the wandering jew, volume 1-第9节

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trial。〃

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

〃No；　certainly　not；〃　cried　several；　〃do　as　you　like。　　We　are　only　giving
you　a　friendly　piece　of　advice；　by　which　you　may　profit；　if　you　think
fit。〃

〃What　care　I　for　prison？〃　exclaimed　the　Prophet。　　〃Only　give　me　a　couple
of　swords；　and　you　shall　see　to…morrow　morning　if　I　heed　what　the
burgomaster　can　do　or　say。〃

〃What　would　you　do　with　two　swords？〃　asked　Dagobert；　quietly。

〃When　you　have　one　in　your　grasp；　and　I　one　in　mine；　you'd　see。　　The　Lord
commands　us　to　have　a　care　of　his　honor！〃

Dagobert　shrugged　his　shoulders；　made　a　bundle　of　his　linen　in　his
handkerchief；　dried　his　soap；　and　put　it　carefully　into　a　little　oil…silk
bagthen；　whistling　his　favorite　air　of　Tirlemont；　moved　to　depart。

The　Prophet　frowned；　he　began　to　fear　that　his　challenge　would　not　be
accepted。　　He　advanced　a　step　or　so　to　encounter　Dagobert；　placed　himself
before　him；　as　if　to　intercept　his　passage；　and；　folding　his　arms；　and
scanning　him　from　head　to　foot　with　bitter　insolence；　said　to　him：　〃So！
an　old　soldier　of　that　arch…robber；　Napoleon；　is　only　fit　for　a
washerwoman；　and　refuses　to　fight！〃

〃Yes；　he　refuses　to　fight；〃　answered　Dagobert；　in　a　firm　voice；　but
becoming　fearfully　pale。　　Never；　perhaps；　had　the　soldier　given　to　his
orphan　charge　such　a　proof　of　tenderness　and　devotion。　　For　a　man　of　his
character　to　let　himself　be　insulted　with　impunity；　and　refuse　to　fight
the　sacrifice　was　immense。

〃So　you　are　a　cowardyou　are　afraid　of　meand　you　confess　it？〃

At　these　words　Dagobert　made；　as　it　were；　a　pull　upon　himselfas　if　a
sudden　thought　had　restrained　him　the　moment　he　was　about　to　rush　on　the
Prophet。　　Indeed；　he　had　remembered　the　two　maidens；　and　the　fatal
hindrance　which　a　duel；　whatever　might　be　the　result；　would　occasion　to
their　journey。　　But　the　impulse　of　anger；　though　rapid；　had　been　so
significantthe　expression　of　the　stern；　pale　face；　bathed　in　sweat；　was
so　daunting；　that　the　Prophet　and　the　spectators　drew　back　a　step。

Profound　silence　reigned　for　some　seconds；　and　then；　by　a　sudden
reaction；　Dagobert　seemed　to　have　gained　the　general　interest。　　One　of
the　company　said　to　those　near　him；　　〃This　man　is　clearly　not　a　coward。〃

〃Oh；　no！　certainly　not。〃

〃It　sometimes　requires　more　courage　to　refuse　a　challenge　than　to　accept
one。〃

〃After　all　the　Prophet　was　wrong　to　pick　a　quarrel　about　nothingand
with　a　stranger；　too。〃

〃Yes；　for　a　stranger；　if　he　fought　and　was　taken　up；　would　have　a　good
long　imprisonment。〃

〃And　then；　you　see；〃　added　another；　〃he　travels　with　two　young　girls。　　In
such　a　position；　ought　a　man　to　fight　about　trifles？　　If　he　should　be
killed　or　put　in　prison；　what　would　become　of　them；　poor　children？〃

Dagobert　turned　towards　the　person　who　had　pronounced　these　last　words。
He　saw　a　stout　fellow；　with　a　frank　and　simple　countenance；　the　soldier
offered　him　his　hand；　and　said　with　emotion：

〃Thank　you；　sir。〃

The　German　shook　cordially　the　hand；　which　Dagobert　had　proffered；　and；
holding　it　still　in　his　own；　he　added：　〃Do　one　thing；　sirshare　a　bowl
of　punch　with　us。　　We　will　make　that　mischief…making　Prophet　acknowledge
that　he　has　been　too　touchy；　and　he　shall　drink　to　your　health。〃

Up　to　this　moment　the　brute…tamer；　enraged　at　the　issue　of　this　scene；
for　he　had　hoped　that　the　soldier　would　accept　his　challenge；　looked　on
with　savage　contempt　at　those　who　had　thus　sided　against　him。　　But　now
his　features　gradually　relaxed；　and；　believing　it　useful　to　his　projects
to　hide　his　disappointment；　he　walked　up　to　the　soldier；　and　said　to　him；
with　a　tolerably　good　grace：　〃Well；　I　give　way　to　these　gentlemen。　　I　own
I　was　wrong。　　Your　frigid　air　had　wounded　me；　and　I　was　not　master　of
myself。　　I　repeat；　that　I　was　wrong；〃　he　added；　with　suppressed　vexation；
〃the　Lord　commands　humilityandI　beg　your　pardon。〃

This　proof　of　moderation　and　regret　was　highly　appreciated　and　loudly
applauded　by　the　spectators。　　〃He　asks　your　pardon；　you　cannot　expect
more；　my　brave　fellow？〃　said　one　of　them；　addressing　Dagobert。　　〃Come；
let　us　all　drink　together；　we　make　you　this　offer　franklyaccept　it　in
the　same　spirit。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　accept　it；　we　beg　you；　in　the　name　of　your　pretty　little
girls；〃　said　the　stout　man；　hoping　to　decide　Dagobert　by　this　argument。

〃Many　thanks；　gentlemen；〃　replied　he；　touched　by　the　hearty　advances　of
the　Germans；　〃you　are　very　worthy　people。　　But；　when　one　is　treated；　he
must　offer　drink　in　return。〃

〃Well；　we　will　accept　itthat's　understood。　　Each　his　turn；　and　all
fair。　　We　will　pay　for　the　first　bowl；　you　for　the　second。〃

〃Poverty　is　no　crime；〃　answered　Dagobert；　〃and　I　must　tell　you　honestly
that　I　cannot　afford　to　pay　for　drink。　　We　have　still　a　long　journey　to
go；　and　I　must　not　incur　any　useless　expenses。〃

The　soldier　spoke　these　words　with　such　firm；　but　simple　dignity；　that
the　Germans　did　not　venture　to　renew　their　offer；　feeling　that　a　man　of
Dagobert's　character　could　not　accept　it　without　humiliation。

〃Well；　so　much　the　worse；〃　said　the　stout　man。　　〃I　should　have　liked　to
clink　glasses　with　you。　　Good…night；　my　brave　trooper！Good…nightfor
it　grows　late；　and　mine　host　of　the　Falcon　will　soon　turn　us　out　of
doors。〃

〃Good…night；　gentlemen；〃　replied　Dagobert；　as　he　directed　his　steps
towards　the　stable；　to　give　his　horse　a　second　allowance　of　provender。

Morok　approached　him；　and　said　in　a　voice　even　more　humble　than　before：
〃I　have　acknowledged　my　error；　and　asked　your　pardon。　　You　have　not
answered　me；　do　you　still　bear　malice？〃

〃If　ever　I　meet　you；〃　said　the　veteran；　in　a　suppressed　and　hollow　tone；
〃when　my　children　have　no　longer　need　of　me；　I　will　just　say　two　words　to
you；　and　they　will　not　be　long　ones。〃

Then　he　turned　his　back　abruptly　on　the　Prophet；　who　walked　slowly　out　of
the　yard。

The　inn　of　the　White　Falcon　formed　a　parallelogram。　　At　one　end　rose　the
principal　dwelling；　at　the　other　was　a　range　of　buildings；　which
contained　sundry　chambers；　let　at　a　low　price　to　the　poorer　sort　of
travellers；　a　vaulted　passage　opened　a　way　through　this　latter　into　the
country；　finally；　on　either　side　of　the　court…yard　were　sheds　and
stables；　with　lofts　and　garrets　erected　over　them。

Dagobert；　entering　one　of　these　stables；　took　from　off　a　chest　the
portion　of　oats　destined　for　his　horse；　and；　pouring　it　into　a　winnowing…
basket；　shook　it　as　he　approached　Jovial。

To　his　great　astonishment；　his　old　travelling　companion　did　not　respond
with　a　joyous　neigh　to　the　rustle　of　the　oats　rattling　on　the　wicker…
work。　　Alarmed；　he　called　Jovial　with　a　friendly　voice；　but　the　animal；
instead　of　turning　towards　his　master　a　look　of　intelligence；　and
impatiently　striking　the　ground　with　his　fore…feet；　remained　perfectly
motionless。

More　and　more　surprised；　the　soldier　went　up　to　him。　　By　the　dubious
light　of　a　stable…lantern；　he　saw　the　poor　animal　in　an　attitude　which
implied　terrorhis　legs　half　bent；　his　head　stretched　forward；　his　ears
down；　his　nostrils　quivering；　he　had　drawn　tight　his　halter；　as　if　he
wished　to　break　it；　in　order　to　get　away　from　the　partition　that
supported　his　rack　and　manger；　abundant　cold…sweat　had　speckled　his　hide
with　bluish　stains；　and　his　coat　altogether　looked　dull　and　bristling；
instead　of　standing　out　sleek　and　glossy　from　the　dark　background　of　the
stable；　lastly；　from　time　to　time；　his　body　shook　with　convulsive　starts。

〃Why；　old　Jovial！〃　said　the　soldier；　as　he　put　down　the　basket；　in　order
to　soothe　his　horse　with　more　freedom；　〃you　are　like　thy　masterafraid！
Yes；〃　he　added　with　bitterness；　as　he　thought　of　the　offence　he　had
himself　endured；　〃you　are　afraidthough　no　coward　in　general。〃

Notwithstanding　the　caresses　and　the　voice　of　his　master；　the　horse
continued　to　give　signs　of　terror；　he　pulled　somewhat　less　violently　at
his　halter；　and　approaching　his　nostrils　to　the　hand　of　Dagobert；　sniffed
audibly；　as　if　he　doubted　it　were　he。

〃You　don't　know　me！〃　cried　Dagobert。　　〃Something　extraordinary　must　be
passing　here。〃

The　soldier　looked　around　him　with　uneasiness。　　It　was　a　large　stable；
faintly　lighted　by　the　lantern　suspended　from　the　roof；　which　was　covered
with　innumerable　cobwebs；　at　the　further　end；　separated　from　Jovial　by
some　stalls　with　bars　between；　were　the　three　strong；　black；　horses　of
the　brute…tameras　tranquil　as　Jovial　was　frightened。

Dagobert；　struck　with　this　singular　contrast；　of　which　he　was　soon　to
have　the　explanation；　again　caressed　his　horse；　and　the　animal；　gradually
reassured　by　his　master's　presence；　licked　his　hands；　rubbed　his　head
against　him；　uttered　a　low　neigh；　and　gave　him　his　usual　tokens　of
affection。

〃Come；　come；　this　is　how　I　like　to　see　my　old　Jovial！〃　said　Dagobert；　as
he　took　up　the　winnowing…basket；　and　poured　its　contents　into　the　manger。
〃Now　eat　with　a　good　appetite；　for　we　have　a　long　day's　march　tomorrow；
and；　above　all；　no　more　of　these　foolish　fears　about　nothing！　　If　thy
comrade；　Spoil…sport；　was　here；　he　would　keep　you　in　heart；　but　he　is
along　with　the　children；　and　takes　care　of　them　in　my　absence。　　Come；
eat！　　Instead　of　staring　at　me　in　that　way。〃

But　the　horse；