the wandering jew, volume 11-第6部分

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had　the　cholera；　I　would　let　you　go　to　her　under　the　pretext　of　duty？
Your　duty　is　to　live；　to　live　happy；　for　your　father's　sakeand　for　mine
into　the　bargainso　not　a　word　more　of　such　folly！〃

〃We　can　run　no　danger　by　going　to　our　governess　in　her　room；〃　said　Rose。

〃And　if　there　were　danger；〃　added　Blanche；　〃we　ought　not　to　hesitate。
So；　Dagobert；　be　good！　and　let　us　pass。〃

Rodin；　who　had　listened　to　what　precedes；　with　sustained　attention；
suddenly　started；　as　if　a　thought　had　struck　him；　his　eye　shone　brightly；
and　an　expression　of　fatal　joy　illumined　his　countenance。

〃Dagobert；　do　not　refuse！〃　said　Blanche。　　〃You　would　do　for　us　what　you
reproach　us　with　wishing　to　do　for　another。〃

Dagobert　had　as　it　were；　till　now　stood　in　the　path　of　the　Jesuit　and　the
twins　by　keeping　close　to　the　door；　but；　after　a　moments　reflection；　he
shrugged　his　shoulders；　stepped　to　one　side；　and　said　calmly：　〃I　was　an
old　fool。　　Come；　young　ladies；　if　you　find　Madame　Augustine　in　the　house；
I　will　allow　you　to　remain　with　her。〃

Surprised　at　these　words；　the　girls　stood　motionless　and　irresolute。

〃If　our　governess　is　not　here；　where　is　she；　then？〃　said　Rose。

〃You　think；　perhaps；　that　I　am　going　to　tell　you　in　the　excitement　in
which　you　are！〃

〃She　is　dead！〃　cried　Rose　growing　pale。

〃No；　nobe　calm；〃　said　the　soldier；　hastily；　〃I　swear　to　you；　by　your
father's　honor；　that　she　is　not　dead。　　At　the　first　appearance　of　the
disorder；　she　begged　to　be　removed　from　the　house；　fearing　the　contagion
for　those　in　it。〃

〃Good　and　courageous　woman！〃　said　Rose　tenderly；　〃And　you　will　not　allow
us〃

〃I　will　not　allow　you　to　go　out；　even　if　I　have　to　lock　you　up　in　your
room；〃　cried　the　soldier；　again　stamping　with　rage；　then；　remembering
that　the　blunderhead's　indiscretion　was　the　sole　cause　of　this
unfortunate　incident；　he　added；　with　concentrated　fury：　〃Oh！　I　will　break
my　stick　upon　that　rascal's　back。〃

So　saying；　he　turned　towards　the　door；　where　Rodin　still　stood；　silent
and　attentive；　dissembling　with　habitual　impassibility　the　fatal　hopes　he
had　just　conceived　in　his　brain。　　The　girls；　no　longer　doubting　the
removal　of　their　governess；　and　convinced　that　Dagobert　would　not　tell
them　whither　they　had　conveyed　her；　remained　pensive　and　sad。

At　sight　of　the　priest；　whom　he　had　forgotten　for　the　moment；　the
soldier's　rage　increased；　and　he　said　to　him　abruptly：　〃Are　you　still
there？〃

〃I　would　merely　observe　to　you；　my　dear　sir；〃　said　Rodin；　with　that　air
of　perfect　good　nature　which　he　knew　so　well　how　to　assume；　〃that　you
were　standing　before　the　door；　which　naturally　prevented　me　from　going
out。〃

Well；　now　nothing　prevents　youso　file　off！〃

〃Certainly；　I　will　file　off；　if　you　wish　it；　my　dear　sir　though　I　think　I
have　some　reason　to　be　surprised　at　such　a　reception。〃

〃It　is　no　reception　at　allso　begone！〃

〃I　had　come；　my　dear　sir　to　speak　to　you〃

〃I　have　no　time　for　talking。〃

〃Upon　business　of　great　importance。〃

〃I　have　no　other　business　of　importance　than　to　remain　with　these
children。〃

〃Very　good；　my　dear　sir；〃　said　Rodin；　pausing　on　the　threshold。　　〃I　will
not　disturb　you　any　longer；　excuse　my　indiscretion。　　The　bearer　of
excellent　news　from　Marshal　Simon；　I　came〃

〃News　from　our　father！〃　cried　Rose；　drawing　nearer　to　Rodin。

〃Oh；　speak；　speak；　sir！〃　added　Blanche。

〃You　have　news　of　the　marshal！〃　said　Dagobert；　glancing　suspiciously　at
Rodin。　　〃Pray；　what　is　this　news？〃

But　Rodin；　without　immediately　answering　the　question；　returned　from　the
threshold　into　the　room；　and；　contemplating　Rose　and　Blanche　by　turns
with　admiration；　he　resumed：　〃What　happiness　for　me；　to　be　able　to　bring
some　pleasure　to　these　dear　young　ladies。　　They　are　even　as　I　left　them
graceful；　and　fair；　and　charmingonly　less　sad　than　on　the　day　when　I
fetched　them　from　the　gloomy　convent　in　which　they　were　kept　prisoners；
to　restore　them　to　the　arms　of　their　glorious　father！〃

〃That　was　their　place；　and　this　is　not　yours；〃　said　Dagobert；　harshly；
still　holding　the　door　open　behind　Rodin。

Confess；　at　least　that　I　was　not　so　much　out　of　place　at　Dr。
Baleinier's；〃　said　the　Jesuit；　with　a　cunning　air。　　〃You　know；　for　it　was
there　that　I　restored　to　you　the　noble　imperial　cross　you　so　much
regrettedthe　day　when　that　good　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville　only　prevented　you
from　strangling　me　by　telling　you　that　I　was　her　liberator。　　Aye！　it　was
just　as　I　have　the　honor　of　stating；　young　ladies；〃　added　Rodin；　with　a
smile；　〃this　brave　soldier　was　very　near　strangling　me；　for；　be　it　said
without　offense；　he　has；　in　spite　of　his　age；　a　grasp　of　iron。　　Ha；　ha！
the　Prussians　and　Cossacks　must　know　that　better　than　I！〃

These　few　words　reminded　Dagobert　and　the　twins　of　the　services　which
Rodin　had　really　rendered　them；　and　though　the　marshal　had　heard　Mdlle。
de　Cardoville　speak　of　Rodin　as　of　a　very　dangerous　man；　he　had
forgotten；　in　the　midst　of　so　many　anxieties；　to　communicate　this
circumstance　to　Dagobert。　　But　this　latter；　warned　by　experience；　felt；
in　spite　of　favorable　appearances；　a　secret　aversion　for　the　Jesuit；　so
he　replied　abruptly：　〃The　strength　of　my　grasp　has　nothing　to　do　with　the
matter。〃

〃If　I　allude　to　that　little　innocent　playfulness　on　your　part；　my　dear
sir；〃　said　Rodin；　in　his　softest　tone；　approaching　the　two　sisters　with　a
wriggle　which　was　peculiar　to　him；　〃if　I　allude　to　it；　you　see；　it　was
suggested　by　the　involuntary　recollection　of　the　little　services　I　was
happy　enough　to　render　you。〃　Dagobert　looked　fixedly　at　Rodin；　who
instantly　veiled　his　glance　beneath　his　flabby　eyelids。

〃First　of　all；〃　said　the　soldier；　after　a　moment's　silence；　〃a　true　man
never　speaks　of　the　services　he　has　rendered；　and　you　come　back　three
times　to　the　subject。〃

〃But　Dagobert；〃　whispered　Rose；　〃if　he　brings　news　of　our　father？〃

The　soldier　made　a　sign；　as　if　to　beg　the　girl　to　let　him　speak；　and
resumed；　looking　full　at　Rodin：　〃You　are　cunning；　but　I'm　no　raw
recruit。〃

〃I　cunning？〃　said　Rodin；　with　a　sanctified　air。

〃Yes；　very。　　You　think　to　puzzle　me　with　your　fine　phrases；　but　I'm　not
to　be　caught　in　that　way。　　Just　listen　to　me。　　Some　of　your　band　of
black…gowns　stole　my　cross；　you　returned　it　to　me。　　Some　of　the　same　band
carried　off　these　children；　you　brought　them　back。　　It　is　also　true　that
you　denounced　the　renegade　D'Aigrigny。　　But　all　this　only　proves　two
things：　first；　that　you　were　vile　enough　to　be　the　accomplice　of　these
scoundrels；　and　secondly；　that；　having　been　their　accomplice；　you　were
base　enough　to　betray　them。　　Now；　those　two　facts　are　equally　bad；　and　I
suspect　you　most　furiously。　　So　march　off　at　once；　your　presence　is　not
good　for　these　children。〃

〃But；　my　dear　sir〃

〃I　will　have　no　buts；〃　answered　Dagobert；　in　an　angry　voice。　　〃When　a　man
of　your　look　does　good；　it　is　only　to　hide　some　evil；　and　one　must　be　on
guard。〃

〃I　understand　your　suspicions；〃　said　Rodin　coolly；　hiding　his　growing
disappointment；　for　he　had　hoped　it　would　have　been　easy　to　coax　the
soldier；　but；　if　you　reflect；　what　interest　have　I　in　deceiving　you？　　And
in　what　should　the　deception　consist？〃

〃You　have　some　interest　or　other　in　persisting　to　remain　here；　when　I
tell　you　to　go　away。〃

〃I　have　already　had　the　honor　of　informing　you　of　the　object　of　my　visit；
my　dear　sir。〃

〃To　bring　news　of　Marshal　Simon？〃

〃That　is　exactly　the　case。　　I　am　happy　enough　to　have　news　of　the
marshal。　　Yes；　my　dear　young　ladies；〃　added　Rodin；　as　he　again　approached
the　two　sisters；　to　recover；　as　it　were；　the　ground　he　had　lost；　〃I　have
news　of　your　glorious　father！〃

〃Then　come　to　my　room　directly；　and　you　can　tell　it　to　me；〃　replied
Dagobert。

〃What！　you　would　be　cruel　enough　to　deprive　these　dear　ladies　of　the
pleasure〃

〃By　heaven；　sir！〃　cried　Dagobert；　in　a　voice　of　thunder；　〃you　will　make
me　forget　myself。　　I　should　be　sorry　to　fling　a　man　of　your　age　down　the
stairs。　　Will　you　be　gone？〃

〃Well；　well；〃　said　Rodin　mildly；　〃do　not　be　angry　with　a　poor　old　man。　　I
am　really　not　worth　the　trouble。　　I　will　go　with　you　to　your　room；　and
tell　you　what　I　have　to　communicate。　　You　will　repent　not　having　let　me
speak　before　these　dear　young　ladies；　but　that　will　be　your　punishment；
naughty　man！〃

So　saying；　Rodin　again　bowed　very　low；　and；　concealing　his　rage　and
vexation；　left　the　room　before　Dagobert；　who　made　a　sign　to　the　two
sisters；　and　then　followed；　closing　the　door　after　him。

〃What　news　of　our　father；　Dagobert？〃　said　Rose　anxiously；　when　the
soldier　returned；　after　a　quarter　of　an　hours　absence。

〃Well；　that　old　conjurer　knows　that　the　marshal　set　out　in　good　spirits；
and　he　seems　acquainted　with　M。　Robert。　　How　could　he　be　informed　of　all
this？　　I　cannot　tell；〃　added　the　soldier；　with　a　thoughtful　air；　〃but　it
is　only　another　reason　to　be　on　one's　guard　against　him。〃

〃But　what　news　of　our　father？〃　asked　Rose。

〃One　of　that　old　rascal's　friends　（I　think　him　a　rascal　still）　knows　your
father；　he　tells　me；　and　met　him　five…and…twenty　leagues　from　here。
Knowing　that　this　man　was　coming　to　Paris；　the　marshal　charged　him　to　let
you　know　that　he　was　in　perfect　health；　and　hoped　soon　to　see　you　again。〃

〃Oh；　what　happiness！〃　cried　Rose。

〃You　see；　you　were　wrong　to　suspect　the　poor　old　man；　Dagobert；〃　added
Blanche。　　〃You　treated　him　so　harshly！〃

〃Possibly　so；　but　I　am　not　sorry　for　it。〃

〃And　why？〃

〃I　have　my　reasons；　and　one　of　the　best　is　that；　when　I　saw　him　came　in；
and　go　sidling　and　creeping　round　about　us；　I　felt　chilled　to　the　marrow
of　my　bones；　without　knowing　why。　　Had　I　seen　a　serpent　crawling　towards
you；　I　should　not　have　been　more　frightened。　　I　knew；　of　course；　that　he
could　not　hurt　you　in　my　presence；　but　I　tell　you；　my　children；　in　spite
of　the　services　he　has　no　doubt　rendered　us；　it　was　all　I　could　do　to
refrain　from　throwing　him　out　of　the　window。　　Now；　this　manner　of　proving
my　gratitude　is　not　natural；　and　one　must　be　on　one's　guard　against
people　who　inspire　us　with　such　ideas。〃

〃Good　Dagobert；　it　is　your　affection　for　us　that　makes　you　so
suspicious；〃　said　Rose；　in　a　coaxing　tone；　〃it　proves　how　much　you　love
us。〃




CHAPTER　LV。

THE　IMPROVISED　HOS