the wandering jew, volume 10-第13章

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no　such　correct　knowledge　of　yours；〃　answered　Dupont；　with　a　mocking　air；
〃for　I　assure　you　that　I　had　no　more　notion　of　seeing　you　than　you　had　of
seeing　me。〃

So　saying；　M。　Dupont　bowed　with　something　like　mock　politeness　to　the
half…caste；　and　got　into　the　carriage；　which　drove　off　rapidly；　leaving
Faringhea　in　a　state　of　the　utmost　surprise　and　anger。




CHAPTER　XXXIX。

THE　APPOINTMENT。

The　morning　afterDupont's　mission　to　Prince　Djalma；　the　latter　was
walking　with　hasty　and　impatient　step　up　and　down　the　little　saloon；
which　communicated；　as　we　already　know；　with　the　greenhouse　from　which
Adrienne　had　entered　when　she　first　appeared　to　him。　　In　remembrance　of
that　day；　he　had　chosen　to　dress　himself　as　on　the　occasion　in　question；
he　wore　the　same　tunic　of　white　cashmere；　with　a　cherry…colored　turban；
to　match　with　his　girdle；　his　gaiters；　of　scarlet　velvet；　embroidered
with　silver；　displayed　the　fine　form　of　his　leg；　and　terminated　in　small
white　morocco　slippers；　with　red　heels。　　Happiness　has　so　instantaneous；
and；　as　it　were；　material　an　influence　upon　young；　lively；　and　ardent
natures；　that　Djalma；　dejected　and　despairing　only　the　day　before；　was　no
longer　like　the　same　person。　　The　pale；　transparent　gold　of　his
complexion　was　no　longer　tarnished　by　a　livid　hue。　　His　large　eyes；　of
late　obscured　like　black　diamonds　by　a　humid　vapor；　now　shone　with　mild
radiance　in　the　centre　of　their　pearly　setting；　his　lips；　long　pale；　had
recovered　their　natural　color；　which　was　rich　and　soft　as　the　fine　purple
flowers　of　his　country。

Ever　and　anon；　pausing　in　his　hasty　walk；　he　stopped　suddenly；　and　drew
from　his　bosom　a　little　piece　of　paper；　carefully　folded；　which　he
pressed　to　his　lips　with　enthusiastic　ardor。　　Then；　unable　to　restrain
the　expression　of　his　full　happiness；　he　uttered　a　full　and　sonorous　cry
of　joy；　and　with　a　bound　he　was　in　front　of　the　plate…glass　which
separated　the　saloon　from　the　conservatory；　in　which　he　had　first　seen
Mdlle。　de　Cardoville。　　By　a　singular　power　of　remembrance；　or　marvellous
hallucination　of　a　mind　possessed　by　a　fixed　idea；　Djalma　had　often　seen；
or　fancied　he　saw；　the　adored　semblance　of　Adrienne　appear　to　him　through
this　sheet　of　crystal。　　The　illusion　had　been　so　complete；　that；　with　his
eyes　ardently　fixed　on　the　vision　he　invoked；　he　had　been　able；　with　the
aid　of　a　pencil　dipped　in　carmine；　to　trace　with　astonishing　exactness；
the　profile　of　the　ideal　countenance　which　the　delirium　of　his
imagination　had　presented　to　his　view。＇42＇　　It　was　before　these　delicate
lines　of　bright　carmine　that　Djalma　now　stood　in　deep　contemplation；
after　perusing　and　reperusing；　and　raising　twenty　times　to　his　lips；　the
letter　he　had　received　the　night　before　from　the　hands　of　Dupont。　　Djalma
was　not　alone。　　Faringhea　watched　all　the　movements　of　the　prince；　with　a
subtle；　attentive；　and　gloomy　aspect。　　Standing　respectfully　in　a　corner
of　the　saloon；　the　half…caste　appeared　to　be　occupied　in　unfolding　and
spreading　out　Djalma's　sash；　light；　silky　Indian　web；　the　brown　ground　of
which　was　almost　entirely　concealed　by　the　exquisite　gold　and　silver
embroidery　with　which　it　was　overlaid。

The　countenance　of　the　half…caste　wore　a　dark　and　gloomy　expression。　　He
could　not　deceive　himself。　　The　letter　from　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville；
delivered　by　Dupont　to　Djalma；　must　have　been　the　cause　of　the　delight　he
now　experienced；　for；　without　doubt；　he　knew　himself　beloved。　　In　that
event；　his　obstinate　silence　towards　Faringhea；　ever　since　the　latter　had
entered　the　saloon；　greatly　alarmed　the　half…caste；　who　could　not　tell
what　interpretation　to　put　upon　it。　　The　night　before；　after　parting　with
Dupont；　he　had　hastened；　in　a　state　of　anxiety　easily　understood；　to　look
for　the　prince；　in　the　hope　of　ascertaining　the　effect　produced　by　Mdlle。
de　Cardoville's　letter。　　But　he　found　the　parlor　door　closed；　and　when　he
knocked；　he　received　no　answer　from　within。　　Then；　though　the　night　was
far　advanced；　he　had　dispatched　a　note　to　Rodin；　in　which　he　informed　him
of　Dupont's　visit　and　its　probable　intention。　　Djalma　had　indeed　passed
the　night　in　a　tumult　of　happiness　and　hope；　and　a　fever　of　impatience
quite　impossible　to　describe。　　Repairing　to　his　bed…chamber　only　towards
the　morning；　he　had　taken　a　few　moments　of　repose；　and　had　then　dressed
himself　without　assistance。

Many　times；　but　in　vain；　the　half…caste　had　discreetly　knocked　at　the
door　of　Djalma's　apartment。　　It　was　only　in　the　early　part　of　the
afternoon　that　the　prince　had　rung　the　bell　to　order　his　carriage　to　be
ready　by　half…past　two。　　Faringhea　having　presented　himself；　the　prince
had　given　him　the　order　without　looking　at　him；　as　he　might　have　done　to
any　other　of　his　servants。　　Was　this　suspicion；　aversion；　or　mere　absence
of　mind　on　the　part　of　Djalma？　　Such　were　the　questions　which　the　half…
caste　put　to　himself　with　growing　anguish；　for　the　designs　of　which　he
was　the　most　active　and　immediate　instrument　might　all　be　ruined　by　the
least　suspicion　in　the　prince。

〃Oh！　the　hoursthe　hourshow　slow　they　are！〃　cried　the　young　Indian；
suddenly；　in　a　low　and　trembling　voice。

〃The　day　before　yesterday；　my　lord；　you　said　the　hours　were　very　long；〃
observed　Faringhea；　as　he　drew　near　Djalma　in　order　to　attract　his
attention。　　Seeing　that　he　did　not　succeed　in　this　he　advanced　a　few
steps　nearer；　and　resumed：　〃Your　joy　seems　very　great；　my　lord；　tell　the
cause　of　it　to　your　poor　and　faithful　servant；　that　he　also　may　rejoice
with　you。〃

If　he　heard　the　words；　Djalma　did　not　pay　any　attention　to　them。　　He　made
no　answer；　and　his　large　black　eyes　gazed　upon　vacancy。　　He　seemed　to
smile　admiringly　upon　some　enchanting　vision；　and　he　folded　his　two　hands
upon　his　bosom；　in　the　attitude　which　his　countrymen　assume　at　the　hour
of　prayer。　　After　some　instants　of　contemplation；　he　said：　〃What　o'clock
is　it？〃but　he　asked　this　question　of　himself；　rather　than　of　any　third
person。

〃It　will　soon　be　two　o'clock；　my　lord；〃　said　Faringhea。

Having　heard　this　answer；　Djalma　seated　himself；　and　hid　his　face　in　his
hands；　as　if　completely　absorbed　in　some　ineffable　meditation。　　Urged　on
by　his　growing　anxiety；　and　wishing　at　any　cost　to　attract　the　attention
of　Djalma；　Faringhea　approached　still　nearer　to　him；　and；　almost　certain
of　the　effect　of　the　words　he　was　about　to　utter；　said　to　him　in　a　slow
and　emphatic　voice：　〃My　lord；　I　am　sure　that　you　owe　the　happiness　which
now　transports　you　to　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville。〃

Hardly　had　this　name　been　pronounced；　than　Djalma　started　from　his　chair；
looked　the　half…breed　full　in　the　face；　and　exclaimed；　as　if　only　just
aware　of　his　presence；　〃Faringhea！　you　here！what　is　the　matter？〃

〃Your　faithful　servant　shares　in　your　joy；　my　lord。〃

〃What　joy？〃

〃That　which　the　letter　of　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville　has　occasioned；　my　lord。〃

Djalma　returned　no　answer；　but　his　eye　shone　with　so　much　serene
happiness；　that　the　half…caste　recovered　from　his　apprehensions。　　No
cloud　of　doubt　or　suspicion　obscured　the　radiant　features　of　the　prince。
After　a　few　moments　of　silence；　Djalma　fixed　upon　the　half…caste　a　look
half…veiled　with　a　tear　of　joy；　and　said　to　him；　with　the　expression　of
one　whose　heart　overflows　with　love　and　happiness：　〃Oh！　such　delight　is
goodgreatlike　heaven！for　it　is　heaven　which〃

〃You　deserve　this　happiness；　my　lord；　after　so　many　sufferings。〃

〃What　sufferings？Oh！　yes。　　I　formerly　suffered　at　Java；　but　that　was
years　ago。〃

〃My　lord；　this　great　good　fortune　does　not　astonish　me。　　What　have　I
always　told　you？　　Do　not　despair；　feign　a　violent　passion　for　some　other
woman；　and　then　this　proud　young　lady〃

At　these　words　Djalma　looked　at　the　half…caste　with　so　piercing　a　glance；
that　the　latter　stopped　short；　but　the　prince　said　to　him　with
affectionate　goodness；　〃Go　on！　I　listen。〃

Then；　leaning　his　chin　upon　his　hand；　and　his　elbow　on　his　knee；　he　gazed
so　intently　on　Faringhea；　and　yet　with　such　unutterable　mildness；　that
even　that　iron　soul　was　touched　for　a　moment　with　a　slight　feeling　of
remorse。

〃I　was　saying；　my　lord；〃　he　resumed；　〃that　by　following　the　counsels　of
your　faithful　slave；　wh