the hunchback of notre dame-第56章

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The　priest　saw　it；　and　tested　with　the　tip　of　his　finger　the　point　of　a　poniard　which　he　wore　concealed　in　his　breast。

〃Phoebus；〃　continued　the　Bohemian；　gently　releasing　her　waist　from　the　captain's　tenacious　hands；　〃You　are　good；　you　are　generous；　you　are　handsome；　you　saved　me；　me　who　am　only　a　poor　child　lost　in　Bohemia。　　I　had　long　been　dreaming　of　an　officer　who　should　save　my　life。　　'Twas　of　you　that　I　was　dreaming；　before　I　knew　you；　my　Phoebus；　the　officer　of　my　dream　had　a　beautiful　uniform　like　yours；　a　grand　look；　a　sword；　your　name　is　Phoebus；　'tis　a　beautiful　name。　　I　love　your　name；　I　love　your　sword。　　Draw　your　sword；　Phoebus；　that　I　may　see　it。〃

〃Child！〃　said　the　captain；　and　he　unsheathed　his　sword　with　a　smile。

The　gypsy　looked　at　the　hilt；　the　blade；　examined　the　cipher　on　the　guard　with　adorable　curiosity；　and　kissed　the　sword；　saying；

You　are　the　sword　of　a　brave　man。　　I　love　my　captain。〃　Phoebus　again　profited　by　the　opportunity　to　impress　upon　her　beautiful　bent　neck　a　kiss　which　made　the　young　girl　straighten　herself　up　as　scarlet　as　a　poppy。　　The　priest　gnashed　his　teeth　over　it　in　the　dark。

〃Phoebus；〃　resumed　the　gypsy；　〃let　me　talk　to　you。　　Pray　walk　a　little；　that　I　may　see　you　at　full　height；　and　that　I　may　hear　your　spurs　jingle。　　How　handsome　you　are！〃

The　captain　rose　to　please　her；　chiding　her　with　a　smile　of　satisfaction；

〃What　a　child　you　are！　　By　the　way；　my　charmer；　have　you　seen　me　in　my　archer's　ceremonial　doublet？〃

〃Alas！　no；〃　she　replied。

〃It　is　very　handsome！〃

Phoebus　returned　and　seated　himself　beside　her；　but　much　closer　than　before。

〃Listen；　my　dear〃

The　gypsy　gave　him　several　little　taps　with　her　pretty　hand　on　his　mouth；　with　a　childish　mirth　and　grace　and　gayety。

〃No；　no；　I　will　not　listen　to　you。　　Do　you　love　me？　　I　want　you　to　tell　me　whether　you　love　me。〃

〃Do　I　love　thee；　angel　of　my　life！〃　exclaimed　the　captain；　half　kneeling。　　〃My　body；　my　blood；　my　soul；　all　are　thine；　all　are　for　thee。　　I　love　thee；　and　I　have　never　loved　any　one　but　thee。〃

The　captain　had　repeated　this　phrase　so　many　times；　in　many　similar　conjunctures；　that　he　delivered　it　all　in　one　breath；　without　committing　a　single　mistake。　　At　this　passionate　declaration；　the　gypsy　raised　to　the　dirty　ceiling　which　served　for　the　skies　a　glance　full　of　angelic　happiness。

〃Oh！〃　she　murmured；　〃this　is　the　moment　when　one　should　die！〃

Phoebus　found　〃the　moment〃　favorable　for　robbing　her　of　another　kiss；　which　went　to　torture　the　unhappy　archdeacon　in　his　nook。　　〃Die！〃　exclaimed　the　amorous　captain；　〃What　are　you　saying；　my　lovely　angel？　　'Tis　a　time　for　living；　or　Jupiter　is　only　a　scamp！　　Die　at　the　beginning　of　so　sweet　a　thing！　　~Corne…de…boeuf~；　what　a　jest！　　It　is　not　that。　　Listen；　my　dear　Similar；　EsmenardaPardon！　　you　have　so　prodigiously　Saracen　a　name　that　I　never　can　get　it　straight。　　'Tis　a　thicket　which　stops　me　short。〃

〃Good　heavens！〃　said　the　poor　girl；　〃and　I　thought　my　name　pretty　because　of　its　singularity！　　But　since　it　displeases　you；　I　would　that　I　were　called　Goton。〃

〃Ah！　do　not　weep　for　such　a　trifle；　my　graceful　maid！　'tis　a　name　to　which　one　must　get　accustomed；　that　is　all。　When　I　once　know　it　by　heart；　all　will　go　smoothly。　　Listen　then；　my　dear　Similar；　I　adore　you　passionately。　　I　love　you　so　that　'tis　simply　miraculous。　　I　know　a　girl　who　is　bursting　with　rage　over　it〃

The　jealous　girl　interrupted　him：　〃Who？〃

〃What　matters　that　to　us？〃　said　Phoebus；　〃do　you　love　me？〃

〃Oh！〃said　she。

〃Well！　that　is　all。　　You　shall　see　how　I　love　you　also。　May　the　great　devil　Neptunus　spear　me　if　I　do　not　make　you　the　happiest　woman　in　the　world。　　We　will　have　a　pretty　little　house　somewhere。　　I　will　make　my　archers　parade　before　your　windows。　　They　are　all　mounted；　and　set　at　defiance　those　of　Captain　Mignon。　　There　are　~voulgiers；　cranequiniers~　and　hand　~couleveiniers~*。　　I　will　take　you　to　the　great　sights　of　the　Parisians　at　the　storehouse　of　Rully。　Eighty　thousand　armed　men；　thirty　thousand　white　harnesses；　short　coats　or　coats　of　mail；　the　sixty…seven　banners　of　the　trades；　the　standards　of　the　parliaments；　of　the　chamber　of　accounts；　of　the　treasury　of　the　generals；　of　the　aides　of　the　mint；　a　devilish　fine　array；　in　short！　　I　will　conduct　you　to　see　the　lions　of　the　H？tel　du　Roi；　which　are　wild　beasts。　　All　women　love　that。〃


*　Varieties　of　the　crossbow。


For　several　moments　the　young　girl；　absorbed　in　her　charming　thoughts；　was　dreaming　to　the　sound　of　his　voice；　without　listening　to　the　sense　of　his　words。

〃Oh！　how　happy　you　will　be！〃　continued　the　captain；　and　at　the　same　time　he　gently　unbuckled　the　gypsy's　girdle。

〃What　are　you　doing？〃　she　said　quickly。　　This　〃act　of　violence〃　had　roused　her　from　her　revery。

〃Nothing；〃　replied　Phoebus；　〃I　was　only　saying　that　you　must　abandon　all　this　garb　of　folly；　and　the　street　corner　when　you　are　with　me。〃

〃When　I　am　with　you；　Phoebus！〃　said　the　young　girl　tenderly。

She　became　pensive　and　silent　once　more。

The　captain；　emboldened　by　her　gentleness；　clasped　her　waist　without　resistance；　then　began　softly　to　unlace　the　poor　child's　corsage；　and　disarranged　her　tucker　to　such　an　extent　that　the　panting　priest　beheld　the　gypsy's　beautiful　shoulder　emerge　from　the　gauze；　as　round　and　brown　as　the　moon　rising　through　the　mists　of　the　horizon。

The　young　girl　allowed　Phoebus　to　have　his　way。　　She　did　not　appear　to　perceive　it。　　The　eye　of　the　bold　captain　flashed。

Suddenly　she　turned　towards　him；

〃Phoebus；〃　she　said；　with　an　expression　of　infinite　love；　〃instruct　me　in　thy　religion。〃

〃My　religion！〃　exclaimed　the　captain；　bursting　with　laughter；　〃I　instruct　you　in　my　religion！　　~Corne　et　tonnerre~！　　What　do　you　want　with　my　religion？〃

〃In　order　that　we　may　be　married；〃　she　replied。

The　captain's　face　assumed　an　expression　of　mingled　surprise　and　disdain；　of　carelessness　and　libertine　passion。

〃Ah；　bah！〃　said　he；　〃do　people　marry？〃

The　Bohemian　turned　pale；　and　her　head　drooped　sadly　on　her　breast。

〃My　beautiful　love；〃　resumed　Phoebus；　tenderly；　〃what　nonsense　is　this？　　A　great　thing　is　marriage；　truly！　　one　is　none　the　less　loving　for　not　having　spit　Latin　into　a　priest's　shop！〃

While　speaking　thus　in　his　softest　voice；　he　approached　extremely　near　the　gypsy；　his　caressing　hands　resumed　their　place　around　her　supple　and　delicate　waist；　his　eye　flashed　more　and　more；　and　everything　announced　that　Monsieur　Phoebus　was　on　the　verge　of　one　of　those　moments　when　Jupiter　himself　commits　so　many　follies　that　Homer　is　obliged　to　summon　a　cloud　to　his　rescue。

But　Dom　Claude　saw　everything。　　The　door　was　made　of　thoroughly　rotten　cask　staves；　which　left　large　apertures　for　the　passage　of　his　hawklike　gaze。　　This　brown…skinned；　broad…　shouldered　priest；　hitherto　condemned　to　the　austere　virginity　of　the　cloister；　was　quivering　and　boiling　in　the　presence　of　this　night　scene　of　love　and　voluptuousness。　　This　young　and　beautiful　girl　given　over　in　disarray　to　the　ardent　young　man；　made　melted　lead　flow　in　his…veins；　his　eyes　darted　with　sensual　jealousy　beneath　all　those　loosened　pins。　　Any　one　who　could；　at　that　moment；　have　seen　the　face　of　the　unhappy　man　glued　to　the　wormeaten　bars；　would　have　thought　that　he　beheld　the　face　of　a　tiger　glaring　from　the　depths　of　a　cage　at　some　jackal　devouring　a　gazelle。　　His　eye　shone　like　a　candle　through　the　cracks　of　the　door。

All　at　once；　Phoebus；　with　a　rapid　gesture；　removed　the　gypsy's　gorgerette。　　The　poor　child；　who　had　remained　pale　and　dreamy；　awoke　with　a　start；　she　recoiled　hastily　from　the　enterprising　officer；　and；　casting　a　glance　at　her　bare　neck　and　shoulders；　red；　confused；　mute　with　shame；　she　crossed　her　two　beautiful　arms　on　her　breast　to　conceal　it。　　Had　it　not　been　for　the　flame　which　burned　in　her　cheeks；　at　the　sight　of　her　so　silent　and　motionless；　one　would　have。　declared　her　a　statue　of　Modesty。　　Her　eyes　were　lowered。

But　the　captain's　gesture　had　revealed　the　mysterious　amulet　which　she　wore　about　her　neck。

〃What　is　that？〃　he　said；　seizing　this　pretext　to　approach　once　more　the　beautiful　creature　whom　he　had　just　alarmed。

〃Don't　touch　it！〃　she　replied；　quickly；　〃'tis　my　guardian。　It　will　make　me　find　my　family　again；　if　I　remain　worthy　to　do　so。　　Oh；　leave　me；　monsieur　le　capitaine！　　My　mother！　My　poor　mother！　　My　mother！　　Where　art　thou？　　Come　to　my　rescue！　　Have　pity；　Monsieur　Phoebus；　give　me　back　my　gorgerette！〃

Phoebus　retreated　amid　said　in　a　cold　tone；

〃Oh；　mademoiselle！　　I　see　plainly　that　you　do　not　love　me！〃

〃I　do　not　love　him！〃　exclaimed　the　unhappy　child；　and　at　the　same　time　she　clung　to　the　captain；　whom　she　drew　to　a　seat　beside　her。　　〃I　do　not　love　thee；　my　Phoebus？　　What　art　thou　saying；　wicked　man；　to　break　my　heart？　　Oh；　take　me！　take　all！　do　what　you　will　with　me；　I　am　thine。　　What　matters　to　me　the　amulet！　　What　matters　to　me　my　mother！　'Tis　thou　who　art　my　mother　since　I　love　thee！　　Phoebus；　my　beloved　Phoebus；　dost　thou　see　me？　　'Tis　I。　　Look　at　me；　'tis　the　little　one　whom　thou　wilt　surely　not　repulse；　who　comes；　who　comes　herself　to　seek　thee。　　My　soul；　my　life；　my　body；　my　person；　all　is　one　thingwhich　is　thine；　my　captain。　Well；　no！　　We　will　not　marry；　since　that　displeases　thee；　and　then；　what　am　I？　a　miserable　girl　of　the　gutters；　whilst　thou；　my　Phoebus；　art　a　gentleman。　　A　fine　thing；　truly！　　A　dancer　wed　an　officer！　　I　was　mad。　　No；　Phoebus；　no；　I　will　be　thy　mistress；　thy　amusement；　thy　pleasure；　when　thou　wilt；　a　girl　who　shall　belong　to　thee。　　I　was　only　made　for　that；　soiled；　despised；　dishonored；　but　what　matters　it？beloved。　I　shall　be　the　proudest　and　the　most　joyous　of　women。　　And　when　I　grow　old　or　ugly；　Phoebus；　when　I　am　no　longer　good　to　love　you；　you　will　suffer　me　to　serve　you　still。　　Others　will　embroider　scarfs　for　you；　'tis　I；　the　servant；　who　will　care　for　them。　　You　will　let　me　polish　your　spurs；　brush　your　doublet；　dust　your　riding…boots。　　You　will　have　that　pity；　will　you　not；　Phoebus？　　Meanwhile；　take　me！　here；　Phoebus；　all　this　belongs　to　thee；　only　love　me！　　We　gypsies　need　only　air　and　love。〃

So　saying；　she　threw　her　arms　round　the　officer's　neck；　she　looked　up　at　him；　supplicatingly；　with　a　beautiful　smile；　and　all　in　tears。　　Her　delicate　neck　rubbed　against　his　cloth　doublet　with　its　rough　embroideries。　　She　writhed　on　her　knees；　her　beautiful　body　half　naked。　　The　intoxicated　captain　pressed　his　ardent　lips　to　those　lovely　African　shoulders。　The　young　girl；　her　eyes　bent　on　the　ceiling；　as　she　leaned　backwards；　quivered；　all　palpitating；　beneath　this　kiss。

All　at　once；　above　Phoebus's　head　she　beheld　another　head；　a　green；　livid；　convulsed　face；　with　the　look　of　a　lost　soul；　near　this　face　was　a　hand　grasping　a　poniard。It　was　the　face　and　hand　of　the　priest；　he　had　broken　the　door　and　he　was　there。　　Phoebus　could　not　see　him。　　The　young　girl　remained　motionless；　frozen　with　terror；　dumb；　beneath　that　terrible　apparition；　like　a　dove　which　should　raise　its　head　at　the　moment　when　the　hawk　is　gazing　into　her　nest　with　its　round　eyes。

She　could　not　even　utter　a　cry。　　She　saw　the　poniard　descend　upon　Phoebus；　and　rise　again；　reeking。

〃Maledictions！〃　said　the　captain；　and　fell。

She　fainted。

At　the　moment　when　h