the wandering jew, volume 10-第16章

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at　a　little　distance　from　Adrienne。　　This　embarrassment；　ridiculous　in
any　other　person；　appeared　touching　in　this　prince　of　twenty　years　of
age；　endowed　with　an　almost　fabulous　intrepidity；　and　of　so　heroic　and
generous　a　character；　that　no　traveller　could　speak　of　the　son　of　Kadja…
sing　without　a　tribute　of　admiration　and　respect。　　Sweet　emotion！　chaste
reserve！　doubly　interesting　if　we　consider　that　the　burning　passions　of
this　youth　were　all　the　more　inflammable；　because　they　had　hitherto　been
held　in　check。

No　less　embarrassed　than　her　cousin；　Adrienne　de　Cardoville　remained
seated。　　Like　Djalma；　she　cast　down　her　eyes；　but　the　burning　blush　on
her　cheeks；　the　quick　heaving　of　her　virgin　bosom；　revealed　an　emotion
that　she　did　not　even　attempt　to　hide。　　Notwithstanding　the　powers　of　her
mind；　by　turns　gay；　graceful；　and　wittynotwithstanding　the　decision　of
her　proud　and　independent　character；　and　her　complete　acquaintance　with
the　manners　of　the　worldAdrienne　shared　Djalma's　simple　and　enchanting
awkwardness；　and　partook　of　that　kind　of　temporary　weakness；　beneath
which　these　two　pure；　ardent；　and　loving　beings　appeared　sinkingas　if
unable　to　support　the　boiling　agitation　of　the　senses；　combined　with　the
intoxicating　excitement　of　the　heart。　　And　yet　their　eyes　had　not　met。
Each　seemed　to　fear　the　first　electric　shock　of　the　other's　glancethat
invincible　attraction　of　two　impassioned　beingsthat　sacred　fire；　which
suddenly　kindles　the　blood；　and　lifts　two　mortals　from　earth　to　heaven；
for　it　is　to　approach　the　Divinity　to　give　one's　self　up　with　religious
fervor　to　the　most　noble　and　irresistible　sentiment　that　He　has　implanted
within　usthe　only　sentiment　that；　in　His　adorable　wisdom；　the　Dispenser
of　all　good　has　vouchsafed　to　sanctify；　by　endowing　it　with　a　spark　of
His　own　creative　energy。

Djalma　was　the　first　to　raise　his　eyes。　　They　were　moist　and　sparkling。
The　excitement　of　passionate　love；　the　burning　ardor　of　his　age；　so　long
repressed；　the　intense　admiration　in　which　he　held　ideal　beauty；　were　all
expressed　in　his　look；　mingled　with　respectful　timidity；　and　gave　to　the
countenance　of　this　youth　an　undefinable；　irresistible　character。　　Yes；
irresistible！for；　when　Adrienne　encountered　his　glance；　she　trembled　in
every　limb；　and　felt　herself　attracted　by　a　magnetic　power。　　Already；　her
eyes　were　heavy　with　a　kind　of　intoxicating　languor；　when；　by　a　great
effort　of　will　and　dignity；　she　succeeded　in　overcoming　this　delicious
confusion；　rose　from　her　chair；　and　said　to　Djalma　in　a　trembling　voice：
〃Prince；　I　am　happy　to　receive　you　here。〃　　Then；　pointing　to　one　of　the
portraits　suspended　above　her；　she　added；　as　if　introducing　him　to　a
living　person：　〃Princemy　mother！〃

With　an　instinct　of　rare　delicacy；　Adrienne　had　thus　summoned　her　mother
to　be　present　at　her　interview　with　Djalma。　　It　seemed　a　security　for
herself　and　the　prince；　against　the　seductions　of　a　first　interview
which　was　likely　to　be　all　the　more　perilous；　that　they　both　knew
themselves　madly　loved　that　they　both　were　free；　and　had　only　to　answer
to　Providence　for　the　treasures　of　happiness　and　enjoyment　with　which　He
had　so　magnificently　endowed　them。　　The　prince　understood　Adrienne's
thoughts；　so　that；　when　the　young　lady　pointed　to　the　portrait；　Djalma；
by　a　spontaneous　movement　full　of　grace　and　simplicity；　knelt　down　before
the　picture；　and　said　to　it　in　a　gentle；　but　manly　voice：　〃I　will　love
and　revere　you　as　my　mother。　　And；　in　thought；　my　mother　too　shall　be
present；　and　stand　like　you；　beside　your　child！〃

No　better　answer　could　have　been　given　to　the　feeling　which　induced
Mdlle。　de　Cardoville　to　place　herself；　as　it　were；　under　the　protection
of　her　mother。　　From　that　moment；　confident　in　Djalma；　confident　in
herself；　the　young　lady　felt　more　at　her　ease；　and　the　delicious　sense　of
happiness　replaced　those　exciting　emotions；　which　had　at　first　so
violently　agitated　her。

Then；　seating　herself　once　more；　she　said　to　Djalma；　as　she　pointed　to
the　opposite　chair：　〃Pray　take　a　seat；　my　dear　cousin；　and　allow　me　to
call　you　so；　for　there　is　too　much　ceremony　in　the　word　prince；　and　do
you　call　me　cousin　also；　for　I　find　other　names　too　grave。　　Having
settled　this　point；　we　can　talk　together　like　old　friends。〃

〃Yes　cousin；〃　answered　Djalma；　blushing。

〃And；　as　frankness　is　proper　between　friends；〃　resumed　Adrienne；　〃I　have
first　to　make　you　a　reproach；〃　she　added；　with　a　half…smile。

The　prince　had　remained　standing；　with　his　arm　resting　on　the　chimney…
piece；　in　an　attitude　full　of　grace　and　respect。

〃Yes；　cousin；〃　continued　Adrienne；　〃a　reproach；　that　you　will　perhaps
forgive　me　for　making。　　I　had　expected　you　a　little　sooner。〃

〃Perhaps；　cousin；　you　may　blame　me　for　having　come　so　soon。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃At　the　moment　when　I　left　home；　a　man；　whom　I　did　not　know；　approached
my　carriage；　and　said　to　me；　with　such　an　air　of　sincerity　that　I
believed　him：　‘You　are　able　to　save　the　life　of　a　person　who　has　been　a
second　father　to　you。　　Marshal　Simon　is　in　great　danger；　and；　to　rescue
him；　you　must　follow　me　on　the　instant'〃

〃It　was　a　snare；〃　cried　Adrienne；　hastily。　　〃Marshal　Simon　was　here；
scarcely　an　hour　ago。〃

〃Indeed！〃　exclaimed　Djalma；　joyfully；　and　as　if　he　had　been　relieved　from
a　great　weight。　　〃Then　there　will　be　nothing　to　sadden　this　happy　day！〃

〃But；　cousin；〃　resumed　Adrienne；　〃how　came　you　not　to　suspect　this
emissary？〃

〃Some　words；　which　afterwards　escaped　from　him；　inspired　me　with　doubts；〃
answered　Djalma：　〃but　at　first　I　followed　him；　fearing　the　marshal　might
be　in　dangerfor　I　know　that　he　also　has　enemies。〃

〃Now　that　I　reflect　on　it；　you　were　quite　right；　cousin；　for　some　new
plot　against　the　marshal　was　probable　enough；　and　the　least　doubt　was
enough　to　induce　you　to　go　to　him。〃

〃I　did　soeven　though　you　were　waiting　for　me。〃

〃It　was　a　generous　sacrifice；　and　my　esteem　for　you　is　increased　by　it；
if　it　could　be　increased；〃　said　Adrienne；　with　emotion。　　〃But　what　became
of　this　man？〃

〃At　my　desire；　he　got　into　the　carriage　with　me。　　Anxious　about　the
marshal；　and　in　despair　at　seeing　the　time　wasted；　that　I　was　to　have
passed　with　you；　cousin；　I　pressed　him　with　all　sorts　of　questions。
Several　times；　he　replied　to　me　with　embarrassment；　and　then　the　idea
struck　me　that　the　whole　might　be　a　snare。　　Remembering　all　that　they　had
already　attempted；　to　ruin　me　in　your　opinion；　I　immediately　changed　my
course。　　The　vexation　of　the　man　who　accompanied　me　then　because　so
visible；　that　I　ought　to　have　had　no　doubt　upon　the　subject。　　Still；　when
I　thought　of　Marshal　Simon；　I　felt　a　kind　of　vague　remorse；　which　you；
cousin；　have　now　happily　set　at　rest。〃

'Those　people　are　implacable！〃　said　Adrienne；　〃but　our　happiness　will　be
stronger　than　their　hate。〃

After　a　moment's　silence；　she　resumed；　with　her　habitual　frankness：　〃My
dear　cousin；　it　is　impossible　for　me　to　conceal　what　I　have　at　heart。
Let　us　talk　for　a　few　seconds　of　the　past；　which　was　made　so　painful　to
us；　and　then　we　will　forget　it　forever；　like　an　evil　dream。〃

〃I　will　answer　you　sincerely；　at　the　risk　of　injuring　myself；〃　said　the
prince。

〃How　could　you　make　up　your　mind　to　exhibit　yourself　in　public　with？〃

〃With　that　young　girl？〃　interrupted　Djalma。

〃Yes；　cousin；〃　replied　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville；　and　she　waited　for　Djalma's
answer　with　anxious　curiosity。

〃A　stranger　to　the　customs　of　this　country；〃　said　Djalma；　without　any
embarrassment；　for　he　spoke　the　truth；　〃with　a　mind　weakened　with
despair；　and　misled　by　the　fatal　counsels　of　a　man　devoted　to　my　enemies；
I　believed；　even　as　I　was　told；　that；　by　displaying　before　you　the
semblance　of　another　love；　I　should　excite　your　jealousy；　and　thus〃

〃Enough；　cousin；　I　understand　it　all；〃　said　Adrienne　hastily；
interrupting　Djalma　in　her　turn；　that　she　might　spare　him　a　painful
confession。　　〃I　too　must　have　been　blinded　by　despair；　not　to　have　seen
through　this　wicked　plot；　especially　after　your　rash　and　intrepid　action。
To　risk　death　for　the　sake　of　my　bouquet！〃　added　Adrienne；　shuddering　at
the　mere　remembrance。　　〃But　one　last　question；〃　she　resumed；　〃though　I　am
alr