the wandering jew, volume 10-第25章
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murmured； 〃No matterthis fear may be idle； but he has acted so
extraordinarily these two days； that it is at all events more prudent〃
He continued his walk； and said； after a new and prolonged silence： 〃Yes
he must tell me。 It makes me too uneasy。 And then the poor childrenit
is enough to break one's heart。〃
And Dagobert hastily drew his moustache between his thumb and forefinger；
a nervous movement； which with him was an evident symptom of extreme
agitation。 Some minutes after； the soldier resumed； still answering his
inward thoughts： 〃What can it be？ It is hardly possible to be the
letters； they are too infamous； he despises them。 And yet But no； no
he is above that！〃
And Dagobert again began to walk with hasty steps。 Suddenly； Spoil…sport
pricked up his ears； turned his head in the direction of the staircase
door； and growled hoarsely。 A few seconds after； some one knocked at the
door。
〃Who is there？〃 said Dagobert。 There was no answer； but the person
knocked again。 Losing patience； the soldier went hastily to open it； and
saw the servant's stupid face。
〃Why don't you answer； when I ask who knocks！〃 said the soldier； angrily。
〃M。 Dagobert； you sent me away just now； and I was afraid of making you
cross； if I said I had come again。〃
〃What do you want？ Speak thencome in； stupid！〃 cried the exasperated。
Dagobert； as he pulled him into the room。
〃M。 Dagobert； don't be angryI'll tell you all about itit is a young
man。〃
〃Well？〃
〃He wants to speak to you directly； Mr。 Dagobert。〃
〃His name？〃
〃His name； M。 Dagobert？〃 replied Loony； rolling about and laughing with
an idiotic air。
〃Yes； his name。 Speak； idiot！〃
〃Oh； M。 Dagobert！ it's all in joke that you ask me his name！〃
〃You are determined； fool that you are； to drive me out of my senses！〃
cried the soldier； seizing Loony by the collar。 〃The name of this young
man！〃
〃Don't be angry； M。 Dagobert。 I didn't tell you the name because you
know it。〃
〃Beast！〃 said Dagobert； shaking his fist at him。
〃Yes； you do know it； M。 Dagobert； for the young man is your own son。 He
is downstairs； and wants to speak to you directlyyes； directly。〃
The stupidity was so well assumed； that Dagobert was the dupe of it。
Moved to compassion rather than anger by such imbecility； he looked
fixedly at the servant； shrugged his shoulders； and said； as he advanced
towards the staircase； 〃Follow me！〃
Loony obeyed； but； before closing the door； he drew a letter secretly
from his pocket； and dropped it behind him without turning his head；
saying all the while to Dagobert； for the purpose of occupying his
attention： 〃Your son is in the court； M。 Dagobert。 He would not come up
that's why he is still downstairs！〃
Thus talking； he closed the door； believing he had left the letter on the
floor of Marshal Simon's room。 But he had reckoned without Spoil…sport。
Whether he thought it more prudent to bring up the rear； or； from
respectful deference for a biped； the worthy dog had been the last to
leave the room； and； being a famous carrier； as soon as he saw the letter
dropped by Loony； he took it delicately between his teeth； and followed
close on the heels of the servant； without the latter perceiving this new
proof of the intelligence and sagacity of Spoil…sport。
CHAPTER XLVI。
THE ANONYMOUS LETTERS。
We will explain presently what became of the letter； which Spoil…sport
held between his teeth； and why he left his master； when the latter ran
to meet Agricola。 Dagobert had not seen his son for some days。
Embracing him cordially； he led him into one of the rooms on the ground…
floor； which he usually occupied。 〃And how is your wife？〃 said the
soldier to his son。
〃She is well； father； thank you。〃
Perceiving a great change in Agricola's countenance； Dagobert resumed：
〃You look sad。 Has anything gone wrong since I saw you last？〃
〃All is over； father。 We have lost him；〃 said the smith； in a tone of
despair。
〃Lost whom？〃
〃M。 Hardy。〃
〃M。 Hardy！why； three days ago； you told me you were going to see him。〃
〃Yes； father； I have seen himand my dear brother Gabriel saw him and
spoke to himhow he speaks！ with a voice that comes from the heart！and
he had so revived and encouraged him； that M。 Hardy consented to return
amongst us。 Then I； wild with joy； ran to tell the good news to some of
my mates； who were waiting to hear the result of nay interview with M。
Hardy。 I brought them all with me to thank and bless him。 We were
within a hundred yards of the house belonging to the black…gowns〃
〃Ali； the black…gowns！〃 said Dagobert； with a gloomy air。 〃Then some
mischief will happen。 I know them。〃
〃You are not mistaken； father；〃 answered Agricola； with a sigh。 〃I was
running on with my comrades； when I saw a carriage coming towards us。
Some presentiment told me that they were taking away M。 Hardy。〃
〃By force！〃 said Dagobert； hastily。
〃No；〃 answered Agricola； bitterly； 〃nothe priests are too cunning for
that。 They know how to make you an accomplice in the evil they do you。
Shall I not always remember how they managed with my good mother？〃
〃Yes； the worthy woman！ there was a poor fly caught in the spider's web。
But this carriage； of which you speak？〃
〃On seeing it start from the house of the black…gowns；〃 replied Agricola；
〃my heart sank within me； and； by an impulse stronger than myself； I
rushed to the horses' heads； calling on my comrades to help me。 But the
postilion knocked me down and stunned me with a blow from his whip。 When
I recovered my senses； the carriage was already far away。〃
〃You were not hurt？〃 cried Dagobert； anxiously； as he examined his son
from top to toe。
〃No； father； a mere scratch。〃
〃What did you next； my boy？〃
〃I hastened to our good angel； Mdlle。 de Cardoville； and told her all。
‘You must follow M。 Hardy on the instant；' said she to me。 ‘Take my
carriage and post…horses。 Dupont will accompany you； follow M。 Hardy
from stage to stage； should you succeed in overtaking him your presence
and your prayers may perhaps conquer the fatal influence that these
priests have acquired over him。'〃
〃It was the best advice she could give you。 That excellent young lady is
always right。〃
〃An hour after； we were upon our way； for we learned by the returned
postilions； that M。 Hardy had taken the Orleans road。 We followed him as
far as Etampes。 There we heard that he had taken a cross…road； to reach
a solitary house in a valley about four leagues from the highway。 They
told us that this house called the Val…de…St。 Herem； belonged to certain
priests； and that； as the night was so dark； and the road so bad； we had
better sleep at the inn； and start early in the morning。 We followed
this advice； and set out at dawn。 In a quarter of an hour； we quitted
the high…road for a mountainous and desert track。 We saw nothing but
brown rocks； and a few birch trees。 As we advanced； the scene became
wilder and wilder。 We might have fancied ourselves a hundred leagues
from Paris。 At last we stopped in front of a large； old； black…looking
house with only a few small windows in it； and built at the foot of a
high； rocky mountain。 In my whole life I have never seen anything so
deserted and sad。 We got out of the carriage； and I rang the bell。 A
man opened the door。 ‘Did not the Abbe d'Aigrigny arrive here last night
with a gentleman？' said I to this man； with a confidential air。 ‘Inform
the gentleman directly； that I come on business of importance； and that I
must see him forthwith。'The man； believing me an accomplice； showed us
in immediately； a moment after； the Abbe d'Aigrigny opened the door； saw
me； and drew back； yet； in five minutes more； I was in presence of M。
Hardy。〃
〃Well！〃 said Dagobert； with interest。
Agricola shook his head sorrowfully； and replied： 〃I knew by the very
countenance of M。 Hardy； that all was over。 Addressing me in a mild but
firm voice； he said to me： ‘I understand； I can even excuse； the motives
that bring you hither。 But I am quite determined to live henceforth in
solitude and prayer。 I take this resolution freely and voluntarily；
because I would fain provide for
