the hunchback of notre dame-第90章

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〃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　town；　I　had　a　child；　they　took　my　child。　It　was　the　gypsies。　　You　see　plainly　that　you　must　die。　When　your　mother；　the　gypsy；　comes　to　reclaim　you；　I　shall　say　to　her：　'Mother；　look　at　that　gibbet！Or；　give　me　back　my　child。　　Do　you　know　where　she　is；　my　little　daughter？　Stay！　　I　will　show　you。　　Here　is　her　shoe；　all　that　is　left　me　of　her。　　Do　you　know　where　its　mate　is？　　If　you　know；　tell　me；　and　if　it　is　only　at　the　other　end　of　the　world；　I　will　crawl　to　it　on　my　knees。〃

As　she　spoke　thus；　with　her　other　arm　extended　through　the　window；　she　showed　the　gypsy　the　little　embroidered　shoe。　It　was　already　light　enough　to　distinguish　its　shape　and　its　colors。

〃Let　me　see　that　shoe；〃　said　the　gypsy；　quivering。　　〃God！　God！〃

And　at　the　same　time；　with　her　hand　which　was　at　liberty；　she　quickly　opened　the　little　bag　ornamented　with　green　glass；　which　she　wore　about　her　neck。

〃Go　on；　go　on！〃　grumbled　Gudule；　〃search　your　demon's　amulet！〃

All　at　once；　she　stopped　short；　trembled　in　every　limb；　and　cried　in　a　voice　which　proceeded　from　the　very　depths　of　her　being：　〃My　daughter！〃

The　gypsy　had　just　drawn　from　the　bag　a　little　shoe　absolutely　similar　to　the　other。　　To　this　little　shoe　was　attached　a　parchment　on　which　was　inscribed　this　charm；


　　　　　　　　　~Quand　le　parell　retrouveras　　　　　　　　　　Ta　mere　te　tendras　les　bras~。*


*　When　thou　shalt　find　its　mate；　thy　mother　will　stretch　out　her　arms　to　thee。


Quicker　than　a　flash　of　lightning；　the　recluse　had　laid　the　two　shoes　together；　had　read　the　parchment　and　had　put　close　to　the　bars　of　the　window　her　face　beaming　with　celestial　joy　as　she　cried；

〃My　daughter！　　my　daughter！〃

〃My　mother！〃　said　the　gypsy。

Here　we　are　unequal　to　the　task　of　depicting　the　scene。　The　wall　and　the　iron　bars　were　between　them。　　〃Oh！　the　wall！〃　cried　the　recluse。　　〃Oh！　to　see　her　and　not　to　embrace　her！　　Your　hand！　your　hand！〃

The　young　girl　passed　her　arm　through　the　opening；　the　recluse　threw　herself　on　that　hand；　pressed　her　lips　to　it　and　there　remained；　buried　in　that　kiss；　giving　no　other　sign　of　life　than　a　sob　which　heaved　her　breast　from　time　to　time。　In　the　meanwhile；　she　wept　in　torrents；　in　silence；　in　the　dark；　like　a　rain　at　night。　　The　poor　mother　poured　out　in　floods　upon　that　adored　hand　the　dark　and　deep　well　of　tears；　which　lay　within　her；　and　into　which　her　grief　had　filtered；　drop　by　drop；　for　fifteen　years。

All　at　once　she　rose；　flung　aside　her　long　gray　hair　from　her　brow；　and　without　uttering　a　word；　began　to　shake　the　bars　of　her　cage　cell；　with　both　hands；　more　furiously　than　a　lioness。　The　bars　held　firm。　　Then　she　went　to　seek　in　the　corner　of　her　cell　a　huge　paving　stone；　which　served　her　as　a　pillow；　and　launched　it　against　them　with　such　violence　that　one　of　the　bars　broke；　emitting　thousands　of　sparks。　　A　second　blow　completely　shattered　the　old　iron　cross　which　barricaded　the　window。　　Then　with　her　two　hands；　she　finished　breaking　and　removing　the　rusted　stumps　of　the　bars。　　There　are　moments　when　woman's　hands　possess　superhuman　strength。

A　passage　broken；　less　than　a　minute　was　required　for　her　to　seize　her　daughter　by　the　middle　of　her　body；　and　draw　her　into　her　cell。　　〃Come　let　me　draw　you　out　of　the　abyss；〃　she　murmured。

When　her　daughter　was　inside　the　cell；　she　laid　her　gently　on　the　ground；　then　raised　her　up　again；　and　bearing　her　in　her　arms　as　though　she　were　still　only　her　little　Agnes；　she　walked　to　and　fro　in　her　little　room；　intoxicated；　frantic；　joyous；　crying　out；　singing；　kissing　her　daughter；　talking　to　her；　bursting　into　laughter；　melting　into　tears；　all　at　once　and　with　vehemence。

〃My　daughter！　my　daughter！〃　she　said。　　〃I　have　my　daughter！　here　she　is！　　The　good　God　has　given　her　back　to　me！　Ha　you！　come　all　of　you！　　Is　there　any　one　there　to　see　that　I　have　my　daughter？　　Lord　Jesus；　how　beautiful　she　is！　　You　have　made　me　wait　fifteen　years；　my　good　God；　but　it　was　in　order　to　give　her　back　to　me　beautiful。Then　the　gypsies　did　not　eat　her！　　Who　said　so？　　My　little　daughter！　my　little　daughter！　　Kiss　me。　　Those　good　gypsies！　　I　love　the　gypsies！It　is　really　you！　　That　was　what　made　my　heart　leap　every　time　that　you　passed　by。　　And　I　took　that　for　hatred！　　Forgive　me；　my　Agnes；　forgive　me。　　You　thought　me　very　malicious；　did　you　not？　　I　love　you。　　Have　you　still　the　little　mark　on　your　neck？　　Let　us　see。　　She　still　has　it。　Oh！　you　are　beautiful！　　It　was　I　who　gave　you　those　big　eyes；　mademoiselle。　　Kiss　me。　　I　love　you。　　It　is　nothing　to　me　that　other　mothers　have　children；　I　scorn　them　now。　They　have　only　to　come　and　see。　　Here　is　mine。　　See　her　neck；　her　eyes；　her　hair；　her　hands。　　Find　me　anything　as　beautiful　as　that！　　Oh！　　I　promise　you　she　will　have　lovers；　that　she　will！　　I　have　wept　for　fifteen　years。　　All　my　beauty　has　departed　and　has　fallen　to　her。　　Kiss　me。〃

She　addressed　to　her　a　thousand　other　extravagant　remarks；　whose　accent　constituted　their　sole　beauty；　disarranged　the　poor　girl's　garments　even　to　the　point　of　making　her　blush；　smoothed　her　silky　hair　with　her　hand；　kissed　her　foot；　her　knee；　her　brow；　her　eyes；　was　in　raptures　over　everything。　The　young　girl　let　her　have　her　way；　repeating　at　intervals　and　very　low　and　with　infinite　tenderness；　〃My　mother！〃

〃Do　you　see；　my　little　girl；〃　resumed　the　recluse；　interspersing　her　words　with　kisses；　〃I　shall　love　you　dearly？　　We　will　go　away　from　here。　　We　are　going　to　be　very　happy。　　I　have　inherited　something　in　Reims；　in　our　country。　You　know　Reims？　　Ah！　no；　you　do　not　know　it；　you　were　too　small！　　If　you　only　knew　how　pretty　you　were　at　the　age　of　four　months！　　Tiny　feet　that　people　came　even　from　Epernay；　which　is　seven　leagues　away；　to　see！　　We　shall　have　a　field；　a　house。　　I　will　put　you　to　sleep　in　my　bed。　　My　God！　my　God！　who　would　believe　this？　　I　have　my　daughter！〃

〃Oh；　my　mother！〃　said　the　young　girl；　at　length　finding　strength　to　speak　in　her　emotion；　〃the　gypsy　woman　told　me　so。　　There　was　a　good　gypsy　of　our　band　who　died　last　year；　and　who　always　cared　for　me　like　a　nurse。　　It　was　she　who　placed　this　little　bag　about　my　neck。　　She　always　said　to　me：　'Little　one；　guard　this　jewel　well！　　'Tis　a　treasure。　　It　will　cause　thee　to　find　thy　mother　once　again。　　Thou　wearest　thy　mother　about　thy　neck。'The　gypsy　predicted　it！〃

The　sacked　nun　again　pressed　her　daughter　in　her　arms。

〃Come；　let　me　kiss　you！　　You　say　that　prettily。　　When　we　are　in　the　country；　we　will　place　these　little　shoes　on　an　infant　Jesus　in　the　church。　　We　certainly　owe　that　to　the　good；　holy　Virgin。　　What　a　pretty　voice　you　have！　　When　you　spoke　to　me　just　now；　it　was　music！　　Ah！　my　Lord　God！　I　have　found　my　child　again！　　But　is　this　story　credible？　Nothing　will　kill　oneor　I　should　have　died　of　joy。〃

And　then　she　began　to　clap　her　hands　again　and　to　laugh　and　to　cry　out：　〃We　are　going　to　be　so　happy！〃

At　that　moment；　the　cell　resounded　with　the　clang　of　arms　and　a　galloping　of　horses　which　seemed　to　be　coming　from　the　Pont　Notre…Dame；　amid　advancing　farther　and　farther　along　the　quay。　　The　gypsy　threw　herself　with　anguish　into　the　arms　of　the　sacked　nun。

〃Save　me！　save　me！　mother！　they　are　coming！〃

〃Oh；　heaven！　what　are　you　saying？　　I　had　forgotten！　They　are　in　pursuit　of　you！　　What　have　you　done？〃

〃I　know　not；〃　replied　the　unhappy　child；　〃but　I　am　condemned　to　die。〃

〃To　die！〃　said　Gudule；　staggering　as　though　struck　by　lightning；　〃to　die！〃　she　repeated　slowly；　gazing　at　her　daughter　with　staring　eyes。

〃Yes；　mother；〃　replied　the　frightened　young　girl；　〃they　want　to　kill　me。　　They　are　coming　to　seize　me。　　That　gallows　is　for　me！　　Save　me！　save　me！　　They　are　coming！　Save　me！〃

The　recluse　remained　for　several　moments　motionless　and　petrified；　then　she　moved　her　head　in　sign　of　doubt；　and　suddenly　giving　vent　to　a　burst　of　laughter；　but　with　that　terrible　laugh　which　had　come　back　to　her；

〃Ho！　ho！　no！　'tis　a　dream　of　which　you　are　telling　me。　Ah；　yes！　　I　lost　her；　that　lasted　fifteen　years；　and　then　I　found　her　again；　and　that　lasted　a　minute！　　And　they　would　take　her　from　me　again！　　And　now；　when　she　is　beautiful；　when　she　is　grown　up；　when　she　speaks　to　me；　when　she　loves　me；　it　is　now　that　they　would　come　to　devour　her；　before　my　very　eyes；　and　I　her　mother！　　Oh！　no！　these　things　are　not　possible。　The　good　God　does　not　permit　such　things　as　that。〃

Here　the　cavalcade　appeared　to　halt；　and　a　voice　was　heard　to　say　in　the　distance；

〃This　way；　Messire　Tristan！　　The　priest　says　that　we　shall　find　her　at　the　Rat…Hole。〃　The　noise　of　the　horses　began　again。

The　recluse　sprang　to　her　feet　with　a　shriek　of　despair。　〃Fly！　fly！　my　child！　　All　comes　back　to　me。　　You　are　right。　　It　is　your　death！　　Horror！　　Maledictions！　　Fly！〃

She　thrust　her　head　through　the　window；　and　withdrew　it　again　hastily。

〃Remain；〃　she　said；　in　a　low；　curt；　and　lugubrious　tone；　as　she　pressed　the　hand　of　the　gypsy；　who　was　more　dead　than　alive。　　〃Remain！　　Do　not　breathe！　　There　are　soldiers　everywhere。　You　cannot　get　out。　　It　is　too　light。〃

Her　eyes　were　dry　and　burning。　　She　remained　silent　for　a　moment；　but　she　paced　the　cell　hurriedly；　and　halted　now　and　then　to　pluck　out　handfuls　of　her　gray　hairs；　which　she　afterwards　tore　with　her　teeth。

Suddenly　she　said：　〃They　draw　near。　　I　will　speak　with　them。　　Hide　yourself　in　this　corner。　　They　will　not　see　you。　I　will　tell　them　that　you　have　made　your　escape。　　That　I　released　you；　i'　faith！〃

She　set　her　daughter　（down　for　she　was　still　carrying　her）；　in　one　corner　of　the　cell　which　was　not　visible　from　without。　She　made　her　crouch　down；　arranged　her　carefully　so　that　neither　foot　nor　hand　projected　from　the　shadow；　untied　her　black　hair　which　she　spread　over　her　white　robe　to　conceal　it；　placed　in　front　of　her　her　jug　and　her　paving　stone；　the　only　articles　of　furniture　which　she　possessed；　imagining　that　this　jug　and　stone　would　hide　her。　　And　when　this　was　finished　she　became　more　tranquil；　and　knelt　down　to　pray。　　The　day；　which　was　only　dawning；　still　left　many　shadows　in　the　Rat…Hole。

At　that　moment；　the　voice　of　the　priest；　that　infernal　voice；　passed　very　close　to　the　cell；　crying；

〃This　way；　Captain　Phoebus　de　Chateaupers。〃

At　that　name；　at　that　voice；　la　Esmeralda；　crouching　in　her　corner；　made　a　movement。

〃Do　not　stir！〃　said　Gudule。

She　had　barely　finished　when　a　tumult　of　men；　swords；　and　horses　halted　around　the　cell。　　The　mother　rose　quickly　and　went　to　post　herself　before　her　window；　in　order　to　stop　it　up。　She　beheld　a　large　troop　of　armed　men；　both　horse　and　foot；　drawn　up　on　the　Grève。


The　commander　dismounted；　and　came　toward　her。

〃Old　woman！〃　said　this　man；　who　had　an　atrocious　face；　〃we　are　in　search　of　a　witch　to　hang　her；　we　were　told　that　you　had　her。〃

The　poor　mother　assumed　as　indifferent　an　air　as　she　could；　and　replied；

〃I　know　not　what　you　mean。〃

The　other　resumed；　〃~Tête　Dieu~！　　What　was　it　that　frightened　archdeacon　said？　　Where　is　he？〃

〃Monseigneur；〃　said　a　soldier；　〃he　has　disappeared。〃

〃Come；　now；　old　madwoman；〃　began　the　commander　again；　〃do　not　lie。