the wandering jew, volume 9-第12章

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〃Gentlemen！　oh；　gentlemen！〃　cried　the　unfortunate　creature；　bursting　into
tears；　and　raising　her　hands　in　supplication；　〃listen　to　meI　will　do
all　that　you　wish　meI　will　gobut；　in　heaven's　name；　send　for　help；
and　do　not　let　him　die　thus。　　Look；　what　pain　he　suffers！　what　horrible
convulsions！〃

〃She　is　right；〃　said　one　of　the　guests；　hastening　towards　the　door；　〃we
must　send　for　a　doctor。〃

〃There　is　no　doctor　to　be　found；〃　said　another；　〃they　are　all　too　busy。〃

〃We　will　do　better　than　that；〃　cried　a　third；　〃the　Hospital　is　just
opposite；　and　we　can　carry　the　poor　fellow　thither。　　They　will　give　him
instant　help。　　A　leaf　of　the　table　will　make　a　litter；　and　the　table…
cloth　a　covering。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　that　is　it；〃　said　several　voices；　〃let　us　carry　him　over　at
once。〃

Jacques；　burnt　up　with　brandy；　and　overcome　by　his　interview　with
Cephyse；　had　again　fallen　into　violent　convulsions。　　It　was　the　dying
paroxysm　of　the　unfortunate　man。　　They　were　obliged　to　tie　him　with　the
ends　of　the　cloth；　so　as　to　secure　him　to　the　leaf　which　was　to　serve　for
a　litter；　which　two　of　the　guests　hastened　to　carry　away。　　They　yielded
to　the　supplication　of　Cephyse；　who　asked；　as　a　last　favor；　to　accompany
Jacques　to　the　Hospital。　　When　the　mournful　procession　quitted　the　great
room　of　the　eating…house；　there　was　a　general　flight　among　the　guests。
Men　and　women　made　haste　to　wrap　themselves　in　their　cloaks；　in　order　to
conceal　their　costumes。　　The　coaches；　which　had　been　ordered　in　tolerable
number　for　the　return　of　the　masquerade；　had　luckily　arrived。　　The
defiance　had　been　fully　carried　out；　the　audacious　bravado　accomplished；
and　they　could　now　retire　with　the　honors　of　war。　　Whilst　a　part　of　the
guests　were　still　in　the　room；　an　uproar；　at　first　distant；　but　which
soon　drew　nearer；　broke　out　with　incredible　fury　in　the　square　of　Notre…
Dame。

Jacques　had　been　carried　to　the　outer　door　of　the　tavern。　　Morok　and
Ninny　Moulin；　striving　to　open　a　passage　through　the　crowd　in　the
direction　of　the　Hospital；　preceded　the　litter。　　A　violent　reflux　of　the
multitude　soon　forced　them　to　stop；　whilst　a　new　storm　of　savage　outcries
burst　from　the　other　extremity　of　the　square；　near　the　angle　of　the
church。

〃What　is　it　then？〃　asked　Ninny　Moulin　of　one　of　those　ignoble　figures
that　was　leaping　up　before　him。　　〃What　are　those　cries？〃

〃They　are　making　mince…meat　of　a　poisoner；　like　him　they　have　thrown　into
the　river；〃　replied　the　man。　　〃If　you　want　to　see　the　fun；　follow　me
close；〃　added　he；　〃and　peg　away　with　your　elbows；　for　fear　you　should　be
too　late。〃

Hardly　had　the　wretch　pronounced　these　words　than　a　dreadful　shriek
sounded　above　the　roar　of　the　crowd；　through　which　the　bearers　of　the
litter；　preceded　by　Morok；　were　with　difficulty　making　their　way。　　It　was
Cephyse　who　uttered　that　cry。　　Jacques　（one　of　the　seven　heirs　of　the
Rennepont　family）　had　just　expired　in　her　arms！　By　a　strange　fatality；　at
the　very　moment　that　the　despairing　exclamation　of　Cephyse　announced　that
death；　another　cry　rose　from　that　part　of　the　square　where　they　were
attacking　the　poisoner。　　That　distant；　supplicating　cry；　tremulous　with
horrible　alarm；　like　the　last　appeal　of　a　man　staggering　beneath　the
blows　of　his　murderers；　chilled　the　soul　of　Morok　in　the　midst　of　his
execrable　triumph。

〃Damnation！〃　cried　the　skillful　assassin；　who　had　selected　drunkenness
and　debauchery　for　his　murderous　but　legal　weapons；　〃it　is　the　voice　of
the　Abbe　d'Aigrigny；　whom　they　have　in　their　clutches！〃




CHAPTER　XXIII。

THE　POISONER。

It　is　necessary　to　go　back　a　little　before　relating　the　adventure　of
Father　d'Aigrigny；　whose　cry　of　distress　made　so　deep　an　impression　upon
Morok　just　at　the　moment　of　Jacques　Rennepont's　death。　　We　have　said　that
the　most　absurd　and　alarming　reports　were　circulating　in　Paris；　not　only
did　people　talk　of　poison　given　to　the　sick　or　thrown　into　the　public
fountains；　but　it　was　also　said　that　wretches　had　been　surprised　in　the
act　of　putting　arsenic　into　the　pots　which　are　usually　kept　all　ready　on
the　counters　of　wine…shops。　　Goliath　was　on　his　way　to　rejoin　Morok；
after　delivering　a　message　to　Father　d'Aigrigny；　who　was　waiting　in　a
house　on　the　Place　de　l'Archeveche。　　He　entered　a　wine…shop　in　the　Rue　de
la　Calandre；　to　get　some　refreshment；　and　having　drunk　two　glasses　of
wine；　he　proceeded　to　pay　for　them。　　Whilst　the　woman　of　the　house　was
looking　for　change；　Goliath；　mechanically　and　very　innocently；　rested　his
hand　on　the　mouth　of　one　of　the　pots　that　happened　to　be　within　his
reach。

The　tall　stature　of　this　man　and　his　repulsive　and　savage　countenance　had
already　alarmed　the　good　woman；　whose　fears　and　prejudices　had　previously
been　roused　by　the　public　rumors　on　the　subject　of　poisoning；　but　when
she　saw　Goliath　place　his　hand　over　the　mouth　of　one　of　her　pots；　she
cried　out　in　dismay：　〃Oh！　my　gracious！　what　are　you　throwing　into　that
pot？〃　At　these　words；　spoken　in　a　loud　voice；　and　with　the　accent　of
terror；　two　or　three　of　the　drinkers　at　one　of　the　tables　rose
precipitately；　and　ran　to　the　counter；　while　one　of　them　rashly
exclaimed：　〃It　is　a　poisoner！〃

Goliath；　not　aware　of　the　reports　circulated　in　the　neighborhood；　did　not
at　first　understand　of　what　he　was　accused。　　The　men　raised　their　voices
as　they　called　on　him　to　answer　the　charge；　but　he；　trusting　to　his
strength；　shrugged　his　shoulders　in　disdain；　and　roughly　demanded　the
change；　which　the　pale　and　frightened　hostess　no　longer　thought　of　giving
him。

〃Rascal！〃　cried　one　of　the　men；　with　so　much　violence　that　several　of　the
passers…by　stopped　to　listen；　〃you　shall　have　your　change　when　you　tell
us　what　you　threw　in　the　pot！〃

〃Ha！　did　he　throw　anything　into　the　wine…pot？〃　said　one　of　the　passers…
by。

〃It　is；　perhaps；　a　poisoner；〃　said　another。

〃He　ought　to　be　taken　up；〃　added　a　third。

〃Yes；　yes；〃　cried　those　in　the　househonest　people　perhaps；　but　under
the　influence　of　the　general　panic；　〃he　must　be　taken　up；　for　he　has　been
throwing　poison　into　the　wine…pots。〃

The　words　〃He　is　a　poisoner〃　soon　spread　through　the　group；　which；　at
first　composed　of　three　or　four　persons；　increased　every　instant　around
the　door　of　the　wine…shop。　　A　dull；　menacing　clamor　began　to　rise　from
the　crowd；　the　first　accuser；　seeing　his　fears　thus　shared　and　almost
justified；　thought　he　was　acting　like　a　good　and　courageous　citizen　in
taking　Goliath　by　the　collar；　and　saying　to　him：　〃Come　and　explain
yourself　at　the　guard…house；　villain！〃

The　giant；　already　provoked　at　insults　of　which　he　did　not　perceive　the
real　meaning；　was　exasperated　at　this　sudden　attack；　yielding　to　his
natural　brutality；　he　knocked　his　adversary　down　upon　the　counter；　and
began　to　hammer　him　with　his　fists。　　During　this　collision；　several
bottles　and　two　or　three　panes　of　glass　were　broken　with　much　noise；
whilst　the　woman　of　the　house；　more　and　more　frightened；　cried　out　with
all　her　might；　〃Help！　a　poisoner！　Help！　murder！〃

At　the　sound　of　the　breaking　windows　and　these　cries　of　distress；　the
passers…by；　of　whom　the　greater　number　believed　in　the　stories　about　the
poisoners；　rushed　into　the　shop　to　aid　in　securing　Goliath。　　But　the
latter；　thanks　to　his　herculean　strength；　after　struggling　for　some
moments　with　seven　or　eight　persons；　knocked　down　two　of　his　most　furious
assailants；　disengaged　himself　from　the　others；　drew　near　the　counter；
and；　taking　a　vigorous　spring；　rushed　head…foremost；　like　a　bull　about　to
butt；　upon　the　crowd　that　blocked　up　the　door；　then；　forcing　a　passage；
by　the　help　of　his　enormous　shoulders　and　athletic　arms；　he　made　his　way
into　the　street；　and　ran　with　all　speed　in　the　direction　of　the　square　of
Notre…Dame；　his　garments　torn；　his　head　bare；　and　his　countenance　pale
and　full　of　rage。　　Immediately；　a　number　of　persons　from　amongst　the
crowd　started　in　pursuit　of　Goliath；　and　a　hundred　voices　exclaimed：
〃Stopstop　the　poisoner！〃

Hearing　these　cries；　and　seeing　a　man　draw　near　with　a　wild　and　troubled
look；　a　butcher；　who　happened　to　be　passing　with　his　large；　empty　tray　on
his　head；　threw　it　against　Goliath's　shins；　and　taken　by　surprise；　he
stumbled　and　fell。　　The　butcher；　thinking　he　had　performed　as　heroic　an
action　as　if　he　had　encountered　a　mad　dog；　flung　himself　on　Goliath；　and
rolled　over　with　him　on　the　pavement；　exclaiming：　〃Help！　it　is　a
poisoner！　Help！　help！〃　　This　scene　took　place　not　far　from　the　Cathedral；
but　at　some　distance　from　the　crowd　which　was　pressing　round　the　hospital
gate；　as　well　as　from　the　eating…house　in　which　the　masquerade　of　the
cholera　then　was。　　The　day　was　now　drawing　to　a　close。　　On　the　piercing
call　of　the　butcher；　several　groups；　at　the　head　of　which　were　Ciboule
and　the　quarryman；　flew　towards　the　scene　of　the　struggle；　while　those
who　had　pursued　the　pretended　poisoner　from　the　Rue　de　la　Calandre；
reached　the　square　on　their　side。

At　sight　of　this　threatening　crowd　advancing　towards　him；　Goliath；　whilst
he　continued　to　defend　himself　against　the　butcher；　who　held　him　with　the
tenacity　of　a　bull…dog；　felt　that　he　was　lost　unless　he　could　rid　himself
of　this　adversary　before　the　arrival　of　the　rest；　with　a　furious　blow　of
the　fist；　therefore；　he　broke　the　jaw　of　the　butcher；　who　just　then　was
above　him；　and　disengaging　himself　from　his　hold；　he　rose；　and　staggered
a　few　steps　forward。　　Suddenly　he　stopped。　　He　saw　that　he　was
surrounded。　　Behind　him　rose　the　walls　of　the　cathedral；　to　the　right　and
left；　and　in　front　of　him；　advanced　a　hostile　multitude。　　The　groans
uttered　by　the　butcher；　who　had　just　been　lifted　from　the　ground　covered
with　blood；　augmented　the　fury　of　the　populace。

This　was　a　terrible　moment　for　Goliath：　still　standing　alone　in　the
centre　of　a　ring　that　grew　smaller　every　second；　he　saw　on　all　sides
angry　enemies　rushing　towards　him；　and　uttering　cries　of　death。　　As　the
wild　boar　turns　round　once　or　twice；　before　resolving　to　stand　at　bay　and
face　the　devouring　pack；　Goliath；　struck　with　terror；　made　one　or　two
abrupt　and　wavering　movements。　　Then；　as　he　abandoned　the　possibility　of
flight；　instinct　told　him　that　he　had　no　mercy　to　expect　from　a　crowd
given　up　to　blind　and　savage　furya　fury　the　more　pitiless　as　it　was
believed　to　be　legitimate。　　Goliath　determined；　therefore；　at　least　to
sell　his　life　dearly；　he　sought　for　a　knife　in　his　pocket；　but；　not
finding　it；　he　threw　out　his　left　leg　in　an　athletic　posture；　and　holding
up　his　muscular　arms；　hard　and　stiff　as　bars　of　iron；　waited　with
intrepidity　for　the　shock。

The　first　who　approached　Goliath　was　Ciboule。　　The　hag；　heated　and　out　of
breath；　instead　of　rushing　upon　him；　paused；　stooped　down；　and　taking　off
one　of　the　large　wooden　shoes　that　she　wore；　hurled　it　at　the　giant's
head　with　so　much　force　and　with　so　true　an　aim　that　it　struck　him　right
in　the　eye；　which　hung　half　out　of　its　socket。　　Goliath　pressed　his　hands
to　his　face；　and　uttered　a　cry　of　excruciating　pain。

〃I've　made　him　squint！〃　said　Ciboule；　with　a　burst　of　laughter。

Goliath；　maddened　by　the　pain；　instead　of　waiting　for　the　attack；　which
the　mob　still　hesitated　to　begin；　so　greatly　were　they　awed　by　his
appearance　of　herculean　st