the wandering jew, volume 9-第19章

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〃Why　repeat　them？〃　cried　the　angry　prelate。　　〃In　order　to　gain　pardon；
for　if　there　is　indulgence　and　mercy　for　the　repentant　sinner；　there　must
be　condemnation　and　curses　for　the　hardened　criminal！〃

〃Oh；　what　torture！　I　am　dying　by　slow　fire！〃　murmured　Rodin。　　〃Since　I
have　told　all；〃　he　resumed；　〃　I　have　nothing　more　to　tell。　　You　know　it
already。〃

〃I　know　alldoubtless；　I　know　all；〃　replied　the　prelate；　in　a　voice　of
thunder；　〃but　how　have　I　learned　it？　　By　confessions　made　in　a　state　of
unconsciousness。　　Do　you　think　they　will　avail　you　anything？　　No；　the
moment　is　solemndeath　is　at　hand；　tremble　to　die　with　a　sacrilegious
falsehood　on　your　lips；〃　cried　the　prelate；　shaking　Rodin　violently　by
the　arm；　〃dread　the　eternal　flames；　if　you　dare　deny　what　you　know　to　be
the　truth。　　Do　you　deny　it？〃

〃I　deny　nothing；〃　murmured　Rodin；　with　difficulty。　　〃Only　leave　me
alone！〃

〃Then　heaven　inspires　you；〃　said　the　cardinal；　with　a　sigh　of
satisfaction；　and；　thinking　he　had　nearly　attained　his　object；　he
resumed；　〃Listen　to　the　divine　word；　that　will　guide　you；　father。　　You
deny　nothing？〃

〃I　wasdeliriousand　cannot（oh！　how　I　suffer！）〃　added　Rodin；　by　way
of　parenthesis；　〃and　cannot　thereforedenythe　nonsenseI　may　have
uttered！〃

〃But　when　this　nonsense　agrees　with　the　truth；〃　cried　the　prelate；
furious　at　being　again　deceived　in　his　expectation；　〃but　when　raving　is
an　involuntary；　providential　revelation〃

〃Cardinal　Malipieriyour　craft　is　no　matchfor　my　agony；〃　answered
Rodin；　in　a　failing　voice。　　〃The　proofthat　I　have　not　told　my　secret
if　I　have　a　secretisthat　you　want　to　make　me　tell　it！〃　　In　spite　of
his　pain　and　weakness；　the　Jesuit　had　courage　to　raise　himself　in　the
bed；　and　look　the　cardinal　full　in　the　face；　with　a　smile　of　bitter
irony。　　After　which　he　fell　back　on　the　pillow；　and　pressed　his　hands　to
his　chest；　with　a　long　sigh　of　anguish。

〃Damnation！　the　infernal　Jesuit　has　found　me　out！〃　said　the　cardinal　to
himself；　as　he　stamped　his　foot　with　rage。　　〃He　sees　that　he　was
compromised　by　his　first　movement；　he　is　now　upon　his　guard；　I　shall　get
nothing　more　from　himunless　indeed；　profiting　by　the　state　of　weakness
in　which　he　is；　I　can；　by　entreaties；　by　threats；　by　terror〃

The　prelate　was　unable　to　finish。　　The　door　opened　abruptly；　and　Father
d'Aigrigny　entered　the　room；　exclaiming　with　an　explosion　of　joy：
〃Excellent　news！〃




CHAPTER　XXVIII。

GOOD　NEWS。

By　the　alteration　in　the　countenance　of　Father　d'Aigrigny；　his　pale
cheek；　and　the　feebleness　of　his　walk；　one　might　see　that　the　terrible
scene　in　the　square　of　Notre…Dame；　had　violently　reacted　upon　his　health。
Yet　his　face　was　radiant　and　triumphant；　as　he　entered　Rodin's　chamber；
exclaiming：　〃Excellent　news！〃

On　these　words；　Rodin　started。　　In　spite　of　his　weakness；　he　raised　his
head；　and　his　eves　shone　with　a　curious；　uneasy；　piercing　expression。
With　his　lean　hand；　he　beckoned　Father　d'Aigrigny　to　approach　the　bed；
and　said　to　him；　in　a　broken　voice；　so　weak　that　it　was　scarcely　audible：
〃I　am　very　illthe　cardinal　has　nearly　finished　mebut　if　this
excellent　newsrelates　to　the　Rennepont　affairof　which　I　hear　nothing
it　might　save　me　yet！〃

〃Be　saved　then！〃　cried　Father　d'Aigrigny；　forgetting　the　recommendations
of　Dr。　Baleinier；　〃read；　rejoice！　　What　you　foretold　is　beginning　to　be
realized！〃

So　saying；　he　drew　a　paper　from　his　pocket；　and　delivered　it　to　Rodin；
who　seized　it　with　an　eager　and　trembling　hand。　　Some　minutes　before；
Rodin　would　have　been　really　incapable　of　continuing　his　conversation
with　the　cardinal；　even　if　prudence　had　allowed　him　to　do　so；　nor　could
he　have　read　a　single　line；　so　dim　had　his　sight　become。　　But；　at　the
words　of　Father　d'Aigrigny；　he　felt　such　a　renewal　of　hope　and　vigor；
that；　by　a　mighty　effort　of　energy　and　will；　he　rose　to　a　sitting
posture；　and；　with　clear　head；　and　look　of　intelligent　animation；　he　read
rapidly　the　paper　that　Father　d'Aigrigny　had　just　delivered　to　him。

The　cardinal；　amazed　at　this　sudden　transfiguration；　asked　himself　if　he
beheld　the　same　man；　who；　a　few　minutes　before；　had　fallen　back　on　his
bed；　almost　insensible。　　Hardly　had　Rodin　finished　reading；　than　he
uttered　a　cry　of　stifled　joy；　saying；　with　an　accent　impossible　to
describe：　〃ONE　gone！　it　works'tis　well！〃　And；　closing　his　eyes　in　a
kind　of　ecstatic　transport；　a　smile　of　proud　triumph　overspread　his　face；
and　rendered　him　still　more　hideous；　by　discovering　his　yellow　and
gumless　teeth。　　His　emotion　was　so　violent；　that　the　paper　fell　from　his
trembling　hand。

〃He　has　fainted；〃　cried　Father　d'Aigrigny；　with　uneasiness；　as　he　leaned
over　Rodin。　　〃It　is　my　fault；　I　forgot　that　the　doctor　cautioned　me　not
to　talk　to　him　of　serious　matters。〃

〃No；　do　not　reproach　yourself；〃　said　Rodin；　in　a　low　voice；　half…raising
himself　in　the　bed。　　〃This　unexpected　joy　may　perhaps　cure　me。　　YesI
scarce　know　what　I　feelbut　look　at　my　cheeksit　seems　to　me；　that；　for
the　first　time　since　I　have　been　stretched　on　this　bed　of　pain；　they　are
a　little　warm。〃

Rodin　spoke　the　truth。　　A　slight　color　appeared　suddenly　on　his　livid　and
icy　cheeks；　his　voice　though　still　very　weak；　became　less　tremulous；　and
he　exclaimed；　in　a　tone　of　conviction　that　startled　Father　d'Aigrigny　and
the　prelate；　〃This　first　success　answers　for　the　others。　　I　read　the
future。　　Yes；　yes；　our　cause　will　triumph。　　Every　member　of　the　execrable
Rennepont　family　will　be　crushedand　that　soon　you　will　see〃

Then；　pausing；　Rodin　threw　himself　back　on　the　pillow；　exclaiming：　〃Oh！　I
am　choked　with　joy。　　My　voice　fails　me。〃

〃But　what　is　it？〃　asked　the　cardinal　of　Father　d'Aigrigny。

The　latter　replied；　in　a　tone　of　hypocritical　sanctity：　〃One　of　the　heirs
of　the　Rennepont　family；　a　poor　fellow；　worn　out　with　excesses　and
debauchery；　died　three　days　ago；　at　the　close　of　some　abominable　orgies；
in　which　he　had　braved　the　cholera　with　sacrilegious　impiety。　　In
consequence　of　the　indisposition　that　kept　me　at　home；　and　of　another
circumstance；　I　only　received　to…day　the　certificate　of　the　death　of　this
victim　of　intemperance　and　irreligion。　　I　must　proclaim　it　to　the　praise
of　his　reverence〃pointing　to　Rodin〃that　he　told　me；　the　worst　enemies
of　the　descendants　of　that　infamous　renegade　would　be　their　own　bad
passions；　and　that　the　might　look　to　them　as　our　allies　against　the　whole
impious　race。　　And　so　it　has　happened　with　Jacques　Rennepont。〃

〃You　see；〃　said　Rodin；　in　so　faint　a　voice　that　it　was　almost
unintelligible；　〃the　punishment　begins　already。　　One　of　the　Renneponts　is
deadand　believe　methis　certificate；〃　and　he　pointed　to　the　paper　that
Father　d'Aigrigny　held　in　his　hand；　〃will　one　day　be　worth　forty　millions
to　the　Society　of　Jesusand　thatbecause〃

The　lips　alone　finished　the　sentence。　　During　some　seconds；　Rodin's　voice
had　become　so　faint；　that　it　was　at　last　quite　imperceptible。　　His
larynx；　contracted　by　violent　emotion；　no　longer　emitted　any　sound。　　The
Jesuit；　far　from　being　disconcerted　by　this　incident；　finished　his
phrase；　as　it　were；　by　expressive　pantomime。　　Raising　his　head　proudly　he
tapped　his　forehead　with　his　forefinger；　as　if　to　express　that　it　was　to
his　ability　this　first　success　was　owing。　　But　he　soon　fell　back　again　on
the　bed；　exhausted；　breathless；　sinking；　with　his　cotton　handkerchief
pressed　once　more　to　his　parched　lips。　　The　good　news；　as　Father
d'Aigrigny　called　it；　had　not　cured　Rodin。　　For　a　moment　only；　he　had　had
the　courage　to　forget　his　pain。　　But　the　slight　color　on　his　cheek　soon
disappeared；　his　face　became　once　more　livid。　　His　sufferings；　suspended
for　a　moment；　were　so　much　increased　in　violence；　that　he　writhed　beneath
the　coverlet；　and　buried　his　face　in　the　pillow；　extending　his　arms　above
his　head；　and　holding　them　stiff　as　bars　of　iron。　　After　this　crisis；
intense　as　it　was　rapid：　during　which　Father　d'Aigrigny　and　the　prelate
bent　anxiously　over　him；　Rodin；　whose　face　was　bathed　in　cold　sweat；　made
a　sign　that　he　suffered　less；　and　that　he　wished　to　drink　of　a　potion　to
which　he　pointed。　　Father　d'Aigrigny　fetched　it　for　him；　and　while　the
cardinal　held　him　up　with　marked　disgust；　the　abbe　administered　a　few
spoonfuls　of　the　potion；　which　almost　immediately　produced　a　soothing
effect。

〃Shall　I　call　M。　Rousselet？〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　when　Rodin　was　once
more　laid　down　in　bed。

Rodin　shook　his　head；　then；　with　a　fresh　effort；　he　raised　his　right
hand；　opened　it；　and　pointed　with　his　forefinger　to　a　desk　in　a　corner　of
the　room；　to　signify　that；　being　no　longer　able　to　speak；　he　wished　to
write。

〃I　understand　your　reverence；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　〃but　first　calm
yourself。　　Presently；　if　you　require　it。　　I　will　give　you　writing…
materials。〃

Two　knocks　at　the　outer　door　of　the　next　room　interrupted　this　scene。
From　motives　of　prudence；　Father　d'Aigrigny　had　begged　Rousselet　to
remain　in　the　first　of　the　three　rooms。　　He　now　went　to　open　the　door；
and　Rousselet　handed　him　a　voluminous　packet；　saying：　〃I　beg　pardon　for
disturbing　you；　father；　but　I　was　told　to　let　you　have　these　papers
instantly。〃

〃Thank　you；　M。　Rousselet；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　〃do　you　know　at　what
hour　Dr。　Baleinier　will　return？〃

〃He　will　not　be　long；　father；　for　he　wishes　to　perform　before　night　the
painful　operation；　that　will　have　a　decisive　effect　on　the　condition　of
Father　Rodin。　　I　am　preparing　what　is　necessary　for　it；〃　added　Rousselet；
as　he　pointed　to　a　singular　and　formidable　apparatus；　which　Father
d'Aigrigny　examined　with　a　kind　of　terror。

〃I　do　not　know　if　the　symptom　is　a　serious　one；〃　said　the　Jesuit；　〃but
the　reverend　father　has　suddenly　lost　his　voice。〃

〃It　is　the　third　time　this　has　happened　within　the　last　week；〃　said
Rousselet；　〃the　operation　of　Dr。　Baleiner　will　act　both　on　the　larynx　and
on　the　lungs。〃

〃Is　the　operation　a　very　painful　one？〃　asked　Father　d'Aigrigny。

〃There　is；　perhaps；　none　more　cruel　in　surgery；〃　answered　the　young
doctor；　〃and　Dr。　Baleinier　has　partly　concealed　its　nature　from　Father
Rodin。〃

〃Please　to　wait　here　for　Dr。　Baleinier；　and　send　him　to　us　as　soon　as　he
arrives；〃　resumed　Father　d'Aigrigny：　and；　returning　to　the　sick　chamber；
he　sat　down　by　the　bedside；　and　said　to　Rodin；　as　he　showed　him　the
letter：　〃Here　are　different　reports　with　regard　to　different　members　of
the　Rennepont　family；　whom　I　have　had　looked　after　by　others；　my
indisposition　having　kept　me　at　home　for　the　last　few　days。　　I　do　not
know；　father；　if　the　state　of　your　health　will　permit　you　to　hear〃

Rodin　made　a　gesture；　at　once　so　supplicating　and　peremptory；　that　Father
d'Aigrigny　felt　there　would　be　at　least　as　much　danger　in　refusing　as　in
granting　his　request；　so；　turning　towards　the　cardinal；　still
inconsolable　at　not　having　discovered　the　Jesuit's　secret；　he　said　to　him
with　respectful　deference；　pointing　at　the　same　time　to　the　letter：　〃Have
I　the　permission　of　your　Eminence？〃

The　prelate　bowed；　and　replied：　〃Your　affairs　are　ours；　my　dear　father。
The　Church　must　always　rejoice　in　what　rejoices　your　glorious　Company。〃

Father　d'Aigrigny　unsealed　the　packet；　and　found　in　it　different　notes　in
different　handwritings。　　When　he　had　read　the　first；　his