the wandering jew, volume 9-第3章

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drawing　still　closer　to　the　fire；　helped　himself　to　an　excellent　glass　of
old　Malaga；　which　he　swallowed　by　mouthfuls；　with　an　air　of　profound
meditation；　after　which　he　resumed：　〃So　this　Abbe　Gabriel　starts　as　a
reformer。　　He　must　be　an　ambitious　man。　　Is　he　dangerous？〃

〃By　our　advice　his　superiors　have　judged　him　to　be　so。　　They　have　ordered
him　to　come　hither。　　He　will　soon　be　here；　and　I　will　tell　your　Eminence
why　I　have　sent　for　him。　　But　first；　I　have　a　note　on　the　dangerous
tendencies　of　the　Abbe　Gabriel。　　Certain　questions　were　addressed　to　him；
with　regard　to　some　of　his　acts；　and　it　was　in　consequence　of　his　answers
that　his　superiors　recalled　him。〃

So　saying；　Father　d'Aigrigny；　took　from　his　pocket…book　a　paper；　which　he
read　as　follows：

〃‘Question。Is　it　true　that　you　performed　religious　rites　for　an
inhabitant　of　your　parish　who　died　in　final　impenitence　of　the　most
detestable　kind；　since　he　had　committed　suicide？

〃‘Answer　of　Abbe　Gabriel。I　paid　him　the　last　duties；　because；　more　than
any　one　else；　because　of　his　guilty　end；　he　required　the　prayers　of　the
church。　　During　the　night　which　followed　his　interment　I　continually
implored　for　him　the　divine　mercy。

〃‘Q。Is　it　true　that　you　refused　a　set　of　silver…gilt　sacramental
vessels；　and　other　ornaments；　with　which　one　of　the　faithful；　in　pious
zeal；　wished　to　endow　your　parish？

〃‘A。I　refused　the　vessels　and　embellishments；　because　the　house　of　the
Lord　should　be　plain　and　without　ornament；　so　as　to　remind　the　faithful
that　the　divine　Saviour　was　born　in　a　stable。　　I　advised　the　person　who
wished　to　make　these　useless　presents　to　my　parish　to　employ　the　money　in
judicious　almsgiving；　assuring　him　it　would　be　more　agreeable　to　the
Lord。'〃

〃What　a　bitter　and　violent　declamation　against　the　adorning　of　our
temples！〃　cried　the　cardinal。　　〃This　young　priest　is　most　dangerous。
Continue；　my　good　father。〃

And；　in　his　indignation；　his　Eminence　swallowed　several　mouthfuls　of
strawberry…cream。　　Father　d'Aigrigny　continued。

〃‘Q。Is　it　true　that　you　received　in　your　parsonage；　and　kept　there　for
some　days；　an　inhabitant　of　the　village；　by　birth　a　Swiss；　belonging　to
the　Protestant　communion？　　Is　it　true　that　not　only　you　did　not　attempt
to　convert　him　to　the　one　Catholic　and　Apostolic　faith；　but　that　you
carried　so　far　the　neglect　of　your　sacred　duties　as　to　inter　this　heretic
in　the　ground　consecrated　for　the　repose　of　true　believers？

〃‘A。One　of　my　brethren　was　houseless。　　His　life　had　been　honest　and
laborious。　　In　his　old　age　his　strength　had　failed　him；　and　sickness　had
come　at　the　back　of　it；　almost　in　a　dying　state；　he　had　been　driven　from
his　humble　dwelling　by　a　pitiless　landlord；　to　whom　he　owed　a　year's
rent。　　I　received　the　old　man　in　my　house；　and　soothed　his　last　days。
The　poor　creature　had　toiled　and　suffered　all　his　life；　dying；　he　uttered
no　word　of　bitterness　at　his　hard　fate；　he　recommended　his　soul　to　God
and　piously　kissed　the　crucifix。　　His　pure　and　simple　spirit　returned　to
the　bosom　of　its　Creator。　　I　closed　his　eyes　with　respect；　I　buried　him；
I　prayed　for　him；　and；　though　he　died　in　the　Protestant　faith；　I　thought
him　worthy　of　a　place　in　consecrated　ground。'〃

〃Worse　and　worse！〃　said　the　cardinal。　　〃This　tolerance　is　monstrous。　　It
is　a　horrible　attack　on　that　maxim　of　Catholicism：　‘Out　of　the　pale　of
the　Church　there　is　no　salvation。'〃

〃And　all　this　is　the　more　serious；　my　lord；〃　resumed　Father　d'Aigrigny；
〃because　the　mildness；　charity；　and　Christian　devotion　of　Abbe　Gabriel
have　excited；　not　only　in　his　parish；　but　in　all　the　surrounding
districts；　the　greatest　enthusiasm。　　The　priests　of　the　neighboring
parishes　have　yielded　to　the　general　impulse；　and　it　must　be　confessed
that　but　for　his　moderation　a　wide…spread　schism　would　have　commenced。〃

〃But　what　do　you　hope　will　result　from　bringing　him　here？〃　said　the
prelate。

〃The　position　of　Abbe　Gabriel　is　complicated；　first　of　all；　he　is　the
heir　of　the　Rennepont　family。〃

〃But　has　he　not　ceded　his　rights？〃　asked　the　cardinal。

〃Yes；　my　lord；　and　this　cession；　which　was　at　first　informal；　has　lately；
with　his　free　consent；　been　made　perfectly　regular　in　law；　for　he　had
sworn；　happen　what　might；　to　renounce　his　part　of　the　inheritance　in
favor　of　the　Society　of　Jesus。　　Nevertheless；　his　Reverence　Father　Rodin
thinks；　that　if　your　Eminence；　after　explaining　to　Abbe　Gabriel　that　he
was　about　to　be　recalled　by　his　superiors；　were　to　propose　to　him　some
eminent　position　at　Rome；　he　might　be　induced　to　leave　France；　and　we
might　succeed　in　arousing　within　him　those　sentiments　of　ambition　which
are　doubtless　only　sleeping　for　the　present；　your　Eminence；　having
observed；　very　judiciously；　that　every　reformer　must　be　ambitious。〃

〃I　approve　of　this　idea；〃　said　the　cardinal；　after　a　moment's　reflection；
〃with　his　merit　and　power　of　acting　on　other　men；　Abbe　Gabriel　may　rise
very　high；　if　he　is　docile；　and　if　he　should　not　be　so；　it　is　better　for
the　safety　of　the　Church　that　he　should　be　at　Rome　than　herefor　you
know；　my　good　father；　we　have　securities　that　are　unfortunately　wanting
in　France。〃＇36＇

After　some　moments　of　silence；　the　cardinal　said　suddenly　to　Father
d'Aigrigny：　〃As　we　were　talking　of　Father　Rodin；　tell　me　frankly　what　you
think　of　him。〃

〃Your　Eminence　knows　his　capacity；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　with　a
constrained　and　suspicious　air；　〃our　reverend　Father…General〃

〃Commissioned　him　to　take　your　place；〃　said　the　cardinal；　〃I　know　that。
He　told　me　so　at　Rome。　　But　what　do　you　think　of　the　character　of　Father
Rodin？　　Can　one　have　full　confidence　in　him？〃

〃He　has　so　complete；　so　original；　so　secret；　and　so　impenetrable　a　mind；〃
said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　with　hesitation；　〃that　it　is　difficult　to　form
any　certain　judgment　with　respect　to　him。〃

〃Do　you　think　him　ambitious？〃　said　the　cardinal；　after　another　moment's
pause。　　〃Do　you　not　suppose　him　capable　of　having　other　views　than　those
of　the　greater　glory　of　his　Order？Come；　I　have　reasons　for　speaking
thus；〃　added　the　prelate；　with　emphasis。

〃Why；〃　resumed　Father　d'Aigrigny；　not　without　suspicion；　for　the　game　is
played　cautiously　between　people　of　the　same　craft；　〃what　should　your
Eminence　think　of　him；　either　from　your　own　observation；　or　from　the
report　of　the　Father…General？〃

〃I　thinkthat　if　his　apparent　devotion　to　his　Order　really　concealed
some　after…thoughtit　would　be　well　to　discover　itfor；　with　the
influence　that　he　has　obtained　at　Rome　（as　I　have　found　out）；　he　might
one　day；　and　that　shortly；　become　very　formidable。〃

〃Well！〃　cried　Father　d'Aigrigny；　impelled　by　his　jealousy　of　Rodin；　〃I
am；　in　this　respect；　of　the　same　opinion　as　your　Eminence；　for　I　have
sometimes　perceived　in　him　flashes　of　ambition；　that　were　as　alarming　as
they　were　extraordinaryand　since　I　must　tell　all　to　your　Eminence〃

Father　d'Aigrigny　was　unable　to　continue；　at　this　moment　Mrs。　Grivois；
who　had　been　knocking　at　the　door；　half…opened　it；　and　made　a　sign　to　her
mistress。　　The　princess　answered　by　bowing　her　head；　and　Mrs。　Grivois
again　withdrew。　　A　second　afterwards　Rodin　entered　the　room。

＇36＇　It　is　known　that；　in　1845；　the　Inquisition；　solitary　confinement；
etc。；　still　existed　at　Rome。




CHAPTER　XVII。

RENDERING　THE　ACCOUNT。

At　sight　of　Rodin；　the　two　prelates　and　Father　d'Aigrigny　rose
spontaneously；　so　much　were　they　overawed　by　the　real　superiority　of　this
man；　their　faces；　just　before　contracted　with　suspicion　and　jealousy；
suddenly　brightened　up；　and　seemed　to　smile　on　the　reverend　father　with
affectionate　deference。　　The　princess　advanced　some　steps　to　meet　him。

Rodin；　badly　dressed　as　ever；　leaving　on　the　soft　carpet　the　muddy　track
of　his　clumsy　shoes；　put　his　umbrella　into　one　corner；　and　advanced
towards　the　tablenot　with　his　accustomed　humility；　but　with　slow　step；
uplifted　head；　and　steady　glance；　not　only　did　he　feel　himself　in　the
midst　of　his　partisans；　but　he　knew　that　he　could　rule　them　all　by　the
power　of　his　intellect。

〃We　were　speaking　of　your　reverence；　my　dear；　good　father；〃　said　the
cardinal；　with　charming　affability。

〃Ah！〃　said　Rodin；　looking　fixedly　at　the　prelate；　〃and　what　were　you
saying？〃

〃Why；〃　replied　the　Belgian　bishop；　wiping　his　forehead；　〃all　the　good
that　can　be　said　of　your　reverence。〃

〃Will　you　not　take　something；　my　good　father？〃　said　the　princess　to
Rodin；　as　she　pointed　to　the　splendid　sideboard。

〃Thank　you；　madame；　I　have　eaten　my　radish　already　this　morning。〃

〃My　secretary；　Abbe　Berlini；　who　was　present　at　your　repast；　was；　indeed；
much　astonished　at　your　reverence's　frugality；〃　said　the　prelate：　〃it　is
worthy　of　an　anchorite。〃

〃Suppose　we　talk　of　business；〃　said　Rodin；　abruptly；　like　a　man
accustomed　to　lead　and　control　the　discussion。

〃We　shall　always　be　most　happy　to　hear　you；〃　said　the　prelate。　　〃Your
reverence　yourself　fixed　to…day　to　talk　over　this　great　Rennepont　affair。
It　is　of　such　importance；　that　it　was　partly　the　cause　of　my　journey　to
France；　for　to　support　the　interests　of　the　glorious　Company　of　Jesus；
with　which　I　have　the　honor　of　being　associated；　is　to　support　the
interests　of　Rome　itself；　and　I　promised　the　reverend　Father…General　that
I　would　place　myself　entirely　at　your　orders。〃

〃I　can　only　repeat　what　his　Eminence　has　just　said；〃　added　the　bishop。
〃We　set　out　from　Rome　together；　and　our　ideas　are　just　the　same。〃

〃Certainly；〃　said　Rodin；　addressing　the　cardinal；　〃your　Eminence　may
serve　our　cause；　and　that　materially。　　I　will　tell　you　how　presently。〃

Then；　addressing　the　princess；　he　continued：　〃I　have　desired　Dr。
Baleinier　to　come　here；　madame；　for　it　will　be　well　to　inform　him　of
certain　things。〃

〃He　will　be　admitted　as　usual；〃　said　the　princess。

Since　Rodin's　arrival　Father　d'Aigrigny　had　remained　silent；　he　seemed
occupied　with　bitter　thoughts；　and　with　some　violent　internal　struggle。
At　last；　half　rising；　he　said　to　the　prelate；　in　a　forced　tone　of　voice：
〃I　will　not　ask　your　Eminence　to　judge　between　the　reverend　Father　Rodin
and　myself。　　Our　General　has　pronounced；　and　I　have　obeyed。　　But；　as　your
Eminence　will　soon　see　our　superior；　I　should　wish　that　you　would　grant
me　the　favor　to　report　faithfully　the　answers　of　Father　Rodin　to　one　or
two　questions　I　am　about　to　put　to　him。〃

The　prelate　bowed。　　Rodin　looked　at　Father　d'Aigrigny　with　an　air　of
surprise；　and　said　to　him；　dryly：　〃The　thing　is　decided。　　What　is　the　use
of　questions？〃

〃Not　to　justify　myself；〃　answered　Father　d'Aigrigny；　〃but　to　place
matters　in　their　true　light　before　his　Eminence。〃

〃Speak；　then；　but　let　us　have　no　useless　speeches；〃　said　Rodin；　drawing
out　his　large　silver　watch；　and　looking　at　it。　　〃By　two　o'clock　I　must　be
at　Saint…Sulpice。〃

〃I　will　be　as　brief　as　possible；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　with　repressed
resentment。　　Then；　addressing　Rodin；　he　resumed：　〃When　your　reverence
thought　fit　to　take　my　place；　and　to　blame；　very　severely　perhaps；　the
manner　in　which　I　had　managed　the　interests　confided　to　my　care；　I
confess　honestly　that　these　interests　were　gravely　compromised。〃

〃Compromised？〃　said　Rodin；　ironically；　〃you　mean　lost。　　Did　you　not　order
me　to　write　to　Rome；　to　bid