the wandering jew, volume 9-第2章

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redoubled　violence；　its　sharp　whistlings　were　changed　into　the　roar　of　a
tempest。

The　traveller　shuddered；　in　a　voice　of　terror　he　exclaimed：　〃The　blast　of
death　rises　in　its　furythe　whirlwind　carries　me　onLord！　Thou　art　then
deaf　to　my　prayer？〃

〃The　spectre！　oh；　the　spectre！　it　is　again　here！　its　green　face　twitching
with　convulsive　spasmsits　red　eyes　rolling　in　their　orbits。　　Begone！
begone！its　hand；　oh！　its　icy　hand　has　again　laid　hold　of　mine。　　Have
mercy；　heaven！〃

〃GO　ON！〃

〃Oh；　Lord！　the　pestilencethe　terrible　plaguemust　I　carry　it　into　this
city？And　my　brethren　will　perish　the　firstthey；　who　are　so　sorely
smitten　even　now！　Mercy！〃

〃GO　ON！〃

〃And　the　descendants　of　my　sister。　　Mercy！　Mercy！〃

〃GO　ON！〃

〃Oh；　Lord；　have　pity！I　can　no　longer　keep　my　ground；　the　spectre　drags
me　to　the　slope　of　the　hill；　my　walk　is　rapid　as　the　deadly　blast　that
rages　behind　me；　already　do　I　behold　the　city　gates。　　Have　mercy；　Lord；
on　the　descendants　of　my　sister！　Spare　them；　do　not　make　me　their
executioner；　let　them　triumph　over　their　enemies！〃

〃GO　ON！　GO　ON！〃

〃The　ground　flies　beneath　my　feet；　there　is　the　city　gate。　　Lord；　it　is
yet　time！　Oh；　mercy　for　that　sleeping　town！　Let　it　not　waken　to　cries　of
terror；　despair；　and　death！　Lord；　I　am　on　the　threshold。　　Must　it　be？
Yes；　it　is　done。　　Paris；　the　plague　is　in　thy　bosom。　　The　curseoh；　the
eternal　curse！〃

〃GO　ON！　GO　ON！　GO　ON！〃




CHAPTER　XVI。

THE　LUNCHEON。

The　morning　after　the　doomed　traveller；　descending　the　heights　of
Montmartre；　had　entered　the　walls　of　Paris；　great　activity　reigned　in　St。
Dizier　House。　　Though　it　was　hardly　noon；　the　Princess　de　St。　Dizier；
without　being　exactly　in　full　dress　（she　had　too　much　taste　for　that）；
was　yet　arrayed　with　more　care　than　usual。　　Her　light　hair；　instead　of
being　merely　banded；　was　arranged　in　two　bunches　of　curls；　which　suited
very　well　with　her　full　and　florid　cheeks。　　Her　cap　was　trimmed　with
bright　rose…colored　ribbon；　and　whoever　had　seen　the　lady　in　her　tight…
fitting　dress　of　gray…watered　silk　would　have　easily　guessed　that　Mrs。
Grivois；　her　tirewoman；　must　have　required　the　assistance　and　the　efforts
of　another　of　the　princess's　women　to　achieve　so　remarkable　a　reduction
in　the　ample　figure　of　their　mistress。

We　shall　explain　the　edifying　cause　of　this　partial　return　to　the
vanities　of　the　world。　　The　princess；　attended　by　Mrs。　Grivois；　who　acted
as　housekeeper；　was　giving　her　final　orders　with　regard　to　some
preparations　that　were　going　on　in　a　vast　parlor。　　In　the　midst　of　this
room　was　a　large　round　table；　covered　with　crimson　velvet；　and　near　it
stood　several　chairs；　amongst　which；　in　the　place　of　honor；　was　an　arm…
chair　of　gilded　wood。　　In　one　corner；　not　far　from　the　chimney；　in　which
burned　an　excellent　fire；　was　a　buffet。　　On　it　were　the　divers　materials
for　a　most　dainty　and　exquisite　collation。　　Upon　silver　dishes　were　piled
pyramids　of　sandwiches　composed　of　the　roes　of　carp　and　anchovy　paste；
with　slices　of　pickled　tunny…fish　and　Lenigord　truffles　（it　was　in　Lent）；
on　silver　dishes；　placed　over　burning　spirits　of　wine；　so　as　to　keep　them
very　hot；　tails　of　Meuse　crawfish　boiled　in　cream；　smoked　in　golden…
colored　pastry；　and　seemed　to　challenge　comparison　with　delicious　little
Marennes　oyster…patties；　stewed　in　Madeira；　and　flavored　with　a　seasoning
of　spiced　sturgeon。　　By　the　side　of　these　substantial　dishes　were　some　of
a　lighter　character；　such　as　pineapple　tarts；　strawberry…creams　（it　was
early　for　such　fruit）；　and　orange…jelly　served　in　the　peel；　which　had
been　artistically　emptied　for　that　purpose。　　Bordeaux；　Madeira；　and
Alicant　sparkled　like　rubies　and　topazes　in　large　glass　decanters；　while
two　Sevres　ewers　were　filled；　one　with　coffee　a　la　creme；　the　other　with
vanilla　chocolate；　almost　in　the　state　of　sherbet；　from　being　plunged　in
a　large　cooler　of　chiselled　silver；　containing　ice。

But　what　gave　to　this　dainty　collation　a　singularly　apostolic　and　papal
character　were　sundry　symbols　of　religious　worship　carefully　represented。
Thus　there　were　charming　little　Calvaries　in　apricot　paste；　sacerdotal
mitres　in　burnt　almonds；　episcopal　croziers　in　sweet　cake；　to　which　the
princess　added；　as　a　mark　of　delicate　attention；　a　little　cardinal's　hat
in　cherry　sweetmeat；　ornamented　with　bands　in　burnt　sugar。　　The　most
important；　however；　of　these　Catholic　delicacies；　the　masterpiece　of　the
cook；　was　a　superb　crucifix　in　angelica；　with　a　crown　of　candied　berries。
These　are　strange　profanations；　which　scandalize　even　the　least　devout。
But；　from　the　impudent　juggle　of　the　coat　of　Triers；　down　to　the
shameless　jest　of　the　shrine　at　Argenteuil；　people；　who　are　pious　after
the　fashion　of　the　princess；　seem　to　take　delight　in　bringing　ridicule
upon　the　most　respectable　traditions。

After　glancing　with　an　air　of　satisfaction　at　these　preparations　for　the
collation；　the　lady　said　to　Mrs。　Grivois；　as　she　pointed　to　the　gilded
arm…chair；　which　seemed　destined　for　the　president　of　the　meeting：　〃Is
there　a　cushion　under　the　table；　for　his　Eminence　to　rest　his　feet　on？
He　always　complains　of　cold。〃

〃Yes；　your　highness；〃　said　Mrs。　Grivois；　when　she　had　looked　under　the
table；　〃the　cushion　is　there。〃

〃Let　also　a　pewter　bottle　be　filled　with　boiling　water；　in　case　his
Eminence　should　not　find　the　cushion　enough　to　keep　his　feet　warm。〃

〃Yes；　my　lady。〃

〃And　put　some　more　wood　on　the　fire。〃

〃But；　my　lady；　it　is　already　a　very　furnace。　　And　if　his　Eminence　is
always　too　cold；　my　lord　the　Bishop　of　Halfagen　is　always　too　hot。　　He
perspires　dreadfully。〃

The　princess　shrugged　her　shoulders；　and　said　to　Mrs。　Grivois：　〃Is　not
his　Eminence　Cardinal　Malipieri　the　superior　of　his　Lordship　the　Bishop
of　Halfagen？〃

〃Yes；　your　highness。〃

〃Then；　according　to　the　rules　of　the　hierarchy；　it　is　for　his　Lordship　to
suffer　from　the　heat；　rather　than　his　Eminence　from　the　cold。　　Therefore；
do　as　I　tell　you；　and　put　more　wood　on　the　fire。　　Nothing　is　more
natural；　his　Eminence　being　an　Italian；　and　his　Lordship　coming　from　the
north　of　Belgium；　they　are　accustomed　to　different　temperatures。〃

〃Just　as　your　highness　pleases；〃　said　Mrs。　Grivois；　as　she　placed　two
enormous　logs　on　the　fire；　〃but　in　such　a　heat　as　there　is　here　his
Lordship　might　really　be　suffocated。〃

〃I　also　find　it　too　warm；　but　does　not　our　holy　religion　teach　us　lessons
of　self…sacrifice　and　mortification？〃　said　the　princess；　with　a　touching
expression　of　devotion。

We　have　now　explained　the　cause　of　the　rather　gay　attire　of　the　princess。
She　was　preparing　for　a　reception　of　prelates；　who；　along　with　Father
d'Aigrigny　and　other　dignitaries　of　the　Church；　had　already　held　at　the
princely　house　a　sort　of　council　on　a　small　scale。　　A　young　bride　who
gives　her　first　ball；　an　emancipated　minor　who　gives　his　first　bachelor's
dinner；　a　woman　of　talent　who　reads　aloud　for　the　first　time　her　first
unpublished　work；　are　not　more　joyous　and　proud；　and；　at　the　same　time；
more　attentive　to　their　guests；　than　was　this　lady　with　her　prelates。　　To
behold　great　interests　discussed　in　her　house；　and　in　her　presence；　to
hear　men　of　acknowledged　ability　ask　her　advice　upon　certain　practical
matters　relating　to　the　influence　of　female　congregations；　filled　the
princess　with　pride；　as　her　claims　to　consideration　were　thus　sanctioned
by　Lordships　and　Eminences；　and　she　took　the　position；　as　it　were；　of　a
mother　of　the　Church。　　Therefore；　to　win　these　prelates；　whether　native
or　foreign；　she　had　recourse　to　no　end　of　saintly　flatteries　and
sanctified　coaxing。　　Nor　could　anything　be　more　logical　than　these
successive　transfigurations　of　this　heartless　woman；　who　only　loved
sincerely　and　passionately　the　pursuit　of　intrigue　and　domination。　　With
the　progress　of　age；　she　passed　naturally　from　the　intrigues　of　love　to
those　of　politics；　and　from　the　latter　to　those　of　religion。

At　the　moment　she　finished　inspecting　her　preparations；　the　sound　of
coaches　was　heard　in　the　courtyard；　apprising　her　of　the　arrival　of　the
persons　she　had　been　expecting。　　Doubtless；　these　persons　were　of　the
highest　rank；　for　contrary　to　all　custom；　she　went　to　receive　them