the hunchback of notre dame-第92章

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The　executioner　observed　the　mother's　finger…nails　and　dared　not。

〃Make　haste！〃　shouted　Tristan；　who　had　just　ranged　his　troops　in　a　circle　round　the　Rat…Hole；　and　who　sat　on　his　horse　beside　the　gallows。

Rennet　returned　once　more　to　the　provost　in　great　embarrassment。　He　had　flung　his　rope　on　the　ground；　and　was　twisting　his　hat　between　his　hands　with　an　awkward　air。

〃Monseigneur；〃　he　asked；　〃where　am　I　to　enter？〃

〃By　the　door。〃

〃There　is　none。〃

〃By　the　window。〃

〃'Tis　too　small。〃

〃Make　it　larger；〃　said　Tristan　angrily。　　〃Have　you　not　pickaxes？〃

The　mother　still　looked　on　steadfastly　from　the　depths　of　her　cavern。　　She　no　longer　hoped　for　anything；　she　no　longer　knew　what　she　wished；　except　that　she　did　not　wish　them　to　take　her　daughter。

Rennet　Cousin　went　in　search　of　the　chest　of　tools　for　the　night　man；　under　the　shed　of　the　Pillar…House。　　He　drew　from　it　also　the　double　ladder；　which　he　immediately　set　up　against　the　gallows。　　Five　or　six　of　the　provost's　men　armed　themselves　with　picks　and　crowbars；　and　Tristan　betook　himself；　in　company　with　them；　towards　the　window。

〃Old　woman；〃　said　the　provost；　in　a　severe　tone；　〃deliver　up　to　us　that　girl　quietly。〃

She　looked　at　him　like　one　who　does　not　understand。

〃~Tête　Dieu~！〃　continued　Tristan；　〃why　do　you　try　to　prevent　this　sorceress　being　hung　as　it　pleases　the　king？〃

The　wretched　woman　began　to　laugh　in　her　wild　way。

〃Why？　　She　is　my　daughter。〃

The　tone　in　which　she　pronounced　these　words　made　even　Henriet　Cousin　shudder。

〃I　am　sorry　for　that；〃　said　the　provost；　〃but　it　is　the　king's　good　pleasure。〃

She　cried；　redoubling　her　terrible　laugh；

〃What　is　your　king　to　me？　　I　tell　you　that　she　is　my　daughter！〃

〃Pierce　the　wall；〃　said　Tristan。

In　order　to　make　a　sufficiently　wide　opening；　it　sufficed　to　dislodge　one　course　of　stone　below　the　window。　　When　the　mother　heard　the　picks　and　crowbars　mining　her　fortress；　she　uttered　a　terrible　cry；　then　she　began　to　stride　about　her　cell　with　frightful　swiftness；　a　wild　beasts'　habit　which　her　cage　had　imparted　to　her。　　She　no　longer　said　anything；　but　her　eyes　flamed。　　The　soldiers　were　chilled　to　the　very　soul。

All　at　once　she　seized　her　paving　stone；　laughed；　and　hurled　it　with　both　fists　upon　the　workmen。　　The　stone；　badly　flung　（for　her　hands　trembled）；　touched　no　one；　and　fell　short　under　the　feet　of　Tristan's　horse。　　She　gnashed　her　teeth。

In　the　meantime；　although　the　sun　had　not　yet　risen；　it　was　broad　daylight；　a　beautiful　rose　color　enlivened　the　ancient；　decayed　chimneys　of　the　Pillar…House。　　It　was　the　hour　when　the　earliest　windows　of　the　great　city　open　joyously　on　the　roofs。　　Some　workmen；　a　few　fruit…sellers　on　their　way　to　the　markets　on　their　asses；　began　to　traverse　the　Grève；　they　halted　for　a　moment　before　this　group　of　soldiers　clustered　round　the　Rat…Hole；　stared　at　it　with　an　air　of　astonishment　and　passed　on。

The　recluse　had　gone　and　seated　herself　by　her　daughter；　covering　her　with　her　body；　in　front　of　her；　with　staring　eyes；　listening　to　the　poor　child；　who　did　not　stir；　but　who　kept　murmuring　in　a　low　voice；　these　words　only；　〃Phoebus！　Phoebus！〃　　In　proportion　as　the　work　of　the　demolishers　seemed　to　advance；　the　mother　mechanically　retreated；　and　pressed　the　young　girl　closer　and　closer　to　the　wall。　　All　at　once；　the　recluse　beheld　the　stone　（for　she　was　standing　guard　and　never　took　her　eyes　from　it）；　move；　and　she　heard　Tristan's　voice　encouraging　the　workers。　　Then　she　aroused　from　the　depression　into　which　she　had　fallen　during　the　last　few　moments；　cried　out；　and　as　she　spoke；　her　voice　now　rent　the　ear　like　a　saw；　then　stammered　as　though　all　kind　of　maledictions　were　pressing　to　her　lips　to　burst　forth　at　once。

〃Ho！　ho！　ho！　　Why　this　is　terrible！　　You　are　ruffians！　Are　you　really　going　to　take　my　daughter？　　Oh！　the　cowards！　Oh！　the　hangman　lackeys！　the　wretched；　blackguard　assassins！　Help！　help！　fire！　　Will　they　take　my　child　from　me　like　this？　　Who　is　it　then　who　is　called　the　good　God？〃

Then；　addressing　Tristan；　foaming　at　the　mouth；　with　wild　eyes；　all　bristling　and　on　all　fours　like　a　female　panther；

〃Draw　near　and　take　my　daughter！　　Do　not　you　understand　that　this　woman　tells　you　that　she　is　my　daughter？　　Do　you　know　what　it　is　to　have　a　child？　　Eh！　lynx；　have　you　never　lain　with　your　female？　have　you　never　had　a　cub？　and　if　you　have　little　ones；　when　they　howl　have　you　nothing　in　your　vitals　that　moves？〃

〃Throw　down　the　stone；〃　said　Tristan；　〃it　no　longer　holds。〃

The　crowbars　raised　the　heavy　course。　　It　was；　as　we　have　said；　the　mother's　last　bulwark。

She　threw　herself　upon　it；　she　tried　to　hold　it　back；　she　scratched　the　stone　with　her　nails；　but　the　massive　block；　set　in　movement　by　six　men；　escaped　her　and　glided　gently　to　the　ground　along　the　iron　levers。

The　mother；　perceiving　an　entrance　effected；　fell　down　in　front　of　the　opening；　barricading　the　breach　with　her　body；　beating　the　pavement　with　her　head；　and　shrieking　with　a　voice　rendered　so　hoarse　by　fatigue　that　it　was　hardly　audible；

〃Help！　fire！　fire！〃

〃Now　take　the　wench；〃　said　Tristan；　still　impassive。

The　mother　gazed　at　the　soldiers　in　such　formidable　fashion　that　they　were　more　inclined　to　retreat　than　to　advance。

〃Come；　now；〃　repeated　the　provost。　　〃Here　you；　Rennet　Cousin！〃

No　one　took　a　step。

The　provost　swore；

〃~Tête　de　Christ~！　my　men　of　war！　afraid　of　a　woman！〃

〃Monseigneur；〃　said　Rennet；　〃do　you　call　that　a　woman？〃

〃She　has　the　mane　of　a　lion；〃　said　another。

〃Come！〃　repeated　the　provost；　〃the　gap　is　wide　enough。　Enter　three　abreast；　as　at　the　breach　of　Pontoise。　　Let　us　make　an　end　of　it；　death　of　Mahom！　　I　will　make　two　pieces　of　the　first　man　who　draws　back！〃

Placed　between　the　provost　and　the　mother；　both　threatening；　the　soldiers　hesitated　for　a　moment；　then　took　their　resolution；　and　advanced　towards　the　Rat…Hole。

When　the　recluse　saw　this；　she　rose　abruptly　on　her　knees；　flung　aside　her　hair　from　her　face；　then　let　her　thin　flayed　hands　fall　by　her　side。　　Then　great　tears　fell；　one　by　one；　from　her　eyes；　they　flowed　down　her　cheeks　through　a　furrow；　like　a　torrent　through　a　bed　which　it　has　hollowed　for　itself。

At　the　same　time　she　began　to　speak；　but　in　a　voice　so　supplicating；　so　gentle；　so　submissive；　so　heartrending；　that　more　than　one　old　convict…warder　around　Tristan　who　must　have　devoured　human　flesh　wiped　his　eyes。

〃Messeigneurs！　messieurs　the　sergeants；　one　word。　　There　is　one　thing　which　I　must　say　to　you。　　She　is　my　daughter；　do　you　see？　　my　dear　little　daughter　whom　I　had　lost！　Listen。　　It　is　quite　a　history。　　Consider　that　I　knew　the　sergeants　very　well。　　They　were　always　good　to　me　in　the　days　when　the　little　boys　threw　stones　at　me；　because　I　led　a　life　of　pleasure。　　Do　you　see？　　You　will　leave　me　my　child　when　you　know！　　I　was　a　poor　woman　of　the　town。　　It　was　the　Bohemians　who　stole　her　from　me。　　And　I　kept　her　shoe　for　fifteen　years。　　Stay；　here　it　is。　　That　was　the　kind　of　foot　which　she　had。　　At　Reims！　　La　Chantefleurie！　　Rue　Folle…　Peine！　　Perchance；　you　knew　about　that。　　It　was　I。　　In　your　youth；　then；　there　was　a　merry　time；　when　one　passed　good　hours。　　You　will　take　pity　on　me；　will　you　not；　gentlemen？　The　gypsies　stole　her　from　me；　they　hid　her　from　me　for　fifteen　years。　　I　thought　her　dead。　　Fancy；　my　good　friends；　believed　her　to　be　dead。　　I　have　passed　fifteen　years　here　in　this　cellar；　without　a　fire　in　winter。　　It　is　hard。　　The　poor；　dear　little　shoe！　　I　have　cried　so　much　that　the　good　God　has　heard　me。　　This　night　he　has　given　my　daughter　back　to　me。　It　is　a　miracle　of　the　good　God。　　She　was　not　dead。　　You　will　not　take　her　from　me；　I　am　sure。　　If　it　were　myself；　I　would　say　nothing；　but　she；　a　child　of　sixteen！　　Leave　her　time　to　see　the　sun！　　What　has　she　done　to　you？　nothing　at　all。　　Nor　have　I。　　If　you　did　but　know　that　she　is　all　I　have；　that　I　am　old；　that　she　is　a　blessing　which　the　Holy　Virgin　has　sent　to　me！　　And　then；　you　are　all　so　good！　You　did　not　know　that　she　was　my　daughter；　but　now　you　do　know　it。　　Oh！　　I　love　her！　　Monsieur；　the　grand　provost。　I　would　prefer　a　stab　in　my　own　vitals　to　a　scratch　on　her　finger！　　You　have　the　air　of　such　a　good　lord！　　What　I　have　told　you　explains　the　matter；　does　it　not？　　Oh！　if　you　have　had　a　mother；　monsiegneur！　you　are　the　captain；　leave　me　my　child！　　Consider　that　I　pray　you　on　my　knees；　as　one　prays　to　Jesus　Christ！　　I　ask　nothing　of　any　one；　I　am　from　Reims；　gentlemen；　I　own　a　little　field　inherited　from　my　uncle；　Mahiet　Pradon。　　I　am　no　beggar。　　I　wish　nothing；　but　I　do　want　my　child！　oh！　　I　want　to　keep　my　child！　　The　good　God；　who　is　the　master；　has　not　given　her　back　to　me　for　nothing！　　The　king！　you　say　the　king！　　It　would　not　cause　him　much　pleasure　to　have　my　little　daughter　killed！　And　then；　the　king　is　good！　she　is　my　daughter！　she　is　my　own　daughter！　　She　belongs　not　to　the　king！　she　is　not　yours！　　I　want　to　go　away！　we　want　to　go　away！　and　when　two　women　pass；　one　a　mother　and　the　other　a　daughter；　one　lets　them　go！　　Let　us　pass！　we　belong　in　Reims。　　Oh！　you　are　very　good；　messieurs　the　sergeants；　I　love　you　all。　　You　will　not　take　my　dear　little　one；　it　is　impossible！　　It　is　utterly　impossible；　is　it　not？　　My　child；　my　child！〃

We　will　not　try　to　give　an　idea　of　her　gestures；　her　tone；　of　the　tears　which　she　swallowed　as　she　spoke；　of　the　hands　which　she　clasped　and　then　wrung；　of　the　heart…breaking　smiles；　of　the　swimming　glances；　of　the　groans；　the　sighs；　the　miserable　and　affecting　cries　which　she　mingled　with　her　disordered；　wild；　and　incoherent　words。　　When　she　became　silent　Tristan　l'Hermite　frowned；　but　it　was　to　conceal　a　tear　which　welled　up　in　his　tiger's　eye。　　He　conquered　this　weakness；　however；　and　said　in　a　curt　tone；

〃The　king　wills　it。〃

Then　he　bent　down　to　the　ear　of　Rennet　Cousin；　and　said　to　him　in　a　very　low　tone；

〃Make　an　end　of　it　quickly！〃　Possibly；　the　redoubtable　provost　felt　his　heart　also　failing　him。

The　executioner　and　the　sergeants　entered　the　cell。　　The　mother　offered　no　resistance；　only　she　dragged　herself　towards　her　daughter　and　threw　herself　bodily　upon　her。　The　gypsy　beheld　the　soldiers　approach。　　The　horror　of　death　reanimated　her；

〃Mother！〃　she　shrieked；　in　a　tone　of　indescribable　distress；　〃Mother！　they　are　coming！　defend　me！〃

〃Yes；　my　love；　I　am　defending　you！〃　replied　the　mother；　in　a　dying　voice；　and　clasping　her　closely　in　her　arms；　she　covered　her　with　kisses。　　The　two　lying　thus　on　the　earth；　the　mother　upon　the　daughter；　presented　a　spectacle　worthy　of　pity。

Rennet　Cousin　grasped　the　young　girl　by　the　middle　of　her　body；　beneath　her　beautiful　shoulders。　　When　she　felt　that　hand；　she　cried；　〃Heuh！〃　and　fainted。　　The　executioner　who　was　shedding　large　tears　upon　her；　drop　by　drop；　was　about　to　bear　her　away　in　his　arms。　　He　tried　to　detach　the　mother；　who　had；　so　to　speak；　knotted　her　hands　around　her　daughter's　waist；　but　she　clung　so　strongly　to　her　child；　that　it　was　impossible　to　separate　them。　　Then　Rennet　Cousin　dragged　the　young　girl　outside　the　cell；　and　the　mother　after　her。　　The　mother's　eyes　were　also　closed。

At　that　moment；　the　sun　rose；　and　there　was　already　on　the　Place　a　fairly　numerous　assembly　of　people　who　looked