the wandering jew, volume 9-第25章

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！


deceived。〃

This　burst　of　anger　having　greatly　fatigued　Rodin；　his　head　fell　back
upon　the　pillow；　and　he　wiped　his　cracked　and　bleeding　lips　with　his　old
cotton　handkerchief。

〃Come；　come；　be　calm；　my　very　dear　father；〃　resumed　the　cardinal；　with　a
patronizing　air；　〃do　not　give　way　to　such　gloomy　ideas。　　Doubtless；
Providence　reserves　you　for　great　designs；　since　you　have　been　already
delivered　from　so　much　peril。　　Let　us　hope　that　you　will　be　likewise
saved　from　your　present　danger。〃

Rodin　answered　by　a　hoarse　growl；　and　turned　his　face　towards　the　wall。

The　imperturbable　prelate　continued：　〃The　views　of　Providence　are　not
confined　to　your　salvation；　my　very　dear　father。　　Its　power　has　been
manifested　in　another　way。　　What　I　am　about　to　tell　you　is　of　the　highest
importance。　　Listen　attentively。〃

Without　turning　his　head；　Rodin　muttered　in　a　tone　of　angry　bitterness；
which　betrayed　his　intense　sufferings：　〃They　desire　my　death。　　My　chest
is　on　fire；　my　head　racked　with　pain；　and　they　have　no　pity。　　Oh；　I
suffer　the　tortures　of　the　damned！〃

〃What！　already〃　thought　the　Roman；　with　a　smile　of　sarcastic　malice；　then
he　said　aloud：　〃Let　me　persuade　you；　my　very　dear　fathermake　an　effort
to　listen　to　me；　you　will　not　regret　it。〃

Still　stretched　upon　the　bed；　Rodin　lifted　his　hands　clasped　upon　his
cotton　handkerchief　with　a　gesture　of　despair；　and　then　let　them　fall
again　by　his　side。

The　cardinal　slightly　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　laid　great　stress　on
what　follows；　so　that　Rodin　might　not　lose　a　word　of　it：　〃My　dear　father；
it　has　pleased　Providence　that；　during　your　fit　of　raving；　you　have　made；
without　knowing　it；　the　most　important　revelations。〃

The　prelate　waited　with　anxious　curiosity　for　the　effect　of　the　pious
trap　he　had　laid　for　the　Jesuit's　weakened　faculties。　　But　the　latter；
still　turned　towards　the　wall；　did　not　appear　to　have　heard　him　and
remained　silent。

〃You　are；　no　doubt；　reflecting　on　my　words；　my　dear　father；〃　resumed　the
cardinal；　〃you　are　right；　for　it　concerns　a　very　serious　affair。　　I
repeat　to　you　that　Providence　has　allowed　you；　during　your　delirium；　to
betray　your　most　secret　thoughtshappily；　to　me　alone。　　They　are　such　as
would　compromise　you　in　the　highest　degree。　　In　short；　during　your
delirium　of　last　night；　which　lasted　nearly　two　hours；　you　unveiled　the
secret　objects　of　your　intrigues　at　Rome　with　many　of　the　members　of　the
Sacred　College。〃

The　cardinal；　rising　softly；　stooped　over　the　bed　to　watch　the　expression
of　Rodin's　countenance。　　But　the　latter　did　not　give　him　time。　　As　a
galvanized　corpse　starts　into　strange　and　sudden　motion；　Rodin　sprang
into　a　sitting　posture　at　the　last　words　of　the　prelate。

〃He　has　betrayed　himself；〃　said　the　cardinal；　in　a　low　voice；　in　Italian。
Then；　resuming　his　seat；　he　fixed　on　the　Jesuit　his　eyes；　that　sparkled
with　triumphant　joy。

Though　he　did　not　hear　the　exclamation　of　Malipieri；　nor　remark　the
expression　of　his　countenance；　Rodin；　notwithstanding　his　state　of
weakness；　instantly　felt　the　imprudence　of　his　start。　　He　pressed　his
hand　to　his　forehead；　as　though　he　had　been　seized　with　a　giddiness；
then；　looking　wildly　round　him；　he　pressed　to　his　trembling　lips　his　old
cotton　handkerchief；　and　gnawed　it　mechanically　for　some　seconds。

〃Your　emotion　and　alarm　confirm　the　sad　discoveries　I　have　made；〃　resumed
the　cardinal；　still　more　rejoicing　at　the　success　of　his　trick；　〃and　now；
my　dear　father；〃　added　he；　〃you　will　understand　that　it　is　for　your　best
interest　to　enter　into　the　most　minute　detail　as　to　your　projects　and
accomplices　at　Rome。　　You　may　then　hope；　my　dear　father；　for　the
indulgence　of　the　Holy　Seethat　is；　if　your　avowals　are　sufficiently
explicit　to　fill　up　the　chasms　necessarily　left　in　a　confession　made
during　delirium。〃

Rodin；　recovered　from　his　first　surprise；　perceived；　but　too　late；　that
he　had　fallen　into　a　snare；　not　by　any　words　he　had　spoken；　but　by　his
too　significant　movements。　　In　fact；　the　Jesuit　had　feared　for　a　moment
that　he　might　have　betrayed　himself　during　his　delirium；　when　he　heard
himself　accused　of　dark　intrigues　with　Rome；　but；　after　some　minutes　of
reflection；　his　common　sense　suggested：　〃If　this　crafty　Roman　knew　my
secret；　he　would　take　care　not　to　tell　me　so。　　He　has　only　suspicions；
confirmed　by　my　involuntary　start　just　now。〃

Rodin　wiped　the　cold　sweat　from　his　burning　forehead。　　The　emotion　of
this　scene　augmented　his　sufferings；　and　aggravated　the　danger　of　his
condition。　　Worn　out　with　fatigue；　he　could　not　remain　long　in　a　sitting
posture；　and　soon　fell　back　upon　the　bed。

〃Per　Bacco！〃　said　the　cardinal　to　himself；　alarmed　at　the　expression　of
the　Jesuit's　face；　〃if　he　were　to　die　before　he　had　spoken；　and　so　escape
the　snare！〃

Then；　leaning　over　the　bed；　the　prelate　asked：　〃What　is　the　matter；　my
very　dear　father？〃

〃I　am　weak；　my　lordI　am　in　painI　cannot　express　what　I　suffer。〃

〃Let　us　hope；　my　very　dear　father；　that　this　crisis　will　have　no　fatal
results；　but　the　contrary　may　happen；　and　it　behooves　the　salvation　of
your　soul　to　make　instantly　the　fullest　confession。　　Were　it　even　to
exhaust　your　strength；　what　is　this　perishable　body　compared　to　eternal
life？〃

〃Of　what　confession　do　you　speak；　my　lord？〃　said　Rodin；　in　a　feeble　and
yet　sarcastic　tone。

〃What　confession！〃　cried　the　amazed　cardinal；　〃why；　with　regard　to　your
dangerous　intrigues　at　Rome。〃

〃What　intrigues？〃　asked　Rodin。

〃The　intrigues　you　revealed　during　your　delirium；〃　replied　the　prelate；
with　still　more　angry　impatience。　　〃Were　not　your　avowals　sufficiently
explicit？　　Why；　then；　this　culpable　hesitation　to　complete　them？〃

〃My　avowalswere　explicityou　assure　me？〃　said　Rodin；　pausing　after
each　word　for　want　of　breath；　but　without　losing　his　energy　and　presence
of　mind。

〃Yes；　I　repeat　it；〃　resumed　the　cardinal；　〃with　the　exception　of　a　few
chasms；　they　were　most　explicit。〃

〃Then　why　repeat　them？〃　said　Rodin；　with　the　same　sardonic　smile　on　his
violet　lips。

〃Why　repeat　them？〃　cried　the　angry　prelate。　　〃In　order　to　gain　pardon；
for　if　there　is　indulgence　and　mercy　for　the　repentant　sinner；　there　must
be　condemnation　and　curses　for　the　hardened　criminal！〃

〃Oh；　what　torture！　I　am　dying　by　slow　fire！〃　murmured　Rodin。　　〃Since　I
have　told　all；〃　he　resumed；　〃　I　have　nothing　more　to　tell。　　You　know　it
already。〃

〃I　know　alldoubtless；　I　know　all；〃　replied　the　prelate；　in　a　voice　of
thunder；　〃but　how　have　I　learned　it？　　By　confessions　made　in　a　state　of
unconsciousness。　　Do　you　think　they　will　avail　you　anything？　　No；　the
moment　is　solemndeath　is　at　hand；　tremble　to　die　with　a　sacrilegious
falsehood　on　your　lips；〃　cried　the　prelate；　shaking　Rodin　violently　by
the　arm；　〃dread　the　eternal　flames；　if　you　dare　deny　what　you　know　to　be
the　truth。　　Do　you　deny　it？〃

〃I　deny　nothing；〃　murmured　Rodin；　with　difficulty。　　〃Only　leave　me
alone！〃

〃Then　heaven　inspires　you；〃　said　the　cardinal；　with　a　sigh　of
satisfaction；　and；　thinking　he　had　nearly　attained　his　object；　he
resumed；　〃Listen　to　the　divine　word；　that　will　guide　you；　father。　　You
deny　nothing？〃

〃I　wasdeliriousand　cannot（oh！　how　I　suffer！）〃　added　Rodin；　by　way
of　parenthesis；　〃and　cannot　thereforedenythe　nonsenseI　may　have
uttered！〃

〃But　when　this　nonsense　agrees　with　the　truth；〃　cried　the　prelate；
furious　at　being　again　deceived　in　his　expectation；　〃but　when　raving　is
an　involuntary；　providential　revelation〃

〃Cardinal　Malipieriyour　craft　is　no　matchfor　my　agony；〃　answered
Rodin；　in　a　failing　voice。　　〃The　proofthat　I　have　not　told　my　secret
if　I　have　a　secretisthat　you　want　to　make　me　tell　it！〃　　In　spite　of
his　pain　and　weakness；　the　Jesuit　had　courage　to　raise　himself　in　the
bed；　and　look　the　cardinal　full　in　the　face；　with　a　smile　of　bitter
irony。　　After　which　he　fell　back　on　the　pillow；　and　pressed　his　hands　to
his　chest；　with　a　long　sigh　of　anguish。

〃Damnation！　the　infernal　Jesuit　has　found　me　out！〃　said　the　cardinal　to
himself；　as　he　stamped　his　foot　with　rage。　　〃He　sees　that　he　was
compromised　by　his　first　movement；　he　is　now　upon　his　guard；　I　shall　get
nothing　more　from　himunless　indeed；　profiting　by　the　state