the wandering jew, volume 9-第1章

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The　Wandering　Jew；　Volume　9


by　Eugene　Sue





BOOK　IX。

XV。　　　　　　　　The　Constant　Wanderer
XVI。　　　　　　　The　Luncheon
XVII。　　　　　　Rendering　the　Account
XVIII。　　　　　The　Square　of　Notre　Dame
XIX。　　　　　　　The　Cholera　Masquerade
XX。　　　　　　　　The　Defiance
XXI。　　　　　　　Brandy　to　the　Rescue
XXII。　　　　　　Memories
XXIII。　　　　　The　Poisoner
XXIV。　　　　　　Cathedral
XXV。　　　　　　　The　Murderers
XXVI。　　　　　　The　Patient
XXVII。　　　　　The　Lure
XXVIII。　　　　Good　News
XXIX。　　　　　　The　Operation
XXX。　　　　　　　The　Torture
XXXI。　　　　　　Vice　and　Virtue
XXXII。　　　　　Suicide






CHAPTER　XV。

THE　CONSTANT　WANDERER。

It　is　night。　　The　moon　shines　and　the　stars　glimmer　in　the　midst　of　a
serene　but　cheerless　sky；　the　sharp　whistlings　of　the　north　wind；　that
fatal；　dry；　and　icy　breeze；　ever　and　anon　burst　forth　in　violent　gusts。
With　its　harsh　and　cutting　breath；　it　sweeps　Montmartre's　Heights。　　On
the　highest　point　of　the　hills；　a　man　is　standing。　　His　long　shadow　is
cast　upon　the　stony；　moon…lit　ground。　　He　gazes　on　the　immense　city；
which　lies　outspread　beneath　his　feet。　　PARISwith　the　dark　outline　of
its　towers；　cupolas；　domes；　and　steeples；　standing　out　from　the　limpid
blue　of　the　horizon；　while　from　the　midst　of　the　ocean　of　masonry；　rises
a　luminous　vapor；　that　reddens　the　starry　azure　of　the　sky。　　It　is　the
distant　reflection　of　the　thousand　fires；　which　at　night；　the　hour　of
pleasures；　light　up　so　joyously　the　noisy　capital。

〃No；〃　said　the　wayfarer；　〃it　is　not　to　be。　　The　Lord　will　not　exact　it。
Is　not　twice　enough？

〃Five　centuries　ago；　the　avenging　hand　of　the　Almighty　drove　me　hither
from　the　uttermost　confines　of　Asia。　　A　solitary　traveller；　I　had　left
behind　me　more　grief；　despair；　disaster；　and　death；　than　the　innumerable
armies　of　a　hundred　devastating　conquerors。　　I　entered　this　town；　and　it
too　was　decimated。

〃Again；　two　centuries　ago；　the　inexorable　hand；　which　leads　me　through
the　world；　brought　me　once　more　hither；　and　then；　as　the　time　before；　the
plague；　which　the　Almighty　attaches　to　my　steps；　again　ravaged　this　city；
and　fell　first　on　my　brethren；　already　worn　out　with　labor　and　misery。

〃My　brethrenmine？the　cobbler　of　Jerusalem；　the　artisan　accursed　by
the　Lord；　who；　in　my　person；　condemned　the　whole　race　of　workmen；　ever
suffering；　ever　disinherited；　ever　in　slavery；　toiling　on　like　me　without
rest　or　pause；　without　recompense　or　hope；　till　men；　women；　and　children；
young　and　old；　all　die　beneath　the　same　iron　yokethat　murderous　yoke；
which　others　take　in　their　turn；　thus　to　be　borne　from　age　to　age　on　the
submissive　and　bruised　shoulders　of　the　masses。

〃And　now；　for　the　third　time　in　five　centuries；　I　reach　the　summit　of　one
of　the　hills　that　overlook　the　city。　　And　perhaps　I　again　bring　with　me
fear；　desolation；　and　death。

〃Yet　this　city；　intoxicated　with　the　sounds　of　its　joys　and　its　nocturnal
revelries；　does　not　knowoh！　does　not　know　that　I　am　at　its　gates。

〃But　no；　no！　my　presence　will　not　be　a　new　calamity。　　The　Lord；　in　his
impenetrable　views；　has　hitherto　led　me　through　France；　so　as　to　avoid
the　humblest　hamlet；　and　the　sound　of　the　funeral　knell　has　not
accompanied　my　passage。

〃And；　moreover；　the　spectre　has　left　methe　green；　livid　spectre；　with
its　hollow；　bloodshot　eyes。　　When　I　touched　the　soil　of　France；　its　damp
and　icy　hands　was　no　longer　clasped　in　mineand　it　disappeared。

〃And　yetI　feel　that　the　atmosphere　of　death　is　around　me。

〃The　sharp　whistlings　of　that　fatal　wind　cease　not；　which；　catching　me　in
their　whirl；　seem　to　propagate　blasting　and　mildew　as　they　blow。

〃But　perhaps　the　wrath　of　the　Lord　is　appeased；　and　my　presence　here　is
only　a　threatto　be　communicated　in　some　way　to　those　〃whom　it　should
intimidate。

〃Yes；　for　otherwise　he　would　smite　with　a　fearful　blow；　by　first
scattering　terror　and　death　here　in　the　heart　of　the　country；　in　the
bosom　of　this　immense　city！

〃Oh！　no；　no！　the　Lord　will　be　merciful。　　No！　he　will　not　condemn　me　to
this　new　torture。

〃Alas！　in　this　city；　my　brethren　are　more　numerous　and　miserable　than
elsewhere。　　And　should　I　be　their　messenger　of　death？〃

〃No！　the　Lord　will　have　pity。　　For；　alas！　the　seven　descendants　of　my
sister　have　at　length　met　in　this　town。　　And　to　them　likewise　should　I　be
the　messenger　of　death；　instead　of　the　help　they　so　much　need？

〃For　that　woman；　who　like　me　wanders　from　one　border　of　the　earth　to　the
other；　after　having　once　more　rent　asunder　the　nets　of　their　enemies；　has
gone　forth　upon　her　endless　journey。

〃In　vain　she　foresaw　that　new　misfortunes　threatened　my　sister's　family。
The　invisible　hand；　that　drives　me　on；　drives　her　on　also。

〃Carried　away；　as　of　old；　by　the　irresistible　whirlwind；　at　the　moment　of
leaving　my　kindred　to　their　fate；　she　in　vain　cried　with　supplicating
tone：　‘Let　me　at　least；　O　Lord；　complete　my　task！''GO　ON！‘A　few　days；
in　mercy；　only　a　few　poor　days！''GO　ON''I　leave　those　I　love　on　the
brink　of　the　abyss！''GO　ON！　GO　ON！'

〃And　the　wandering　staragain　started　on　its　eternal　round。　　And　her
voice；　passing　through　space；　called　me　to　the　assistance　of　mine　own。

〃When　that　voice　readied　me；　I　knew　that　the　descendants　of　my　sister
were　still　exposed　to　frightful　perils。　　Those　perils　are　even　now　on　the
increase。

〃Tell　me；　O　Lord！　will　they　escape　the　scourge；　which　for　so　many
centuries　has　weighed　down　our　race？

〃Wilt　thou　pardon　me　in　them？　wilt　thou　punish　me　in　them？　　Oh；　that　they
might　obey　the　last　will　of　their　ancestor！

〃Oh；　that　they　might　join　together　their　charitable　hearts；　their　valor
and　their　strength；　their　noble　intelligence；　and　their　great　riches！

〃They　would　then　labor　for　the　future　happiness　of　humanitythey　would
thus；　perhaps；　redeem　me　from　my　eternal　punishment！

〃The　words　of　the　Son　of　Man；　LOVE　YE　ONE　ANOTHER；　will　be　their　only
end；　their　only　means。

〃By　the　help　of　those　all…powerful　words；　they　will　fight　and　conquer　the
false　priests；　who　have　renounced　the　precepts　of　love；　peace；　and　hope；
for　lessons　of　hatred；　violence；　and　despair。

〃Those　false　priests；　who；　kept　in　pay　by　the　powerful　and　happy　of　this
world；　their　accomplices　in　every　age；　instead　of　asking　here　below　for
some　slight　share　of　well…being　for　my　unfortunate　brethren；　dare　in　thy
name；　O　Lord　God；　to　assert　that　the　poor　are　condemned　to　endless
suffering　in　this　worldand　that　the　desire　or　the　hope　to　suffer　less
is　a　crime　in　thine　eyesbecause　the　happiness　of　the　few；　and　the
misery　of　nearly　the　whole　human　race；　is　（O　blasphemy！）　according　to　thy
will。　　Is　not　the　very　contrary　of　those　murderous　words　alone　worthy　of
divinity！

〃In　mercy；　hear　me；　Lord！　　Rescue　from　their　enemies　the　descendants　of
my　sisterthe　artisan　as　the　king's　son。　　Do　not　let　them　destroy　the
germ　of　so　mighty　and　fruitful　an　association；　which；　with　thy　blessing；
would　make　an　epoch　in　the　annals　of　human　happiness！

〃Let　me　unite　them；　O　Lord；　since　others　would　divide　themdefend　them；
since　others　attack；　let　me　give　hope　to　those　who　have　ceased　to　hope；
courage　to　those　who　are　brought　low　with　fearlet　me　raise　up　the
falling；　and　sustain　those　who　persevere　in　the　way　of　the　righteous！

〃And；　peradventure；　their　struggles；　devotion；　virtue；　and　grief；　may
expiate　my　faultthat　of　a　man；　whom　misfortune　alone　rendered　unjust
and　wicked。

〃Oh！　since　Thy　Almighty　hand　hath　led　me　hitherto　what　end　I　know　not
lay　aside　Thy　wrath；　I　beseech　Theelet　me　be　no　longer　the　instrument
of　Thy　vengeance！

〃Enough　of　woe　upon　the　earth！　for　the　last　two　years；　Thy　creatures　have
fallen　by　thousands　upon　my　track。　　The　world　is　decimated。　　A　veil　of
mourning　extends　over　all　the　globe。

〃From　Asia　to　the　icy　Pole；　they　died　upon　the　path　of　the　wanderer。
Dost　Thou　not　hear　the　long…drawn　sigh　that　rises　from　the　earth　unto
Thee；　O　Lord？

〃Mercy　for　all！　mercy　for　me！Let　me　but　unite　the　descendants　of　my
sister　for　a　single　day；　and　they　will　be　saved！〃

As　he　pronounced　these　words；　the　wayfarer　sank　upon　his　knees；　and
raised　to　heaven；　his　supplicating　hands。　　Suddenly；　the　wind　blew　with
redoubled　violence；　its　sharp　whistlings　were　changed　into　the　roar　of　a
tempest。

The　traveller　shuddered；　in　a　voice　of　terror　he　exclaimed：　〃The　blast　of
death　rises　in　its　furythe　whirlwind　carries　me　onLord！　Thou　art　then
deaf　to　my　prayer？〃

〃The　spectre！　oh；　the　spectre！　it　is　again　here！　its　green　face　twitching
with　convulsive　spasmsits　red　eyes　rolling　in　their　orbits。　　Begone！
begone！its　hand；　oh！　its　icy　hand　has　again　laid　hold　of　mine。　　Have
mercy；　heaven！〃

〃GO　ON！〃

〃Oh；　Lord！　the　pestilencethe　terrible　plaguemust　I　carry　it　into　this
city？And　my　brethren　will　perish　the　firstthey；　who　are　so　sorely
smitten　even　now！　Mercy！〃

〃GO　ON！〃

〃And　the　descendants　of　my　sister。　　Mercy！　Mercy！〃

〃GO　ON！〃

〃Oh；　Lord；　have　pity！I　can　no　longer　keep　my　ground；　the　spectre　drags
me　to　the　slope　of　the　hill；　my　walk　is　rapid　as　the　deadly　blast　that
rages　behind　me；　already　do　I　behold　the　city　gates。　　Have　mercy；　Lord；
on　the　descendants　of　my　sister！　Spare　them；　do　not　make　me　their
executioner；　let　them　triumph　over　their　enemies！〃

〃GO　ON！　GO　ON！〃

〃The　ground　flies　beneath　my　feet；　there　is　the　city　gate。　　Lord；　it　is
yet　time！　Oh；　mercy　for　that　sleeping　town！　Let　it　not　waken　to　cries　of
terror；　despair；　and　death！　Lord；　I　am　on　the　threshold。　　Must　it　be？
Yes；　it　is　done。　　Paris；　the　plague　is　in　thy　bosom。　　The　curseoh；　the
eternal　curse！〃

〃GO　ON！　GO　ON！　GO　ON！〃




CHAPTER　XVI。

THE　LUNCHEON。

The　morning　after　the　doomed　traveller；　descending　the　heights　of
Montmartre；　had　entered　the　walls　of　Paris；　great　activity　reigned　in　St。
Dizier　House。　　Though　it　was　hardly　noon；　the　Princess　de　St。　Dizier；
without　being　exactly　in　full　dress　（she　had　too　much　taste　for　that）；
was　yet　arrayed　with　more　care　than　usual。　　Her　light　hair；　instead　of
being　merely　banded；　was　arranged　in　two　bunches　of　curls；　which　suited
very　well　with　her　full　and　florid　cheeks。　　Her　cap　was　trimmed　with
bright　rose…colored　ribbon；　and　whoever　had　seen　the　lady　in　her　tight…
fitting　dress　of　gray…watered　silk　would　have　easily　guessed　that　Mrs。
Grivois；　her　tirewoman；　must　have　required　the　assistance　and　the　efforts
of　another　of　the　princess's　women　to　achieve　so　remarkable　a　reduction
in　the　ample　figure　of　their　mistress。

We　shall　explain　the　edifying　cause　of　this　partial　return　to　the
vanities　of　the　world。　　The　princess；　attended　by　Mrs。　Grivois；　who　acted
as　housekeeper；　was　giving　her　final　orders　with　regard　to　some
preparations　that　were　going　on　in　a　vast　parlor。　　In　the　midst　of　this
room　was　a　large　round　table；　covered　with　crimson　velvet；　and　near　it
stood　several　chairs；　amongst　which；　in　the　place　of　honor；　was　an　arm…
chair　of　gilded　wood。　　In　one　corner；　not　far　from　the　chimney；　in　which
burned　an　excellent　fire；　was　a　buffet。　　On　it　were　the　divers　materials
for　a　most　dainty　and　exquisite　collation。　　Upon　silver　dishes　were　piled
pyramids　of　sandwiches　composed　of　the　roes　of　carp　and　anchovy　paste；
with　slices　of　pickled　tunny…fish　and　Lenigord　truffles　（it　was　in　Lent）；
on　silver　dishes；　placed　over　burning　spirits　of　w