CHAPTERI。
DELIRIUM。
ClaudeFrollowasnolongerinNotre-Damewhenhisadoptedsonsoabruptlycutthefatalwebinwhichthearchdeaconandthegypsywereentangled。Onreturningtothesacristyhehadtornoffhisalb，cope，andstole，hadflungallintothehandsofthestupefiedbeadle，hadmadehisescapethroughtheprivatedoorofthecloister，hadorderedaboatmanoftheTerraintotransporthimtotheleftbankoftheSeine，andhadplungedintothehillystreetsoftheUniversity，notknowingwhitherhewasgoing，encounteringateverystepgroupsofmenandwomenwhowerehurryingjoyouslytowardsthePontSaint-Michel，inthehopeofstillarrivingintimetoseethewitchhungthere，——pale，wild，moretroubled，moreblindandmorefiercethananightbirdletlooseandpursuedbyatroopofchildreninbroaddaylight。Henolongerknewwherehewas，whathethought，orwhetherheweredreaming。Hewentforward，walking，running，takinganystreetathaphazard，makingnochoice，onlyurgedeveronwardawayfromtheGrève，thehorribleGrève，whichhefeltconfusedly，tobebehindhim。
InthismannerheskirtedMountSainte-Geneviève，andfinallyemergedfromthetownbythePorteSaint-Victor。
Hecontinuedhisflightaslongashecouldsee，whenheturnedround，theturretedenclosureoftheUniversity，andtherarehousesofthesuburb；but，when，atlength，ariseofgroundhadcompletelyconcealedfromhimthatodiousParis，whenhecouldbelievehimselftobeahundredleaguesdistantfromit，inthefields，inthedesert，hehalted，anditseemedtohimthathebreathedmorefreely。