the wandering jew, volume 9-第23章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


and　took　it　in　one　hand；　and　the　earthen　pot　in　the　other。　　As　she　passed
near　the　corpse　of　the　poor　charcoal…dealer；　Cephyse　said；　with　a　strange
smile：　〃I　rob　you；　poor　Mother　Arsene；　but　my　theft　will　not　do　me　much
good。〃

Cephyse　left　the　shop；　reclosed　the　door　as　well　as　she　could；　went　up
the　passage；　and　crossed　the　little　court…yard　which　separated　the　front
of　the　building　from　that　part　in　which　Rodin　had　lodged。　　With　the
exception　of　the　windows　of　Philemon's　apartment；　where　Rose…Pompon　had
so　often　sat　perched　like　a　bird；　warbling　Beranger；　the　other　windows　of
the　house　were　open。　　There　had　been　deaths　on　the　first　and　second
floors；　and；　like　many　others；　they　were　waiting　for　the　cart　piled　up
with　coffins。

The　Bacchanal　Queen　gained　the　stairs；　which　led　to　the　chambers　formerly
occupied　by　Rodin。　　Arrived　at　the　landing…place　she　ascended　another
ruinous　staircase；　steep　as　a　ladder；　and　with　nothing　but　an　old　rope
for　a　rail。　　She　at　length　reached　the　half…rotten　door　of　a　garret；
situated　in　the　roof。　　The　house　was　in　such　a　state　of　dilapidation；
that；　in　many　places　the　roof　gave　admission　to　the　rain；　and　allowed　it
to　penetrate　into　this　cell；　which　was　not　above　ten　feet　square；　and
lighted　by　an　attic　window。　　All　the　furniture　consisted　of　an　old　straw
mattress；　laid　upon　the　ground；　with　the　straw　peeping　out　from　a　rent　in
its　ticking；　a　small　earthenware　pitcher；　with　the　spout　broken；　and
containing　a　little　water；　stood　by　the　side　of　this　couch。　　Dressed　in
rags；　Mother　Bunch　was　seated　on　the　side　of　the　mattress；　with　her
elbows　on　her　knees；　and　her　face　concealed　in　her　thin；　white　hands。
When　Cephyse　entered　the　room；　the　adopted　sister　of　Agricola　raised　her
head；　her　pale；　mild　face　seemed　thinner　than　ever；　hollow　with
suffering；　grief；　misery；　her　eyes；　red　with　weeping；　were　fixed　on　her
sister　with　an　expression　of　mournful　tenderness。

〃I　have　what　we　want；　sister；〃　said　Cephyse；　in　a　low；　deep　voice；　〃in
this　basket　there　is　wherewith　to　finish　our　misery。〃

Then；　showing　to　Mother　Bunch　the　articles　she　had　just　placed　on　the
floor；　she　added：　〃For　the　first　time　in　my　life；　I　have　been　a　thief。
It　made　me　ashamed　and　frightened；　I　was　never　intended　for　that　or
worse。　　It　is　a　pity。〃　added　she；　with　a　sardonic　smile。

After　a　moment's　silence；　the　hunchback　said　to　her　sister；　in　a　heart…
rending　tone：　〃Cephysemy　dear　Cephyseare　you　quite　determined　to
die？〃

〃How　should　I　hesitate？〃　answered　Cephyse；　in　a　firm　voice。　　〃Come；
sister；　let　us　once　more　make　our　reckoning。　　If　even　I　could　forget　my
shame；　and　Jacques'　contempt　in　his　last　moments；　what　would　remain　to
me？　　Two　courses　only：　first；　to　be　honest；　and　work　for　my　living。　　But
you　know　that；　in　spite　of　the　best　will　in　the　world；　work　will　often
fail；　as　it　has　failed　for　the　last　few　days；　and；　even　when　I　got　it；　I
would　have　to　live　on　four　to　five　francs　a　week。　　Live？　that　is　to　say；
die　by　inches。　　I　know　that　already；　and　I　prefer　dying　at　once。　　The
other　course　would　be　to　live　a　life　of　infamyand　that　I　will　not　do。
Frankly；　sister；　between　frightful　misery；　infamy；　or　death；　can　the
choice　be　doubtful？　　Answer　me！〃

Then；　without　giving　Mother　Bunch　time　to　speak；　Cephyse　added；　in　an
abrupt　tone：　〃Besides；　what　is　the　good　of　discussing　it？　　I　have　made　up
my　mind；　and　nothing　shall　prevent　my　purpose；　since　all　that　you；　dear
sister；　could　obtain　from　me；　was　a　delay　of　a　few　days；　to　see　if　the
cholera　would　not　save　us　the　trouble。　　To　please　you　I　consented；　the
cholera　has　come；　killed　every　one　else　in　the　house；　but　left　us。　　You
see；　it　is　better　to　do　one's　own　business；〃　added　she；　again　smiling
bitterly。　　Then　she　resumed：　〃Besides；　dear　sister；　you　also　wish　to
finish　with　life。〃

〃It　is　true；　Cephyse；〃　answered　the　sempstress；　who　seemed　very　much
depressed；　〃but　aloneone　has　only　to　answer　for　one's　selfand　to　die
with　you；〃　added　she；　shuddering；　〃appears　like　being　an　accomplice　in
your　death。〃

〃Do　you　wish；　then；　to　make　an　end　of　it；　I　in　one　place；　you　in
another？that　would　be　agreeable！〃　said　Cephyse；　displaying　in　that
terrible　moment　the　sort　of　bitter　and　despairing　irony　which　is　more
frequent　than　may　be　imagined　in　the　midst　of　mortal　anguish。

〃Oh；　no；　no！〃　said　the　other　in　alarm；　〃not　aloneI　will　not　die　alone！〃

〃Do　you　not　see；　dear　sister；　we　are　right　not　to　part？　　And　yet；〃　added
Cephyse；　in　a　voice　of　emotion；　〃my　heart　almost　breaks　sometimes；　to
think　that　you　will　die　like　me。〃

〃How　selfish！〃　said　the　hunchback；　with　a　faint　smile。　　〃What　reasons
nave　I　to　love　life？　　What　void　shall　I　leave　behind　me？〃

〃But　you　are　a　martyr；　sister；〃　resumed　Cephyse。　　〃The　priests　talk　of
saints！　Is　there　one　of　them　so　good　as　you？　　And　yet　you　are　about　to
die　like　me；　who　have　always　been　idle；　careless；　sinfulwhile　you　were
so　hardworking；　so　devoted　to　all　who　suffered。　　What　should　I　say？　　You
were　an　angel　on　the　earth；　and　yet　you　will　die　like　me；　who　have　fallen
as　low　as　a　woman　can　fall；〃　added　the　unfortunate；　casting　down　her
eyes。

〃It　is　strange；〃　answered　Mother　Bunch；　thoughtfully。　　〃Starting　from　the
same　point；　we　have　followed　different　roads；　and　yet　we　have　reached　the
same　goaldisgust　of　life。　　For　you；　my　poor　sister；　but　a　few　days　ago；
life　was　so　fair；　so　full　of　pleasure　and　of　youth；　and　now　it　is　equally
heavy　with　us　both。　　After　all；　I　have　followed　to　the　end　what　was　my
duty；〃　added　she；　mildly。　　〃Agricola　no　longer　needs　me。　　He　is　married；
he　loves；　and　is　beloved；　his　happiness　is　secured。　　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville
wants　for　nothing。　　Fair；　rich；　prosperouswhat　could　a　poor　creature
like　myself　do　for　her？　　Those　who　have　been　kind　to　me　are　happy。　　What
prevents　my　going　now　to　my　rest？　　I　am　so　weary！〃

〃Poor　sister！〃　said　Cephyse；　with　touching　emotion；　which　seemed　to
expand　her　contracted　features；　〃when　I　think　that；　without　informing　me；
and　in　spite　of　your　resolution　never　to　see　that　generous　young　lady；
who　protected　you；　you　yet　had　the　courage　to　drag　yourself　to　her　house；
dying　with　fatigue　and　want；　to　try　to　interest　her　in　my　fateyes；
dying；　for　your　strength　failed　on　the　Champs…Elysees。〃

〃And　when　I　was　able　to　reach　the　mansion；　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville　was
unfortunately　absentvery　unfortunately！〃　repeated　the　hunchback；　as　she
looked　at　Cephyse　with　anguish；　〃for　the　next　day；　seeing　that　our　last
resource　had　failed　us；　thinking　more　of　me　than　of　yourself；　and
determined　at　any　price　to　procure　us　bread〃

She　could　not　finish。　　She　buried　her　face　in　her　hands；　and　shuddered。

〃Well；　I　did　as　so　many　other　hapless　women　have　done　when　work　fails　or
wages　do　not　suffice；　and　hunger　becomes　too　pressing；〃　replied　Cephyse；
in　a　broken　voice；　〃only　that；　unlike　so　many　others；　instead　of　living
on　my　shame；　I　shall　die　of　it。〃

〃Alas！　this　terrible　shame　which　kills　you；　my　poor　Cephyse；　because　you
have　a　heart；　would　have　been　averted；　had　I　seen　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville；
or　had　she　but　answered　the　letter　which　I　asked　leave　to　write　to　her　at
the　porter's　lodge。　　But　her　silence　proves　to　me　that　she　is　justly　hurt
at　my　abrupt　departure　from　her　house。　　I　can　understand　it；　she　believes
me　guilty　of　the　blackest　ingratitudefor　she　must　have　been　greatly
offended　not　to　have　deigned　to　answer　meand　therefore　I　had　not　the
courage　to　write　a　second　time。　　It　would　have　been　useless；　I　am　sure；
for；　good　and　just　as　she　is；　her　refusals　are　inexorable　when　she
believes　them　deserved。　　And　besides；　for　what　good？　　It　was　too　late；
you　had　resolved　to　die！〃

〃Oh；　yes；　quite　resolved：　for　my　infamy　was　gnawing　at　my　heart。　　Jacques
had　died　in　my　arms　despising　me；　and　I　loved　himmark　me；　sister；〃
added　Cephyse；　with　passionate　enthusiasm；　〃I　loved　him　as　we　love　only
once　in　life！〃

〃Let　our　fate　be　accomplished；　then！〃　said　Mother　Bunch　with　a　pensive
air。

〃But　you　have　never　told　me；　sister；　the　cause　of　your　departure　from
Mdlle。　de　Cardoville's；〃　resumed　Cephyse；　after　a　moment's　silence。

〃It　will　be　the　only　secret　that　I　shall　take　with　me；　dear　Cephyse；〃
said　the　other；　casting　down　her　eyes。　　And　she　thought；　with　bitter　joy；
that　she　would　soon　be　delivered　from　the　fear　which　had　poisoned　the
last　days　of　her　sad　lifethe　fear　of　meeting　Agricola；　informed　of　the
fatal　and　ridiculous　love　she　felt　for　him。

For；　it　must　be　said；　this　fatal　and　despairing　love　was　one　of　the
causes　of　the　suicide　of　the　unfortunate　creature。　　Since　the
disappearance　of　her　journal；　she　believed　that　the　blacksmith　knew　the
melancholy　secret　contained　in　its　sad　pages。　　She　doubted　not　the
generosity　and　good　heart　of　Agricola；　but　she　had　such　doubts　of
herself；　she　was　so　ashamed　of　this　passion；　however　pure　and　noble；
that；　even　in　the　extremity　to　which　Cephyse　and　herself　were　reduced
wanting　work；　wanting　breadno　power　on　earth　could　have　induced　her　to
meet　Agricola；　in　an　attempt　to　ask　him　for　assistance。　　Doubtless；　she
would　have　taken　another　view　of　the　subject　if　her　mind　had　not　been
obscured　by　that　sort　of　dizziness　to　which　the　firmest　characters　are
exposed　when　their　misfortunes　surpass　all　bounds。　　Misery；　hunger；　the
influence；　almost　contagious　in　such　a　moment；　of　the　suicidal　ideas　of
Cephyse；　and　weariness　of　a　life　so　long　devoted　to　pain　and
mortification；　gave　the　last　blow　to　the　sewing…girl's　reason。　　After
long　struggling　against　the　fatal　design　of　her　sister；　the　poor；
dejected；　broken…hearted　creature　finished　by　determining　to　share
Cephyse's　fate；　and　seek　in　death　the　end　of　so　many　evils。

〃Of　what　are　you　thinking；　sister？〃　said　Cephyse；　astonished　at　the　long
silence。　　The　other　replied；　trembling：　〃I　think　of　that　which　made　me
leave　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville　so　abruptly；　and　appear　so　ungrateful　in　her
eyes。　　May　the　fatality　which　drove　me　from　her　house　have　made　no　other
victims！　may　my　devoted　service；　however　obscure　and　powerless；　never　be
missed　by　her；　who　extended　her　noble　hand　to　the　poor　sempstress；　and
deigned　to　call　me　sister！　　May　she　be　happyoh；　ever　happy！〃　said
Mother　Bunch；　clasping　her　hands　with　the　ardor　of　a　sincere　invocation。

〃That　is　noble；　sistersuch　a　wish　in　such　a　moment！〃　said　Cephyse。

〃Oh；〃　said　her　sister；　with　energy；　〃I　loved；　I　admired　that　marvel　of
genius；　and　heart；　and　ideal　beautyI　viewed　her　with　pious　respectfor
never　was　the　power　of　the　Divinity　revealed　in　a　more　adorable　and　purer
creation。　　At　least　one　of　my　last　thoughts　will　have　been　of　her。〃

〃Yes；　you　will　have　loved　and　respected　your　generous　patroness　to　the
last。〃

〃To　the　last！〃　said　the　poor　girl；　after　a　moment's　silence。　　〃It　is
trueyou　are　rightit　will　soon　be　the　last！in　a　few　moments；　all
will　be　finished。　　See　how　calmly　we　can　talk　of　that　which　frightens　so
many　others！〃

〃Sister；　we　are　calm　because　we　are　resolved。〃

〃Quite　resolved；　Cephyse；〃　said　the　hunchback；　casting　once　more　a　deep
and　penetrating　glance　upon　her　sister。

〃Oh；　yes；　if　you　are　only　as　determined　as　I　am。〃

〃Be　satisfied；　if　I　put　off　from　day　to　day　the　final　moment；〃　answered
the　sempstress；　〃it　was　because　I　wished　to　g