the wandering jew, volume 9-第2章

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on　silver　dishes；　placed　over　burning　spirits　of　wine；　so　as　to　keep　them
very　hot；　tails　of　Meuse　crawfish　boiled　in　cream；　smoked　in　golden…
colored　pastry；　and　seemed　to　challenge　comparison　with　delicious　little
Marennes　oyster…patties；　stewed　in　Madeira；　and　flavored　with　a　seasoning
of　spiced　sturgeon。　　By　the　side　of　these　substantial　dishes　were　some　of
a　lighter　character；　such　as　pineapple　tarts；　strawberry…creams　（it　was
early　for　such　fruit）；　and　orange…jelly　served　in　the　peel；　which　had
been　artistically　emptied　for　that　purpose。　　Bordeaux；　Madeira；　and
Alicant　sparkled　like　rubies　and　topazes　in　large　glass　decanters；　while
two　Sevres　ewers　were　filled；　one　with　coffee　a　la　creme；　the　other　with
vanilla　chocolate；　almost　in　the　state　of　sherbet；　from　being　plunged　in
a　large　cooler　of　chiselled　silver；　containing　ice。

But　what　gave　to　this　dainty　collation　a　singularly　apostolic　and　papal
character　were　sundry　symbols　of　religious　worship　carefully　represented。
Thus　there　were　charming　little　Calvaries　in　apricot　paste；　sacerdotal
mitres　in　burnt　almonds；　episcopal　croziers　in　sweet　cake；　to　which　the
princess　added；　as　a　mark　of　delicate　attention；　a　little　cardinal's　hat
in　cherry　sweetmeat；　ornamented　with　bands　in　burnt　sugar。　　The　most
important；　however；　of　these　Catholic　delicacies；　the　masterpiece　of　the
cook；　was　a　superb　crucifix　in　angelica；　with　a　crown　of　candied　berries。
These　are　strange　profanations；　which　scandalize　even　the　least　devout。
But；　from　the　impudent　juggle　of　the　coat　of　Triers；　down　to　the
shameless　jest　of　the　shrine　at　Argenteuil；　people；　who　are　pious　after
the　fashion　of　the　princess；　seem　to　take　delight　in　bringing　ridicule
upon　the　most　respectable　traditions。

After　glancing　with　an　air　of　satisfaction　at　these　preparations　for　the
collation；　the　lady　said　to　Mrs。　Grivois；　as　she　pointed　to　the　gilded
arm…chair；　which　seemed　destined　for　the　president　of　the　meeting：　〃Is
there　a　cushion　under　the　table；　for　his　Eminence　to　rest　his　feet　on？
He　always　complains　of　cold。〃

〃Yes；　your　highness；〃　said　Mrs。　Grivois；　when　she　had　looked　under　the
table；　〃the　cushion　is　there。〃

〃Let　also　a　pewter　bottle　be　filled　with　boiling　water；　in　case　his
Eminence　should　not　find　the　cushion　enough　to　keep　his　feet　warm。〃

〃Yes；　my　lady。〃

〃And　put　some　more　wood　on　the　fire。〃

〃But；　my　lady；　it　is　already　a　very　furnace。　　And　if　his　Eminence　is
always　too　cold；　my　lord　the　Bishop　of　Halfagen　is　always　too　hot。　　He
perspires　dreadfully。〃

The　princess　shrugged　her　shoulders；　and　said　to　Mrs。　Grivois：　〃Is　not
his　Eminence　Cardinal　Malipieri　the　superior　of　his　Lordship　the　Bishop
of　Halfagen？〃

〃Yes；　your　highness。〃

〃Then；　according　to　the　rules　of　the　hierarchy；　it　is　for　his　Lordship　to
suffer　from　the　heat；　rather　than　his　Eminence　from　the　cold。　　Therefore；
do　as　I　tell　you；　and　put　more　wood　on　the　fire。　　Nothing　is　more
natural；　his　Eminence　being　an　Italian；　and　his　Lordship　coming　from　the
north　of　Belgium；　they　are　accustomed　to　different　temperatures。〃

〃Just　as　your　highness　pleases；〃　said　Mrs。　Grivois；　as　she　placed　two
enormous　logs　on　the　fire；　〃but　in　such　a　heat　as　there　is　here　his
Lordship　might　really　be　suffocated。〃

〃I　also　find　it　too　warm；　but　does　not　our　holy　religion　teach　us　lessons
of　self…sacrifice　and　mortification？〃　said　the　princess；　with　a　touching
expression　of　devotion。

We　have　now　explained　the　cause　of　the　rather　gay　attire　of　the　princess。
She　was　preparing　for　a　reception　of　prelates；　who；　along　with　Father
d'Aigrigny　and　other　dignitaries　of　the　Church；　had　already　held　at　the
princely　house　a　sort　of　council　on　a　small　scale。　　A　young　bride　who
gives　her　first　ball；　an　emancipated　minor　who　gives　his　first　bachelor's
dinner；　a　woman　of　talent　who　reads　aloud　for　the　first　time　her　first
unpublished　work；　are　not　more　joyous　and　proud；　and；　at　the　same　time；
more　attentive　to　their　guests；　than　was　this　lady　with　her　prelates。　　To
behold　great　interests　discussed　in　her　house；　and　in　her　presence；　to
hear　men　of　acknowledged　ability　ask　her　advice　upon　certain　practical
matters　relating　to　the　influence　of　female　congregations；　filled　the
princess　with　pride；　as　her　claims　to　consideration　were　thus　sanctioned
by　Lordships　and　Eminences；　and　she　took　the　position；　as　it　were；　of　a
mother　of　the　Church。　　Therefore；　to　win　these　prelates；　whether　native
or　foreign；　she　had　recourse　to　no　end　of　saintly　flatteries　and
sanctified　coaxing。　　Nor　could　anything　be　more　logical　than　these
successive　transfigurations　of　this　heartless　woman；　who　only　loved
sincerely　and　passionately　the　pursuit　of　intrigue　and　domination。　　With
the　progress　of　age；　she　passed　naturally　from　the　intrigues　of　love　to
those　of　politics；　and　from　the　latter　to　those　of　religion。

At　the　moment　she　finished　inspecting　her　preparations；　the　sound　of
coaches　was　heard　in　the　courtyard；　apprising　her　of　the　arrival　of　the
persons　she　had　been　expecting。　　Doubtless；　these　persons　were　of　the
highest　rank；　for　contrary　to　all　custom；　she　went　to　receive　them　at　the
door　of　her　outer　saloon。　　It　was；　indeed；　Cardinal　Malipieri；　who　was
always　cold；　with　the　Belgian　Bishop　of　Halfagen；　who　was　always　hot。
They　were　accompanied　by　Father　d'Aigrigny。　　The　Roman　cardinal　was　a
tall　man；　rather　bony　than　thin；　with　a　yellowish　puffy　countenance；
haughty　and　full　of　craft；　he　squinted　a　good　deal；　and　his　black　eyes
were　surrounded　by　a　deep　brown　circle。　　The　Belgian　Bishop　was　short；
thick；　and　fat；　with　a　prominent　abdomen；　an　apoplectic　complexion；　a
slow；　deliberate　look；　and　a　soft；　dimpled；　delicate　hand。

The　company　soon　assembled　in　the　great　saloon。　　The　cardinal　instantly
crept　close　to　the　fire；　whilst　the　bishop；　beginning　to　sweat　and　blow；
cast　longing　glances　at　the　iced　chocolate　and　coffee；　which　were　to　aid
him　in　sustaining　the　oppressive　heat　of　the　artificial　dog…day。　　Father
d'Aigrigny；　approaching　the　princess；　said　to　her　in　a　low　voice：　〃Will
you　give　orders　for　the　admittance　of　Abbe　Gabriel　de　Rennepont；　when　he
arrives？〃

〃Is　that　young　priest　then　here？〃　asked　the　princess；　with　extreme
surprise。

〃Since　the　day　before　yesterday。　　We　had　him　sent　for　to　Paris；　by　his
superiors。　　You　shall　know　all。　　As　for　Father　Rodin；　let　Mrs。　Grivois
admit　him；　as　the　other　day；　by　the　little　door　of　the　back　stairs。〃

〃He　will　come　to…day？〃

〃He　has　very　important　matters　to　communicate。　　He　　desires　that　both　the
cardinal　and　the　bishop　should　be　present　for　they　have　been　informed　of
everything　at　Rome　by　the　Superior　General；　in　their　quality　of
associates。〃

The　princess　rang　the　bell；　gave　the　necessary　orders；　and；　returning
towards　the　cardinal；　said　to　him；　in　a　tone　of　the　most　earnest
solicitude：　〃Does　your　Eminence　begin　to　feel　a　little　warmer？　　Would
your　Eminence　like　a　bottle　of　hot　water　to　your　feet？　　Shall　we　make　a
larger　fire　for　your　Eminence？〃

At　this　proposition；　the　Belgian　bishop；　who　was　wiping　the　perspiration
from　his　forehead；　heaved　a　despairing　sigh。

〃A　thousand　thanks；　princess；〃　answered　the　cardinal　to　her；　in　very　good
French；　but　with　an　intolerable　Italian　accent；　〃I　am　really　overcome
with　so　much　kindness。〃

〃Will　not　your　Lordship　take　some　refreshment？〃　said　the　princess　to　the
bishop；　as　she　turned　towards　the　sideboard。

〃With　your　permission；　madame；　I　will　take　a　little　iced　coffee；〃　said
the　prelate；　making　a　prudent　circuit　to　approach　the　dishes　without
passing　before　the　fire。

〃And　will　not　your　Eminence　try　one　of　these　little　oyster…patties？　　They
are　quite　hot；〃　said　the　princess。

〃I　know　them　already；　princess；〃　said　the　cardinal；　with　the　air　and　look
of　an　epicure；　〃they　are　delicious；　and　I　cannot　resist　the　temptation。〃

〃What　wine　shall　I　have　the　honor　to　offer　your　Eminence？〃　resumed　the
princess；　graciously。

〃A　little　claret；　if　you　please；　madame；〃　and　as　Father　d'Aigrigny
prepared　to　fill　the　cardinal's　glass；　the　princess　disputed　with　him
that　pleasure。

〃Your　Eminence　will　doubtless　approve　what　I　have　done；〃　said　Father
d'Aigrigny　to　the　cardinal；　whilst　the　latter　was　gravely　despatching　the
oyster…patties；　〃in　not　summoning　for　to…day　the　Bishop　of　Mogador；　the
Archbishop　of　Nanterre；　and　our　holy　Mother　Perpetue；　the　lady…superior
of　St。　Mary　Convent；　the　interview　we　are　about　to　have　with　his
Reverence　Father　Rodin　and　Abbe　Gabriel　being　altogether　private　and
confidential。〃

〃Our　good　father　was　perfectly　right；〃　said　the　cardinal；　〃for；　though
the　possible　consequences　of　this　Rennepont　affair　may　interest　the　whole
Church；　there　are　some　things　that　are　as　well　kept　secret。〃

〃Then　I　must　seize　this　opportunity　to　thank　your　Eminence　for　having
deigned　to　make　an　exception　in　favor　of　a　very　obscure　and　humble
servant　of　the　Church；〃　said　the　princess　to　the　cardinal；　with　a　very
deep　and　respectful　curtsey。

〃It　is　only　just　and　right；　madame；〃　replied　the　cardinal；　bowing　as　he
replaced　his　empty　glass　upon　the　table；　〃we　know　how　much　the　Church　is
indebted　to　you　for　the　salutary　direction　you　give　to　the　religious
institutions　of　which　you　are　the　patroness。〃

〃With　regard　to　that；　your　Eminence　may　be　assured　that　I　always　refuse
assistance　to　any　poor　person　who　cannot　produce　a　certificate　from　the
confessional。〃

〃And　it　is　only　thus；　madame；〃　resumed　the　cardinal；　this　time　allowing
himself　to　be　tempted　by　the　attractions　of　the　crawfish's　tails；　〃it　is
only　thus　that　charity　has　any　meaning。　　I　care　little　that　the
irreligious　should　feel　hunger；　but　with　the　pious　it　is　different；〃　and
the　prelate　gayly　swallowed　a　mouthful。　　〃Moreover；〃　resumed　he；　〃it　is
well　known　with　what　ardent　zeal　you　pursue　the　impious；　and　those　who
are　rebels　against　the　authority　of　our　Holy　Father。〃

〃Your　Eminence　may　feel　convinced　that　I　am　Roman　in　heart　and　soul；　I
see　no　difference　between　a　Gallican　and　a　Turk；〃　said　the　princess；
bravely。

〃The　princess　is　right；〃　said　the　Belgian　bishop：　〃I　will　go　further；　and
assert　that　a　Gallican　should　be　more　odious　to　the　church　than　a　pagan。
In　this　respect　I　am　of　the　opinion　of　Louis　XIV。　　They　asked　him　a　favor
for　a　man　about　the　court。　　‘Never；'　said　the　great　king；　‘this　person　is
a　Jansenist。'‘No；　sire；　he　is　an　atheist。''Oh！　that　is　different；　I
will　grant　what　he　asks；'　said　the　King。〃

This　little　episcopal　jest　made　them　all　laugh。　　After　which　Father
d'Aigrigny　resumed　seriously；　addressing　the　cardinal：　〃Unfortunately；　as
I　was　about　to　observe　to　your　Eminence　with　regard　to　the　Abbe　Gabriel；
unless　they　are　very　narrowly　watched；　the　lower　clergy　have　a　tendency
to　become　infected　with　dissenting　views；　and　with　ideas　of　rebellion
against　what　they　call　the　despotism　of　the　bishops。〃

〃This　young　man　must　be　a　Catholic　Luther！〃　said　the　bishop。　　And；
walking　on　tip…toe；　he　went　to　pour　himself　out　a　glorious　glass　of
Madeira；　in　which　he　soaked　some　sweet　cake；　made　in　the　form　of　a
crozier。

Led　by　his　example；　the　Cardinal；　under　pretence　of　warming　his　feet　by
drawing　still　closer　to　the　fire；　helped　himself　to　an　excellent　glass　of
old　Malaga；