the wandering jew, volume 10-第20章

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farewell　to　you；　sir；　before　he　starts。　　But　what　answer　shall　I　give　M。
Rodin？〃

The　letter；　just　received；　was　couched　in　such　polite　termsit　spoke　of
Gabriel　with　so　much　respectthat　Hardy；　urged　moreover　by　a　natural
curiosity；　and　seeing　no　motive　to　refuse　this　interview　before　quitting
the　house；　said　to　the　servant：　〃Please　tell　M。　Rodin；　that　if　he　will
give　himself　the　trouble　to　come　to　me；　I　shall　be　glad　to　see　him。〃

〃I　will　let　him　know　immediately；　sir；〃　answered　the　servant；　bowing　as
he　left　the　room。

When　alone；　Hardy；　while　wondering　who　this　M。　Rodin　could　be；　began　to
make　some　slight　preparations　for　his　departure。　　For　nothing　in　the
world　would　he　have　passed　another　night　in　this　house；　and；　in　order　to
keep　up　his　courage；　he　recalled　every　instant　the　mild；　evangelical
language　of　Gabriel；　just　as　the　superstitious　recite　certain　litanies；
with　a　view　of　escaping　from　temptation。

The　servant　soon　returned；　and　said：　〃M。　Rodin　is　here；　sir。〃

〃Beg　him　to　walk　in。〃

Rodin　entered；　clad　in　his　long　black　dressing…gown；　and　with　his　old
silk　cap　in　his　hand。　　The　servant　then　withdrew。　　The　day　was　just
closing。　　Hardy　rose　to　meet　Rodin；　whose　features　he　did　not　at　first
distinguish。　　But　as　the　reverend　father　approached　the　window；　Hardy
looked　narrowly　at　him　for　an　instant；　and　then　uttered　an　exclamation；
wrung　from　him　by　surprise　and　painful　remembrance。　　But；　recovering
himself　from　this　first　movement；　Hardy　said　to　the　Jesuit；　in　an
agitated　voice：　〃You　here；　sir？　　Oh；　you　are　right！　It　was　indeed　a　very
serious　circumstance　that　first　brought　us　together。〃

〃Oh；　my　dear　sir！〃　said　Rodin；　in　a　kindly　and　unctuous　tone；　〃I　was　sure
you　would　not　have　forgotten　me。〃




CHAPTER　XLIII。

PRAYER。

It　will　doubtless　be　remembered　that　Rodin　had　gone　（although　a　stranger
to　Hardy）　to　visit　him　at　his　factory；　and　inform　him　of　De　Blessac's
shameful　treacherya　dreadful　blow；　which　had　only　preceded　by　a　few
moments　a　second　no　less　horrible　misfortune；　for　it　was　in　the　presence
of　Rodin　that　Hardy　had　learned　the　unexpected　departure　of　the　woman　he
adored。　　Painful　to　him　must　have　been　the　sudden　appearance　of　Rodin。
Yes；　thanks　to　the　salutary　influence　of　Gabriel's　counsels；　he　recovered
himself　by　degrees；　and　the　contraction　of　his　features　being　succeeded
by　a　melancholy　calm；　he　said　to　Rodin：　〃I　did　not　indeed　expect　to　meet
you；　sir；　in　this　house。〃

〃Alas；　sir！〃　answered　Rodin；　with　a　sigh；　〃I　did　not　expect　to　come
hither；　probably　to　end　my　days　beneath　this　roof；　when　I　went；　without
being　acquainted　with　you；　but　only　as　one　honest　man　should　serve
another；　to　unveil　to　you　a　great　infamy。〃

〃Indeed；　sir；　you　then　rendered　me　a　true　service；　perhaps；　in　that
painful　moment；　I　did　not　fully　express　my　gratitude；　for；　at　the　same
moment　in　which　you　revealed　to　me　the　treachery　of　M。　de　Blessac〃

〃You　were　overwhelmed　by　another　piece　of　painful　intelligence；〃　said
Rodin；　interrupting　M。　Hardy；　〃I　shall　never　forget　the　sudden　arrival　of
that　poor　woman；　who；　pale　and　affrighted；　and　without　considering　my
presence；　came　to　inform　you　that　a　person　who　was　exceedingly　dear　to
you　had　quitted　Paris　abruptly。〃

〃Yes；　sir；　and；　without　stopping　to　thank　you；　I　set　out　immediately；〃
answered　Hardy；　with　a　mournful　air。

〃Do　you　know；　sir；〃　said　Rodin；　after　a　moment's　silence；　〃that　there　are
sometimes　very　strange　coincidences？〃

〃To　what　do　you　allude；　sir？〃

〃While　I　went　to　inform　you　that　you　were　betrayed　in
so　infamous　a　mannerI　was　myself〃

Rodin　paused；　as　if　unable　to　control　his　deep　emotion；　and　his
countenance　wore　the　expression　of　such　overpowering　grief　that　Hardy
said　to　him；　with　interest：　〃What　ails　you；　sir？〃

〃Forgive　me；〃　replied　Rodin；　with　a　bitter　smile。　　〃Thanks　to　the　ghostly
counsels　of　the　angelic　Abbe　Gabriel；　I　have　reached　a　sort　of
resignation。　　Still；　there　are　certain　memories　which　affect　me　with　the
most　acute　pain。　　I　told　you；〃　resumed　Rodin；　in　a　firmer　voice；　〃or　was
going　to　tell　you；　that　the　very　day　after　that　on　which　I　informed　you
of　the　treachery　practised　against　you；　I　was　myself　the　victim　of　a
frightful　deception。　　An　adopted　sona　poor　unfortunate　child；　whom　I
had　brought　up〃　　He　paused　again；　drew　his　trembling　hand　over　his
eyes；　and　added：　〃Pardon　me；　sir；　for　speaking　of　matters　which　must　be
indifferent　to　you。　　Excuse　the　intrusive　sorrow　of　a　poor；　broken…
hearted　old　man！〃

〃I　have　suffered　too　much　myself；　sir；　to　be　indifferent　to　any　kind　of
sorrow；〃　replied　Hardy。　　〃Besides；　you　are　no　stranger　to　mefor　you　did
me　a　real　serviceand　we　both　agree　in　our　veneration　for　the　same　young
priest。〃

〃The　Abbe　Gabriel！〃　cried　Rodin；　interrupting　Hardy；　〃ah；　sir！　he　is　my
deliverer；　my　benefactor。　　If　you　knew　all　his　care　and　devotion；　during
my　long　illness；　caused　by　intense　griefif　you　knew　the　ineffable
sweetness　of　his　counsels〃

〃I　know　them；　sir；〃　cried　Hardy；　〃oh；　yes！　I　know　how　salutary　is　the
influence。〃

〃In　his　mouth；　sir；　the　precepts　of　religion　are　full　of　mildness；〃
resumed　Rodin；　with　excitement。　　〃Do　they　not　heal　and　console？　do　they
not　make　us　love　and　hope；　instead　of　fear　and　tremble？〃

〃Alas；　sir！　in　this　very　house；〃　said　Hardy；　〃I　have　been　able　to　make
the　comparison。〃

〃I　was　happy　enough；〃　said　Rodin；　〃to　have　the　angelic　Abbe　Gabriel　for
my　confessor；　or；　rather；　my　confidant。〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Hardy；　〃for　he　prefers　confidence　to　confession。〃

〃How　well　you　know　him！〃　said　Rodin；　in　a　tone　of　the　utmost　simplicity。
Then　he　resumed：　〃He　is　not　a　man　but　an　angel。　　His　words　would　convert
the　most　hardened　sinner。　　Without　being　exactly　impious；　I　had　myself
lived　in　the　profession　of　what　is　called　Natural　Religion；　but　the
angelic　Abbe　Gabriel　has；　by　degrees；　fixed　my　wavering　belief；　given　it
body　and　soul；　and；　in　fact；　endowed　me　with　faith。〃

〃Yes！　he　is　a　truly　Christian　priesta　priest　of　love　and　pardon！〃　cried
Hardy。

〃What　you　say　is　perfectly　true；〃　replied　Rodin；　〃for　I　came　here　almost
mad　with　grief；　thinking　only　of　the　unhappy　boy　who　had　repaid　my
paternal　goodness　with　the　most　monstrous　ingratitude；　and　sometimes　I
yielded　to　violent　bursts　of　despair；　and　sometimes　sank　into　a　state　of
mournful　dejection；　cold　as　the　grave　itself。　　But；　suddenly；　the　Abbe
Gabriel　appearedand　the　darkness　fled　before　the　dawning　of　a　new　day。〃

〃You　were　right；　sir；　there　are　strange　coincidences；〃　said　Hardy；
yielding　more　and　more　to　the　feeling　of　confidence　and　sympathy；
produced　by　the　resemblance　of　his　real　position　to　Rodin's　pretended
one。　　〃And　to　speak　frankly；〃　he　added；　〃I　am　very　glad　I　have　seen　you
before　quitting　this　house。　　Were　I　capable　of　falling　back　into　fits　of
cowardly　weakness；　your　example　alone　would　prevent　me。　　Since　I　listen
to　you；　I　feel　myself　stronger　in　the　noble　path　which　the　angelic　Abbe
Gabriel　has　opened　before　me；　as　you　so　well　express　it。〃

〃The　poor　old　man　will　not　then　regret　having　listened　to　the　first
impulse　of　his　heart；　which　urged　him　to　come　to　you；〃　said　Robin；　with　a
touching　expression。　　〃You　will　sometimes　remember　me　in　that　world　to
which　you　are　returning？〃

〃Be　sure　of　it；　sir；　but　allow　me　to　ask　one　question：　You　remain；　you
say；　in　this　house？〃

〃What　would　you　have　me　do？　　There　reigns　here　a　calm　repose；　and　one　is
not　disturbed　in　one's　prayers；〃　said　Rodin；　in　a　very　gentle　tone。　　〃You
see；　I　have　suffered　so　muchthe　conduct　of　that　unhappy　youth　was　so
horriblehe　plunged　into　such　shocking　excessesthat　the　wrath　of
heaven　must　be　kindled　against　him。　　Now　I　am　very　old；　and　it　is　only　by
passing　the　few　days　that　are　left　me　in　fervent　prayer　that　I　can　hope
to　disarm　the　just　anger　of　the　Lord。　　Oh！　prayerprayer！　It　was　the
Abbe　Gabriel　who　revealed　to　me　all　its　power　and　sweetnessand
therewith　the　formidable　duties　it　imposes。〃

〃Its　duties　are　indeed　great　and　sacred；〃　answered　Hardy；　with　a　pensive
air。

〃Do　you　remember　the　life　of　Rancey？〃　said　Rodin；　abruptly；　as　he　darted
a　peculiar　glance　at　Hardy。

〃The　founder　of　La　Trappe？〃　said　Hardy；　surprised　at　Rodin's