the wandering jew, volume 9-第7章
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denied them； and they may now be of the greatest use。 You have the power
of charminggraceeloquenceyou must〃
Rodin paused again。 A cold sweat poured from his forehead。 He felt his
legs give way under him； notwithstanding his obstinate energy。
〃I confess； I am not well；〃 he said； 〃yet； this morning； I was as well as
ever。 I shiver。 I am icy cold。〃
〃Draw near the fireit is a sudden indisposition；〃 said the bishop；
offering his arm with heroic devotion； 〃it will not be anything of
consequence。〃
〃If you were to take something warm； a cup of tea；〃 said the princess；
〃Dr。 Baleinier will be here directlyhe will reassure us as to this
indisposition。〃
〃It is really inexplicable；〃 said the prelate。
At these words of the cardinal； Rodin； who had advanced with difficulty
towards the fire； turned his eyes upon the prelate； and looked at him
fixedly in a strange manner； for about a second； then； strong in his
unconquerable energy； notwithstanding the change in his features； which
were now visibly disfigured； Rodin said； in a broken voice； which he
tried to make firm： 〃The fire has warmed me； it will be nothing。 I have
no time to coddle myself。 It would be a pretty thing to fall ill just as
the Rennepont affair can only succeed by my exertions！ Let us return to
business。 I told you； Father d'Aigrigny； that you might serve us a good
deal； and you also； princess； who have espoused this cause as if it were
your own〃
Rodin again paused。 This time he uttered a piercing cry； sank upon a
chair placed near him； and throwing himself back convulsively； he pressed
his hands to his chest； and exclaimed： 〃Oh！ what pain！〃
Then （dreadful sight！） a cadaverous decomposition； rapid as thought； took
place in Rodin's features。 His hollow eyes were filled with blood； and
seemed to shrink back in their orbits； which formed； as it were； two dark
holes； in the centre of which blazed points of fire； nervous convulsions
drew the flabby； damp； and icy skin tight over the bony prominences of
the face； which was becoming rapidly green。 From the lips； writhing with
pain； issued the struggling breath； mingled with the words： 〃Oh！ I
suffer！ I burn！〃
Then； yielding to a transport of fury。 Rodin tore with his nails his
naked chest； for he had twisted off the buttons of his waistcoat； and
rent his black and filthy shirt…front； as if the pressure of those
garments augmented the violence of the pain under which he was writhing。
The bishop； the cardinal； and Father d'Aigrigny； hastily approached
Rodin； to try and hold him； he was seized with horrible convulsions； but；
suddenly； collecting all his strength； he rose upon his feet stiff as a
corpse。 Then； with his garments in disorder； his thin； gray hair
standing up all around his greenish face； fixing his red and flaming eyes
upon the cardinal； he seized him with convulsive grasp； and exclaimed in
a terrible voice； half stifled in his throat： 〃Cardinal Malipierithis
illness is too suddenthey suspect me at Romeyou are of the race of
the Borgiasand your secretary was with me this morning！〃
〃Unhappy man！ what does he dare insinuate？〃 cried the prelate； as amazed
as he was indignant at the accusation。 So saying； the cardinal strove to
free himself from the grasp of Rodin； whose fingers were now as stiff as
iron。
〃I am poisoned！〃 muttered Rodin； and sinking back； he fell into the arms
of Father d'Aigrigny。
Notwithstanding his alarm； the cardinal had time to whisper to the
latter： 〃He thinks himself poisoned。 He must therefore be plotting
something very dangerous。〃
The door of the room opened。 It was Dr。 Baleinier。
〃Oh； doctor！〃 cried the princess； as she ran pale and frightened towards
him； 〃Father Rodin has been suddenly attacked with terrible convulsions。
Quick！ quick！〃
〃Convulsions？ oh！ it will be nothing； madame；〃 said the doctor； throwing
down his hat upon a chair； and hastily approaching the group which
surrounded the sick man。
〃Here is the doctor！〃 cried the princess。 All stepped aside； except
Father d'Aigrigny； who continued to support Rodin； leaning against a
chair。
〃Heavens！ what symptoms！〃 cried Dr。 Baleinier； examining with growing
terror the countenance of Rodin； which from green was turning blue。
〃What is it？〃 asked all the spectators； with one voice。
〃What is it？〃 repeated the doctor； drawing back as if he had trodden upon
a serpent。 〃It is the cholera！ and contagious！〃
On this frightful； magic word； Father d'Aigrigny abandoned his hold of
Rodin； who rolled upon the floor。
〃He is lost！〃 cried Dr。 Baleinier。 〃But I will run to fetch the means
for a last effort。〃 And he rushed towards the door。
The Princess de Saint…Dizier； Father d'Aigrigny； the bishop； and the
cardinal followed in terror the flight of Dr。 Baleinier。 They all
pressed to the door； which； in their consternation； they could not open。
It opened at last but from withoutand Gabriel appeared upon the
threshold。 Gabriel； the type of the true priest； the holy； the
evangelical minister； to whom we can never pay enough of respect and
ardent sympathy； and tender admiration。 His angelic countenance； in its
mild serenity； offered a striking contrast of these faces； all disturbed
and contracted with terror。
The young priest was nearly thrown down by the fugitives； who rushed
through the now open doorway； exclaiming： 〃Do not go in！ he is dying of
the cholera。 Fly！〃
On these words； pushing back the bishop； who； being the last； was trying
to force a passage； Gabriel ran towards Rodin； while the prelate
succeeded in making his escape。 Rodin； stretched upon the carpet； his
limbs twisted with fearful cramps； was writhing in the extremity of pain。
The violence of his fall had； no doubt； roused him to consciousness； for
he moaned； in a sepulchral voice： 〃They leave me to dielike a dogthe
cowards！Help！no one〃
And the dying man； rolling on his back with a convulsive movement； turned
towards the ceiling a face on which was branded the infernal despair of
the damned； as he once more repeated： 〃No one！not one！〃
His eyes； which suddenly flamed with fury； just then met the large blue
eyes of the angelic and mild countenance of Gabriel who； kneeling beside
him； said to him； in his soft； grave tones： 〃I am here； fatherto help
you； if help be possible to pray for you； if God calls you to him。〃
〃Gabriel！〃 murmured Rodin； with failing voice； 〃forgive me for the evil I
have done youdo not leave medo not〃
Rodin could not finish； he had succeeded in raising himself into a
sitting posture； he now uttered a loud cry； and fell back without sense
or motion。
The same day it was announced in the evening papers： 〃The cholera has
broken out in Paris。 The first case declared itself this day； at half…
past three； P。M。 in the Rue de Babylone； at Saint…Dizier House。〃
CHAPTER XVIII。
THE SQUARE OF NOTRE DAME。
A week had passed since Rodin was seized with the cholera； and its
ravages had continually increased。 That was an awful time！ A funeral
pall was spread over Paris； once so gay。 And yet； never had the sky been
of a more settled； purer blue； never had the sun shone more brilliantly。
The inexorable serenity of nature； during the ravages of the deadly
scourge； offered a strange and mysterious contrast。 The flaunting light
of the dazzling sunshine fell full upon the features； contracted by a
thousand agonizing fears。 Each trembled for himself； or for those dear
to him； every countenance was stamped with an expression of feverish
astonishment and dread。 People walked with rapid steps； as if they would
escape from the fate which threatened them； besides； they were in haste
to return to their homes； for often they left life； health； happiness；
and； two hours later； they found agony； death； and despair。
At every moment； new dismal objects met the view。 Sometimes carts passed
along； filled with coffins； symmetrically piled； they stopped before
every house。 Men in black and gray garments were in waiting before the
door； they held out their hands； and to some； one coffin was thrown； to
some two； frequently three or four； from the same house。 It sometimes
happened that the store was quickly
