the wandering jew, volume 10-第27章
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who looks like an old soldier and a worthy man。 I have remarked that the
gloom and agitation of the marshal are always redoubled after one of
these visits。 Two or three times； I have spoken to him about it； but I
saw by his look； that I displeased him； and therefore I desisted。
〃Well！ yesterday； this gentleman came in the evening。 He remained here
until eleven o'clock； and his wife came to fetch him； and waited for him
in a coach。 After his departure； I went up to see if the marshal wanted
anything。 He was very pale； but calm； he thanked me； and I came down
again。 You know that my room is just under his。 I could hear the
marshal walking about as if much agitated； and soon after he seemed to be
knocking down the furniture。 In alarm； I once more went upstairs。 He
asked me； with an irritated air； what I wanted； and ordered me to leave
the room。 Seeing him in that way； I remained； he grew more angry； still
I remained； perceiving a chair and table thrown down； I pointed to them
with so sad an air that he understood me。 You know that he has the best
heart in the world； so； taking me by the hand； he said to me： ‘Forgive me
for causing you this uneasiness； my good Dagobert； but just now； I lost
my senses； and gave way to a burst of absurd fury； I think I should have
thrown myself out of the window； had it been open。 I only hope； that my
poor dear girls have not heard me；' added he； as he went on tip…toe to
open the door which communicates with his daughters' bedroom。 When he
had listened anxiously for a moment； he returned to me； and said：
〃Luckily； they are asleep。'Then I asked him what was the cause of his
agitation； and if； in spite of my precautions； he had received any more
anonymous letters。 ‘No；' replied he； with a gloomy air； ‘but leave me；
my friend。 I am now better。 It has done me good to see you。 Good
night； old comrade！ go downstairs to bed。'I took care not to contradict
him； but； pretending to go down； I came up again； and seated myself on
the top stair； listening。 No doubt； to calm himself entirely； the
marshal went to embrace his children； for I heard him open and shut their
door。 Then he returned to his room； and walked about for a long time；
but with a more quiet step。 At last； I heard him throw himself on his
bed； and I came down about break of day。 After that； all remained
tranquil。〃
〃But whatever can be the matter with him； father？〃
〃I do not know。 When I went up to him； I was astonished at the agitation
of his countenance； and the brilliancy of his eyes。 He would have looked
much the same； had he been delirious； or in a burning feverso that；
when I heard him say； he could have thrown himself out of the window； had
it been open； I thought it more prudent to remove the caps from his
pistols。〃
〃I cannot understand it！〃 said Agricola。 〃So firm； intrepid； and cool a
man as the marshal； a prey to such violence！〃
〃I tell you that something very extraordinary is passing within him。 For
two days； he has not been to see his children； which is always a bad sign
with himto say nothing of the poor little angels themselves； who are
miserable at the notion that they have displeased their father。 They
displease him！ If you only knew the life they lead； dear creatures！ a
walk or ride with me and their companion； for I never let them go out
alone； and； the rest of their time； at their studies； reading； or
needleworkalways togetherand then to bed。 Yet their duenna； who is；
I think； a worthy woman； tells me that sometimes at night； she has seen
them shed tears in their sleep。 Poor children！ they have hitherto known
but little happiness；〃 added the soldier； with a sigh。
At this moment； hearing some one walk hastily across the courtyard；
Dagobert raised his eyes； and saw Marshal Simon； with pale face and
bewildered air； holding in his two hands a letter； which he seemed to
read with devouring anxiety。
CHAPTER XLVII。
THE GOLDEN CITY。
While Marshal Simon was crossing the little court with so agitated an
air； reading the anonymous letter； which he had received by Spoil…sport's
unexpected medium； Rose and Blanche were alone together； in the sitting…
room they usually occupied； which had been entered for a moment by Loony
during their absence。 The poor children seemed destined to a succession
of sorrows。 At the moment their mourning for their mother drew near its
close； the tragical death of their grandfather had again dressed them in
funereal weeds。 They were seated together upon a couch； in front of
their work…table。 Grief often produces the effect of years。 Hence； in a
few months； Rose and Blanche had become quite young women。 To the
infantine grace of their charming faces； formerly so plump and rosy； but
now pale and thin； had succeeded an expression of grave and touching
sadness。 Their large； mild eyes of limpid azure； which always had a
dreamy character； were now never bathed in those joyous tears； with which
a burst of frank and hearty laughter used of old to adorn their silky
lashes； when the comic coolness of Dagobert； or some funny trick of
Spoil…sport； cheered them in the course of their long and weary
pilgrimage。
In a word； those delightful faces； which the flowery pencil of Greuze
could alone have painted in all their velvet freshness； were now worthy
of inspiring the melancholy ideal of the immortal Ary Scheffer； who gave
us Mignon aspiring to Paradise； and Margaret dreaming of Faust。 Rose；
leaning back on the couch； held her head somewhat bowed upon her bosom；
over which was crossed a handkerchief of black crape。 The light
streaming from a window opposite； shone softly on her pure； white
forehead； crowned by two thick bands of chestnut hair。 Her look was
fixed； and the open arch of her eyebrows； now somewhat contracted；
announced a mind occupied with painful thoughts。 Her thin； white little
hands had fallen upon her knees； but still held the embroidery； on which
she had been engaged。 The profile of Blanche was visible； leaning a
little towards her sister； with an expression of tender and anxious
solicitude； whilst her needle remained in the canvas； as if she had just
ceased to work。
〃Sister；〃 said Blanche； in a low voice； after some moments of silence；
during which the tears seemed to mount to her eyes； 〃tell me what you are
thinking of。 You look so sad。〃
〃I think of the Golden City of our dreams；〃 replied Rose； almost in a
whisper； after another short silence。
Blanche understood the bitterness of these words。 Without speaking； she
threw herself on her sister's neck； and wept。 Poor girls！ the Golden
City of their dreams was Paris； with their father in itParis； the
marvellous city of joys and festivals； through all of which the orphans
had beheld the radiant and smiling countenance of their sire！ But； alas！
the Beautiful City had been changed into a place of tears； and death； and
mourning。 The same terrible pestilence which had struck down their
mother in the heart of Siberia； seemed to have followed them like a dark
and fatal cloud； which； always hovering above them； hid the mild blue of
the sky； and the joyous light of the sun。
The Golden City of their dreams！ It was the place； where perhaps one day
their father would present to them two young lovers； good and fair as
themselves。 〃They love you；〃 he was to say； 〃 they are worthy of you。
Let each of you have a brother； and me two sons。〃 Then what chaste；
enchanting confusion for those two orphans； whose hearts； pure as
crystal； had never reflected any image but that of Gabriel； the celestial
messenger sent by their mother to protect them！
We can therefore understand the painful emotion of Blanche； when she
heard her sister repeat； with bitter melancholy； those words which
described their whole situation： 〃I think of the Golden City of our
dreams！〃
〃Who knows？〃 proceeded Blanche； drying her sister's tears； 〃perhaps；
happiness may yet be in store for us。〃
〃Alas！ if we are not happy with our father by usshall we ever be so？〃
〃Yes； when we rejoin our mother；〃 said Blanche； lifting her eyes to
heaven。
〃Then； sister； this dream may be a warningit is so like that we had in
Germ
