

〃Be　quiet；　sister！〃　said　Blanche；　laughing。　　〃Dagobert　will　not　keep　our
secret。〃

〃He！〃

〃Will　you　keep　it　for　us；　Dagobert？〃

〃I　tell　you　what；〃　said　the　soldier；　more　and　more　embarrassed；　〃you　had
better　not　tell　it　to　me。〃

〃What！　can　you　keep　nothing　from　Madame　Augustine？〃

〃Ah；　Dagobert！　Dagobert！〃　said　Blanche；　gayly　holding　up　her　finger　at
the　soldier；　〃I　suspect　you　very　much　of　paying　court　to　our　governess。〃

〃I　pay　court？〃　said　the　soldierand　the　expression　of　his　face　was　so
rueful；　as　he　pronounced　these　words；　that　the　two　sisters　burst　out
laughing。

Their　hilarity　was　at　its　height　when　the　door　opened　and　Loony　advanced
into　room　announcing；　with　a　loud　voice；　〃M。　Rodin！〃　　In　fact；　the　Jesuit
glided　almost　imperceptibly　into　the　apartment；　as　if　to　take　possession
of　the　ground。　　Once　there；　he　thought　the　game　his　own；　and　his　reptile
eyes　sparkled　with　joy。　　It　would　be　difficult　to　paint　the　surprise　of
the　two　sisters；　and　the　anger　of　the　soldier；　at　this　unexpected　visit。

Rushing　upon　Loony；　Dagobert　seized　him　by　the　collar；　and　exclaimed：
〃Who　gave　you　leave　to　introduce　any　one　here　without　my　permission？〃

〃Pardon；　M。　Dagobert！〃　said　Loony；　throwing　himself　on　his　knees；　and
clasping　his　hands　with　an　air　of　idiotic　entreaty。

〃Leave　the　room！and　you　too！〃　added　the　soldier；　with　a　menacing
gesture；　as　he　turned　towards　Rodin；　who　had　already　approached　the
girls；　with　a　paternal　smile　on　his　countenance。

〃I　am　at　your　orders；　my　dear　sir；〃　said　the　priest；　humbly；　and　he　made
a　low　bow；　but　without　stirring　from　the　spot。

〃Will　you　go？〃　cried　the　soldier　to　Loony；　who　was　still　kneeling；　and
who；　thanks　to　the　advantages　of　this　position；　was　able　to　utter　a
certain　number　of　words　before　Dagobert　could　remove　him。

〃M。　Dagobert；〃　said　Loony　in　a　doleful　voice；　〃I　beg　pardon　for　bringing
up　the　gentleman　without　leave；　but；　alas；　my　head　is　turned；　because　of
the　misfortune　that　happened　to　Madame　Augustine。〃

〃What　misfortune？〃　cried　Rose　and　Blanche　together；　as　they　advanced
anxiously　towards　Loony。

〃Will　you　go？〃　thundered　Dagobert；　shaking　the　servant　by　the　collar；　to
force　him　to　rise。

〃Speakspeak！〃　said　Blanche；　interposing　between　the　soldier　and　his
prey。　　〃What　has　happened　to　Madame　Augustine？〃

〃Oh；〃　shouted　Loony；　in　spite　of　the　cuffs　of　the　soldier。　　〃Madame
Augustine　was　attacked　in　the　night　with　cholera；　and　taken〃

He　was　unable　to　finish。　　Dagobert　struck　him　a　tremendous　blow　with　his
fist；　right　on　the　jaw；　and；　putting　forth　his　still　formidable　strength；
the　old　horse…grenadier　lifted　him　to　his　legs；　and　with　one　violent　kick
bestowed　on　the　lower　part　of　his　back；　sent　him　rolling　into　the　ante…
chamber。

Then　turning　to　Rodin；　with　flushed　cheek　and　sparkling　eye；　Dagobert
pointed　to　the　door　with　an　expressive　gesture；　and　said　in　an　angry
voice：　〃Now；　be　off　with　you　and　that　quickly！〃

〃I　must　pay　my　respects　another　time；　my　dear　sir；〃　said　Rodin；　as　he
retired　towards　the　door；　bowing　to　the　young　girls。




CHAPTER　LIV。

DUTY。

Rodin；　retreating　slowly　before　the　fire　of　Dagobert's　angry　looks；
walked　backwards　to　the　door；　casting　oblique　but　piercing　glances　at　the
orphans；　who　were　visibly　affected　by　the　servant's　intentional
indiscretion。　（Dagobert　had　ordered　him　not　to　speak　before　the　girls　of
the　illness　of　their　governess；　and　that　was　quite　enough　to　induce　the
simpleton　to　take　the　first　opportunity　of　doing　so。）

Rose　hastily　approached　the　soldier；　and　said　to　him：　〃Is　it　trueis　it
really　true　that　poor　Madame　Augustine　has　been　attacked　with　the
cholera？〃

〃NoI　do　not　knowI　cannot　tell；〃　replied　the　soldier；　hesitating；
〃besides；　what　is　it　to　you？〃

〃Dagobert；　you　would　conceal　from　us　a　calamity；〃　said　Blanche。　　〃I
remember　now　your　embarrassment；　when　we　spoke　to　you　of　our　governess。〃

〃If　she　is　ill；　we　ought　not　to　abandon　her。　　She　had　pity　on　our
sorrows；　we　ought　to　pity　her　sufferings。〃

〃Come；　sister；　come　to　her　room；〃　said　Blanche；　advancing　towards　the
door；　where　Rodin　had　stopped　short；　and　stood　listening　with　growing
attention　to　this　unexpected　scene；　which　seemed　to　give　him　ample　food
for　thought。

〃You　will　not　leave　this　room；〃　said　the　soldier；　sternly；　addressing　the
two　sisters。

〃Dagobert；〃　replied　Rose；　firmly；　〃it　is　a　sacred　duty；　and　it　would　be
cowardice　not　to　fulfil　it。〃

〃I　tell　you　that　you　shall　not　leave　the　room；〃　said　the　soldier；
stamping　his　foot　with　impatience。

〃Dagobert；〃　replied　Blanche；　with　as　resolute　an　air　as　her　sister's；　and
with　a　kind　of　enthusiasm　which　brought　the　blood　to　her　fair　cheek；　〃our
father；　when　he　left　us；　give　us　an　admirable　example　of　devotion　and
duty。　　He　would　not　forgive　us　were　we　to　forget　the　lesson。〃

〃What；〃　cried　Dagobert；　in　a　rage；　and　advancing　towards　the　sisters　to
prevent　their　quitting　the　apartment；　〃you　think　that　if　your　governess
had　the　cholera；　I　would　let　you