the wandering jew, volume 9-第9章

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〃And　right　enough　too；　for　very　stupid　work　it　does；〃　added　a　pretty
little　Columbine；　emptying　her　glass。

〃You　are　right；　my　darling；　it　is　intolerably　stupid　work；〃　answered　the
Clown　belonging　to　the　Columbine；　〃here　you　are　very　quiet；　enjoying
life；　and　all　on　a　sudden　you　die　with　an　atrocious　grimace。　　Well！　what
then？　　Clever；　isn't　it？　　I　ask　you；　what　does　it　prove？〃

〃It　proves；〃　replied　an　illustrious　painter　of　the　romantic　school；
disguised　like　a　Roman　out　of　one　of　David's　pictures；　〃it　proves　that
the　Cholera　is　a　wretched　colorist；　for　he　has　nothing　but　a　dirty　green
on　his　pallet。　　Evidently　he　is　a　pupil　of　Jacobus；　that　king　of
classical　painters；　who　are　another　species　of　plagues。〃

〃And　yet；　master；〃　added　respectfully　a　pupil　of　the　great　painter；　〃I
have　seen　some　cholera　patients　whose　convulsions　were　rather　fine；　and
their　dying　looks　first…rate！〃

〃Gentlemen；〃　cried　a　sculptor　of　no　less　celebrity；　〃the　question　lies　in
a　nutshell。　　The　Cholera　is　a　detestable　colorist；　but　a　good
draughtsman。　　He　shows　you　the　skeleton　in　no　time。　　By　heaven！　how　he
strips　off　the　flesh！Michael　Angelo　would　be　nothing　to　him。〃

〃True；〃　cried　they　all；　with　one　voice；　〃the　Cholera　is　a　bad　colorist；
but　a　good　draughtsman。〃

〃Moreover；　gentlemen；〃　added　Ninny　Moulin；　with　comic　gravity；　〃this
plague　brings　with　it　a　providential　lesson；　as　the　great　Bossuet　would
have　said。〃

〃The　lesson！　the　lesson！〃

〃Yes；　gentlemen；　I　seem　to　hear　a　voice　from　above；　proclaiming：　‘Drink
of　the　best；　empty　your　purse；　and　kiss　your　neighbor's　wife；　for　your
hours　are　perhaps　numbered；　unhappy　wretch！'〃

So　saying；　the　orthodox　Silenus　took　advantage　of　a　momentary　absence　of
mind　on　the　part　of　Modeste；　his　neighbor；　to　imprint　on　the　blooming
cheek　of　LOVE　a　long；　loud　kiss。　　The　example　was　contagious；　and　a　storm
of　kisses　was　mingled　with　bursts　of　laughter。

〃Ha！　blood　and　thunder！〃　cried　the　great　painter　as　he　gayly　threatened
Ninny　Moulin；　〃you　are　very　lucky　that　to…morrow　will　perhaps　be　the　end
of　the　world；　or　else　I　should　pick　a　quarrel　with　you　for　having　kissed
my　lovely　LOVE。〃

〃Which　proves　to　you；　O　Rubens！　O　Raphael！　the　thousand　advantages　of　the
Cholera；　whom　I　declare　to　be　essentially　sociable　and　caressing。〃

〃And　philanthropic；〃　said　one　of　the　guests；　〃thanks　to　him；　creditors
take　care　of　the　health　of　their　debtors。　　This　morning　a　usurer；　who
feels　a　particular　interest　in　my　existence；　brought　me　all　sorts　of
anti…choleraic　drugs；　and　begged　me　to　make　use　of　them。〃

〃And　I！〃　said　the　pupil　of　the　great　painter。　　〃My　tailor　wished　to　force
me　to　wear　a　flannel　band　next　to　the　skin；　because　I　owe　him　a　thousand
crowns。　　But　I　answered　‘Oh；　tailor；　give　me　a　receipt　in　full；　and　I
will　wrap　myself　up　in　flannel；　to　preserve　you　my　custom！'〃

〃O　Cholera；　I　drink　to　thee！〃　said　Ninny　Moulin；　by　way　of　grotesque
invocation。　　〃You　are　not　Despair；　on　the　contrary；　you　are　the　emblem　of
Hopeyes；　of　hope。　　How　many　husbands；　how　many　wives；　longed　for　a
number　（alas！　too　uncertain　chance）　in　the　lottery　of　widowhood！　You
appear；　and　their　hearts　are　gladdened。　　Thanks　to　you；　benevolent　pest！
their　chances　of　liberty　are　increased　a　hundredfold。〃

And　how　grateful　heirs　ought　to　be！　A　colda　heata　trifleand　there；
in　an　hour；　some　old　uncle　becomes　a　revered　benefactor！〃

〃And　those　who　are　always　looking　out　for　other　people's　placeswhat　an
ally　they　must　find　in　the　Cholera！〃

〃And　how　true　it　will　make　many　vows　of　constancy！〃　said　Modeste；
sentimentally。　　〃How　many　villains　have　sworn　to　a　poor；　weak　woman；　to
love　her　all　their　lives；　who　never　meant　（the　wretches！）　to　keep　their
word　so　well！〃

〃Gentlemen；〃　cried　Ninny　Moulin；　〃since　we　are　now；　perhaps；　at　the　eve
of　the　end　of　the　world；　as　yonder　celebrated　painter　has　expressed　it；　I
propose　to　play　the　world　topsy…turvy：　I　beg　these　ladies　to　make
advances　to　us；　to　tease　us；　to　excite　us；　to　steal　kisses　from　us；　to
take　all　sorts　of　liberties　with　us；　and　（we　shall　not　die　of　it）　even　to
insult　us。　　Yes；　I　declare　that　I　will　allow　myself　to　be　insulted。　　So；
LOVE；　you　may　offer　me　the　greatest　insult　that　can　be　offered　to　a
virtuous　and　modest　bachelor；〃　added　the　religious　writer；　leaning　over
towards　his　neighbor；　who　repulsed　him　with　peals　of　laughter；　and　the
proposal　of　Ninny　Moulin　being　received　with　general　hilarity；　a　new
impulse　was　given　to　the　mirth　and　riot。

In　the　midst　of　the　uproar；　the　waiter；　who　had　before　entered　the　room
several　times；　to　whisper　uneasily　to　his　comrades；　whilst　he　pointed　to
the　ceiling；　again　appeared　with　a　pale　and　agitated　countenance；
approaching　the　man　who　performed　the　office　of　butler；　he　said　to　him；
in　a　low　voice；　tremulous　with　emotion：　〃They　are　come！〃

〃Who？〃

〃You　knowup　there〃；　and　he　pointed　to　the　ceiling。

〃Oh！〃　said　the　butler；　becoming　thoughtful；　〃where　are　they？〃

〃They　have　just　gone　upstairs；　they　are　there　now；〃　answered　the　waiter；
shaking　his　head　with　an　air　of　alarm；　〃yes；　they　are　there！〃

〃What　does　master　say？〃

〃He　is　very　vexed；　because〃　and　the　waiter　glanced　round　at　the　guests。
〃He　does　not　know　what　to　do；　he　has　sent　me　to　you。〃

〃What　the　devil　have　I　to　do　with　it？〃　said　the　other；　wiping　his
forehead。　　〃It　was　to　be　expected；　and　cannot　be　helped。〃

〃I　will　not　remain　here　till　they　begin。〃

〃You　may　as　well　go；　for　your　long　face　already　attracts　attention。　　Tell
master　we　must　wait　for　the　upshot。〃

The　above　incident　was　scarcely　perceived　in　the　midst　of　the　growing
tumult　of　the　joyous　feast。　　But；　among　the　guests；　one　alone　laughed
not；　drank　not。　　This　was　Jacques。　　With　fixed　and　lurid　eye；　he　gazed
upon　vacancy。　　A　stranger　to　what　was　passing　around　him；　the　unhappy　man
thought　of　the　Bacchanal　Queen；　who　had　been　so　gay　and　brilliant　in　the
midst　of　similar　saturnalia。　　The　remembrance　of　that　one　being；　whom　he
still　loved　with　an　extravagant　love；　was　the　only　thought　that　from　time
to　time　roused　him　from　his　besotted　state。

It　is　strange；　but　Jacques　had　only　consented　to　join　this　masquerade
because　the　mad　scene　reminded　him　of　the　merry　day　he　had　spent　with
Cephysethat　famous　breakfast；　after　a　night　of　dancing；　in　which　the
Bacchanal　Queen；　from　some　extraordinary　presentiment；　had　proposed　a
lugubrious　toast　with　regard　to　this　very　pestilence；　which　was　then
reported　to　be　approaching　France。　　〃To　the　Cholera！〃　had　she　said。　　〃Let
him　spare　those　who　wish　to　live；　and　kill　at　the　same　moment　those　who
dread　to　part！〃

And　now；　at　this　time；　remembering　those　mournful　words；　Jacques　was
absorbed　in　painful　thought。　　Morok　perceived　his　absence　of　mind；　and
said　aloud　to　him；　〃You　have　given　over　drinking；　Jacques。　　Have　you　had
enough　wine？　　Then　you　will　want　brandy。　　I　will　send　for　some。〃

〃I　want　neither　wine　nor　brandy；〃　answered　Jacques；　abruptly；　and　he　fell
back　into　a　sombre　reverie。

〃Well；　you　may　be　right；〃　resumed　Morok；　in　a　sardonic　tone；　and　raising
his　voice　still　higher。　　〃You　do　well　to　take　care　of　yourself。　　I　was
wrong　to　name　brandy　in　these　times。　　There　would　be　as　much　temerity　in
facing　a　bottle　of　brandy　as　the　barrel　of　a　loaded　pistol。〃

On　hearing　his　courage　as　a　toper　called　in　question；　Sleepinbuff　looked
angrily　at　Morok。　　〃You　think　it　is　from　cowardice　that　I　will　not　drink
brandy！〃　cried　the　unfortunate　man；　whose　half…extinguished　intellect　was
roused　to　defend　what　he　called　his　dignity。　　〃Is　it　from　cowardice　that
I　refuse；　d'ye　think；　Morok？　　Answer　me！〃

〃Come；　my　good　fellow；　we　have　all　shown　our　pluck　today；〃　said　one　of
the　guests　to　Jacques；　〃you；　above　all；　who；　being　rather　indisposed；　yet
had　the　courage　to　take　the　part　of　Goodman　Cholera。〃

〃Gentlemen；〃　resumed　Morok；　seeing　the　general　attention　fixed　upon
himself　and　Sleepinbuff；　〃I　was　only　joking；　for　if　my　comrade　（pointing
to　Jacques）　had　the　imprudence　to　accept　my　offer；　it　would　be　an　act；
not　of　courage；　but　of　foolhardiness。　　Luckily；　he　has　sense　enough　to
renounce　a　piece　of　boasting　so　dangerous　at　this　time；　and　I〃

〃Waiter！〃　cried　Jacques；　interrupting　Morok　with　angry　impatience；　〃two
bottles　of　brandy；　and　two　glasses！〃

〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　said　Morok；　with　pretended　uneasiness。　　〃Why
do　you　order　two　bottles　of　brandy？〃

〃For　a　duel；〃　said　Jacques；　in　a　cool；　resolute　tone。

〃A　duel！〃　cried　the　spectators；　in　surprise。

〃Yes；〃　resumed　Jacques；　〃a　duel　with　brandy。　　You　pretend　there　is　as
much　danger　in　facing　a　bottle　of　brandy　as　a　loaded　pistol；　let　us　each
take　a　full　bottle；　and　see　who　will　be　the　first　to　cry　quarter。〃

This　strange　proposition　was　received　by　some　with　shouts　of　joy；　and　by
others　with　genuine　uneasiness。

〃Bravo！　the　champions　of　the　bottle！〃　cried　the　first。

〃No；　no；　there　would　be　too　much　danger　in　such　a　contest；〃　said　the
others。

〃Just　now；〃　added　one　of　the　guests；　〃this　challenge　is　as　serious　as　an
invitation　to　fight　to　the　death。〃

〃You　hear；〃　said　Morok；　with　a　diabolical　smile；　〃you　hear；　Jacques？
Will　you　now　retreat　before　the　danger？〃

At　these　words；　which　reminded　him　of　the　peril　to　which　he　was　about　to
expose　himself；　Jacques　started；　as　if　a　sudden　idea　had　occurred　to　him。
He　raised　his　head　proudly；　his　cheeks　were　slightly　flushed；　his　eye
shone　with　a　kind　of　gloomy　satisfaction；　and　he　exclaimed　in　a　firm
voice：　〃Hang　it；　waiter！　are　you　deaf？　　I　asked　you　for　two　bottles　of
brandy。〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　the　waiter；　going　to　fetch　them；　although　himself
frightened　at　what　might　be　the　result　of　this　bacchanalian　struggle。
But　the　mad　and　perilous　resolution　of　Jacques　was　applauded　by　the
majority。

Ninny　Moulin　moved　about　on　his　chair；　stamped　his　feet；　and　shouted　with
all　his　might：　〃Bacchus　and　drink！　bottles　and　glasses！　the　throats　are
dry！　brandy　to　the　rescue！　Largess！　largess！〃

And；　like　a　true　champion　of　the　tournament；　he　embraced　Modeste；　adding；
to　excuse　the　liberty：　〃Love；　you　shall　be　the　Queen　of　Beauty；　and　I　am
only　anticipating　the　victor's　happiness！〃

〃Brandy　to　the　rescue！〃　repeated　they　all；　in　chorus。　　〃Largess！〃

〃Gentlemen；〃　added　Ninny　Moulin；　with　enthusiasm；　〃shall　we　remain
indifferent　to　the　noble　example　set　us　by　Goodman　Cholera？　　He　said　in
his　pride；　‘brandy！'　Let　us　gloriously　answer；　'punch！'〃

〃Yes；　yes！　punch！〃

〃Punch　to　the　rescue！〃

〃Waiter！〃　shouted　the　religious　writer；　with　the　voice　of　a　Stentor；
〃waiter！　have　you　a　pan；　a　caldron；　a　hogshead；　or　any　other　immensity；
in　which　we　can　brew　a　monster　punch？〃

〃A　Babylonian　punch！〃

〃A　lake　of　punch！〃

〃An　ocean　of　punch！〃

Such　was　the　ambitious　crescendo　that　followed　the　proposition　of　Ninny
Moulin。

〃Sir；〃　answered　the　waiter；　with　an　air　of　triumph；　〃we　just　happen　to
have　a　large　copper　caldron；　quite　new。　　It　has　been　used；　and　would　hold
at　least　thirty　bottles。〃

〃Bring　the　caldron！〃　said　Ninny　Moulin；　majestically。

〃The　caldron　forever！〃　shouted　the　chorus。

〃Put　in　twenty　bottles　of　brandy；　six　loaves　of　sugar；　a　dozen　lemons；　a
pound　of　cinnamon；　and　thenfire！　fire！〃　shouted　the　religious　writer；
with　the　most　vociferous　exc