the wandering jew, volume 9-第20章

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different　handwritings。　　When　he　had　read　the　first；　his　countenance
darkened；　and　he　said；　in　a　grave　tone：　〃A　misfortunea　great
misfortune。〃

Rodin　turned　his　head　abruptly；　and　looked　at　him　with　an　air　of　uneasy
questioning。

〃Florine　is　dead　of　the　cholera；〃　answered　Father　d'Aigrigny；　〃and　what
is　the　worst；〃　added　he；　crumpling　the　note　between　his　hands；　〃before
dying；　the　miserable　creature　confessed　to　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville　that　she
long　acted　as　a　spy　under　the　orders　of　your　reverence。〃

No　doubt　the　death　of　Florine；　and　the　confession　she　had　made；　crossed
some　of　the　plans　of　Rodin；　for　he　uttered　an　inarticulate　murmur；　and
his　countenance　expressed　great　vexation。

Passing　to　another　note；　Father　d'Aigrigny　continued：　〃This　relates　to
Marshal　Simon；　and　is　not　absolutely　bad；　but　still　far　from
satisfactory；　as　it　announces　some　amelioration　in　his　position。　　We
shall　see　if　it　merits　belief；　by　information　from　another　source。〃　‘

Rodin　made　a　sign　of　impatience；　to　hasten　Father　d'Aigrigny　to　read　the
note；　which　he　did　as　follows。　　〃‘For　some　days；　the　mind　of　the　marshal
has　appeared　to　be　less　sorrowful；　anxious　and　agitated。　　He　lately
passed　two　hours　with　his　daughters；　which　had　not　been　the　case　for　some
time　before。　　The　harsh　countenance　of　the　soldier　Dagobert　is　becoming
smoothera　sure　sign　of　some　amelioration　in　the　condition　of　the
marshal。　　Detected　by　their　handwriting；　the　last　anonymous　letters　were
returned　by　Dagobert　to　the　postman；　without　having　been　opened　by　the
marshal。　　Some　other　method　must　be　found　to　get　them　delivered。'〃

Looking　at　Rodin；　Father　d'Aigrigny　said　to　him：　〃Your　reverence　thinks
with　me　that　this　note　is　not　very　satisfactory？〃

Rodin　held　down　his　head。　　One　saw　by　the　expression　of　his　countenance
how　much　he　suffered　by　not　being　able　to　speak。　　Twice　he　put　his　hand
to　his　throat；　and　looked　at　Father　d'Aigrigny　with　anguish。

〃Oh！〃　cried　Father　d'Aigrigny；　angrily；　when　he　had　perused　another　note；
〃for　one　lucky　chance；　to…day　brings　some　very　black　ones。〃

At　these　words　turning　hastily　to　Father　d'Aigrigny；　and　extending　his
trembling　hands；　Rodin　questioned　him　with　look　and　gesture。　　The
cardinal；　sharing　his　uneasiness；　exclaimed：　〃What　do　you　learn　by　this
note；　my　dear　father？〃

〃We　thought　the　residence　of　M。　Hardy　in　our　house　completely　unknown；〃
replied　Father　d'Aigrigny；　〃but　we　now　fear　that　Agricola　Baudoin　has
discovered　the　retreat　of　his　old　master；　and　that　he　has　even
communicated　with　him　by　letter；　through　a　servant　of　the　house。　　So；〃
added　the　reverend　father；　angrily；　〃during　the　three　days　that　I　have
not　been　able　to　visit　the　pavilion；　one　of　my　servants　must　have　been
bought　over。　　There　is　one　of　them；　a　man　blind　of　one　eye；　whom　I　have
always　suspectedthe　wretch！　　But　no：　I　will　not　yet　believe　this
treachery。　　The　consequences　would　be　too　deplorable；　for　I　know　how
matters　stand；　and　that　such　a　correspondence　might　ruin　everything。　　By
awaking　in　M。　Hardy　memories　with　difficulty　laid　asleep；　they　might
destroy　in　a　single　day　all　that　has　been　done　since　he　inhabits　our
house。　　Luckily；　this　note　contains　only　doubts　and　fears；　my　other
information　will　be　more　positive；　and　will　not；　I　hope；　confirm　them。〃

〃My　dear　father；〃　said　the　cardinal；　〃do　not　despair。　　The　Lord　will　not
abandon　the　good　cause！〃

Father　d'Aigrigny　seemed　very　little　consoled　by　this　assurance。　　He
remained　still　and　thoughtful；　whilst　Rodin　writhed　his　head　in　a
paroxysm　of　mute　rage；　as　he　reflected　on　this　new　check。

〃Let　us　turn　to　the　last　note；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　after　a　moment　of
thoughtful　silence。　　〃I　have　so　much　confidence　in　the　person　who　sends
it；　that　I　cannot　doubt　the　correctness　of　the　information　it　contains。
May　it　contradict　the　others！〃

In　order　not　to　break　the　chain　of　facts　contained　in　this　last　note；
which　was　to　have　so　startling　an　effect　on　the　actors　in　this　scene；　we
shall　leave　it　to　the　reader's　imagination　to　supply　the　exclamations　of
surprise；　hate；　rage　and　fear　of　Father　d'Aigrigny；　and　the　terrific
pantomime　of　Rodin；　during　the　perusal　of　this　formidable　document；　the
result　of　the　observations　of　a　faithful　and　secret　agent　of　the　reverend
fathers。　　Comparing　this　note　with　the　other　information　received；　the
results　appeared　more　distressing　to　the　reverend　fathers。　　Thus　Gabriel
had　long　and　frequent　conferences　with　Adrienne；　who　before　was　unknown
to　him。　　Agricola　Baudoin　had　opened　a　communication　with　Francis　Hardy；
and　the　officers　of　justice　were　on　the　track　of　the　authors　and
instigators　of　the　riot　which　had　led　to　the　burning　of　the　factory　of
Baron　Tripeaud's　rival。　　It　seemed　almost　certain　that　Mdlle。　de
Cardoville　had　had　an　interview　with　Prince　Djalma。

This　combination　of　facts　showed　that；　faithful　to　the　threats　she　had
uttered　to　Rodin；　when　she　had　unmasked　the　double　perfidy　of　the
reverend　father；　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville　was　actively　engaged　in　uniting　the
scattered　members　of　her　family；　to　form　a　league　against　those　dangerous
enemies；　whose　detestable　projects；　once　unveiled　and　boldly　encountered；
could　hardly　have　a　chance　of　success。　　The　reader　will　now　understand
the　tremendous　effect　of　this　note　on　Father　d'Aigrigny　and　Rodinon
Rodin；　stretched　powerless　on　a　bed　of　pain　at　the　moment　when　the
scaffolding；　raised　with　so　much　labor；　seemed　to　be　tumbling　around　him。




CHAPTER　XXIX。

THE　OPERATION。

We　have　given　up　the　attempt　to　paint　the　countenance；　attitude；　and
gesticulation　of　Rodin　during　the　reading　of　this　note；　which　seemed　to
ruin　all　his　most　cherished　hopes。　　Everything　was　failing　at　once；　at
the　moment　when　only　superhuman　trust　in　the　success　of　his　plans　could
give　him　sufficient　energy　to　strive　against　mortal　sickness。　　A　single；
absorbing　thought　had　agitated　him　even　to　delirium：　What　progress；
during　his　illness；　had　been　made　in　this　immense　affair？　　He　had　first
heard　a　good　piece　of　news；　the　death　of　Jacques　Rennepont；　but　now　the
advantages　of　this　decease；　which　reduced　the　number　of　the　heirs　from
seven　to　six；　were　entirely　lost。　　To　what　purpose　would　be　this　death；
if　the　other　members　of　the　family；　dispersed　and　persecuted　with　such
infernal　perseverance；　were　to　unite　and　discover　the　enemies　who　had　so
long　aimed　at　them　in　darkness？　　If　all　those　wounded　hearts　were　to
console；　enlighten；　support　each　other；　their　cause　would　be　gained；　and
the　inheritance　rescued　from　the　reverend　fathers。　　What　was　to　be　done？

Strange　power　of　the　human　will！Rodin　had　one　foot　in　the　grave；　he　was
almost　at　the　last　gasp；　his　voice　had　failed　him。　　And　yet　that
obstinate　nature；　so　full　of　energy　and　resources；　did　not　despair。　　Let
but　a　miracle　restore　his　health；　and　that　firm　confidence　in　the　success
of　his　projects　which　has　given　him　power　to　struggle　against　disease；
tells　him　that　he　could　yet　save　allbut　then　he　must　have　health　and
life！　　Health！　life！　　His　physician　does　not　know　if　he　will　survive　the
shockif　he　can　bear　the　painof　a　terrible　operation。　　Health！　life！
and　just　now　Rodin　heard　talk　of　the　solemn　funeral　they　had　prepared　for
him。　　And　yethealth；　life；　he　will　have　them。　　Yes；　he　has　willed　to
liveand　he　has　livedwhy　should　he　not　live　longer？　　He　will　live
because　he　has　willed　it。

All　that　we　have　just　written　passed　though　Rodin's　mind　in　a　second。
His　features；　convulsed　by　the　mental　torment　he　endured；　must　have
assumed　a　very　strange　expression；　for　Father　d'Aigrigny　and　the　cardinal
looked　at　him　in　silent　consternation。　　Once　resolved　to　live；　and　to
sustain　a　desperate　struggle　with　the　Rennepont　family；　Rodin　acted　in
consequence。　　For　a　few　moments　Father　d'Aigrigny　and　the　prelate
believed　themselves　under　the　influence　of　a　dream。　　By　an　effort　of
unparalleled　energy；　and　as　if　moved　by　hidden　mechanism；　Rodin　sprang
from　the　bed；　dragging　the　sheet　with　him；　and　trailing　it；　like　a
shroud；　behind　his　livid　and　fleshless　body。　　The　room　was　cold；　the　face
of　the　Jesuit　was　bathed　in　sweat；　his　naked　and　bony　feet　left　their
moist　print　upon　the　stones。

〃What　are　you　doing？　　It　is　death！〃　cried　Father　d'Aigrigny；　rushing
towards　Rodin；　to　force　him　to　lie　down　again。

But　the　latter；　extending　one　of　his　skeleton　arms；　as　hard　as　iron；
pushed　aside　Father　d'Aigrigny　with　inconceivable　vigor；　considering　the
state　of　exhaustion　in　which　he　had　so　long　been。

〃He　has　the　strength　of　a　man　in　a　fit　of　epilepsy；〃　said　Father
d'Aigrigny；　recovering　his　balance。

With　a　steady　step　Rodin　advanced　to　the　desk　on　which　Dr。　Baleinier
daily　wrote　his　prescriptions。　　Seating　himself　before　it；　the　Jesuit
took　pen　and　paper；　and　began　to　write　in　a　firm　hand。　　His　calm；　slow；
and　sure　movements　had　in　them　something　of　the　deliberateness　remarked
in　somnambulists。　　Mute　and　motionless；　hardly　knowing　whether　they
dreamed　or　not；　the　cardinal　and　Father　d'Aigrigny　remained　staring　at
the　incredible　coolness　of　Rodin；　who；　half…naked；　continued　to　write
with　perfect　tranquillity。

〃But；　father；〃　said　the　Abbe　d'Aigrigny；　advancing　towards　him；　〃this　is
madness！〃

Rodin　shrugged　his　shoulders；　stopped　him　with　a　gesture　and　made　him　a
sign　to　read　what　he　had　just　written。

The　reverend　father　expected　to　see　the　ravings　of　a　diseased　brain；　but
he　took　the　note；　whilst　Rodin　commenced　another。

〃My　lord；〃　exclaimed　Father　d'Aigrigny；　〃read　this！〃

The　cardinal　read　the　paper；　and　returning　it　to　the　reverend　father　with
equal　amazement；　added：　〃It　is　full　of　reason；　ability；　and　resources。
We　shall　thus　be　able　to　neutralize　the　dangerous　combination　of　Abbe
Gabriel　and　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville；　who　appear　to　be　the　most　formidable
leaders　of　the　coalition。〃

〃It　is　really　miraculous；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny。

〃Oh；　my　dear　father！〃　whispered　the　cardinal；　shaking　his　head；　〃what　a
pity　that　we　are　the　only　witnesses　of　this　scene！　What　an　excellent
MIRACLE　we　could　have　made　of　it！　In　one　sense；　it　is　another　Raising　of
Lazarus！〃

〃What　an　idea；　my　lord！〃　answered　Father　d'Aigrigny；　in　a　low　voice。　　〃It
is　perfectand　we　must　not　give　it　up〃

This　innocent　little　plot　was　interrupted　by　Rodin；　who；　turning　his
head；　made　a　sign　to　Father　d'Aigrigny　to　approach；　and　delivered　to　him
another　sheet；　with　this　note　attached：　〃To　be　executed　within　an　hour。〃

Having　rapidly　perused　the　paper；　Father　d'Aigrigny　exclaimed：　〃Right！　I
had　not　thought　of　that。　　Instead　of　being　fatal；　the　correspondence
between　Agricola　and　M。　Hardy　may　thus　have　the　best　results。　　Really；〃
added　the　reverend　father　in　a　low　voice　to　the　prelate；　while　Rodin
continued　to　write；　〃I　am　quite　confounded。　　I　readI　seeand　yet　I　can
hardly　believe　my　eyes。　　Just　before；　exhausted　and　dyingand　now　with
his　mind　as　clear　and　penetrating　as　ever。　　Can　this　be　one　of　the
phenomena　of　somnambulism；　in　which　the　mind　alone　governs　and　sustains
the　body？〃

Suddenly　the　door　opened；　and　Dr。　Baleinier　entered　the　room。　　At　sight
of　Rodin；　seated　half…naked　at　the　desk；　with　his　feet　upon　the　cold
stones；　the　doctor　exclaimed；　in　a　tone　of　reproach　and　alarm：　〃But；　my
lordbu