the wandering jew, volume 9-第22章
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〃Courage; my dear father! offer these sufferings to the Lord!〃 said Dr。
Baleinier; in a sanctified tone。 〃I told you the operation would he very
painful; but then it is salutary in proportion。 Come; you that have
shown such decisive resolution; do not fail at the last movement!〃
Rodin had closed his eyes; conquered by the first agony of pain。 He now
opened them; and looked at the doctor as if ashamed of such weakness。
And yet on the sides of his chest were four large; bleeding woundsso
violent had been the first singe。 As he again extended himself on the
bed of torture; Rodin made a sign that he wished to write。 The doctor
gave him the pen; and he wrote as follows; by way of memorandum; 〃It is
better not to lose any time。 Inform Baron Tripeaud of the warrant issued
against Leonard; so that he may be on his guard。〃
Having written this note; the Jesuit gave it to Dr。 Baleinier; to hand it
to Father d'Aigrigny; who was as much amazed as the doctor and the
cardinal; at such extraordinary presence of mind in the midst of such
horrible pain。 Rodin; with his eyes fixed on the reverend father; seemed
to wait with impatience for him to leave the room to execute his orders。
Guessing the thought of Rodin; the doctor whispered Father d'Aigrigny;
who went out。
〃Come; reverend father;〃 said the doctor; 〃we must begin again。 This
time do not move。〃
Rodin did not answer; but clasped his hands over his head; closed his
eyes; and presented his chest。 It was a strange; lugubrious; almost
fantastic spectacle。 The three priests; in their long black gowns;
leaned over this body; which almost resembled a corpse; and blowing
through their tubes into the chest of the patient; seemed as if pumping
up his blood by some magic charm。 A sickening odor of burnt flesh began
to spread through the silent chamber; and each assistant heard a slight
crackling beneath the smoking trivet; it was the skin of Rodin giving way
to the action of fire; and splitting open in four different parts of his
chest。 The sweat poured from his livid face; which it made to shine; a
few locks of his gray hair stood up stiff and moist from his temples。
Sometimes the spasms were so violent; that the veins swelled on his
stiffened arms; and were stretched like cords ready to break。
Enduring this frightful torture with as much intrepid resignation as the
savage whose glory consists in despising pain; Rodin gathered his
strength and courage from the hopewe had almost said the certaintyof
life。 Such was the make of this dauntless character; such the energy of
this powerful mind; that; in the midst of indescribable torments; his one
fixed idea never left him。 During the rare intervals of sufferingfor
pain is equal even at this degree of intensityRodin still thought of
the Rennepont inheritance; and calculated his chances; and combined his
measures; feeling that he had not a minute to lose。 Dr。 Baleinier
watched him with extreme attention; waiting for the effects of the
reaction of pain upon the patient; who seemed already to breathe with
less difficulty。
Suddenly Rodin placed his hand on his forehead; as if struck with some
new idea; and turning his head towards Dr。 Baleinier; made a sign to him
to suspend the operation。
〃I must tell you; reverend father;〃 answered the doctor。 〃that it is not
half finished; and; if we leave off; the renewal will be more painful〃
Rodin made a sign that he did not care; and that he wanted to write。
〃Gentlemen; stop a moment;〃 said Dr。 Baleinier; 〃keep down your moxas;
but do not blow the fire。〃
So the fire was to burn slowly; instead of fiercely; but still upon the
skin of the patient。 In spite of this pain; less intense; but still
sharp and keen; Rodin; stretched upon his back; began to write; holding
the paper above his head。 On the first sheet he traced some alphabetic
signs; part of a cipher known to himself alone。 In the midst of the
torture; a luminous idea had crossed his mind; fearful of forgetting it
amidst his sufferings; he now took note of it。 On another paper he wrote
the following; which was instantly delivered to Father d'Aigrigny: 〃Send
B。 immediately to Faringhea; for the report of the last few days with
regard to Djalma; and let B。 bring it hither on the instant。〃 Father
d'Aigrigny went out to execute this new order。 The cardinal approached a
little nearer to the scene of the operation; for; in spite of the bad
odor of the room; he took delight in seeing the Jesuit half roasted;
having long cherished against him the rancor of an Italian and a priest。
〃Come; reverend father;〃 said the doctor to Rodin; 〃continue to be
admirably courageous; and your chest will free itself。 You have still a
bitter moment to go throughand then I have good hope。〃
The patient resumed his former position。 The moment Father d'Aigrigny
returned; Rodin questioned him with a look; to which the reverend father
replied by a nod。 At a sign from the doctor; the four assistants began
to blow through the tubes with all their might。 This increase of torture
was so horrible; that; in spite of his self…control; Rodin gnashed his
teeth; started convulsively; and so expanded his palpitating chest; that;
after a violent spasm; there rose from his throat and lungs a scream of
terrific painbut it was free; loud; sonorous。
〃The chest is free!〃 cried the doctor; in triumph。 〃The lungs have play…
…the voice returnshe is saved!Blow; gentlemen; blow; and; reverend
father; cry out as much as you please: I shall be delighted to hear you;
for it will give you relief。 Courage! I answer for the result。 It is a
wonderful cure。 I will publish it by sound of trumpet。〃
〃Allow me; doctor;〃 whispered Father d'Aigrigny; as he approached Dr。
Baleinier; 〃the cardinal can witness; that I claimed beforehand the
publication of this affairas a miraculous fact。〃
〃Let it be miraculous then;〃 answered Dr。 Baleinier; disappointedfor he
set some value on his own work。
On hearing he was saved; Rodin though his sufferings were perhaps worse
than ever; for the fire had now pierced the scarf…skin; assumed almost an
infernal beauty。 Through the painful contraction of his features shone
the pride of savage triumph; the monster felt that he was becoming once
more strong and powerful; and he seemed conscious the evils that his
fatal resurrection was to cause。 And so; of still writhing beneath the
flames; he pronounced these words; the first that struggled from his
chest: 〃I told you I should live!〃
〃You told us true;〃 cried the doctor; feeling his pulse; 〃the circulation
is now full and regular; the lungs are free。 The reaction is complete。
You are saved。〃
At this moment; the last shreds of cotton had burnt out。 The trivets
were withdrawn; and on the skeleton trunk of Rodin were seen four large
round blisters。 The skin still smoked; and the raw flesh was visible
beneath。 In one of his sudden movements; a lamp had been misplaced; and
one of these burns was larger than the other; presenting as it were to
the eye a double circle。 Rodin looked down upon his wounds。 After some
seconds of silent contemplation; a strange smile curled his lips。
Without changing his position; he glanced at Father d'Aigrigny with an
expression impossible to describe; and said to him; as he slowly counted
the wounds touching them with his flat and dirty nail: 〃Father
d'Aigrigny; what an omen!Look here! one Renneponttwo Renneponts
three Rennepontsfour Rennepontswhere is then the fifth!Ah! here
this wound will count for two。 They are twins。〃'41' And he emitted a
little dry; bitter laugh。 Father d'Aigrigny; the cardinal; and Dr。
Baleinier; alone understood the sense of these mysterious and fatal
words; which Rodin soon completed by a terrible allusion; as he
exclaimed; with prophetic voice; and almost inspired air: 〃Yes; I say it。
The impious race will be reduced to ashes; like the fragments of this
poor flesh。 I say it; and it will be so。 I said I would liveand I do
live!〃
'41' Jacques Rennepont being dead; and Gabriel out of the field; in
consequence of his donation; there remained only five persons of the
familyRose and Blanche; Djalma; Adrienne; and Hardy。
CHAPTER XXXI。
VICE AND VIRTUE。
Two days have elapsed since Rodin was miraculously restored to life。 The
reader will not have forgotten the house in the Rue Clovis; where the
reverend father had an apartment; and where also was the lodging of
Philemon; inhabited by Rose…Pompon。 It is about three o'clock in the
afternoon。 A bright ray of light; penetrating through a round hole in
the door Mother Arsene's subterraneous shop; forms a striking contrast
with the darkness of this cavern。 The ray streams full upon a melancholy
object。 In the midst of fagots and faded vegetables; and close to a
great heap of charcoal; stands a wretched bed; beneath the sheet; which
covers it; can be traced the stiff and angular proportions of a corpse。
It is the body of Mother Arsene herself; who died two days before; of the
cholera。 The burials have been so numerous; that there has been no time
to remove her remains。 The Rue Clovis is almost deserted。 A mournful
silence reigns without; often broken by the sharp whistling of the north
wind。 Between the squalls; one hears a sort of pattering。 It is the
noise of the large rats; running to and fro across the heap of charcoal。
Suddenly; another sound is heard; and these unclean animals fly to hide
themselves in their holes。 Some one is trying to force open the door;
which communicates between the shop and the passage。 It offers but
little resistance; and; in a few seconds; the worn…out lock gives way;
and a woman enters。 For a short time she stands motionless in the
obscurity of the damp and icy cave。 After a minute's hesitation; the
woman advances and the ray of light illumines the features of the
Bacchanal Queen。 Slowly; she approached the funeral couch。 Since the
death of Jacques; the alteration in the countenance of Cephyse had gone
on increasing。 Fearfully pale; with her fine black hair in disorder; her
legs and feet naked; she was barely covered with an old patched petticoat
and a very ragged handkerchief。
When she came near the bed; she cast a glance of almost savage assurance
at the shroud。 Suddenly she drew back; with a low cry of involuntary
terror。 The sheet moved with a rapid undulation; extending from the feet
to the head of the corpse。 But soon the sight of a rat; flying along the
side of the worm…eaten bedstead; explained the movement of the shroud。
Recovering from her fright; Cephyse began to look for several things; and
collected them in haste; as though she dreaded being surprised in the
miserable shop。 First; she seized a basket; and filled it with charcoal;
then; looking from side to side; she discovered in a corner an earthen
pot; which she took with a burst of ominous joy。
〃It is not all; it is not all;〃 said Cephyse; as she continued to search
with an unquiet air。
At last she perceived near the stove a little tin box; containing flint;
steel and matches。 She placed these articles on the top of the basket;
and took it in one hand; and the earthen pot in the other。 As she passed
nea