the wandering jew, volume 9-第31章

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to　remove　her　remains。　　The　Rue　Clovis　is　almost　deserted。　　A　mournful
silence　reigns　without；　often　broken　by　the　sharp　whistling　of　the　north
wind。　　Between　the　squalls；　one　hears　a　sort　of　pattering。　　It　is　the
noise　of　the　large　rats；　running　to　and　fro　across　the　heap　of　charcoal。

Suddenly；　another　sound　is　heard；　and　these　unclean　animals　fly　to　hide
themselves　in　their　holes。　　Some　one　is　trying　to　force　open　the　door；
which　communicates　between　the　shop　and　the　passage。　　It　offers　but
little　resistance；　and；　in　a　few　seconds；　the　worn…out　lock　gives　way；
and　a　woman　enters。　　For　a　short　time　she　stands　motionless　in　the
obscurity　of　the　damp　and　icy　cave。　　After　a　minute's　hesitation；　the
woman　advances　and　the　ray　of　light　illumines　the　features　of　the
Bacchanal　Queen。　　Slowly；　she　approached　the　funeral　couch。　　Since　the
death　of　Jacques；　the　alteration　in　the　countenance　of　Cephyse　had　gone
on　increasing。　　Fearfully　pale；　with　her　fine　black　hair　in　disorder；　her
legs　and　feet　naked；　she　was　barely　covered　with　an　old　patched　petticoat
and　a　very　ragged　handkerchief。

When　she　came　near　the　bed；　she　cast　a　glance　of　almost　savage　assurance
at　the　shroud。　　Suddenly　she　drew　back；　with　a　low　cry　of　involuntary
terror。　　The　sheet　moved　with　a　rapid　undulation；　extending　from　the　feet
to　the　head　of　the　corpse。　　But　soon　the　sight　of　a　rat；　flying　along　the
side　of　the　worm…eaten　bedstead；　explained　the　movement　of　the　shroud。
Recovering　from　her　fright；　Cephyse　began　to　look　for　several　things；　and
collected　them　in　haste；　as　though　she　dreaded　being　surprised　in　the
miserable　shop。　　First；　she　seized　a　basket；　and　filled　it　with　charcoal；
then；　looking　from　side　to　side；　she　discovered　in　a　corner　an　earthen
pot；　which　she　took　with　a　burst　of　ominous　joy。

〃It　is　not　all；　it　is　not　all；〃　said　Cephyse；　as　she　continued　to　search
with　an　unquiet　air。

At　last　she　perceived　near　the　stove　a　little　tin　box；　containing　flint；
steel　and　matches。　　She　placed　these　articles　on　the　top　of　the　basket；
and　took　it　in　one　hand；　and　the　earthen　pot　in　the　other。　　As　she　passed
near　the　corpse　of　the　poor　charcoal…dealer；　Cephyse　said；　with　a　strange
smile：　〃I　rob　you；　poor　Mother　Arsene；　but　my　theft　will　not　do　me　much
good。〃

Cephyse　left　the　shop；　reclosed　the　door　as　well　as　she　could；　went　up
the　passage；　and　crossed　the　little　court…yard　which　separated　the　front
of　the　building　from　that　part　in　which　Rodin　had　lodged。　　With　the
exception　of　the　windows　of　Philemon's　apartment；　where　Rose…Pompon　had
so　often　sat　perched　like　a　bird；　warbling　Beranger；　the　other　windows　of
the　house　were　open。　　There　had　been　deaths　on　the　first　and　second
floors；　and；　like　many　others；　they　were　waiting　for　the　cart　piled　up
with　coffins。

The　Bacchanal　Queen　gained　the　stairs；　which　led　to　the　chambers　formerly
occupied　by　Rodin。　　Arrived　at　the　landing…place　she　ascended　another
ruinous　staircase；　steep　as　a　ladder；　and　with　nothing　but　an　old　rope
for　a　rail。　　She　at　length　reached　the　half…rotten　door　of　a　garret；
situated　in　the　roof。　　The　house　was　in　such　a　state　of　dilapidation；
that；　in　many　places　the　roof　gave　admission　to　the　rain；　and　allowed　it
to　penetrate　into　this　cell；　which　was　not　above　ten　feet　square；　and
lighted　by　an　attic　window。　　All　the　furniture　consisted　of　an　old　straw
mattress；　laid　upon　the　ground；　with　the　straw　peeping　out　from　a　rent　in
its　ticking；　a　small　earthenware　pitcher；　with　the　spout　broken；　and
containing　a　little　water；　stood　by　the　side　of　this　couch。　　Dressed　in
rags；　Mother　Bunch　was　seated　on　the　side　of　the　mattress；　with　her
elbows　on　her　knees；　and　her　face　concealed　in　her　thin；　white　hands。
When　Cephyse　entered　the　room；　the　adopted　sister　of　Agricola　raised　her
head；　her　pale；　mild　face　seemed　thinner　than　ever；　hollow　with
suffering；　grief；　misery；　her　eyes；　red　with　weeping；　were　fixed　on　her
sister　with　an　expression　of　mournful　tenderness。

〃I　have　what　we　want；　sister；〃　said　Cephyse；　in　a　low；　deep　voice；　〃in
this　basket　there　is　wherewith　to　finish　our　misery。〃

Then；　showing　to　Mother　Bunch　the　articles　she　had　just　placed　on　the
floor；　she　added：　〃For　the　first　time　in　my　life；　I　have　been　a　thief。
It　made　me　ashamed　and　frightened；　I　was　never　intended　for　that　or
worse。　　It　is　a　pity。〃　added　she；　with　a　sardonic　smile。

After　a　moment's　silence；　the　hunchback　said　to　her　sister；　in　a　heart…
rending　tone：　〃Cephysemy　dear　Cephyseare　you　quite　determined　to
die？〃

〃How　should　I　hesitate？〃　answered　Cephyse；　in　a　firm　voice。　　〃Come；
sister；　let　us　once　more　make　our　reckoning。　　If　even　I　could　forget　my
shame；　and　Jacques'　contempt　in　his　last　moments；　what　would　remain　to
me？　　Two　courses　only：　first；　to　be　honest；　and　work　for　my　living。　　But
you　know　that；　in　spite　of　the　best　will　in　the　world；　work　will　often
fail；　as　it　has　failed　for　the　last　few　days；　and；　even　when　I　got　it；　I
would　have　to　live　on　four　to　five　francs　a　week。　　Live？　that　is　to　say；
die　by　inches。　　I　know　that　already；　and　I　prefer　dying　at　once。　　The
other　course　would　be　to　live　a　life　of　infamyand　that　I　will　not　do。
Frankly；　sister；　between　frightful　misery；　infamy；　or　death；　can　the
choice　be　doubtful？　　Answer　me！〃

Then；　without　giving　Mother　Bunch　time　to　speak；　Cephyse　added；　in　an
abrupt　tone：　〃Besides；　what　is　the　good　of　discussing　it？　　I　have　made　up
my　mind；　and　nothing　shall　prevent　my　purpose；　since　all　that　you；　dear
sister；　could　obtain　from　me；　was　a　delay　of　a　few　days；　to　see　if　the
cholera　would　not　save　us　the　trouble。　　To　please　you　I　consented；　the
cholera　has　come；　killed　every　one　else　in　the　house；　but　left　us。　　You
see；　it　is　better　to　do　one's　own　business；〃　added　she；　again　smiling
bitterly。　　Then　she　resumed：　〃Besides；　dear　sister；　you　also　wish　to
finish　with　life。〃

〃It　is　true；　Cephyse；〃　answered　the　sempstress；　who　seemed　very　much
depressed；　〃but　aloneone　has　only　to　answer　for　one's　selfand　to　die
with　you；〃　added　she；　shuddering；　〃appears　like　being　an　accomplice　in
your　death。〃

〃Do　you　wish；　then；　to　make　an　end　of　it；　I　in　one　place；　you　in
another？that　would　be　agreeable！〃　said　Cephyse；　displaying　in　that
terrible　moment　the　sort　of　bitter　and　despairing　irony　which　is　more
frequent　than　may　be　imagined　in　the　midst　of　mortal　anguish。

〃Oh；　no；　no！〃　said　the　other　in　alarm；　〃not　aloneI　will　not　die　alone！〃

〃Do　you　not　see；　dear　sister；　we　are　right　not　to　part？　　And　yet；〃　added
Cephyse；　in　a　voice　of　emotion；　〃my　heart　almost　breaks　sometimes；　to
think　that　you　will　die　like　me。〃

〃How　selfish！〃　said　the　hunchback；　with　a　faint　smile。　　〃What　reasons
nave　I　to　love　life？　　What　void　shall　I　leave　behind　me？〃

〃But　you　are　a　martyr；　sister；〃　resumed　Cephyse。　　〃The　priests　talk　of
saints！　Is　there　one　of　them　so　good　as　you？　　And　yet　you　are　about　to
die　like　me；　who　have　always　been　idle；　careless；　sinfulwhile　you　were
so　hardworking；　so　devoted　to　all　who　suffered。　　What　should　I　say？　　You
were　an　angel　on　the　earth；　and　yet　you　will　die　like　me；　who　have　fallen
as　low　as　a　woman　can　fall；〃　added　the　unfortunate；　casting　down　her
eyes。

〃It　is　strange；〃　answered　Mother　Bunch；　thoughtfully。　　〃Starting　from　the
same　point；　we　have　followed　different　roads；　and　yet　we　have　reached　the
same　goaldisgust　of　life。　　For　you；　my　poor　sister；　but　a　few　days　ago；
life　was　so　fair；　so　full　of　pleasure　and　of　youth；　and　now　it　is　equally
heavy　with　us　both。　　After　all；　I　have　followed　to　the　end　what　was　my
duty；〃　added　she；　mildly。　　〃Agricola　no　longer　needs　me。　　He　is　married；
he　loves；　and　is　beloved；　his　happiness　is　secured。　　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville
wants　for　nothing。　　Fair；　rich；　prosperouswhat　could　a　poor　creature
like　myself　do　for　her？　　Those　who　have　been　kind　to　me　are　happy。　　What
prevents　my　going　now　to　my　rest？　　I　am　so　weary！〃

〃Poor　sister！〃　said　Cephyse；　with　touching　emotion；　which　seemed　to
expand　her　contracted　features；　〃when　I　think　that；　without　informing　me；
and　in　spite　of　your　resolution　never　to　see　that　generous　young　lady；
who　protected　you；　you　yet　had　the　courage　to　drag　yourself　to　her　house；
dying　with　fatigue　and