the wandering jew, volume 9-第18章

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Father　d'Aigrigny　on　this　head；　and　the　ignorance　in　which　they　kept　him；
only　augmented　the　sick　man's　exasperation。　　Such　was　the　moral　and
physical　state　of　Rodin；　when　Cardinal　Malipieri　entered　his　chamber
against　his　will。




CHAPTER　XXVII。

THE　LURE。

To　understand　fully　the　tortures　of　Rodin；　reduced　to　inactivity　by
sickness；　and　to　explain　the　importance　of　Cardinal　Malipieri's　visit；　we
must　remember　the　audacious　views　of　the　ambitious　Jesuit；　who　believed
himself　following　in　the　steps　of　Sixtus　V。；　and　expected　to　become　his
equal。　　By　the　success　of　the　Rennepont　affair；　to　attain　to　the
generalship　of　his　Order；　by　the　corruption　of　the　Sacred　College　to
ascend　the　pontifical　throne；　and　then；　by　means　of　a　change　in　the
statutes　of　the　Company；　to　incorporate　the　Society　of　Jesus　with　the
Holy　See；　instead　of　leaving　it　independent；　to　equal　and　almost　always
rule　the　Papacysuch　were　the　secret　projects　of　Rodin。

Their　possibility　was　sanctioned　by　numerous　precedents；　for　many　mere
monks　and　priests　had　been　suddenly　raised　to　the　pontifical　dignity。
And　as　for　their　morality；　the　accession　of　the　Borgias；　of　Julius　II。；
and　other　dubious　Vicars　of　Christ；　might　excuse　and　authorize　the
pretensions　of　the　Jesuits。

Though　the　object　of　his　secret　intrigues　at　Rome　had　hitherto　been
enveloped　in　the　greatest　mystery；　suspicions　had　been　excited　in　regard
to　his　private　communications　with　many　members　of　the　Sacred　College。　　A
portion　of　that　college；　Cardinal　Malipieri　at　the　head　of　them；　had
become　very　uneasy　on　the　subject；　and；　profiting　by　his　journey　to
France；　the　cardinal　had　resolved　to　penetrate　the　Jesuit's　dark　designs。
If；　in　the　scene　we　have　just　painted；　the　cardinal　showed　himself　so
obstinately　bent　on　having　a　conference　with　Rodin；　in　spite　of　the
refusal　of　the　latter；　it　was　because　the　prelate　hoped；　as　we　shall　soon
see；　to　get　by　cunning　at　the　secret；　which　had　hitherto　been　so　well
concealed。　　It　was；　therefore；　in　the　midst　of　all　these　extraordinary
circumstances；　that　Rodin　saw　himself　the　victim　of　a　malady；　which
paralyzed　his　strength；　at　the　moment　when　he　had　need　of　all　his
activity；　and　of　all　the　resources　of　his　mind。　　After　remaining　for　some
seconds　motionless　near　the　door；　the　cardinal；　still　holding　his　bottle
under　his　nose；　slowly　approached　the　bed　where　Rodin　lay。

The　latter；　enraged　at　this　perseverance；　and　wishing　to　avoid　an
interview　which　for　many　reasons　was　singularly　odious　to　him；　turned　his
face　towards　the　wall；　and　pretended　to　be　asleep。　　Caring　little　for
this　feint；　and　determined　to　profit　by　Rodin's　state　of　weakness；　the
prelate　took　a　chair；　and；　conquering　his　repugnance；　sat　down　close　to
the　Jesuit's　bed。

〃My　reverend　and　very　dear　father；　how　do　you　find　yourself？〃　said　he　to
him；　in　a　honeyed　tone；　which　his　Italian　accent　seemed　to　render　still
more　hypocritical。　　Rodin　pretended　not　to　hear；　breathed　hard；　and　made
no　answer。　　But　the　cardinal；　not　without　disgust；　shook　with　his　gloved
hand　the　arm　of　the　Jesuit；　and　repeated　in　a　louder　voice：　〃My　reverend
and　very　dear　father；　answer　me；　I　conjure　you！〃

Rodin　could　not　restrain　a　movement　of　angry　impatience；　but　he　continued
silent。　　The　cardinal　was　not　a　man　to　be　discouraged　by　so　little；　he
again　shook　the　arm　of　the　Jesuit；　somewhat　more　roughly；　repeating；　with
a　passionless　tenacity　that　would　have　incensed　the　most　patient　person
in　the　world：　〃My　reverend　and　very　dear　father；　since　you　are　not
asleep；　listen　to　me；　I　entreat　of　you。〃

Irritable　with　pain；　exasperated　by　the　obstinacy　of　the　prelate；　Rodin
abruptly　turned　his　head；　fixed　on　the　Roman　his　hollow　eyes；　shining
with　lurid　fire；　and；　with　lips　contracted　by　a　sardonic　smile；　said　to
him；　bitterly：　〃You　must　be　very　anxious；　my　lord；　to　see　me　embalmed；
and　lie　in　state　with　tapers；　as　you　were　saying　just　now；　for　you　thus
to　come　to　torment　me　in　my　last　moments；　and　hasten　my　end！〃

〃Oh；　my　good　father！　how　can　you　talk　so？〃　cried　the　cardinal；　raising
his　hands　as　if　to　call　heaven　to　witness　to　the　sincerity　of　the　tender
interest　he　felt　for　the　Jesuit。

〃I　tell　you　that　I　heard　all　just　now；　my　lord；　for　the　partition　is
thin；〃　added　Rodin；　with　redoubled　bitterness。

〃If　you　mean　that；　from　the　bottom　of　my　soul；　I　desired　that　you　should
make　an　exemplary　and　Christian　end；　you　are　perfectly　right；　my　dear
father。　　I　did　say　so；　for；　after　a　life　so　well　employed；　it　would　be
sweet　to　see　you　an　object　of　adoration　for　the　faithful！〃

〃I　tell　you；　my　lord；〃　cried　Rodin；　in　a　weak　and　broken　voice；　〃that　it
is　ferocious　to　express　such　wishes　in　the　presence　of　a　dying　man。
Yes；〃　he　added；　with　growing　animation；　that　contrasted　strongly　with　his
weakness；　〃take　care　what　you　do；　for　if　I　am　too　much　plagued　and
pesteredif　I　am　not　allowed　to　breathe　my　last　breath　quietlyI　give
you　notice　that　you　will　force　me　to　die　in　anything　but　a　Christian
manner；　and　if　you　mean　to　profit　by　an　edifying　spectacle；　you　will　be
deceived。〃

This　burst　of　anger　having　greatly　fatigued　Rodin；　his　head　fell　back
upon　the　pillow；　and　he　wiped　his　cracked　and　bleeding　lips　with　his　old
cotton　handkerchief。

〃Come；　come；　be　calm；　my　very　dear　father；〃　resumed　the　cardinal；　with　a
patronizing　air；　〃do　not　give　way　to　such　gloomy　ideas。　　Doubtless；
Providence　reserves　you　for　great　designs；　since　you　have　been　already
delivered　from　so　much　peril。　　Let　us　hope　that　you　will　be　likewise
saved　from　your　present　danger。〃

Rodin　answered　by　a　hoarse　growl；　and　turned　his　face　towards　the　wall。

The　imperturbable　prelate　continued：　〃The　views　of　Providence　are　not
confined　to　your　salvation；　my　very　dear　father。　　Its　power　has　been
manifested　in　another　way。　　What　I　am　about　to　tell　you　is　of　the　highest
importance。　　Listen　attentively。〃

Without　turning　his　head；　Rodin　muttered　in　a　tone　of　angry　bitterness；
which　betrayed　his　intense　sufferings：　〃They　desire　my　death。　　My　chest
is　on　fire；　my　head　racked　with　pain；　and　they　have　no　pity。　　Oh；　I
suffer　the　tortures　of　the　damned！〃

〃What！　already〃　thought　the　Roman；　with　a　smile　of　sarcastic　malice；　then
he　said　aloud：　〃Let　me　persuade　you；　my　very　dear　fathermake　an　effort
to　listen　to　me；　you　will　not　regret　it。〃

Still　stretched　upon　the　bed；　Rodin　lifted　his　hands　clasped　upon　his
cotton　handkerchief　with　a　gesture　of　despair；　and　then　let　them　fall
again　by　his　side。

The　cardinal　slightly　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　laid　great　stress　on
what　follows；　so　that　Rodin　might　not　lose　a　word　of　it：　〃My　dear　father；
it　has　pleased　Providence　that；　during　your　fit　of　raving；　you　have　made；
without　knowing　it；　the　most　important　revelations。〃

The　prelate　waited　with　anxious　curiosity　for　the　effect　of　the　pious
trap　he　had　laid　for　the　Jesuit's　weakened　faculties。　　But　the　latter；
still　turned　towards　the　wall；　did　not　appear　to　have　heard　him　and
remained　silent。

〃You　are；　no　doubt；　reflecting　on　my　words；　my　dear　father；〃　resumed　the
cardinal；　〃you　are　right；　for　it　concerns　a　very　serious　affair。　　I
repeat　to　you　that　Providence　has　allowed　you；　during　your　delirium；　to
betray　your　most　secret　thoughtshappily；　to　me　alone。　　They　are　such　as
would　compromise　you　in　the　highest　degree。　　In　short；　during　your
delirium　of　last　night；　which　lasted　nearly　two　hours；　you　unveiled　the
secret　objects　of　your　intrigues　at　Rome　with　many　of　the　members　of　the
Sacred　College。〃

The　cardinal；　rising　softly；　stooped　over　the　bed　to　watch　the　expression
of　Rodin's　countenance。　　But　the　latter　did　not　give　him　time。　　As　a
galvanized　corpse　starts　into　strange　and　sudden　motion；　Rodin　sprang
into　a　sitting　posture　at　the　last　words　of　the　prelate。

〃He　has　betrayed　himself；〃　said　the　cardinal；　in　a　low　voice；　in　Italian。
Then；　resuming　his　seat；　he　fixed　on　the　Jesuit　his　eyes；　that　sparkled
with　triumphant　joy。

Though　he　did　not　hear　the　exclamation　of　Malipieri；　nor　remark　the
expression　of　his　countenance；　Rodin；　notwithstanding　his　state　of
weakness；　instantly　felt　the　imprudence　of　his　start。　　He　pressed　his
hand　to　his　forehead；　as　though　he　had　been　seized　with　a　giddiness；
then；　looking　wildly　round　him；　he　pressed　to　his　trembling　lips　his　old
cotton　handkerchief；　and　gnawed　it　mechanically　for　some　seconds。

〃Your　emotion　and　alarm　confirm　the　sad　discoveries　I　have　made；〃　resumed
the　cardinal；　still　more　rejoicing　at　the　success　of　his　trick；　〃and　now；
my　dear　father；〃　added　he；　〃you　will　understand　that　it　is　for　your　best
interest　to　enter　into　the　most　minute　detail　as　to　your　projects　and
accomplices　at　Rome。　　You　may　then　hope；　my　dear　father；　for　the
indulgence　of　the　Holy　Seethat　is；　if　your　avowals　are　sufficiently
explicit　to　fill　up　the　chasms　necessarily　left　in　a　confession　made
during　delirium。〃

Rodin；　recovered　from　his　first　surprise；　perceived；　but　too　late；　that
he　had　fallen　into　a　snare；　not　by　any　words　he　had　spoken；　but　by　his
too　significant　movements。　　In　fact；　the　Jesuit　had　feared　for　a　moment
that　he　might　have　betrayed　himself　during　his　delirium；　when　he　heard
himself　accused　of　dark　intrigues　with　Rome；　but；　after　some　minutes　of
reflection；　his　common　sense　suggested：　〃If　this　crafty　Roman　knew　my
secret；　he　would　take　care　not　to　tell　me　so。　　He　has　only　suspicions；
confirmed　by　my　involuntary　start　just　now。〃

Rodin　wiped　the　cold　sweat　from　his　burning　forehead。　　The　emotion　of
this　scene　augmented　his　sufferings；　and　aggravated　the　danger　of　his
condition。　　Worn　out　with　fatigue；　he　could　not　remain　long　in　a　sitting
posture；　and　soon　fell　back　upon　the　bed。

〃Per　Bacco！〃　said　the　cardinal　to　himself；　alarmed　at　the　expression　of
the　Jesuit's　face；　〃if　he　were　to　die　before　he　had　spoken；　and　so　escape
the　snare！〃

Then；　leaning　over　the　bed；　the　prelate　asked：　〃What　is　the　matter；　my
very　dear　father？〃

〃I　am　weak；　my　lordI　am　in　painI　cannot　express　what　I　suffer。〃

〃Let　us　hope；　my　very　dear　father；　that　this　crisis　will　have　no　fatal
results；　but　the　contrary　may　happen；　and　it　behooves　the　salvation　of
your　soul　to　make　instantly　the　fullest　confession。　　Were　it　even　to
exhaust　your　strength；　what　is　this　perishable　body　compared　to　eternal
life？〃

〃Of　what　confession　do　you　speak；　my　lord？〃　said　Rodin；　in　a　feeble　and
yet　sarcastic　tone。

〃What　confession！〃　cried　the　amazed　cardinal；　〃why；　with　regard　to　your
dangerous　intrigues　at　Rome。〃

〃What　intrigues？〃　asked　Rodin。

〃The　intrigues　you　revealed　during　your　delirium；〃　replied　the　prelate；
with　still　more　angry　impatience。　　〃Were　not　your　avowals　sufficiently
explicit？　　Why；　then；　this　culpable　hesitation　to　complete　them？〃

〃My　avowalswere　explicityou　assure　me？〃　said　Rodin；　pausing　after
each　word　for　want　of　breath；　but　without　losing　his　energy　and　presence
of　mind。

〃Yes；　I　repeat　it；〃　resumed　the　cardinal；　〃with　the　exception　of　a　few
chasms；　they　were　most　explicit。〃

〃Then　why　repeat　them？〃　said　Rodin；　with　the　same　sardonic　smile　on　his
violet　lips。

〃Why　repeat　them？〃　cried　the　angry　prelate。　　〃In　order　to　gain　pardon；
for　if　there　is　indulgence　and　mercy　for　the　repentant