the hunchback of notre dame-第44章

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Then　the　wretched　man；　unable　to　break　his　collar；　like　that　of　a　chained　wild　beast；　became　tranquil　once　more；　only　at　intervals　a　sigh　of　rage　heaved　the　hollows　of　his　chest。　There　was　neither　shame　nor　redness　on　his　face。　　He　was　too　far　from　the　state　of　society；　and　too　near　the　state　of　nature　to　know　what　shame　was。　　Moreover；　with　such　a　degree　of　deformity；　is　infamy　a　thing　that　can　be　felt？　　But　wrath；　hatred；　despair；　slowly　lowered　over　that　hideous　visage　a　cloud　which　grew　ever　more　and　more　sombre；　ever　more　and　more　charged　with　electricity；　which　burst　forth　in　a　thousand　lightning　flashes　from　the　eye　of　the　cyclops。

Nevertheless；　that　cloud　cleared　away　for　a　moment；　at　the　passage　of　a　mule　which　traversed　the　crowd；　bearing　a　priest。　As　far　away　as　he　could　see　that　mule　and　that　priest；　the　poor　victim's　visage　grew　gentler。　　The　fury　which　had　contracted　it　was　followed　by　a　strange　smile　full　of　ineffable　sweetness；　gentleness；　and　tenderness。　　In　proportion　as　the　priest　approached；　that　smile　became　more　clear；　more　distinct；　more　radiant。　　It　was　like　the　arrival　of　a　Saviour；　which　the　unhappy　man　was　greeting。　　But　as　soon　as　the　mule　was　near　enough　to　the　pillory　to　allow　of　its　rider　recognizing　the　victim；　the　priest　dropped　his　eyes；　beat　a　hasty　retreat；　spurred　on　rigorously；　as　though　in　haste　to　rid　himself　of　humiliating　appeals；　and　not　at　all　desirous　of　being　saluted　and　recognized　by　a　poor　fellow　in　such　a　predicament。

This　priest　was　Archdeacon　Dom　Claude　Frollo。

The　cloud　descended　more　blackly　than　ever　upon　Quasimodo's　brow。　The　smile　was　still　mingled　with　it　for　a　time；　but　was　bitter；　discouraged；　profoundly　sad。

Time　passed　on。　　He　had　been　there　at　least　an　hour　and　a　half；　lacerated；　maltreated；　mocked　incessantly；　and　almost　stoned。

All　at　once　he　moved　again　in　his　chains　with　redoubled　despair；　which　made　the　whole　framework　that　bore　him　tremble；　and；　breaking　the　silence　which　he　had　obstinately　preserved　hitherto；　he　cried　in　a　hoarse　and　furious　voice；　which　resembled　a　bark　rather　than　a　human　cry；　and　which　was　drowned　in　the　noise　of　the　hoots〃Drink！〃

This　exclamation　of　distress；　far　from　exciting　compassion；　only　added　amusement　to　the　good　Parisian　populace　who　surrounded　the　ladder；　and　who；　it　must　be　confessed；　taken　in　the　mass　and　as　a　multitude；　was　then　no　less　cruel　and　brutal　than　that　horrible　tribe　of　robbers　among　whom　we　have　already　conducted　the　reader；　and　which　was　simply　the　lower　stratum　of　the　populace。　　Not　a　voice　was　raised　around　the　unhappy　victim；　except　to　jeer　at　his　thirst。　　It　is　certain　that　at　that　moment　he　was　more　grotesque　and　repulsive　than　pitiable；　with　his　face　purple　and　dripping；　his　eye　wild；　his　mouth　foaming　with　rage　and　pain；　and　his　tongue　lolling　half　out。　　It　must　also　be　stated　that　if　a　charitable　soul　of　a　bourgeois　or　~bourgeoise~；　in　the　rabble；　had　attempted　to　carry　a　glass　of　water　to　that　wretched　creature　in　torment；　there　reigned　around　the　infamous　steps　of　the　pillory　such　a　prejudice　of　shame　and　ignominy；　that　it　would　have　sufficed　to　repulse　the　good　Samaritan。

At　the　expiration　of　a　few　moments；　Quasimodo　cast　a　desperate　glance　upon　the　crowd；　and　repeated　in　a　voice　still　more　heartrending：　〃Drink！〃

And　all　began　to　laugh。

〃Drink　this！〃　cried　Robin　Poussepain；　throwing　in　his　face　a　sponge　which　had　been　soaked　in　the　gutter。　　〃There；　you　deaf　villain；　I'm　your　debtor。〃

A　woman　hurled　a　stone　at　his　head；

〃That　will　teach　you　to　wake　us　up　at　night　with　your　peal　of　a　dammed　soul。〃

〃He；　good；　my　son！〃　howled　a　cripple；　making　an　effort　to　reach　him　with　his　crutch；　〃will　you　cast　any　more　spells　on　us　from　the　top　of　the　towers　of　Notre…Dame？〃

〃Here's　a　drinking　cup！〃　chimed　in　a　man；　flinging　a　broken　jug　at　his　breast。　　〃'Twas　you　that　made　my　wife；　simply　because　she　passed　near　you；　give　birth　to　a　child　with　two　heads！〃

〃And　my　cat　bring　forth　a　kitten　with　six　paws！〃　yelped　an　old　crone；　launching　a　brick　at　him。

〃Drink！〃　repeated　Quasimodo　panting；　and　for　the　third　time。

At　that　moment　he　beheld　the　crowd　give　way。　　A　young　girl；　fantastically　dressed；　emerged　from　the　throng。　　She　was　accompanied　by　a　little　white　goat　with　gilded　horns；　and　carried　a　tambourine　in　her　hand。

Quasimodo's　eyes　sparkled。　　It　was　the　gypsy　whom　he　had　attempted　to　carry　off　on　the　preceding　night；　a　misdeed　for　which　he　was　dimly　conscious　that　he　was　being　punished　at　that　very　moment；　which　was　not　in　the　least　the　case；　since　he　was　being　chastised　only　for　the　misfortune　of　being　deaf；　and　of　having　been　judged　by　a　deaf　man。　　He　doubted　not　that　she　had　come　to　wreak　her　vengeance　also；　and　to　deal　her　blow　like　the　rest。

He　beheld　her；　in　fact；　mount　the　ladder　rapidly。　　Wrath　and　spite　suffocate　him。　　He　would　have　liked　to　make　the　pillory　crumble　into　ruins；　and　if　the　lightning　of　his　eye　could　have　dealt　death；　the　gypsy　would　have　been　reduced　to　powder　before　she　reached　the　platform。

She　approached；　without　uttering　a　syllable；　the　victim　who　writhed　in　a　vain　effort　to　escape　her；　and　detaching　a　gourd　from　her　girdle；　she　raised　it　gently　to　the　parched　lips　of　the　miserable　man。

Then；　from　that　eye　which　had　been；　up　to　that　moment；　so　dry　and　burning；　a　big　tear　was　seen　to　fall；　and　roll　slowly　down　that　deformed　visage　so　long　contracted　with　despair。　It　was　the　first；　in　all　probability；　that　the　unfortunate　man　had　ever　shed。

Meanwhile；　be　had　forgotten　to　drink。　　The　gypsy　made　her　little　pout；　from　impatience；　and　pressed　the　spout　to　the　tusked　month　of　Quasimodo；　with　a　smile。

He　drank　with　deep　draughts。　　His　thirst　was　burning。

When　he　had　finished；　the　wretch　protruded　his　black　lips；　no　doubt；　with　the　object　of　kissing　the　beautiful　hand　which　had　just　succoured　him。　　But　the　young　girl；　who　was；　perhaps；　somewhat　distrustful；　and　who　remembered　the　violent　attempt　of　the　night；　withdrew　her　hand　with　the　frightened　gesture　of　a　child　who　is　afraid　of　being　bitten　by　a　beast。

Then　the　poor　deaf　man　fixed　on　her　a　look　full　of　reproach　and　inexpressible　sadness。

It　would　have　been　a　touching　spectacle　anywhere；this　beautiful；　fresh；　pure；　and　charming　girl；　who　was　at　the　same　time　so　weak；　thus　hastening　to　the　relief　of　so　much　misery；　deformity；　and　malevolence。　　On　the　pillory；　the　spectacle　was　sublime。

The　very　populace　were　captivated　by　it；　and　began　to　clap　their　hands；　crying；

〃Noel！　　Noel！〃

It　was　at　that　moment　that　the　recluse　caught　sight；　from　the　window　of　her　bole；　of　the　gypsy　on　the　pillory；　and　hurled　at　her　her　sinister　imprecation；

〃Accursed　be　thou；　daughter　of　Egypt！　　Accursed！　accursed！〃




CHAPTER　V。

END　OF　THE　STORY　OF　THE　CAKE。



La　Esmeralda　turned　pale　and　descended　from　the　pillory；　staggering　as　she　went。　　The　voice　of　the　recluse　still　pursued　her；

〃Descend！　descend！　　Thief　of　Egypt！　thou　shalt　ascend　it　once　more！〃

〃The　sacked　nun　is　in　one　of　her　tantrums；〃　muttered　the　populace；　and　that　was　the　end　of　it。　　For　that　sort　of　woman　was　feared；　which　rendered　them　sacred。　　People　did　not　then　willingly　attack　one　who　prayed　day　and　night。

The　hour　had　arrived　for　removing　Quasimodo。　　He　was　unbound；　the　crowd　dispersed。

Near　the　Grand　Pont；　Mahiette；　who　was　returning　with　her　two　companions；　suddenly　halted；

〃By　the　way；　Eustache！　what　did　you　do　with　that　cake？〃

〃Mother；〃　said　the　child；　〃while　you　were　talking　with　that　lady　in　the　bole；　a　big　dog　took　a　bite　of　my　cake；　and　then　I　bit　it　also。〃

〃What；　sir；　did　you　eat　the　whole　of　it？〃　she　went　on。

〃Mother；　it　was　the　dog。　　I　told　him；　but　he　would　not　listen　to　me。　　Then　I　bit　into　it；　also。〃

〃'Tis　a　terrible　child！〃　said　the　mother；　smiling　and　scolding　at　one　and　the　same　time。　　〃Do　you　see；　Oudarde？　　He　already　eats　all　the　fruit　from　the　cherry…tree　in　our　orchard　of　Charlerange。　　So　his　grandfather　says　that　be　will　be　a　captain。　　Just　let　me　catch　you　at　it　again；　Master　Eustache。　Come　along；　you　greedy　fellow！〃



End　of　Volume　1。





VOLUME　II。






TABLE　OF　CONTENTS。



BOOK　SEVENTH。　I。　　　　The　Danger　of　Confiding　One's　Secret　to　a　Goat　II。　　　A　Priest　and　a　Philosopher　are　two　Different　Things　III。　　The　Bells　IV。　　　~ANArKH~　V。　　　　The　Two　Men　Clothed　in　Black　VI。　　　The　Effect　which　Seven　Oaths　in　the　Open　Air　can　Produce　VII。　　The　Mysterious　Monk　VIII。　The　Utility　of　Windows　which　Open　on　the　River

BOOK　EIGHTH。　I。　　　　The　Crown　Changed　into　a　Dry　Leaf　II。　　　Continuation　of　the　Crown　which　was　Changed　into　a　Dry　Leaf　III。　　End　of　the　Crown　which　was　Changed　into　a　Dry　Leaf　IV。　　　~Lasciate　Ogni　Speranza~Leave　all　hope　behind；　ye　who　Enter　here　V。　　　　The　Mother　VI。　　　Three　Human　Hearts　differently　Constructed

BOOK　NINTH。　I。　　　　Delirium　II。　　　Hunchbacked；　One　Eyed；　Lame　III。　　Deaf　IV。　　　Earthenware　and　Crystal　V。　　　　The　Key　to　the　Red　Door　VI。　　　Continuation　of　the　Key　to　the　Red　Door

BOOK　TENTH。　I。　　　　Gringoire　has　Many　Good　Ideas　in　Succession。Rue　des　Bernardins　II。　　　Turn　Vagabond　III。　　Long　Live　Mirth　IV。　　　An　Awkward　Friend　V。　　　　The　Retreat　in　which　Monsieur　Louis　of　France　says　his　Prayers　VI。　　　Little　Sword　in　Pocket　VII。　　Chateaupers　to　the　Rescue

BOOK　ELEVENTH。

I。　　　　The　Little　Shoe　II。　　　The　Beautiful　Creature　Clad　in　White　III。　　The　Marriage　of　Pinnbus　IV。　　　The　Marriage　of　Quasimodo　　　　　　　Note　added　to　Definitive　Edition




CHAPTER　I。

THE　DANGER　OF　CONFIDING　ONE'S　SECRET　TO　A　GOAT。



Many　weeks　had　elapsed。

The　first　of　March　had　arrived。　　The　sun；　which　Dubartas；　that　classic　ancestor　of　periphrase；　had　not　yet　dubbed　the　〃Grand…duke　of　Candles；〃　was　none　the　less　radiant　and　joyous　on　that　account。　　It　was　one　of　those　spring　days　which　possesses　so　much　sweetness　and　beauty；　that　all　Paris　turns　out　into　the　squares　and　promenades　and　celebrates　them　as　though　they　were　Sundays。　　In　those　days　of　brilliancy；　warmth；　and　serenity；　there　is　a　certain　hour　above　all　others；　when　the　fa？ade　of　Notre…Dame　should　be　admired。　It　is　the　moment　when　the　sun；　already　declining　towards　the　west；　looks　the　cathedral　almost　full　in　the　face。　　Its　rays；　growing　more　and　more　horizontal；　withdraw　slowly　from　the　pavement　of　the　square；　and　mount　up　the　perpendicular　fa？ade；　whose　thousand　bosses　in　high　relief　they　cause　to　start　out　from　the　shadows；　while　the　great　central　rose　window　flames　like　the　eye　of　a　cyclops；　inflamed　with　the　reflections　of　the　forge。

This　was　the　hour。

Opposite　the　lofty　cathedral；　reddened　by　the　setting　sun；　on　the　stone　balcony　built　above　the　porch　of　a　rich　Gothic　house；　which　formed　the　angle　of　the　square　and　the　Rue　du　Parvis；　several　young　girls　were　laughing　and　chatting　with　every　sort　of　grace　and　mirth。　　From　the　length　of　the　veil　which　fell　from　their　pointed　coif；　twined　with　pearls；　to　their　heels；　from　the　fineness　of　the　embroidered　chemisette　which　covered　their　shoulders　and　allowed　a　glimpse；　according　to　the　pleasing　custom　of　the　time；　of　the　swell　of　their　fair　virgin　bosoms；　from　the　opulence　of　their　under…petticoats　still　more　precious　than　their　overdress　（marvellous　refinement）；　from　the　gauze；　the　silk；　the　velvet；　with　which　all　this　was　composed；　and；