the wandering jew, volume 10-第14节

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opened　the　door；　and　waited　in　respectful　silence　for　the　orders　of　his
mistress。　　The　latter　said　to　him；　in　a　calm　voice；　〃Andrew；　request　Hebe
to　give　you　the　smelling　bottle　that　I　left　on　the　chimney…piece　in　my
room；　and　bring　it　me　here。〃　　Andrew　bowed；　but　just　as　he　was　about　to
withdraw　to　execute　Adrienne's　orders；　which　was　only　a　pretext　to　enable
her　to　ask　a　question　without　appearing　to　attach　much　importance　to　it
in　her　servant's　eyes；　already　informed　of　the　expected　visit　of　the
prince；　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville　added；　with　an　air　of　indifference。　　〃Pray；
is　that　clock　right？〃

Andrew　drew　out　his　watch；　and　replied　as　he　cast　his　eyes　upon　it；　〃Yes；
mademoiselle。　　I　set　my　watch　by　the　Tuileries。　　It　is　more　than　half…
past　three。〃

〃Very　wellthank　you！〃　said　Adrienne　kindly。

Andrew　again　bowed；　but；　before　going　out；　he　said　to　Adrienne；　〃I　forgot
to　tell　you；　lady；　that　Marshal　Simon　called　about　an　hour　ago；　but；　as
you　were　only　to　be　at　home　to　Prince　Djalma；　we　told　him　that　you
received　no　company。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　Adrienne。　　With　another　low　bow；　Andrew　quitted　the
room；　and　all　returned　to　silence。

For　the　precise　reason　that；　up　to　the　last　minute　of　the　hour　previous
to　the　time　fixed　for　her　interview　with　Djalma；　the　hopes　of　Adrienne
had　not　been　disturbed　by　the　slightest　shadow　of　doubt；　the
disappointment　she　now　felt　was　the　more　dreadful。　　Casting　a　desponding
look　at　one　of　the　portraits　placed　above　her；　she　murmured；　with　a
plaintive　and　despairing　accent；　〃Oh；　mother！〃

Hardly　had　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville　uttered　the　words　than　the　windows　were
slightly　shaken　by　a　carriage　rolling　into　the　courtyard。　　The　young　lady
started；　and　was　unable　to　repress　a　low　cry　of　joy。　　Her　heart　bounded
at　the　thought　of　meeting　Djalma；　for　this　time　she　felt　that　he　was
really　come。　　She　was　quite　as　certain　of　it　as　if　she　had　seen　him。　　She
resumed　her　seat　and　brushed　away　a　tear　suspended　from　her　long
eyelashes。　　Her　hand　trembled　like　a　leaf。　　The　sound　of　several　doors
opening　and　shutting　proved　that　the　young　lady　was　right　in　her
conjecture。　　The　gilded　panels　of　the　drawing…room　door　soon　turned　upon
their　hinges；　and　the　prince　appeared。

While　a　second　footman　ushered　in　Djalma；　Andrew　placed　on　a　gilded
table；　within　reach　of　his　mistress；　a　little　silver　salver；　on　which
stood　the　crystal　smelling…bottle。　　Then　he　withdrew；　and　the　door　of　the
room　was　closed。　　The　prince　and　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville　were　left　alone
together。




CHAPTER　XLI。

ADRIENNE　AND　DJALMA。

The　prince　had　slowly　approached　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville。　　Notwithstanding
the　impetuosity　of　the　Oriental's　passions；　his　uncertain　and　timid　step…
…timid；　yet　gracefulbetrayed　his　profound　emotion。　　He　did　not　venture
to　lift　his　eyes　to　Adrienne's　face；　he　had　suddenly　become　very　pale；
and　his　finely　formed　hands；　folded　over　his　bosom　in　the　attitude　of
adoration；　trembled　violently。　　With　head　bent　down；　he　remained　standing
at　a　little　distance　from　Adrienne。　　This　embarrassment；　ridiculous　in
any　other　person；　appeared　touching　in　this　prince　of　twenty　years　of
age；　endowed　with　an　almost　fabulous　intrepidity；　and　of　so　heroic　and
generous　a　character；　that　no　traveller　could　speak　of　the　son　of　Kadja…
sing　without　a　tribute　of　admiration　and　respect。　　Sweet　emotion！　chaste
reserve！　doubly　interesting　if　we　consider　that　the　burning　passions　of
this　youth　were　all　the　more　inflammable；　because　they　had　hitherto　been
held　in　check。

No　less　embarrassed　than　her　cousin；　Adrienne　de　Cardoville　remained
seated。　　Like　Djalma；　she　cast　down　her　eyes；　but　the　burning　blush　on
her　cheeks；　the　quick　heaving　of　her　virgin　bosom；　revealed　an　emotion
that　she　did　not　even　attempt　to　hide。　　Notwithstanding　the　powers　of　her
mind；　by　turns　gay；　graceful；　and　wittynotwithstanding　the　decision　of
her　proud　and　independent　character；　and　her　complete　acquaintance　with
the　manners　of　the　worldAdrienne　shared　Djalma's　simple　and　enchanting
awkwardness；　and　partook　of　that　kind　of　temporary　weakness；　beneath
which　these　two　pure；　ardent；　and　loving　beings　appeared　sinkingas　if
unable　to　support　the　boiling　agitation　of　the　senses；　combined　with　the
intoxicating　excitement　of　the　heart。　　And　yet　their　eyes　had　not　met。
Each　seemed　to　fear　the　first　electric　shock　of　the　other's　glancethat
invincible　attraction　of　two　impassioned　beingsthat　sacred　fire；　which
suddenly　kindles　the　blood；　and　lifts　two　mortals　from　earth　to　heaven；
for　it　is　to　approach　the　Divinity　to　give　one's　self　up　with　religious
fervor　to　the　most　noble　and　irresistible　sentiment　that　He　has　implanted
within　usthe　only　sentiment　that；　in　His　adorable　wisdom；　the　Dispenser
of　all　good　has　vouchsafed　to　sanctify；　by　endowing　it　with　a　spark　of
His　own　creative　energy。

Djalma　was　the　first　to　raise　his　eyes。　　They　were　moist　and　sparkling。
The　excitement　of　passionate　love；　the　burning　ardor　of　his　age；　so　long
repressed；　the　intense　admiration　in　which　he　held　ideal　beauty；　were　all
expressed　in　his　look；　mingled　with　respectful　timidity；　and　gave　to　the
countenance　of　this　youth　an　undefinable；　irresistible　character。　　Yes；
irresistible！for；　when　Adrienne　encountered　his　glance；　she　trembled　in
every　limb；　and　felt　herself　attracted　by　a　magnetic　power。　　Already；　her
eyes　were　heavy　with　a　kind　of　intoxicating　languor；　when；　by　a　great
effort　of　will　and　dignity；　she　succeeded　in　overcoming　this　delicious
confusion；　rose　from　her　chair；　and　said　to　Djalma　in　a　trembling　voice：
〃Prince；　I　am　happy　to　receive　you　here。〃　　Then；　pointing　to　one　of　the
portraits　suspended　above　her；　she　added；　as　if　introducing　him　to　a
living　person：　〃Princemy　mother！〃

With　an　instinct　of　rare　delicacy；　Adrienne　had　thus　summoned　her　mother
to　be　present　at　her　interview　with　Djalma。　　It　seemed　a　security　for
herself　and　the　prince；　against　the　seductions　of　a　first　interview
which　was　likely　to　be　all　the　more　perilous；　that　they　both　knew
themselves　madly　loved　that　they　both　were　free；　and　had　only　to　answer
to　Providence　for　the　treasures　of　happiness　and　enjoyment　with　which　He
had　so　magnificently　endowed　them。　　The　prince　understood　Adrienne's
thoughts；　so　that；　when　the　young　lady　pointed　to　the　portrait；　Djalma；
by　a　spontaneous　movement　full　of　grace　and　simplicity；　knelt　down　before
the　picture；　and　said　to　it　in　a　gentle；　but　manly　voice：　〃I　will　love
and　revere　you　as　my　mother。　　And；　in　thought；　my　mother　too　shall　be
present；　and　stand　like　you；　beside　your　child！〃

No　better　answer　could　have　been　given　to　the　feeling　which　induced
Mdlle。　de　Cardoville　to　place　herself；　as　it　were；　under　the　protection
of　her　mother。　　From　that　moment；　confident　in　Djalma；　confident　in
herself；　the　young　lady　felt　more　at　her　ease；　and　the　delicious　sense　of
happiness　replaced　those　exciting　emotions；　which　had　at　first　so
violently　agitated　her。

Then；　seating　herself　once　more；　she　said　to　Djalma；　as　she　pointed　to
the　opposite　chair：　〃Pray　take　a　seat；　my　dear　cousin；　and　allow　me　to
call　you　so；　for　there　is　too　much　ceremony　in　the　word　prince；　and　do
you　call　me　cousin　also；　for　I　find　other　names　too　grave。　　Having
settled　this　point；　we　can　talk　together　like　old　friends。〃

〃Yes　cousin；〃　answered　Djalma；　blushing。

〃And；　as　frankness　is　proper　between　friends；〃　resumed　Adrienne；　〃I　have
first　to　make　you　a　reproach；〃　she　added；　with　a　half…smile。

The　prince　had　remained　standing；　with　his　arm　resting　on　the　chimney…
piece；　in　an　attitude　full　of　grace　and　respect。

〃Yes；　cousin；〃　continued　Adrienne；　〃a　reproach；　that　you　will　perhaps
forgive　me　for　making。　　I　had　expected　you　a　little　sooner。〃

〃Perhaps；　cousin；　you　may　blame　me　for　having　come　so　soon。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃At　the　moment　when　I　left　home；　a　man；　whom　I　did　not　know；　approached
my　carriage；　and　said　to　me；　with　such　an　air　of　sincerity　that　I
believed　him：　‘You　are　able　to　save　the　life　of　a　person　who　has　been　a
second　father　to　you。　　Marshal　Simon　is　in　great　danger；　and；　to　rescue
him；　you　must　follow　me　on　the　instant'〃

〃It　was　a　snare；〃　cried　Adrienne；　hastily。　　〃Marshal　Simon　was　here；
scarcely　an　hour　ago。〃

〃Indeed！〃　exclaimed　Djalma；　joyfully；　and　as　if　he　had　been　relieved　from
a　great　weight。　　〃Then　there　will　be　nothing　to　sadden　this　happy　day！〃

〃But；　cousin；〃　resumed　Adrienne；　〃how　came　you　not　to　suspect　this
emissary？〃

〃Some　words；　which　afterwards　escaped　from　him；　inspired　me　with　doubts；〃
answered　Djalma：　〃but　at　first　I　followed　him；　fearing　the　marshal　might
be　in　dangerfor　I　know　that　he　also　has　enemies。〃

〃Now　that　I　reflect　on　it；　you　were　quite　right；　cousin；　for　some　new
plot　against　the　marshal　was　probable　enough；　and　the　least　doubt　was
enough　to　induce　you　to　go　to　him。〃

〃I　did　soeven　though　you　were　waiting　for　me。〃

〃It　was　a　generous　sacrifice；　and　my　esteem　for　you　is　increased　by　it；
if　it　could　be　increased；〃　said　Adrienne；　with　emotion。　　〃But　what　became
of　this　man？〃

〃At　my　desire；　he　got　into　the　carriage　with　me。　　Anxious　about　the
marshal；　and　in　despair　at　seeing　the　time　wasted；　that　I　was　to　have
passed　with