the wandering jew, volume 1-第23部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


Dagobert　had　ever　been　guilty　ofwill　show　the　extremity　to　which　he　was
reduced；　and　the　desperate　efforts　of　all　kinds　he　was　making　to
conciliate　the　good　graces　of　his　judge。　　The　burgomaster　did　not　at
first　see　the　pleasantry；　he　was　only　led　to　perceive　it　by　the　self…
satisfied　mien　of　Dagobert；　and　by　his　inquiring　glance；　which　seemed　to
say：　〃Is　it　not　good；　eh？I　am　astonished　at　it　myself。〃

The　magistrate　began；　therefore；　to　smile　with　a　patronizing　air；　and；
nodding　his　head；　replied　in　the　same　jocular　spirit：　〃Ha！　　Ha！　　Ha！　　You
are　right；　the　Prophet　is　out　in　his　prophecy。　　You　shall　not　pay　him　any
damages。　　The　faults　on　both　sides　are　equal；　and　the　injuries　balance
one　another。　　He　has　been　wounded；　your　horse　has　been　killed；　so　you　may
cry　quits；　and　have　done　with　it。〃

〃But　how　much　then；　do　you　think　he　owes　me？〃　asked　the　soldier；　with
singular　simplicity。

〃How　much？〃

〃Yes；　Mr。　Burgomaster；　what　sum　will　he　have　to　pay　me？　　Yesbut；　before
you　decide；　I　must　tell　you　one　thing；　Mr。　Burgomaster。　　I　think　I　shall
be　entitled　to　spend　only　part　of　the　money　in　buying　a　horse。　　I　am
sure；　that；　in　the　environs　of　Leipsic；　I　could　get　a　beast　very　cheap
from　some　of　the　peasants；　and；　between　ourselves；　I　will　own　to　you；
that；　if　I　could　meet　with　only　a　nice　little　donkeyI　should　not　be
over　particularI　should　even　like　it　just　as　well；　for；　after　my　poor
Jovial；　the　company　of　another　horse　would　be　painful　to　me。　　I　must　also
tell　you〃

〃Hey…day！〃　cried　the　burgomaster；　interrupting　Dagobert；　〃of　what　money；
what　donkey；　and　what　other　horse　are　you　talking？　　I　tell　you；　that　you
owe　nothing　to　the　Prophet；　and　that　he　owes　you　nothing！〃

〃He　owes　me　nothing？〃

〃You　are　very　dull　of　comprehension；　my　good　man。　　I　repeat；　that；　if　the
Prophet's　animals　have　killed　your　horse；　the　Prophet　himself　has　been
badly　wounded；　so　you　may　cry　quits。　　In　other　words；　you　owe　him
nothing；　and　he　owes　you　nothing。　　Now　do　you　understand？〃

Dagobert；　confounded；　remained　for　some　moments　without　answering；　whilst
he　looked　at　the　burgomaster　with　an　expression　of　deep　anguish。　　He　saw
that　his　judgment　would　again　destroy　all　his　hopes。

〃But；　Mr。　Burgomaster；〃　resumed　he；　in　an　agitated　voice；　〃you　are　too
just　not　to　pay　attention　to　one　thing：　the　wound　of　the　brute…tamer　does
not　prevent　him　from　continuing　his　trade；　the　death　of　my　horse　prevents
me　from　continuing　my　journey；　therefore；　he　ought　to　indemnify　me。〃

The　judge　considered　he　had　already　done　a　good　deal　for　Dagobert；　in　not
making　him　responsible　for　the　wound　of　the　Prophet；　who；　as　we　have
already　said；　exercised　a　certain　influence　over　the　Catholics　of　the
country　by　the　sale　of　his　devotional　treasures；　and　also　from　its　being
known　that　he　was　supported　by　some　persons　of　eminence。　　The　soldier's
pertinacity；　therefore；　offended　the　magistrate；　who；　reassuming　his
lofty　air；　replied；　in　a　chilling　tone：　〃You　will　make　me　repent　my
impartiality。　　How　is　this？　　Instead　of　thanking　me；　you　ask　for　more。〃

〃But；　Mr。　Burgomaster；　I　ask　only　for　what　is　just。　　I　wish　I　were
wounded　in　the　hand；　like　the　Prophet；　so　that　I　could　but　continue　my
journey。〃

〃We　are　not　talking　of　what　you　wish。　　I　have　pronounced　sentencethere
is　no　more　to　say。〃

〃But；　Mr。　Burgomaster〃

〃Enough；　enough。　　Let　us　go　to　the　next　subject。　　Your　papers？〃

〃Yes；　we　will　speak　about　my　papers；　but　I　beg　of　you；　Mr。　Burgomaster；
to　have　pity　on　those　two　children。　　Let　us　have　the　means　to　continue
our　journey；　and〃

〃I　have　done　all　I　could　for　youperhaps；　more　than　I　ought。　　Once
again；　your　papers！〃

〃I　must　first　explain　to　you〃

〃No　〃No　explanationyour　papers！Or　would　you　like　me　to　have　you
arrested　as　a　vagabond？〃

〃Me…arrested！〃

〃I　tell　you　that；　if　you　refuse　to　show　me　your　papers；　it　will　be　as　if
you　had　none。　　Now；　those　people　who　have　no　papers　we　take　into　custody
till　the　authorities　can　dispose　of　them。　　Let　me　see　your　papers；　and
make　haste！I　am　in　a　hurry　to　get　home。〃

Dagobert's　position　was　the　more　distressing；　as　for　a　moment　he　had
indulged　in　sanguine　hope。　　The　last　blow　was　now　added　to　all　the
veteran　had　suffered　since　the　commencement　of　this　scene；　which　was　a
cruel　as　well　as　dangerous　trial；　for　a　man　of　his　characterupright；
but　obstinatefaithful；　but　rough　and　absolutea　man　who；　for　a　long
time　a　soldier；　and　a　victorious　one；　had　acquired　a　certain　despotic
mariner　of　treating　with　civilians。

At　these　words〃your　papers；〃　Dagobert　became　very　pale；　but　he　tried　to
conceal　his　anguish　beneath　an　air　of　assurance；　which　he　thought　best
calculated　to　gain　the　magistrate's　good　opinion。　　〃I　will　tell　you　all
about　it；　Mr。　Burgomaster；〃　said　he。　〃Nothing　can　be　clearer。　　Such　a
thing　might　happen　to　any　one。　　I　do　not　look　like　a　beggar　and　a
vagabond；　do　I？　　And　yetyou　will　understand；　that　an　honest　man　who
travels　with　two　young　girls〃

〃No　more　words！　　Your　papers！〃

At　this　juncture　two　powerful　auxiliaries　arrived　to　the　soldier's　aid。
The　orphans；　growing　more　and　more　uneasy；　and　hearing　Dagobert　still
talking　upon　the　landing…place；　had　risen　and　dressed　themselves；　so　that
just　at　the　instant；　when　the　magistrate　said　in　a　rough　voice〃No　more
words！　　Your　papers！〃Rose　and　Blanche　holding　each　other　by　the　hand；
came　forth　from　the　chamber。

At　sight　of　those　charming　faces；　which　their　poor　mourning　vestments
only　rendered　more　interesting；　the　burgomaster　rose　from　his　seat；
struck　with　surprise　and　admiration。　　By　a　spontaneous　movement；　each
sister　took　a　hand　of　Dagobert；　and　pressed　close　to　him；　whilst　they
regarded　the　magistrate　with　looks　of　mingled　anxiety　and　candor。

It　was　so　touching　a　picture；　this　of　the　old　soldier　presenting　as　it
were　to　his　judge　the　graceful　children；　with　countenances　full　of
innocence　and　beauty；　that　the　burgomaster；　by　a　sudden　reaction；　found
himself　once　more　disposed　to　sentiments　of　pity。　　Dagobert　perceived　it；
and；　still　holding　the　orphans　by　the　hand；　he　advanced　towards　him；　and
said　in　a　feeling　voice：　〃Look　at　these　poor　children；　Mr。　Burgomaster！
Could　I　show　you　a　better　passport？〃　　And；　overcome　by　so　many　painful
sensationsrestrained；　yet　following　each　other　in　quick　succession
Dagobert　felt；　in　spite　of　himself；　that　the　tears　were　starting　to　his
eyes。

Though　naturally　rough；　and　rendered　still　more　testy　by　the　interruption
of　his　sleep；　the　burgomaster　was　not　quite　deficient　in　sense　of
feeling。　　He　perceived　at　once；　that　a　man　thus　accompanied；　ought　not　to
inspire　any　great　distrust。　　〃Poor　dear　children！〃　said　he；　as　he
examined　them　with　growing　interest；　〃orphans　so　young；　and　they　come
from　far〃

〃From　the　heart　of　Siberia；　Mr。　Burgomaster；　where　their　mother　was　an
exile　before　their　birth。　　It　is　now　more　than　five　months　that　we　have
been　travelling　on　by　short　stageshard　enough；　you　will　say；　for
children　of　their　age。　　It　is　for　them　that　I　ask　your　favor　and　support
for　them　against　whom　everything　seems　to　combine　to…day　for；　only　just
now；　when　I　went　to　look　for　my　papers；　I　could　not　find　in　my　knapsack
the　portfolio　in　which　they　were；　along　with　my　purse　and　crossfor　you
must　know；　Mr。　Burgomasterpardon　me；　if　I　say　it'tis　not　from　vain
glorybut　I　was　decorated　by　the　hand　of　the　Emperor；　and　a　man　whom　he
decorated　with　his　own　hand；　you　see；　could　not　be　so　bad　a　fellow；
though　he　may　have　had　the　misfortune　to　lose　his　papersand　his　purse。
That's　what　has　happened　to　me；　and　made　me　so　pressing　about　the
damages。〃

〃How　and　where　did　you　suffer　this　loss？〃

〃I　do　not　know；　Mr。　Burgomaster；　I　am　sure　that　the　evening　before　last；
at　bed…time；　I　took　a　little　money　out　of　the　purse；　and　saw　the
portfolio　in　its　place；　yesterday　I　had　small　change　sufficient；　and　did
not　undo　the　knapsack。〃

〃And　where　then　has　the　knapsack　been　kept？〃

〃In　the　room　occupied　by　the　children：　but　this　night〃

Dagobert　was　here　interrupted　by　the　tread　of　some　one　mounting　the
stairs：　it　was　the　Prophet。　　Concealed　in　the　shadow　of　the　staircase；　he
had　listened　to　this　conversation；　and　he　dreaded　lest　the　weakness　of
the　burgomaster　should　mar　the　complete　success　of　his　projects。




CHAPTER　XIV。

THE　DECISION。

Morok；　who　wore　his　left　arm　in　a　sling；　having　slowly　ascended　the
staircase；　saluted　the　burgomaster　respectfully。　　At　sight　of　the
repulsive　countenance　of　the　lion…tamer；　Rose　and　Blanche；　affrighted；
drew　back　a　step　nearer　to　the　soldier。　　The　brow　of　the　latter　grew
dark；　for　he　felt　his　blood　boil　against　Morok；　the　cause　of　all　his
difficultiesthough　he　was　yet　ignorant　that　Goliath；　at　the　instigation
of　the　Prophet；　had　stolen　his　portfolio　and　papers。

〃What　did　you　want；　Morok？〃　said　the　burgomaster；　with　an　air　half
friendly　and　half　displeased。　　〃I　told　the　landlord　that　I　did　not　wish
to　be　interrupted。〃

〃I　have　come　to　render　you　a　service；　Mr。　Burgomaster。〃

〃A　service？〃

〃Yes；　a　great　service；　or　I　should　not　have　ventured　to　disturb　you。　　My
conscience　reproaches　me。〃

〃Your　conscience。〃

〃Yes；　Mr。　Burgomaster；　it　reproaches　me　for　not　having　told　you　all　that
I　had　to　tell　about　this　man；　a　false　pity　led　me　astray。〃

〃Yell；　but　what　have　you　to　tell？〃

Morok　approached　the　judge；　and　spoke　to　him　for　sometime　in　a　low　voice。

At　first　apparently　much　astonished；　the　burgomaster　became　by　degrees
deeply　attentive　and　anxious；　every　now　and　then　be　allowed　some
exclamation　of　surprise　or　doubt　to　escape　him；　whilst　he　glanced
covertly　at　the　group　formed　by　Dagobert　and　the　two　young　girls。　　By　the
expression　of　his　countenance；　which　grew　every　moment　more　unquiet；
severe；　and　searching；　it　was　easy　to　perceive　that　the　interest　which
the　magistrate　had　felt　for　the　orphans　and　for　the　soldier；　was
gradually　changed；　by　the　secret　communications　of　the　Prophet；　into　a
sentiment　of　distrust　and　hostility。

Dagobert　saw　this　sudden　revolution；　and　his　fears；　which　had　been
appeased　for　an　instant；　returned　with　redoubled　force；　Rose　and　Blanche；
confused；　and　not　understanding　the　object　of　this　mute　scene；　looked　at
the　soldier　with　inc