the wandering jew, volume 1-第22部分

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surprised　to　see　Dagobert　close　the　door　of　the　chamber；　as　though　he
wished　to　forbid　his　entrance。　　〃Why　do　you　shut　that　door？〃　asked　he　in
an　abrupt　tone。

〃First；　because　two　girls；　whom　I　have　the　charge　of；　are　in　bed　in　that
room；　secondly；　because　your　examination　would　alarm　them；〃　replied
Dagobert。　　〃Sit　down　upon　this　bench；　Mr。　Burgomaster；　and　examine　me
here；　it　will　not　make　any　difference；　I　should　think。〃

〃And　by　what　right；〃　asked　the　judge；　with　a　displeased　air；　〃do　you
pretend　to　dictate　to　me　the　place　of　your　examination？〃

〃Oh；　I　have　no　such　pretension；　Mr。　Burgomaster！〃　said　the　soldier
hastily；　fearing　above　all　things　to　prejudice　the　judge　against　him：
〃only；　as　the　girls　are　in　bed；　and　already　much　frightened；　it　would　be
a　proof　of　your　good　heart　to　examine　me　where　I　am。〃

〃Humph！〃　said　the　magistrate；　with　ill…humor；　〃a　pretty　state　of　things；
truly！It　was　much　worth　while　to　disturb　me　in　the　middle　of　the　night。
But；　come；　so　be　it；　I　will　examine　you　here。〃　　Then；　turning　to　the
landlord；　he　added：　　〃Put　your　lantern　upon　this　bench；　and　leave　us。〃

The　innkeeper　obeyed；　and　went　down；　followed　by　his　people；　as
dissatisfied　as　they　were　at　being　excluded　from　the　examination。　　The
veteran　was　left　alone　with　the　magistrate。




CHAPTER　XIII。

THE　JUDGEMENT。

The　worthy　burgomaster　of　Mockern　wore　a　cloth　cap；　and　was　enveloped　in
a　cloak。　　He　sat　down　heavily　on　the　bench。　　He　was　a　corpulent　man；
about　sixty；　with　an　arrogant；　morose　countenance；　and　he　frequently
rubbed　with　his　red；　fat　fist；　eyes　that　were　still　swollen　and　blood…
shot；　from　his　having　been　suddenly　roused　from　sleep。

Dagobert　stood　bareheaded　before　him；　with　a　submissive；　respectful　air；
holding　his　old　foraging　cap　in　his　hands；　and　trying　to　read　in　the
sullen　physiognomy　of　his　judge　what　chance　there　might　be　to　interest
him　in　his　favorthat　is；　in　favor　of　the　orphans。

In　this　critical　juncture；　the　poor　soldier　summoned　to　his　aid　all　his
presence　of　mind；　reason；　eloquence　and　resolution。　　He；　who　had　twenty
times　braved　death　with　the　utmost　coolnesswho；　calm　and　serene；
because　sincere　and　tried；　had　never　quailed　before　the　eagle…glance　of
the　Emperor；　his　hero　and　idolnow　felt　himself　disconcerted　and
trembling　before　the　ill…humored　face　of　a　village　burgomaster。　　Even　so；
a　few　hours　before；　he　had　submitted；　impassive　and　resigned；　to　the
insults　of　the　Prophetthat　he　might　not　compromise　the　sacred　mission
with　which　a　dying　mother　had　entrusted　himthus　showing　to　what　a
height　of　heroic　abnegation　it　is　possible　for　a　simple　and　honest　heart
to　attain。

〃What　have　you　to　say　in　your　justification？　　Come；　be　quick！〃　said　the
judge　roughly；　with　a　yawn　of　impatience。

〃I　have　not　got　to　justify　myselfI　have　to　make　a　complaint；　Mr。
Burgomaster；〃　replied　Dagobert　in　a　firm　voice。

〃Do　you　think　you　are　to　teach　me　in　what　terms　I　am　to　put　my
questions？〃　exclaimed　the　magistrate；　in　so　sharp　a　tone　that　the　soldier
reproached　himself　with　having　begun　the　interview　so　badly。　　Wishing　to
pacify　his　judge；　he　made　haste　to　answer　with　submission：

〃Pardon　me；　Mr。　Burgomaster；　I　have　ill…explained　my　meaning。　　I　only
wished　to　say　that　I　was　not　wrong　in　this　affair。〃

〃The　Prophet　says　the　contrary。〃

〃The　Prophet？〃　repeated　the　soldier；　with　an　air　of　doubt。

〃The　Prophet　is　a　pious　and　honest　man；〃　resumed　the　judge；　〃incapable　of
falsehood。〃

〃I　cannot　say　anything　upon　that　subject；　but　you　are　too　just；　and　have
too　good　a　heart；　Mr。　Burgomaster；　to　condemn　without　hearing　me。　　It　is
not　a　man　like　you　that　would　do　an　injustice；　oh；　one　can　see　that　at　a
glance！〃

In　resigning　himself　thus　to　play　the　part　of　a　courtier；　Dagobert
softened　as　much　as　possible　his　gruff　voice；　and　strove　to　give　to　his
austere　countenance　a　smiling；　agreeable；　and　flattering　expression。　　〃A
man　like　you；〃　he　added；　with　redoubled　suavity　of　manner；　〃a　respectable
judge　like　you；　never　shuts　his　ears　to　one　side　or　the　other。〃

〃Ears　are　not　in　question；　but　eyes；　and；　though　mine　smart　as　if　I　had
rubbed　them　with　nettles；　I　have　seen　the　hand　of　the　brute…tamer；　with　a
frightful　wound　on　it。〃

〃Yes；　Mr。　Burgomaster；　it　is　very　true；　but　consider；　if　he　had　shut　his
cages　and　his　door；　all　this　would　not　have　happened。〃

〃Not　so；　it　is　your　fault。　　You　should　have　fastened　your　horse　securely
to　the　manger。〃

〃You　are　right；　Mr。　Burgomaster；　certainly；　you　are　right；〃　said　the
soldier；　in　a　still　more　affable　and　conciliating　voice。　　〃It　is　not　for
a　poor　devil　like　me　to　contradict　you。　　But　supposing　my　horse　was　let
loose　out　of　pure　malice；　in　order　that　he　might　stray　into　the
menagerieyou　will　then　acknowledge　that　it　was　not　my　fault。　　That　is；
you　will　acknowledge　it　if　you　think　fit；〃　hastily　added　the　soldier　〃I
have　no　right　to　dictate　to　you　in　anything。〃

〃And　why　the　devil　should　any　one　do　you　this　ill…turn？〃

〃I　do　not　know；　Mr。　Burgomasterbut〃

〃You　do　not　knowwell；　nor　I　either；〃　said　the　burgomaster　impatiently。
〃Zounds！　what　a　many　words　about　the　carcass　of　an　old　horse！〃

The　countenance　of　the　soldier；　losing　on　a　sudden　its　expression　of
forced　suavity；　became　once　more　severe；　he　answered　in　a　grave　voice；
full　of　emotion：　〃My　horse　is　deadhe　is　no　more　than　a　carcassthat　is
true；　but　an　hour　ago；　though　very　old；　he　was　full　of　life　and
intelligence。　　He　neighed　joyously　at　my　voiceand；　every　evening；　he
licked　the　hands　of　the　two　poor　children；　whom　he　had　carried　all　the
dayas　formerly　he　had　carried　their　mother。　　Now　he　will　never　carry
any　one　again；　they　will　throw　him　to　the　dogs；　and　all　will　be　finished。
You　need　not　have　reminded　me　harshly　of　it；　Mr。　Burgomasterfor　I　loved
my　horse！〃

By　these　words；　pronounced　with　noble　and　touching　simplicity；　the
burgomaster　was　moved　in　spite　of　himself；　and　regretted　his　hasty
speech。　　〃It　is　natural　that　you　should　be　sorry　for　your　horse；〃　said
he；　in　a　less　impatient　tone；　〃but　what　is　to　be　done？It　is　a
misfortune。〃

〃A　misfortune？Yes；　Mr。　Burgomaster；　a　very　great　misfortune。　　The
girls；　who　accompany　me；　were　too　weak　to　undertake　a　long　journey　on
foot；　too　poor　to　travel　in　a　carriageand　yet　we　have　to　arrive　in
Paris　before　the　month　of　February。　　When　their　mother　died；　I　promised
her　to　take　them　to　France；　for　these　children　have　only　me　to　take　care
of　them。〃

〃You　are　then　their〃

〃I　am　their　faithful　servant；　Mr。　Burgomaster；　and　now　that　my　horse　has
been　killed；　what　can　I　do　for　them？　　Come；　you　are　good；　you　have
perhaps　children　of　your　own；　if；　one　day；　they　should　find　themselves　in
the　position　of　my　two　little　orphanswith　no　wealth；　no　resources　in
the　world；　but　an　old　soldier　who　loves　them；　and　an　old　horse　to　carry
them　alongif；　after　being　very　unfortunate　from　their　birthyes；　very
unfortunate；　for　my　orphans　are　the　daughters　of　exilesthey　should　see
happiness　before　them　at　the　end　of　a　journey；　and　then；　by　the　death　of
their　horse；　that　journey　become　impossibletell　me；　Mr。　Burgomaster；　if
this　would　not　touch　your　heart？　　Would　you　not　find；　as　I　do；　that　the
loss　of　my　horse　is　irreparable？〃

〃Certainly；〃　answered　the　burgomaster；　who　was　not　ill　natured　at　bottom；
and　who　could　not　help　taking　part　in　Dagobert's　emotion；　〃I　now
understand　the　importance　of　the　loss　you　have　suffered。　　And　then　your
orphans　interest　me：　how　old　are　they？〃

〃Fifteen　years　and　two　months。　　They　are　twins。〃

〃Fifteen　years　and　two　monthsthat　is　about　the　age　of　my　Frederica。〃

〃You　have　a　young　lady　of　that　age？〃　cried　Dagobert；　once　more　awaking　to
hope；　〃ah；　Mr。　Burgomaster！；　I　am　really　no　longer　uneasy　about　my　poor
children。　　You　will　do　us　justice。〃

〃To　do　justice　is　my　duty。　　After　all；　in　this　affair；　the　faults　are
about　equal　on　both　sides。　　You　tied　up　your　horse　badly；　and　the　brute…
tamer　left　his　door　open。　　He　says：　'I　am　wounded　in　the　hand。'　　You
answer：　'My　horse　has　been　killedand；　for　a　thousand　reasons；　the　loss
of　my　horse　is　irreparable。'〃

〃You　make　me　speak　better　than　I　could　ever　speak　on　my　own　account；　Mr。
Burgomaster；〃　said　the　soldier；　with　a　humble；　insinuating　smile；　〃but
'tis　what　I　meant　to　expressand；　as　you　say　yourself；　Mr。　Burgomaster；
my　horse　being　my　whole　fortune；　it　is　only　fair〃

〃Exactly　so；〃　resumed　the　magistrate；　interrupting　the　soldier；　〃your
reasons　are　excellent。　　The　Prophetwho　is　a　good　and　pious　man　with　all
has　related　the　facts　to　me　in　his　own　way；　and　then；　you　see；　he　is　an
old　acquaintance。　　We　are　nearly　all　zealous　Catholics　here；　and　he　sells
to　our　wives　such　cheap　and　edifying　little　books；　with　chaplets　and
amulets　of　the　best　manufacture；　at　less　than　the　prime　cost。　　All　this；
you　will　say；　has　nothing　to　do　with　the　affair；　and　you　will　be　right　in
saying　so：　still　I　must　needs　confess　that　I　came　here　with　the
intention〃

〃Of　deciding　against　me；　eh；　Mr。　Burgomaster？〃　said　Dagobert；　gaining
more　and　more　confidence。　　〃You　see；　you　were　not　quite　awake；　and　your
justice　had　only　one　eye　open。〃

〃Really；　master　soldier；〃　answered　the　judge　with　good　humor；　〃it　is　not
unlikely；　for　I　did　not　conceal　from　Morok　that　I　gave　it　in　his　favor。
Then　he　said　to　me　（very　generously；　by　the　way）：　'Since　you　condemn　my
adversary；　I　will　not　aggravate　his　position　by　telling　you　certain
things'〃

〃What！　against　me？〃

〃Apparently　so；　but；　like　a　generous　enemy；　when　I　told　him　that　I　should
most　likely　condemn　you　to　pay　him　damages；　he　said　no　more　about　it。
For　I　will　not　hide　from　you；　that；　before　I　heard　your　reasons；　I　fully
intended　that　you　should　make　compensation　for　the　Prophet's　wound。〃

〃See；　Mr。　Burgomaster；　how　the　most　just　and　able　persons　are　subject　to
be　deceived；〃　said　Dagobert；　becoming　once　more　the　courtier；　then；
trying　to　assume　a　prodigiously　knowing　look；　he　added：　〃But　such　persons
find　out　the　truth　at　last；　and　are　not　to　be　made　dupes　of；　whatever
prophets　may　say。〃

This　poor　attempt　at　a　jestthe　first　and　only　one；　perhaps；　that
Dagobert　had　ever　been　guilty　ofwill　show　the　extremity　to　which　he　was
reduced；　and　the　desperate　efforts　of　all　k