the wandering jew, volume 1-第24部分

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confused；　and　not　understanding　the　object　of　this　mute　scene；　looked　at
the　soldier　with　increased　perplexity。

〃The　devil！〃　said　the　burgomaster；　rising　abruptly；　〃all　of　this　never
occurred　to　me。　What　could　I　have　been　thinking　of？　…But　you　see；　Morok；
when　one　is　roused　up　in　the　middle　of　the　night；　one　has　not　always
presence　of　mind。　You　said　well：　it　is　a　great　service　you　came　to　render
me。〃

〃I　assert　nothing　positively；　but〃

〃No　matter；　'tis　a　thousand　to　one　that　you　are　right。〃

〃It　is　only　a　suspicion　founded　upon　divers　circumstances；　but　even　a
suspicion〃

〃May　give　you　scent　of　the　truth。　　And　here　was　I；　going　like　a　gull　into
the　snare！Once　more；　what　could　I　have　been　thinking　of？〃

〃It　is　so　difficult　to　be　on　guard　against　certain　appearances。〃

〃You　need　not　tell　me　so；　my　dear　Morok；　you　need　not　tell　me　so。〃

During　this　mysterious　conversation；　Dagobert　was　on　thorns；　he　saw
vaguely　that　a　violent　storm　was　about　to　burst。　　He　thought　only　of　how
he　should　still　keep　his　anger　within　bounds。

Morok　again　approached　the　judge；　and　glancing　at　the　orphans；
recommenced　speaking　in　a　low　voice。　　〃Oh〃　cried　the　burgomaster；　with；
indignation；　〃you　go　too　far　now。〃

〃I　affirm　nothing；〃　said　Morok；　hastily；　〃it　is　a　mere　supposition
founded　on〃　and　he　again　brought　his　lips　close　to　the　ear　of　the
judge。

〃After　all；　why　not？〃　resumed　the　magistrate；　lifting　up　his　hands；　〃such
people　are　capable　of　anything。　　He　says　that　he　brings　them　from　the
heart　of　Siberia：　why　may　not　all　this　prove　to　be　a　tissue　of　impudent
falsehoods？But　I　am　not　to　be　made　a　dupe　twice；〃　cried　the
burgomaster；　in　an　angry　tone；　for；　like　all　persons　of　a　weak　and
shifting　character；　he　was　without　pity　for　those　whom　he　thought　capable
of　having　beguiled　his　compassion。

〃Do　not　be　in　a　hurry　to　decidedon't　give　to　my　words　more　weight　than
they　deserve；〃　resumed　Morok　with　a　hypocritical　affectation　of　humility。
〃I　am　unhappily　placed　in　so　false　a　position　with　regard　to　this　man；〃
pointing　to　Dagober〃that　I　might　be　thought　to　have　acted　from　private
resentment　for　the　injury　he　has　done　me；　perhaps　I　may　so　act　without
knowing　it；　while　I　fancy　that　I　am　only　influenced　by　love　of　justice；
horror　of　falsehood；　and　respect　for　our　holy　religion。　　Wellwho　lives
long　enough　will　knowand　may　heaven　forgive　me　if　I　am　deceived！In
any　case；　the　law　will　pronounce　upon　it；　and　if　they　should　prove
innocent；　they　will　be　released　in　a　month　or　two。〃

〃And；　for　that　reason；　I　need　not　hesitate。　　It　is　a　mere　measure　of
precaution；　they　will　not　die　of　it。　　Besides；　the　more　I　think　of　it；
the　more　it　seems　probable。　　Yes　this　man　is　doubtless　a　French　spy　or
agitator；　especially　when　I　compare　these　suspicions　with　the　late
demonstration　of　the　students　at　Frankfort。〃

〃And；　upon　that　theory；　nothing　is　better　fitted　to　excite　and　stir　up
those　hot…headed　youths　than〃　He　glanced　significantly　at　the　two
sisters；　then；　after　a　pause；　he　added　with　a　sigh；　〃Satan　does　not　care
by　what　means　he　works　out　his　ends！〃

〃Certainly；　it　would　be　odious；　but　well…devised。〃

〃And　then；　Mr　Burgomaster；　look　at　him　attentively：　you　will　see　that
this　man　has　a　dangerous　face。　　You　will　see〃

In　continuing　thus　to　speak　in　a　low　tone；　Morok　had　evidently　pointed　to
Dagobert。　　The　latter；　notwithstanding　his　self…command；　felt　that　the
restraint　he　had　imposed　upon　himself；　since　his　arrival　at　this　unlucky
inn；　and　above　all　wince　the　commencement　of　the　conversation　between
Morok　and　the　burgomaster；　was　becoming　no　longer　bearable；　besides；　he
saw　clearly　that　all　his　efforts　to　conciliate　the　favor　of　the　judge
were　rendered　completely　null　by　the　fatal　influence　of　the　brute…tamer；
so；　losing　patience；　he　advanced　towards　him　with　his　arms　folded　on　his
breast；　and　said　to　him　in　a　subdued　voice：　〃Was　it　of　me　that　you　were
whispering　to　Mr。　Burgomaster？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Morok；　looking　fixedly　at　him。

〃Why　did　you　not　speak　out　loud？〃　　Having　said　this；　the　almost
convulsive　movement　of　his　thick　moustache；　as　he　stood　looping　Morok
full　in　the　face；　gave　evidence　of　a　severe　internal　conflict。　　Seeing
that　his　adversary　preserved　a　contemptuous　silence；　he　repeated　in　a
sterner　voice：　〃I　ask　you；　why　you　did　not　speak　out　loud　to　Mr。
Burgomaster；　when　you　were　talking　of　me？〃

〃Because　there　are　some　things　so　shameful；　that　one　would　blush　to　utter
them　aloud；〃　answered　Morok　insolently。

Till　then　Dagobert　had　kept　his　arms　folded；　he　now　extended　them
violently；　clenching　his　fists。　　This　sudden　movement　was　so　expressive
that　the　two　sisters　uttered　a　cry　of　terror；　and　drew　closer　to　him。

〃Hark　ye；　Mr。　Burgomaster！〃　said　the　soldier；　grinding　his　teeth　with
rage：　〃bid　that　man　go　down；　or　I　will　not　answer　for　myself！〃

〃What！〃　said　the　burgomaster；　haughtily；　〃do　you　dare　to　give　orders　to
me？〃

〃I　tell　you　to　make　that　man　go　down；〃　resumed　Dagobert；　quite　beside
himself；　〃or　there　will　be　mischief！〃

〃Dagobert！good　heaven！be　calm；〃　cried　the　children；　grasping　his
hands。

〃It　becomes　you；　certainlymiserable　vagabond　that　you　arenot　to　say
worse；〃　returned　the　burgomaster；　in　a　rage：　〃it　becomes　you　to　give
orders　to　me！Oh！　you　think　to　impose　upon　me；　by　telling　me　you　have
lost　your　papers！It　will　not　serve　your　turn；　for　which　you　carry　about
with　you　these　two　girls；　who；　in　spite　of　their　innocent　looks；　are
perhaps　after　all〃

〃Wretch！〃　cried　Dagobert；　with　so　terrible　a　voice　and　gesture　that　the
official　did　not　dare　to　finish。　　Taking　the　children　by　the　arm　before
they　could　speak　a　word；　the　soldier　pushed　them　back　into　the　chamber；
then；　locking　the　door；　and　putting　the　key　into　his　pocket；　he　returned
precipitately　towards　the　burgomaster；　who；　frightened　at　the　menacing
air　and　attitude　of　the　veteran；　retreated　a　couple　of　steps；　and　held　by
one　hand　to　the　rail　of　the　staircase。

〃Listen　to　me！〃　said　the　soldier；　seizing　the　judge　by　the　arm。　　〃Just
now；　that　scoundrel　insulted　meI　bore　with　itfor　it　only　concerned
myself。　　I　have　heard　patiently　all　your　idle　talk；　because　you　seemed
for　a　moment　to　interest　yourself　in　those　poor　children。　　But　since　you
have　neither　soul；　nor　pity；　nor　justiceI　tell　you　that；　burgomaster
though　you　areI　will　spurn　you　as　I　would　spurn　that　dog；〃　pointing
again　to　the　Prophet；　〃if　you　have　the　misfortune　to　mention　those　two
young　girls；　in　any　other　way　than　you　would　speak　of　your　own　child！
Now；　do　you　mark　me？〃

〃What！you　dare　to　say；〃　cried　the　burgomaster；　stammering　with　rage；
〃that　if　I　happen　to　mention　two　adventuresses〃

〃Hats　off！when　you　speak　of　the　daughters　of　the　Duke　of　Ligny；〃　cried
the　soldier；　snatching　the　cap　of　the　burgomaster　and　flinging　it　on　the
ground。　　On　this　act　of　aggression；　Morok　could　not　restrain　his　joy。
Exasperated　and　losing　all　hope；　Dagobert　had　at　length　yielded　to　the
violence　of　his　anger；　after　struggling　so　painfully　against　it　for　some
hours。

When　the　burgomaster　saw　his　cap　at　his　feet；　he　looked　at　the　brute…
tamer　with　an　air　of　stupefaction；　as　if　he　hesitated　to　believe　so　great
an　enormity。　　Dagobert；　regretting；　his　violence；　and　feeling　that　no
means　of　conciliation　note　remained；　threw　a　rapid　glance　around　him；
and；　retreating　several　paces；　gained　the　topmost　steps　of　the　staircase。
The　burgomaster　stood　near　the　bench；　in　a　corner　of　the　landing…　place；
whilst　Morok；　with　his　arm　in　the　sling；　to　give　the　more　serious
appearance　to　his　wound；　was　close　beside　him。　　〃So！〃　cried　the
magistrate；　deceived　by　the　backward　movement　of　Dagobert；　〃you　think　to
escape；　after　daring　to　lift　hand　against　me！Old　villain！〃

〃Forgive　me；　Mr。　Burgomaster！　　It　was　a　burst　of　rashness　that　I　was　not
able　to　control。　　I　am　sorry　for　it；〃　said　Dagobert　in　a　repentant　voice；
and　hanging　his　head　humbly。

〃No　pity　for　thee；　rascal！　　You　would　begin　again　to　smooth　me　over　with
your　coaxing　ways；　but　I　have　penetrated　your　secret　designs。　　You　are
not　what　you　appear　to　be；　and　there　is　perhaps　an　affair　of　state　at　the
bottom　of　all　this；〃　added　the　magistrate；　in　a　very　diplomatic　tone。
〃All　means　are　alike　to　those　who　wish　to　set　Europe　in　flames。〃

〃I　am　only　a　poor　devil；　Mr。　Burgomaster；　you；　that　have　a　good　heart；
will　show　me　some　mercy。〃

〃What！　when　you　have　pulled　off　my　cap？〃

〃And　you；〃　added　the　soldier；　turning　towards　Morok；　〃you；　that　have　been
the　cause　of　all　thishave　same　pity　upon　medo　not　bear　malice！You；
a　holy　man；　speak　a　word　in　my　favor　to　Mr。　Burgomaster。〃

〃I　have　spoken　to　him　what　I　was　bound　to　speak；〃　answered　the　Prophet
ironically。

〃Oho！　you　can　look　foolish　enough　now；　you　old　vagabond！　　Did　you　think
to　impose　on　me　with　lamentations？〃　resumed　the　burgomaster；　advancing
towards　Dagobert。　　〃Thanks　be；　I　am　no　longer　your　dupe！You　shall　see
that　we　have　good　dungeons　at　Leipsic　for　French　agitators　and　female
vagrants；　for　your　damsels　are　no　better　than　you　are。　　Come；〃　added　he；
puffing　out　his　cheeks　with　an　important　air；　〃go　down　before　meand　as
for　you；　Morok〃

The　burgomaster　was　unable　to　finish。　　For　some　minutes　Dagobert　had　only
sought　to　gain　time；　and　had　cast　many　a　side…glance　at　a　half…open　door
on　the　landing…place；　just　opposite　to　the　chamber　occupied　by　the
orphans：　finding　the　moment　favorable；　he　now　rushed　quick　as　lightning
on　the　burgomaster；　seized　him　by　the　throat；　and　dashed　him　with　such
violence　against　the　door　in　question；　that　the　magistrate；　stupefied　by
this　sudden　attack；　and　unable　to　speak　a　word　or　utter　a　cry；　rolled
over　to　the　further　end　of　the　room；　which　was　completely　dark。　　Then；
turning　towards　Morok；　who；　with　his　arm　encumbered　by　the　sling；　made　a
rush　for　the　staircase；　the　soldier　caught　him　by　his　long；　streaming
hair；　pulled　him　back；　clasped　him　with　hands　of　iron；　clapped　his　hand
over　his　mouth　to　stifle　his　outcries；　and　notwithstanding　his　desperate
resistance；　dragged　him　into　the　chamber；　on　the　floor　of　which　the
burgomaster　lay　bruised　and　stunned。

Having　double…locked　the　door；　and　put　the　key　in　his　pocket；　Dagobert
descended　the　stairs　at　two　bounds；　and　fou