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第29节

the wandering jew, volume 1-第29节

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He was dressed in a long frock…coat; buttoned up to the neck in military
fashion。

The piercing glance and broad forehead of this man revealed a powerful
intellect; even as the development of his chest and shoulders announced a
vigorous physical organization; whilst his gentlemanly appearance; the
perfection of his gloves and boots; the light perfume which hung about
his hair and person; the grace and ease of his least movements; betrayed
what is called the man of the world; and left the impression that he had
sought or might still seek every kind of success; from the most frivolous
to the most serious。  This rare combination of strength of mind; strength
of body; and extreme elegance of manners; was in this instance rendered
still more striking by the circumstance; that whatever there might be of
haughtiness or command in the upper part of that energetic countenance;
was softened down; and tempered by a constant but not uniform smilefor;
as occasion served; this smile became either kind or sly; cordial or gay;
discreet or prepossessing; and thus augmented the insinuating charm of
this man; who; once seen; was never again forgotten。 But; in yielding to
this involuntary sympathy; the doubt occurred if the influence was for
goodor for evil。

M。 Rodin; the secretary of the newcomer; continued to write。

〃Are there any letters from Dunkirk; Rodin?〃 inquired his master。

〃Post not yet in。〃

〃Without being positively uneasy as to my mother's health; since she was
already convalescent;〃 resumed the other; 〃I shall only be quite
reassured by a letter from my excellent friend; the Princess de Saint…
Dizier。  I shall have good news this morning; I hope。〃

〃It is to be desired;〃 said the secretary; as humble and submissive as he
was laconic and impassible。

〃Certainly it is to be desired;〃 resumed his master; 〃for one of the
brightest days of my life was when the Princess de Saint…Dizier announced
to me that this sudden and dangerous illness had yielded to the care and
attention with which she surrounds my mother。  Had it not been for that I
must have gone down to her instantly; though my presence here is very
necessary。〃

Then; approaching the desk; he added: 〃Is the summary of the foreign
correspondence complete?〃

〃Here is the analysis。〃

〃The letters are still sent under envelope to the places named; and are
then brought here as I directed?〃

〃Always。〃

〃Read to me the notes of this correspondence; if there are any letters
for me to answer; I will tell you。〃  And Rodin's master began to walk up
and down the room; with his hands crossed behind his back; dictating
observations of which Rodin took careful note。

The secretary turned to a pretty large pile of papers; and thus began:

〃Don Raymond Olivarez acknowledges from Cadiz receipt of letter No。19; he
will conform to it; and deny all share in the abduction。〃

〃Very well; file it。〃

〃Count Romanoff; of Riga; finds himself in a position of pecuniary
embarrassment。〃

〃Let Duplessis send him fifty louis; I formerly served as captain in his
regiment; and he has since given us good information。〃

〃They have received at Philadelphia the last cargo of Histories of
France; expurgated for the use of the faithful they require some more of
the same sort。〃

〃Take note of it; and write to Duplessis。  Go on。〃

〃M。 Spindler sends from Namur the secret report on M。 Ardouin。〃

〃To be examined。〃

〃M。 Ardouin sends from the same town the secret report on M。 Spindler。〃

〃To be examined。〃

〃Doctor Van Ostadt; of the same town; sends a confidential note on the
subject of Messrs。 Spindler and Ardouin。〃

〃To be compared。  Go on!〃

〃Count Malipierri; of Turin; announces that the donation of 300;000
francs is signed。〃

〃Inform Duplessis。  What next?〃

〃Don Stanislaus has just quitted the waters of Baden with Queen Marie
Ernestine。  He informs us that her majesty will receive with gratitude
the promised advices; and will answer them with her own hand。〃

〃Make a note of it。  I will myself write to the queen。〃

Whilst Rodin was inscribing a few remarks on the margin of the paper; his
master; continuing to walk up and down the room; found himself opposite
to the globe marked with little red crosses; and stood contemplating it
for a moment with a pensive air。

Rodin continued: 〃In consequence of the state of the public mind in
certain parts of Italy; where sundry agitators have turned their eyes in
the direction of France; Father Arsenio writes from Milan; that it would
be of importance to distribute profusely in that country; some little
book; in which the French would be represented as impious and debauched;
rapacious and bloody。〃

〃The idea is excellent。  We might turn to good account the excesses
committed by our troops in Italy during the wars of the Republic。  You
must employ Jacques Dumoulin to write it。  He is full of gall; spite; and
venom: the pamphlet will be scorching。  Besides; I may furnish a few
notes; but you must not pay Dumoulin till after delivery of the
manuscript。〃

〃That is well understood: for; if we were to pay him beforehand; he would
be drunk for a week in some low den。  It was thus we had to pay him twice
over for his virulent attack on the pantheistic tendencies of Professor
Martin's philosophy。〃

〃Take note of itand go on!〃

〃The merchant announces that the clerk is about to send the banker to
give in his accounts。  You understand?' added Rodin; after pronouncing
these words with a marked emphasis。

〃Perfectly;〃 said the other; with a start; 〃they are but the expressions
agreed on。  What next?〃

〃But the clerk;〃 continued the secretary; 〃is restrained by a last
scruple。〃

After a moment's silence; during which the features of Rodin's master
worked strongly; he thus resumed: 〃They most continue to act on the
clerk's mind by silence and solitude; then; let him read once more the
list of cases in which regicide is authorized and absolved。  〃Go on!〃

〃The woman Sydney writes from Dresden; that she waits for instructions。
Violent scenes of jealousy on her account have again taken place between
the father and son; but neither from these new bursts of mutual hatred;
nor from the confidential communications which each has made to her
against his rival; has she yet been able to glean the information
required。  Hitherto; she has avoided giving the preference to one or the
other; but; should this situation be prolonged; she fears it may rouse
their suspicion。  Which ought she then to choosethe father or the son?〃

〃The sonfor jealous resentment will be much more violent and cruel in
the old man; and; to revenge himself for the preference bestowed upon his
son; he will perhaps tell what they have both such an interest to
conceal。  The next?〃

〃Within the last three years; two maid…servants of Ambrosius whom we
placed in that little parish in the mountains of the Valais; have
disappeared; without any one knowing what has become of them。  A third
has just met with the same fate。  The Protestants of the country are
rousedtalk of murder with frightful attendant circumstances〃

〃Until there is proof positive and complete of the fact; Ambrosius must
be defended against these infamous calumnies; the work of a party that
never shrinks from; monstrous inventions。  Go on!〃

〃Thompson; of Liverpool; has at length succeeded in procuring for Justin
the place of agent or manager to Lord Stewart; a rich Irish Catholic;
whose head grows daily weaker。〃

〃Let the fact be once verified; and Thompson shall have a premium of
fifty louis。  Make a note of it for Duplessis。  Proceed。〃

〃Frantz Dichstein; of Vienna;〃 resumed Rodin; 〃announces that his father
has just died of the cholera; in a little village at some leagues from
that city: for the epidemic continues to advance slowly; coming from the
north of Russia by way of Poland。〃

〃It is true;〃 said Rodin's master; interrupting him; 〃may its terrible
march be stayed; and France be spared。〃

〃Frantz Dichstein;〃 resumed Rodin; 〃says that his two brothers are
determined to contest the donation made by his father; but that he is of
an opposite opinion。〃

〃Consult the two persons that are charged with all matters of litigation。
What next?〃

〃The Cardinal Prince d'Amalfi will conform to the three first points of
the proposal: he demands to make a reservation upon the fourth point。〃

〃No reserve!Either full and absolute acceptanceor else warand (mark
me well) war without mercyon him and his creatures。  Go on!〃

〃Fra Paolo announces that the Prince Boccari; chief of a redoubtable
secret society; in despair at seeing his friends accuse him of treachery;
in consequence of suspicions excited in their minds by Fra Paolo himself;
has committed suicide。〃

〃Boccari! is it possible?〃 cried Rodin's master。  〃Boccari! the patriot
Boccari! so dangerous a person!〃

〃The patriot Boccari;〃 repeated the impassible secretary。

〃Tell Duplessis to send an order for five…and…twenty louis to Fra Paolo。
Make a note of it。〃

〃Hausman informs us that the French dancer; Albertine Ducornet; is the
mistress of the reigning prince; she has the most complete influence over
him; and it would be easy through her 

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