the hunchback of notre dame-第82章

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at　I　possess　a　greater　modesty　of　lions；　bears；　elephants；　and　leopards。Go　on；　Master　Olivier。　　We　wished　to　say　thus　much　to　our　Flemish　friends。〃

Guillaume　Rym　bowed　low；　while　Coppenole；　with　his　surly　mien；　had　the　air　of　one　of　the　bears　of　which　his　majesty　was　speaking。　　The　king　paid　no　heed。　　He　had　just　dipped　his　lips　into　the　goblet；　and　he　spat　out　the　beverage；　saying：　〃Foh！　what　a　disagreeable　potion！〃　The　man　who　was　reading　continued：

〃For　feeding　a　rascally　footpad；　locked　up　these　six　months　in　the　little　cell　of　the　flayer；　until　it　should　be　determined　what　to　do　with　him；　six　livres；　four　sols。〃

〃What's　that？〃　interrupted　the　king；　〃feed　what　ought　to　be　hanged！　　~Pasque…Dieu~！　　I　will　give　not　a　sou　more　for　that　nourishment。　　Olivier；　come　to　an　understanding　about　the　matter　with　Monsieur　d'Estouteville；　and　prepare　me　this　very　evening　the　wedding　of　the　gallant　and　the　gallows。　　Resume。〃

Olivier　made　a　mark　with　his　thumb　against　the　article　of　the　〃rascally　foot　soldier；〃　and　passed　on。

〃To　Henriet　Cousin；　master　executor　of　the　high　works　of　justice　in　Paris；　the　sum　of　sixty　sols　parisis；　to　him　assessed　and　ordained　by　monseigneur　the　provost　of　Paris；　for　having　bought；　by　order　of　the　said　sieur　the　provost；　a　great　broad　sword；　serving　to　execute　and　decapitate　persons　who　are　by　justice　condemned　for　their　demerits；　and　he　hath　caused　the　same　to　be　garnished　with　a　sheath　and　with　all　things　thereto　appertaining；　and　hath　likewise　caused　to　be　repointed　and　set　in　order　the　old　sword；　which　had　become　broken　and　notched　in　executing　justice　on　Messire　Louis　de　Luxembourg；　as　will　more　fully　appear　。

The　king　interrupted：　〃That　suffices。　　I　allow　the　sum　with　great　good　will。　　Those　are　expenses　which　I　do　not　begrudge。　　I　have　never　regretted　that　money。　　Continue。〃

〃For　having　made　over　a　great　cage。。。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　the　king；　grasping　the　arms　of　his　chair　in　both　hands；　〃I　knew　well　that　I　came　hither　to　this　Bastille　for　some　purpose。　　Hold；　Master　Olivier；　I　desire　to　see　that　cage　myself。　　You　shall　read　me　the　cost　while　I　am　examining　it。　　Messieurs　Flemings；　come　and　see　this；　'tis　curious。〃

Then　he　rose；　leaned　on　the　arm　of　his　interlocutor；　made　a　sign　to　the　sort　of　mute　who　stood　before　the　door　to　precede　him；　to　the　two　Flemings　to　follow　him；　and　quitted　the　room。

The　royal　company　was　recruited；　at　the　door　of　the　retreat；　by　men　of　arms；　all　loaded　down　with　iron；　and　by　slender　pages　bearing　flambeaux。　　It　marched　for　some　time　through　the　interior　of　the　gloomy　donjon；　pierced　with　staircases　and　corridors　even　in　the　very　thickness　of　the　walls。　　The　captain　of　the　Bastille　marched　at　their　head；　and　caused　the　wickets　to　be　opened　before　the　bent　and　aged　king；　who　coughed　as　he　walked。

At　each　wicket；　all　heads　were　obliged　to　stoop；　except　that　of　the　old　man　bent　double　with　age。　　〃Hum；〃　said　he　between　his　gums；　for　he　had　no　longer　any　teeth；　〃we　are　already　quite　prepared　for　the　door　of　the　sepulchre。　　For　a　low　door；　a　bent　passer。〃

At　length；　after　having　passed　a　final　wicket；　so　loaded　with　locks　that　a　quarter　of　an　hour　was　required　to　open　it；　they　entered　a　vast　and　lofty　vaulted　hall；　in　the　centre　of　which　they　could　distinguish　by　the　light　of　the　torches；　a　huge　cubic　mass　of　masonry；　iron；　and　wood。　　The　interior　was　hollow。　　It　was　one　of　those　famous　cages　of　prisoners　of　state；　which　were　called　〃the　little　daughters　of　the　king。〃　In　its　walls　there　were　two　or　three　little　windows　so　closely　trellised　with　stout　iron　bars；　that　the　glass　was　not　visible。　The　door　was　a　large　flat　slab　of　stone；　as　on　tombs；　the　sort　of　door　which　serves　for　entrance　only。　　Only　here；　the　occupant　was　alive。

The　king　began　to　walk　slowly　round　the　little　edifice；　examining　it　carefully；　while　Master　Olivier；　who　followed　him；　read　aloud　the　note。

〃For　having　made　a　great　cage　of　wood　of　solid　beams；　timbers　and　wall…plates；　measuring　nine　feet　in　length　by　eight　in　breadth；　and　of　the　height　of　seven　feet　between　the　partitions；　smoothed　and　clamped　with　great　bolts　of　iron；　which　has　been　placed　in　a　chamber　situated　in　one　of　the　towers　of　the　Bastille　Saint…Antoine；　in　which　cage　is　placed　and　detained；　by　command　of　the　king　our　lord；　a　prisoner　who　formerly　inhabited　an　old；　decrepit；　and　ruined　cage。　There　have　been　employed　in　making　the　said　new　cage；　ninety…six　horizontal　beams；　and　fifty…two　upright　joists；　ten　wall　plates　three　toises　long；　there　have　been　occupied　nineteen　carpenters　to　hew；　work；　and　fit　all　the　said　wood　in　the　courtyard　of　the　Bastille　during　twenty　days。〃

〃Very　fine　heart　of　oak；〃　said　the　king；　striking　the　woodwork　with　his　fist。

〃There　have　been　used　in　this　cage；〃　continued　the　other；　〃two　hundred　and　twenty　great　bolts　of　iron；　of　nine　feet；　and　of　eight；　the　rest　of　medium　length；　with　the　rowels；　caps　and　counterbands　appertaining　to　the　said　bolts；　weighing；　the　said　iron　in　all；　three　thousand；　seven　hundred　and　thirty…five　pounds；　beside　eight　great　squares　of　iron；　serving　to　attach　the　said　cage　in　place　with　clamps　and　nails　weighing　in　all　two　hundred　and　eighteen　pounds；　not　reckoning　the　iron　of　the　trellises　for　the　windows　of　the　chamber　wherein　the　cage　hath　been　placed；　the　bars　of　iron　for　the　door　of　the　cage　and　other　things。〃

〃'Tis　a　great　deal　of　iron；〃　said　the　king；　〃to　contain　the　light　of　a　spirit。〃

〃The　whole　amounts　to　three　hundred　and　seventeen　livres；　five　sols；　seven　deniers。〃

〃~Pasque…Dieu~！〃　exclaimed　the　king。

At　this　oath；　which　was　the　favorite　of　Louis　XI。；　some　one　seemed　to　awaken　in　the　interior　of　the　cage；　the　sound　of　chains　was　heard；　grating　on　the　floor；　and　a　feeble　voice；　which　seemed　to　issue　from　the　tomb　was　uplifted。　　〃Sire！　sire！　mercy！〃　The　one　who　spoke　thus　could　not　be　seen。

〃Three　hundred　and　seventeen　livres；　five　sols；　seven　deniers；〃　repeated　Louis　XI。

The　lamentable　voice　which　had　proceeded　from　the　cage　had　frozen　all　present；　even　Master　Olivier　himself。　　The　king　alone　wore　the　air　of　not　having　heard。　　At　his　order；　Master　Olivier　resumed　his　reading；　and　his　majesty　coldly　continued　his　inspection　of　the　cage。

〃In　addition　to　this　there　hath　been　paid　to　a　mason　who　hath　made　the　holes　wherein　to　place　the　gratings　of　the　windows；　and　the　floor　of　the　chamber　where　the　cage　is；　because　that　floor　could　not　support　this　cage　by　reason　of　its　weight；　twenty…seven　livres　fourteen　sols　parisis。〃

The　voice　began　to　moan　again。

〃Mercy；　sire！　　I　swear　to　you　that　'twas　Monsieur　the　Cardinal　d'Angers　and　not　I；　who　was　guilty　of　treason。〃

〃The　mason　is　bold！〃　said　the　king。　　〃Continue；　Olivier。〃　Olivier　continued；

〃To　a　joiner　for　window　frames；　bedstead；　hollow　stool；　and　other　things；　twenty　livres；　two　sols　parisis。〃

The　voice　also　continued。

〃Alas；　sire！　　will　you　not　listen　to　me？　　I　protest　to　you　that　'twas　not　I　who　wrote　the　matter　to　Monseigneur　do　Guyenne；　but　Monsieur　le　Cardinal　Balue。〃

〃The　joiner　is　dear；〃　quoth　the　king。　　〃Is　that　all？〃

〃No；　sire。　　To　a　glazier；　for　the　windows　of　the　said　chamber；　forty…six　sols；　eight　deniers　parisis。〃

〃Have　mercy；　sire！　　Is　it　not　enough　to　have　given　all　my　goods　to　my　judges；　my　plate　to　Monsieur　de　Torcy；　my　library　to　Master　Pierre　Doriolle；　my　tapestry　to　the　governor　of　the　Roussillon？　　I　am　innocent。　　I　have　been　shivering　in　an　iron　cage　for　fourteen　years。　　Have　mercy；　sire！　You　will　find　your　reward　in　heaven。〃

〃Master　Olivier；〃　said　the　king；　〃the　total？〃

〃Three　hundred　sixty…seven　livres；　eight　sols；　three　deniers　parisis。

〃Notre…Dame！〃　cried　the　king。　　〃This　is　an　outrageous　cage！〃

He　tore　the　book　from　Master　Olivier's　hands；　and　set　to　reckoning　it　himself　upon　his　fingers；　examining　the　paper　and　the　cage　alternately。　　Meanwhile；　the　prisoner　could　be　heard　sobbing。　　This　was　lugubrious　in　the　darkness；　and　their　faces　turned　pale　as　they　looked　at　each　other。

〃Fourteen　years；　sire！　　Fourteen　years　now！　since　the　month　of　April；　1469。　　In　the　name　of　the　Holy　Mother　of　God；　sire；　listen　to　me！　　During　all　this　time　you　have　enjoyed　the　heat　of　the　sun。　　Shall　I；　frail　creature；　never　more　behold　the　day？　　Mercy；　sire！　　Be　pitiful！　　Clemency　is　a　fine；　royal　virtue；　which　turns　aside　the　currents　of　wrath。　Does　your　majesty　believe　that　in　the　hour　of　death　it　will　be　a　great　cause　of　content　for　a　king　never　to　have　left　any　offence　unpunished？　　Besides；　sire；　I　did　not　betray　your　majesty；　'twas　Monsieur　d'Angers；　and　I　have　on　my　foot　a　very　heavy　chain；　and　a　great　ball　of　iron　at　the　end；　much　heavier　than　it　should　be　in　reason。　　Eh！　sire！　　Have　pity　on　me！〃

〃Olivier；〃　cried　the　king；　throwing　back　his　head；　〃I　observe　that　they　charge　me　twenty　sols　a　hogshead　for　plaster；　while　it　is　worth　but　twelve。　　You　will　refer　back　this　account。〃

He　turned　his　back　on　the　cage；　and　set　out　to　leave　the　room。　　The　miserable　prisoner　divined　from　the　removal　of　the　torches　and　the　noise；　that　the　king　was　taking　his　departure。

〃Sire！　　sire！〃　be　cried　in　despair。

The　door　closed　again。　　He　no　longer　saw　anything；　and　heard　only　the　hoarse　voice　of　the　turnkey；　singing　in　his　ears　this　ditty；


　　　　　　　　　〃~Ma？tre　Jean　Balue；　　　　　　　　　　A　perdu　la　vue　　　　　　　　　　De　ses　évêchés。　　　　　　　　　　Monsieur　de　Verdun。　　　　　　　　　　N'en　a　plus　pas　un；　　　　　　　　　　Tous　sont　dépêchés~。〃*


*　Master　Jean　Balue　has　lost　sight　of　his　bishoprics。　Monsieur　of　Verdun　has　no　longer　one；　all　have　been　killed　off。


The　king　reascended　in　silence　to　his　retreat；　and　his　suite　followed　him；　terrified　by　the　last　groans　of　the　condemned　man。　　All　at　once　his　majesty　turned　to　the　Governor　of　the　Bastille；

〃By　the　way；〃　said　he；　〃was　there　not　some　one　in　that　cage？〃

〃Pardieu；　yes　sire！〃　replied　the　governor；　astounded　by　the　question。

〃And　who　was　it？〃

〃Monsieur　the　Bishop　of　Verdun。〃

The　king　knew　this　better　than　any　one　else。　　But　it　was　a　mania　of　his。

〃Ah！〃　said　he；　with　the　innocent　air　of　thinking　of　it　for　the　first　time；　〃Guillaume　de　Harancourt；　the　friend　of　Monsieur　the　Cardinal　Balue。　　A　good　devil　of　a　bishop！〃

At　the　expiration　of　a　few　moments；　the　door　of　the　retreat　had　opened　again；　then　closed　upon　the　five　personages　whom　the　reader　has　seen　at　the　beginning　of　this　chapter；　and　who　resumed　their　places；　their　whispered　conversations；　and　their　attitudes。

During　the　king's　absence；　several　despatches　had　been　placed　on　his　table；　and　he　broke　the　seals　himself。　　Then　he　began　to　read　them　promptly；　one　after　the　other；　made　a　sign　to　Master　Olivier　who　appeared　to　exercise　the　office　of　minister；　to　take　a　pen；　and　without　communicating　to　him　the　contents　of　the　despatches；　he　began　to　dictate　in　a　low　voice；　the　replies　which　the　latter　wrote；　on　his　knees；　in　an　inconvenient　attitude　before　the　table。

Guillaume　Rym　was　on　the　watch。

The　king　spoke　so　low　that　the　Flemings　heard　nothing　of　his　dictation；　except　some　isolated　and　rather　unintelligible　scraps；　such　as；

〃To　maintain　the　fertile　places　by　commerce；　and　the　sterile　by　manufactures。。。。To　show　the　English　lords　our　four　bombards；　London；　Brabant；　Bourg…en…Bresse；　Saint…　Omer。。。。Artillery　is　the　cause　of　war　being　made