the wandering jew, volume 9-第4章

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

〃That　is　true；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny。

〃It　was　then　a　desperate　case；　given　up　by　the　best　doctors；〃　continued
Rodin；　with　irony；　〃and　yet　I　have　undertaken　to　restore　it　to　life。　　Go
on。〃

And；　plunging　both　hands　into　the　pockets　of　his　trousers；　he　looked
Father　d'Aigrigny　full　in　the　face。

〃Your　reverence　blamed　me　harshly；〃　resumed　Father　d'Aigrigny；　〃not　for
having　sought；　by　every　possible　means；　to　recover　the　property　odiously
diverted　from　our　society〃

〃All　your　casuists　authorize　you　to　do　so；〃　said　the　cardinal；　〃the　texts
are　clear　and　positive；　you　have　a　right　to　recover；　per　fas　aut　nefas
what　has　been　treacherously　taken　from　you。〃

〃And　therefore；〃　resumed　Father　d'Aigrigny；　〃Father　Rodin　only　reproached
me　with　the　military　roughness　of　my　means。　　‘Their　violence；'　he　said；
‘was　in　dangerous　opposition　to　the　manners　of　the　age。'　Be　it　so；　but
first　of　all；　I　could　not　be　exposed　to　any　legal　proceedings；　and；　but
for　one　fatal　circumstance；　success　would　have　crowned　the　course　I　had
taken；　however　rough　and　brutal　it　may　appear。　　Now；　may　I　ask　your
reverence　what〃

〃What　I　have　done　more　than　you？〃　said　Rodin　to　Father　d'Aigrigny；　giving
way　to　his　impertinent　habit　of　interrupting　people；　〃what　I　have　done
better　than　you？what　step　I　have　taken　in　the　Rennepont　affair；　since　I
received　it　from　you　in　a　desperate　condition？　　Is　that　what　you　wish　to
know？〃

〃Precisely；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　dryly。

〃Well；　I　confess；〃　resumed　Rodin；　in　a　sardonic　tone；　〃just　as　you　did
great　things；　coarse　things；　turbulent　things；　I　have　been　doing　little；
puerile；　secret　things。　　Oh；　heaven！　you　cannot　imagine　what　a　foolish
part　I；　who　passed　for　a　man　of　enlarged　views；　have　been　acting　for　the
last　six　weeks。〃

〃I　should　never　have　allowed　myself　to　address　such　a　reproach　to　your
reverence；　however　deserved　it　may　appear；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　with
a　bitter　smile。

〃A　reproach？〃　said　Rodin；　shrugging　his　shoulders；　〃a　reproach？　　You
shall　be　the　judge。　　Do　you　know　what　I　wrote　about　you；　some　six　weeks
ago？　　Here　it　is：　‘Father　d'Aigrigny　has　excellent　qualities。　　He　will　be
of　much　service　to　me'and　from　to…morrow　I　shall　employ　you　very
actively；　added　Rodin；　by　way　of　parenthesis‘but　he　is　not　great　enough
to　know　how　to　make　himself　little　on　occasion。'　Do　you　understand？〃

〃Not　very　well；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　blushing。

〃So　much　the　worse　for　you；〃　answered　Rodin；　〃it　only　proves　that　I　was
right。　　Well；　since　I　must　tell　you；　I　have　been　wise　enough　to　play　the
most　foolish　part　for　six　whole　weeks。　　Yes；　I　have　chatted　nonsense　with
a　grisettehave　talked　of　liberty；　progress；　humanity；　emancipation　of
women；　with　a　young；　excited　girl；　of　Napoleon　the　Great；　and　all　sorts
of　Bonapartist　idolatry；　with　an　old；　imbecile　soldier；　of　imperial
glory；　humiliation　of　France；　hopes　in　the　King　of　Rome；　with　a　certain
marshal　of　France；　who；　with　a　heart　full　of　adoration　for　the　robber　of
thrones；　that　was　transported　to　Saint…Helena；　has　a　head　as　hollow　and
sonorous　as　a　trumpet；　into　which　you　have　only　to　blow　some　warlike　or
patriotic　notes；　and　it　will　flourish　away　of　itself；　without　knowing　why
or　how。　　More　than　all　this；　I　have　talked　of　love　affairs　with　a　young
tiger。　　When　I　told　you　it　was　lamentable　to　see　a　man　of　any
intelligence　descend；　as　I　have　done；　to　all　such　petty　ways　of
connecting　the　thousand　threads　of　this　dark　web；　was　I　not　right？　　Is　it
not　a　fine　spectacle　to　see　the　spider　obstinately　weaving　its　net？to
see　the　ugly　little　black　animal　crossing　thread　upon　thread；　fastening
it　here；　strengthening　it　there；　and　again　lengthening　it　in　some　other
place？　　You　shrug　your　shoulders　in　pity；　but　return　two　hours　after
what　will　you　find？　　The　little　black　animal　eating　its　fill；　and　in　its
web　a　dozen　of　the　foolish　flies；　bound　so　securely；　that　the　little
black　animal　has　only　to　choose　the　moment　of　its　repast。〃

As　he　uttered　those　words；　Rodin　smiled　strangely；　his　eyes；　gradually
half　closed；　opened　to　their　full　width；　and　seemed　to　shine　more　than
usual。　　The　Jesuit　felt　a　sort　of　feverish　excitement；　which　he
attributed　to　the　contest　in　which　he　had　engaged　before　these　eminent
personages；　who　already　felt　the　influence　of　his　original　and　cutting
speech。

Father　d'Aigrigny　began　to　regret　having　entered　on　the　contest。　　He
resumed；　however；　with　ill…repressed　irony：　〃I　do　not　dispute　the
smallness　of　your　means。　　I　agree　with　you；　they　are　very　puerilethey
are　even　very　vulgar。　　But　that　is　not　quite　sufficient　to　give　an
exalted　notion　of　your　merit。　　May　I　be　allowed　to　ask〃

〃What　these　means　have　produced？〃　resumed　Rodin；　with　an　excitement　that
was　not　usual　with　him。　　〃Look　into　my　spider's　web；　and　you　will　see
there　the　beautiful　and　insolent　young　girl；　so　proud；　six　weeks　ago；　of
her　grace；　mind；　and　audacitynow　pale；　trembling；　mortally　wounded　at
the　heart。〃

〃But　the　act　of　chivalrous　intrepidity　of　the　Indian　prince；　with　which
all　Paris　is　ringing；〃　said　the　princess；　〃must　surely　have　touched
Mdlle。　de　Cardoville。〃

〃Yes；　but　I　have　paralyzed　the　effect　of　that　stupid　and　savage　devotion；
by　demonstrating　to　the　young　lady　that　it　is　not　sufficient　to　kill
black　panthers　to　prove　one's　self　a　susceptible；　delicate；　and　faithful
lover。〃

〃Be　it　so；〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　〃we　will　admit　the　fact　that　Mdlle。
de　Cardoville　is　wounded　to　the　heart。〃

〃But　what　does　this　prove　with　regard　to　the　Rennepont　affair？〃　asked　the
cardinal；　with　curiosity；　as　he　leaned　his　elbows　on　the　table。

〃There　results　from　it；〃　said　Rodin；　〃that　when　our　most　dangerous　enemy
is　mortally　wounded；　she　abandons　the　battlefield。　　That　is　something；　I
should　imagine。〃

〃Indeed；〃　said　the　princess；　〃the　talents　and　audacity　of　Mdlle。　de
Cardoville　would　make　her　the　soul　of　the　coalition　formed　against　us。〃

〃Be　it　so；〃　replied　Father　d'Aigrigny；　obstinately；　〃she　may　be　no　longer
formidable　in　that　respect。　　But　the　wound　in　her　heart　will　not　prevent
her　from　inheriting。〃

〃Who　tells　you　so？〃　asked　Rodin；　coldly；　and　with　assurance。　　〃Do　you
know　why　I　have　taken　such　pains；　first　to　bring　her　in　contact　with
Djalma；　and　then　to　separate　her　from　him？〃

〃That　is　what　I　ask　you；〃　said　Father　D'Aigrigny；　〃how　can　this　storm　of
passion　prevent　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville　and　the　prince　from　inheriting？〃

〃Is　it　from　the　serene；　or　from　the　stormy　sky；　that　darts　the　destroying
thunderbolt？〃　said　Rodin；　disdainfully。　　〃Be　satisfied；　I　shall　know
where　to　place　the　conductor。　　As　for　M。　Hardy；　the　man　lived　for　three
things：　his　workmen；　his　friend；　his　mistress。　　He　has　been　thrice
wounded　in　the　heart。　　I　always　take　aim　at　the　heart；　it　is　legal　and
sure。〃

〃It　is　legal；　and　sure；　and　praiseworthy；〃　said　the　bishop；　〃for；　if　I
understand　you　rightly；　this　manufacturer　had　a　concubine；　now　it　is　well
to　make　use　of　an　evil　passion　for　the　punishment　of　the　wicked。〃

〃True；　quite　true；〃　added　the　cardinal；　〃if　they　have　evil　passion　for　us
to　make　use　of　it；　it　is　their　own　fault。〃

〃Our　holy　Mother　Perpetue；〃　said　the　princess；　〃took　every　means　to
discover　this　abominable　adultery。〃

〃Well；　then；　M。　Hardy　is　wounded　in　his　dearest　affections；　I　admit；〃
said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　still　disputing　every　inch　of　ground；　〃ruined　too
in　his　fortune；　which　will　only　make　him　the　more　eager　after　this
inheritance。〃

The　argument　appeared　of　weight　to　the　two　prelates　and　the　princess；　all
looked　at　Rodin　with　anxious　curiosity。　　Instead　of　answering　he　walked
up　to　the　sideboard；　and；　contrary　to　his　habits　of　stoical　sobriety；　and
in　spite　of　his　repugnance　for　wine；　he　examined　the　decanters；　and　said：
〃What　is　there　in　them？〃

〃Claret　and　sherry；〃　said　the　hostess；　much　astonished　at　the　sudden
taste　of　Rodin；　〃and〃

The　latter　took　a　decanter　at　hazard；　and　poured　out　a　glass　of　Madeira；
which　he　drank　off　at　a　draught。　　Just　be　fore　he　had　felt　a　strange　kind
of　shivering；　to　this　had　succeeded　a　sort　of　weakness。　　He　hoped　the
wine　would　revive　him。

After　wiping　his　mouth　with　the　back　of　his　dirty　hand；　he　returned　to
the　table；　and　said　to　Father　d'Aigrigny：　〃What　did　you　tell　me　about　M。
Hardy？〃

〃That　being　ruined　in　fortune；　he　would　be　the　more　eager　to　obtain　this
immense　inheritance；〃　answered　Father　d'Aigrigny；　inwardly　much　offended
at　the　imperious　tone。

〃M。　Hardy　think　of　money？〃　said　Rodin；　shrugging　his　shoulders。　　〃He　is
indifferent　to　life；　plunged　in　a　stupor　from　which　he　only　starts　to
burst　into　tears。　　Then　he　speaks　with　mechanical　kindness　to　those　about
him。　　I　have　placed　him　in　good　hands。　　He　begins；　however；　to　be
sensible　to　the　attentions　shown　him；　for　he　is　good；　excellent；　weak；
and　ii　is　to　this　excellence；　Father　d'Aigrigny；　that　you　must　appeal　to
finish　the　work　in　hand。〃

〃I？〃　said　Father　d'Aigrigny；　much　surprised。

〃Yes；　and　then　you　will　find　that　the　result　I　have　obtained　is
considerable；　and〃

Rodin　paused；　and；　pressing　his　hand　to　his　forehead；　said　to　himself：
〃It　is　strange！〃

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　said　the　princess；　with　interest。

〃Nothing；　madame；〃　answered　Rodin；　with　a　shiver；　〃it　is　doubtless　the
wine　I　drank；　I　am　not　accustomed　to　it。　　I　feel　a　slight　headache；　but
it　will　pass。〃

〃Your　eyes　are　very　bloodshot；　my　good　father；　said　the　princess。

〃I　have　looked　too　closely　into　my　web；〃　answered　the　Jesuit；　with　a
sinister　smile；　〃and　I　must　look　again；　to　make　Father　d'Aigrigny；　who
pretends　to　be　blind；　catch　a　glimpse　of　my　other　flies。　　The　two
daughters　of　Marshal　Simon；　for　instance；　growing　sadder　and　more
dejected　every　day；　at　the　icy　barrier　raised　between　them　and　their
father；　and　the　latter　thinking　himself　one　day　dishonored　if　he　does
this；　another　if　he　does　that；　so　that　the　hero　of　the　Empire　has　become
weaker　and　more　irresolute　than　a　child。　　What　more　remains　of　this
impious　family？　　Jacques　Rennepont？　　Ask　Morok；　to　what　a　state　of
debasement　intemperance　has　reduced　him；　and　towards　what　an　abyss　he　is
rushing！There　is　my　occurrence…sheet；　you　see　to　what　are　reduced　all
the　members　of　this　family；　who；　six　weeks　ago；　had　each　elements　of
strength　and　union！　Behold　these　Renneponts；　who；　by　the　will　of　their
heretical　ancestor；　were　to　unite　their　forces　to　combat　and　crush　our
Society！There　was　good　reason　to　fear　them；　but　what　did　I　say？　　That　I
would　act　upon　their　passions。　　What　have　I　done？　　I　have　acted　upon
their　passions。　　At　this　hour　they　are　vainly　struggling　in　my　webthey
are　minethey　are　mine〃

As　he　was　speaking；　Rodin's　countenance　and　voice　had　undergone　a
singular　alteration；　his　complexion；　generally　so　cadaverous；　had　become
flushed；　but　unequally；　and　in　patches；　then；　strange　phenomenon！　his
eyes　grew　both　more　brilliant　and　more　sunken；　and　his　voice　sharper　and
louder。　　The　change　in　the　countenance　of　Rodin；　of　which　he　did　not
appear　to　be　conscious；　was　so　remarkable；　that　the　other　actors　in　this
scene　looked　at　him　with　a　sort　of　terror。

Deceived