the hunchback of notre dame-第75章

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〃What　is　that　to　me？〃

〃Yes；　they　would　have　hanged　it。　　They　hanged　a　sow　last　month。　　The　headsman　loveth　that；　he　eats　the　beast　afterwards。　Take　my　pretty　Djali！　　Poor　little　lamb！〃

〃Malediction！〃　exclaimed　Dom　Claude。　　〃You　are　the　executioner。　　What　means　of　safety　have　you　found；　knave？　Must　your　idea　be　extracted　with　the　forceps？〃

〃Very　fine；　master；　this　is　it。〃

Gringoire　bent　his　head　to　the　archdeacon's　head　and　spoke　to　him　in　a　very　low　voice；　casting　an　uneasy　glance　the　while　from　one　end　to　the　other　of　the　street；　though　no　one　was　passing。　　When　he　had　finished；　Dom　Claude　took　his　hand　and　said　coldly　：　〃'Tis　well。　　Farewell　until　to…morrow。〃

〃Until　to…morrow；〃　repeated　Gringoire。　　And；　while　the　archdeacon　was　disappearing　in　one　direction；　he　set　off　in　the　other；　saying　to　himself　in　a　low　voice：　〃Here's　a　grand　affair；　Monsieur　Pierre　Gringoire。　　Never　mind！　　'Tis　not　written　that　because　one　is　of　small　account　one　should　take　fright　at　a　great　enterprise。　　Bitou　carried　a　great　bull　on　his　shoulders；　the　water…wagtails；　the　warblers；　and　the　buntings　traverse　the　ocean。〃




CHAPTER　II。

TURN　VAGABOND。



On　re…entering　the　cloister；　the　archdeacon　found　at　the　door　of　his　cell　his　brother　Jehan　du　Moulin；　who　was　waiting　for　him；　and　who　had　beguiled　the　tedium　of　waiting　by　drawing　on　the　wall　with　a　bit　of　charcoal；　a　profile　of　his　elder　brother；　enriched　with　a　monstrous　nose。

Dom　Claude　hardly　looked　at　his　brother；　his　thoughts　were　elsewhere。　　That　merry　scamp's　face　whose　beaming　had　so　often　restored　serenity　to　the　priest's　sombre　physiognomy；　was　now　powerless　to　melt　the　gloom　which　grew　more　dense　every　day　over　that　corrupted；　mephitic；　and　stagnant　soul。

〃Brother；〃　said　Jehan　timidly；　〃I　am　come　to　see　you。〃

The　archdeacon　did　not　even　raise　his　eyes。

〃What　then？〃

〃Brother；〃　resumed　the　hypocrite；　〃you　are　so　good　to　me；　and　you　give　me　such　wise　counsels　that　I　always　return　to　you。〃

〃What　next？〃

〃Alas！　　brother；　you　were　perfectly　right　when　you　said　to　me；〃Jehan！　　Jehan！　~cessat　doctorum　doctrina；　discipulorum　disciplina~。　　Jehan；　be　wise；　Jehan；　be　learned；　Jehan；　pass　not　the　night　outside　of　the　college　without　lawful　occasion　and　due　leave　of　the　master。　　Cudgel　not　the　Picards：　~noli；　Joannes；　verberare　Picardos~。　　Rot　not　like　an　unlettered　ass；　~quasi　asinus　illitteratus~；　on　the　straw　seats　of　the　school。　Jehan；　allow　yourself　to　be　punished　at　the　discretion　of　the　master。　　Jehan　go　every　evening　to　chapel；　and　sing　there　an　anthem　with　verse　and　orison　to　Madame　the　glorious　Virgin　Mary。Alas！　what　excellent　advice　was　that！〃

〃And　then？〃

〃Brother；　you　behold　a　culprit；　a　criminal；　a　wretch；　a　libertine；　a　man　of　enormities！　　My　dear　brother；　Jehan　hath　made　of　your　counsels　straw　and　dung　to　trample　under　foot。　I　have　been　well　chastised　for　it；　and　God　is　extraordinarily　just。　　As　long　as　I　had　money；　I　feasted；　I　lead　a　mad　and　joyous　life。　　Oh！　how　ugly　and　crabbed　behind　is　debauch　which　is　so　charming　in　front！　　Now　I　have　no　longer　a　blank；　I　have　sold　my　napery；　my　shirt　and　my　towels；　no　more　merry　life！　The　beautiful　candle　is　extinguished　and　I　have　henceforth；　only　a　wretched　tallow　dip　which　smokes　in　my　nose。　　The　wenches　jeer　at　me。　　I　drink　water。I　am　overwhelmed　with　remorse　and　with　creditors。

〃The　rest？〃　said　the　archdeacon。

〃Alas！　my　very　dear　brother；　I　should　like　to　settle　down　to　a　better　life。　　I　come　to　you　full　of　contrition；　I　am　penitent。　　I　make　my　confession。　　I　beat　my　breast　violently。　You　are　quite　right　in　wishing　that　I　should　some　day　become　a　licentiate　and　sub…monitor　in　the　college　of　Torchi。　　At　the　present　moment　I　feel　a　magnificent　vocation　for　that　profession。　　But　I　have　no　more　ink　and　I　must　buy　some；　I　have　no　more　paper；　I　have　no　more　books；　and　I　must　buy　some。　For　this　purpose；　I　am　greatly　in　need　of　a　little　money；　and　I　come　to　you；　brother；　with　my　heart　full　of　contrition。〃

〃Is　that　all？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　scholar。　　〃A　little　money。〃

〃I　have　none。〃

Then　the　scholar　said；　with　an　air　which　was　both　grave　and　resolute：　〃Well；　brother；　I　am　sorry　to　be　obliged　to　tell　you　that　very　fine　offers　and　propositions　are　being　made　to　me　in　another　quarter。　　You　will　not　give　me　any　money？　　No。　　In　that　case　I　shall　become　a　professional　vagabond。〃

As　he　uttered　these　monstrous　words；　he　assumed　the　mien　of　Ajax；　expecting　to　see　the　lightnings　descend　upon　his　head。

The　archdeacon　said　coldly　to　him；…

〃Become　a　vagabond。〃

Jehan　made　him　a　deep　bow；　and　descended　the　cloister　stairs；　whistling。

At　the　moment　when　he　was　passing　through　the　courtyard　of　the　cloister；　beneath　his　brother's　window；　he　heard　that　window　open；　raised　his　eyes　and　beheld　the　archdeacon's　severe　head　emerge。

〃Go　to　the　devil！〃　said　Dom　Claude；　〃here　is　the　last　money　which　you　will　get　from　me？〃

At　the　same　time；　the　priest　flung　Jehan　a　purse；　which　gave　the　scholar　a　big　bump　on　the　forehead；　and　with　which　Jehan　retreated；　both　vexed　and　content；　like　a　dog　who　had　been　stoned　with　marrow　bones。




CHAPTER　III。

LONG　LIVE　MIRTH。



The　reader　has　probably　not　forgotten　that　a　part　of　the　Cour　de　Miracles　was　enclosed　by　the　ancient　wall　which　surrounded　the　city；　a　goodly　number　of　whose　towers　had　begun；　even　at　that　epoch；　to　fall　to　ruin。　　One　of　these　towers　had　been　converted　into　a　pleasure　resort　by　the　vagabonds。　　There　was　a　drain…shop　in　the　underground　story；　and　the　rest　in　the　upper　stories。　　This　was　the　most　lively；　and　consequently　the　most　hideous；　point　of　the　whole　outcast　den。　　It　was　a　sort　of　monstrous　hive；　which　buzzed　there　night　and　day。　At　night；　when　the　remainder　of　the　beggar　horde　slept；　when　there　was　no　longer　a　window　lighted　in　the　dingy　fa？ades　of　the　Place；　when　not　a　cry　was　any　longer　to　be　heard　proceeding　from　those　innumerable　families；　those　ant…hills　of　thieves；　of　wenches；　and　stolen　or　bastard　children；　the　merry　tower　was　still　recognizable　by　the　noise　which　it　made；　by　the　scarlet　light　which；　flashing　simultaneously　from　the　air…holes；　the　windows；　the　fissures　in　the　cracked　walls；　escaped；　so　to　speak；　from　its　every　pore。

The　cellar　then；　was　the　dram…shop。　　The　descent　to　it　was　through　a　low　door　and　by　a　staircase　as　steep　as　a　classic　Alexandrine。　　Over　the　door；　by　way　of　a　sign　there　hung　a　marvellous　daub；　representing　new　sons　and　dead　chickens；*　with　this；　pun　below：　~Aux　sonneurs　pour　les　trépassés~；The　wringers　for　the　dead。


*　　~Sols　neufs：　poulets　tués~。

One　evening　when　the　curfew　was　sounding　from　all　the　belfries　in　Paris；　the　sergeants　of　the　watch　might　have　observed；　had　it　been　granted　to　them　to　enter　the　formidable　Court　of　Miracles；　that　more　tumult　than　usual　was　in　progress　in　the　vagabonds'　tavern；　that　more　drinking　was　being　done；　and　louder　swearing。　　Outside　in　the　Place；　there；　were　many　groups　conversing　in　low　tones；　as　when　some　great　plan　is　being　framed；　and　here　and　there　a　knave　crouching　down　engaged　in　sharpening　a　villanous　iron　blade　on　a　paving…stone。

Meanwhile；　in　the　tavern　itself；　wine　and　gaming　offered　such　a　powerful　diversion　to　the　ideas　which　occupied　the　vagabonds'　lair　that　evening；　that　it　would　have　been　difficult　to　divine　from　the　remarks　of　the　drinkers；　what　was　the　matter　in　hand。　　They　merely　wore　a　gayer　air　than　was　their　wont；　and　some　weapon　could　be　seen　glittering　between　the　legs　of　each　of　them；a　sickle；　an　axe；　a　big　two…edged　sword　or　the　hook　of　an　old　hackbut。

The　room；　circular　in　form；　was　very　spacious；　but　the　tables　were　so　thickly　set　and　the　drinkers　so　numerous；　that　all　that　the　tavern　contained；　men；　women；　benches；　beer…jugs；　all　that　were　drinking；　all　that　were　sleeping；　all　that　were　playing；　the　well；　the　lame；　seemed　piled　up　pell…mell；　with　as　much　order　and　harmony　as　a　heap　of　oyster　shells。　　There　were　a　few　tallow　dips　lighted　on　the　tables；　but　the　real　luminary　of　this　tavern；　that　which　played　the　part　in　this　dram…shop　of　the　chandelier　of　an　opera　house；　was　the　fire。　This　cellar　was　so　damp　that　the　fire　was　never　allowed　to　go　out；　even　in　midsummer；　an　immense　chimney　with　a　sculptured　mantel；　all　bristling　with　heavy　iron　andirons　and　cooking　utensils；　with　one　of　those　huge　fires　of　mixed　wood　and　peat　which　at　night；　in　village　streets　make　the　reflection　of　forge　windows　stand　out　so　red　on　the　opposite　walls。　　A　big　dog　gravely　seated　in　the　ashes　was　turning　a　spit　loaded　with　meat　before　the　coals。

Great　as　was　the　confusion；　after　the　first　glance　one　could　distinguish　in　that　multitude；　three　principal　groups　which　thronged　around　three　personages　already　known　to　the　reader。　One　of　these　personages；　fantastically　accoutred　in　many　an　oriental　rag；　was　Mathias　Hungadi　Spicali；　Duke　of　Egypt　and　Bohemia。　　The　knave　was　seated　on　a　table　with　his　legs　crossed；　and　in　a　loud　voice　was　bestowing　his　knowledge　of　magic；　both　black　and　white；　on　many　a　gaping　face　which　surrounded　him。　　Another　rabble　pressed　close　around　our　old　friend；　the　valiant　King　of　Thunes；　armed　to　the　teeth。　Clopin　Trouillefou；　with　a　very　serious　air　and　in　a　low　voice；　was　regulating　the　distribution　of　an　enormous　cask　of　arms；　which　stood　wide　open　in　front　of　him　and　from　whence　poured　out　in　profusion；　axes；　swords；　bassinets；　coats　of　mail；　broadswords；　lance…heads；　arrows；　and　viretons；*　like　apples　and　grapes　from　a　horn　of　plenty。　　Every　one　took　something　from　the　cask；　one　a　morion；　another　a　long；　straight　sword；　another　a　dagger　with　a　crossshaped　hilt。　　The　very　children　were　arming　themselves；　and　there　were　even　cripples　in　bowls　who；　in　armor　and　cuirass；　made　their　way　between　the　legs　of　the　drinkers；　like　great　beetles。


*　　An　arrow　with　a　pyramidal　head　of　iron　and　copper　spiral　wings；　by　which　a　rotatory　motion　was　communicated。


Finally；　a　third　audience；　the　most　noisy；　the　most　jovial；　and　the　most　numerous；　encumbered　benches　and　tables；　in　the　midst　of　which　harangued　and　swore　a　flute…like　voice；　which　escaped　from　beneath　a　heavy　armor；　complete　from　casque　to　spurs。　　The　individual　who　had　thus　screwed　a　whole　outfit　upon　his　body；　was　so　hidden　by　his　warlike　accoutrements　that　nothing　was　to　be　seen　of　his　person　save　an　impertinent；　red；　snub　nose；　a　rosy　mouth；　and　bold　eyes。　　His　belt　was　full　of　daggers　and　poniards；　a　huge　sword　on　his　hip；　a　rusted　cross…bow　at　his　left；　and　a　vast　jug　of　wine　in　front　of　him；　without　reckoning　on　his　right；　a　fat　wench　with　her　bosom　uncovered。　　All　mouths　around　him　were　laughing；　cursing；　and　drinking。

Add　twenty　secondary　groups；　the　waiters；　male　and　female；　running　with　jugs　on　their　heads；　gamblers　squatting　over　taws；　merelles；*　dice；　vachettes；　the　ardent　game　of　tringlet；　quarrels　in　one　corner；　kisses　in　another；　and　the　reader　will　have　some　idea　of　this　whole　picture；　over　which　flickered　the　light　of　a　great；　flaming　fire；　which　made　a　thousand　huge　and　grotesque　shadows　dance　over　the　walls　of　the　drinking　shop。


*　　A　game　played　on　a　checker…board　containing　three　concentric　sets　of　squares；　with　small　stones。　　The　game　consisted　in　getting　three　stones　in　a　row。


As　for　the　noise；　it　was　like　the　inside　of