the wandering jew, volume 10-第11章

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gradually　recovering　his　presence　of　mind；　〃conquered　the　coldness　of〃

〃Do　not　say　that；〃　resumed　the　prince；　interrupting　him　with　the　same
mildness。　　〃If　I　enjoy　this　happiness；　which　makes　me　compassionate
towards　you；　and　raises　me　above　myself；　it　is　because　Mdlle　de
Cardoville　now　knows　that　I　have　never　for　a　moment　ceased　to　love　her　as
she　ought　to　be　loved；　with　adoration　and　reverence。　　It　was　your
intention　to　have　parted　us　forever；　and　you　had　nearly　succeeded。〃

〃If　you　think　this　of　me；　my　lord；　you　must　look　upon　me　as　your　most
mortal　enemy。〃

〃Fear　nothing；　I　tell　you。　　I　have　no　right　to　blame　you。　　In　the　madness
of　my　grief；　I　listened　to　you　and　followed　your　advice。　　I　was　not　only
your　dupe；　but　your　accomplice。　　Only　confess　that；　when　you　saw　me　at
your　mercy；　dejected；　crushed；　despairing；　it　was　cruel　in　you　to　advise
the　course　that　might　have　been　most　fatal　to　me。〃

〃The　ardor　of　my　zeal　may　have　deceived　me；　my　lord。〃

〃I　am　willing　to　believe　it。　　And　yet　again　to…day　there　were　the　same
evil　counsels。　　You　had　no　more　pity　for　my　happiness　than　for　my　sorrow。
The　rapture　of　my　heart　inspires　you　with　only　one　desirethat　of
changing　this　rapture　into　despair。〃

〃I；　my　lord！〃

〃Yes；　you。　　It　was　your　intention　to　ruin　meto　dishonor　me　forever　in
the　eyes　of　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville。　　Now；　tell　mewhy　this　furious　hate？
what　have　I　done　to　you？〃

〃You　misjudge　me；　my　lordand〃

〃Listen　to　me。　　I　do　not　wish　you　to　be　any　longer　wicked　and
treacherous。　　I　wish　to　make　you　good。　　In　our　country；　they　charm
serpents；　and　tame　the　wildest　tigers。　　You　are　a　man；　with　a　mind　to
reason；　a　heart　to　love；　and　I　will　tame　you　too　by　gentleness。　　This　day
has　bestowed　on　me　divine　happiness；　you　shall　have　good　cause　to　bless
this　day。　　What　can　I　do　for　you？　　what　would　you　havegold？　　You　shall
have　it。　　Do　you　desire　more　than　gold？　　Do　you　desire　a　friend；　to
console　you　for　the　sorrows　that　made　you　wicked；　and　to　teach　you　to　be
good？　　Though　a　king's　son；　I　will　be　that　friendin　spite　of　the　evil
ay；　because　of　the　evil　you　have　done　me。　　Yes；　I　will　be　your　sincere
friend；　and　it　shall　be　my　delight　to　say　to　myself：　‘The　day　on　which　I
learned　that　my　angel　loved　me；　my　happiness　was　great　indeedfor；　in
the　morning；　I　had　an　implacable　enemy；　and；　ere　night；　his　hatred　was
changed　to　friendship。'　　Believe　me；　Faringhea；　misery　makes　crime；　but
happiness　produces　virtue。　　Be　happy！〃

At　this　moment　the　clock　struck　two。　　The　prince　started。　　It　was　time　to
go　on　his　visit　to　Adrienne。　　The　handsome　countenance　of　Djalma；　doubly
embellished　by　the　mild；　ineffable　expression　with　which　it　had　been
animated　whilst　he　was　talking　to　the　half…caste；　now　seemed　illumined
with　almost　divine　radiance。

Approaching　Faringhea；　he　extended　his　hand　with　the　utmost；　grace　and
courtesy；　saying　to　him；　〃Your　hand！〃

The　half…caste；　whose　brow　was　bathed　with　a　cold　sweat；　whose
countenance　was　pale　and　agitated；　seemed　to　hesitate　for　an　instant；
then；　overawed；　conquered；　fascinated；　he　offered　his　trembling　hand　to
the　prince；　who　pressed　it；　and　said　to　him；　in　their　country's　fashion；
〃You　have　laid　your　hand　honestly　in　a　friend's；　this　hand　shall　never　be
closed　against　you。　　Faringhea；　farewell！　　I　now　feel　myself　more　worthy
to　kneel　before　my　angel。〃

And　Djalma　went　out；　on　his　way　to　the　appointment　with　Adrienne。　　In
spite　of　his　ferocity；　in　spite　of　the　pitiless　hate　he　bore　to　the　whole
human　race；　the　dark　sectary　of　Bowanee　was　staggered　by　the　noble　and
clement　words　of　Djalma；　and　said　to　himself；　with　terror；　〃I　have　taken
his　hand。　　He　is　now　sacred　for　me。〃

Then；　after　a　moment's　silence；　a　thought　occurred　to　him；　and　he
exclaimed；　〃Yesbut　he　will　not　be　sacred　for　him　who；　according　to　the
answer　of　last　night；　waits　for　him　at　the　door　of　the　house。〃

So　saying；　the　half…caste　hastened　into　the　next　room；　which　looked　upon
the　street；　and；　raising　a　corner　of　the　curtain；　muttered　anxiously　to
himself；　〃The　carriage　moves　offthe　man　approaches。　　Perdition！　it　is
gone　and　I　see　no　more。〃




CHAPTER　XL。

ANXIETY。

By　a　singular　coincidence　of　ideas；　Adrienne；　like　Djalma；　had　wished　to
be　dressed　exactly　in　the　same　costume　as　at　their　interview　in　the　house
in　the　Rue　Blanche。　　For　the　site　of　this　solemn　meeting；　so　important　to
her　future　happiness；　Adrienne　had　chosen；　with　habitual　tact；　the　grand
drawing…room　of　Cardoville　House；　in　which　hung　many　family　portraits。
The　most　apparent　were　those　of　her　father　and　mother。　　The　room　was
large　and　lofty；　and　furnished；　like　those　which　preceded　it；　with　all
the　imposing　splendor　of　the　age　of　Louis　XIV。　　The　ceiling；　painted　by
Lebrun；　to　represent　the　Triumph　of　Apollo；　displayed　his　bold　designing
and　vigorous　coloring；　in　the　centre　of　a　wide　cornice；　magnificently
carved　and　gilt；　and　supported　at　its　angles　by　four　large　gilt　figures；
representing　the　Seasons。　　Huge　panels；　covered　with　crimson　damask；　and
set　in　frames；　served　as　the　background　to　the　family　portraits　which
adorned　this　apartment。　　It　is　easier　to　conceive　than　describe　the
thousand　conflicting　emotions　which　agitated　the　bosom　of　Mdlle。　de
Cardoville　as　the　moment　approached　for　her　interview　with　Djalma。　　Their
meeting　had　been　hitherto　prevented　by　so　many　painful　obstacles；　and
Adrienne　was　so　well　aware　of　the　vigilant　and　active　perfidy　of　her
enemies；　that　even　now　she　doubted　of　her　happiness。　　Every　instant；　in
spite　of　herself；　her　eyes　wandered　to　the　clock。　　A　few　minutes　more；
and　the　hour　of　the　appointment　would　strike。　　It　struck　at　last。　　Every
reverberation　was　echoed　from　the　depth　of　Adrienne's　heart。　　She
considered　that　Djalma's　modest　reserve　had；　doubtless；　prevented　his
coming　before　the　moment　fixed　by　herself。　　Far　from　blaming　this
discretion；　she　fully　appreciated　it。　　But；　from　that　moment；　at　the
least　noise　in　the　adjoining　apartments；　she　held　her　breath　and　listened
with　the　anxiety　of　expectation。

For　the　first　few　minutes　which　followed　the　hour　at　which　she　expected
Djalma；　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville　felt　no　serious　apprehension；　and　calmed　her
impatience　by　the　notion　（which　appears　childish　enough　to　those　who　have
never　known　the　feverish　agitation　of　waiting　for　a　happy　meeting）；　that
perhaps　the　clocks　in　the　Rue　Blanche　might　vary　a　little　from　those　in
the　Rue　d'Anjou。　　But　when　this　supposed　variation；　conceivable　enough　in
itself；　could　no　longer　explain　a　delay　of　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　of
twenty　minutes；　of　more；　Adrienne　felt　her　anxiety　gradually　increase。
Two　or　three　times　the　young　girl　rose；　with　palpitating　heart；　and　went
on　tip…toe　to　listen　at　the　door　of　the　saloon。　　She　heard　nothing。　　The
clock　struck　half…past　three。

Unable　to　suppress　her　growing　terror；　and　clinging　to　a　last　hope；
Adrienne　returned　towards　the　fireplace　and　rang　the　bell。　　After　which
she　endeavored　to　compose　her　features；　so　as　to　betray　no　outward　sign
of　emotion。　　In　a　few　seconds；　a　gray…haired　footman；　dressed　in　black；
opened　the　door；　and　waited　in　respectful　silence　for　the　orders　of　his
mistress。　　The　latter　said　to　him；　in　a　calm　voice；　〃Andrew；　request　Hebe
to　give　you　the　smelling　bottle　that　I　left　on　the　chimney…piece　in　my
room；　and　bring　it　me　here。〃　　Andrew　bowed；　but　just　as　he　was　about　to
withdraw　to　execute　Adrienne's　orders；　which　was　only　a　pretext　to　enable
her　to　ask　a　question　without　appearing　to　attach　much　importance　to　it
in　her　servant's　eyes；　already　informed　of　the　expected　visit　of　the
prince；　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville　added；　with　an　air　of　indifference。　　〃Pray；
is　that　clock　right？〃

Andrew　drew　out　his　watch；　and　replied　as　he　cast　his　eyes　upon　it；　〃Yes；
mademoiselle。　　I　set　my　watch　by　the　Tuileries。　　It　is　more　than　half…
past　three。〃

〃Very　wellthank　you！〃　said　Adrienne　kindly。

Andrew　again　bowed；　but；　before　going　out；　he　said　to　Adrienne；　〃I　forgot
to　tell　you；　lady；　that　Marshal　Simon　called　about　an　hour　ago；　but；　as
you　were　only　to　be　at　home　to　Prince　Djalma；　we　told　him　that　you
received　no　company。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　Adrienne。　　With　another　low　bow；　Andrew　quitted　the
room；　and　all　returned　to　silence。

For　the　precise　reason　that；　up　to　the　last　minute　of　the　hour　previous
to　the　time　fixed　for　her　interview　with　Djalma；　the　hopes　of　Adrienne
had　not　been　disturbed　by　the　slightest　shadow　of　doubt；　the
disappointment　she　now　felt　was　the　more　dreadful。　　Casting　a　desponding
look　at　one　of　the　portraits　placed　above　her；　she　murmured；　with　a
plaintive　and　despairing　accent；　〃Oh；　mother！〃

Hardly　had　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville　uttered　the　words　than　the　windows　were
slightly　shaken　by　a　carriage　rolling　into　the　courtyard。　　The　young　lady
started；　and　was　unable　to　repress　a　low　cry　of　joy。　　Her　heart　bounded
at　the　thought　of　meeting　Djalma；　for　this　time　she　felt　that　he　was
really　come。　　She　was　quite　as　certain　of　it　as　if　she　had　seen　him。　　She
resumed　her　seat　and　brushed　away　a　tear　suspended　from　her　long
eyelashes。　　Her　hand　trembled　like　a　leaf。　　The　sound　of　several　doors
opening　and　shutting　proved　that　the　young　lady　was　right　in　her
conjecture。　　The　gilded　panels　of　the　drawing…room　door　soon　turned　upon
their　hinges；　and　the　prince　appeared。

While　a　second　footman　ushered　in　Djalma；　Andrew　placed　on　a　gilded
table；　within　reach　of　his　mistress；　a　little　silver　salver；　on　which
stood　the　crystal　smelling…bottle。　　Then　he　withdrew；　and　the　door　of　the
room　was　closed。　　The　prince　and　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville　were　left　alone
together。




CHAPTER　XLI。

ADRIENNE　AND　DJALMA。

The　prince　had　slowly　approached　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville。　　Notwithstanding
the　impetuosity　of　the　Oriental's　passions；　his　uncertain　and　timid　step…
…timid；　yet　gracefulbetrayed　his　profound　emotion。　　He　did　not　venture
to　lift　his　eyes　to　Adrienne's　face；　he　had　suddenly　become　very　pale；
and　his　finely　formed　hands；　folded　over　his　bosom　in　the　attitude　of
adoration；　trembled　violently。　　With　head　bent　down；　he　remained　standing
at　a　little　distance　from　Adrienne。　　This　embarrassment；　ridiculous　in
any　other　person；　appeared　touching　in　this　prince　of　twenty　years　of
age；　endowed　with　an　almost　fabulous　intrepidity；　and　of　so　heroic　and
generous　a　character；　that　no　traveller　could　speak　of　the　son　of　Kadja…
sing　without　a　tribute　of　admiration　and　respect。　　Sweet　emotion！　chaste
reserve！　doubly　interesting　if　we　consider　that　the　burning　passions　of
this　youth　were　all　the　more　inflammable；　because　they　had　hitherto　been
held　in　check。

No　less　embarrassed　than　her　cousin；　Adrienne　de　Cardoville　remained
seated。　　Like　Djalma；　she　cast　down　her　eyes；　but　the　burning　blush　on
her　cheeks；　the　quick　heaving　of　her　virgin　bosom；　revealed　an　emotion
that　she　did　not　even　attempt　to　hide。　　Notwithstanding　the　powers　of　her
mind；　by　turns　gay；　graceful；　and　wittynotwithstanding　the　decision　of
her　proud　and　independent　character；　and　her　complete　acquaintance　with
the　manners　of　the　worldAdrienne　shared　Djalma's　simple　and　enchanting
awkwardness；　and　partook　of　that　kind　of　temporary　weakness；　beneath
which　these　two　pure；　ardent；　and　loving　bein