the wandering jew, volume 9-第3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！


highest　rank；　for　contrary　to　all　custom；　she　went　to　receive　them　at　the
door　of　her　outer　saloon。　　It　was；　indeed；　Cardinal　Malipieri；　who　was
always　cold；　with　the　Belgian　Bishop　of　Halfagen；　who　was　always　hot。
They　were　accompanied　by　Father　d'Aigrigny。　　The　Roman　cardinal　was　a
tall　man；　rather　bony　than　thin；　with　a　yellowish　puffy　countenance；
haughty　and　full　of　craft；　he　squinted　a　good　deal；　and　his　black　eyes
were　surrounded　by　a　deep　brown　circle。　　The　Belgian　Bishop　was　short；
thick；　and　fat；　with　a　prominent　abdomen；　an　apoplectic　complexion；　a
slow；　deliberate　look；　and　a　soft；　dimpled；　delicate　hand。

The　company　soon　assembled　in　the　great　saloon。　　The　cardinal　instantly
crept　close　to　the　fire；　whilst　the　bishop；　beginning　to　sweat　and　blow；
cast　longing　glances　at　the　iced　chocolate　and　coffee；　which　were　to　aid
him　in　sustaining　the　oppressive　heat　of　the　artificial　dog…day。　　Father
d'Aigrigny；　approaching　the　princess；　said　to　her　in　a　low　voice：　〃Will
you　give　orders　for　the　admittance　of　Abbe　Gabriel　de　Rennepont；　when　he
arrives？〃

〃Is　that　young　priest　then　here？〃　asked　the　princess；　with　extreme
surprise。

〃Since　the　day　before　yesterday。　　We　had　him　sent　for　to　Paris；　by　his
superiors。　　You　shall　know　all。　　As　for　Father　Rodin；　let　Mrs。　Grivois
admit　him；　as　the　other　day；　by　the　little　door　of　the　back　stairs。〃

〃He　will　come　to…day？〃

〃He　has　very　important　matters　to　communicate。　　He　　desires　that　both　the
cardinal　and　the　bishop　should　be　present　for　they　have　been　informed　of
everything　at　Rome　by　the　Superior　General；　in　their　quality　of
associates。〃

The　princess　rang　the　bell；　gave　the　necessary　orders；　and；　returning
towards　the　cardinal；　said　to　him；　in　a　tone　of　the　most　earnest
solicitude：　〃Does　your　Eminence　begin　to　feel　a　little　warmer？　　Would
your　Eminence　like　a　bottle　of　hot　water　to　your　feet？　　Shall　we　make　a
larger　fire　for　your　Eminence？〃

At　this　proposition；　the　Belgian　bishop；　who　was　wiping　the　perspiration
from　his　forehead；　heaved　a　despairing　sigh。

〃A　thousand　thanks；　princess；〃　answered　the　cardinal　to　her；　in　very　good
French；　but　with　an　intolerable　Italian　accent；　〃I　am　really　overcome
with　so　much　kindness。〃

〃Will　not　your　Lordship　take　some　refreshment？〃　said　the　princess　to　the
bishop；　as　she　turned　towards　the　sideboard。

〃With　your　permission；　madame；　I　will　take　a　little　iced　coffee；〃　said
the　prelate；　making　a　prudent　circuit　to　approach　the　dishes　without
passing　before　the　fire。

〃And　will　not　your　Eminence　try　one　of　these　little　oyster…patties？　　They
are　quite　hot；〃　said　the　princess。

〃I　know　them　already；　princess；〃　said　the　cardinal；　with　the　air　and　look
of　an　epicure；　〃they　are　delicious；　and　I　cannot　resist　the　temptation。〃

〃What　wine　shall　I　have　the　honor　to　offer　your　Eminence？〃　resumed　the
princess；　graciously。

〃A　little　claret；　if　you　please；　madame；〃　and　as　Father　d'Aigrigny
prepared　to　fill　the　cardinal's　glass；　the　princess　disputed　with　him
that　pleasure。

〃Your　Eminence　will　doubtless　approve　what　I　have　done；〃　said　Father
d'Aigrigny　to　the　cardinal；　whilst　the　latter　was　gravely　despatching　the
oyster…patties；　〃in　not　summoning　for　to…day　the　Bishop　of　Mogador；　the
Archbishop　of　Nanterre；　and　our　holy　Mother　Perpetue；　the　lady…superior
of　St。　Mary　Convent；　the　interview　we　are　about　to　have　with　his
Reverence　Father　Rodin　and　Abbe　Gabriel　being　altogether　private　and
confidential。〃

〃Our　good　father　was　perfectly　right；〃　said　the　cardinal；　〃for；　though
the　possible　consequences　of　this　Rennepont　affair　may　interest　the　whole
Church；　there　are　some　things　that　are　as　well　kept　secret。〃

〃Then　I　must　seize　this　opportunity　to　thank　your　Eminence　for　having
deigned　to　make　an　exception　in　favor　of　a　very　obscure　and　humble
servant　of　the　Church；〃　said　the　princess　to　the　cardinal；　with　a　very
deep　and　respectful　curtsey。

〃It　is　only　just　and　right；　madame；〃　replied　the　cardinal；　bowing　as　he
replaced　his　empty　glass　upon　the　table；　〃we　know　how　much　the　Church　is
indebted　to　you　for　the　salutary　direction　you　give　to　the　religious
institutions　of　which　you　are　the　patroness。〃

〃With　regard　to　that；　your　Eminence　may　be　assured　that　I　always　refuse
assistance　to　any　poor　person　who　cannot　produce　a　certificate　from　the
confessional。〃

〃And　it　is　only　thus；　madame；〃　resumed　the　cardinal；　this　time　allowing
himself　to　be　tempted　by　the　attractions　of　the　crawfish's　tails；　〃it　is
only　thus　that　charity　has　any　meaning。　　I　care　little　that　the
irreligious　should　feel　hunger；　but　with　the　pious　it　is　different；〃　and
the　prelate　gayly　swallowed　a　mouthful。　　〃Moreover；〃　resumed　he；　〃it　is
well　known　with　what　ardent　zeal　you　pursue　the　impious；　and　those　who
are　rebels　against　the　authority　of　our　Holy　Father。〃

〃Your　Eminence　may　feel　convinced　that　I　am　Roman　in　heart　and　soul；　I
see　no　difference　between　a　Gallican　and　a　Turk；〃　said　the　princess；
bravely。

〃The　princess　is　right；〃　said　the　Belgian　bishop：　〃I　will　go　further；　and
assert　that　a　Gallican　should　be　more　odious　to　the　church　than　a　pagan。
In　this　respect　I　am　of　the　opinion　of　Louis　XIV。　　They　asked　him　a　favor
for　a　man　about　the　court。　　‘Never；'　said　the　great　king；　‘this　person　is
a　Jansenist。'‘No；　sire；　he　is　an　atheist。''Oh！　that　is　different；　I
will　grant　what　he　asks；'　said　the　King。〃

This　little　episcopal　jest　made　them　all　laugh。　　After　which　Father
d'Aigrigny　resumed　seriously；　addressing　the　cardinal：　〃Unfortunately；　as
I　was　about　to　observe　to　your　Eminence　with　regard　to　the　Abbe　Gabriel；
unless　they　are　very　narrowly　watched；　the　lower　clergy　have　a　tendency
to　become　infected　with　dissenting　views；　and　with　ideas　of　rebellion
against　what　they　call　the　despotism　of　the　bishops。〃

〃This　young　man　must　be　a　Catholic　Luther！〃　said　the　bishop。　　And；
walking　on　tip…toe；　he　went　to　pour　himself　out　a　glorious　glass　of
Madeira；　in　which　he　soaked　some　sweet　cake；　made　in　the　form　of　a
crozier。

Led　by　his　example；　the　Cardinal；　under　pretence　of　warming　his　feet　by
drawing　still　closer　to　the　fire；　helped　himself　to　an　excellent　glass　of
old　Malaga；　which　he　swallowed　by　mouthfuls；　with　an　air　of　profound
meditation；　after　which　he　resumed：　〃So　this　Abbe　Gabriel　starts　as　a
reformer。　　He　must　be　an　ambitious　man。　　Is　he　dangerous？〃

〃By　our　advice　his　superiors　have　judged　him　to　be　so。　　They　have　ordered
him　to　come　hither。　　He　will　soon　be　here；　and　I　will　tell　your　Eminence
why　I　have　sent　for　him。　　But　first；　I　have　a　note　on　the　dangerous
tendencies　of　the　Abbe　Gabriel。　　Certain　questions　were　addressed　to　him；
with　regard　to　some　of　his　acts；　and　it　was　in　consequence　of　his　answers
that　his　superiors　recalled　him。〃

So　saying；　Father　d'Aigrigny；　took　from　his　pocket…book　a　paper；　which　he
read　as　follows：

〃‘Question。Is　it　true　that　you　performed　religious　rites　for　an
inhabitant　of　your　parish　who　died　in　final　impenitence　of　the　most
detestable　kind；　since　he　had　committed　suicide？

〃‘Answer　of　Abbe　Gabriel。I　paid　him　the　last　duties；　because；　more　than
any　one　else；　because　of　his　guilty　end；　he　required　the　prayers　of　the
church。　　During　the　night　which　followed　his　interment　I　continually
implored　for　him　the　divine　mercy。

〃‘Q。Is　it　true　that　you　refused　a　set　of　silver…gilt　sacramental
vessels；　and　other　ornaments；　with　which　one　of　the　faithful；　in　pious
zeal；　wished　to　endow　your　parish？

〃‘A。I　refused　the　vessels　and　embellishments；　because　the　house　of　the
Lord　should　be　plain　and　without　ornament；　so　as　to　remind　the　faithful
that　the　divine　Saviour　was　born　in　a　stable。　　I　advised　the　person　who
wished　to　make　these　useless　presents　to　my　parish　to　employ　the　money　in
judicious　almsgiving；　assuring　him　it　would　be　more　agreeable　to　the
Lord。'〃

〃What　a　bitter　and　violent　declamation　against　the　adorning　of　our
temples！〃　cried　the　cardinal。　　〃This　young　priest　is　most　dangerous。
Continue；　my　good　father。〃

And；　in　his　indignation；　his　Eminence　swallowed　several　mouthfuls　of
strawberry…cream。　　Father　d'Aigrigny　continued。

〃‘Q。Is　it　true　that　you　received　in　your　parsonage；　and　kept　there　for
some