the hunchback of notre dame-第55章

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

〃Captain　Phoebus　de　Chateaupers；　thou　liest！〃

Any　one　who　could　have　beheld　at　that　moment　the　captain's　inflamed　countenance；　his　leap　backwards；　so　violent　that　he　disengaged　himself　from　the　grip　which　held　him；　the　proud　air　with　which　he　clapped　his　hand　on　his　swordhilt；　and；　in　the　presence　of　this　wrath　the　gloomy　immobility　of　the　man　in　the　cloak；any　one　who　could　have　beheld　this　would　have　been　frightened。　　There　was　in　it　a　touch　of　the　combat　of　Don　Juan　and　the　statue。

〃Christ　and　Satan！〃　exclaimed　the　captain。　　〃That　is　a　word　which　rarely　strikes　the　ear　of　a　Chateaupers！　　Thou　wilt　not　dare　repeat　it。〃

〃Thou　liest！〃　said　the　shadow　coldly。

The　captain　gnashed　his　teeth。　　Surly　monk；　phantom；　superstitions；he　had　forgotten　all　at　that　moment。　　He　no　longer　beheld　anything　but　a　man；　and　an　insult。

〃Ah！　this　is　well！〃　he　stammered；　in　a　voice　stifled　with　rage。　　He　drew　his　sword；　then　stammering；　for　anger　as　well　as　fear　makes　a　man　tremble：　〃Here！　　On　the　spot！　　Come　on！　　Swords！　　Swords！　　Blood　on　the　pavement！〃

But　the　other　never　stirred。　　When　he　beheld　his　adversary　on　guard　and　ready　to　parry；

〃Captain　Phoebus；〃　he　said；　and　his　tone　vibrated　with　bitterness；　〃you　forget　your　appointment。〃

The　rages　of　men　like　Phoebus　are　milk…soups；　whose　ebullition　is　calmed　by　a　drop　of　cold　water。　　This　simple　remark　caused　the　sword　which　glittered　in　the　captain's　hand　to　be　lowered。

〃Captain；〃　pursued　the　man；　〃to…morrow；　the　day　after　to…morrow；　a　month　hence；　ten　years　hence；　you　will　find　me　ready　to　cut　your　throat；　but　go　first　to　your　rendezvous。〃

〃In　sooth；〃　said　Phoebus；　as　though　seeking　to　capitulate　with　himself；　〃these　are　two　charming　things　to　be　encountered　in　a　rendezvous；a　sword　and　a　wench；　but　I　do　not　see　why　I　should　miss　the　one　for　the　sake　of　the　other；　when　I　can　have　both。〃

He　replaced　his　sword　in　its　scabbard。

〃Go　to　your　rendezvous；〃　said　the　man。

〃Monsieur；〃　replied　Phoebus　with　some　embarrassment；　〃many　thanks　for　your　courtesy。　　In　fact；　there　will　be　ample　time　to…morrow　for　us　to　chop　up　father　Adam's　doublet　into　slashes　and　buttonholes。　　I　am　obliged　to　you　for　allowing　me　to　pass　one　more　agreeable　quarter　of　an　hour。　　I　certainly　did　hope　to　put　you　in　the　gutter；　and　still　arrive　in　time　for　the　fair　one；　especially　as　it　has　a　better　appearance　to　make　the　women　wait　a　little　in　such　cases。　　But　you　strike　me　as　having　the　air　of　a　gallant　man；　and　it　is　safer　to　defer　our　affair　until　to…morrow。　　So　I　will　betake　myself　to　my　rendezvous；　it　is　for　seven　o'clock；　as　you　know。〃　　Here　Phoebus　scratched　his　ear。　　〃Ah。　　~Corne　Dieu~！　　I　had　forgotten！　I　haven't　a　sou　to　discharge　the　price　of　the　garret；　and　the　old　crone　will　insist　on　being　paid　in　advance。　　She　distrusts　me。〃

〃Here　is　the　wherewithal　to　pay。〃

Phoebus　felt　the　stranger's　cold　hand　slip　into　his　a　large　piece　of　money。　　He　could　not　refrain　from　taking　the　money　and　pressing　the　hand。

〃~Vrai　Dieu~！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃you　are　a　good　fellow！〃

〃One　condition；〃　said　the　man。　　〃Prove　to　me　that　I　have　been　wrong　and　that　you　were　speaking　the　truth。　　Hide　me　in　some　corner　whence　I　can　see　whether　this　woman　is　really　the　one　whose　name　you　uttered。〃

〃Oh！〃　replied　Phoebus；　〃'tis　all　one　to　me。　　We　will　take；　the　Sainte…Marthe　chamber；　you　can　look　at　your　ease　from　the　kennel　hard　by。〃

〃Come　then；〃　said　the　shadow。

〃At　your　service；〃　said　the　captain；　〃I　know　not　whether　you　are　Messer　Diavolus　in　person；　but　let　us　be　good　friends　for　this　evening；　to…morrow　I　will　repay　you　all　my　debts；　both　of　purse　and　sword。〃

They　set　out　again　at　a　rapid　pace。　　At　the　expiration　of　a　few　minutes；　the　sound　of　the　river　announced　to　them　that　they　were　on　the　Pont　Saint…Michel；　then　loaded　with　houses。

〃I　will　first　show　you　the　way；〃　said　Phoebus　to　his　companion；　〃I　will　then　go　in　search　of　the　fair　one　who　is　awaiting　me　near　the　Petit…Chatelet。〃

His　companion　made　no　reply；　he　had　not　uttered　a　word　since　they　had　been　walking　side　by　side。　　Phoebus　halted　before　a　low　door；　and　knocked　roughly；　a　light　made　its　appearance　through　the　cracks　of　the　door。

〃Who　is　there？〃　cried　a　toothless　voice。

〃~Corps…Dieu！　　Tête…Dieu！　　Ventre…Dieu~！〃　replied　the　captain。

The　door　opened　instantly；　and　allowed　the　new…corners　to　see　an　old　woman　and　an　old　lamp；　both　of　which　trembled。　The　old　woman　was　bent　double；　clad　in　tatters；　with　a　shaking　head；　pierced　with　two　small　eyes；　and　coiffed　with　a　dish　clout；　wrinkled　everywhere；　on　hands　and　face　and　neck；　her　lips　retreated　under　her　gums；　and　about　her　mouth　she　had　tufts　of　white　hairs　which　gave　her　the　whiskered　look　of　a　cat。

The　interior　of　the　den　was　no　less　dilapitated　than　she；　there　were　chalk　walls；　blackened　beams　in　the　ceiling；　a　dismantled　chimney…piece；　spiders'　webs　in　all　the　corners；　in　the　middle　a　staggering　herd　of　tables　and　lame　stools；　a　dirty　child　among　the　ashes；　and　at　the　back　a　staircase；　or　rather；　a　wooden　ladder；　which　ended　in　a　trap　door　in　the　ceiling。

On　entering　this　lair；　Phoebus's　mysterious　companion　raised　his　mantle　to　his　very　eyes。　　Meanwhile；　the　captain；　swearing　like　a　Saracen；　hastened　to　〃make　the　sun　shine　in　a　crown〃　as　saith　our　admirable　Régnier。

〃The　Sainte…Marthe　chamber；〃　said　he。

The　old　woman　addressed　him　as　monseigneur；　and　shut　up　the　crown　in　a　drawer。　　It　was　the　coin　which　the　man　in　the　black　mantle　had　given　to　Phoebus。　　While　her　back　was　turned；　the　bushy…headed　and　ragged　little　boy　who　was　playing　in　the　ashes；　adroitly　approached　the　drawer；　abstracted　the　crown；　and　put　in　its　place　a　dry　leaf　which　he　had　plucked　from　a　fagot。

The　old　crone　made　a　sign　to　the　two　gentlemen；　as　she　called　them；　to　follow　her；　and　mounted　the　ladder　in　advance　of　them。　　On　arriving　at　the　upper　story；　she　set　her　lamp　on　a　coffer；　and；　Phoebus；　like　a　frequent　visitor　of　the　house；　opened　a　door　which　opened　on　a　dark　hole。　　〃Enter　here；　my　dear　fellow；〃　he　said　to　his　companion。　　The　man　in　the　mantle　obeyed　without　a　word　in　reply；　the　door　closed　upon　him；　he　heard　Phoebus　bolt　it；　and　a　moment　later　descend　the　stairs　again　with　the　aged　hag。　　The　light　had　disappeared。




CHAPTER　VIII。

THE　UTILITY　OF　WINDOWS　WHICH　OPEN　ON　THE　RIVER。



Claude　Frollo　（for　we　presume　that　the　reader；　more　intelligent　than　Phoebus；　has　seen　in　this　whole　adventure　no　other　surly　monk　than　the　archdeacon）；　Claude　Frollo　groped　about　for　several　moments　in　the　dark　lair　into　which　the　captain　had　bolted　him。　　It　was　one　of　those　nooks　which　architects　sometimes　reserve　at　the　point　of　junction　between　the　roof　and　the　supporting　wall。　　A　vertical　section　of　this　kennel；　as　Phoebus　had　so　justly　styled　it；　would　have　made　a　triangle。　Moreover；　there　was　neither　window　nor　air…hole；　and　the　slope　of　the　roof　prevented　one　from　standing　upright。　　Accordingly；　Claude　crouched　down　in　the　dust；　and　the　plaster　which　cracked　beneath　him；　his　head　was　on　fire；　rummaging　around　him　with　his　hands；　be　found　on　the　floor　a　bit　of　broken　glass；　which　he　pressed　to　his　brow；　and　whose　cool…　ness　afforded　him　some　relief。

What　was　taking　place　at　that　moment　in　the　gloomy　soul　of　the　archdeacon？　　God　and　himself　could　alone　know。

In　what　order　was　he　arranging　in　his　mind　la　Esmeralda；　Phoebus；　Jacques　Charmolue；　his　young　brother　so　beloved；　yet　abandoned　by　him　in　the　mire；　his　archdeacon's　cassock；　his　reputation　perhaps　dragged　to　la　Falourdel's；　all　these　adventures；　all　these　images？　　I　cannot　say。　　But　it　is　certain　that　these　ideas　formed　in　his　mind　a　horrible　group。

He　had　been　waiting　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　it　seemed　to　him　that　he　had　grown　a　century　older。　　All　at　once　be　heard　the　creaking　of　the　boards　of　the　stairway；　some　one　was　ascending。　　The　trapdoor　opened　once　more；　a　light　reappeared。　There　was　a　tolerably　large　crack　in　the　worm…eaten　door　of　his　den；　he　put　his　face　to　it。　　In　this　manner　he　could　see　all　that　went　on　in　the　adjoining　room。　　The　cat…faced　old　crone　was　the　first　to　emerge　from　the　trap…door；　lamp　in　hand；　then　Phoebus；　twirling　his　moustache；　then　a　third　person；　that　beautiful　and　graceful　figure；　la　Esmeralda。　The　priest　beheld　her　rise　from　below　like　a　dazzling　apparition。　　Claude　trembled；　a　cloud　spread　over　his　eyes；　his　pulses　beat　violently；　everything　rustled　and　whirled　around　him；　he　no　longer　saw　nor　heard　anything。

When　he　recovered　himself；　Phoebus　and　Esmeralda　were　alone　seated　on　the　wooden　coffer　beside　the　lamp　which　made　these　two　youthful　figures　and　a　miserable　pallet　at　the　end　of　the　attic　stand　out　plainly　before　the　archdeacon's　eyes。

Beside　the　pallet　was　a　window；　whose　panes　broken　like　a　spider's　web　upon　which　rain　has　fallen；　allowed　a　view；　through　its　rent　meshes；　of　a　corner　of　the　sky；　and　the　moon　lying　far　away　on　an　eiderdown　bed　of　soft　clouds。

The　young　girl　was　blushing；　confused；　palpitating。　　Her　long；　drooping　lashes　shaded　her　crimson　cheeks。　　The　officer；　to　whom　she　dared　not　lift　her　eyes；　was　radiant。　　Mechanically；　and　with　a　charmingly　unconscious　gesture；　she　traced　with　the　tip　of　her　finger　incoherent　lines　on　the　bench；　and　watched　her　finger。　　Her　foot　was　not　visible。　　The　little　goat　was　nestling　upon　it。

The　captain　was　very　gallantly　clad；　he　had　tufts　of　embroidery　at　his　neck　and　wrists；　a　great　elegance　at　that　day。

It　was　not　without　difficulty　that　Dom　Claude　managed　to　hear　what　they　were　saying；　through　the　humming　of　the　blood；　which　was　boiling　in　his　temples。

（A　conversation　between　lovers　is　a　very　commonplace　affair。　　It　is　a　perpetual　〃I　love　you。〃　　A　musical　phrase　which　is　very　insipid　and　very　bald　for　indifferent　listeners；　when　it　is　not　ornamented　with　some　~fioriture~；　but　Claude　was　not　an　indifferent　listener。）

〃Oh！〃　said　the　young　girl；　without　raising　her　eyes；　〃do　not　despise　me；　monseigneur　Phoebus。　　I　feel　that　what　I　am　doing　is　not　right。〃

〃Despise　you；　my　pretty　child！〃　replied　the　officer　with　an　air　of　superior　and　distinguished　gallantry；　〃despise　you；　~tête…Dieu~！　and　why？〃

〃For　having　followed　you！〃

〃On　that　point；　my　beauty；　we　don't　agree。　　I　ought　not　to　despise　you；　but　to　hate　you。〃

The　young　girl　looked　at　him　in　affright：　〃Hate　me！　what　have　I　done？〃

〃For　having　required　so　much　urging。〃

〃Alas！〃　said　she；　〃'tis　because　I　am　breaking　a　vow。　　I　shall　not　find　my　parents！　　The　amulet　will　lose　its　virtue。　But　what　matters　it？　　What　need　have　I　of　father　or　mother　now？〃

So　saying；　she　fixed　upon　the　captain　her　great　black　eyes；　moist　with　joy　and　tenderness。

〃Devil　take　me　if　I　understand　you！〃　exclaimed　Phoebus。　La　Esmeralda　remained　silent　for　a　moment；　then　a　tear　dropped　from　her　eyes；　a　sigh　from　her　lips；　and　she　said；　〃Oh！　monseigneur；　I　love　you。〃

Such　a　perfume　of　chastity；　such　a　charm　of　virtue　surrounded　the　young　girl；　that　Phoebus　did　not　feel　completely　at　his　ease　beside　her。　　But　this　remark　emboldened　him：　〃You　love　me！〃　he　said　with　rapture；　and　he　threw　his　arm　round　the　gypsy's　waist。　　He　had　only　been　waiting　for　this　opportunity。

The　priest　saw　it；　and　tested　with　the　tip　of