the wandering jew, volume 10-第13节
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everythingand to…day you will become the adored sultan of this young
lady; whose beauty all Paris admires。〃
After some minutes' silence; Djalma; shaking his head with an expression
of tender pity; said to the half…caste; in his mild; sonorous voice: 〃Why
betray me thus? Why advise me thus wickedly to use violence; terror; and
surprise; towards an angel of purity; whom I respect as my mother? Is it
not enough for you to have been so long devoted to my enemies; whose
hatred has followed me from Java?〃
Had Djalma sprung upon the half…caste with bloodshot eye; menacing brow;
and lifted poniard; the latter would have been less surprised; and
perhaps less frightened; than when he heard the prince speak of his
treachery in this tone of mild reproach。
He drew back hastily; as if about to stand on his guard。 But Djalma
resumed; with the same gentleness; 〃Fear nothing。 Yesterday I should
have killed you! But to…day happy love renders me too just; too merciful
for that。 I pity you; without any feeling of bitternessfor you must
have been very unhappy; or you could not have become so wicked。〃
〃My lord!〃 said the half…caste; with growing amazement。
〃Yes; you must have suffered much; and met with little mercy; poor
creature; to have become so merciless; in your hate; and proof against
the sight of a happiness like mine。 When I listened to you just now; and
saw the sad perseverance of your hatred; I felt the deepest commiseration
for you。〃
〃I do not know; my lordbut〃 stammered the half…caste; and was unable
to find words to proceed。
〃Come; nowwhat harm have I ever done you?〃
〃None; my lord;〃 answered Faringhea。
〃Then why do you hate me thus? why pursue me with so much animosity? Was
it not enough to give me the perfidious counsel to feign a shameful love
for the young girl that was brought hither; and who quitted the house
disgusted at the miserable part she was to play?〃
〃Your feigned love for that young girl; my lord;〃 replied Faringhea;
gradually recovering his presence of mind; 〃conquered the coldness of〃
〃Do not say that;〃 resumed the prince; interrupting him with the same
mildness。 〃If I enjoy this happiness; which makes me compassionate
towards you; and raises me above myself; it is because Mdlle de
Cardoville now knows that I have never for a moment ceased to love her as
she ought to be loved; with adoration and reverence。 It was your
intention to have parted us forever; and you had nearly succeeded。〃
〃If you think this of me; my lord; you must look upon me as your most
mortal enemy。〃
〃Fear nothing; I tell you。 I have no right to blame you。 In the madness
of my grief; I listened to you and followed your advice。 I was not only
your dupe; but your accomplice。 Only confess that; when you saw me at
your mercy; dejected; crushed; despairing; it was cruel in you to advise
the course that might have been most fatal to me。〃
〃The ardor of my zeal may have deceived me; my lord。〃
〃I am willing to believe it。 And yet again to…day there were the same
evil counsels。 You had no more pity for my happiness than for my sorrow。
The rapture of my heart inspires you with only one desirethat of
changing this rapture into despair。〃
〃I; my lord!〃
〃Yes; you。 It was your intention to ruin meto dishonor me forever in
the eyes of Mdlle。 de Cardoville。 Now; tell mewhy this furious hate?
what have I done to you?〃
〃You misjudge me; my lordand〃
〃Listen to me。 I do not wish you to be any longer wicked and
treacherous。 I wish to make you good。 In our country; they charm
serpents; and tame the wildest tigers。 You are a man; with a mind to
reason; a heart to love; and I will tame you too by gentleness。 This day
has bestowed on me divine happiness; you shall have good cause to bless
this day。 What can I do for you? what would you havegold? You shall
have it。 Do you desire more than gold? Do you desire a friend; to
console you for the sorrows that made you wicked; and to teach you to be
good? Though a king's son; I will be that friendin spite of the evil
ay; because of the evil you have done me。 Yes; I will be your sincere
friend; and it shall be my delight to say to myself: ‘The day on which I
learned that my angel loved me; my happiness was great indeedfor; in
the morning; I had an implacable enemy; and; ere night; his hatred was
changed to friendship。' Believe me; Faringhea; misery makes crime; but
happiness produces virtue。 Be happy!〃
At this moment the clock struck two。 The prince started。 It was time to
go on his visit to Adrienne。 The handsome countenance of Djalma; doubly
embellished by the mild; ineffable expression with which it had been
animated whilst he was talking to the half…caste; now seemed illumined
with almost divine radiance。
Approaching Faringhea; he extended his hand with the utmost; grace and
courtesy; saying to him; 〃Your hand!〃
The half…caste; whose brow was bathed with a cold sweat; whose
countenance was pale and agitated; seemed to hesitate for an instant;
then; overawed; conquered; fascinated; he offered his trembling hand to
the prince; who pressed it; and said to him; in their country's fashion;
〃You have laid your hand honestly in a friend's; this hand shall never be
closed against you。 Faringhea; farewell! I now feel myself more worthy
to kneel before my angel。〃
And Djalma went out; on his way to the appointment with Adrienne。 In
spite of his ferocity; in spite of the pitiless hate he bore to the whole
human race; the dark sectary of Bowanee was staggered by the noble and
clement words of Djalma; and said to himself; with terror; 〃I have taken
his hand。 He is now sacred for me。〃
Then; after a moment's silence; a thought occurred to him; and he
exclaimed; 〃Yesbut he will not be sacred for him who; according to the
answer of last night; waits for him at the door of the house。〃
So saying; the half…caste hastened into the next room; which looked upon
the street; and; raising a corner of the curtain; muttered anxiously to
himself; 〃The carriage moves offthe man approaches。 Perdition! it is
gone and I see no more。〃
CHAPTER XL。
ANXIETY。
By a singular coincidence of ideas; Adrienne; like Djalma; had wished to
be dressed exactly in the same costume as at their interview in the house
in the Rue Blanche。 For the site of this solemn meeting; so important to
her future happiness; Adrienne had chosen; with habitual tact; the grand
drawing…room of Cardoville House; in which hung many family portraits。
The most apparent were those of her father and mother。 The room was
large and lofty; and furnished; like those which preceded it; with all
the imposing splendor of the age of Louis XIV。 The ceiling; painted by
Lebrun; to represent the Triumph of Apollo; displayed his bold designing
and vigorous coloring; in the centre of a wide cornice; magnificently
carved and gilt; and supported at its angles by four large gilt figures;
representing the Seasons。 Huge panels; covered with crimson damask; and
set in frames; served as the background to the family portraits which
adorned this apartment。 It is easier to conceive than describe the
thousand conflicting emotions which agitated the bosom of Mdlle。 de
Cardoville as the moment approached for her interview with Djalma。 Their
meeting had been hitherto prevented by so many painful obstacles; and
Adrienne was so well aware of the vigilant and active perfidy of her
enemies; that even now she doubted of her happiness。 Every instant; in
spite of herself; her eyes wandered to the clock。 A few minutes more;
and the hour of the appointment would strike。 It struck at last。 Every
reverberation was echoed from the depth of Adrienne's heart。 She
considered that Djalma's modest reserve had; doubtless; prevented his
coming before the moment fixed by herself。 Far from blaming this
discretion; she fully appreciated it。 But; from that moment; at the
least noise in the adjoining apartments; she held her breath and listened
with the anxiety of expectation。
For the first few minutes which followed the hour at which she expected
Djalma; Mdlle。 de Cardoville felt no serious apprehension; and calmed her
impatience by the notion (which appears childish enough to those who have
never known the feverish agitation of waiting for a happy meeting); that
perhaps the clocks in the Rue Blanche might vary a little from those in
the Rue d'Anjou。 But when this supposed variation; conceivable enough in
itself; could no longer explain a delay of a quarter of an hour; of
twenty minutes; of more; Adrienne felt her anxiety gradually increase。
Two or three times the young girl rose; with palpitating heart; and went
on tip…toe to listen at the door of the saloon。 She heard nothing。 The
clock struck half…past three。
Unable to suppress her growing terror; and clinging to a last hope;
Adrienne returned towards the fireplace and rang the bell。 After which
she endeavored to compose her features; so as to betray no outward sign
of emotion。 In a few seconds; a gray…haired footman; dressed in black;
opened the door; and waited in respectful silence for the orders of his
mistress。 The latter said to him; in a calm voice