the hunchback of notre dame-第54章

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〃Why；　Phoebus？〃

〃I'm　afraid　lest　the　Bohemian　should　see　me。〃

〃What　Bohemian？〃

〃The　little　girl　with　the　goat。〃

〃La　Smeralda？〃

〃That's　it；　Jehan。　　I　always　forget　her　devil　of　a　name。　Let　us　make　haste；　she　will　recognize　me。　　I　don't　want　to　have　that　girl　accost　me　in　the　street。〃

〃Do　you　know　her；　Phoebus？〃

Here　the　archdeacon　saw　Phoebus　sneer；　bend　down　to　Jehan's　ear；　and　say　a　few　words　to　him　in　a　low　voice；　then　Phoebus　burst　into　a　laugh；　and　shook　his　head　with　a　triumphant　air。

〃Truly？〃　said　Jehan。

〃Upon　my　soul！〃　said　Phoebus。

〃This　evening？〃

〃This　evening。〃

〃Are　you　sure　that　she　will　come？〃

〃Are　you　a　fool；　Jehan？　　Does　one　doubt　such　things？〃

〃Captain　Phoebus；　you　are　a　happy　gendarme！〃

The　archdeacon　heard　the　whole　of　this　conversation。　　His　teeth　chattered；　a　visible　shiver　ran　through　his　whole　body。　He　halted　for　a　moment；　leaned　against　a　post　like　a　drunken　man；　then　followed　the　two　merry　knaves。

At　the　moment　when　he　overtook　them　once　more；　they　had　changed　their　conversation。　　He　heard　them　singing　at　the　top　of　their　lungs　the　ancient　refrain；


　　　　　　　　　~Les　enfants　des　Petits…Carreaux　　　　　　　　　　Se　font　pendre　cornme　des　veaux~*。


*　The　children　of　the　Petits　Carreaux　let　themselves　be　hung　like　calves。




CHAPTER　VII。

THE　MYSTERIOUS　MONK。



The　illustrious　wine　shop　of　〃Eve's　Apple〃　was　situated　in　the　University；　at　the　corner　of　the　Rue　de　la　Rondelle　and　the　Rue　de　la　Batonnier。　　It　was　a　very　spacious　and　very　low　hail　on　the　ground　floor；　with　a　vaulted　ceiling　whose　central　spring　rested　upon　a　huge　pillar　of　wood　painted　yellow；　tables　everywhere；　shining　pewter　jugs　hanging　on　the　walls；　always　a　large　number　of　drinkers；　a　plenty　of　wenches；　a　window　on　the　street；　a　vine　at　the　door；　and　over　the　door　a　flaring　piece　of　sheet…iron；　painted　with　an　apple　and　a　woman；　rusted　by　the　rain　and　turning　with　the　wind　on　an　iron　pin。　　This　species　of　weather…vane　which　looked　upon　the　pavement　was　the　signboard。

Night　was　falling；　the　square　was　dark；　the　wine…shop；　full　of　candles；　flamed　afar　like　a　forge　in　the　gloom；　the　noise　of　glasses　and　feasting；　of　oaths　and　quarrels；　which　escaped　through　the　broken　panes；　was　audible。　　Through　the　mist　which　the　warmth　of　the　room　spread　over　the　window　in　front；　a　hundred　confused　figures　could　be　seen　swarming；　and　from　time　to　time　a　burst　of　noisy　laughter　broke　forth　from　it。　　The　passers…by　who　were　going　about　their　business；　slipped　past　this　tumultuous　window　without　glancing　at　it。　Only　at　intervals　did　some　little　ragged　boy　raise　himself　on　tiptoe　as　far　as　the　ledge；　and　hurl　into　the　drinking…shop；　that　ancient；　jeering　hoot；　with　which　drunken　men　were　then　pursued：　〃Aux　Houls；　saouls；　saouls；　saouls！〃

Nevertheless；　one　man　paced　imperturbably　back　and　forth　in　front　of　the　tavern；　gazing　at　it　incessantly；　and　going　no　further　from　it　than　a　pikernan　from　his　sentry…box。　　He　was　enveloped　in　a　mantle　to　his　very　nose。　　This　mantle　he　had　just　purchased　of　the　old…clothes　man；　in　the　vicinity　of　the　〃Eve's　Apple；〃　no　doubt　to　protect　himself　from　the　cold　of　the　March　evening；　possibly　also；　to　conceal　his　costume。　From　time　to　time　he　paused　in　front　of　the　dim　window　with　its　leaden　lattice；　listened；　looked；　and　stamped　his　foot。

At　length　the　door　of　the　dram…shop　opened。　　This　was　what　he　appeared　to　be　waiting　for。　　Two　boon　companions　came　forth。　　The　ray　of　light　which　escaped　from　the　door　crimsoned　for　a　moment　their　jovial　faces。

The　man　in　the　mantle　went　and　stationed　himself　on　the　watch　under　a　porch　on　the　other　side　of　the　street。

〃~Corne　et　tonnerre~！〃　said　one　of　the　comrades。　　〃Seven　o'clock　is　on　the　point　of　striking。　　'Tis　the　hour　of　my　appointed　meeting。〃

〃I　tell　you；〃　repeated　his　companion；　with　a　thick　tongue；　〃that　I　don't　live　in　the　Rue　des　Mauvaises　Paroles；　~indignus　qui　inter　mala　verba　habitat~。　　I　have　a　lodging　in　the　Rue　Jean…Pain…Mollet；　~in　vico　Johannis　Pain…Mollet~。　　You　are　more　horned　than　a　unicorn　if　you　assert　the　contrary。　Every　one　knows　that　he　who　once　mounts　astride　a　bear　is　never　after　afraid；　but　you　have　a　nose　turned　to　dainties　like　Saint…Jacques　of　the　hospital。〃

〃Jehan；　my　friend；　you　are　drunk；〃　said　the　other。

The　other　replied　staggering；　〃It　pleases　you　to　say　so；　Phoebus；　but　it　hath　been　proved　that　Plato　had　the　profile　of　a　hound。〃

The　reader　has；　no　doubt；　already　recognized　our　two　brave　friends；　the　captain　and　the　scholar。　　It　appears　that　the　man　who　was　lying　in　wait　for　them　had　also　recognized　them；　for　he　slowly　followed　all　the　zigzags　that　the　scholar　caused　the　captain　to　make；　who　being　a　more　hardened　drinker　had　retained　all　his　self…possession。　　By　listening　to　them　attentively；　the　man　in　the　mantle　could　catch　in　its　entirety　the　following　interesting　conversation；

〃~Corbacque~！　　Do　try　to　walk　straight；　master　bachelor；　you　know　that　I　must　leave　you。　　Here　it　is　seven　o'clock。　I　have　an　appointment　with　a　woman。〃

〃Leave　me　then！　　I　see　stars　and　lances　of　fire。　　You　are　like　the　Chateau　de　Dampmartin；　which　is　bursting　with　laughter。〃

〃By　the　warts　of　my　grandmother；　Jehan；　you　are　raving　with　too　much　rabidness。　　By　the　way；　Jehan；　have　you　any　money　left？〃

〃Monsieur　Rector；　there　is　no　mistake；　the　little　butcher's　shop；　~parva　boucheria~。〃

〃Jehau！　　my　friend　Jehan！　　You　know　that　I　made　an　appointment　with　that　little　girl　at　the　end　of　the　Pont　Saint…　Michel；　and　I　can　only　take　her　to　the　Falourdel's；　the　old　crone　of　the　bridge；　and　that　I　must　pay　for　a　chamber。　　The　old　witch　with　a　white　moustache　would　not　trust　me。　　Jehan！　for　pity's　sake！　　Have　we　drunk　up　the　whole　of　the　curé's　purse？　　Have　you　not　a　single　parisis　left？〃

〃The　consciousness　of　having　spent　the　other　hours　well　is　a　just　and　savory　condiment　for　the　table。〃

〃Belly　and　guts！　a　truce　to　your　whimsical　nonsense！　　Tell　me；　Jehan　of　the　devil！　have　you　any　money　left？　　Give　it　to　me；　~bédieu~！〃　or　I　will　search　you；　were　you　as　leprous　as　Job；　and　as　scabby　as　Caesar！〃

〃Monsieur；　the　Rue　Galiache　is　a　street　which　hath　at　one　end　the　Rue　de　la　Verrerie；　and　at　the　other　the　Rue　de　la　Tixeranderie。〃

〃Well；　yes！　my　good　friend　Jehan；　my　poor　comrade；　the　Rue　Galiache　is　good；　very　good。　　But　in　the　name　of　heaven　collect　your　wits。　　I　must　have　a　sou　parisis；　and　the　appointment　is　for　seven　o'clock。〃

〃Silence　for　the　rondo；　and　attention　to　the　refrain；


　　　　　　　　　〃~Quand　les　rats　mangeront　les　cas；　　　　　　　　　　Le　roi　sera　seigneur　d'Arras；　　　　　　　　　　Quand　la　mer；　qui　est　grande　et　le（e　　　　　　　　　　Sera　a　la　Saint…Jean　gele（e；　　　　　　　　　　On　verra；　par…dessus　la　glace；　　　　　　　　　　Sortir　ceux　d'Arras　de　leur　place~*。〃


*　　When　the　rats　eat　the　cats；　the　king　will　be　lord　of　Arras；　when　the　sea　which　is　great　and　wide；　is　frozen　over　at　St。　John's　tide；　men　will　see　across　the　ice；　those　who　dwell　in　Arras　quit　their　place。

〃Well；　scholar　of　Antichrist；　may　you　be　strangled　with　the　entrails　of　your　mother！〃　exclaimed　Phoebus；　and　he　gave　the　drunken　scholar　a　rough　push；　the　latter　slipped　against　the　wall；　and　slid　flabbily　to　the　pavement　of　Philip　Augustus。　　A　remnant　of　fraternal　pity；　which　never　abandons　the　heart　of　a　drinker；　prompted　Phoebus　to　roll　Jehan　with　his　foot　upon　one　of　those　pillows　of　the　poor；　which　Providence　keeps　in　readiness　at　the　corner　of　all　the　street　posts　of　Paris；　and　which　the　rich　blight　with　the　name　of　〃a　rubbish…　heap。〃　　The　captain　adjusted　Jehan's　head　upon　an　inclined　plane　of　cabbage…stumps；　and　on　the　very　instant；　the　scholar　fell　to　snoring　in　a　magnificent　bass。　　Meanwhile；　all　malice　was　not　extinguished　in　the　captain's　heart。　　〃So　much　the　worse　if　the　devil's　cart　picks　you　up　on　its　passage！〃　he　said　to　the　poor；　sleeping　clerk；　and　he　strode　off。

The　man　in　the　mantle；　who　had　not　ceased　to　follow　him；　halted　for　a　moment　before　the　prostrate　scholar；　as　though　agitated　by　indecision；　then；　uttering　a　profound　sigh；　he　also　strode　off　in　pursuit　of　the　captain。

We；　like　them；　will　leave　Jehan　to　slumber　beneath　the　open　sky；　and　will　follow　them　also；　if　it　pleases　the　reader。

On　emerging　into　the　Rue　Saint…André…des…Arcs；　Captain　Phoebus　perceived　that　some　one　was　following　him。　　On　glancing　sideways　by　chance；　he　perceived　a　sort　of　shadow　crawling　after　him　along　the　walls。　　He　halted；　it　halted；　he　resumed　his　march；　it　resumed　its　march。　　This　disturbed　him　not　overmuch。　　〃Ah；　bah！〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃I　have　not　a　sou。〃

He　paused　in　front　of　the　College　d'Autun。　　It　was　at　this　college　that　he　had　sketched　out　what　he　called　his　studies；　and；　through　a　scholar's　teasing　habit　which　still　lingered　in　him；　he　never　passed　the　fa？ade　without　inflicting　on　the　statue　of　Cardinal　Pierre　Bertrand；　sculptured　to　the　right　of　the　portal；　the　affront　of　which　Priapus　complains　so　bitterly　in　the　satire　of　Horace；　~Olim　truncus　eram　ficulnus~。　　He　had　done　this　with　so　much　unrelenting　animosity　that　the　inscription；　~Eduensis　episcopus~；　had　become　almost　effaced。　Therefore；　he　halted　before　the　statue　according　to　his　wont。　The　street　was　utterly　deserted。　　At　the　moment　when　he　was　coolly　retying　his　shoulder　knots；　with　his　nose　in　the　air；　he　saw　the　shadow　approaching　him　with　slow　steps；　so　slow　that　he　had　ample　time　to　observe　that　this　shadow　wore　a　cloak　and　a　hat。　　On　arriving　near　him；　it　halted　and　remained　more　motionless　than　the　statue　of　Cardinal　Bertrand。　Meanwhile；　it　riveted　upon　Phoebus　two　intent　eyes；　full　of　that　vague　light　which　issues　in　the　night　time　from　the　pupils　of　a　cat。

The　captain　was　brave；　and　would　have　cared　very　little　for　a　highwayman；　with　a　rapier　in　his　hand。　　But　this　walking　statue；　this　petrified　man；　froze　his　blood。　　There　were　then　in　circulation；　strange　stories　of　a　surly　monk；　a　nocturnal　prowler　about　the　streets　of　Paris；　and　they　recurred　confusedly　to　his　memory。　　He　remained　for　several　minutes　in　stupefaction；　and　finally　broke　the　silence　with　a　forced　laugh。

〃Monsieur；　if　you　are　a　robber；　as　I　hope　you　are；　you　produce　upon　me　the　effect　of　a　heron　attacking　a　nutshell。　　I　am　the　son　of　a　ruined　family；　my　dear　fellow。　　Try　your　hand　near　by　here。　　In　the　chapel　of　this　college　there　is　some　wood　of　the　true　cross　set　in　silver。〃

The　hand　of　the　shadow　emerged　from　beneath　its　mantle　and　descended　upon　the　arm　of　Phoebus　with　the　grip　of　an　eagle's　talon；　at　the　same　time　the　shadow　spoke；

〃Captain　Phoebus　de　Chateaupers！〃

What；　the　devil！〃　said　Phoebus；　〃you　know　my　name！〃

〃I　know　not　your　name　alone；〃　continued　the　man　in　the　mantle；　with　his　sepulchral　voice。　　〃You　have　a　rendezvous　this　evening。〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Phoebus　in　amazement。

〃At　seven　o'clock。〃

〃In　a　quarter　of　an　hour。〃

〃At　la　Falourdel's。〃

〃Precisely。〃

〃The　lewd　hag　of　the　Pont　Saint…Michel。〃

〃Of　Saint　Michel　the　archangel；　as　the　Pater　Noster　saith。〃

〃Impious　wretch！〃　muttered　the　spectre。　　〃With　a　woman？〃

〃~Confiteor~；I　confess。〃

〃Who　is　called？〃

〃La　Smeralda；〃　said　Phoebus；　gayly。　　All　his　heedlessness　had　gradually　returned。

At　this　name；　the　shadow's　grasp　shook　the　arm　of　Phoebus　in　a　fury。

〃Captain　Phoebus　de　Chateau