雨果 悲惨世界 英文版1-第8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！


　　That　is　the　way　one　has　to　do　with　a　man　who　possesses　grandeur　of　soul。
　　I　have　interrogated　my　brother　with　regard　to　the　information　which　you　desire　on　the　subject　of　the　Faux　family。
　　You　are　aware　that　he　knows　everything；　and　that　he　has　memories；　because　he　is　still　a　very　good　royalist。
　　They　really　are　a　very　ancient　Norman　family　of　the　generalship　of　Caen。
　　Five　hundred　years　ago　there　was　a　Raoul　de　Faux；　a　Jean　de　Faux；　and　a　Thomas　de　Faux；　who　were　gentlemen；　and　one　of　whom　was　a　seigneur　de　Rochefort。　The　last　was　Guy…Etienne…Alexandre；　and　was　mander　of　a　regiment；　and　something　in　the　light　horse　of　Bretagne。
　　His　daughter；　Marie…Louise；　married　Adrien…Charles　de　Gramont；　son　of　the　Duke　Louis　de　Gramont；　peer　of　France；　colonel　of　the　French　guards；　and　lieutenant…general　of　the　army。
　　It　is　written　Faux；　Fauq；　and　Faoucq。
　　Good　Madame；　remend　us　to　the　prayers　of　your　sainted　relative；　Monsieur　the　Cardinal。
　　As　for　your　dear　Sylvanie；　she　has　done　well　in　not　wasting　the　few　moments　which　she　passes　with　you　in　writing　to　me。
　　She　is　well；　works　as　you　would　wish；　and　loves　me。
　　That　is　all　that　I　desire。
　　The　souvenir　which　she　sent　through　you　reached　me　safely；　and　it　makes　me　very　happy。
　　My　health　is　not　so　very　bad；　and　yet　I　grow　thinner　every　day。
　　Farewell；　my　paper　is　at　an　end；　and　this　forces　me　to　leave　you。
　　A　thousand　good　wishes。　
　　　BAPTISTINE。
　　　P。S。　Your　grand　nephew　is　charming。
　　Do　you　know　that　he　will　soon　be　five　years　old？
　　Yesterday　he　saw　some　one　riding　by　on　horseback　who　had　on　knee…caps；　and　he　said；　〃What　has　he　got　on　his　knees？〃　He　is　a　charming　child！
　　His　little　brother　is　dragging　an　old　broom　about　the　room；　like　a　carriage；　and　saying；　〃Hu！〃
　　　As　will　be　perceived　from　this　letter；　these　two　women　understood　how　to　mould　themselves　to　the　Bishop's　ways　with　that　special　feminine　genius　which　prehends　the　man　better　than　he　prehends　himself。　The　Bishop　of　D；　in　spite　of　the　gentle　and　candid　air　which　never　deserted　him；　sometimes　did　things　that　were　grand；　bold；　and　magnificent；　without　seeming　to　have　even　a　suspicion　of　the　fact。　They　trembled；　but　they　let　him　alone。
　　Sometimes　Madame　Magloire　essayed　a　remonstrance　in　advance；　but　never　at　the　time；　nor　afterwards。　They　never　interfered　with　him　by　so　much　as　a　word　or　sign；　in　any　action　once　entered　upon。
　　At　certain　moments；　without　his　having　occasion　to　mention　it；　when　he　was　not　even　conscious　of　it　himself　in　all　probability；　so　perfect　was　his　simplicity；　they　vaguely　felt　that　he　was　acting　as　a　bishop；　then　they　were　nothing　more　than　two　shadows　in　the　house。
　　They　served　him　passively；　and　if　obedience　consisted　in　disappearing；　they　disappeared。　They　understood；　with　an　admirable　delicacy　of　instinct；　that　certain　cares　may　be　put　under　constraint。
　　Thus；　even　when　believing　him　to　be　in　peril；　they　understood；　I　will　not　say　his　thought；　but　his　nature；　to　such　a　degree　that　they　no　longer　watched　over　him。　They　confided　him　to　God。
　　Moreover；　Baptistine　said；　as　we　have　just　read；　that　her　brother's　end　would　prove　her　own。
　　Madame　Magloire　did　not　say　this；　but　she　knew　it。


BOOK　FIRSTA　JUST　MAN
CHAPTER　X　
　　THE　BISHOP　IN　THE　PRESENCE　OF　AN　UNKNOWN　LIGHT
　　　At　an　epoch　a　little　later　than　the　date　of　the　letter　cited　in　the　preceding　pages；　he　did　a　thing　which；　if　the　whole　town　was　to　be　believed；　was　even　more　hazardous　than　his　trip　across　the　mountains　infested　with　bandits。
　　In　the　country　near　D　a　man　lived　quite　alone。
　　This　man；　we　will　state　at　once；　was　a　former　member　of　the　Convention。　His　name　was　G
　　Member　of　the　Convention；　G　was　mentioned　with　a　sort　of　horror　in　the　little　world　of　D　A　member　of　the　Conventioncan　you　imagine　such　a　thing？
　　That　existed　from　the　time　when　people　called　each　other　thou；　and　when　they　said　〃citizen。〃
　　This　man　was　almost　a　monster。
　　He　had　not　voted　for　the　death　of　the　king；　but　almost。
　　He　was　a　quasi…regicide。　He　had　been　a　terrible　man。　How　did　it　happen　that　such　a　man　had　not　been　brought　before　a　provost's　court；　on　the　return　of　the　legitimate　princes？　They　need　not　have　cut　off　his　head；　if　you　please；　clemency　must　be　exercised；　agreed；　but　a　good　banishment　for　life。
　　An　example；　in　short；　etc。
　　Besides；　he　was　an　atheist；　like　all　the　rest　of　those　people。
　　Gossip　of　the　geese　about　the　vulture。
　　Was　G　a　vulture　after　all？
　　Yes；　if　he　were　to　be　judged　by　the　element　of　ferocity　in　this　solitude　of　his。
　　As　he　had　not　voted　for　the　death　of　the　king；　he　had　not　been　included　in　the　decrees　of　exile；　and　had　been　able　to　remain　in　France。
　　He　dwelt　at　a　distance　of　three…quarters　of　an　hour　from　the　city；　far　from　any　hamlet；　far　from　any　road；　in　some　hidden　turn　of　a　very　wild　valley；　no　one　knew　exactly　where。
　　He　had　there；　it　was　said；　a　sort　of　field；　a　hole；　a　lair。
　　There　were　no　neighbors；　not　even　passers…by。　Since　he　had　dwelt　in　that　valley；　the　path　which　led　thither　had　disappeared　under　a　growth　of　grass。　The　locality　was　spoken　of　as　though　it　had　been　the　dwelling　of　a　hangman。
　　Nevertheless；　the　Bishop　meditated　on　the　subject；　and　from　time　to　time　he　gazed　at　the　horizon　at　a　point　where　a　clump　of　trees　marked　the　valley　of　the　former　member　of　the　Convention；　and　he　said；　〃There　is　a　soul　yonder　which　is　lonely。〃
　　And　he　added；　deep　in　his　own　mind；　〃I　owe　him　a　visit。〃
　　But；　let　us　avow　it；　this　idea；　which　seemed　natural　at　the　first　blush；　appeared　to　him　after　a　moment's　reflection；　as　strange；　impossible；　and　almost　repulsive。
　　For；　at　bottom；　he　shared　the　general　impression；　and　the　old　member　of　the　Convention　inspired　him；　without　his　being　clearly　conscious　of　the　fact　himself；　with　that　sentiment　which　borders　on　hate；　and　which　is　so　well　expressed　by　the　word　estrangement。
　　Still；　should　the　scab　of　the　sheep　cause　the　shepherd　to　recoil？　No。　But　what　a　sheep！
　　The　good　Bishop　was　perplexed。
　　Sometimes　he　set　out　in　that　direction；　then　he　returned。
　　Finally；　the　rumor　one　day　spread　through　the　town　that　a　sort　of　young　shepherd；　who　served　the　member　of　the　Convention　in　his　hovel；　had　e　in　quest　of　a　doctor；　that　the　old　wretch　was　dying；　that　paralysis　was　gaining　on　him；　and　that　he　would　not　live　over　night。〃Thank　God！〃　some　added。
　　The　Bishop　took　his　staff；　put　on　his　cloak；　on　account　of　his　too　threadbare　cassock；　as　we　have　mentioned；　and　because　of　the　evening　breeze　which　was　sure　to　rise　soon；　and　set　out。
　　The　sun　was　setting；　and　had　almost　touched　the　horizon　when　the　Bishop　arrived　at　the　exmunicated　spot。
　　With　a　certain　beating　of　the　heart；　he　recognized　the　fact　that　he　was　near　the　lair。　He　strode　over　a　ditch；　leaped　a　hedge；　made　his　way　through　a　fence　of　dead　boughs；　entered　a　neglected　paddock；　took　a　few　steps　with　a　good　deal　of　boldness；　and　suddenly；　at　the　extremity　of　the　waste　land；　and　behind　lofty　brambles；　he　caught　sight　of　the　cavern。
　　It　was　a　very　low　hut；　poor；　small；　and　clean；　with　a　vine　nailed　against　the　outside。
　　Near　the　door；　in　an　old　wheel…chair；　the　arm…chair　of　the　peasants；　there　was　a　white…haired　man；　smiling　at　the　sun。
　　Near　the　seated　man　stood　a　young　boy；　the　shepherd　lad。　He　was　offering　the　old　man　a　jar　of　milk。
　　While　the　Bishop　was　watching　him；　the　old　man　spoke：
　　〃Thank　you；〃　he　said；　〃I　need　nothing。〃
　　And　his　smile　quitted　the　sun　to　rest　upon　the　child。
　　The　Bishop　stepped　forward。
　　At　the　sound　which　he　made　in　walking；　the　old　man　turned　his　head；　and　his　face　expressed　the　sum　total　of　the　surprise　which　a　man　can　still　feel　after　a　long　life。
　　〃This　is　the　first　time　since　I　have　been　here；〃　said　he；　〃that　any　one　has　entered　here。
　　Who　are　you；　sir？〃
　　The　Bishop　answered：
　　〃My　name　is　Bienvenu　Myriel。〃
　　〃Bienvenu　Myriel？
　　I　have　heard　that　name。
　　Are　you　the　man　whom　the　people　call　Monseigneur　Wele？〃
　　〃I　am。〃
　　The　old　man　resumed　with　a　half…smile
　　〃In　that　case；　you　are　my　bishop？〃
　　〃Something　of　that　sort。〃
　　〃Enter；　sir。〃
　　The　member　of　the　Convention　extended　his　hand　to　the　Bishop；　but　the　Bishop　did　not　take　it。
　　The　Bishop　confined　himself　to　the　remark：
　　〃I　am　pleased　to　see　that　I　have　been　misinformed。
　　You　certainly　do　not　seem　to　me　to　be　ill。〃
　　〃Monsieur；〃　replied　the　old　man；　〃I　am　going　to　recover。〃
　　He　paused；　and　then　said：
　　〃I　shall　die　three　hours　hence。〃
　　Then　he　continued：
　　〃I　am　something　of　a　doctor；　I　know　in　what　fashion　the　last　hour　draws　on。
　　Yesterday；　only　my　feet　were　cold；　to…day；　the　chill　has　ascended　to　my　knees；　now　I　feel　it　mounting　to　my　waist；　when　it　reaches　the　heart；　I　shall　stop。
　　The　sun　is　beautiful；　is　it　not？
　　I　had　myself　wheeled　out　here　to　take　a　last　look　at　things。
　　You　can　talk　to　me；　it　does　not　fatigue　me。
　　You　have　done　well　to　e　and　look　at　a　man　who　is　on　the　point　of　death。　It　is　well　that　there　should　be　witnesses　at　that　moment。
　　One　has　one's　caprices；　I　should　have　liked　to　last　until　the　dawn；　but　I　know　that　I　shall　hardly　live　three　hours。
　　It　will　be　night　then。　What　does　it　matter；　after　all？
　　Dying　is　a　simple　affair。　One　has　no　need　of　the　light　for　that。
　　So　be　it。
　　I　shall　die　by　starlight。〃
　　The　old　man　turned　to　the　shepherd　lad：
　　〃Go　to　thy　bed；　thou　wert　awake　all　last　night；　thou　art　tired。〃
　　The　child　entered　the　hut。
　　The　old　man　followed　him　with　his　eyes；　and　added；　as　though　speaking　to　himself：
　　〃I　shall　die　while　he　sleeps。
　　The　two　slumbers　may　be　good　neighbors。〃
　　The　Bishop　was　not　touched　as　it　seems　that　he　should　have　been。　He　did　not　think　he　discerned　God　in　this　manner　of　dying；　let　us　say　the　whole；　for　these　petty　contradictions　of　great　hearts　must　be　indicated　like　the　rest：
　　he；　who　on　occasion；　was　so　fond　of　laughing　at　〃His　Grace；〃　was　rather　shocked　at　not　being　addressed　as　Monseigneur；　and　he　was　almost　tempted　to　retort　〃citizen。〃　He　was　assailed　by　a　fancy　for　peevish　familiarity；　mon　enough　to　doctors　and　priests；　but　which　was　not　habitual　with　him。　This　man；　after　all；　this　member　of　the　Convention；　this　representative　of　the　people；　had　been　one　of　the　powerful　ones　of　the　earth；　for　the　first　time　in　his　life；　probably；　the　Bishop　felt　in　a　mood　to　be　severe。
　　Meanwhile；　the　member　of　the　Convention　had　been　surveying　him　with　a　modest　cordiality；　in　which　one　could　have　distinguished；　possibly；　that　humility　which　is　so　fitting　when　one　is　on　the　verge　of　returning　to　dust。
　　The　Bishop；　on　his　side；　although　he　generally　restrained　his　curiosity；　which；　in　his　opinion；　bordered　on　a　fault；　could　not　refrain　from　examining　the　member　of　the　Convention　with　an　attention　which；　as　it　did　not　have　its　course　in　sympathy；　would　have　served　his　conscience　as　a　matter　of　reproach；　in　connection　with　any　other　man。　A　member　of　the　Convention　produced　on　him　somewhat　the　effect　of　being　outside　the　pale　of　the　law；　even　of　the　law　of　charity。
　　G；　calm；　his　body　almost　upright；　his　voice　vibrating；　was　one　of　those　octogenari