the wandering jew, volume 10-第19章

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and　your　prayers　may　perhaps　conquer　the　fatal　influence　that　these
priests　have　acquired　over　him。'〃

〃It　was　the　best　advice　she　could　give　you。　　That　excellent　young　lady　is
always　right。〃

〃An　hour　after；　we　were　upon　our　way；　for　we　learned　by　the　returned
postilions；　that　M。　Hardy　had　taken　the　Orleans　road。　　We　followed　him　as
far　as　Etampes。　　There　we　heard　that　he　had　taken　a　cross…road；　to　reach
a　solitary　house　in　a　valley　about　four　leagues　from　the　highway。　　They
told　us　that　this　house　called　the　Val…de…St。　Herem；　belonged　to　certain
priests；　and　that；　as　the　night　was　so　dark；　and　the　road　so　bad；　we　had
better　sleep　at　the　inn；　and　start　early　in　the　morning。　　We　followed
this　advice；　and　set　out　at　dawn。　　In　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　we　quitted
the　high…road　for　a　mountainous　and　desert　track。　　We　saw　nothing　but
brown　rocks；　and　a　few　birch　trees。　　As　we　advanced；　the　scene　became
wilder　and　wilder。　　We　might　have　fancied　ourselves　a　hundred　leagues
from　Paris。　　At　last　we　stopped　in　front　of　a　large；　old；　black…looking
house　with　only　a　few　small　windows　in　it；　and　built　at　the　foot　of　a
high；　rocky　mountain。　　In　my　whole　life　I　have　never　seen　anything　so
deserted　and　sad。　　We　got　out　of　the　carriage；　and　I　rang　the　bell。　　A
man　opened　the　door。　　‘Did　not　the　Abbe　d'Aigrigny　arrive　here　last　night
with　a　gentleman？'　said　I　to　this　man；　with　a　confidential　air。　　‘Inform
the　gentleman　directly；　that　I　come　on　business　of　importance；　and　that　I
must　see　him　forthwith。'The　man；　believing　me　an　accomplice；　showed　us
in　immediately；　a　moment　after；　the　Abbe　d'Aigrigny　opened　the　door；　saw
me；　and　drew　back；　yet；　in　five　minutes　more；　I　was　in　presence　of　M。
Hardy。〃

〃Well！〃　said　Dagobert；　with　interest。

Agricola　shook　his　head　sorrowfully；　and　replied：　〃I　knew　by　the　very
countenance　of　M。　Hardy；　that　all　was　over。　　Addressing　me　in　a　mild　but
firm　voice；　he　said　to　me：　‘I　understand；　I　can　even　excuse；　the　motives
that　bring　you　hither。　　But　I　am　quite　determined　to　live　henceforth　in
solitude　and　prayer。　　I　take　this　resolution　freely　and　voluntarily；
because　I　would　fain　provide　for　the　salvation　of　my　soul。　　Tell　your
fellows　that　my　arrangements　will　be　such　as　to　leave　them　a　good
remembrance　of　me。'And　as　I　was　about　to　speak；　M。　Hardy　interrupted
me；　saying：　‘It　is　useless；　my　friend。　　My　determination　is　unalterable。
Do　not　write　to　me；　for　your　letters　would　remain　unanswered。　　Prayer
will　henceforth　be　my　only　occupation。　　Excuse　me　for　leaving　you；　but　I
am　fatigued　from　my　journey！'He　spoke　the　truth　for　he　was　as　pale　as　a
spectre；　with　a　kind　of　wildness　about　the　eyes；　and　so　changed　since　the
day　before；　as　to　be　hardly　the　same　man。　　His　hand；　when　he　offered　it
on　parting　from　me；　was　dry　and　burning。　　The　Abbe　d'Aigrigny　soon　came
in。　　‘Father；'　said　M。　Hardy　to　him；　‘have　the　goodness　to　see　M。　Baudoin
to　the　door。'So　saying；　he　waved　his　hand　to　me　in　token　of　farewell；
and　retired　to　the　next　chamber。　　All　was　over；　he　is　lost　to　us
forever。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Dagobert；　〃those　black…gowns　have　enchanted　him；　like　so　many
others。〃

〃In　despair；〃　resumed　Agricola；　〃I　returned　hither　with　M。　Dupont。　　This；
then；　is　what　the　priests　have　made　of　M。　Hardyof　that　generous　man；
who　supported　nearly　three　hundred　industrious　workmen　in　order　and
happiness；　increasing　their　knowledge；　improving　their　hearts；　and
earning　the　benediction　of　that　little　people；　of　which　he　was　the
providence。　　Instead　of　all　this；　M。　Hardy　is　now　forever　reduced　to　a
gloomy　and　unavailing　life　of　contemplation。〃

〃Oh；　the　black…gowns！〃　said　Dagobert；　shuddering；　and　unable　to　conceal　a
vague　sense　of　fear。　　〃The　longer　I　live；　the　more　I　am　afraid　of　them。
You　have　seen　what　those　people　did　to　your　poor　mother；　you　see　what
they　have　just　done　to　M。　Hardy；　you　know　their　plots　against　my　two　poor
orphans；　and　against　that　generous　young　lady。　　Oh；　these　people　are　very
powerful！　I　would　rather　face　a　battalion　of　Russian　grenadiers；　than　a
dozen　of　these　cassocks。　　But　don't　let's　talk　of　it。　　I　have　causes
enough　beside　for　grief　and　fear。〃

Then　seeing　the　astonished　look　of　Agricola；　the　soldier；　unable　to
restrain　his　emotion；　threw　himself　into　the　arms　of　his　son；　exclaiming
with　a　choking　voice：　〃I　can　hold　out　no　longer。　　My　heart　is　too　full。
I　must　speak；　and　whom　shall　I　trust　if　not　you？〃

〃Father；　you　frighten　me！〃　said　Agricola；　〃What　is　the　matter？〃

〃Why；　you　see；　had　it　not　been　for　you　and　the　two　poor　girls；　I　should
have　blown　out　my　brains　twenty　times　over　rather　than　see　what　I　see
and　dread　what　I　do。〃

〃What　do　you　dread；　father？〃

〃Since　the　last　few　days；　I　do　not　know　what　has　come　over　the　marshal
but　he　frightens　me。〃

〃Yet　in　his　last　interviews　with　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville　〃

〃Yes；　he　was　a　little　better。　　By　her　kind　words；　this　generous　young
lady　poured　balm　into　his　wounds；　the　presence　of　the　young　Indian
cheered　him；　he　appeared　to　shake　off　his　cares；　and　his　poor　little
girls　felt　the　benefit　of　the　change。　　But　for　some　days；　I　know　not　what
demon　has　been　loosed　against　his　family。　　It　is　enough　to　turn　one's
head。　　First　of　all；　I　am　sure　that　the　anonymous　letters　have　begun
again。〃

〃What　letters；　father？〃

〃The　anonymous　letters。〃

〃But　what　are　they　about？〃

〃You　know　how　the　marshal　hated　that　renegade；　the　Abbe　d'Aigrigny。　　When
he　found　that　the　traitor　was　here；　and　that　he　had　persecuted　the　two
orphans；　even　as　he　persecuted　their　mother　to　the　deathbut　that　now　he
had　become　a　priestI　thought　the　marshal　would　have　gone　mad　with
indignation　and　fury。　　He　wishes　to　go　in　search　of　the　renegade。　　With
one　word　I　calmed　him。　　‘He　is　a　priest；'　I　said；　‘you　may　do　what　you
will；　insult　or　strike　himhe　will　not　fight。　　He　began　by　serving
against　his　country；　he　ends　by　becoming　a　bad　priest。　　It　is　all　in
character。　　He　is　not　worth　spitting　upon。''But　surely　I　may　punish　the
wrong　done　to　my　children；　and　avenge　the　death　of　my　wife；'　cried　the
marshal；　much　exasperated。‘They　say；　as　you　well　know；　that　there　are
courts　of　law　to　avenge　your　wrongs；'　answered　I；　'Mdlle。　de　Cardoville
has　lodged　a　charge　against　the　renegade；　for　having　attempted　to　confine
your　daughters　in　a　convent。　　We　must　champ　the　bit　and　wait。〃'

〃Yes；〃　said　Agricola；　mournfully；　〃and　unfortunately　there　lacks　proof　to
bring　it　home　to　the　Abbe　d'Aigrigny。　　The　other　day；　when　I　was　examined
by　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville's　lawyer；　with　regard　to　our　attempt　on　the
convent；　he　told　me　that　we　should　meet　with　obstacles　at　every　step；　for
want　of　legal　evidence；　and　that　the　priests　had　taken　their　precautions
with　so　much　skill　that　the　indictment　would　be　quashed。〃

〃That　is　just　what　the　marshal　thinks；　my　boy；　and　this　increases　his
irritation　at　such　injustice。〃

〃He　should　despise　the　wretches。〃

〃But　the　anonymous　letters！〃

〃Well；　what　of　them；　father？〃

〃You　shall　know　all。　　A　brave　and　honorable　man　like　the　marshal；　when
his　first　movement　of　indignation　was　over；　felt　that　to　insult　the
renegade　disguised　in　the　garb　of　a　priest；　would　be　like　insulting　an
old　man　or　a　woman。　　He　determined　therefore　to　despise　him；　and　to
forget　him　as　soon　as　possible。　　But　then；　almost　every　day；　there　came
by　the　post　anonymous　letters；　in　which　all　sorts　of　devices　were
employed；　to　revive　and　excite　the　anger　of　the　marshal　against　the
renegade　by　reminding　him　of　all　the　evil　contrived　by　the　Abbe
d'Aigrigny　against　him　and　his　family。　　The　marshal　was　reproached　with
cowardice　for　not　taking　vengeance　on　this　priest；　the　persecutor　of　his
wife　and　children；　the　insolent　mocker　at　his　misfortunes。〃

〃And　from　whom　do　you　suspect　these　letters　to　come；　father？〃

〃I　cannot　tellit　is　that　which　turns　one's　brain。　　They　must　come　from
the　enemies　of　the　marshal；　and　he　has　no　enemies　but　the　black…gowns。〃

〃But；　father；　since　these　letters　are　to　excite　his　anger　against　the
Abbe　d'Aigrigny；　they　can　hardly　have　been　written　by　priests。〃

〃That　is　what　I　have　said　to　myself。〃

〃But　what；　then；　can　be　their　object？〃

〃Their　object？　　oh；　it　is　too　plain！〃　cried　Dagobert。　　〃The　marshal　is
hasty；　ardent；　he　has　a　thousand　reasons　to　desire　vengeance　on　the
renegade。　　But　he　cannot　do　himself　justice；　and　the　other　sort　of
justice　fails　him。　　Then　what　does　he　do？　　He　endeavors　to　forget；　he
forgets。　　But　every　day　there　comes　to　him　an　insolent　letter；　to　provoke
and　exasperate　his　legitimate　hatred；　by　mockeries　and　insults。　　Devil
take　me！　my　head　is　not　the　weakestbut；　at　such　a　game；　I　should　go
mad。〃

〃Father；　such　a　plot　would　be　horrible；　and　only　worthy　of　hell！〃

〃And　that　is　not　all。〃

〃What　more？〃

〃The　marshal　has　received　other　letters；　those　he　has　not　shown　mebut；
after　he　had　read　the　first；　he　remained　like　a　man　struck　motionless；
and　murmured　to　himself：　‘They　do　not　even　respect　thatoh！　it　is　too
muchtoo　much！'And；　hiding　his　face　in　his　hands　he　wept。〃

〃The　marshal　wept！〃　cried　the　blacksmith；　hardly　able　to　believe　what　he
heard。

〃Yes；〃　answered　Dagobert；　〃he　wept　like　a　child。〃

〃And　what　could　these　letters　contain；　father？〃

〃I　did　not　venture　to　ask　him；　he　appeared　so　miserable　and　dejected。〃

〃But　thus　harassed　and　tormented　incessantly；　the　marshal　must　lead　a
wretched　life。〃

〃And　his　poor　little　girls　too！　he　sees　them　grow　sadder　and　sadder；
without　being　able　to　guess　the　cause。　　And　the　death　of　his　father；
killed　almost　in　his　arms！　　Perhaps；　you　will　think　all　this　enough；　but；
no！　I　am　sure　there　is　something　still　more　painful　behind。　　Lately；　you
would　hardly　know　the　marshal。　　He　is　irritable　about　nothing；　and　falls
into　such　fits　of　passion；　that〃　　After　a　moment's　hesitation；　the
soldier　resumed：　〃I　way　tell　this　to　you；　my　poor　boy。　　I　have　just　been
upstairs；　to　take　the　caps　from　his　pistols。〃

〃What；　father！〃　cried　Agricola；　〃you　fear〃

〃In　the　state　of　exasperation　in　which　I　saw　him　yesterday；　there　is
everything　to　fear。〃

〃　What　then　happened？〃

〃Since　some　time；　he　has　often　long　secret　interviews　with　a　gentleman；
who　looks　like　an　old　soldier　and　a　worthy　man。　　I　have　remarked　that　the
gloom　and　agitation　of　the　marshal　are　always　redoubled　after　one　of
these　visits。　　Two　or　three　times；　I　have　spoken　to　him　about　it；　but　I
saw　by　his　look；　that　I　displeased　him；　and　therefore　I　desisted。

〃Well！　yesterday；　this　gentleman　came　in　the　evening。　　He　remained　here
until　eleven　o'clock；　and　his　wife　came　to　fetch　him；　and　waited　for　him
in　a　coach。　　After　his　departure；　I　went　up　to　see　if　the　marshal　wanted
anything。　　He　was　very　pale；　but　calm；　he　thanked　me；　and　I　came　down
again。　　You　know　that　my　room　is　just　under　his。　　I　could　hear　the
marshal　walking　about　as　if　much　agitated；　and　soon　after　he　seemed　to　be
knocking　down　the　furniture。　　In　alarm；　I　once　more　went　upstairs。　　He
asked　me；　with　an　irritated　air；　what　I　wanted；　and　ordered　me　to　leave
the　room。　　Seeing　him　in　that　way；　I　remained；　he　grew　more　angry；　still
I　remained；　perceiving　a　chair　and　table　thrown　down；　I　pointed　to　them
with　so　sad　an　air　that　he　understood　me。　　You　know　that　he　has　the　best