the wandering jew, volume 9-第14章

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war！〃　Such　was　the　thought　of　Father　d'Aigrigny；　as　the　quarryman　rushed
upon　him。

Suddenly；　at　the　very　moment　when　the　abbe；　yielding　to　the　instinct　of
self…preservation；　uttered　one　last　call　for　help；　in　a　heart…piercing
voice；　the　door　against　which　he　leaned　opened　behind　him；　and　a　firm
hand　caught　hold　of　him；　and　pulled　him　into　the　church。　　Thanks　to　this
movement；　performed　with　the　rapidity　of　lightning；　the　quarryman；　thrown
forward　in　his　attempt　to　seize　Father　d'Aigrigny；　could　not　check　his
progress；　and　found　himself　just　opposite　to　the　person　who　had　come；　as
it　were；　to　take　the　place　of　the　victim。

The　quarryman　stopped　short；　and　then　fell　back　a　couple　of　paces；　so
much　was　he　amazed　at　this　sudden　apparition；　and　impressed；　like　the
rest　of　the　crowd；　with　a　vague　feeling　of　admiration　and　respect　at
sight　of　him　who　had　come　so　miraculously　to　the　aid　of　Father
d'Aigrigny。　　It　was　Gabriel。　　The　young　missionary　remained　standing　on
the　threshold　of　the　door。　　His　long　black　cassock　was　half　lost　in　the
shadows　of　the　cathedral；　whilst　his　angelic　countenance；　with　its　border
of　long　light　hair；　now　pale　and　agitated　by　pity　and　grief；　was
illumined　by　the　last　faint　rays　of　twilight。　　This　countenance　shone
with　so　divine　a　beauty；　and　expressed　such　touching　and　tender
compassion；　that　the　crowd　felt　awed　as；　with　his　large　blue　eyes　full　of
tears；　and　his　hands　clasped　together；　he　exclaimed；　in　a　sonorous　voice：
〃Have　mercy；　my　brethren！　Be　humanebe　just！〃

Recovering　from　his　first　feeling　of　surprise　and　involuntary　emotion；
the　quarryman　advanced　a　step　towards　Gabriel；　and　said　to　him：　〃No　mercy
for　the　poisoner！　we　must　have　him！　Give　him　up　to　us；　or　we　go　and　take
him！〃

〃You　cannot　think　of　it；　my　brethren；〃　answered　Gabriel；　〃the　church　is　a
sacred　placea　place　of　refuge　for　the　persecuted。〃

〃We　would　drag　our　prisoner　from　the　altar！〃　answered　the　quarryman；
roughly；　〃so　give　him　up　to　us。〃

〃Listen　to　me；　my　brethren；〃　said　Gabriel；　extending　his　arms　towards
them。

〃Down　with　the　shaveling！〃　cried　the　quarryman；　〃let　us　go　in　and　hunt
him　up　in　the　church！〃

〃Yes；　yes！〃　cried　the　mob；　again　led　away　by　the　violence　of　this　wretch；
〃down　with　the　black　gown！〃

〃They　are　all　of　a　piece！〃

〃Down　with　them！〃

〃Let　us　do　as　we　did　at　the　archbishop's！〃

〃Or　at　Saint…Germain…l'Auxerrois！〃

〃What　do　our　likes　care　for　a　church？〃

〃If　the　priests　defend　the　poisoners；　we'll　pitch　them　into　the　water
too！〃

〃Yes；　yes！〃

〃I'll　show　you　the　lead！〃　cried　the　quarryman；　and　followed　by　Ciboule；
and　a　good　number　of　determined　men；　he　rushed　towards　Gabriel。

The　missionary；　who　for　some　moments　had　watched　the　increasing　fury　of
the　crowd；　had　foreseen　this　movement；　hastily　retreating　into　the
church；　he　succeeded；　in　spite　of　the　efforts　of　the　assailants；　in
nearly　closing　the　door；　and　in　barricading　it　by　the　help　of　a　wooden
bar；　which　he　held　in　such　a　manner　as　would　enable　the　door　to　resist
for　a　few　minutes。

Whilst　he　thus　defended　the　entrance；　Gabriel　shouted　to　Father
d'Aigrigny：　〃Fly；　father！　fly　through　the　vestry！　the　other　doors　are
fastened。〃

The　Jesuit；　overpowered　by　fatigue；　covered　with　contusions；　bathed　in
cold　sweat；　feeling　his　strength　altogether　fail；　and　too　soon　fancying
himself　in　safety；　had　sunk；　half　fainting；　into　a　chair。　　At　the　voice
of　Gabriel；　he　rose　with　difficulty；　and；　with　a　trembling　step；
endeavored　to　reach　the　choir；　separated　from　the　rest　of　the　church　by
an　iron　railing。

〃Quick；　father！〃　added　Gabriel；　in　alarm；　using　every　effort　to　maintain
the　door；　which　was　now　vigorously　assailed。　　〃Make　haste！　In　a　few
minutes　it　will　be　too　late。　　All　alone！〃　continued　the　missionary；　in
despair；　〃alone；　to　arrest　the　progress　of　these　madmen！〃

He　was　indeed　alone。　　At　the　first　outbreak　of　the　attack；　three　or　four
sacristans　and　other　members　of　the　establishment　were　in　the　church；
but；　struck　with　terror；　and　remembering　the　sack　of　the　archbishop's
palace；　and　of　Saint…Germain…l'Auxerrois；　they　had　immediately　taken
flight。　　Some　of　them　had　concealed　themselves　in　the　organ…loft　and
others　fled　into　the　vestry；　the　doors　of　which　they　locked　after　them；
thus　cutting　off　the　retreat　of　Gabriel　and　Father　d'Aigrigny。　　The
latter；　bent　double　by　pain；　yet　roused　by　the　missionary's　portentive
warning；　helping　himself　on　by　means　of　the　chairs　he　met　with　on　his
passage；　made　vain　efforts　to　reach　the　choir　railing。　　After　advancing　a
few　steps；　vanquished　by　his　suffering；　he　staggered　and　fell　upon　the
pavement；　deprived　of　sense　and　motion。　　At　the　same　moment；　Gabriel；　in
spite　of　the　incredible　energy　with　which　the　desire　to　save　Father
d'Aigrigny　had　inspired　him；　felt　the　door　giving　way　beneath　the
formidable　pressure　from　without。

Turning　his　head；　to　see　if　the　Jesuit　had　at　least　quitted　the　church；
Gabriel；　to　his　great　alarm；　perceived　that　he　was　lying　motionless　at　a
few　steps　from　the　choir。　　To　abandon　the　half…broken　door；　to　run　to
Father　d'Aigrigny；　to　lift　him　in　his　arms；　and　drag　him　within　the
railing　of　the　choir；　was　for　the　young　priest　an　action　rapid　as
thought；　for　he　closed　the　gate　of　the　choir　just　at　the　instant　that　the
quarryman　and　his　band；　having　finished　breaking　down　the　door；　rushed　in
a　body　into　the　church。

Standing　in　front　of　the　choir；　with　his　arms　crossed　upon　his　breast；
Gabriel　waited　calmly　and　intrepidly　for　this　mob；　still　more　exasperated
by　such　unexpected　resistance。

The　door　once　forced；　the　assailants　rushed　in　with　great　violence。　　But
hardly　had　they　entered　the　church；　than　a　strange　scene　took　place。　　It
was　nearly　dark；　only　a　few　silver　lamps　shed　their　pale　light　round　the
sanctuary；　whose　far　outlines　disappeared　in　the　shadow。　　On　suddenly
entering　the　immense　cathedral；　dark；　silent；　and　deserted；　the　most
audacious　were　struck　with　awe；　almost　with　fear　in　presence　of　the
imposing　grandeur　of　that　stony　solitude。　　Outcries　and　threats　died　away
on　the　lips　of　the　most　furious。　　They　seemed　to　dread　awaking　the　echoes
of　those　enormous　arches；　those　black　vaults；　from　which　oozed　a
sepulchral　dampness；　which　chilled　their　brows；　inflamed　with　anger；　and
fell　upon　their　shoulders　like　a　mantle　of　ice。

Religious　tradition；　routine；　habit；　the　memories　of　childhood；　have　so
much　influence　upon　men；　that　hardly　had　they　entered　the　church；　than
several　of　the　quarryman's　followers　respectfully　took　off　their　hats；
bowed　their　bare　heads；　and　walked　along　cautiously；　as　if　to　check　the
noise　of　their　footsteps　on　the　sounding　stones。　　Then　they　exchanged　a
few　words　in　a　low　and　fearful　whisper。　　Others　timidly　raised　their　eyes
to　the　far　heights　of　the　topmost　arches　of　that　gigantic　building；　now
lost　in　obscurity；　and　felt　almost　frightened　to　see　themselves　so　little
in　the　midst　of　that　immensity　of　darkness。　　But　at　the　first　joke　of　the
quarryman；　who　broke　this　respectful　silence；　the　emotion　soon　passed
away。

〃Blood　and　thunder！〃　cried　he；　〃are　you　fetching　breath　to　sing　vespers？
If　they　had　wine　in　the　font；　well　and　good！〃

These　words　were　received　with　a　burst　of　savage　laughter。　　〃All　this
time　the　villain　will　escape！〃　said　one。

〃And　we　shall　be　done；〃　added　Ciboule。

〃One　would　think　we　had　cowards　here；　who　are　afraid　of　the　sacristans！〃
cried　the　quarryman。

〃Never！〃　replied　the　others　in　chorus；　〃we　fear　nobody。〃

〃Forward！〃

〃Yes；　yesforward！〃　was　repeated　on　all　sides。　　And　the　animation；　which
had　been　calmed　down　for　a　moment；　was　redoubled　in　the　midst　of　renewed
tumult。　　Some　moments　after；　the　eyes　of　the　assailants；　becoming
accustomed　to　the　twilight；　were　able　to　distinguish　in　the　midst　of　the
faint　halo　shed　around　by　a　silver　lamp；　the　imposing　countenance　of
Gabriel；　as　he　stood　before　the　iron　railing　of　the　choir。

〃The　poisoner　is　here；　hid　in　some　corner；〃　cried　the　quarryman。　　〃We
must　force　this　parson　to　give　us　back　the　villain。〃

〃He　shall　answer　for　him！〃

〃He　took　him　into　the　church。〃

〃He　shall　pay　for　both；　if　we　do　not　find　the　other！〃

As　the　first　impression　of　involuntary　respect　was　effaced　from　the　minds
of　the　crowd；　their　voices　rose　the　louder；　and　their　faces　became　the
more　savage　and　threatening；　because　they　all　felt　ashamed　of　their
momentary　hesitation　and　weakness。

〃Yes；　yes！〃　cried　many　voices；　trembling　with　rage；　〃we　must　have　the
life　of　one　or　the　other！〃

〃Or　of　both！〃

〃So　much　the　worse　for　this　priest；　if　he　wants　to　prevent　us　from
serving　out　our　poisoner！〃

〃Death　to　him！　death　to　him！〃

With　this　burst　of　ferocious　yells；　which　were　fearfully　re…echoed　from
the　groined　arches　of　the　cathedral；　the　mob；　maddened　by　rage；　rushed
towards　the　choir；　at　the　door　of　which　Gabriel　was　standing。　　The　young
missionary；　who；　when　placed　on　the　cross　by　the　savages　of　the　Rocky
Mountains；　yet　entreated　heaven　to　spare　his　executioners；　had　too　much
courage　in　his　heart；　too　much　charity　in　his　soul；　not　to　risk　his　life
a　thousand　times　over　to　save　Father　d'Aigrigny'sthe　very　man　who　had
betrayed　hire　by　such　cowardly　and　cruel　hypocrisy。





CHAPTER　XXV。

THE　MURDERERS。

The　quarryman；　followed　by　his　gang；　ran　towards　Gabriel；　who　had
advanced　a　few　paces　from　the　choir…railing；　and　exclaimed；　his　eyes
sparkling　with　rage：　〃Where　is　the　poisoner？　　We　will　have　him！〃

〃Who　has　told　you；　my　brethren；　that　he　is　a　poisoner？〃　replied　Gabriel；
with　his　deep；　sonorous　voice。　　〃A　poisoner！　Where　are　the　proofs
witnesses　or　victims？〃

〃Enough　of　that　stuff！　we　are　not　here　for　confession；〃　brutally　answered
the　quarryman；　advancing　towards　him　in　a　threatening　manner。　　〃Give　up
the　man　to　us；　he　shall　be　forthcoming；　unless　you　choose　to　stand　in　his
shoes？〃

〃Yes；　yes！〃　exclaimed　several　voices；　〃they　are　‘in'　with　one　another！
One　or　the　other　we　will　have！〃

〃Very　well；　then；　since　it　is　so；〃　said　Gabriel；　raising　his　head；　and
advancing　with　calmness；　resignation；　and　fearlessness；　〃he　or　me；〃　added
he；〃it　seems　to　make　no　difference　to　youyou　are　determined　to　have
bloodtake　mine；　and　I　will　pardon　you；　my　friends；　for　a　fatal　delusion
has　unsettled　your　reason。〃

These　words　of　Gabriel；　his　courage；　the　nobleness　of　his　attitude；　the
beauty　of　his　countenance；　had　made　an　impression　on　some　of　the
assailants；　when　suddenly　a　voice　exclaimed：　〃Look！　there　is　the
poisoner；　behind　the　railing！〃

〃Wherewhere？〃　cried　they。

〃Theredon't　you　see？stretched　on　the　floor。〃

On　hearing　this；　the　mob；　which　had　hitherto　formed　a　compact　mass；　in
the　sort　of　passage　separating　the　two　sides　of　the　nave；　between　the
rows　of　chairs；　dispersed　in　every　direction；　to　reach　the　railing　of　the
choir；　the　last　and　only　barrier　that　now　sheltered　Father　d'Aigrigny。
During　this　manoeuvre　the　quarryman；　Ciboule；　and　others；　advanced
towards　Gabriel；　exclaiming；　with　ferocious　joy：　〃This　time　we　have　him。
Death　to　the　poisoner！〃

To　save　Father　d'Aigrigny；　Gabriel　would　have　allowed　himself　to　be
massacred　at　the　entrance　of　the　choir；　but；　a　little　further　on；　the
railing；　not　above　four　feet　in　height；　would　i