the wandering jew, volume 11-第8部分

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Martha；　where　Rose　and　Blanche　had　entered　a　few　minutes　before。　　Hoping
to　get　out　by　this　way；　Morok　drew　the　door　violently　towards　him；　and
succeeded　in　half　opening　it；　notwithstanding　the　resistance　he
experienced　from　the　inside。　　For　an　instant　the　affrighted　crowd　saw　the
stiffened　arms　Of　Sister　Martha　and　the　orphans；　clinging　to　the　door；
and　holding　it　back　with　all　their　might。




CHAPTER　LVI。

HYDROPHOBIA。

When　the　sick　people；　assembled　in　the　courtyard；　saw　the　desperate
efforts　of　Morok　to　force　the　door　of　the　room　which　contained　Sister
Martha　and　the　orphans；　their　fright　redoubled。　　〃It　is　all　over；　Sister
Martha！〃　cried　they。

〃The　door　will　give　way。〃

〃And　the　closet　has　no　other　entrance。〃

〃There　are　two　young　girls　in　mourning　with　her。〃

〃Come！　we　must　not　leave　these　poor　women　to　encounter　the　madman。
Follow　me；　friends！〃　cried　generously　one　of　the　spectators；　who　was
still　blessed　with　health；　and　he　rushed　towards　the　steps　to　return　to
the　ante…chamber。

〃It's　too　late！　it's　only　exposing　yourself　in　vain；〃　cried　many　persons；
holding　him　back　by　force。

At　this　moment；　voices　were　heard；　exclaiming：　〃Here　is　the　Abbe
Gabriel。〃

〃He　is　coming　downstairs。　　He　has　heard　the　noise。〃

〃He　is　asking　what　is　the　matter。〃

〃What　will　he　do？〃

Gabriel；　occupied　with　a　dying　person　in　a　neighboring　room；　had；　indeed；
just　learned　that　Morok；　having　broken　his　bonds；　had　succeeded　in
escaping　from　the　chamber　in　which　he　had　been　temporarily　confined。
Foreseeing　the　terrible　dangers　which　might　result　from　the　escape　of　the
lion…tamer；　the　missionary　consulted　only　his　courage；　and　hastened　down；
in　the　hope　of　preventing　greater　misfortunes。　　In　obedience　to　his
orders；　an　attendant　followed　him；　bearing　a　brazier　full　of　hot　cinders；
on　which　lay　several　irons；　at　a　white　heat；　used　by　the　doctors　for
cauterizing；　in　desperate　cases　of　cholera。

The　angelic　countenance　of　Gabriel　was　very　pale；　but　calm　intrepidity
shone　upon　his　noble　brow。　　Hastily　crossing　the　passage；　and　making　his
way　through　the　crowd；　he　went　straight　to　the　ante…chamber　door。　　As　he
approached　it；　one　of　the　sick　people　said　to　him；　in　a　lamentable　voice；
〃Ah；　sir！　it　is　all　over。　　Those　who　can　see　through　the　window　say　that
Sister　Martha　is　lost。〃

Gabriel　made　no　answer；　but　grasped　the　key　of　the　door。　　Before　entering
the　room；　however；　he　turned　to　the　attendant；　and　said　to　him　in　a　firm
voice：　〃Are　the　irons　of　a　white　heat？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Then　wait　here；　and　be　ready。　　As　for　you；　my　friends；〃　he　added；
turning　to　some　of　the　sick；　who　shuddered　with　terror；　〃as　soon　as　I
enter　shut　the　door　after　me。　　I　will　answer　for　the　rest。　　And　you；
friend；　only　bring　your　irons　when　I　call。〃

And　the　young　missionary　turned　the　key　in　the　lock。　　At　this　juncture；　a
cry　of　alarm；　pity；　and　admiration　rose　from　every　lip；　and　the
spectators　drew　back　from　the　door；　with　an　involuntary　feeling　of　fear。
Raising　his　eyes　to　heaven；　as　if　to　invoke　its　assistance　at　this
terrible　moment；　Gabriel　pushed　open　the　door；　and　immediately　closed　it
behind　him。　　He　was　alone　with　Morok。

The　lion…tamer；　by　a　last　furious　effort；　had　almost　succeeded　in　opening
the　door；　to　which　Sister　Martha　and　the　orphans　were　clinging；　in　a　fit
of　terror；　uttering　piercing　cries。　　At　the　sound　of　Gabriel's　footsteps；
Morok　turned　round　suddenly。　　Then；　instead　of　continuing　his　attack　on
the　closet；　he　sprang；　with　a　roar　and　a　bound；　upon　the　new…comer。

During　this　time；　Sister　Martha　and　the　orphans；　not　knowing　the　cause　of
the　sudden　retreat　of　their　assailant；　took　advantage　of　the　opportunity
to　close　and　bolt　the　door；　and　thus　placed　themselves　in　security　from　a
new　attack。　　Morok；　with　haggard　eye；　and　teeth　convulsively　clinched；
had　rushed　upon　Gabriel；　his　hands　extended　to　seize　him　by　the　throat。
The　missionary　stood　the　shock　valiantly。　　Guessing；　at　a　glance；　the
intention　of　his　adversary；　he　seized　him　by　the　wrists　as　he　advanced；
and；　holding　him　back；　bent　him　down　violently　with　a　vigorous　hand。　　For
a　second；　Morok　and　Gabriel　remained　mute；　breathless；　motionless；　gazing
on　each　other；　then　the　missionary　strove　to　conquer　the　efforts　of　the
madman；　who；　with　violent　jerks；　attempted　to　throw　himself　upon　him；　and
to　seize　and　tear　him　with　his　teeth。

Suddenly　the　lion…tamer's　strength　seemed　to　fail；　his　knees　quivered；
his　livid　head　sank　upon　his　shoulder；　his　eyes　closed。　　The　missionary；
supposing　that　a　momentary　weakness　had　succeeded　to　the　fit　of　rage；　and
that　the　wretch　was　about　to　fall；　relaxed　his　hold　in　order　to　lend　him
assistance。　　But　no　sooner　did　he　feel　himself　at　liberty；　thanks　to　his
crafty　device；　than　Morok　flung　himself　furiously　upon　Gabriel。
Surprised　by　this　sudden　attack；　the　latter　stumbled；　and　at　once　felt
himself　clasped　into　the　iron　arms　of　the　madman。　　Yet；　with　redoubled
strength　and　energy；　struggling　breast　to　breast；　foot　to　foot；　the
missionary　in　his　turn　succeeded　in　tripping　up　his　adversary；　and；
throwing　him　with　a　vigorous　effort；　again　seized　his　hands；　and　now　held
him　down　beneath　his　knee。　　Having　thus　completely　mastered　him；　Gabriel
turned　his　head　to　call　for　assistance；　when　Morok；　by　a　desperate
strain；　succeeded　in　raising　himself　a　little；　and　seized　with　his　teeth
the　left　arm　of　the　missionary。　　At　this　sharp；　deep；　horrible　bite；
which　penetrated　to　the　very　bone；　Gabriel　could　not　restrain　a　scream　of
anguish　and　horror。　　He　strove　in　vain　to　disengage　himself；　for　his　arm
was　held　fast；　as　in　a　vice；　between　the　firm…set　jaws　of　Morok。

This　frightful　scene　had　lasted　less　time　than　it　has　taken　in　the
description；　when　suddenly　the　door　leading　to　the　passage　was　violently
opened；　and　several　courageous　men；　who　had　learned　from　the　patients　to
what　danger　the　young　priest　was　exposed；　came　rushing　to　his　assistance；
in　spite　of　his　recommendation　not　to　enter　till　he　should　call。　　The
attendant　was　amongst　the　number；　with　the　brazier　and　the　hot　irons。
Gabriel；　as　soon　as　he　perceived　him；　said　to　him　in　an　agitated　voice：
〃Quick；　friend！　your　iron。　　Thank　God　I　had　thought　of　that。〃

One　of　the　men　who　had　entered　the　room　was　luckily　provided　with　a
blanket；　and　the　moment　the　missionary　succeeded　in　wresting　his　arm　from
the　clinched　teeth　of　Morok；　whom　he　still　held　down　with　his　knee；　this
blanket　was　thrown　over　the　madman's　head；　so　that　he　could　now　be　held
and　bound　without　danger；　notwithstanding　his　desperate　resistance。　　Then
Gabriel　rose；　tore　open　the　sleeve　of　his　cassock；　and　laying　bare　his
left　arm；　on　which　a　deep　bite　was　visible；　bleeding；　of　a　bluish　color；
he　beckoned　the　attendant　to　draw　near；　seized　one　of　the　hot　irons；　and；
with　a　firm　and　sure　hand；　twice　applied　the　burning　metal　to　the　wound；
with　a　calm　heroism　which　struck　all　the　spectators；　with　admiration。
But　soon　so　many　various　emotions；　intrepidly　sustained；　were　followed　by
a　natural　reaction。　　Large　drops　of　sweat　stood　upon　Gabriel's　brow；　his
long　light　hair　clung　to　his　temples；　he　grew　deadly　pale；　reeled；　lost
his　senses；　and　was　carried　into　the　next　room　to　receive　immediate
attention。

An　accidental　circumstance；　likely　enough　to　occur；　had　converted　one　of
the　Princess　de　Saint…Dizier's　falsehoods　into　a　truth。　　To　induce　the
orphans　to　go　to　the　hospital；　she　had　told　them　Gabriel　was　there；　which
at　the　time　she　was　far　from　believing。　　On　the　contrary；　she　would　have
wished　to　prevent　a　meeting；　which；　from　the　attachment　of　the　missionary
to　the　girls；　might　interfere　with　her　projects。　　A　little　while　after
the　terrible　scene　we　have　just　related；　Rose　and　Blanche；　accompanied　by
Sister　Martha；　entered　a　vast　room；　of　a　strange　and　fatal　aspect；
containing　a　number　of　women　who　had　suddenly　been　seized　with　cholera。

These　immense　apartments；　generously　supplied　for　the　purpose　of　a
temporary　hospital；　had　been　furnished　with　excessive　luxury。　　The　room
now　occupied　by　the　sick　women；　of　whom　we　speak；　had　been　used　for　a
ball…room。　　The　white　panels　glittered　with　sumptuous　gilding；　and
magnificent　pier…glasses　occupied　the　spaces　between　the　windows；　through
which　could　be　seen　the　fresh　verdure　of　a　pleasant　garden；　smiling
beneath　the　influence　of　budding　May。　　In　the　midst　of　all　this　gilded
luxury；　on　a　rich；　inlaid　floor　of　costly　woods；　were　seen　arranged　in
regular　order　four　rows　of　beds；　of　every　shape　and　kind；　from　the　humble
truckle…bed　to　the　handsome　couch　in　carved　mahogany。

This　long　room　was　divided　into　two　compartments　by　a　temporary
partition；　four　or　five　feet　in　height。　　They　had　thus　been　able　to
manage　the　four　rows　of　beds。　　This　partition　finished　at　some　little
distance　from　either　end　of　the　room；　so　as　to　leave　an　open　space
without　beds；　for　the　volunteer　attendants；　when　the　sick　did　not　require
their　aid。　　At　one　of　these　extremities　of　the　room　was　a　lofty　and
magnificent　marble　chimney　piece；　ornamented　with　gilt　bronze。　　On　the
fire　beneath；　various　drinks　were　brewing　for　the　patients。　　To　complete
the　singular　picture；　women　of　every　class　took　their　turns　in　attending
upon　the　sick；　to　whose　sighs　and　groans　they　always　responded　with
consoling　words　of　hope　and　pity。　　Such　was　the　place；　strange　and
mournful；　that　Rose　and　Blanche　entered　together；　hand　in　hand；　a　short
time　after　Gabriel　had　displayed　such　heroic　courage　in　the　struggle
against　Morok。　　Sister　Martha　accompanied　Marshal　Simon's　daughters。
After　speaking　a　few　words　to　them　in　a　whisper；　she　pointed　out　to　them
the　two　divisions　in　which　the　beds　were　arranged；　and　herself　went　to
the　other　end　of　the　room　to　give　some　orders。

The　orphans；　still　under　the　impression　of　the　terrible　danger　from　which
Gabriel　had　rescued　them　without　their　knowing　it；　were　both　excessively
pale；　yet　their　eyes　were　expressive　of　firm　resolution。　　They　had
determined　not　only　to　perform　what　they　considered　an　imperative　duty；
but　to　prove　themselves　worthy　of　their　valiant　father；　they　were　acting
too　for　their　mother's　sake；　since　they　had　been　told　that；　dying　in
Siberia　without　receiving