the wandering jew, volume 10-第7章

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ever　call　me　anything　else？〃

〃And　did　my　mother　consult　you　about　my　marriage；　speak　to　you　of　the
rare　beauty　of　my　bride；　beg　you　to　come　and　see　her；　and　study　her
character；　in　the　hope　that　the　instinct　of　your　affection　for　me　would
warn　youif　I　made　a　bad　choice？　　Did　my　mother　have　this　cruelty？No；
it　was　I；　who　thus　pierced　your　heart！〃

The　fears　of　the　hearer　were　again　aroused；　there　could　be　but　little
doubt　that　Agricola　knew　her　secret。　　She　felt　herself　sinking　with
confusion；　yet；　making　a　last　effort　not　to　believe　the　discovery；　she
murmured　in　a　feeble　voice：　〃True；　Agricola！　　It　was　not　your　mother；　but
yourself；　who　made　me　that　requestand　I　was　grateful　to　you　for　such　a
mark　of　confidence。〃

〃Grateful；　my　poor　girl！〃　cried　the　smith；　whilst　his　eyes　filled　with
tears；　〃no；　it　is　not　true。　　I　pained　you　fearfullyI　was　merciless
heaven　knows；　without　being　aware　of　it！〃

〃But；〃　said　the　other；　in　a　voice　now　almost　unintelligible；　〃what　makes
you　think　so？〃

〃Your　love　for　me！〃　cried　the　smith；　trembling　with　emotion；　as　he
clasped　Mother　Bunch　in　a　brotherly　embrace。

〃Oh　heaven！〃　murmured　the　unfortunate　creature；　as　she　covered　her　face
with　her　hands；　〃he　knows　all。〃

〃Yes；　I　know　all；〃　resumed　Agricola；　with　an　expression　of　ineffable
tenderness　and　respect：　〃yes；　I　know　all；　and　I　will　not　have　you　blush
for　a　sentiment；　which　honors　me；　and　of　which　I　feel　so　justly　proud。
Yes；　I　know　all；　and　I　say　to　myself　with　joy　and　pride；　that　the　best；
the　most　noble　heart　in　the　world　is　minewill　be　mine　always。　　Come；
Magdalen；　let　us　leave　shame　to　evil　passions。　　Raise　your　eyes；　and　look
at　me！　　You　know；　if　my　countenance　was　ever　falseif　it　ever　reflected
a　feigned　emotion。　　Then　look　and　tell　me；　if　you　cannot　read　in　my
features；　how　proud　I　am；　Magdalen；　how　justly　proud　of　your　love！〃

Overwhelmed　with　grief　and　confusion；　Mother　Bunch　had　not　dared　to　look
on　Agricola；　but　his　words　expressed　so　deep　a　conviction；　the　tones　of
his　voice　revealed　so　tender　an　emotion；　that　the　poor　creature　felt　her
shame　gradually　diminish；　particularly　when　Agricola　added；　with　rising
animation：　〃Be　satisfied；　my　sweet；　my　noble　Magdalen；　I　will　be　worthy
of　this　love。　　Believe　me；　it　shall　yet　cause　you　as　much　happiness　as　it
has　occasioned　tears。　　Why　should　this　love　be　a　motive　for　estrangement；
confusion；　fear？　　For　what　is　love；　in　the　sense　in　which　it　is　held　by
your　generous　heart？　　Is　it　not　a　continual　exchange　of　devotion；
tenderness；　esteem；　of　mutual　and　blind　confidence？Why；　Magdalen！　we
may　have　all　this　for　one　anotherdevotion；　tenderness；　confidenceeven
more　than　in　times　past；　for；　on　a　thousand　occasions；　your　secret
inspired　you　with　fear　and　suspicionwhile；　for　the　future；　on　the
contrary；　you　will　see　me　take　such　delight　in　the　place　I　fill　in　your
good　and　valiant　heart；　that　you　will　be　happy　in　the　happiness　you
bestow。　　What　I　have　just　said　may　seem　very　selfish　and　conceited；　so
much　the　worse！　　I　do　not　know　how　to　lie。〃

The　longer　the　smith　spoke；　the　less　troubled　became　Mother　Bunch。　　What
she　had　above　all　feared　in　the　discovery　of　her　secret　was　to　see　it
received　with　raillery；　contempt；　or　humiliating　compassion；　far　from
this；　joy　and　happiness　were　distinctly　visible　on　the　manly　and　honest
face　of　Agricola。　　The　hunchback　knew　him　incapable　of　deception；
therefore　she　exclaimed；　this　time　without　shame　or　confusion；　but　rather
with　a　sort　of　pride。

〃Every　sincere　and　pure　passion　is　so　far　good　and　con　soling　as　to　end
by　deserving　interest　and　sympathy；　when　it　has　triumphed　over　its　first
excess！　It　is　alike　honorable　to　the　heart　which　feels　and　that　which
inspires　it！Thanks　to　you；　Agricolathanks　to　the　kind　words；　which
have　raised　me　in　my　own　esteemI　feel　that；　instead　of　blushing；　I
ought　to　be　proud　of　this　love。　　My　benefactress　is　rightyou　are　right：
why　should　I　be　ashamed　of　it？　　Is　it　not　a　true　and　sacred　love？　　To　be
near　you；　to　love　you；　to　tell　you　so；　to　prove　it　by　constant　devotion；
what　did　I　ever　desire　more？　　And　yet　shame　and　fear；　joined　with　that
dizziness　of　the　brain　which　extreme　misery　produces；　drove　me　to
suicide！But　then　some　allowance　must　be　made　for　the　suspicions　of　a
poor　creature；　who　has　been　the　subject　of　ridicule　from　her　cradle。　　So
my　secret　was　to　die　with　me；　unless　some　unforeseen　accident　should
reveal　it　to　you；　and；　in　that　case；　you　are　rightsure　of　myself；　sure
of　you；　I　ought　to　have　feared　nothing。　　But　I　may　claim　some　indulgence；
mistrust；　cruel　mistrust　of　one's　self　makes　one　doubt　others　also。　　Let
us　forget　all　that。　　Agricola；　my　generous　brother；　I　will　say　to　you；　as
you　said　to　me　just　now；　‘Look　at　me；　you　know　my　countenance　cannot　lie。
Look　at　me：　see　if　I　shun　your　gaze；　see　if；　ever　in　my　life；　I　looked　so
happy'and　yet；　even　now；　I　was　about　to　die！〃

She　spoke　the　truth。　　Agricola　himself　could　not　have　hoped　so　prompt　an
effect　from　his　words。　　In　spite　of　the　deep　traces　which　misery；　grief；
and　sickness　had　imprinted　on　the　girl's　features；　they　now　shone　with
radiant　happiness　and　serenity；　whilst　her　blue　eyes；　gentle　and　pure　as
her　soul；　were　fixed；　without　embarrassment；　on　those　of　Agricola。

〃Oh！　thanks；　thanks！〃　cried　the　smith；　in　a　rapture　of　delight：　〃when　I
see　you　so　calm；　and　so　happy；　Magdalen；　I　am　indeed　grateful。〃

〃Yes；　I　am　calm；　I　am　happy；〃　replied　she；　〃and　happy　I　shall　be；　for　I
can　now　tell　you　my　most　secret　thoughts。　　Yes；　happy；　for　this　day；
which　began　so　fatally；　ends　like　a　divine　dream。　　Far　from　being　afraid；
I　now　look　at　you　with　hope　and　joy。　　I　have　again　found　my　generous
benefactress；　and　I　am　tranquil　as　to　the　fate　of　my　poor　sister。　　Oh！
shall　we　not　soon　see　her？　　I　should　like　her　to　take　part　in　this
happiness。〃

She　seemed　so　happy；　that　the　smith　did　not　dare　to　inform　her　of　the
death　of　Cephyse；　and　reserved　himself　to　communicate　the　same　at　a　more
fitting　opportunity。　　Therefore　he　answered：　〃Cephyse；　being　the
stronger；　has　been　the　more　shaken；　it　will　not　be　prudent；　I　am　told；　to
see　her　to…day。〃

〃I　will　wait　then。　　I　can　repress　my　impatience；　I　have　so　much　to　say　to
you。〃

〃Dear；　gentle　Magdalen！〃

〃Oh；　my　friend！〃　cried　the　girl；　interrupting　Agricola；　with　tears　of
joy：　〃I　cannot　tell　you　what　I　feel；　when　I　hear　you　call　me　Magdalen。
It　is　so　sweet；　so　soothing；　that　my　heart　expands　with　delight。〃

〃Poor　girl！　how　dreadfully　she　must　have　suffered！〃　cried　the　smith；　with
inexpressible　emotion；　〃when　she　displays　so　much　happiness；　so　much
gratitude；　at　being　called　by　her　own　poor　name！〃

〃But　consider；　my　friend；　that　word　in　your　mouth　contains　a　new　life　for
me。　　If　you　only　knew　what　hopes；　what　pleasures　I　can　now　see　gleaming
in　the　future！　　If　you　knew　all　the　cherished　longings　of　my　tenderness！
Your　wife；　the　charming　Angela；　with　her　angel　face　and　angel…souloh！
in　my　turn；　I　can　say　to；　you；　‘Look　at　me；　and　see　how　sweet　that　name
is　to　my　lips　and　heart！'　　Yes；　your　charming；　your　good　Angela　will　call
me　Magdalenand　your　children；　Agricola；　your　children！dear　little
creatures！to　them　also　I　shall　be　Magdalentheir　good　Magdalenand
the　love　I　shall　bear　them　will　make　them　mine；　as　well　as　their
mother'sand　I　shall　have　my　part　in　every　maternal　careand　they　will
belong　to　us　three；　will　they　not；　Agricola？Oh！　let　me；　let　me　weep！
These　tears　without　bitterness　do　me　so　much　good；　they　are　tears　that
need　not　be　concealed。　　Thank　heaven！　thank　you；　my　friend！　those　other
tears　are　I　trust　dried　forever。〃

For　some　seconds；　this　affecting　scene　had　been　overlooked　by　an
invisible　witness。　　The　smith　and　Mother　Bunch　had　not　perceived　Mdlle。
de　Cardoville　standing　on　the　threshold　of　the　door。　　As　Mother　Bunch　had
said；　this　day；　which　dawned　with　all　under　such　fatal　auspices；　had
become　for　all　a　day　of　ineffable　felicity。　　Adrienne；　too；　was　full　of
joy；　for　Djalma　had　been　faithful　to　her；　Djalma　loved　her　with　passion。
The　odious　appearances；　of　which　she　had　been　the　dupe　and　victim；
evidently　formed　part　of　a　new　plot　of　Rodin；　and　it　only　remained　for
Mdlle。　de　Cardoville　to　discover　the　end　of　these　machinations。

Another　joy　was　reserved　for　her。　　The　happy　are　quick　in　detecting
happiness　in　others；　and　Adrienne　guessed；　by　the　hunchback's　last　words；
that　there　was　no　longer　any　secret　between　the　smith　and　the　sempstress。
She　could　not　therefore　help　exclaiming；　as　she　entered：　〃Oh！　this
will　be　the　brightest　day　of　my　life；　for　I　shall　not　be　happy　alone！〃

Agricola　and　Mother　Bunch　turned　round　hastily。　　〃Lady；〃　said　the　smith；
〃in　spite　of　the　promise　I　made　you；　I　could　not　conceal　from　Magdalen
that　I　knew　she　loved　me！〃

〃Now　that　I　no　longer　blush　for　this　love　before　Agricola；　why　should　I
blush　for　it　before　you；　lady；　that　told　me　to　be　proud　of　it；　because　it
is　noble　and　pure？〃　said　Mother　Bunch；　to　whom　her　happiness　gave
strength　enough　to　rise；　and　to　lean　upon　Agricola's　arm。

〃It　is　well；　my　friend；〃　said　Adrienne；　as　she　threw　her　arms　round　her
to　support　her；　〃only　one　word；　to　excuse　the　indiscretion　with　which　you
will　perhaps　reproach　me。　　If　I　told　your　secret　to　M。　Agricola〃

〃Do　you　know　why　it　was；　Magdalen？〃　cried　the　smith；　interrupting
Adrienne。　　〃It　was　only　another　proof　of　the　lady's　delicate　generosity。
‘I　long　hesitate　to　confide　to　you　this　secret；'　said　she　to　me　this
morning；　‘but　I　have　at　length　made　up　my　mind　to　it。　　We　shall　probably
find　your　adopted　sister；　you　have　been　to　her　the　best　of　brothers：　but
many　times；　without　knowing　it；　you　have　wounded　her　feelings　cruelly
and　now　that　you　know　her　secret；　I　trust　in　your　kind　heart　to　keep　it
faithfully；　and　so　spare　the　poor　child　a　thousand　pangspangs　the　more
bitter；　because　they　come　from　you；　and　are　suffered　in　silence。　　Hence；
when　you　speak　to　her　of　your　wife；　your　domestic　happiness；　take　care
not　to　gall　that　noble　and　tender　heart。'Yes；　Magdalen；　these　were　the
reasons　that　led　the　lady　to　commit　what　she　called　an　indiscretion。〃

〃I　want　words　to　thank　you　now　and　ever；〃　said　Mother　Bunch。

〃See；　my　friend；〃　replied　Adrienne；　〃how　often　the　designs　of　the　wicked
turn　against　themselves。　　They　feared　your　devotion　to　me；　and　therefore
employed　that　unhappy　Florine　to　steal　your　journal〃

〃So　as　to　drive　me　from　your　house　with　shame；　lady；　When　I　supposed　my
most　secret　thoughts　an　object　of　ridicule　to　all。　　There　can　be　no　doubt
such　was　their　plan；〃　said　Mother　Bunch。

〃None；　my　child。　　Well！　this　horrible　wickedness；　which　nearly　caused
your　death；　now　turns　to　the　confusion　of　the　criminals。　　Their　plot　is
discoveredand；　luckily；　many　other　of　their　designs；〃　said　Adrienne；　as
she　thought　of　Rose…Pompon。

Then　she　resumed；　with　heartfelt　joy：　〃At　last；　we　are　again　united；
happier　than　ever；　and　in　our　very　happiness　we　shall　find　new　resources
to　combat　our　enemies。　　I　say　our　enemiesfor　all　that　love　me　are
odious　to　these　wretches。　　But　courage；　the　hour　is　come；　and　the　good
people　will　have　their　turn。〃

〃Thank　heaven；　lady；〃　said　the　smith；　〃or　my　part；　I　shall　not　be　wanting
in　zeal。　　What　delight　to　strip　the