the wandering jew, volume 1-第8节

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hacked　away　with　more　fury　than　ever；　a　bright　moon　illumined　the　scene
of　action；　and　his　comrades　were　able　to　appreciate　the　brilliant　valor
of　our　grenadier；　who　killed　two　Cossacks；　and　took　an　officer　prisoner；
with　his　own　hand。

After　this　skirmish；　in　which　the　detachment　had　maintained　its　position；
the　captain　drew　up　his　men　to　compliment　them　on　their　success；　and
ordered　the　clothes…mender　to　advance　from　the　ranks；　that　he　might　thank
him　publicly　for　his　gallant　behavior。　　Our　hero　could　have　dispensed
with　this　ovation；　but　he　was　not　the　less　obliged　to　obey。

Judge　of　the　surprise　of　both　captain　and　troopers；　when　they　saw　this
tall　and　stern…looking　figure　ride　forward　at　a　slow　pace；　with　his　naked
feet　in　the　stirrups；　and　naked　legs　pressing　the　sides　of　his　charger。

The　captain　drew　near　in　astonishment；　but　recalling　the　occupation　of
the　soldier　at　the　moment　when　the　alarm　was　given；　he　understood　the
whole　mystery。　　〃Ha；　my　old　comrade！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃thou　art　like　King
Dagobertwearing　thy　breeches　inside　out。〃

In　spite　of　discipline；　this　joke　of　the　captain's　was　received　with
peals　of　ill…repressed　laughter。　　But　our　friend；　sitting　upright　in　his
saddle；　with　his　left　thumb　pressing　the　well　adjusted　reins；　and　his
sword…hilt　carried　close　to　his　right　thigh；　made　a　half…wheel；　and
returned　to　his　place　in　the　ranks　without　changing　countenance；　after　he
had　duly　received　the　congratulations　of　his　captain。　　From　that　day；
Francis　Baudoin　received　and　kept　the　nickname　of　Dagobert。

Now　Dagobert　was　under　the　porch　of　the　inn；　occupied　in　washing；　to　the
great　amazement　of　sundry　beer…drinkers；　who　observed　him　with　curious
eyes　from　the　large　common　room　in　which　they　were　assembled。

In　truth；　it　was　a　curious　spectacle。　　Dagobert　had　laid　aside　his　gray
top…coat；　and　rolled　up　the　sleeves　of　his　shirt；　with　a　vigorous　hand；
and　good　supply　of　soap；　he　was　rubbing　away　at　a　wet　handkerchief；
spread　out　on　the　board；　the　end　of　which　rested　in　a　tub　full　of　water。
Upon　his　right　arm；　tattooed　with　warlike　emblems　in　red　and　blue　colors；
two　scars；　deep　enough　to　admit　the　finger；　were　distinctly　visible。　　No
wonder　then；　that；　while　smoking　their　pipes；　and　emptying　their　pots　of
beer；　the　Germans　should　display　some　surprise　at　the　singular　occupation
of　this　tall；　moustached；　bald…headed　old　man；　with　the　forbidding
countenancefor　the　features　of　Dagobert　assumed　a　harsh　and　grim
expression；　when　he　was　no　longer　in　presence　of　the　two　girls。

The　sustained　attention；　of　which　he　saw　himself　the　object；　began　to　put
him　out　of　patience；　for　his　employment　appeared　to　him　quite　natural。
At　this　moment；　the　Prophet　entered　the　porch；　and；　perceiving　the
soldier；　eyed　him　attentively　for　several　seconds；　then　approaching；　he
said　to　him　in　French；　in　a　rather　sly　tone：　　〃It　would　seem；　comrade；
that　you　have　not　much　confidence　in　the　washerwomen　of　Mockern？〃

Dagobert；　without　discontinuing　his　work；　half　turned　his　head　with　a
frown；　looked　askant　at　the　Prophet；　and　made　him　no　answer。

Astonished　at　this　silence；　Morok　resumed：　〃If　I　do　not　deceive　myself；
you　are　French；　my　fine　fellow。　　The　words　on　your　arm　prove　it；　and　your
military　air　stamps　you　as　an　old　soldier　of　the　Empire。　　Therefore　I
find；　that；　for　a　hero；　you　have　taken　rather　late　to　wear　petticoats。〃

Dagobert　remained　mute；　but　he　gnawed　his　moustache；　and　plied　the　soap；
with　which　he　was　rubbing　the　linen；　in　a　most　hurried；　not　to　say　angry
style；　for　the　face　and　words　of　the　beast…tamer　displeased　him　more　than
he　cared　to　show。　　Far　from　being　discouraged；　the　Prophet　continued：　〃I
am　sure；　my　fine　fellow；　that　you　are　neither　deaf　nor　dumb；　why；　then；
will　you　not　answer　me？〃

Losing　all　patience；　Dagobert　turned　abruptly　round；　looked　Morok　full　in
the　face；　and　said　to　him　in　a　rough　voice：　〃I　don't　know　you：　I　don't
wish　to　know　you！　　Chain　up　your　curb！〃　　And　he　betook　himself　again　to
his　washing。

〃But　we　may　make　acquaintance。　　We　can　drink　a　glass　of　Rhine…wine
together；　and　talk　of　our　campaigns。　　I　also　have　seen　some　service；　I
assure　you；　and　that；　perhaps；　will　induce　you　to　be　more　civil。〃

The　veins　on　the　bald　forehead　of　Dagobert　swelled　perceptibly；　he　saw　in
the　look　and　accent　of　the　man；　who　thus　obstinately　addressed　him；
something　designedly　provoking；　still　he　contained　himself。

〃I　ask　you；　why　should　you　not　drink　a　glass　of　wine　with　mewe　could
talk　about　France。　　I　lived　there　a　long　time；　it　is　a　fine　country；　and
when　I　meet　Frenchmen　abroad；　I　feel　sociableparticularly　when　they
know　how　to　use　the　soap　as　well　as　you　do。　　If　I　had　a　housewife　I'd
send　her　to　your　school。〃

The　sarcastic　meaning　was　no　longer　disguised；　impudence　and　bravado　were
legible　in　the　Prophet's　looks。　　Thinking　that；　with　such　an　adversary；
the　dispute　might　become　serious；　Dagobert；　who　wished　to　avoid　a　quarrel
at　any　price；　carried　off　his　tub　to　the　other　end　of　the　porch；　hoping
thus　to　put　an　end　to　the　scene　which　was　a　sore　trial　of　his　temper。
A　flash　of　joy　lighted　up　the　tawny　eyes　of　the　brute…tamer。　　The　white
circle；　which　surrounded　the　pupil　seemed　to　dilate。　　He　ran　his　crooked
fingers　two　or　three　times　through　his　yellow　beard；　in　token　of
satisfaction；　then　he　advanced　slowly　towards　the　soldier；　accompanied　by
several　idlers　from　the　common…room。

Notwithstanding　his　coolness；　Dagobert；　amazed　and　incensed　at　the
impudent　pertinacity　of　the　Prophet；　was　at　first　disposed　to　break　the
washing…board　on　his　head；　but；　remembering　the　orphans；　he　thought
better　of　it。

Folding　his　arms　upon　his　breast；　Morok　said　to　him；　in　a　dry　and
insolent　tone：　〃It　is　very　certain　you　are　not　civil；　my　man　of　suds！〃
Then；　turning　to　the　spectators；　he　continued　in　German：　〃I　tell　this
Frenchman；　with　his　long　moustache；　that　he　is　not　civil。　　We　shall　see
what　answer　he'll　make。　　Perhaps　it　will　be　necessary　to　give　him　a
lesson。　　Heaven　preserve　me　from　quarrels！〃　he　added；　with　mock
compunction；　〃but　the　Lord　has　enlightened　meI　am　his　creature；　and　I
ought　to　make　his　work　respected。〃

The　mystical　effrontery　of　this　peroration　was　quite　to　the　taste　of　the
idlers；　the　fame　of　the　Prophet　had　reached　Mockern；　and；　as　a
performance　was　expected　on　the　morrow；　this　prelude　much　amused　the
company。　　On　hearing　the　insults　of　his　adversary；　Dagobert　could　not
help　saying　in　the　German　language：　〃I　know　German。　　Speak　in　German
the　rest　will　understand　you。'

New　spectators　now　arrived；　and　joined　the　first　comers；　the　adventure
had　become　exciting；　and　a　ring　was　formed　around　the　two　persons　most
concerned。

The　Prophet　resumed　in　German：　〃I　said　that　you　were　not　civil；　and　I　now
say　you　are　grossly　rude。　　What　do　you　answer　to　that？〃

〃Nothing！〃　said　Dagobert；　coldly；　as　he　proceeded　to　rinse　out　another
piece　of　linen。

〃Nothing！〃　returned　Morok；　〃that　is　very　little。　　I　will　be　less　brief；
and　tell　you；　that；　when　an　honest　man　offers　a　glass　of　wine　civilly　to
a　stranger；　that　stranger　has　no　right　to　answer　with　insolence；　and
deserves　to　be　taught　manners　if　he　does　so。〃

Great　drops　of　sweat　ran　down　Dagobert's　forehead　and　cheeks；　his　large
imperial　was　incessantly　agitated　by　nervous　tremblingbut　he　restrained
himself。　　Taking；　by　two　of　the　corners；　the　handkerchief　which　he　had
just　dipped　in　the　water；　he　shook　it；　wrung　it；　and　began　to　hum　to
himself　the　burden　of　the　old　camp　ditty：

　　　　　　　　　〃Out　of　Tirlemont's　flea…haunted　den；
　　　　　　　　　　We　ride　forth　next　day　of　the　sen；
　　　　　　　　　　With　sabre　in　hand；　ah！
　　　　　　　　　　Good…bye　to　Amanda；〃　etc。

The　silence　to　which　Dagobert　had　condemned　himself；　almost　choked　him；
this　song　afforded　him　some　relief。

Morok；　turning　towards　the　spectators；　said　to　them；　with　an　air　of
hypocritical　restraint：　〃We　knew　that　the　soldiers　of　Napoleon　were
pagans；　who　stabled　their　horses　in　churches；　and　offended　the　Lord　a
hundred　times　a　day；　and　who；　for　their　sins；　were　justly　drowned　in　the
Beresino；　like　so　many　Pharaohs；　but　we　did　not　know　that　the　Lord；　to
punish　these　miscreants；　had　deprived　them　of　couragetheir　single　gift。
〃Here　is　a　man；　who　has　insulted；　in　me；　a　creature　favored　by　divine
grace；　and　who　affects　not　to　understand　that　I　require　an　apology；　or
else〃

〃What？〃　said　Dagobert；　without　looking　at　the　Prophet。

〃Or　you　must　give　me　satisfaction！I　have　already　told　you　that　I　have
seen　service。　　We　shall　easily　find　somewhere　a　couple　of　swords；　and　to…
morrow　morning；　at　peep　of　day；　we　can　meet　behind　a　wall；　and　show　the
color　of　our　bloodthat　is；　if　you　have　any　in　your　veins！〃

This　challenge　began　to　frighten　the　spectators；　who　were　not　prepared
for　so　tragical　a　conclusion。

〃What；　fight？a　very；　fine　idea！〃　said　one。　　〃To　get　yourself　both
locked　up　in　prison：　the　laws　against　duelling　are　strict。〃

〃Particularly　with　relation　to　strangers　or　nondescripts；〃　added　another。
〃If　they　were　to　find　you　with　arms　in　your　hands；　the　burgomaster　would
shut　you　up　in　jail；　and　keep　you　there　two　or　three　months　before
trial。〃

〃Would　you　be　so　mean　as　to　denounce　us？〃　　asked