the hunchback of notre dame-第10章

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CHAPTER　VI。

ESMERALDA。



We　are　delighted　to　be　able　to　inform　the　reader；　that　during　the　whole　of　this　scene；　Gringoire　and　his　piece　had　stood　firm。　　His　actors；　spurred　on　by　him；　had　not　ceased　to　spout　his　comedy；　and　he　had　not　ceased　to　listen　to　it。　　He　had　made　up　his　mind　about　the　tumult；　and　was　determined　to　proceed　to　the　end；　not　giving　up　the　hope　of　a　return　of　attention　on　the　part　of　the　public。　　This　gleam　of　hope　acquired　fresh　life；　when　he　saw　Quasimodo；　Coppenole；　and　the　deafening　escort　of　the　pope　of　the　procession　of　fools　quit　the　hall　amid　great　uproar。　　The　throng　rushed　eagerly　after　them。　　〃Good；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃there　go　all　the　mischief…　makers。〃　　Unfortunately；　all　the　mischief…makers　constituted　the　entire　audience。　　In　the　twinkling　of　an　eye；　the　grand　hall　was　empty。

To　tell　the　truth；　a　few　spectators　still　remained；　some　scattered；　others　in　groups　around　the　pillars；　women；　old　men；　or　children；　who　had　had　enough　of　the　uproar　and　tumult。　　Some　scholars　were　still　perched　astride　of　the　window…sills；　engaged　in　gazing　into　the　Place。

〃Well；〃　thought　Gringoire；　〃here　are　still　as　many　as　are　required　to　hear　the　end　of　my　mystery。　　They　are　few　in　number；　but　it　is　a　choice　audience；　a　lettered　audience。〃

An　instant　later；　a　symphony　which　had　been　intended　to　produce　the　greatest　effect　on　the　arrival　of　the　Virgin；　was　lacking。　　Gringoire　perceived　that　his　music　had　been　carried　off　by　the　procession　of　the　Pope　of　the　Fools。　　〃Skip　it；〃　said　he；　stoically。

He　approached　a　group　of　bourgeois；　who　seemed　to　him　to　be　discussing　his　piece。　　This　is　the　fragment　of　conversation　which　he　caught；

〃You　know；　Master　Cheneteau；　the　H？tel　de　Navarre；　which　belonged　to　Monsieur　de　Nemours？〃

〃Yes；　opposite　the　Chapelle　de　Braque。〃

〃Well；　the　treasury　has　just　let　it　to　Guillaume　Alixandre；　historian；　for　six　hivres；　eight　sols；　parisian；　a　year。〃

〃How　rents　are　going　up！〃

〃Come；〃　said　Gringoire　to　himself；　with　a　sigh；　〃the　others　are　listening。〃

〃Comrades；〃　suddenly　shouted　one　of　the　young　scamps　from　the　window；　〃La　Esmeralda！　　La　Esmeralda　in　the　Place！〃

This　word　produced　a　magical　effect。　　Every　one　who　was　left　in　the　hall　flew　to　the　windows；　climbing　the　walls　in　order　to　see；　and　repeating；　〃La　Esmeralda！　　La　Esmeralda？〃　At　the　same　time；　a　great　sound　of　applause　was　heard　from　without。

〃What's　the　meaning　of　this；　of　the　Esmeralda？〃　said　Gringoire；　wringing　his　hands　in　despair。　　〃Ah；　good　heavens！　it　seems　to　be　the　turn　of　the　windows　now。〃

He　returned　towards　the　marble　table；　and　saw　that　the　representation　had　been　interrupted。　　It　was　precisely　at　the　instant　when　Jupiter　should　have　appeared　with　his　thunder。　　But　Jupiter　was　standing　motionless　at　the　foot　of　the　stage。

〃Michel　Giborne！〃　cried　the　irritated　poet；　〃what　are　you　doing　there？　　Is　that　your　part？　　Come　up！〃

〃Alas！〃　said　Jupiter；　〃a　scholar　has　just　seized　the　ladder。〃

Gringoire　looked。　　It　was　but　too　true。　　All　communication　between　his　plot　and　its　solution　was　intercepted。

〃The　rascal；〃　he　murmured。　　〃And　why　did　he　take　that　ladder？〃

〃In　order　to　go　and　see　the　Esmeralda；〃　replied　Jupiter　piteously。　　〃He　said；　'Come；　here's　a　ladder　that's　of　no　use！'　and　he　took　it。〃

This　was　the　last　blow。　　Gringoire　received　it　with　resignation。

〃May　the　devil　fly　away　with　you！〃　he　said　to　the　comedian；　〃and　if　I　get　my　pay；　you　shall　receive　yours。〃

Then　he　beat　a　retreat；　with　drooping　head；　but　the　last　in　the　field；　like　a　general　who　has　fought　well。

And　as　he　descended　the　winding　stairs　of　the　courts：　〃A　fine　rabble　of　asses　and　dolts　these　Parisians！〃　he　muttered　between　his　teeth；　〃they　come　to　hear　a　mystery　and　don't　listen　to　it　at　all！　　They　are　engrossed　by　every　one；　by　Chopin　Trouillefou；　by　the　cardinal；　by　Coppenole；　by　Quasimodo；　by　the　devil！　but　by　Madame　the　Virgin　Mary；　not　at　all。　　If　I　had　known；　I'd　have　given　you　Virgin　Mary；　you　ninnies！　　And　I！　to　come　to　see　faces　and　behold　only　backs！　to　be　a　poet；　and　to　reap　the　success　of　an　apothecary！　　It　is　true　that　Homerus　begged　through　the　Greek　towns；　and　that　Naso　died　in　exile　among　the　Muscovites。　　But　may　the　devil　flay　me　if　I　understand　what　they　mean　with　their　Esmeralda！　What　is　that　word；　in　the　first　place？'tis　Egyptian！〃





BOOK　SECOND。






CHAPTER　I。

FROM　CHARYBDIS　TO　SCYLLA。


Night　comes　on　early　in　January。　　The　streets　were　already　dark　when　Gringoire　issued　forth　from　the　Courts。　　This　gloom　pleased　him；　he　was　in　haste　to　reach　some　obscure　and　deserted　alley；　in　order　there　to　meditate　at　his　ease；　and　in　order　that　the　philosopher　might　place　the　first　dressing　upon　the　wound　of　the　poet。　　Philosophy；　moreover；　was　his　sole　refuge；　for　he　did　not　know　where　he　was　to　lodge　for　the　night。　　After　the　brilliant　failure　of　his　first　theatrical　venture；　he　dared　not　return　to　the　lodging　which　he　occupied　in　the　Rue　Grenier…sur…l'Eau；　opposite　to　the　Port…au…Foin；　having　depended　upon　receiving　from　monsieur　the　provost　for　his　epithalamium；　the　wherewithal　to　pay　Master　Guillaume　Doulx…Sire；　farmer　of　the　taxes　on　cloven…footed　animals　in　Paris；　the　rent　which　he　owed　him；　that　is　to　say；　twelve　sols　parisian；　twelve　times　the　value　of　all　that　he　possessed　in　the　world；　including　his　trunk…hose；　his　shirt；　and　his　cap。　After　reflecting　a　moment；　temporarily　sheltered　beneath　the　little　wicket　of　the　prison　of　the　treasurer　of　the　Sainte…　Chappelle；　as　to　the　shelter　which　he　would　select　for　the　night；　having　all　the　pavements　of　Paris　to　choose　from；　he　remembered　to　have　noticed　the　week　previously　in　the　Rue　de　la　Savaterie；　at　the　door　of　a　councillor　of　the　parliament；　a　stepping　stone　for　mounting　a　mule；　and　to　have　said　to　himself　that　that　stone　would　furnish；　on　occasion；　a　very　excellent　pillow　for　a　mendicant　or　a　poet。　　He　thanked　Providence　for　having　sent　this　happy　idea　to　him；　but；　as　he　was　preparing　to　cross　the　Place；　in　order　to　reach　the　tortuous　labyrinth　of　the　city；　where　meander　all　those　old　sister　streets；　the　Rues　de　la　Barillerie；　de　la　Vielle…Draperie；　de　la　Savaterie；　de　la　Juiverie；　etc。；　still　extant　to…day；　with　their　nine…story　houses；　he　saw　the　procession　of　the　Pope　of　the　Fools；　which　was　also　emerging　from　the　court　house；　and　rushing　across　the　courtyard；　with　great　cries；　a　great　flashing　of　torches；　and　the　music　which　belonged　to　him；　Gringoire。　This　sight　revived　the　pain　of　his　self…love；　he　fled。　　In　the　bitterness　of　his　dramatic　misadventure；　everything　which　reminded　him　of　the　festival　of　that　day　irritated　his　wound　and　made　it　bleed。

58

He　was　on　the　point　of　turning　to　the　Pont　Saint…Michel；　children　were　running　about　here　and　there　with　fire　lances　and　rockets。

〃Pest　on　firework　candles！〃　said　Gringoire；　and　he　fell　back　on　the　Pont　au　Change。　　To　the　house　at　the　head　of　the　bridge　there　had　been　affixed　three　small　banners；　representing　the　king；　the　dauphin；　and　Marguerite　of　Flanders；　and　six　little　pennons　on　which　were　portrayed　the　Duke　of　Austria；　the　Cardinal　de　Bourbon；　M。　de　Beaujeu；　and　Madame　Jeanne　de　France；　and　Monsieur　the　Bastard　of　Bourbon；　and　I　know　not　whom　else；　all　being　illuminated　with　torches。　The　rabble　were　admiring。

〃Happy　painter；　Jehan　Fourbault！〃　said　Gringoire　with　a　deep　sigh；　and　he　turned　his　back　upon　the　bannerets　and　pennons。　　A　street　opened　before　him；　he　thought　it　so　dark　and　deserted　that　he　hoped　to　there　escape　from　all　the　rumors　as　well　as　from　all　the　gleams　of　the　festival。　　At　the　end　of　a　few　moments　his　foot　came　in　contact　with　an　obstacle；　he　stumbled　and　fell。　　It　was　the　May　truss；　which　the　clerks　of　the　clerks'　law　court　had　deposited　that　morning　at　the　door　of　a　president　of　the　parliament；　in　honor　of　the　solemnity　of　the　day。　　Gringoire　bore　this　new　disaster　heroically；　he　picked　himself　up；　and　reached　the　water's　edge。　　After　leaving　behind　him　the　civic　Tournelle*　and　the　criminal　tower；　and　skirted　the　great　walls　of　the　king's　garden；　on　that　unpaved　strand　where　the　mud　reached　to　his　ankles；　he　reached　the　western　point　of　the　city；　and　considered　for　some　time　the　islet　of　the　Passeur…aux…Vaches；　which　has　disappeared　beneath　the　bronze　horse　of　the　Pont　Neuf。　　The　islet　appeared　to　him　in　the　shadow　like　a　black　mass；　beyond　the　narrow　strip　of　whitish　water　which　separated　him　from　it。　One　could　divine　by　the　ray　of　a　tiny　light　the　sort　of　hut　in　the　form　of　a　beehive　where　the　ferryman　of　cows　took　refuge　at　night。


*　　A　chamber　of　the　ancient　parliament　of　Paris。


〃Happy　ferryman！〃　thought　Gringoire；　〃you　do　not　dream　of　glory；　and　you　do　not　make　marriage　songs！　　What　matters　it　to　you；　if　kings　and　Duchesses　of　Burgundy　marry？　You　know　no　other　daisies　（~marguerites~）　than　those　which　your　April　greensward　gives　your　cows　to　browse　upon；　while　I；　a　poet；　am　hooted；　and　shiver；　and　owe　twelve　sous；　and　the　soles　of　my　shoes　are　so　transparent；　that　they　might　serve　as　glasses　for　your　lantern！　　Thanks；　ferryman；　your　cabin　rests　my　eyes；　and　makes　me　forget　Paris！〃

He　was　roused　from　his　almost　lyric　ecstacy；　by　a　big　double　Saint…Jean　cracker；　which　suddenly　went　off　from　the　happy　cabin。　　It　was　the　cow　ferryman；　who　was　taking　his　part　in　the　rejoicings　of　the　day；　and　letting　off　fireworks。

This　cracker　made　Gringoire's　skin　bristle　up　all　over。

〃Accursed　festival！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃wilt　thou　pursue　me　everywhere？　　Oh！　good　God！　even　to　the　ferryman's！〃

Then　he　looked　at　the　Seine　at　his　feet；　and　a　horrible　temptation　took　possession　of　him：

〃Oh！〃　said　he；　〃I　would　gladly　drown　myself；　were　the　water　not　so　cold！〃

Then　a　desperate　resolution　occurred　to　him。　　It　was；　since　he　could　not　escape　from　the　Pope　of　the　Fools；　from　Jehan　Fourbault's　bannerets；　from　May　trusses；　from　squibs　and　crackers；　to　go　to　the　Place　de　Grève。

〃At　least；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃I　shall　there　have　a　firebrand　of　joy　wherewith　to　warm　myself；　and　I　can　sup　on　some　crumbs　of　the　three　great　armorial　bearings　of　royal　sugar　which　have　been　erected　on　the　public　refreshment…stall　of　the　city。




CHAPTER　II。

THE　PLACE　DE　GREVE。



There　remains　to…day　but　a　very　imperceptible　vestige　of　the　Place　de　Grève；　such　as　it　existed　then；　it　consists　in　the　charming　little　turret；　which　occupies　the　angle　north　of　the　Place；　and　which；　already　enshrouded　in　the　ignoble　plaster　which　fills　with　paste　the　delicate　lines　of　its　sculpture；　would　soon　have　disappeared；　perhaps　submerged　by　that　flood　of　new　houses　which　so　rapidly　devours　all　the　ancient　fa？ades　of　Paris。

The　persons　who；　like　ourselves；　never　cross　the　Place　de　Grève　without　casting　a　glance　of　pity　and　sympathy　on　that　poor　turret　strangled　between　two　hovels　of　the　time　of　Louis　XV。；　can　easily　reconstruct　in　their　minds　the　aggregate　of　edifices　to　which　it　belonged；　and　find　again　entire　in　it　the　ancient　Gothic　place　of　the　fifteenth　century。

It　was　then；　as　it　is　to…day；　an　irregular　trapezoid；　bordered　on　one　side　by　the　quay；　and　on　the　other　three　by　a　series　of　lofty；　narrow；　and　gloomy　houses。　　By　day；　one　could　admire　the　variety　of　its　edifices；　all　sculptured　in　stone　or　wood；　and　already　presenti