the wandering jew, volume 1-第23节

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！



〃Rose；　my　children！〃　cried　he。　　〃Blanche！　　Give　me　some　answer！　　you
frighten　me。〃　　Still　the　same　silence　continued；　the　hand　which　he　held
remained　cold　and　powerless；　and　yielded　passively　to　his　touch。

Just　then；　the　moon　emerged　from　the　black　clouds　that　surrounded　her；
and　threw　sufficient　light　into　the　little　room；　and　upon　the　bed；　which
faced　the　window；　for　the　soldier　to　see　that　the　two　sisters　had
fainted。　　The　bluish　light　of　the　moon　added　to　the　paleness　of　the
orphans；　they　held　each　other　in　a　half　embrace；　and　Rose　had　buried　her
head　on　Blanche's　bosom。

〃They　must　have　fainted　through　fear；〃　exclaimed　Dagobert；　running　to
fetch　his　gourd。　　〃Poor　things！　after　a　day　of　so　much　excitement；　it　is
not　surprising。〃　　And　moistening　the　corner　of　a　handkerchief　with　a　few
drops　of　brandy；　the　soldier　knelt　beside　the　bed；　gently　chafed　the
temples　of　the　two　sisters；　and　held　the　linen；　wet　with　the　spirituous
liquor；　to　their　little　pink　nostrils。

Still　on　his　knees；　and　bending　his　dark；　anxious　face　over　the　orphans；
he　waited　some　moments　before　again　resorting　to　the　only　restorative　in
his　power。　　A　slight　shiver　of　Rose　gave　him　renewed　hope；　the　young　girl
turned　her　head　on　the　pillow　with　a　sigh；　then　she　started；　and　opened
her　eyes　with　an　expression　of　astonishment　and　alarm；　but；　not
immediately　recognizing　Dagobert；　she　exclaimed：　〃Oh；　sister！〃　and　threw
herself　into　the　arms　of　Blanche。

The　latter　also　was　beginning　to　experience　the　effect　of　the　soldier's
care。　　The　exclamation　of　Rose　completely　roused　her　from　her　lethargy；
and　she　clung　to　her　sister；　again　sharing　the　fright　without　knowing　its
cause。

〃They've　come　tothat's　the　chief　point；〃　said　Dagobert；　〃now　we　shall
soon　get　rid　of　these　foolish　fears。〃　　Then　softening　his　voice；　he
added：　〃Well；　my　children；　courage？　　You　are　better。　　It　is　I　who　am
hereme；　Dagobert！〃

The　orphans　made　a　hasty　movement；　and；　turning　towards　the　soldier　their
sweet　faces；　which　were　still　full　of　dismay　and　agitation；　they　both；　by
a　graceful　impulse；　extended　their　arms　to　him　and　cried：　〃It　is　you；
Dagobertthen　we　are　safe！〃

〃Yes；　my　children；　it　is　I；〃　said　the　veteran；　taking　their　hands　in　his；
and　pressing　them　joyfully。　　〃So　you　have　been　much　frightened　during　my
absence？〃

〃Oh；　frightened　to　death！〃

〃If　you　knewoh；　goodness！　if　you　knew〃

〃But　the　lamp　is　extinguishedwhy　is　that？〃

〃We　did　not　do　it。〃

〃Comerecover　yourselves；　poor　children；　and　tell　me　all　about　it。　　I
have　no　good　opinion　of　this　inn；　but；　luckily；　we　shall　soon　leave　it。
It　was　an　ill　wind　that　blew　me　hitherthough；　to　be　sure；　there　was　no
other　in　the　village。　　But　what　has　happened？〃

〃You　were　hardly　gone；　when　the　window　flew　open　violently；　and　the　lamp
and　table　fell　together　with　a　loud　crash。〃

〃Then　our　courage　failedwe　screamed　and　clasped　each　other；　for　we
thought　we　could　hear　some　one　moving　in　the　room。〃

〃And　we　were　so　frightened；　that　we　fainted　away。〃

Unfortunately；　persuaded　that　it　was　the　violence　of　the　wind　which　had
already　broken　the　glass；　and　shaken　the　window；　Dagobert　attributed　this
second　accident　to　the　same　cause　as　the　first；　thinking　that　he　had　not
properly　secured　the　fastening　and　that　the　orphans　had　been　deceived　by
a　false　alarm。　　〃Well；　wellit　is　over　now；〃　said　he　to　them：　〃Calm
yourselves；　and　don't　think　of　it　any　more。〃

〃But　why　did　you　leave　us　so　hastily；　Dagobert？〃

〃Yes；　now　I　rememberdid　we　not　hear　a　great　noise；　sister；　and　see
Dagobert　run　to　the　staircase；　crying：　'My　horse！　what　are　they　doing　to
my　horse？'〃

〃It　was　then　Jovial　who　neighed？〃

These　questions　renewed　the　anguish　of　the　soldier；　he　feared　to　answer
them；　and　said；　with　a　confused　air：　〃YesJovial　neighed　…but　it　was
nothing。　　By　the　by；　we　must　have　a　light　here。　　Do　you　know　where　I　put
my　flint　and　steel　last　evening？　　Well；　I　have　lost　my　senses；　it　is　here
in　my　pocket。　　Luckily；　too；　we　have　a　candle；　which　I　am　going　to　light；
I　want　to　look　in　my　knapsack　for　some　papers　I　require。〃

Dagobert　struck　a　few　sparks；　obtained　a　light；　and　saw　that　the　window
was　indeed　open；　the　table　thrown　down；　and　the　lamp　lying　by　the　side　of
the　knapsack。　　He　shut　the　window；　set　the　little　table　on　its　feet
again；　placed　the　knapsack　upon　it；　and　began　to　unbuckle　this　last　in
order　to　take　out　his　portfolio；　which　had　been　deposited　along　with　his
cross　and　purse；　in　a　kind　of　pocket　between　the　outside　and　the　lining。
The　straps　had　been　readjusted　with　so　much　care；　that　there　was　no
appearance　of　the　knapsack　having　been　disturbed；　but　when　the　soldier
plunged　his　hand　into　the　pocket　above…mentioned；　he　found　it　empty。
Struck　with　consternation；　he　grew　pale；　and　retreated　a　step；　crying：
〃How　is　this？Nothing！〃

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　said　Blanche。　　He　made　her　no　answer。　　Motionless；
he　leaned　against　the　table；　with　his　hand　still　buried　in　the　pocket。
Then；　yielding　to　a　vague　hopefor　so　cruel　a　reality　did　not　appear
possiblehe　hastily　emptied　the　contents　of　the　knapsack　on　the　table
his　poor　half…worn　clotheshis　old　uniform…coat　of　the　horse…grenadiers
of　the　Imperial　Guard；　a　sacred　relic　for　the　soldiersbut；　turn　and
return　them　as　he　would；　he　found　neither　his　purse；　nor　the　portfolio
that　contained　his　papers；　the　letters　of　General　Simon；　and　his　cross。

In　vain；　with　that　serious　childishness　which　always　accompanies　a
hopeless　search；　he　took　the　knapsack　by　the　two　ends；　and　shook　it
vigorously；　nothing　came　out。　　The　orphans　looked　on　with　uneasiness；　not
understanding　his　silence　or　his　movements；　for　his　back　was　turned　to
them。　　Blanche　ventured　to　say　to　him　in　a　timid　voice：　〃What　ails　you
you　don't　answer　us。What　is　it　you　are　looking　for　in　your　knapsack？〃

Still　mute；　Dagobert　searched　his　own　person；　turned　out　all　his　pockets…
…nothing！For　the　first　time　in　his　life；　perhaps；　his　two　children；　as
he　called　them；　had　spoken　to　him　without　receiving　a　reply。　　Blanche　and
Rose　felt　the　big　tears　start　into　their　eyes；　thinking　that　the　soldier
was　angry；　they　darst　not　again　address　him。

〃No；　no！　it　is　impossibleno！〃　said　the　veteran；　pressing　his　hand　to
his　forehead；　and　seeking　in　his　memory　where　he　might　have　put　those
precious　objects；　the　loss　of　which　he　could　not　yet　bring　himself　to
believe。　　A　sudden　beam　of　joy　flashed　from　his　eyes。　　He　ran　to　a　chair；
and　took　from　it　the　portmanteau　of　the　orphans；　it　contained　a　little
linen；　two　black　dresses；　and　a　small　box　of　white　wood；　in　which　were　a
silk　handkerchief　that　had　belonged　to　their　mother；　two　locks　of　her
hair；　and　a　black　ribbon　she　had　worn　round　her　neck。　　The　little　she
possessed　had　been　seized　by　the　Russian　government；　in　pursuance　of　the
confiscation。　　Dagobert　searched　and　researched　every　articlepeeped
into　all　the　corners　of　the　portmanteaustill　nothing！

This　time；　completely　worn　out；　leaning　against　the　table；　the　strong；
energetic　man　felt　himself　giving　way。　　His　face　was　burning；　yet　bathed
in　a　cold　sweat；　his　knees　trembled　under　him。　　It　is　a　common　saying；
that　drowning　men　will　catch　at　straws；　and　so　it　is　with　the　despair
that　still　clings　to　some　shred　of　hope。　　Catching　at　a　last　chance
absurd；　insane；　impossiblehe　turned　abruptly　towards　the　orphans；　and
said　to　them；　without　considering　the　alteration　in　his　voice　and
features：　〃I　did　not　give　them　to　youto　keep　for　me？speak？〃

Instead　of　answering；　Rose　and　Blanche；　terrified　at　his　paleness　and　the
expression　of　his　countenance；　uttered　a　cry。　　〃Good　heavens！　what　is　the
matter　with　you？〃　murmured　Rose。

〃Have　you　got　themyes；　or　no？〃　cried　in　a　voice　of　thunder　the
unfortunate；　distracted　man。　　〃If　you　have　notI'll　take　the　first　knife
I　meet　with；　and　stick　it　into　my　body！〃

〃Alas！　　You　are　so　good：　pardon　us　if　we　have　done　anything　to　afflict
you！　　You　love　us　so　much；　you　would　not　do　us　any　harm。〃　The　orphans
began　to　weep；　as　they　stretched　forth　their　hands　in　supplication
towards　the　soldier。

He　looked　at　them　with　haggard　eye；　without　even　seeing　them；　till；　as
the　delusion　passed　away；　the　reality　presented　itself　to　his　mind　with
all　its　terrible　consequences。　　Then　he　clasped　his　hands　together；　fell
on　his　knees　before　the　bed　of　the　orphans；　leaned　his　forehead　upon　it；
and　amid　his　convulsive　sobsfor　the　man　of　iron　sobbed　like　a　child
these　broken　words　were　audible：　〃Forgive　meforgive！I　do　not　know　how
it　can　be！　Oh！　what　a　misfortune！what　a　misfortune！Forgive　me！〃

At　this　outbreak　of　grief；　the　cause　of　which　they　understood　not；　but
which　in　such　a　man　was　heart…rending；　the　two　sisters　wound　their　arms
about　his　old　gray　head；　and　exclaimed　amid　their　tears：　〃Look　at　us！
Only　tell　us　what　is　the　matter　with　you？Is　it　our　fault？〃

At　this　instant；　the　noise　of　footsteps　resounded　from　the　stairs；
mingled　with　the　barking　of　Spoil…sport；　who　had　remained　outside　the
door。　　The　nearer　the　steps　approached；　the　more　furious　became　the
barking；　it　was　no　doubt　accompanied　with　hostile　demonstrations；　for　the
host　was　heard　to　cry　out　in　an　angry　tone：　〃Hollo！　you　there！　　Call　off
your　dog；　or　sp