the hunchback of notre dame-第89章

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without　interruption。　　He　now　had　a　gentle　and　plaintive　accent　which　contrasted　sadly　with　the　haughty　harshness　of　his　features。

〃I　love　you。　　Oh！　how　true　that　is！　　So　nothing　comes　of　that　fire　which　burns　my　heart！　　Alas！　young　girl；　night　and　dayyes；　night　and　day　I　tell　you；it　is　torture。　　Oh！　　I　suffer　too　much；　my　poor　child。　　'Tis　a　thing　deserving　of　compassion；　I　assure　you。　　You　see　that　I　speak　gently　to　you。　　I　really　wish　that　you　should　no　longer　cherish　this　horror　of　me。After　all；　if　a　man　loves　a　woman；　'tis　not　his　fault！Oh；　my　God！What！　　So　you　will　never　pardon　me？　You　will　always　hate　me？　　All　is　over　then。　　It　is　that　which　renders　me　evil；　do　you　see？　and　horrible　to　myself。You　will　not　even　look　at　me！　　You　are　thinking　of　something　else；　perchance；　while　I　stand　here　and　talk　to　you；　shuddering　on　the　brink　of　eternity　for　both　of　us！　　Above　all　things；　do　not　speak　to　me　of　the　officer！I　would　cast　myself　at　your　knees；　I　would　kiss　not　your　feet；　but　the　earth　which　is　under　your　feet；　I　would　sob　like　a　child；　I　would　tear　from　my　breast　not　words；　but　my　very　heart　and　vitals；　to　tell　you　that　I　love　you；all　would　be　useless；　all！And　yet　you　have　nothing　in　your　heart　but　what　is　tender　and　merciful。　　You　are　radiant　with　the　most　beautiful　mildness；　you　are　wholly　sweet；　good；　pitiful；　and　charming。　　Alas！　You　cherish　no　ill　will　for　any　one　but　me　alone！　　Oh！　what　a　fatality！〃

He　hid　his　face　in　his　hands。　　The　young　girl　heard　him　weeping。　　It　was　for　the　first　time。　　Thus　erect　and　shaken　by　sobs；　he　was　more　miserable　and　more　suppliant　than　when　on　his　knees。　　He　wept　thus　for　a　considerable　time。

〃Come！〃　he　said；　these　first　tears　passed；　〃I　have　no　more　words。　　I　had；　however；　thought　well　as　to　what　you　would　say。　　Now　I　tremble　and　shiver　and　break　down　at　the　decisive　moment；　I　feel　conscious　of　something　supreme　enveloping　us；　and　I　stammer。　　Oh！　　I　shall　fall　upon　the　pavement　if　you　do　not　take　pity　on　me；　pity　on　yourself。　　Do　not　condemn　us　both。　　If　you　only　knew　how　much　I　love　you！　What　a　heart　is　mine！　　Oh！　what　desertion　of　all　virtue！　What　desperate　abandonment　of　myself！　　A　doctor；　I　mock　at　science；　a　gentleman；　I　tarnish　my　own　name；　a　priest；　I　make　of　the　missal　a　pillow　of　sensuality；　I　spit　in　the　face　of　my　God！　all　this　for　thee；　enchantress！　to　be　more　worthy　of　thy　hell！　　And　you　will　not　have　the　apostate！　　Oh！　let　me　tell　you　all！　more　still；　something　more　horrible；　oh！　　Yet　more　horrible！。。。。〃

As　he　uttered　these　last　words；　his　air　became　utterly　distracted。　　He　was　silent　for　a　moment；　and　resumed；　as　though　speaking　to　himself；　and　in　a　strong　voice；

〃Cain；　what　hast　thou　done　with　thy　brother？〃

There　was　another　silence；　and　he　went　on

〃What　have　I　done　with　him；　Lord？　　I　received　him；　I　reared　him；　I　nourished　him；　I　loved　him；　I　idolized　him；　and　I　have　slain　him！　　Yes；　Lord；　they　have　just　dashed　his　head　before　my　eyes　on　the　stone　of　thine　house；　and　it　is　because　of　me；　because　of　this　woman；　because　of　her。〃

His　eye　was　wild。　　His　voice　grew　ever　weaker；　he　repeated　many　times；　yet；　mechanically；　at　tolerably　long　intervals；　like　a　bell　prolonging　its　last　vibration：　〃Because　of　her。Because　of　her。〃

Then　his　tongue　no　longer　articulated　any　perceptible　sound；　but　his　lips　still　moved。　　All　at　once　he　sank　together；　like　something　crumbling；　and　lay　motionless　on　the　earth；　with　his　head　on　his　knees。

A　touch　from　the　young　girl；　as　she　drew　her　foot　from　under　him；　brought　him　to　himself。　　He　passed　his　hand　slowly　over　his　hollow　cheeks；　and　gazed　for　several　moments　at　his　fingers；　which　were　wet；　〃What！〃　he　murmured；　〃I　have　wept！〃

And　turning　suddenly　to　the　gypsy　with　unspeakable　anguish；

〃Alas！　you　have　looked　coldly　on　at　my　tears！　　Child；　do　you　know　that　those　tears　are　of　lava？　　Is　it　indeed　true？　Nothing　touches　when　it　comes　from　the　man　whom　one　does　not　love。　　If　you　were　to　see　me　die；　you　would　laugh。　　Oh！　I　do　not　wish　to　see　you　die！　　One　word！　　A　single　word　of　pardon！　　Say　not　that　you　love　me；　say　only　that　you　will　do　it；　that　will　suffice；　I　will　save　you。　　If　notoh！　the　hour　is　passing。　　I　entreat　you　by　all　that　is　sacred；　do　not　wait　until　I　shall　have　turned　to　stone　again；　like　that　gibbet　which　also　claims　you！　　Reflect　that　I　hold　the　destinies　of　both　of　us　in　my　hand；　that　I　am　mad；it　is　terrible；that　I　may　let　all　go　to　destruction；　and　that　there　is　beneath　us　a　bottomless　abyss；　unhappy　girl；　whither　my　fall　will　follow　yours　to　all　eternity！　　One　word　of　kindness！　　Say　one　word！　only　one　word！〃

She　opened　her　mouth　to　answer　him。　　He　flung　himself　on　his　knees　to　receive　with　adoration　the　word；　possibly　a　tender　one；　which　was　on　the　point　of　issuing　from　her　lips。　She　said　to　him；　〃You　are　an　assassin！〃

The　priest　clasped　her　in　his　arms　with　fury；　and　began　to　laugh　with　an　abominable　laugh。

〃Well；　yes；　an　assassin！〃　he　said；　〃and　I　will　have　you。　You　will　not　have　me　for　your　slave；　you　shall　have　me　for　your　master。　　I　will　have　you！　　I　have　a　den；　whither　I　will　drag　you。　　You　will　follow　me；　you　will　be　obliged　to　follow　me；　or　I　will　deliver　you　up！　　You　must　die；　my　beauty；　or　be　mine！　belong　to　the　priest！　belong　to　the　apostate！　belong　to　the　assassin！　this　very　night；　do　you　hear？　　Come！　joy；　kiss　me；　mad　girl！　　The　tomb　or　my　bed！〃

His　eyes　sparkled　with　impurity　and　rage。　　His　lewd　lips　reddened　the　young　girl's　neck。　　She　struggled　in　his　arms。　He　covered　her　with　furious　kisses。

〃Do　not　bite　me；　monster！〃　she　cried。　　〃Oh！　the　foul；　odious　monk！　leave　me！　　I　will　tear　out　thy　ugly　gray　hair　and　fling　it　in　thy　face　by　the　handful！〃

He　reddened；　turned　pale；　then　released　her　and　gazed　at　her　with　a　gloomy　air。　　She　thought　herself　victorious；　and　continued；

〃I　tell　you　that　I　belong　to　my　Phoebus；　that　'tis　Phoebus

whom　I　love；　that　'tis　Phoebus　who　is　handsome！　you　are　old；　priest！　you　are　ugly！　　Begone！〃

He　gave　vent　to　a　horrible　cry；　like　the　wretch　to　whom　a　hot　iron　is　applied。　　〃Die；　then！〃　he　said；　gnashing　his　teeth。　She　saw　his　terrible　look　and　tried　to　fly。　　He　caught　her　once　more；　he　shook　her；　he　flung　her　on　the　ground；　and　walked　with　rapid　strides　towards　the　corner　of　the　Tour…　Roland；　dragging　her　after　him　along　the　pavement　by　her　beautiful　hands。

On　arriving　there；　he　turned　to　her；

〃For　the　last　time；　will　you　be　mine？〃

She　replied　with　emphasis；

〃No！〃

Then　he　cried　in　a　loud　voice；

〃Gudule！　　Gudule！　here　is　the　gypsy！　take　your　vengeance！〃

The　young　girl　felt　herself　seized　suddenly　by　the　elbow。　She　looked。　　A　fleshless　arm　was　stretched　from　an　opening　in　the　wall；　and　held　her　like　a　hand　of　iron。

〃Hold　her　well；〃　said　the　priest；　〃'tis　the　gypsy　escaped。　Release　her　not。　　I　will　go　in　search　of　the　sergeants。　　You　shall　see　her　hanged。〃

A　guttural　laugh　replied　from　the　interior　of　the　wall　to　these　bloody　words〃Hah！　hah！　hah！〃The　gypsy　watched　the　priest　retire　in　the　direction　of　the　Pont　Notre…Dame。　A　cavalcade　was　heard　in　that　direction。

The　young　girl　had　recognized　the　spiteful　recluse。　　Panting　with　terror；　she　tried　to　disengage　herself。　　She　writhed；　she　made　many　starts　of　agony　and　despair；　but　the　other　held　her　with　incredible　strength。　　The　lean　and　bony　fingers　which　bruised　her；　clenched　on　her　flesh　and　met　around　it。　One　would　have　said　that　this　hand　was　riveted　to　her　arm。　It　was　more　than　a　chain；　more　than　a　fetter；　more　than　a　ring　of　iron；　it　was　a　living　pair　of　pincers　endowed　with　intelligence；　which　emerged　from　the　wall。

She　fell　back　against　the　wall　exhausted；　and　then　the　fear　of　death　took　possession　of　her。　　She　thought　of　the　beauty　of　life；　of　youth；　of　the　view　of　heaven；　the　aspects　of　nature；　of　her　love　for　Phoebus；　of　all　that　was　vanishing　and　all　that　was　approaching；　of　the　priest　who　was　denouncing　her；　of　the　headsman　who　was　to　come；　of　the　gallows　which　was　there。　　Then　she　felt　terror　mount　to　the　very　roots　of　her　hair　and　she　heard　the　mocking　laugh　of　the　recluse；　saying　to　her　in　a　very　low　tone：　〃Hah！　hah！　hah！　you　are　going　to　be　hanged！〃

She　turned　a　dying　look　towards　the　window；　and　she　beheld　the　fierce　face　of　the　sacked　nun　through　the　bars。

〃What　have　I　done　to　you？〃　she　said；　almost　lifeless。

The　recluse　did　not　reply；　but　began　to　mumble　with　a　singsong　irritated；　mocking　intonation：　〃Daughter　of　Egypt！　daughter　of　Egypt！　daughter　of　Egypt！〃

The　unhappy　Esmeralda　dropped　her　head　beneath　her　flowing　hair；　comprehending　that　it　was　no　human　being　she　had　to　deal　with。

All　at　once　the　recluse　exclaimed；　as　though　the　gypsy's　question　had　taken　all　this　time　to　reach　her　brain；〃'What　have　you　done　to　me？'　you　say！　　Ah！　what　have　you　done　to　me；　gypsy！　　Well！　listen。I　had　a　child！　you　see！　　I　had　a　child！　a　child；　I　tell　you！a　pretty　little　girl！my　Agnes！〃　she　went　on　wildly；　kissing　something　in　the　dark。〃Well！　do　you　see；　daughter　of　Egypt？　they　took　my　child　from　me；　they　stole　my　child；　they　ate　my　child。　　That　is　what　you　have　done　to　me。〃

The　young　girl　replied　like　a　lamb；

〃Alas！　perchance　I　was　not　born　then！〃

〃Oh！　yes！〃　returned　the　recluse；　〃you　must　have　been　born。　　You　were　among　them。　　She　would　be　the　same　age　as　you！　so！I　have　been　here　fifteen　years；　fifteen　years　have　I　suffered；　fifteen　years　have　I　prayed；　fifteen　years　have　I　beat　my　head　against　these　four　wallsI　tell　you　that　'twas　the　gypsies　who　stole　her　from　me；　do　you　hear　that？　and　who　ate　her　with　their　teeth。Have　you　a　heart？　imagine　a　child　playing；　a　child　sucking；　a　child　sleeping。　　It　is　so　innocent　a　thing！Well！　that；　that　is　what　they　took　from　me；　what　they　killed。　　The　good　God　knows　it　well！　　To…day；　it　is　my　turn；　I　am　going　to　eat　the　gypsy。Oh！　　I　would　bite　you　well；　if　the　bars　did　not　prevent　me！　　My　head　is　too　large！Poor　little　one！　while　she　was　asleep！　　And　if　they　woke　her　up　when　they　took　her；　in　vain　she　might　cry；　I　was　not　there！Ah！　gypsy　mothers；　you　devoured　my　child！　come　see　your　own。〃

Then　she　began　to　laugh　or　to　gnash　her　teeth；　for　the　two　things　resembled　each　other　in　that　furious　face。　　The　day　was　beginning　to　dawn。　　An　ashy　gleam　dimly　lighted　this　scene；　and　the　gallows　grew　more　and　more　distinct　in　the　square。　　On　the　other　side；　in　the　direction　of　the　bridge　of　Notre…Dame；　the　poor　condemned　girl　fancied　that　she　heard　the　sound　of　cavalry　approaching。

〃Madam；〃　she　cried；　clasping　her　hands　and　falling　on　her　knees；　dishevelled；　distracted；　mad　with　fright；　〃madam！　have　pity！　　They　are　coming。　　I　have　done　nothing　to　you。　　Would　you　wish　to　see　me　die　in　this　horrible　fashion　before　your　very　eyes？　　You　are　pitiful；　I　am　sure。　　It　is　too　frightful。　Let　me　make　my　escape。　　Release　me！　　Mercy。　　I　do　not　wish　to　die　like　that！〃

〃Give　me　back　my　child！〃　said　the　recluse。

〃Mercy！　　Mercy！〃

〃Give　me　back　my　child！〃

〃Release　me；　in　the　name　of　heaven！〃

〃Give　me　back　my　child！〃

Again　the　young　girl　fell；　exhausted；　broken；　and　having　already　the　glassy　eye　of　a　person　in　the　grave。

〃Alas！〃　she　faltered；　〃you　seek　your　child；　I　seek　my　parents。〃

〃Give　me　back　my　little　Agnes！〃　pursued　Gudule。　　〃You　do　not　know　where　she　is？　　Then　die！I　will　tell　you。　　I　was　a　woman　of　the