the hunchback of notre dame-第85章

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A　burning　candle　does　not　attract　one　gnat　alone。　　Master　Olivier；　perceiving　the　king　to　be　in　a　liberal　mood；　and　judging　the　moment　to　be　propitious；　approached　in　his　turn。

〃Sire〃


〃What　is　it　now？〃　said　Louis　XI。

〃Sire；　your　majesty　knoweth　that　Simon　Radin　is　dead？〃

〃Well？〃

〃He　was　councillor　to　the　king　in　the　matter　of　the　courts　of　the　treasury。〃

〃Well？〃

〃Sire；　his　place　is　vacant。〃

As　he　spoke　thus；　Master　Olivier's　haughty　face　quitted　its　arrogant　expression　for　a　lowly　one。　　It　is　the　only　change　which　ever　takes　place　in　a　courtier's　visage。　　The　king　looked　him　well　in　the　face　and　said　in　a　dry　tone；〃I　understand。〃

He　resumed；

〃Master　Olivier；　the　Marshal　de　Boucicaut　was　wont　to　say；　'There's　no　master　save　the　king；　there　are　no　fishes　save　in　the　sea。'　I　see　that　you　agree　with　Monsieur　de　Boucicaut。　Now　listen　to　this；　we　have　a　good　memory。　　In　'68　we　made　you　valet　of　our　chamber：　in　'69；　guardian　of　the　fortress　of　the　bridge　of　Saint…Cloud；　at　a　hundred　livres　of　Tournay　in　wages　（you　wanted　them　of　Paris）。　　In　November；　'73；　by　letters　given　to　Gergeole；　we　instituted　you　keeper　of　the　Wood　of　Vincennes；　in　the　place　of　Gilbert　Acle；　equerry；　in　'75；　gruyer*　of　the　forest　of　Rouvray…lez…　Saint…Cloud；　in　the　place　of　Jacques　le　Maire；　in　'78；　we　graciously　settled　on　you；　by　letters　patent　sealed　doubly　with　green　wax；　an　income　of　ten　livres　parisis；　for　you　and　your　wife；　on　the　Place　of　the　Merchants；　situated　at　the　School　Saint…Germain；　in　'79；　we　made　you　gruyer　of　the　forest　of　Senart；　in　place　of　that　poor　Jehan　Daiz；　then　captain　of　the　Chateau　of　Loches；　then　governor　of　Saint…　Quentin；　then　captain　of　the　bridge　of　Meulan；　of　which　you　cause　yourself　to　be　called　comte。　　Out　of　the　five　sols　fine　paid　by　every　barber　who　shaves　on　a　festival　day；　there　are　three　sols　for　you　and　we　have　the　rest。　　We　have　been　good　enough　to　change　your　name　of　Le　Mauvais　（The　Evil）；　which　resembled　your　face　too　closely。　　In　'76；　we　granted　you；　to　the　great　displeasure　of　our　nobility；　armorial　bearings　of　a　thousand　colors；　which　give　you　the　breast　of　a　peacock。　　~Pasque…Dieu~！　　Are　not　you　surfeited？　　Is　not　the　draught　of　fishes　sufficiently　fine　and　miraculous？　　Are　you　not　afraid　that　one　salmon　more　will　make　your　boat　sink？　Pride　will　be　your　ruin；　gossip。　　Ruin　and　disgrace　always　press　hard　on　the　heels　of　pride。　　Consider　this　and　hold　your　tongue。〃


*　　A　lord　having　a　right　on　the　woods　of　his　vassals。


These　words；　uttered　with　severity；　made　Master　Olivier's　face　revert　to　its　insolence。

〃Good！〃　he　muttered；　almost　aloud；　〃'tis　easy　to　see　that　the　king　is　ill　to…day；　he　giveth　all　to　the　leech。〃

Louis　XI。　far　from　being　irritated　by　this　petulant　insult；　resumed　with　some　gentleness；　〃Stay；　I　was　forgetting　that　I　made　you　my　ambassador　to　Madame　Marie；　at　Ghent。　　Yes；　gentlemen；〃　added　the　king　turning　to　the　Flemings；　〃this　man　hath　been　an　ambassador。　　There；　my　gossip；〃　he　pursued；　addressing　Master　Olivier；　〃let　us　not　get　angry；　we　are　old　friends。　　'Tis　very　late。　　We　have　terminated　our　labors。　　Shave　me。〃

Our　readers　have　not；　without　doubt；　waited　until　the　present　moment　to　recognize　in　Master　Olivier　that　terrible　Figaro　whom　Providence；　the　great　maker　of　dramas；　mingled　so　artistically　in　the　long　and　bloody　comedy　of　the　reign　of　Louis　XI。　　We　will　not　here　undertake　to　develop　that　singular　figure。　　This　barber　of　the　king　had　three　names。　　At　court　he　was　politely　called　Olivier　le　Daim　（the　Deer）；　among　the　people　Olivier　the　Devil。　　His　real　name　was　Olivier　le　Mauvais。

Accordingly；　Olivier　le　Mauvais　remained　motionless；　sulking　at　the　king；　and　glancing　askance　at　Jacques　Coictier。

〃Yes；　yes；　the　physician！〃　he　said　between　his　teeth。

〃Ah；　yes；　the　physician！〃　retorted　Louis　XI。；　with　singular　good　humor；　〃the　physician　has　more　credit　than　you。　'Tis　very　simple；　he　has　taken　hold　upon　us　by　the　whole　body；　and　you　hold　us　only　by　the　chin。　　Come；　my　poor　barber；　all　will　come　right。　　What　would　you　say　and　what　would　become　of　your　office　if　I　were　a　king　like　Chilperic；　whose　gesture　consisted　in　holding　his　beard　in　one　hand？　Come；　gossip　mine；　fulfil　your　office；　shave　me。　　Go　get　what　you　need　therefor。〃

Olivier　perceiving　that　the　king　had　made　up　his　mind　to　laugh；　and　that　there　was　no　way　of　even　annoying　him；　went　off　grumbling　to　execute　his　orders。

The　king　rose；　approached　the　window；　and　suddenly　opening　it　with　extraordinary　agitation；

〃Oh！　yes！〃　he　exclaimed；　clapping　his　hands；　〃yonder　is　a　redness　in　the　sky　over　the　City。　　'Tis　the　bailiff　burning。　It　can　be　nothing　else　but　that。　　Ah！　my　good　people！　here　you　are　aiding　me　at　last　in　tearing　down　the　rights　of　lordship！〃

Then　turning　towards　the　Flemings：　〃Come；　look　at　this；　gentlemen。　　Is　it　not　a　fire　which　gloweth　yonder？〃

The　two　men　of　Ghent　drew　near。

〃A　great　fire；〃　said　Guillaume　Rym。

〃Oh！〃　exclaimed　Coppenole；　whose　eyes　suddenly　flashed；　〃that　reminds　me　of　the　burning　of　the　house　of　the　Seigneur　d'Hymbercourt。　　There　must　be　a　goodly　revolt　yonder。〃

〃You　think　so；　Master　Coppenole？〃　　And　Louis　XI。's　glance　was　almost　as　joyous　as　that　of　the　hosier。　　〃Will　it　not　be　difficult　to　resist？〃

〃Cross　of　God！　　Sire！　　Your　majesty　will　damage　many　companies　of　men　of　war　thereon。〃

〃Ah！　　I！　'tis　different；〃　returned　the　king。　　〃If　I　willed。〃　The　hosier　replied　hardily；

〃If　this　revolt　be　what　I　suppose；　sire；　you　might　will　in　vain。〃

〃Gossip；〃　said　Louis　XI。；　〃with　the　two　companies　of　my　unattached　troops　and　one　discharge　of　a　serpentine；　short　work　is　made　of　a　populace　of　louts。〃

The　hosier；　in　spite　of　the　signs　made　to　him　by　Guillaume　Rym；　appeared　determined　to　hold　his　own　against　the　king。

〃Sire；　the　Swiss　were　also　louts。　　Monsieur　the　Duke　of　Burgundy　was　a　great　gentleman；　and　he　turned　up　his　nose　at　that　rabble　rout。　　At　the　battle　of　Grandson；　sire；　he　cried：　'Men　of　the　cannon！　　Fire　on　the　villains！'　and　he　swore　by　Saint…George。　　But　Advoyer　Scharnachtal　hurled　himself　on　the　handsome　duke　with　his　battle…club　and　his　people；　and　when　the　glittering　Burgundian　army　came　in　contact　with　these　peasants　in　bull　hides；　it　flew　in　pieces　like　a　pane　of　glass　at　the　blow　of　a　pebble。　　Many　lords　were　then　slain　by　low…born　knaves；　and　Monsieur　de　Chateau…Guyon；　the　greatest　seigneur　in　Burgundy；　was　found　dead；　with　his　gray　horse；　in　a　little　marsh　meadow。〃

〃Friend；〃　returned　the　king；　〃you　are　speaking　of　a　battle。　The　question　here　is　of　a　mutiny。　　And　I　will　gain　the　upper　hand　of　it　as　soon　as　it　shall　please　me　to　frown。〃

The　other　replied　indifferently；

〃That　may　be；　sire；　in　that　case；　'tis　because　the　people's　hour　hath　not　yet　come。〃

Guillaume　Rym　considered　it　incumbent　on　him　to　intervene；

〃Master　Coppenole；　you　are　speaking　to　a　puissant　king。〃

〃I　know　it；〃　replied　the　hosier；　gravely。

〃Let　him　speak；　Monsieur　Rym；　my　friend；〃　said　the　king；　〃I　love　this　frankness　of　speech。　　My　father；　Charles　the　Seventh；　was　accustomed　to　say　that　the　truth　was　ailing；　I　thought　her　dead；　and　that　she　had　found　no　confessor。　　Master　Coppenole　undeceiveth　me。〃

Then；　laying　his　hand　familiarly　on　Coppenole's　shoulder；

〃You　were　saying；　Master　Jacques？〃

〃I　say；　sire；　that　you　may　possibly　be　in　the　right；　that　the　hour　of　the　people　may　not　yet　have　come　with　you。〃

Louis　XI。　　gazed　at　him　with　his　penetrating　eye；

〃And　when　will　that　hour　come；　master？〃

〃You　will　hear　it　strike。〃

〃On　what　clock；　if　you　please？〃

Coppenole；　with　his　tranquil　and　rustic　countenance；　made　the　king　approach　the　window。

〃Listen；　sire！　　There　is　here　a　donjon　keep；　a　belfry；　cannons；　bourgeois；　soldiers；　when　the　belfry　shall　hum；　when　the　cannons　shall　roar；　when　the　donjon　shall　fall　in　ruins　amid　great　noise；　when　bourgeois　and　soldiers　shall　howl　and　slay　each　other；　the　hour　will　strike。〃

Louis's　face　grew　sombre　and　dreamy。　　He　remained　silent　for　a　moment；　then　he　gently　patted　with　his　hand　the　thick　wall　of　the　donjon；　as　one　strokes　the　haunches　of　a　steed。

〃Oh！　no！〃　said　he。　　〃You　will　not　crumble　so　easily；　will　you；　my　good　Bastille？〃

And　turning　with　an　abrupt　gesture　towards　the　sturdy　Fleming；

〃Have　you　never　seen　a　revolt；　Master　Jacques？〃

〃I　have　made　them；〃　said　the　hosier。

〃How　do　you　set　to　work　to　make　a　revolt？〃　said　the　king。

〃Ah！〃　replied　Coppenole；　〃'tis　not　very　difficult。　　There　are　a　hundred　ways。　　In　the　first　place；　there　must　be　discontent　in　the　city。　　The　thing　is　not　uncommon。　　And　then；　the　character　of　the　inhabitants。　　Those　of　Ghent　are　easy　to　stir　into　revolt。　　They　always　love　the　prince's　son；　the　prince；　never。　　Well！　　One　morning；　I　will　suppose；　some　one　enters　my　shop；　and　says　to　me：　'Father　Coppenole；　there　is　this　and　there　is　that；　the　Demoiselle　of　Flanders　wishes　to　save　her　ministers；　the　grand　bailiff　is　doubling　the　impost　on　shagreen；　or　something　else；'what　you　will。　　I　leave　my　work　as　it　stands；　I　come　out　of　my　hosier's　stall；　and　I　shout：　'To　the　sack？'　There　is　always　some　smashed　cask　at　hand。　I　mount　it；　and　I　say　aloud；　in　the　first　words　that　occur　to　me；　what　I　have　on　my　heart；　and　when　one　is　of　the　people；　sire；　one　always　has　something　on　the　heart：　Then　people　troop　up；　they　shout；　they　ring　the　alarm　bell；　they　arm　the　louts　with　what　they　take　from　the　soldiers；　the　market　people　join　in；　and　they　set　out。　　And　it　will　always　be　thus；　so　long　as　there　are　lords　in　the　seignories；　bourgeois　in　the　bourgs；　and　peasants　in　the　country。〃

〃And　against　whom　do　you　thus　rebel？〃　inquired　the　king；　〃against　your　bailiffs？　　against　your　lords？〃

〃Sometimes；　that　depends。　　Against　the　duke；　also；　sometimes。〃

Louis　XI。　　returned　and　seated　himself；　saying；　with　a　smile；

〃Ah！　　here　they　have　only　got　as　far　as　the　bailiffs。〃

At　that　instant　Olivier　le　Daim　returned。　　He　was　followed　by　two　pages；　who　bore　the　king's　toilet　articles；　but　what　struck　Louis　XI。　was　that　he　was　also　accompanied　by　the　provost　of　Paris　and　the　chevalier　of　the　watch；　who　appeared　to　be　in　consternation。　　The　spiteful　barber　also　wore　an　air　of　consternation；　which　was　one　of　contentment　beneath；　however。　It　was　he　who　spoke　first。

〃Sire；　I　ask　your　majesty's　pardon　for　the　calamitous　news　which　I　bring。〃

The　king　turned　quickly　and　grazed　the　mat　on　the　floor　with　the　feet　of　his　chair；

〃What　does　this　mean？〃

〃Sire；〃　resumed　Olivier　le　Daim；　with　the　malicious　air　of　a　man　who　rejoices　that　he　is　about　to　deal　a　violent　blow；　〃'tis　not　against　the　bailiff　of　the　courts　that　this　popular　sedition　is　directed。〃

〃Against　whom；　then？〃

〃Against　you；　sire？'

The　aged　king　rose　erect　and　straight　as　a　young　man；

〃Explain　yourself；　Olivier！　　And　guard　your　head　well；　gossip；　for　I　swear　to　you　by　the　cross　of　Saint…L？　that；　if　you　lie　to　us　at　this　hour；　the　sword　which　severed　the　head　of　Monsieur　de　Luxembourg　is　not　so　notched　that　it　cannot　yet　sever　yours！〃

The　oath　was　formidable；　Louis　XI。　had　only　sworn　twice　in　the　course　of　his　life　by　the　cross　of　Saint…L？。

Olivier　opened　his　mouth　to　reply。

〃Sire〃

〃On　your　knees！〃　interrupted　the　king　violently。　　〃Tristan；　have　an　eye　to