the wandering jew, volume 10-第24章

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for　a　time；　to　perform　the　vow　made　to　the　emperor；　and　endeavor　at　least
to　rescue　Napoleon　II。　from　a　captivity　that　might　soon　be　mortal。

This　perplexity；　rendered　more　cruel　by　certain　circumstances；　to　be
related　hereafter；　the　tragical　death　of　his　father；　who　had　expired　in
his　arms；　the　incessant　and　painful　remembrance　of　his　wife；　who　had
perished　in　a　land　of　exile；　and　finally；　the　grief　he　felt　at　perceiving
the　overgrowing　sadness　of　Rose　and　Blanche；　occasioned　severe　shocks　to
Marshal　Simon。　　Let　us　add　that；　in　spite　of　his　natural　intrepidity；　so
nobly　proved　by　twenty　years　of　war；　the　ravages　of　the　cholera；　the　same
terrible　malady　to　which　his　wife　had　fallen　a　victim　in　Siberia；　filled
the　marshal　with　involuntary　dread。　　Yes；　this　man　of　iron　nerves；　who
had　coolly　braved　death　in　so　many　battles；　felt　the　habitual　firmness　of
his　character　give　way　at　sight　of　the　scenes　of　desolation　and　mourning
which　Paris　offered　at　every　step。　　Yet；　when　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville
gathered　round　her　the　members　of　her　family；　to　warn　them　against　the
plot　of　their　enemies；　the　affectionate　tenderness　of　Adrienne　for　Rose
and　Blanche　appeared　to　exercise　so　happy　an　influence　on　their
mysterious　sorrow；　that　the　marshal；　forgetting　for　a　moment　his　fatal
regrets；　thought　only　of　enjoying　this　blessed　change；　which；　alas！　was
but　of　short　duration。　　Having　now　recalled　these　facts　to　the　mind　of
the　reader；　we　shall　continue　our　story。




CHAPTER　XLV。

THE　BLOCKHEAD

We　have　stated　that　Marshal　Simon　occupied　a　small　house　in　the　Rue　des
Trois…Freres。　　Two　o'clock　in　the　afternoon　had　just　struck　in　the
marshal's　sleeping…chamber；　a　room　furnished　with　military　simplicity。
In　the　recess；　in　which　stood　the　bed；　hung　a　trophy　composed　of　the　arms
used　by　the　marshal　during　his　campaigns。　　On　the　secretary　opposite　was
a　small　bronze　bust　of　the　emperor；　the　only　ornament　of　the　apartment。
Out　of　doors　the　temperature　was　far　from　warm；　and　the　marshal　had
become　susceptible　to　cold　during　his　long　residence　in　India。　　A　good
fire　therefore　blazed　upon　the　hearth。　　A　door；　concealed　by　the
hangings；　and　leading　to　a　back　staircase；　opened　slowly；　and　a　man
entered　the　chamber。　　He　carried　a　basket　of　wood；　and　advanced　leisurely
to　the　fireplace；　before　which　he　knelt　clown；　and　began　to　arrange　the
logs　symmetrically　in　a　box　that　stood　besides　the　hearth。　　After　some
minutes　occupied　in　this　manner；　still　kneeling；　he　gradually　approached
another　door；　at　a　little　distance　from　the　chimney；　and　appeared　to
listen　with　deep　attention；　as　if　he　wished　to　hear　what　was　passing　in
the　next　room。

This　man；　employed　as　an　inferior　servant　in　the　house；　had　the　most
ridiculously　stupid　look　that　can　be　imagined。　　His　functions　consisted
in　carrying　wood；　running　errands；　etc。　　In　other　respects　he　was　a　kind
of　laughing…stock　to　the　other　servants。　　In　a　moment　of　good　humor；
Dagobert；　who　filled　the　post　of　major…domo；　had　given　this　idiot　the
name　of　〃Loony〃　（lunatic）；　which　he　had　retained　ever　since；　and　which　he
deserved　in　every　respect；　as　well　for　his　awkwardness　and　folly　as　for
his　unmeaning　face；　with　its　grotesquely　flat　nose；　sloping　chin；　and
wide；　staring　eyes。　　Add　to　this　description　a　jacket　of　red　stuff；　and　a
triangular　white　apron；　and　we　must　acknowledge　that　the　simpleton　was
quite　worthy　of　his　name。

Yet；　at　the　moment　when　Loony　listened　so　attentively　at　the　door　of　the
adjoining　room；　a　ray　of　quick　intelligence　animated　for　an　instant　his
dull　and　stupid　countenance。

When　he　had　thus　listened　for　a　short　time；　Loony　returned　to　the
fireplace；　still　crawling　on　his　knees；　then　rising；　he　again　took　his
basket　half　full　of　wood；　and　once　more　approaching　the　door　at　which　he
had　listened　knocked　discreetly。　　No　one　answered。　　He　knocked　a　second
time；　and　more　loudly。　　Still　there　was　the　same　silence。

Then　he　said；　in　a　harsh；　squeaking；　laughable　voice：　〃Ladies；　do　you
want　any　wood；　if　you　please；　for　your　fire？〃

Receiving　no　answer；　Loony　placed　his　basket　on　the　ground；　opened　the
door　gently；　and　entered　the　next　room；　after　casting　a　rapid　glance
around。　　He　came　out　again　in　a　few　seconds；　looking　from　side　to　side
with　an　anxious　air；　like　a　man　who　had　just　accomplished　some　important
and　mysterious　task。

Taking　up　his　basket；　he　was　about　to　leave　Marshal　Simon's　room；　when
the　door　of　the　private　staircase　was　opened　slowly　and　with　precaution；
and　Dagobert　appeared。

The　soldier；　evidently　surprised　at　the　servant's　presence；　knitted　his
brows；　and　exclaimed　abruptly；　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃

At　this　sudden　interrogation；　accompanied　by　a　growl　expressive　of　the
ill…humor　of　Spoil…sport；　who　followed　close　on　his　master's　heels；　Loony
uttered　a　cry　of　real　or　pretended　terror。　　To　give；　perhaps；　an
appearance　of　greater　reality　to　his　dread；　the　supposed　simpleton　let
his　basket　fall　on　the　ground；　as　if　astonishment　and　fear　had　loosened
his　hold　of　it。

〃What　are　you　doing；　numbskull？〃　resumed　Dagobert；　whose　countenance　was
impressed　with　deep　sadness；　and　who　seemed　little　disposed　to　laugh　at
the　fellow's　stupidity。

〃Oh；　M。　Dagobert！　how　you　frighten　me！　Dear　me！　what　a　pity　I　had　not　an
armful　of　plates；　to　prove　it　was　not　my　fault　if　I　broke　them　all。〃

〃I　ask　what　you　are　doing；〃　resumed　the　soldier。

〃You　see；　M。　Dagobert；〃　replied　Loony；　pointing　to　his　basket；　〃that　I
came　with　some　wood　to　master's　room；　so　that　he　might　burn　it；　if　it　was
coldwhich　it　is。〃

〃Very　well。　　Pick　up　your　wood；　and　begone！〃

〃Oh；　M。　Dagobert！　my　legs　tremble　under　me。　　How　you　did　scare　me；　to　be
sure！〃

〃Will　you　begone；　brute？〃　resumed　the　veteran；　and　seizing　Loony　by　the
arm；　he　pushed　him　towards　the　door；　while　Spoil…sport；　with　recumbent
ears；　and　hair　standing　up　like　the　quills　of　a　porcupine；　seemed
inclined　to　accelerate　his　retreat。

〃I　am　going；　M。　Dagobert；　I　am　going；〃　replied　the　simpleton；　as　he
hastily　gathered　up　his　basket；　〃only　please　to　tell　the　dog〃

〃Go　to　the　devil；　you　stupid　chatterbox！〃　cried　Dagobert；　as　he　pushed
Loony　through　the　doorway。

Then　the　soldier　bolted　the　door　which　led　to　the　private　staircase；　and
going　to　that　which　communicated　with　the　apartments　of　the　two　sisters；
he　double…locked　it。　　Having　done　this；　he　hastened　to　the　alcove　in
which　stood　the　bed　and　taking　down　a　pair　of　loaded　pistols；　he
carefully　removed　the　percussion　caps；　and；　unable　to　repress　a　deep
sigh；　restored　the　weapons　to　the　place　in　which　he　had　found　them。
Then；　as　if　on　second　thoughts；　he　took　down　an　Indian　dagger　with　a　very
sharp　blade；　and　drawing　it　from　its　silver…gilt　sheath；　proceeded　to
break　the　point　of　this　murderous　instrument；　by　twisting　it　beneath　one
of　the　iron　castors　of　the　bed。

Dagobert　then　proceeded　to　unfasten　the　two　doors；　and；　returning　slowly
to　the　marble　chimney…piece；　he　leaned　against　it　with　a　gloomy　and
pensive　air。　　Crouching　before　the　fire；　Spoil…sport　followed　with　an
attentive　eye　the　least　movement　of　his　master。　　The　good　dog　displayed　a
rare　and　intelligent　sagacity。　　The　soldier；　having　drawn　out　his
handkerchief；　let　fall；　without　perceiving　it；　a　paper　containing　a　roll
of　tobacco。　　Spoil…sport；　who　had　all　the　qualities　of　a　retriever　of　the
Rutland　race；　took　the　paper　between　his　teeth；　and；　rising　upon　his
hind…legs；　presented　it　respectfully　to　Dagobert。　　But　the　latter
received　it　mechanically；　and　appeared　indifferent　to　the　dexterity　of
his　dog。　　The　grenadier's　countenance　revealed　as　much　sorrow　as　anxiety。
After　remaining　for　some　minutes　near　the　fire；　with　fixed　and　meditative
look；　he　began　to　walk　about　the　room　in　great　agitation；　one　of　his
hands　thrust　into　the　bosom　of　his　long　blue　frock…coat；　which　was
buttoned　up　to　the　chin；　and　the　other　into　one　of　his　hind…pockets。

From　time　to　time　he　stopped　abruptly；　and　seemed　to　make　reply　to　his
own　thoughts；　or　uttered　an　exclamation　of　doubt　and　uneasiness；　then；
turning　towards　the　trophy　of　arms；　he　shook　his　head　mournfully；　and
murmured；　〃No　matterthis　fear　may　be　idle；　but　he　has　acted　so
extraordinari