the wandering jew, volume 9-第7章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


feast　the　fishes；　which　you　won't　swallow　any　more。〃

At　these　atrocious　cries；　the　old　man　looked　wildly　around；　and　uttered
faint　groans。　　Ciboule　wished　to　stop　the　persons　who　were　carrying　him；
and　they　had　much　difficulty　in　getting　rid　of　the　hag。　　The　number　of
cholera…patients　arriving　increased　every　moment；　and　soon　neither
litters　nor　stretchers　could　be　obtained；　so　that　they　were　borne　along
in　the　arms　of　the　attendants。　　Several　awful　episodes　bore　witness　to
the　startling　rapidity　of　the　infection。　　Two　men　were　carrying　a
stretcher　covered　with　a　blood…stained　sheet；　one　of　them　suddenly　felt
himself　attacked　with　the　complaint；　he　stopped　short；　his　powerless　arms
let　go　the　stretcher；　he　turned　pale；　staggered；　fell　upon　the　patient；
becoming　as　livid　as　him；　the　other　man；　struck　with　terror；　fled
precipitately；　leaving　his　companion　and　the　dying　man　in　the　midst　of
the　crowd。　　Some　drew　back　in　horror；　others　burst　into　a　savage　laugh。

〃The　horses　have　taken　fright；〃　said　the　quarryman；　〃and　have　left　the
turn…out　in　the　lurch。〃

〃Help！〃　cried　the　dying　man；　with　a　despairing　accent；　〃for　pity's　sake
take　me　in。〃

〃There's　no　more　room　in　the　pit；〃　said　one；　in　a　jeering　tone。

〃And　you've　no　legs　left　to　reach　the　gallery；〃　added　another。

The　sick　man　made　an　effort　to　rise；　but　his　strength　failed　him；　he　fell
back　exhausted　on　the　mattress。　　A　sudden　movement　took　place　among　the
crowd；　the　stretcher　was　overturned；　the　old　man　and　his　companion　were
trodden　underfoot；　and　their　groans　were　drowned　in　the　cries　of　〃Death
to　the　body…snatchers！〃　The　yells　were　renewed　with　fresh　fury；　but　the
ferocious　band；　who　respected　nothing　in　their　savage　fury；　were　soon
after　obliged　to　open　their　ranks　to　several　workmen；　who　vigorously
cleared　the　way　for　two　of　their　friends　carrying　in　their　arms　a　poor
artisan。　　He　was　still　young；　but　his　heavy　and　already　livid　head　hung
down　upon　the　shoulder　of　one　of　them。　　A　little　child　followed；　sobbing；
and　holding　by　one　of　the　workmen's　coats。　　The　measured　and　sonorous
sound　of　several　drums　was　now　heard　at　a　distance　in　the　winding　streets
of　the　city：　they　were　beating　the　call　to　arms；　for　sedition　was　rife　in
the　Faubourg　Saint…Antoine。　　The　drummers　emerged　from　under　the　archway；
and　were　traversing　the　square；　when　one　of　them；　a　gray…haired　veteran；
suddenly　slackened　the　rolling　of　his　drum；　and　stood　still：　his
companions　turned　round　in　surprisehe　had　turned　green；　his　legs　gave
way；　he　stammered　some　unintelligible　words；　and　had　fallen　upon　the
pavement　before　those　in　the　front　rank　had　time　to　pause。　　The
overwhelming　rapidity　of　this　attack　startled　for　a　moment　the　most
hardened　among　the　surrounding　spectators；　for；　wondering　at　the
interruption；　a　part　of　the　crowd　had　rushed　towards　the　soldiers。

At　sight　of　the　dying　man；　supported　in　the　arms　of　two　of　his　comrades；
one　of　the　individuals；　who；　concealed　under　the　arch；　had　watched　the
beginning　of　the　popular　excitement；　said　to　the　drummers：　〃Your　comrade
drank；　perhaps；　at　some　fountain　on　the　road？〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　replied　one；　〃he　was　very　thirsty；　he　drank　two　mouthfuls　of
water　on　the　Place　du　Chatelet。〃

〃Then　he　is　poisoned；〃　said　the　man。

〃Poisoned？〃　cried　several　voices。

〃It　is　not　surprising；〃　replied　the　man；　in　a　mysterious　tone；　〃poison　is
thrown　into　the　public　fountains；　and　this　very　morning　a　man　was
massacred　in　the　Rue　Beaubourg　who　was　discovered　emptying　a　paper　of
arsenic　into　a　pot　of　wine　at　a　public…house。〃＇38＇

Having　said　these　words；　the　man　disappeared　in　the　crowd。　　This　report；
no　less　absurd　than　the　tales　about　the　poisoning　of　the　Hospital
patients；　was　received　with　a　general　burst　of　indignation。　　Five　or　six
ragged　beings；　regular　ruffians；　seized　the　body　of　the　expiring　drummer；
hoisted　it　upon　their　shoulders；　in　spite　of　all　the　efforts　of　his
comrades　to　prevent　them；　and　paraded　the　square　exhibiting　the　dismal
trophy。　　Ciboule　and　the　quarryman　went　before；　crying：　〃Wake　way　for　the
corpse！　This　is　how　they　poison　the　people！〃

A　fresh　incident　now　attracted　the　attention　of　the　crowd。　　A　travelling…
carriage；　which　had　not　been　able　to　pass　along　the　Quai…Napoleon；　the
pavement　of　which　was　up；　had　ventured　among　the　intricate　streets　of　the
city；　and　now　arrived　in　the　square　of　Notre…Dame　on　its　way　to　the　other
side　of　the　Seine。　　Like　many　others；　its　owners　were　flying　from　Paris；
to　escape　the　pestilence　which　decimated　it。　　A　man…servant　and　a　lady's
maid　were　in　the　rumble；　and　they　exchanged　a　glance　of　alarm　as　they
passed　the　Hospital；　whilst　a　young　man　seated　in　the　front　part　of　the
carriage　let　down　the　glass；　and　called　to　the　postilions　to　go　slowly；
for　fear　of　accident；　as　the　crowd　was　very　dense　at　that　part　of　the
square。　　This　young　man　was　Lord　Morinval；　and　on　the　back　seat　were　Lord
Montbron　and　his　niece；　Lady　Morinval。　　The　pale　and　anxious　countenance
of　the　young　lady　showed　the　alarm　which　she　felt；　and　Montbron；
notwithstanding　his　firmness　of　mind；　appeared　to　be　very　uneasy；　he；　as
well　as　his　niece；　frequently　had　recourse　to　a　smelling…bottle　filled
with　camphor。

During　the　last　few　minutes；　the　carriage　had　advanced　very　slowly；　the
postilions　managing　their　horses　with　great　caution；　when　a　sudden
hubbub；　at　first　distant　and　undefined；　but　soon　more　distinct；　arose
among　the　throng；　as　it　drew　near；　the　ringing　sound　of　chains　and　metal；
peculiar　to　the　artillery…wagons；　was　plainly　audible；　and　presently　one
of　these　vehicles　came　towards　the　travelling…carriage；　from　the
direction　of　the　Quai　Notre…Dame。　　It　seemed　strange；　that　though　the
crowd　was　so　compact；　yet　at　the　rapid　approach　of　this　wagon；　the　close
ranks　of　human　beings　opened　as　if　by　enchantment；　but　the　following
words　which　were　passed　from　mouth　to　mouth　soon　accounted　for　the
prodigy：　〃A　wagon　full　of　dead！　the　wagon　of　the　dead！〃　As　we　have
already　stated；　the　usual　funeral　conveyances　were　no　longer　sufficient
for　the　removal　of　the　corpses；　a　number　of　artillery　wagons　had　been　put
into　requisition；　and　the　coffins　were　hastily　piled　in　these　novel
hearses。

Many　of　the　spectators　regarded　this　gloomy　vehicle　with　dismay；　but　the
quarryman　and　his　band　redoubled　their　horrible　jokes。

〃Make　way　for　the　omnibus　of　the　departed！〃　cried　Ciboule。

〃No　danger　of　having　one's　toes　crushed　in　that　omnibus；〃　said　the
quarryman。

〃Doubtless　they're　easy　to　please；　the　stiff…uns　in　there。〃

〃They　never　want　to　be　set　down；　at　all　events。〃

〃I　say；　there's　only　one　reg'lar　on　duty　as　postilion！〃

〃That's　true；　the　leaders　are　driven　by　a　man　in　a　smock…frock。〃

〃Oh！　I　daresay　the　other　soldier　was　tired；　lazy　fellow！　and　got　into　the
omnibus　with　the　othersthey'll　all　get　out　at　the　same　big　hole。〃

〃Head　foremost；　you　know。〃

〃Yes；　they　pitch　them　head　first　into　a　bed　of　lime。〃

〃Why；　one　might　follow　the　dead…cart　blind…fold；　and　no　mistake。　　It's
worse　than　Montfaucon　knacker…yards！〃

〃Ha！　ha！　ha！it's　rather　gamey！〃　said　the　quarryman；　alluding　to　the
infectious　and　cadaverous　odor　which　this　funeral　conveyance　left　behind
it。

〃Here's　sport！〃　exclaimed　Ciboule：　〃the　omnibus　of　the　dead　will　run
against　the　fine　coach。　　Hurrah！　the　rich　folks　will　smell　death。〃

Indeed；　the　wagon　was　now　directly　in　front　of　the　carriage；　and　at　a
very　little　distance　from　it。　　A　man　in　a　smock…frock　and　wooden　shoes
drove　the　two　leaders；　and　an　artilleryman　the　other　horses。　　The　coffins
were　so　piled　up　within　this　wagon；　that　its　semicircular　top　did　not
shut　down　closely；　so　that；　as　it　jolted　heavily　over　the　uneven
pavement；　the　biers　could　be　seen　chafing　against　each　other。　　The　fiery
eyes　and　inflamed　countenance　of　the　man　in　the　smock…frock　showed　that
he　was　half　intoxicated；　urging　on　the　horses　with　his　voice；　his　heels；
and　his　whip；　he　paid　no　attention　to　the　remonstrances　of　the　soldier；
who　had　great　difficulty　in　restraining　his　own　animals；　and　was　obliged
to　follow　the　irregular　movements　of　the　carman。　　Advancing　in　this
disorderly　manner；　the　wagon　deviated　from　its　course　just　as　it　should
have　passed　the　travelling…carriage；　and　ran　against　it。　　The　shock
forced　open　the　top；　one　of　the　coffins　was　thrown　out；　and；　after
damaging　the　panels　of　the　carriage；　fell　upon　the　pavement　with　a　dull
and　heavy　sound。　　The　deal　planks　had　been　hastily　nailed　together；　and
were　shivered　in　the　fall；　and　from　the　wreck　of　the　coffin　rolled　a
livid　corpse；　half　enveloped　in　a　shroud。

At　this　horrible　spectacle；　Lady　Morinval；　who　had　mechanically　leaned
forward；　gave　a　loud　scream；　and　fainted。　　The　crowd　fell　back　in　dismay；
the　postilions；　no　less　alarmed；　took　advantage　of　the　space　left　open　to
them　by　the　retreat　of　the　multitude；　they　whipped　their　horses；　and　the
carriage　dashed　on　towards　the　quay。　　As　it　disappeared　behind　the
furthermost　buildings　of　the　Hospital；　the　shrill　joyous　notes　of　distant
trumpets　were　heard；　and　repeated　shouts　proclaimed：　〃The　Cholera
Masquerade！〃　The　words　announced　one　of　those　episodes　combining
buffoonery　with　terror；　which　marked　the　period　when　the　pestilence　was
on　the　increase；　though　now　they　can　with　difficulty　be　credited。　　If　the
evidence　of　eyewitnesses　did　not　agree　in　every　particular　with　the
accounts　given　in　the　public　papers　of　this　masquerade；　they　might　be
regarded　as　the　ravings　of　some　diseased　brain；　and　not　as　the　notice　of
a　fact　which　really　occurred。

〃The　Masquerade　of　the　Cholera〃　appeared；　we　say；　in　the　square　of　Notre…
Dame；　just　as　Morinval's　carriage　gained　the　quay；　after　disengaging
itself　from　the　death…wagon。

＇37＇　It　is　well…known　that　at　the　time　of　the　cholera；　such　placards　were
numerous　in　Paris；　and　were　alternately　attributed　to　opposite　parties。
Among　others；　to　the　priests；　many　of　the　bishops　having　published
mandatory　letters；　or　stated　openly　in　the　churches　of　their　diocese；
that　the　Almighty　had　sent　the　cholera　as　a　punishment　to　France　for
having　driven　away　its　lawful　sovereign；　and　assimilated　the　Catholic　to
other　forms　of　worship。

＇38＇　It　is　notorious；　that　at　this　unhappy　period　several　persons　were
massacred；　under　a　false　accusation　of　poisoning　the　fountains；　etc。




CHAPTER　XIX。

THE　CHOLERA　MASQUERADE。＇39＇

A　stream　of　people；　who　preceded　the　masquerade；　made　a　sudden　irruption
through　the　arch　into　the　square；　uttering　loud　cheers　as　they　advanced。
Children　were　also　there；　blowing　horns；　whilst　some　hooted　and　others
hissed。

The　quarryman；　Ciboule；　and　their　band；　attracted　by　this　new　spectacle；
rushed　tumultuously　towards　the　arch。　　Instead　of　the　two　eating…houses；
which　now　（1845）　stand　on　either　side　of　the　Rue　d'Arcole；　there　was　then
only　one；　situated　to　the　left　of　the　vaulted　passage；　and　much
celebrated　amongst　the　joyous　community　of　students；　for　the　excellence
both　of　its　cookery　and　its　wines。　　At　the　first　blare　of　the　trumpets；
sounded　by　the　outriders　in　livery　who　preceded　the　masquerade；　the
windows　of　the　great　room　of　the　eating…house　were　thrown　open；　and
several　waiters；　with　their　napkins　under　their　arms；　leaned　forw