the wandering jew, volume 10-第22节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


impressed　with　deep　sadness；　and　who　seemed　little　disposed　to　laugh　at
the　fellow's　stupidity。

〃Oh；　M。　Dagobert！　how　you　frighten　me！　Dear　me！　what　a　pity　I　had　not　an
armful　of　plates；　to　prove　it　was　not　my　fault　if　I　broke　them　all。〃

〃I　ask　what　you　are　doing；〃　resumed　the　soldier。

〃You　see；　M。　Dagobert；〃　replied　Loony；　pointing　to　his　basket；　〃that　I
came　with　some　wood　to　master's　room；　so　that　he　might　burn　it；　if　it　was
coldwhich　it　is。〃

〃Very　well。　　Pick　up　your　wood；　and　begone！〃

〃Oh；　M。　Dagobert！　my　legs　tremble　under　me。　　How　you　did　scare　me；　to　be
sure！〃

〃Will　you　begone；　brute？〃　resumed　the　veteran；　and　seizing　Loony　by　the
arm；　he　pushed　him　towards　the　door；　while　Spoil…sport；　with　recumbent
ears；　and　hair　standing　up　like　the　quills　of　a　porcupine；　seemed
inclined　to　accelerate　his　retreat。

〃I　am　going；　M。　Dagobert；　I　am　going；〃　replied　the　simpleton；　as　he
hastily　gathered　up　his　basket；　〃only　please　to　tell　the　dog〃

〃Go　to　the　devil；　you　stupid　chatterbox！〃　cried　Dagobert；　as　he　pushed
Loony　through　the　doorway。

Then　the　soldier　bolted　the　door　which　led　to　the　private　staircase；　and
going　to　that　which　communicated　with　the　apartments　of　the　two　sisters；
he　double…locked　it。　　Having　done　this；　he　hastened　to　the　alcove　in
which　stood　the　bed　and　taking　down　a　pair　of　loaded　pistols；　he
carefully　removed　the　percussion　caps；　and；　unable　to　repress　a　deep
sigh；　restored　the　weapons　to　the　place　in　which　he　had　found　them。
Then；　as　if　on　second　thoughts；　he　took　down　an　Indian　dagger　with　a　very
sharp　blade；　and　drawing　it　from　its　silver…gilt　sheath；　proceeded　to
break　the　point　of　this　murderous　instrument；　by　twisting　it　beneath　one
of　the　iron　castors　of　the　bed。

Dagobert　then　proceeded　to　unfasten　the　two　doors；　and；　returning　slowly
to　the　marble　chimney…piece；　he　leaned　against　it　with　a　gloomy　and
pensive　air。　　Crouching　before　the　fire；　Spoil…sport　followed　with　an
attentive　eye　the　least　movement　of　his　master。　　The　good　dog　displayed　a
rare　and　intelligent　sagacity。　　The　soldier；　having　drawn　out　his
handkerchief；　let　fall；　without　perceiving　it；　a　paper　containing　a　roll
of　tobacco。　　Spoil…sport；　who　had　all　the　qualities　of　a　retriever　of　the
Rutland　race；　took　the　paper　between　his　teeth；　and；　rising　upon　his
hind…legs；　presented　it　respectfully　to　Dagobert。　　But　the　latter
received　it　mechanically；　and　appeared　indifferent　to　the　dexterity　of
his　dog。　　The　grenadier's　countenance　revealed　as　much　sorrow　as　anxiety。
After　remaining　for　some　minutes　near　the　fire；　with　fixed　and　meditative
look；　he　began　to　walk　about　the　room　in　great　agitation；　one　of　his
hands　thrust　into　the　bosom　of　his　long　blue　frock…coat；　which　was
buttoned　up　to　the　chin；　and　the　other　into　one　of　his　hind…pockets。

From　time　to　time　he　stopped　abruptly；　and　seemed　to　make　reply　to　his
own　thoughts；　or　uttered　an　exclamation　of　doubt　and　uneasiness；　then；
turning　towards　the　trophy　of　arms；　he　shook　his　head　mournfully；　and
murmured；　〃No　matterthis　fear　may　be　idle；　but　he　has　acted　so
extraordinarily　these　two　days；　that　it　is　at　all　events　more　prudent〃

He　continued　his　walk；　and　said；　after　a　new　and　prolonged　silence：　〃Yes
he　must　tell　me。　　It　makes　me　too　uneasy。　　And　then　the　poor　childrenit
is　enough　to　break　one's　heart。〃

And　Dagobert　hastily　drew　his　moustache　between　his　thumb　and　forefinger；
a　nervous　movement；　which　with　him　was　an　evident　symptom　of　extreme
agitation。　　Some　minutes　after；　the　soldier　resumed；　still　answering　his
inward　thoughts：　〃What　can　it　be？　　It　is　hardly　possible　to　be　the
letters；　they　are　too　infamous；　he　despises　them。　　And　yet　　　But　no；　no
he　is　above　that！〃

And　Dagobert　again　began　to　walk　with　hasty　steps。　　Suddenly；　Spoil…sport
pricked　up　his　ears；　turned　his　head　in　the　direction　of　the　staircase
door；　and　growled　hoarsely。　　A　few　seconds　after；　some　one　knocked　at　the
door。

〃Who　is　there？〃　said　Dagobert。　　There　was　no　answer；　but　the　person
knocked　again。　　Losing　patience；　the　soldier　went　hastily　to　open　it；　and
saw　the　servant's　stupid　face。

〃Why　don't　you　answer；　when　I　ask　who　knocks！〃　said　the　soldier；　angrily。

〃M。　Dagobert；　you　sent　me　away　just　now；　and　I　was　afraid　of　making　you
cross；　if　I　said　I　had　come　again。〃

〃What　do　you　want？　　Speak　thencome　in；　stupid！〃　cried　the　exasperated。
Dagobert；　as　he　pulled　him　into　the　room。

〃M。　Dagobert；　don't　be　angryI'll　tell　you　all　about　itit　is　a　young
man。〃

〃Well？〃

〃He　wants　to　speak　to　you　directly；　Mr。　Dagobert。〃

〃His　name？〃

〃His　name；　M。　Dagobert？〃　replied　Loony；　rolling　about　and　laughing　with
an　idiotic　air。

〃Yes；　his　name。　　Speak；　idiot！〃

〃Oh；　M。　Dagobert！　it's　all　in　joke　that　you　ask　me　his　name！〃

〃You　are　determined；　fool　that　you　are；　to　drive　me　out　of　my　senses！〃
cried　the　soldier；　seizing　Loony　by　the　collar。　　〃The　name　of　this　young
man！〃

〃Don't　be　angry；　M。　Dagobert。　　I　didn't　tell　you　the　name　because　you
know　it。〃

〃Beast！〃　said　Dagobert；　shaking　his　fist　at　him。

〃Yes；　you　do　know　it；　M。　Dagobert；　for　the　young　man　is　your　own　son。　　He
is　downstairs；　and　wants　to　speak　to　you　directlyyes；　directly。〃

The　stupidity　was　so　well　assumed；　that　Dagobert　was　the　dupe　of　it。
Moved　to　compassion　rather　than　anger　by　such　imbecility；　he　looked
fixedly　at　the　servant；　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　said；　as　he　advanced
towards　the　staircase；　〃Follow　me！〃

Loony　obeyed；　but；　before　closing　the　door；　he　drew　a　letter　secretly
from　his　pocket；　and　dropped　it　behind　him　without　turning　his　head；
saying　all　the　while　to　Dagobert；　for　the　purpose　of　occupying　his
attention：　〃Your　son　is　in　the　court；　M。　Dagobert。　　He　would　not　come　up
that's　why　he　is　still　downstairs！〃

Thus　talking；　he　closed　the　door；　believing　he　had　left　the　letter　on　the
floor　of　Marshal　Simon's　room。　　But　he　had　reckoned　without　Spoil…sport。
Whether　he　thought　it　more　prudent　to　bring　up　the　rear；　or；　from
respectful　deference　for　a　biped；　the　worthy　dog　had　been　the　last　to
leave　the　room；　and；　being　a　famous　carrier；　as　soon　as　he　saw　the　letter
dropped　by　Loony；　he　took　it　delicately　between　his　teeth；　and　followed
close　on　the　heels　of　the　servant；　without　the　latter　perceiving　this　new
proof　of　the　intelligence　and　sagacity　of　Spoil…sport。




CHAPTER　XLVI。

THE　ANONYMOUS　LETTERS。

We　will　explain　presently　what　became　of　the　letter；　which　Spoil…sport
held　between　his　teeth；　and　why　he　left　his　master；　when　the　latter　ran
to　meet　Agricola。　　Dagobert　had　not　seen　his　son　for　some　days。
Embracing　him　cordially；　he　led　him　into　one　of　the　rooms　on　the　ground…
floor；　which　he　usually　occupied。　　〃And　how　is　your　wife？〃　said　the
soldier　to　his　son。

〃She　is　well；　father；　thank　you。〃

Perceiving　a　great　change　in　Agricola's　countenance；　Dagobert　resumed：
〃You　look　sad。　　Has　anything　gone　wrong　since　I　saw　you　last？〃

〃All　is　over；　father。　　We　have　lost　him；〃　said　the　smith；　in　a　tone　of
despair。

〃Lost　whom？〃

〃M。　Hardy。〃

〃M。　Hardy！why；　three　days　ago；　you　told　me　you　were　going　to　see　him。〃

〃Yes；　father；　I　have　seen　himand　my　dear　brother　Gabriel　saw　him　and
spoke　to　himhow　he　speaks！　with　a　voice　that　comes　from　the　heart！and
he　had　so　revived　and　encouraged　him；　that　M。　Hardy　consented　to　return
amongst　us。　　Then　I；　wild　with　joy；　ran　to　tell　the　good　news　to　some　of
my　mates；　who　were　waiting　to　hear　the　result　of　nay　interview　with　M。
Hardy。　　I　brought　them　all　with　me　to　thank　and　bless　him。　　We　were
within　a　hundred　yards　of　the　house　belonging　to　the　black…gowns〃

〃Ali；　the　black…gowns！〃　said　Dagobert；　with　a　gloomy　air。　　〃Then　some
mischief　will　happen。　　I　know　them。〃

〃You　are　not　mistaken；　father；〃　answered　Agricola；　with　a　sigh。　　〃I　was
running　on　with　my　comrades；　when　I　saw　a　carriage　coming　towards　us。
Some　presentiment　told　me　that　they　were　taking　away　M。　Hardy。〃

〃By　force！〃　said　Dagobert；　hastily。

〃No；〃　answered　Agricola；　bitterly；　〃nothe　priests　are　too　cunning　for
that。　　They　know　how　to　make　you　an　accomplice　in　the　evil　they　do　you。
Shall　I　not　always　remember　how　they　managed　with　my　good　mother？〃

〃Yes；　the　worthy　woman！　there　was　a　poor　fly　caught　in　the　spider's　web。
But　this　carriage；　of　which　you　speak？〃

〃On　seeing　it　start　from　the　house　of　the　black…gowns；〃　replied　Agricola；
〃my　heart　sank　within　me；　and；　by　an　impulse　stronger　than　myself；　I
rushed　to　the　horses'　heads；　calling　on　my　comrades　to　help　me。　　But　the
postilion　knocked　me　down　and　stunned　me　with　a　blow　from　his　whip。　　When
I　recovered　my　senses；　the　carriage　was　already　far　away。〃

〃You　were　not　hurt？〃　cried　Dagobert；　anxiously；　as　he　examined　his　son
from　top　to　toe。

〃No；　father；　a　mere　scratch。〃

〃What　did　you　next；　my　boy？〃

〃I　hastened　to　our　good　angel；　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville；　and　told　her　all。
‘You　must　follow　M。　Hardy　on　the　instant；'　said　she　to　me。　　‘Take　my
carriage　and　post…horses。　　Dupont　will　accompany　you；　follow　M。　Hardy
from　stage　to　stage；　should　you　succeed　in　overtaking　him　your　presence
and　your　prayers　may　perhaps　conquer　the　fatal　influence　that　these
priests　have　acquired　over　him。'〃

〃It　was　the　best　advice　she　could　gi