the hunchback of notre dame-第48章

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In　the　place　of　the　gypsy；　on　the　carpet；　whose　arabesques　had　seemed　to　vanish　but　a　moment　previously　by　the　capricious　figures　of　her　dance；　the　archdeacon　no　longer　beheld　any　one　but　the　red　and　yellow　man；　who；　in　order　to　earn　a　few　testers　in　his　turn；　was　walking　round　the　circle；　with　his　elbows　on　his　hips；　his　head　thrown　back；　his　face　red；　his　neck　outstretched；　with　a　chair　between　his　teeth。　　To　the　chair　he　had　fastened　a　cat；　which　a　neighbor　had　lent；　and　which　was　spitting　in　great　affright。

〃Notre…Dame！〃　exclaimed　the　archdeacon；　at　the　moment　when　the　juggler；　perspiring　heavily；　passed　in　front　of　him　with　his　pyramid　of　chair　and　his　cat；　〃What　is　Master　Pierre　Gringoire　doing　here？〃

The　harsh　voice　of　the　archdeacon　threw　the　poor　fellow　into　such　a　commotion　that　he　lost　his　equilibrium；　together　with　his　whole　edifice；　and　the　chair　and　the　cat　tumbled　pell…mell　upon　the　heads　of　the　spectators；　in　the　midst　of　inextinguishable　hootings。

It　is　probable　that　Master　Pierre　Gringoire　（for　it　was　indeed　he）　would　have　had　a　sorry　account　to　settle　with　the　neighbor　who　owned　the　cat；　and　all　the　bruised　and　scratched　faces　which　surrounded　him；　if　he　had　not　hastened　to　profit　by　the　tumult　to　take　refuge　in　the　church；　whither　Claude　Frollo　had　made　him　a　sign　to　follow　him。

The　cathedral　was　already　dark　and　deserted；　the　side…aisles　were　full　of　shadows；　and　the　lamps　of　the　chapels　began　to　shine　out　like　stars；　so　black　had　the　vaulted　ceiling　become。　Only　the　great　rose　window　of　the　fa？ade；　whose　thousand　colors　were　steeped　in　a　ray　of　horizontal　sunlight；　glittered　in　the　gloom　like　a　mass　of　diamonds；　and　threw　its　dazzling　reflection　to　the　other　end　of　the　nave。

When　they　had　advanced　a　few　paces；　Dom　Claude　placed　his　back　against　a　pillar；　and　gazed　intently　at　Gringoire。　The　gaze　was　not　the　one　which　Gringoire　feared；　ashamed　as　he　was　of　having　been　caught　by　a　grave　and　learned　person　in　the　costume　of　a　buffoon。　　There　was　nothing　mocking　or　ironical　in　the　priest's　glance；　it　was　serious；　tranquil；　piercing。　　The　archdeacon　was　the　first　to　break　the　silence。

〃Come　now；　Master　Pierre。　　You　are　to　explain　many　things　to　me。　　And　first　of　all；　how　comes　it　that　you　have　not　been　seen　for　two　months；　and　that　now　one　finds　you　in　the　public　squares；　in　a　fine　equipment　in　truth！　　Motley　red　and　yellow；　like　a　Caudebec　apple？〃

〃Messire；〃　said　Gringoire；　piteously；　〃it　is；　in　fact；　an　amazing　accoutrement。　　You　see　me　no　more　comfortable　in　it　than　a　cat　coiffed　with　a　calabash。　　'Tis　very　ill　done；　I　am　conscious；　to　expose　messieurs　the　sergeants　of　the　watch　to　the　liability　of　cudgelling　beneath　this　cassock　the　humerus　of　a　Pythagorean　philosopher。　　But　what　would　you　have；　my　reverend　master？　'tis　the　fault　of　my　ancient　jerkin；　which　abandoned　me　in　cowardly　wise；　at　the　beginning　of　the　winter；　under　the　pretext　that　it　was　falling　into　tatters；　and　that　it　required　repose　in　the　basket　of　a　rag…picker。　What　is　one　to　do？　　Civilization　has　not　yet　arrived　at　the　point　where　one　can　go　stark　naked；　as　ancient　Diogenes　wished。　　Add　that　a　very　cold　wind　was　blowing；　and　'tis　not　in　the　month　of　January　that　one　can　successfully　attempt　to　make　humanity　take　this　new　step。　　This　garment　presented　itself；　I　took　it；　and　I　left　my　ancient　black　smock；　which；　for　a　hermetic　like　myself；　was　far　from　being　hermetically　closed。　　Behold　me　then；　in　the　garments　of　a　stage…player；　like　Saint　Genest。　　What　would　you　have？　'tis　an　eclipse。　Apollo　himself　tended　the　flocks　of　Admetus。〃

〃'Tis　a　fine　profession　that　you　are　engaged　in！〃　replied　the　archdeacon。

〃I　agree；　my　master；　that　'tis　better　to　philosophize　and　poetize；　to　blow　the　flame　in　the　furnace；　or　to　receive　it　from　carry　cats　on　a　shield。　　So；　when　you　addressed　me；　I　was　as　foolish　as　an　ass　before　a　turnspit。　　But　what　would　you　have；　messire？　　One　must　eat　every　day；　and　the　finest　Alexandrine　verses　are　not　worth　a　bit　of　Brie　cheese。　　Now；　I　made　for　Madame　Marguerite　of　Flanders；　that　famous　epithalamium；　as　you　know；　and　the　city　will　not　pay　me；　under　the　pretext　that　it　was　not　excellent；　as　though　one　could　give　a　tragedy　of　Sophocles　for　four　crowns！　Hence；　I　was　on　the　point　of　dying　with　hunger。　　Happily；　I　found　that　I　was　rather　strong　in　the　jaw；　so　I　said　to　this　jaw；perform　some　feats　of　strength　and　of　equilibrium：　nourish　thyself。　　~Ale　te　ipsam~。　　A　pack　of　beggars　who　have　become　my　good　friends；　have　taught　me　twenty　sorts　of　herculean　feats；　and　now　I　give　to　my　teeth　every　evening　the　bread　which　they　have　earned　during　the　day　by　the　sweat　of　my　brow。　　After　all；　concede；　I　grant　that　it　is　a　sad　employment　for　my　intellectual　faculties；　and　that　man　is　not　made　to　pass　his　life　in　beating　the　tambourine　and　biting　chairs。　　But；　reverend　master；　it　is　not　sufficient　to　pass　one's　life；　one　must　earn　the　means　for　life。''

Dom　Claude　listened　in　silence。　　All　at　once　his　deep…set　eye　assumed　so　sagacious　and　penetrating　an　expression；　that　Gringoire　felt　himself；　so　to　speak；　searched　to　the　bottom　of　the　soul　by　that　glance。

〃Very　good；　Master　Pierre；　but　how　comes　it　that　you　are　now　in　company　with　that　gypsy　dancer？〃

〃In　faith！〃　said　Gringoire；　〃'tis　because　she　is　my　wife　and　I　am　her　husband。〃

The　priest's　gloomy　eyes　flashed　into　flame。

〃Have　you　done　that；　you　wretch！〃　he　cried；　seizing　Gringoire's　arm　with　fury；　〃have　you　been　so　abandoned　by　God　as　to　raise　your　hand　against　that　girl？〃

〃On　my　chance　of　paradise；　monseigneur；〃　replied　Gringoire；　trembling　in　every　limb；　〃I　swear　to　you　that　I　have　never　touched　her；　if　that　is　what　disturbs　you。〃

〃Then　why　do　you　talk　of　husband　and　wife？〃　said　the　priest。　Gringoire　made　haste　to　relate　to　him　as　succinctly　as　possible；　all　that　the　reader　already　knows；　his　adventure　in　the　Court　of　Miracles　and　the　broken…crock　marriage。　　It　appeared；　moreover；　that　this　marriage　had　led　to　no　results　whatever；　and　that　each　evening　the　gypsy　girl　cheated　him　of　his　nuptial　right　as　on　the　first　day。　　〃'Tis　a　mortification；〃　he　said　in　conclusion；　〃but　that　is　because　I　have　had　the　misfortune　to　wed　a　virgin。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　demanded　the　archdeacon；　who　had　been　gradually　appeased　by　this　recital。

〃'Tis　very　difficult　to　explain；〃　replied　the　poet。　　〃It　is　a　superstition。　　My　wife　is；　according　to　what　an　old　thief；　who　is　called　among　us　the　Duke　of　Egypt；　has　told　me；　a　foundling　or　a　lost　child；　which　is　the　same　thing。　　She　wears　on　her　neck　an　amulet　which；　it　is　affirmed；　will　cause　her　to　meet　her　parents　some　day；　but　which　will　lose　its　virtue　if　the　young　girl　loses　hers。　　Hence　it　follows　that　both　of　us　remain　very　virtuous。〃

〃So；〃　resumed　Claude；　whose　brow　cleared　more　and　more；　〃you　believe；　Master　Pierre；　that　this　creature　has　not　been　approached　by　any　man？〃

〃What　would　you　have　a　man　do；　Dom　Claude；　as　against　a　superstition？　　She　has　got　that　in　her　head。　　I　assuredly　esteem　as　a　rarity　this　nunlike　prudery　which　is　preserved　untamed　amid　those　Bohemian　girls　who　are　so　easily　brought　into　subjection。　　But　she　has　three　things　to　protect　her：　the　Duke　of　Egypt；　who　has　taken　her　under　his　safeguard；　reckoning；　perchance；　on　selling　her　to　some　gay　abbé；　all　his　tribe；　who　hold　her　in　singular　veneration；　like　a　Notre…Dame；　and　a　certain　tiny　poignard；　which　the　buxom　dame　always　wears　about　her；　in　some　nook；　in　spite　of　the　ordinances　of　the　provost；　and　which　one　causes　to　fly　out　into　her　hands　by　squeezing　her　waist。　　'Tis　a　proud　wasp；　I　can　tell　you！〃

The　archdeacon　pressed　Gringoire　with　questions。

La　Esmeralda；　in　the　judgment　of　Gringoire；　was　an　inoffensive　and　charming　creature；　pretty；　with　the　exception　of　a　pout　which　was　peculiar　to　her；　a　na？ve　and　passionate　damsel；　ignorant　of　everything　and　enthusiastic　about　everything；　not　yet　aware　of　the　difference　between　a　man　and　a　woman；　even　in　her　dreams；　made　like　that；　wild　especially　over　dancing；　noise；　the　open　air；　a　sort　of　woman　bee；　with　invisible　wings　on　her　feet；　and　living　in　a　whirlwind。　　She　owed　this　nature　to　the　wandering　life　which　she　had　always　led。　　Gringoire　had　succeeded　in　learning　that；　while　a　mere　child；　she　had　traversed　Spain　and　Catalonia；　even　to　Sicily；　he　believed　that　she　had　even　been　taken　by　the　caravan　of　Zingari；　of　which　she　formed　a　part；　to　the　kingdom　of　Algiers；　a　country　situated　in　Achaia；　which　country　adjoins；　on　one　side　Albania　and　Greece；　on　the　other；　the　Sicilian　Sea；　which　is　the　road　to　Constantinople。　　The　Bohemians；　said　Gringoire；　were　vassals　of　the　King　of　Algiers；　in　his　quality　of　chief　of　the　White　Moors。　　One　thing　is　certain；　that　la　Esmeralda　had　come　to　France　while　still　very　young；　by　way　of　Hungary。　　From　all　these　countries　the　young　girl　had　brought　back　fragments　of　queer　jargons；　songs；　and　strange　ideas；　which　made　her　language　as　motley　as　her　costume；　half　Parisian；　half　African。　　However；　the　people　of　the　quarters　which　she　frequented　loved　her　for　her　gayety；　her　daintiness；　her　lively　manners；　her　dances；　and　her　songs。　　She　believed　herself　to　be　hated；　in　all　the　city；　by　but　two　persons；　of　whom　she　often　spoke　in　terror：　the　sacked　nun　of　the　Tour…Roland；　a　villanous　recluse　who　cherished　some　secret　grudge　against　these　gypsies；　and　who　cursed　the　poor　dancer　every　time　that　the　latter　passed　before　her　window；　and　a　priest；　who　never　met　her　without　casting　at　her　looks　and　words　which　frightened　her。

The　mention　of　this　last　circumstance　disturbed　the　archdeacon　greatly；　though　Gringoire　paid　no　attention　to　his　perturbation；　to　such　an　extent　had　two　months　sufficed　to　cause　the　heedless　poet　to　forget　the　singular　details　of　the　evening　on　which　he　had　met　the　gypsy；　and　the　presence　of　the　archdeacon　in　it　all。　　Otherwise；　the　little　dancer　feared　nothing；　she　did　not　tell　fortunes；　which　protected　her　against　those　trials　for　magic　which　were　so　frequently　instituted　against　gypsy　women。　　And　then；　Gringoire　held　the　position　of　her　brother；　if　not　of　her　husband。　　After　all；　the　philosopher　endured　this　sort　of　platonic　marriage　very　patiently。　　It　meant　a　shelter　and　bread　at　least。　　Every　morning；　he　set　out　from　the　lair　of　the　thieves；　generally　with　the　gypsy；　he　helped　her　make　her　collections　of　targes*　and　little　blanks**　in　the　squares；　each　evening　he　returned　to　the　same　roof　with　her；　allowed　her　to　bolt　herself　into　her　little　chamber；　and　slept　the　sleep　of　the　just。　　A　very　sweet　existence；　taking　it　all　in　all；　he　said；　and　well　adapted　to　revery。　　And　then；　on　his　soul　and　conscience；　the　philosopher　was　not　very　sure　that　he　was　madly　in　love　with　the　gypsy。　　He　loved　her　goat　almost　as　dearly。　　It　was　a　charming　animal；　gentle；　intelligent；　clever；　a　learned　goat。　　Nothing　was　more　common　in　the　Middle　Ages　than　these　learned　animals；　which　amazed　people　greatly；　and　often　led　their　instructors　to　the　stake。　　But　the　witchcraft　of　the　goat　with　the　golden　hoofs　was　a　very　innocent　species　of　magic。　　Gringoire　explained　them　to　the　archdeacon；　whom　these　details　seemed　to　interest　deeply。　　In　the　majority　of　cases；　it　was　sufficient　to　present　the　tambourine　to　the　goat　in　such　or　such　a　manner；　in　order　to　obtain