Astormynightstill；anightthatsweepsthewiresoftheelectrictelegraphwithawildandfitfulhand；anightsoverystormy，withtheaddedstormofthetrain-progressthroughit，thatwhentheGuardcomesclamberingroundtomarktheticketswhileweareatfullspeedareallyhorribleperformanceinanexpresstrain，thoughheholdsontotheopenwindowbyhiselbowsinthemostdeliberatemanner，hestandsinsuchawhirlwindthatIgriphimfastbythecollar，andfeelitnexttomanslaughtertolethimgo。
Still，whenheisgone，thesmall，smallbirdremainsathisfrontwiresfeeblytwitteringtome-twitteringandtwittering，until，leaningbackinmyplaceandlookingathimindrowsyfascination，Ifindthatheseemstojogmymemoryaswerushalong。
Uncommercialtravelsthusthesmall，smallbirdhavelainintheiridlethriftlesswaythroughallthisrangeofswampanddyke，asthroughmanyotheroddplaces；andabouthere，asyouverywellknow，arethequeeroldstonefarm-houses，approachedbydrawbridges，andthewindmillsthatyougetatbyboats。Here，arethelandswherethewomenhoeanddig，paddlingcanoe-wisefromfieldtofield，andherearethecabaretsandotherpeasant-houseswherethestonedove-cotesinthelitteredyardsareasstrongaswarders’towersinoldcastles。Here，arethelongmonotonousmilesofcanal，withthegreatDutch-builtbargesgarishlypainted，andthetowinggirls，sometimesharnessedbytheforehead，sometimesbythegirdleandtheshoulders，notapleasantsighttosee。ScatteredthroughthiscountryaremightyworksofVAUBAN，whomyouknowabout，andregimentsofsuchcorporalsasyouheardofonceuponatime，andmanyablue-eyedBebelle。Throughtheseflatdistricts，intheshiningsummerdays，walkthoselong，grotesquefilesofyoungnovicesinenormousshovel-hats，whomyourememberblackeningthegroundcheckeredbytheavenuesofleafytrees。AndnowthatHazebrouckeslumberscertainkilometresahead，recallthesummereveningwhenyourdustyfeetstrollingupfromthestationtendedhap-hazardtoaFairthere，wheretheoldestinhabitantswerecirclingroundandroundabarrel-organonhobby-
horses，withthegreatestgravity，andwheretheprincipalshowintheFairwasaReligiousRichardson’s-literally，onitsownannouncementingreatletters，THEATRERELIGIEUX。InwhichimprovingTemple，thedramaticrepresentationwasof’alltheinterestingeventsinthelifeofourLord，fromtheMangertotheTomb；’theprincipalfemalecharacter，withoutanyreservationorexception，beingatthemomentofyourarrival，engagedintrimmingtheexternalModeratorsasitwasgrowingdusk，whilethenextprincipalfemalecharactertookthemoney，andtheYoungSaintJohndisportedhimselfupsidedownontheplatform。
Lookingupatthispointtoconfirmthesmall，smallbirdineveryparticularhehasmentioned，Ifindhehasceasedtotwitter，andhasputhisheadunderhiswing。Therefore，inmydifferentwayI
followthegoodexample。
Ihadpartedfromthesmallbirdatsomewhereaboutfouro’clockinthemorning，whenhehadgotoutatArras，andhadbeenreceivedbytwoshovel-hatsinwaitingatthestation，whopresentedanappropriatelyornithologicalandcrow-likeappearance。MycompatriotandIhadgoneontoParis；mycompatriotenlighteningmeoccasionallywithalonglistoftheenormousgrievancesofFrenchrailwaytravelling:everyoneofwhich，asIamasinner，wasperfectlynewtome，thoughIhaveasmuchexperienceofFrenchrailwaysasmostuncommercials。Ihadlefthimattheterminusthroughhisconviction，againstallexplanationandremonstrance，thathisbaggage-ticketwashispassenger-ticket，insistinginaveryhightempertothefunctionaryonduty，thatinhisownpersonalidentityhewasfourpackagesweighingsomanykilogrammes-asifhehadbeenCassimBaba！Ihadbathedandbreakfasted，andwasstrollingonthebrightquays。Thesubjectofmymeditationswasthequestionwhetheritispositivelyintheessenceandnatureofthings，asacertainschoolofBritonswouldseemtothinkit，thataCapitalmustbeensnaredandenslavedbeforeitcanbemadebeautiful:whenIliftedupmyeyesandfoundthatmyfeet，strayinglikemymind，hadbroughtmetoNotre-Dame。
Thatistosay，Notre-Damewasbeforeme，buttherewasalargeopenspacebetweenus。Averylittlewhilegone，Ihadleftthatspacecoveredwithbuildingsdenselycrowded；andnowitwasclearedforsomenewwonderinthewayofpublicStreet，Place，Garden，Fountain，orallfour。OnlytheobscenelittleMorgue，slinkingonthebrinkoftheriverandsoontocomedown，wasleftthere，lookingmortallyashamedofitself，andsupremelywicked。I
hadbutglancedatthisoldacquaintance，whenIbeheldanairyprocessioncomingroundinfrontofNotre-Dame，pastthegreathospital。IthadsomethingofaMasaniellolook，withflutteringstripedcurtainsinthemidstofit，anditcamedancingroundthecathedralintheliveliestmanner。
IwasspeculatingonamarriageinBlouse-life，oraChristening，orsomeotherdomesticfestivitywhichIwouldseeout，whenI
found，fromthetalkofaquickrushofBlousespastme，thatitwasaBodycomingtotheMorgue。Havingneverbeforechanceduponthisinitiation，IconstitutedmyselfaBlouselikewise，andranintotheMorguewiththerest。Itwasaverymuddyday，andwetookinaquantityofmirewithus，andtheprocessioncominginuponourheelsbroughtaquantitymore。Theprocessionwasinthehighestspirits，andconsistedofidlerswhohadcomewiththecurtainedlitterfromitsstarting-place，andofallthereinforcementsithadpickedupbytheway。ItsetthelitterdowninthemidstoftheMorgue，andthentwoCustodiansproclaimedaloudthatwewereall’invited’togoout。Thisinvitationwasrenderedthemorepressing，ifnotthemoreflattering，byourbeingshovedout，andthefolding-gatesbeingbarreduponus。
ThosewhohaveneverseentheMorgue，mayseeitperfectly，bypresentingtothemselvesonindifferentlypavedcoach-houseaccessiblefromthestreetbyapairoffolding-gates；ontheleftofthecoach-house，occupyingitswidth，anylargeLondontailor’sorlinendraper’splate-glasswindowreachingtotheground；withinthewindow，ontworowsofinclinedplane，whatthecoach-househastoshow；hangingabove，likeirregularstalactitesfromtheroofofacave，aquantityofclothes-theclothesofthedeadandburiedshowsofthecoach-house。
WehadbeenexcitedinthehighestdegreebyseeingtheCustodianspullofftheircoatsandtuckuptheirshirt-sleeves，astheprocessioncamealong。Itlookedsointerestinglylikebusiness。
Shutoutinthemuddystreet，wenowbecamequiteravenoustoknowallaboutit。Wasitriver，pistol，knife，love，gambling，robbery，hatred，howmanystabs，howmanybullets，freshordecomposed，suicideormurder？Allwedgedtogether，andallstaringatoneanotherwithourheadsthrustforward，wepropoundedtheseinquiriesandahundredmoresuch。Imperceptibly，itcametobeknownthatMonsieurthetallandsallowmasonyonder，wasacquaintedwiththefacts。WouldMonsieurthetallandsallowmason，surgedatbyanewwaveofus，havethegoodnesstoimpart？
Itwasbutapooroldman，passingalongthestreetunderoneofthenewbuildings，onwhomastonehadfallen，andwhohadtumbleddead。Hisage？Anotherwavesurgedupagainstthetallandsallowmason，andourwavesweptonandbroke，andhewasanyagefromsixty-fivetoninety。
Anoldmanwasnotmuch:moreover，wecouldhavewishedhehadbeenkilledbyhumanagency-hisown，orsomebodyelse’s:thelatter，preferable-butourcomfortwas，thathehadnothingabouthimtoleadtohisidentification，andthathispeoplemustseekhimhere。Perhapstheywerewaitingdinnerforhimevennow？Welikedthat。Suchofusashadpocket-handkerchiefstookaslow，intense，protractedwipeatournoses，andthencrammedourhandkerchiefsintothebreastofourblouses。Othersofuswhohadnohandkerchiefsadministeredasimilarrelieftoouroverwroughtminds，bymeansofprolongedsmearsorwipesofourmouthsonoursleeves。Onemanwithagloomymalformationofbrow-ahomicidalworkerinwhite-lead，tojudgefromhisbluetoneofcolour，andacertainflavourofparalysispervadinghim-gothiscoat-collarbetweenhisteeth，andbitatitwithanappetite。Severaldecentwomenarrivedupontheoutskirtsofthecrowd，andpreparedtolaunchthemselvesintothedismalcoach-housewhenopportunityshouldcome；amongthem，aprettyyoungmother，pretendingtobitetheforefingerofherbaby-boy，keptitbetweenherrosylipsthatitmightbehandyforguidingtopointattheshow。Meantime，allfaceswereturnedtowardsthebuilding，andwemenwaitedwithafixedandsternresolution:-forthemostpartwithfoldedarms。
Surely，itwastheonlypublicFrenchsighttheseuncommercialeyeshadseen，atwhichtheexpectantpeopledidnotformENQUEUE。Buttherewasnosuchorderofarrangementhere；nothingbutageneraldeterminationtomakearushforit，andadispositiontoobjecttosomeboyswhohadmountedonthetwostonepostsbythehingesofthegates，withthedesignofswoopinginwhenthehingesshouldturn。
Now，theyturned，andwerushed！Greatpressure，andascreamortwofromthefront。Thenalaughortwo，someexpressionsofdisappointment，andaslackeningofthepressureandsubsidenceofthestruggle-Oldmannotthere。
’Butwhatwouldyouhave？’theCustodianreasonablyargues，ashelooksoutathislittledoor。’Patience，patience！Wemakehistoilette，gentlemen。Hewillbeexposedpresently。Itisnecessarytoproceedaccordingtorule。Histoiletteisnotmadeallatablow。Hewillbeexposedingoodtime，gentlemen，ingoodtime。’Andsoretires，smoking，withawaveofhissleevelessarmtowardsthewindow，importing，’Entertainyourselvesinthemeanwhilewiththeothercuriosities。FortunatelytheMuseumisnotemptyto-day。’
WhowouldhavethoughtofpublicficklenessevenattheMorgue？
Butthereitwas，onthatoccasion。Threelatelypopulararticlesthathadbeenattractinggreatlywhenthelitterwasfirstdescriedcomingdancingroundthecornerbythegreatcathedral，weresocompletelydeposednow，thatnobodysavetwolittlegirlsoneshowingthemtoadollwouldlookatthem。Yetthechiefofthethree，thearticleinthefrontrow，hadreceivedjaggedinjuryofthelefttemple；andtheothertwointhebackrow，thedrownedtwolyingsidebysidewiththeirheadsveryslightlyturnedtowardseachother，seemedtobecomparingnotesaboutit。Indeed，thosetwoofthebackrowweresofurtiveofappearance，andsointheirpuffedwayassassinatinglyknowingastotheoneofthefront，thatitwashardtothinkthethreehadnevercometogetherintheirlives，andwereonlychancecompanionsafterdeath。Whetherornothiswasthegeneral，asitwastheuncommercial，fancy，itisnottobedisputedthatthegrouphaddrawnexceedinglywithintenminutes。Yetnow，theinconstantpublicturneditsbackuponthem，andevenleaneditselbowscarelesslyagainstthebaroutsidethewindowandshookoffthemudfromitsshoes，andalsolentandborrowedfireforpipes。
Custodianre-entersfromhisdoor。’Againonce，gentlemen，youareinvited-’Nofurtherinvitationnecessary。Readydashintothestreet。Toilettefinished。Oldmancomingout。
Thistime，theinterestwasgrowntoohottoadmitoftolerationoftheboysonthestoneposts。Thehomicidalwhite-leadworkermadeapounceupononeboywhowashoistinghimselfup，andbroughthimtoearthamidstgeneralcommendation。Closelystowedaswewere，weyetformedintogroups-groupsofconversation，withoutseparationfromthemass-todiscusstheoldman。Rivalsofthetallandsallowmasonsprangintobeing，andhereagainwaspopularinconstancy。Theserivalsattractedaudiences，andweregreedilylistenedto；andwhereastheyhadderivedtheirinformationsolelyfromthetallandsallowone，officiousmembersofthecrowdnowsoughttoenlightenHIMontheirauthority。Changedbythissocialexperienceintoaniron-visagedandinveteratemisanthrope，themasonglaredatmankind，andevidentlycherishedinhisbreastthewishthatthewholeofthepresentcompanycouldchangeplaceswiththedeceasedoldman。Andnowlistenersbecameinattentive，andpeoplemadeastartforwardataslightsound，andanunholyfirekindledinthepubliceye，andthosenextthegatesbeatatthemimpatiently，asiftheywereofthecannibalspeciesandhungry。