the hunchback of notre dame-第79章

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ed　men。　　The　panels　cracked；　the　carved　work　flew　into　splinters；　the　hinges；　at　every　blow；　leaped　from　their　pins；　the　planks　yawned；　the　wood　crumbled　to　powder；　ground　between　the　iron　sheathing。　　Fortunately　for　Quasimodo；　there　was　more　iron　than　wood。

Nevertheless；　he　felt　that　the　great　door　was　yielding。　Although　he　did　not　hear　it；　every　blow　of　the　ram　reverberated　simultaneously　in　the　vaults　of　the　church　and　within　it。　From　above　he　beheld　the　vagabonds；　filled　with　triumph　and　rage；　shaking　their　fists　at　the　gloomy　fa？ade；　and　both　on　the　gypsy's　account　and　his　own　he　envied　the　wings　of　the　owls　which　flitted　away　above　his　head　in　flocks。

His　shower　of　stone　blocks　was　not　sufficient　to　repel　the　assailants。

At　this　moment　of　anguish；　he　noticed；　a　little　lower　down　than　the　balustrade　whence　he　was　crushing　the　thieves；　two　long　stone　gutters　which　discharged　immediately　over　the　great　door；　the　internal　orifice　of　these　gutters　terminated　on　the　pavement　of　the　platform。　　An　idea　occurred　to　him；　he　ran　in　search　of　a　fagot　in　his　bellringer's　den；　placed　on　this　fagot　a　great　many　bundles　of　laths；　and　many　rolls　of　lead；　munitions　which　he　had　not　employed　so　far；　and　having　arranged　this　pile　in　front　of　the　hole　to　the　two　gutters；　he　set　it　on　fire　with　his　lantern。

During　this　time；　since　the　stones　no　longer　fell；　the　outcasts　ceased　to　gaze　into　the　air。　　The　bandits；　panting　like　a　pack　of　hounds　who　are　forcing　a　boar　into　his　lair；　pressed　tumultuously　round　the　great　door；　all　disfigured　by　the　battering　ram；　but　still　standing。　　They　were　waiting　with　a　quiver　for　the　great　blow　which　should　split　it　open。　　They　vied　with　each　other　in　pressing　as　close　as　possible；　in　order　to　dash　among　the　first；　when　it　should　open；　into　that　opulent　cathedral；　a　vast　reservoir　where　the　wealth　of　three　centuries　had　been　piled　up。　　They　reminded　each　other　with　roars　of　exultation　and　greedy　lust；　of　the　beautiful　silver　crosses；　the　fine　copes　of　brocade；　the　beautiful　tombs　of　silver　gilt；　the　great　magnificences　of　the　choir；　the　dazzling　festivals；　the　Christmasses　sparkling　with　torches；　the　Easters　sparkling　with　sunshine；all　those　splendid　solemneties　wherein　chandeliers；　ciboriums；　tabernacles；　and　reliquaries；　studded　the　altars　with　a　crust　of　gold　and　diamonds。　　Certainly；　at　that　fine　moment；　thieves　and　pseudo　sufferers；　doctors　in　stealing；　and　vagabonds；　were　thinking　much　less　of　delivering　the　gypsy　than　of　pillaging　Notre…Dame。　　We　could　even　easily　believe　that　for　a　goodly　number　among　them　la　Esmeralda　was　only　a　pretext；　if　thieves　needed　pretexts。

All　at　once；　at　the　moment　when　they　were　grouping　themselves　round　the　ram　for　a　last　effort；　each　one　holding　his　breath　and　stiffening　his　muscles　in　order　to　communicate　all　his　force　to　the　decisive　blow；　a　howl　more　frightful　still　than　that　which　had　burst　forth　and　expired　beneath　the　beam；　rose　among　them。　　Those　who　did　not　cry　out；　those　who　were　still　alive；　looked。　　Two　streams　of　melted　lead　were　falling　from　the　summit　of　the　edifice　into　the　thickest　of　the　rabble。　That　sea　of　men　had　just　sunk　down　beneath　the　boiling　metal；　which　had　made；　at　the　two　points　where　it　fell；　two　black　and　smoking　holes　in　the　crowd；　such　as　hot　water　would　make　in　snow。　　Dying　men；　half　consumed　and　groaning　with　anguish；　could　be　seen　writhing　there。　　Around　these　two　principal　streams　there　were　drops　of　that　horrible　rain；　which　scattered　over　the　assailants　and　entered　their　skulls　like　gimlets　of　fire。　　It　was　a　heavy　fire　which　overwhelmed　these　wretches　with　a　thousand　hailstones。

The　outcry　was　heartrending。　　They　fled　pell…mell；　hurling　the　beam　upon　the　bodies；　the　boldest　as　well　as　the　most　timid；　and　the　parvis　was　cleared　a　second　time。

All　eyes　were　raised　to　the　top　of　the　church。　　They　beheld　there　an　extraordinary　sight。　　On　the　crest　of　the　highest　gallery；　higher　than　the　central　rose　window；　there　was　a　great　flame　rising　between　the　two　towers　with　whirlwinds　of　sparks；　a　vast；　disordered；　and　furious　flame；　a　tongue　of　which　was　borne　into　the　smoke　by　the　wind；　from　time　to　time。　　Below　that　fire；　below　the　gloomy　balustrade　with　its　trefoils　showing　darkly　against　its　glare；　two　spouts　with　monster　throats　were　vomiting　forth　unceasingly　that　burning　rain；　whose　silvery　stream　stood　out　against　the　shadows　of　the　lower　fa？ade。　　As　they　approached　the　earth；　these　two　jets　of　liquid　lead　spread　out　in　sheaves；　like　water　springing　from　the　thousand　holes　of　a　watering…pot。　　Above　the　flame；　the　enormous　towers；　two　sides　of　each　of　which　were　visible　in　sharp　outline；　the　one　wholly　black；　the　other　wholly　red；　seemed　still　more　vast　with　all　the　immensity　of　the　shadow　which　they　cast　even　to　the　sky。

Their　innumerable　sculptures　of　demons　and　dragons　assumed　a　lugubrious　aspect。　　The　restless　light　of　the　flame　made　them　move　to　the　eye。　　There　were　griffins　which　had　the　air　of　laughing；　gargoyles　which　one　fancied　one　heard　yelping；　salamanders　which　puffed　at　the　fire；　tarasques*　which　sneezed　in　the　smoke。　　And　among　the　monsters　thus　roused　from　their　sleep　of　stone　by　this　flame；　by　this　noise；　there　was　one　who　walked　about；　and　who　was　seen；　from　time　to　time；　to　pass　across　the　glowing　face　of　the　pile；　like　a　bat　in　front　of　a　candle。


*　　The　representation　of　a　monstrous　animal　solemnly　drawn　about　in　Tarascon　and　other　French　towns。


Without　doubt；　this　strange　beacon　light　would　awaken　far　away；　the　woodcutter　of　the　hills　of　Bicêtre；　terrified　to　behold　the　gigantic　shadow　of　the　towers　of　Notre…Dame　quivering　over　his　heaths。

A　terrified　silence　ensued　among　the　outcasts；　during　which　nothing　was　heard；　but　the　cries　of　alarm　of　the　canons　shut　up　in　their　cloister；　and　more　uneasy　than　horses　in　a　burning　stable；　the　furtive　sound　of　windows　hastily　opened　and　still　more　hastily　closed；　the　internal　hurly…burly　of　the　houses　and　of　the　H？tel…Dieu；　the　wind　in　the　flame；　the　last　death…rattle　of　the　dying；　and　the　continued　crackling　of　the　rain　of　lead　upon　the　pavement。

In　the　meanwhile；　the　principal　vagabonds　had　retired　beneath　the　porch　of　the　Gondelaurier　mansion；　and　were　holding　a　council　of　war。

The　Duke　of　Egypt；　seated　on　a　stone　post；　contemplated　the　phantasmagorical　bonfire；　glowing　at　a　height　of　two　hundred　feet　in　the　air；　with　religious　terror。　　Clopin　Trouillefou　bit　his　huge　fists　with　rage。

〃Impossible　to　get　in！〃　he　muttered　between　his　teeth。

〃An　old；　enchanted　church！〃　grumbled　the　aged　Bohemian；　Mathias　Hungadi　Spicali。

〃By　the　Pope's　whiskers！〃　went　on　a　sham　soldier；　who　had　once　been　in　service；　〃here　are　church　gutters　spitting　melted　lead　at　you　better　than　the　machicolations　of　Lectoure。〃

〃Do　you　see　that　demon　passing　and　repassing　in　front　of　the　fire？〃　exclaimed　the　Duke　of　Egypt。

〃Pardieu；　'tis　that　damned　bellringer；　'tis　Quasimodo；〃　said　Clopin。

The　Bohemian　tossed　his　head。　　〃I　tell　you；　that　'tis　the　spirit　Sabnac；　the　grand　marquis；　the　demon　of　fortifications。　He　has　the　form　of　an　armed　soldier；　the　head　of　a　lion。　Sometimes　he　rides　a　hideous　horse。　　He　changes　men　into　stones；　of　which　he　builds　towers。　　He　commands　fifty　legions　'Tis　he　indeed；　I　recognize　him。　　Sometimes　he　is　clad　in　a　handsome　golden　robe；　figured　after　the　Turkish　fashion。〃

〃Where　is　Bellevigne　de　l'Etoile？〃　demanded　Clopin。

〃He　is　dead。〃

Andry　the　Red　laughed　in　an　idiotic　way：　〃Notre…Dame　is　making　work　for　the　hospital；〃　said　he。

〃Is　there；　then；　no　way　of　forcing　this　door；〃　exclaimed　the　King　of　Thunes；　stamping　his　foot。

The　Duke　of　Egypt　pointed　sadly　to　the　two　streams　of　boiling　lead　which　did　not　cease　to　streak　the　black　facade；　like　two　long　distaffs　of　phosphorus。

〃Churches　have　been　known　to　defend　themselves　thus　all　by　themselves；〃　he　remarked　with　a　sigh。　　〃Saint…Sophia　at　Constantinople；　forty　years　ago；　hurled　to　the　earth　three　times　in　succession；　the　crescent　of　Mahom；　by　shaking　her　domes；　which　are　her　heads。　　Guillaume　de　Paris；　who　built　this　one　was　a　magician。〃

〃Must　we　then　retreat　in　pitiful　fashion；　like　highwaymen？〃　said　Clopin。　　〃Must　we　leave　our　sister　here；　whom　those　hooded　wolves　will　hang　to…morrow。〃

〃And　the　sacristy；　where　there　are　wagon…loads　of　gold！〃　added　a　vagabond；　whose　name；　we　regret　to　say；　we　do　not　know。

〃Beard　of　Mahom！〃　cried　Trouillefou。

〃Let　us　make　another　trial；〃　resumed　the　vagabond。

Mathias　Hungadi　shook　his　head。

〃We　shall　never　get　in　by　the　door。　　We　must　find　the　defect　in　the　armor　of　the　old　fairy；　a　hole；　a　false　postern；　some　joint　or　other。〃

〃Who　will　go　with　me？〃　said　Clopin。　　〃I　shall　go　at　it　again。　　By　the　way；　where　is　the　little　scholar　Jehan；　who　is　so　encased　in　iron？〃

〃He　is　dead；　no　doubt；〃　some　one　replied；　〃we　no　longer　hear　his　laugh。〃

The　King　of　Thunes　frowned：　〃So　much　the　worse。　　There　was　a　brave　heart　under　that　ironmongery。　　And　Master　Pierre　Gringoire？〃

〃Captain　Clopin；〃　said　Andry　the　Red；　〃he　slipped　away　before　we　reached　the　Pont…aux…Changeurs；〃

Clopin　stamped　his　foot。　　〃Gueule…Dieu！　'twas　he　who　pushed　us　on　hither；　and　he　has　deserted　us　in　the　very　middle　of　the　job！　　Cowardly　chatterer；　with　a　slipper　for　a　helmet！〃

〃Captain　Clopin；〃　said　Andry　the　Red；　who　was　gazing　down　Rue　du　Parvis；　〃yonder　is　the　little　scholar。〃

〃Praised　be　Pluto！〃　said　Clopin。　　〃But　what　the　devil　is　he　dragging　after　him？〃

It　was；　in　fact；　Jehan；　who　was　running　as　fast　as　his　heavy　outfit　of　a　Paladin；　and　a　long　ladder　which　trailed　on　the　pavement；　would　permit；　more　breathless　than　an　ant　harnessed　to　a　blade　of　grass　twenty　times　longer　than　itself。

〃Victory！　　~Te　Deum~！〃　cried　the　scholar。　　〃Here　is　the　ladder　of　the　longshoremen　of　Port　Saint…Landry。〃

Clopin　approached　him。

〃Child；　what　do　you　mean　to　do；　~corne…dieu~！　　with　this　ladder？〃

〃I　have　it；〃　replied　Jehan；　panting。　　〃I　knew　where　it　was　under　the　shed　of　the　lieutenant's　house。　　There's　a　wench　there　whom　I　know；　who　thinks　me　as　handsome　as　Cupido。　I　made　use　of　her　to　get　the　ladder；　and　I　have　the　ladder；　~Pasque…Mahom~！　　The　poor　girl　came　to　open　the　door　to　me　in　her　shift。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Clopin；　〃but　what　are　you　going　to　do　with　that　ladder？〃

Jehan　gazed　at　him　with　a　malicious；　knowing　look；　and　cracked　his　fingers　like　castanets。　　At　that　moment　he　was　sublime。　　On　his　head　he　wore　one　of　those　overloaded　helmets　of　the　fifteenth　century；　which　frightened　the　enemy　with　their　fanciful　crests。　　His　bristled　with　ten　iron　beaks；　so　that　Jehan　could　have　disputed　with　Nestor's　Homeric　vessel　the　redoubtable　title　of　~dexeubolos~。

〃What　do　I　mean　to　do　with　it；　august　king　of　Thunes？　Do　you　see　that　row　of　statues　which　have　such　idiotic　expressions；　yonder；　above　the　three　portals？〃

〃Yes。　　Well？〃

〃'Tis　the　gallery　of　the　kings　of　France。〃

〃What　is　that　to　me？〃　said　Clopin。

〃Wait！　　At　the　end　of　that　gallery　there　is　a　door　which　is　never　fastened　otherwise　than　with　a　latch；　and　with　this　ladder　I　ascend；　and　I　am　in　the　church。〃

〃Child　let　me　be　the　first　to　ascend。〃

〃No；　comrade；　the　ladder　is　mine。　　Come；　you　shall　be　the　second。〃

〃May　Beelzebub　strangle　you！〃　said　surly　Clopin；　〃I　won't　be　second