the wandering jew, volume 10-第1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！
The Wandering Jew； Volume 10
By Eugene Sue
BOOK X。
XXXIII。 Confessions
XXXIV。 More Confessions
XXXV。 The Rivals
XXXVI。 The Interview
XXXVII。 Soothing Words
XXXVIII。 The Two Carriages
XXXIX。 The Appointment
XL。 Anxiety
XLI。 Adrienne and Djalma
XLII。 〃The Imitation〃
XLIII。 Prayer
XLIV。 Remembrances
XLV。 The Blockhead
XLVI。 The Anonymous Letters
XLVII。 The Golden City
XLVIII。 The Stung Lion
XLIX。 The Test
CHAPTER XXXIII。
CONFESSIONS。
During the painful scene that we have just described； a lively emotion
glowed in the countenance of Mdlle。 de Cardoville； grown pale and thin
with sorrow。 Her cheeks； once so full； were now slightly hollowed；
whilst a faint line of transparent azure encircled those large black
eyes； no longer so bright as formerly。 But the charming lips； though
contracted by painful anxiety； had retained their rich and velvet
moisture。 To attend more easily to Mother Bunch； Adrienne had thrown
aside her bonnet； and the silky waves of her beautiful golden hair almost
concealed her face as she bent over the mattress； rubbing the thin； ivory
hands of the poor sempstress； completely called to life by the salubrious
freshness of the air； and by the strong action of the salts which
Adrienne carried in her smelling…bottle。 Luckily； Mother Bunch had
fainted； rather from emotion and weakness than from the effects of
suffocation； the senses of the unfortunate girl having failed her before
the deleterious gas had attained its highest degree of intensity。
Before continuing the recital of the scene between the sempstress and the
patrician； a few retrospective words will be necessary。 Since the
strange adventure at the theatre of the Porte…Saint…Martin； where Djalma；
at peril of his life； rushed upon the black panther in sight of Mdlle。
de Cardoville； the young lady had been deeply affected in various ways。
Forgetting her jealousy； and the humiliation she had suffered in presence
of Djalmaof Djalma exhibiting himself before every one with a woman so
little worthy of himAdrienne was for a moment dazzled by the chivalrous
and heroic action of the prince； and said to herself： 〃In spite of odious
appearances； Djalma loves me enough to brave death in order to pick up my
nosegay。〃
But with a soul so delicate as that of this young lady； a character so
generous； and a mind so true； reflection was certain soon to demonstrate
the vanity of such consolations； powerless to cure the cruel wounds of
offended dignity an love。
〃How many times；〃 said Adrienne to herself； and with reason； 〃has the
prince encountered； in hunting； from pure caprice and with no gain； such
danger as he braved in picking up my bouquet！ and then； who tells me he
did not mean to offer it to the woman who accompanied him？〃
Singular （it may be） in the eyes of the world； but just and great in
those of heaven； the ideas which Adrienne cherished with regard to love；
joined to her natural pride； presented an invincible obstacle to the
thought of her succeeding this woman （whoever she might be）； thus
publicly displayed by the prince as his mistress。 And yet Adrienne
hardly dared avow to herself； that she experienced a feeling of jealousy；
only the more painful and humiliating； the less her rival appeared worthy
to be compared to her。
At other times； on the contrary； in spite of a conscious sense of her own
value； Mdlle。 de Cardoville； remembering the charming countenance of
Rose…Pompon； asked herself if the bad taste and improper manners of this
pretty creature resulted from precocious and depraved effrontery； or from
a complete ignorance of the usages of society。 In the latter case； such
ignorance； arising from a simple and ingenuous nature； might in itself
have a great charm； and if to this attraction； combined with that of
incontestable beauty； were added sincere love and a pure soul； the
obscure birth； or neglected education of the girl might be of little
consequence； and she might be capable of inspiring Djalma with a profound
passion。 If Adrienne hesitated to see a lost creature in Rose…Pompon；
notwithstanding unfavorable appearances； it was because； remembering what
so many travellers had related of Djalma's greatness of soul； and
recalling the conversation she had overheard between him and Rodin； she
could not bring herself to believe that a man of such remarkable
intelligence； with so tender a heart； so poetical； imaginative and
enthusiastic a mind could be capable of loving a depraved and vulgar
creature； and of openly exhibiting himself in public along with her。
There was a mystery in the transaction； which Adrienne sought in vain to
penetrate。 These trying doubts； this cruel curiosity； only served to
nourish Adrienne's fatal love； and we may imagine her incurable despair；
when she found that the indifference； or even disdain of Djalma； was
unable to stifle a passion that now burned more fiercely than ever。
Sometimes； having recourse to notions of fatality； she fancied that she
was destined to feel this love； that Djalma must therefore deserve it；
and that one day whatever was incomprehensible in the conduct of the
prince would be explained to his advantage。 At other times； on the
contrary； she felt ashamed of excusing Djalma； and the consciousness of
this weakness was for Adrienne a constant occasion for remorse and
torture。 The victim of all these agonies； she lived in perfect solitude。
The cholera soon broke out； startling as a clap of thunder。 Too unhappy
to fear the pestilence on her own account； Adrienne was only moved by the
sorrows of others。 She was amongst the first to contribute to those
charitable donations； which were now flowing in from all sides in the
admirable spirit of benevolence。 Florine was suddenly attacked by the
epidemic。 In spite of the danger； her mistress insisted on seeing her；
and endeavored to revive her failing courage。 Conquered by this new mark
of kindness； Florine could no longer conceal the treachery in which she
had borne a part。 Death was about to deliver her from the odious tyranny
of the people whose yoke weighed upon her； and she was at length in a
position to reveal everything to Adrienne。 The latter thus learned how
she had been continually betrayed by Florine； and also the cause of the
sewing…girl's abrupt departure。 At these revelations； Adrienne felt her
affection and tender pity for the poor sempstress greatly increase。 By
her command； the most active steps were taken to discover traces of the
hunchback； but Florine's confession had a still more important result。
Justly alarmed at this new evidence of Rodin's machinations； Adrienne
remembered the projects formed； when； believing herself beloved； the
instinct of affection had revealed to her the perils to which Djalma and
other members of the Rennepont family were exposed。 To assemble the race
around her； and bid them rally against the common enemy； such was
Adrienne's first thought； when she heard the confession of Florine。 She
regarded it as a duty to accomplish this project。 In a struggle with
such dangerous and powerful adversaries as Rodin； Father d'Aigrigny； and
the Princess de Saint…Dizier； and their allies； Adrienne saw not only the
praiseworthy and perilous task of unmasking hypocrisy and cupidity； but
also； if not a consolation； at least a generous diversion in the midst of
terrible sorrows。
From this moment； a restless； feverish activity took the place of the
mournful apathy in which the young lady had languished。 She called round
her all the members of her family capable of answering the appeal； and；
as had been mentioned in the secret note delivered to Father d'Aigrigny；
Cardoville House soon became the centre of the most active and unceasing
operations； and also a place of meeting； in which the modes of attack and
defence were fully discussed。 Perfectly correct in all points； the
secret note of which we have spoken stated； as a mere conjecture； that
Mdlle。 de Cardoville had granted an interview to Djalma。 This fact was
untrue； but the cause which led to the supposition will be explained
