the wandering jew, volume 10-第29节

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breast；　as　if　it　were　taking　a　vow；　so　that　his　feather…brush　fell　down
from　under　his　arm。　　The　laughter　of　the　girls　redoubled。

〃It　is　not　you？〃　said　the　marshal。

〃Here！　Spoil…sport！〃　Dagobert　called；　for　the　honest　dog　seemed　to　have　a
secret　dislike　for　the　pretended　idiot；　and　approached　him　with　an　angry
air。

〃No；　my　lord　duke；　it　is　not　me！〃　resumed　Loony。　　〃It　is　the　footman　who
told　me　to　tell　M。　Dagobert；　when　I　brought　up　the　wood　to　tell　my　lord
duke；　as　I　was　coming　up　with　the　basket；　that　M。　Robert　wants　to　see
him。〃

The　girls　laughed　still　more　at　this　new　stupidity。　　But；　at　the　name　of
Robert；　Marshal　Simon　started。

M。　Robert　was　the　secret　emissary　of　Rodin；　with　regard　to　the　possible；
but　adventurous；　enterprise　of　attempting　the　liberation　of　Napoleon　II。

After　a　moment's　silence；　the　marshal；　whose　face　was　still　radiant　with
joy　and　happiness；　said　to　Loony：　〃Beg　M。　Robert　to　wait　for　me　a　moment
in　my　study。〃

〃Yes；　my　lord　duke；〃　answered　Loony；　bowing　almost　to　the　ground。

The　simpleton　withdrew；　and　the　marshal　said　to　his　daughters；　in　a
joyous　tone；　〃You　see；　that；　in　a　moment　like　this；　one　does　not　leave
one's　children；　even　for　M。　Robert。〃

〃Oh！　that's　right；　father！〃　cried　Blanche；　gayly；　〃for　I　was　already　very
angry　with　this　M。　Robert。〃

〃Have　you　pen　and　paper　at　hand？〃　asked　the　marshal。

〃Yes；　father；　there　on　the　table；〃　said　Rose；　hastily；　as　she　pointed　to
a　little　desk　near　one　of　the　windows；　towards　which　the　marshal　now
advanced　rapidly。

From　motives　of　delicacy；　the　girls　remained　where　they　were；　close　to
the　fireplace；　and　caressed　each　other　tenderly；　as　if　to　congratulate
themselves　in　private　on　the　unexpected　happiness　of　this　day。

The　marshal　seated　himself　at　the　desk；　and　made　a　sign　to　Dagobert　to
draw　near。

While　he　wrote　rapidly　a　few　words　in　a　firm　hand；　he　said　to　the　soldier
with　a　smile；　in　so　low　a　tone　that　it　was　impossible　for　his　daughters
to　hear：　〃Do　you　know　what　I　had　almost　resolved　upon；　before　entering
this　room？〃

〃What；　general？〃

〃To　blow　my　brains　out。　　It　is　to　my　children　that　I　owe　my　life。〃　　And
the　marshal　continued　writing。

Dagobert　started　at　this　communication；　and　then　replied；　also　in　a
whisper：　〃It　would　not　have　been　with　your　pistols。　　I　took　off　the
caps。〃

The　marshal　turned　round　hastily；　and　looked　at　him　with　an　air　of
surprise。　　But　the　soldier　only　nodded　his　head　affirmatively；　and　added：
〃Thank　heaven；　we　have　now　done　with　all　those　ideas！〃

The　marshal's　only　answer　was　to　glance　at　his　children；　his　eyes
swimming　with　tenderness；　and　sparkling　with　delight；　then；　sealing　the
note　he　had　written；　he　gave　it　to　the　soldier；　and　said　to　him；　〃Give
that　to　M。　Robert。　　I　will　see　him　to…morrow。〃

Dagobert　took　the　letter；　and　went　out。　　Returning　towards　his　daughters；
the　marshal　joyfully　extended　his　arms　to　them；　and　said；　〃Now；　young
ladies；　two　nice　kisses　for　having　sacrificed　M。　Robert　to　you。　　Have　I
not　earned　them？〃　And　Rose　and　Blanche　threw　themselves　on　their　father's
neck。

About　the　time　that　these　events　were　taking　place　at　Paris；　two
travellers；　wide　apart　from　each　other；　exchanged　mysterious　thoughts
through　the　breadth　of　space。







End