Meanwhile,thedancerremainedmotionlessuponthethreshold。Herappearancehadproducedasingulareffectupontheseyounggirls。Itiscertainthatavagueandindistinctdesiretopleasethehandsomeofficeranimatedthemall,thathissplendiduniformwasthetargetofalltheircoquetries,andthatfromthemomenthepresentedhimself,thereexistedamongthemasecret,suppressedrivalry,whichtheyhardlyacknowledgedeventothemselves,butwhichbrokeforth,nonetheless,everyinstant,intheirgesturesandremarks。
Nevertheless,astheywereallverynearlyequalinbeauty,theycontendedwithequalarms,andeachcouldhopeforthevictory——Thearrivalofthegypsysuddenlydestroyedthisequilibrium。Herbeautywassorare,that,atthemomentwhensheappearedattheentranceoftheapartment,itseemedasthoughshediffusedasortoflightwhichwaspeculiartoherself。Inthatnarrowchamber,surroundedbythatsombreframeofhangingsandwoodwork,shewasincomparablymorebeautifulandmoreradiantthanonthepublicsquare。Shewaslikeatorchwhichhassuddenlybeenbroughtfrombroaddaylightintothedark。Thenobledamselsweredazzledbyherinspiteofthemselves。Eachonefeltherself,insomesort,woundedinherbeauty。Hence,theirbattlefrontmaywebeallowedtheexpression,wasimmediatelyaltered,althoughtheyexchangednotasingleword。Buttheyunderstoodeachotherperfectly。Women’sinstinctscomprehendandrespondtoeachothermorequicklythantheintelligencesofmen。Anenemyhadjustarrived;
allfeltit——allralliedtogether。Onedropofwineissufficienttotingeaglassofwaterred;todiffuseacertaindegreeofilltemperthroughoutawholeassemblyofprettywomen,thearrivalofaprettierwomansuffices,especiallywhenthereisbutonemanpresent。
Hencethewelcomeaccordedtothegypsywasmarvellouslyglacial。Theysurveyedherfromheadtofoot,thenexchangedglances,andallwassaid;theyunderstoodeachother。Meanwhile,theyounggirlwaswaitingtobespokento,insuchemotionthatshedarednotraisehereyelids。
Thecaptainwasthefirsttobreakthesilence。\"Uponmyword,\"saidhe,inhistoneofintrepidfatuity,\"hereisacharmingcreature!Whatthinkyouofher,faircousin?\"
Thisremark,whichamoredelicateadmirerwouldhaveutteredinalowertone,atleastwasnotofanaturetodissipatethefemininejealousieswhichwereonthealertbeforethegypsy。
Fleur-de-Lysrepliedtothecaptainwithablandaffectationofdisdain;——\"Notbad。\"
Theotherswhispered。
Atlength,MadameAloise,whowasnotthelessjealousbecauseshewassoforherdaughter,addressedthedancer,——\"Approach,littleone。\"
\"Approach,littleone!\"repeated,withcomicaldignity,littleBérangère,whowouldhavereachedaboutashighasherhips。
Thegypsyadvancedtowardsthenobledame。
\"Fairchild,\"saidPhoebus,withemphasis,takingseveralstepstowardsher,\"IdonotknowwhetherIhavethesupremehonorofbeingrecognizedbyyou。\"
Sheinterruptedhim,withasmileandalookfullofinfinitesweetness,——
\"Oh!yes,\"saidshe。
\"Shehasagoodmemory,\"remarkedFleur-de-Lys。
\"Come,now,\"resumedPhoebus,\"youescapednimblytheotherevening。DidIfrightenyou!\"
\"Oh!no,\"saidthegypsy。
Therewasintheintonationofthat\"Oh!no,\"utteredafterthat\"Oh!yes,\"anineffablesomethingwhichwoundedFleur-de-Lys。
\"Youleftmeinyourstead,mybeauty,\"pursuedthecaptain,whosetonguewasunloosedwhenspeakingtoagirloutofthestreet,\"acrabbedknave,one-eyedandhunchbacked,thebishop’sbellringer,Ibelieve。Ihavebeentoldthatbybirthheisthebastardofanarchdeaconandadevil。
Hehasapleasantname:heiscalled~Quatre-Temps~EmberDays,~Paques-Fleuries~PalmSunday,Mardi-GrasShroveTuesday,Iknownotwhat!Thenameofsomefestivalwhenthebellsarepealed!Sohetookthelibertyofcarryingyouoff,asthoughyouweremadeforbeadles!’Tistoomuch。
Whatthedevildidthatscreech-owlwantwithyou?Hey,tellme!\"
\"Idonotknow,\"shereplied。
\"Theinconceivableimpudence!Abellringercarryingoffawench,likeavicomte!aloutpoachingonthegameofgentlemen!thatisararepieceofassurance。However,hepaiddearlyforit。MasterPierratTorterueistheharshestgroomthatevercurriedaknave;andIcantellyou,ifitwillbeagreeabletoyou,thatyourbellringer’shidegotathoroughdressingathishands。\"
\"Poorman!\"saidthegypsy,inwhomthesewordsrevivedthememoryofthepillory。
Thecaptainburstoutlaughing。
\"Corne-de-boeuf!here’spityaswellplacedasafeatherinapig’stail!MayIhaveasbigabellyasapope,if——\"
Hestoppedshort。\"Pardonme,ladies;IbelievethatI
wasonthepointofsayingsomethingfoolish。\"
\"Fie,sir\"saidlaGaillefontaine。
\"Hetalkstothatcreatureinherowntongue!\"addedFleur-de-Lys,inalowtone,herirritationincreasingeverymoment。Thisirritationwasnotdiminishedwhenshebeheldthecaptain,enchantedwiththegypsy,and,mostofall,withhimself,executeapirouetteonhisheel,repeatingwithcoarse,na?ve,andsoldierlygallantry,——
\"Ahandsomewench,uponmysoul!\"
\"Rathersavagelydressed,\"saidDianedeChristeuil,laughingtoshowherfineteeth。
Thisremarkwasaflashoflighttotheothers。Notbeingabletoimpugnherbeauty,theyattackedhercostume。
\"Thatistrue,\"saidlaMontmichel;\"whatmakesyourunaboutthestreetsthus,withoutguimpeorruff?\"
\"Thatpetticoatissoshortthatitmakesonetremble,\"
addedlaGaillefontaine。
\"Mydear,\"continuedFleur-de-Lys,withdecidedsharpness,\"Youwillgetyourselftakenupbythesumptuarypoliceforyourgildedgirdle。\"
\"Littleone,littleone;\"resumedlaChristeuil,withanimplacablesmile,\"ifyouweretoputrespectablesleevesuponyourarmstheywouldgetlesssunburned。\"
Itwas,intruth,aspectacleworthyofamoreintelligentspectatorthanPhoebus,toseehowthesebeautifulmaidens,withtheirenvenomedandangrytongues,wound,serpent-like,andglidedandwrithedaroundthestreetdancer。Theywerecruelandgraceful;theysearchedandrummagedmaliciouslyinherpoorandsillytoiletofspanglesandtinsel。Therewasnoendtotheirlaughter,irony,andhumiliation。Sarcasmsraineddownuponthegypsy,andhaughtycondescensionandmalevolentlooks。OnewouldhavethoughttheywereyoungRomandamesthrustinggoldenpinsintothebreastofabeautifulslave。Onewouldhavepronouncedthemelegantgrayhounds,circling,withinflatednostrils,roundapoorwoodlandfawn,whomtheglanceoftheirmasterforbadethemtodevour。
Afterall,whatwasamiserabledanceronthepublicsquaresinthepresenceofthesehigh-bornmaidens?Theyseemedtotakenoheedofherpresence,andtalkedofheraloud,toherface,asofsomethingunclean,abject,andyet,atthesametime,passablypretty。
Thegypsywasnotinsensibletothesepin-pricks。Fromtimetotimeaflushofshame,aflashofangerinflamedhereyesorhercheeks;withdisdainshemadethatlittlegrimacewithwhichthereaderisalreadyfamiliar,butsheremainedmotionless;shefixedonPhoebusasad,sweet,resignedlook。
Therewasalsohappinessandtendernessinthatgaze。Onewouldhavesaidthatsheenduredforfearofbeingexpelled。
Phoebuslaughed,andtookthegypsy’spartwithamixtureofimpertinenceandpity。
\"Letthemtalk,littleone!\"herepeated,jinglinghisgoldenspurs。\"Nodoubtyourtoiletisalittleextravagantandwild,butwhatdifferencedoesthatmakewithsuchacharmingdamselasyourself?\"
\"Goodgracious!\"exclaimedtheblondeGaillefontaine,drawingupherswan-likethroat,withabittersmile。\"Iseethatmessieursthearchersoftheking’spoliceeasilytakefireatthehandsomeeyesofgypsies!\"
\"Whynot?\"saidPhoebus。
Atthisreplyutteredcarelesslybythecaptain,likeastraystone,whosefallonedoesnotevenwatch,Colombebegantolaugh,aswellasDiane,Amelotte,andFleur-de-Lys,intowhoseeyesatthesametimeatearstarted。
Thegypsy,whohaddroppedhereyesontheflooratthewordsofColombedeGaillefontaine,raisedthembeamingwithjoyandprideandfixedthemoncemoreonPhoebus。Shewasverybeautifulatthatmoment。
Theolddame,whowaswatchingthisscene,feltoffended,withoutunderstandingwhy。
\"HolyVirgin!\"shesuddenlyexclaimed,\"whatisitmovingaboutmylegs?Ah!thevillanousbeast!\"
Itwasthegoat,whohadjustarrived,insearchofhismistress,andwho,indashingtowardsthelatter,hadbegunbyentanglinghishornsinthepileofstuffswhichthenobledame’sgarmentsheapeduponherfeetwhenshewasseated。
Thiscreatedadiversion。Thegypsydisentangledhishornswithoututteringaword。
\"Oh!here’sthelittlegoatwithgoldenhoofs!\"exclaimedBérangère,dancingwithjoy。
Thegypsycroucheddownonherkneesandleanedhercheekagainstthefondlingheadofthegoat。Onewouldhavesaidthatshewasaskingpardonforhavingquitteditthus。
Meanwhile,DianehadbentdowntoColombe’sear。
\"Ah!goodheavens!whydidnotIthinkofthatsooner?
’Tisthegypsywiththegoat。Theysaysheisasorceress,andthathergoatexecutesverymiraculoustricks。\"
\"Well!\"saidColombe,\"thegoatmustnowamuseusinitsturn,andperformamiracleforus。\"
DianeandColombeeagerlyaddressedthegypsy。
\"Littleone,makeyourgoatperformamiracle。\"
\"Idonotknowwhatyoumean,\"repliedthedancer。
\"Amiracle,apieceofmagic,abitofsorcery,inshort。\"
\"Idonotunderstand。\"Andshefelltocaressingtheprettyanimal,repeating,\"Djali!Djali!\"
AtthatmomentFleur-de-Lysnoticedalittlebagofembroideredleathersuspendedfromtheneckofthegoat,——
\"Whatisthat?\"sheaskedofthegypsy。
Thegypsyraisedherlargeeyesuponherandrepliedgravely,——
\"Thatismysecret。\"
\"Ishouldreallyliketoknowwhatyoursecretis,\"thoughtFleur-de-Lys。
Meanwhile,thegooddamehadrisenangrily,——\"Comenow,gypsy,ifneitheryounoryourgoatcandanceforus,whatareyoudoinghere?\"
Thegypsywalkedslowlytowardsthedoor,withoutmakinganyreply。Butthenearersheapproachedit,themoreherpaceslackened。Anirresistiblemagnetseemedtoholdher。Suddenlysheturnedhereyes,wetwithtears,towardsPhoebus,andhalted。
\"TrueGod!\"exclaimedthecaptain,\"that’snotthewaytodepart。Comebackanddancesomethingforus。Bytheway,mysweetlove,whatisyourname?\"
\"LaEsmeralda,\"saidthedancer,nevertakinghereyesfromhim。
Atthisstrangename,aburstofwildlaughterbrokefromtheyounggirls。
\"Here’saterriblenameforayounglady,\"saidDiane。
\"Youseewellenough,\"retortedAmelotte,\"thatsheisanenchantress。\"
\"Mydear,\"exclaimedDameAloisesolemnly,\"yourparentsdidnotcommitthesinofgivingyouthatnameatthebaptismalfont。\"
Inthemeantime,severalminutespreviously,Bérangèrehadcoaxedthegoatintoacorneroftheroomwithamarchpanecake,withoutanyonehavingnoticedher。Inaninstanttheyhadbecomegoodfriends。Thecuriouschildhaddetachedthebagfromthegoat’sneck,hadopenedit,andhademptiedoutitscontentsontherushmatting;itwasanalphabet,eachletterofwhichwasseparatelyinscribedonatinyblockofboxwood。Hardlyhadtheseplaythingsbeenspreadoutonthematting,whenthechild,withsurprise,beheldthegoatoneofwhose\"miracles\"thiswasnodoubt,drawoutcertainletterswithitsgoldenhoof,andarrangethem,withgentlepushes,inacertainorder。Inamomenttheyconstitutedaword,whichthegoatseemedtohavebeentrainedtowrite,solittlehesitationdiditshowinformingit,andBérangèresuddenlyexclaimed,claspingherhandsinadmiration,——
\"GodmotherFleur-de-Lys,seewhatthegoathasjustdone!\"
Fleur-de-Lysranupandtrembled。Thelettersarrangeduponthefloorformedthisword,——
PHOEBUS。
\"Wasitthegoatwhowrotethat?\"sheinquiredinachangedvoice。
\"Yes,godmother,\"repliedBérangêre。
Itwasimpossibletodoubtit;thechilddidnotknowhowtowrite。
\"Thisisthesecret!\"thoughtFleur-de-Lys。
Meanwhile,atthechild’sexclamation,allhadhastenedup,themother,theyounggirls,thegypsy,andtheofficer。
Thegypsybeheldthepieceoffollywhichthegoathadcommitted。Sheturnedred,thenpale,andbegantotremblelikeaculpritbeforethecaptain,whogazedatherwithasmileofsatisfactionandamazement。
\"Phoebus!\"whisperedtheyounggirls,stupefied:\"’tisthecaptain’sname!\"
\"Youhaveamarvellousmemory!\"saidFleur-de-Lys,tothepetrifiedgypsy。Then,burstingintosobs:\"Oh!\"shestammeredmournfully,hidingherfaceinbothherbeautifulhands,\"sheisamagician!\"Andsheheardanotherandastillmorebittervoiceatthebottomofherheart,saying,——
\"Sheisarival!\"
Shefellfainting。
\"Mydaughter!mydaughter!\"criedtheterrifiedmother。
\"Begone,yougypsyofhell!\"
Inatwinkling,LaEsmeraldagathereduptheunluckyletters,madeasigntoDjali,andwentoutthroughonedoor,whileFleur-de-Lyswasbeingcarriedoutthroughtheother。
CaptainPhoebus,onbeingleftalone,hesitatedforamomentbetweenthetwodoors,thenhefollowedthegypsy。
CHAPTERII。
APRIESTANDAPHILOSOPHERARETWODIFFERENTTHINGS。
ThepriestwhomtheyounggirlshadobservedatthetopoftheNorthtower,leaningoverthePlaceandsoattentivetothedanceofthegypsy,was,infact,ArchdeaconClaudeFrollo。
Ourreadershavenotforgottenthemysteriouscellwhichthearchdeaconhadreservedforhimselfinthattower。Idonotknow,bythewaybeitsaid,whetheritbenotthesame,theinteriorofwhichcanbeseento-daythroughalittlesquarewindow,openingtotheeastattheheightofamanabovetheplatformfromwhichthetowersspring;abareanddilapidatedden,whosebadlyplasteredwallsareornamentedhereandthere,atthepresentday,withsomewretchedyellowengravingsrepresentingthefa?adesofcathedrals。Ipresumethatthisholeisjointlyinhabitedbybatsandspiders,andthat,consequently,itwagesadoublewarofexterminationontheflies。
Everyday,anhourbeforesunset,thearchdeaconascendedthestaircasetothetower,andshuthimselfupinthiscell,wherehesometimespassedwholenights。Thatday,atthemomentwhen,standingbeforethelowdoorofhisretreat,hewasfittingintothelockthecomplicatedlittlekeywhichhealwayscarriedabouthiminthepursesuspendedtohisside,asoundoftambourineandcastanetshadreachedhisear。
ThesesoundscamefromthePlaceduParvis。Thecell,aswehavealreadysaid,hadonlyonewindowopeningupontherearofthechurch。ClaudeFrollohadhastilywithdrawnthekey,andaninstantlater,hewasonthetopofthetower,inthegloomyandpensiveattitudeinwhichthemaidenshadseenhim。
Therehestood,grave,motionless,absorbedinonelookandonethought。AllParislayathisfeet,withthethousandspiresofitsedificesanditscircularhorizonofgentlehills——withitsriverwindingunderitsbridges,anditspeoplemovingtoandfrothroughitsstreets,——withthecloudsofitssmoke,——withthemountainouschainofitsroofswhichpressesNotre-Dameinitsdoubledfolds;butout。ofallthecity,thearchdeacongazedatonecorneronlyofthepavement,thePlaceduParvis;inallthatthrongatbutonefigure,——thegypsy。
Itwouldhavebeendifficulttosaywhatwasthenatureofthislook,andwhenceproceededtheflamethatflashedfromit。Itwasafixedgaze,whichwas,nevertheless,fulloftroubleandtumult。And,fromtheprofoundimmobilityofhiswholebody,barelyagitatedatintervalsbyaninvoluntaryshiver,asatreeismovedbythewind;fromthestiffnessofhiselbows,moremarblethanthebalustradeonwhichtheyleaned;orthesightofthepetrifiedsmilewhichcontractedhisface,——
onewouldhavesaidthatnothinglivingwasleftaboutClaudeFrolloexcepthiseyes。
Thegypsywasdancing;shewastwirlinghertambourineonthetipofherfinger,andtossingitintotheairasshedancedProven?alsarabands;agile,light,joyous,andunconsciousoftheformidablegazewhichdescendedperpendicularlyuponherhead。
Thecrowdwasswarmingaroundher;fromtimetotime,amanaccoutredinredandyellowmadethemformintoacircle,andthenreturned,seatedhimselfonachairafewpacesfromthedancer,andtookthegoat’sheadonhisknees。Thismanseemedtobethegypsy’scompanion。ClaudeFrollocouldnotdistinguishhisfeaturesfromhiselevatedpost。
Fromthemomentwhenthearchdeaconcaughtsightofthisstranger,hisattentionseemeddividedbetweenhimandthedancer,andhisfacebecamemoreandmoregloomy。Allatonceheroseupright,andaquiverranthroughhiswholebody:\"Whoisthatman?\"hemutteredbetweenhisteeth:
\"Ihavealwaysseenheralonebefore!\"
Thenheplungeddownbeneaththetortuousvaultofthespiralstaircase,andoncemoredescended。Ashepassedthedoorofthebellchamber,whichwasajar,besawsomethingwhichstruckhim;hebeheldQuasimodo,who,leaningthroughanopeningofoneofthoseslatepenthouseswhichresembleenormousblinds,appearedalsotobegazingatthePlace。Hewasengagedinsoprofoundacontemplation,thathedidnotnoticethepassageofhisadoptedfather。Hissavageeyehadasingularexpression;itwasacharmed,tenderlook。\"Thisisstrange!\"murmuredClaude。\"Isitthegypsyatwhomheisthusgazing?\"Hecontinuedhisdescent。Attheendofafewminutes,theanxiousarchdeaconentereduponthePlacefromthedooratthebaseofthetower。
\"Whathasbecomeofthegypsygirl?\"hesaid,minglingwiththegroupofspectatorswhichthesoundofthetambourinehadcollected。
\"Iknownot,\"repliedoneofhisneighbors,\"Ithinkthatshehasgonetomakesomeofherfandangoesinthehouseopposite,whithertheyhavecalledher。\"
Intheplaceofthegypsy,onthecarpet,whosearabesqueshadseemedtovanishbutamomentpreviouslybythecapriciousfiguresofherdance,thearchdeaconnolongerbeheldanyonebuttheredandyellowman,who,inordertoearnafewtestersinhisturn,waswalkingroundthecircle,withhiselbowsonhiships,hisheadthrownback,hisfacered,hisneckoutstretched,withachairbetweenhisteeth。Tothechairhehadfastenedacat,whichaneighborhadlent,andwhichwasspittingingreataffright。
\"Notre-Dame!\"exclaimedthearchdeacon,atthemomentwhenthejuggler,perspiringheavily,passedinfrontofhimwithhispyramidofchairandhiscat,\"WhatisMasterPierreGringoiredoinghere?\"
Theharshvoiceofthearchdeaconthrewthepoorfellowintosuchacommotionthathelosthisequilibrium,togetherwithhiswholeedifice,andthechairandthecattumbledpell-mellupontheheadsofthespectators,inthemidstofinextinguishablehootings。
ItisprobablethatMasterPierreGringoireforitwasindeedhewouldhavehadasorryaccounttosettlewiththeneighborwhoownedthecat,andallthebruisedandscratchedfaceswhichsurroundedhim,ifhehadnothastenedtoprofitbythetumulttotakerefugeinthechurch,whitherClaudeFrollohadmadehimasigntofollowhim。
Thecathedralwasalreadydarkanddeserted;theside-aisleswerefullofshadows,andthelampsofthechapelsbegantoshineoutlikestars,soblackhadthevaultedceilingbecome。
Onlythegreatrosewindowofthefa?ade,whosethousandcolorsweresteepedinarayofhorizontalsunlight,glitteredinthegloomlikeamassofdiamonds,andthrewitsdazzlingreflectiontotheotherendofthenave。
Whentheyhadadvancedafewpaces,DomClaudeplacedhisbackagainstapillar,andgazedintentlyatGringoire。
ThegazewasnottheonewhichGringoirefeared,ashamedashewasofhavingbeencaughtbyagraveandlearnedpersoninthecostumeofabuffoon。Therewasnothingmockingorironicalinthepriest’sglance,itwasserious,tranquil,piercing。Thearchdeaconwasthefirsttobreakthesilence。
\"Comenow,MasterPierre。Youaretoexplainmanythingstome。Andfirstofall,howcomesitthatyouhavenotbeenseenfortwomonths,andthatnowonefindsyouinthepublicsquares,inafineequipmentintruth!Motleyredandyellow,likeaCaudebecapple?\"
\"Messire,\"saidGringoire,piteously,\"itis,infact,anamazingaccoutrement。Youseemenomorecomfortableinitthanacatcoiffedwithacalabash。’Tisveryilldone,Iamconscious,toexposemessieursthesergeantsofthewatchtotheliabilityofcudgellingbeneaththiscassockthehumerusofaPythagoreanphilosopher。Butwhatwouldyouhave,myreverendmaster?’tisthefaultofmyancientjerkin,whichabandonedmeincowardlywise,atthebeginningofthewinter,underthepretextthatitwasfallingintotatters,andthatitrequiredreposeinthebasketofarag-picker。
Whatisonetodo?Civilizationhasnotyetarrivedatthepointwhereonecangostarknaked,asancientDiogeneswished。Addthataverycoldwindwasblowing,and’tisnotinthemonthofJanuarythatonecansuccessfullyattempttomakehumanitytakethisnewstep。Thisgarmentpresenteditself,Itookit,andIleftmyancientblacksmock,which,forahermeticlikemyself,wasfarfrombeinghermeticallyclosed。Beholdmethen,inthegarmentsofastage-player,likeSaintGenest。Whatwouldyouhave?’tisaneclipse。
ApollohimselftendedtheflocksofAdmetus。\"
\"’Tisafineprofessionthatyouareengagedin!\"repliedthearchdeacon。
\"Iagree,mymaster,that’tisbettertophilosophizeandpoetize,toblowtheflameinthefurnace,ortoreceiveitfromcarrycatsonashield。So,whenyouaddressedme,Iwasasfoolishasanassbeforeaturnspit。Butwhatwouldyouhave,messire?Onemusteateveryday,andthefinestAlexandrineversesarenotworthabitofBriecheese。Now,ImadeforMadameMargueriteofFlanders,thatfamousepithalamium,asyouknow,andthecitywillnotpayme,underthepretextthatitwasnotexcellent;asthoughonecouldgiveatragedyofSophoclesforfourcrowns!
Hence,Iwasonthepointofdyingwithhunger。Happily,IfoundthatIwasratherstronginthejaw;soIsaidtothisjaw,——performsomefeatsofstrengthandofequilibrium:
nourishthyself。~Aleteipsam~。Apackofbeggarswhohavebecomemygoodfriends,havetaughtmetwentysortsofherculeanfeats,andnowIgivetomyteetheveryeveningthebreadwhichtheyhaveearnedduringthedaybythesweatofmybrow。Afterall,concede,Igrantthatitisasademploymentformyintellectualfaculties,andthatmanisnotmadetopasshislifeinbeatingthetambourineandbitingchairs。But,reverendmaster,itisnotsufficienttopassone’slife,onemustearnthemeansforlife。’’
DomClaudelistenedinsilence。Allatoncehisdeep-seteyeassumedsosagaciousandpenetratinganexpression,thatGringoirefelthimself,sotospeak,searchedtothebottomofthesoulbythatglance。
\"Verygood,MasterPierre;buthowcomesitthatyouarenowincompanywiththatgypsydancer?\"
\"Infaith!\"saidGringoire,\"’tisbecausesheismywifeandIamherhusband。\"
Thepriest’sgloomyeyesflashedintoflame。
\"Haveyoudonethat,youwretch!\"hecried,seizingGringoire’sarmwithfury;\"haveyoubeensoabandonedbyGodastoraiseyourhandagainstthatgirl?\"
\"Onmychanceofparadise,monseigneur,\"repliedGringoire,tremblingineverylimb,\"IsweartoyouthatIhavenevertouchedher,ifthatiswhatdisturbsyou。\"
\"Thenwhydoyoutalkofhusbandandwife?\"saidthepriest。
Gringoiremadehastetorelatetohimassuccinctlyaspossible,allthatthereaderalreadyknows,hisadventureintheCourtofMiraclesandthebroken-crockmarriage。Itappeared,moreover,thatthismarriagehadledtonoresultswhatever,andthateacheveningthegypsygirlcheatedhimofhisnuptialrightasonthefirstday。\"’Tisamortification,\"
hesaidinconclusion,\"butthatisbecauseIhavehadthemisfortunetowedavirgin。\"
\"Whatdoyoumean?\"demandedthearchdeacon,whohadbeengraduallyappeasedbythisrecital。
\"’Tisverydifficulttoexplain,\"repliedthepoet。\"Itisasuperstition。Mywifeis,accordingtowhatanoldthief,whoiscalledamongustheDukeofEgypt,hastoldme,afoundlingoralostchild,whichisthesamething。Shewearsonherneckanamuletwhich,itisaffirmed,willcausehertomeetherparentssomeday,butwhichwillloseitsvirtueiftheyounggirlloseshers。Henceitfollowsthatbothofusremainveryvirtuous。\"
\"So,\"resumedClaude,whosebrowclearedmoreandmore,\"youbelieve,MasterPierre,thatthiscreaturehasnotbeenapproachedbyanyman?\"
\"Whatwouldyouhaveamando,DomClaude,asagainstasuperstition?Shehasgotthatinherhead。IassuredlyesteemasararitythisnunlikepruderywhichispreserveduntamedamidthoseBohemiangirlswhoaresoeasilybroughtintosubjection。Butshehasthreethingstoprotecther:
theDukeofEgypt,whohastakenherunderhissafeguard,reckoning,perchance,onsellinghertosomegayabbé;allhistribe,whoholdherinsingularveneration,likeaNotre-Dame;
andacertaintinypoignard,whichthebuxomdamealwayswearsabouther,insomenook,inspiteoftheordinancesoftheprovost,andwhichonecausestoflyoutintoherhandsbysqueezingherwaist。’Tisaproudwasp,Icantellyou!\"
ThearchdeaconpressedGringoirewithquestions。
LaEsmeralda,inthejudgmentofGringoire,wasaninoffensiveandcharmingcreature,pretty,withtheexceptionofapoutwhichwaspeculiartoher;ana?veandpassionatedamsel,ignorantofeverythingandenthusiasticabouteverything;
notyetawareofthedifferencebetweenamanandawoman,eveninherdreams;madelikethat;wildespeciallyoverdancing,noise,theopenair;asortofwomanbee,withinvisiblewingsonherfeet,andlivinginawhirlwind。Sheowedthisnaturetothewanderinglifewhichshehadalwaysled。Gringoirehadsucceededinlearningthat,whileamerechild,shehadtraversedSpainandCatalonia,eventoSicily;
hebelievedthatshehadevenbeentakenbythecaravanofZingari,ofwhichsheformedapart,tothekingdomofAlgiers,acountrysituatedinAchaia,whichcountryadjoins,ononesideAlbaniaandGreece;ontheother,theSicilianSea,whichistheroadtoConstantinople。TheBohemians,saidGringoire,werevassalsoftheKingofAlgiers,inhisqualityofchiefoftheWhiteMoors。Onethingiscertain,thatlaEsmeraldahadcometoFrancewhilestillveryyoung,bywayofHungary。Fromallthesecountriestheyounggirlhadbroughtbackfragmentsofqueerjargons,songs,andstrangeideas,whichmadeherlanguageasmotleyashercostume,halfParisian,halfAfrican。However,thepeopleofthequarterswhichshefrequentedlovedherforhergayety,herdaintiness,herlivelymanners,herdances,andhersongs。Shebelievedherselftobehated,inallthecity,bybuttwopersons,ofwhomsheoftenspokeinterror:thesackednunoftheTour-Roland,avillanousreclusewhocherishedsomesecretgrudgeagainstthesegypsies,andwhocursedthepoordancereverytimethatthelatterpassedbeforeherwindow;andapriest,whonevermetherwithoutcastingatherlooksandwordswhichfrightenedher。
Thementionofthislastcircumstancedisturbedthearchdeacongreatly,thoughGringoirepaidnoattentiontohisperturbation;tosuchanextenthadtwomonthssufficedtocausetheheedlesspoettoforgetthesingulardetailsoftheeveningonwhichhehadmetthegypsy,andthepresenceofthearchdeaconinitall。Otherwise,thelittledancerfearednothing;shedidnottellfortunes,whichprotectedheragainstthosetrialsformagicwhichweresofrequentlyinstitutedagainstgypsywomen。Andthen,Gringoireheldthepositionofherbrother,ifnotofherhusband。Afterall,thephilosopherenduredthissortofplatonicmarriageverypatiently。Itmeantashelterandbreadatleast。Everymorning,hesetoutfromthelairofthethieves,generallywiththegypsy;hehelpedhermakehercollectionsoftarges*andlittleblanks**inthesquares;eacheveninghereturnedtothesameroofwithher,allowedhertoboltherselfintoherlittlechamber,andsleptthesleepofthejust。A
verysweetexistence,takingitallinall,hesaid,andwelladaptedtorevery。Andthen,onhissoulandconscience,thephilosopherwasnotverysurethathewasmadlyinlovewiththegypsy。Helovedhergoatalmostasdearly。Itwasacharminganimal,gentle,intelligent,clever;alearnedgoat。NothingwasmorecommonintheMiddleAgesthantheselearnedanimals,whichamazedpeoplegreatly,andoftenledtheirinstructorstothestake。Butthewitchcraftofthegoatwiththegoldenhoofswasaveryinnocentspeciesofmagic。Gringoireexplainedthemtothearchdeacon,whomthesedetailsseemedtointerestdeeply。Inthemajorityofcases,itwassufficienttopresentthetambourinetothegoatinsuchorsuchamanner,inordertoobtainfromhimthetrickdesired。Hehadbeentrainedtothisbythegypsy,whopossessed,inthesedelicatearts,sorareatalentthattwomonthshadsufficedtoteachthegoattowrite,withmovableletters,theword\"Phoebus。\"
*AnancientBurgundiancoin。
**AnancientFrenchcoin。
\"’Phoebus!’\"saidthepriest;\"why’Phoebus’?\"
\"Iknownot,\"repliedGringoire。\"Perhapsitisawordwhichshebelievestobeendowedwithsomemagicandsecretvirtue。Sheoftenrepeatsitinalowtonewhenshethinksthatsheisalone。\"
\"Areyousure,\"persistedClaude,withhispenetratingglance,\"thatitisonlyawordandnotaname?\"
\"Thenameofwhom?\"saidthepoet。
\"HowshouldIknow?\"saidthepriest。
\"ThisiswhatIimagine,messire。TheseBohemiansaresomethinglikeGuebrs,andadorethesun。Hence,Phoebus。\"
\"Thatdoesnotseemsocleartomeastoyou,MasterPierre。\"
\"Afterall,thatdoesnotconcernme。LethermumbleherPhoebusatherpleasure。Onethingiscertain,thatDjalilovesmealmostasmuchashedoesher。\"
\"WhoisDjali?\"
\"Thegoat。\"
Thearchdeacondroppedhischinintohishand,andappearedtoreflectforamoment。AllatonceheturnedabruptlytoGringoireoncemore。
\"Anddoyousweartomethatyouhavenottouchedher?\"
\"Whom?\"saidGringoire;\"thegoat?\"
\"No,thatwoman。\"
\"Mywife?IsweartoyouthatIhavenot。\"
\"Youareoftenalonewithher?\"
\"Agoodhoureveryevening。\"
PornClaudefrowned。
\"Oh!oh!~SoluscumsolanoncogitabunturorarePaterNoster~。\"
\"Uponmysoul,Icouldsaythe~Pater~,andthe~AveMaria~,andthe~CredoinDeumpatremomnipotentem~withoutherpayinganymoreattentiontomethanachickentoachurch。\"
\"Sweartome,bythebodyofyourmother,\"repeatedthearchdeaconviolently,\"thatyouhavenottouchedthatcreaturewitheventhetipofyourfinger。\"
\"Iwillalsoswearitbytheheadofmyfather,forthetwothingshavemoreaffinitybetweenthem。But,myreverendmaster,permitmeaquestioninmyturn。\"
\"Speak,sir。\"
\"Whatconcernisitofyours?\"
Thearchdeacon’spalefacebecameascrimsonasthecheekofayounggirl。Heremainedforamomentwithoutanswering;
then,withvisibleembarrassment,——
\"Listen,MasterPierreGringoire。Youarenotyetdamned,sofarasIknow。Itakeaninterestinyou,andwishyouwell。NowtheleastcontactwiththatEgyptianofthedemonwouldmakeyouthevassalofSatan。Youknowthat’tisalwaysthebodywhichruinsthesoul。Woetoyouifyouapproachthatwoman!Thatisall。\"
\"Itriedonce,\"saidGringoire,scratchinghisear;\"itwasthefirstday:butIgotstung。\"
\"Youweresoaudacious,MasterPierre?\"andthepriest’sbrowcloudedoveragain。
\"Onanotheroccasion,\"continuedthepoet,withasmile,\"I
peepedthroughthekeyhole,beforegoingtobed,andIbeheldthemostdeliciousdameinhershiftthatevermadeabedcreakunderherbarefoot。\"
\"Gotothedevil!\"criedthepriest,withaterriblelook;
and,givingtheamazedGringoireapushontheshoulders,heplunged,withlongstrides,underthegloomiestarcadesofthecathedral。
CHAPTERIII。
THEBELLS。
Afterthemorninginthepillory,theneighborsofNotre-
DamethoughttheynoticedthatQuasimodo’sardorforringinghadgrowncool。Formerly,therehadbeenpealsforeveryoccasion,longmorningserenades,whichlastedfromprimetocompline;pealsfromthebelfryforahighmass,richscalesdrawnoverthesmallerbellsforawedding,forachristening,andminglingintheairlikearichembroideryofallsortsofcharmingsounds。Theoldchurch,allvibratingandsonorous,wasinaperpetualjoyofbells。Onewasconstantlyconsciousofthepresenceofaspiritofnoiseandcaprice,whosangthroughallthosemouthsofbrass。Nowthatspiritseemedtohavedeparted;thecathedralseemedgloomy,andgladlyremainedsilent;festivalsandfuneralshadthesimplepeal,dryandbare,demandedbytheritual,nothingmore。Ofthedoublenoisewhichconstitutesachurch,theorganwithin,thebellwithout,theorganaloneremained。Onewouldhavesaidthattherewasnolongeramusicianinthebelfry。Quasimodowasalwaysthere,nevertheless;what,then,hadhappenedtohim?Wasitthattheshameanddespairofthepillorystilllingeredinthebottomofhisheart,thatthelashesofhistormentor’swhipreverberatedunendinglyinhissoul,andthatthesadnessofsuchtreatmenthadwhollyextinguishedinhimevenhispassionforthebells?orwasitthatMariehadarivalintheheartofthebellringerofNotre-Dame,andthatthegreatbellandherfourteensisterswereneglectedforsomethingmoreamiableandmorebeautiful?
Itchancedthat,intheyearofgrace1482,AnnunciationDayfellonTuesday,thetwenty-fifthofMarch。ThatdaytheairwassopureandlightthatQuasimodofeltsomereturningaffectionforhisbells。Hethereforeascendedthenortherntowerwhilethebeadlebelowwasopeningwidethedoorsofthechurch,whichwerethenenormouspanelsofstoutwood,coveredwithleather,borderedwithnailsofgildediron,andframedincarvings\"veryartisticallyelaborated。\"
Onarrivingintheloftybellchamber,Quasimodogazedforsometimeatthesixbellsandshookhisheadsadly,asthoughgroaningoversomeforeignelementwhichhadinterposeditselfinhisheartbetweenthemandhim。Butwhenhehadsetthemtoswinging,whenhefeltthatclusterofbellsmovingunderhishand,whenhesaw,forhedidnothearit,thepalpitatingoctaveascendanddescendthatsonorousscale,likeabirdhoppingfrombranchtobranch;whenthedemonMusic,thatdemonwhoshakesasparklingbundleofstrette,trillsandarpeggios,hadtakenpossessionofthepoordeafman,hebecamehappyoncemore,heforgoteverything,andhisheartexpanding,madehisfacebeam。
Hewentandcame,hebeathishandstogether,heranfromropetorope,heanimatedthesixsingerswithvoiceandgesture,liketheleaderofanorchestrawhoisurgingonintelligentmusicians。
\"Goon,\"saidhe,\"goon,goon,Gabrielle,pouroutallthynoiseintothePlace,’tisafestivalto-day。Nolaziness,Thibauld;thouartrelaxing;goon,goon,then,artthourusted,thousluggard?Thatiswell!quick!quick!letnotthyclapperbeseen!Makethemalldeaflikeme。That’sit,Thibauld,bravelydone!Guillaume!Guillaume!thouartthelargest,andPasquieristhesmallest,andPasquierdoesbest。Letuswagerthatthosewhohearhimwillunderstandhimbetterthantheyunderstandthee。Good!good!myGabrielle,stoutly,morestoutly!Eli!whatareyoudoingupaloftthere,youtwoMoineauxsparrows?Idonotseeyoumakingtheleastlittleshredofnoise。Whatisthemeaningofthosebeaksofcopperwhichseemtobegapingwhentheyshouldsing?Come,worknow,’tistheFeastoftheAnnunciation。Thesunisfine,thechimemustbefinealso。PoorGuillaume!thouartalloutofbreath,mybigfellow!\"
Hewaswhollyabsorbedinspurringonhisbells,allsixofwhichviedwitheachotherinleapingandshakingtheirshininghaunches,likeanoisyteamofSpanishmules,prickedonhereandtherebytheapostrophesofthemuleteer。
Allatonce,onlettinghisglancefallbetweenthelargeslatescaleswhichcovertheperpendicularwallofthebelltoweratacertainheight,hebeheldonthesquareayounggirl,fantasticallydressed,stop,spreadoutonthegroundacarpet,onwhichasmallgoattookupitspost,andagroupofspectatorscollectaroundher。Thissightsuddenlychangedthecourseofhisideas,andcongealedhisenthusiasmasabreathofaircongealsmeltedrosin。Hehalted,turnedhisbacktothebells,andcroucheddownbehindtheprojectingroofofslate,fixinguponthedancerthatdreamy,sweet,andtenderlookwhichhadalreadyastonishedthearchdeaconononeoccasion。Meanwhile,theforgottenbellsdiedawayabruptlyandalltogether,tothegreatdisappointmentoftheloversofbellringing,whowerelisteningingoodfaithtothepealfromabovethePontduChange,andwhowentawaydumbfounded,likeadogwhohasbeenofferedaboneandgivenastone。
CHAPTERIV。
~ANArKH~。
ItchancedthatuponafinemorninginthissamemonthofMarch,IthinkitwasonSaturdaythe29th,SaintEustache’sday,ouryoungfriendthestudent,JehanFrolloduMoulin,perceived,ashewasdressinghimself,thathisbreeches,whichcontainedhispurse,gaveoutnometallicring。\"Poorpurse,\"
hesaid,drawingitfromhisfob,\"what!notthesmallestparisis!howcruellythedice,beer-pots,andVenushavedepletedthee!Howempty,wrinkled,limp,thouart!Thouresemblestthethroatofafury!Iaskyou,MesserCicero,andMesserSeneca,copiesofwhom,alldog’s-eared,Ibeholdscatteredonthefloor,whatprofitsitmetoknow,betterthananygovernorofthemint,oranyJewonthePontauxChangeurs,thatagoldencrownstampedwithacrownisworththirty-fiveunzainsoftwenty-fivesous,andeightdeniersparisisapiece,andthatacrownstampedwithacrescentisworththirty-sixunzainsoftwenty-sixsous,sixdenierstournoisapiece,ifIhavenotasinglewretchedblackliardtoriskonthedouble-six!Oh!ConsulCicero!thisisnocalamityfromwhichoneextricatesone’sselfwithperiphrases,~quemadmodum~,and~verumenimvero~!\"
Hedressedhimselfsadly。Anideahadoccurredtohimashelacedhisboots,butherejecteditatfirst;nevertheless,itreturned,andheputonhiswaistcoatwrongsideout,anevidentsignofviolentinternalcombat。Atlasthedashedhiscaproughlyonthefloor,andexclaimed:\"Somuchtheworse!
Letcomeofitwhatmay。Iamgoingtomybrother!I
shallcatchasermon,butIshallcatchacrown。\"
Thenbehastilydonnedhislongjacketwithfurredhalf-
sleeves,pickeduphiscap,andwentoutlikeamandriventodesperation。
HedescendedtheRuedelaHarpetowardtheCity。AshepassedtheRuedelaHuchette,theodorofthoseadmirablespits,whichwereincessantlyturning,tickledhisolfactoryapparatus,andhebestowedalovingglancetowardtheCyclopeanroast,whichonedaydrewfromtheFranciscanfriar,Calatagirone,thispatheticexclamation:~Veramente,questerotisseriesonocosastupenda~!*ButJehanhadnotthewherewithaltobuyabreakfast,andheplunged,withaprofoundsigh,underthegatewayofthePetit-Chatelet,thatenormousdoubletrefoilofmassivetowerswhichguardedtheentrancetotheCity。
*Truly,theseroastingsareastupendousthing!
Hedidnoteventakethetroubletocastastoneinpassing,aswastheusage,atthemiserablestatueofthatPérinetLeclercwhohaddelivereduptheParisofCharlesVI。totheEnglish,acrimewhichhiseffigy,itsfacebatteredwithstonesandsoiledwithmud,expiatedforthreecenturiesatthecorneroftheRuedelaHarpeandtheRuedeBuci,asinaneternalpillory。
ThePetit-Ponttraversed,theRueNeuve-Sainte-Genevièvecrossed,JehandeMolendinofoundhimselfinfrontofNotre-
Dame。Thenindecisionseizeduponhimoncemore,andhepacedforseveralminutesroundthestatueofM。Legris,repeatingtohimselfwithanguish:\"Thesermonissure,thecrownisdoubtful。\"
Hestoppedabeadlewhoemergedfromthecloister,——\"WhereismonsieurthearchdeaconofJosas?\"
\"Ibelievethatheisinhissecretcellinthetower,\"saidthebeadle;\"Ishouldadviseyounottodisturbhimthere,unlessyoucomefromsomeonelikethepopeormonsieurtheking。\"
Jehanclappedhishands。
\"~Bécliable~!here’samagnificentchancetoseethefamoussorcerycell!\"
Thisreflectionhavingbroughthimtoadecision,heplungedresolutelyintothesmallblackdoorway,andbegantheascentofthespiralofSaint-Gilles,whichleadstotheupperstoriesofthetower。\"Iamgoingtosee,\"hesaidtohimselfontheway。\"BytheravensoftheHolyVirgin!itmustneedsbeacuriousthing,thatcellwhichmyreverendbrotherhidessosecretly!’Tissaidthathelightsupthekitchensofhellthere,andthathecooksthephilosopher’sstonethereoverahotfire。~Bédieu~!Icarenomoreforthephilosopher’sstonethanforapebble,andIwouldratherfindoverhisfurnaceanomeletteofEastereggsandbacon,thanthebiggestphilosopher’sstoneintheworld。\"’
Onarrivingatthegalleryofslendercolumns,hetookbreathforamoment,andsworeagainsttheinterminablestaircasebyIknownothowmanymillioncartloadsofdevils;
thenheresumedhisascentthroughthenarrowdoorofthenorthtower,nowclosedtothepublic。Severalmomentsafterpassingthebellchamber,hecameuponalittlelanding-place,builtinalateralniche,andunderthevaultofalow,pointeddoor,whoseenormouslockandstrongironbarshewasenabledtoseethroughaloopholepiercedintheoppositecircularwallofthestaircase。Personsdesirousofvisitingthisdooratthepresentdaywillrecognizeitbythisinscriptionengravedinwhitelettersontheblackwall:\"J’ADORE
CORALIE,1823。SIGNEUGENE。\"\"Signé\"standsinthetext。
\"Ugh!\"saidthescholar;\"’tishere,nodoubt。\"
Thekeywasinthelock,thedoorwasveryclosetohim;
hegaveitagentlepushandthrusthisheadthroughtheopening。
ThereadercannothavefailedtoturnovertheadmirableworksofRembrandt,thatShakespeareofpainting。Amidsomanymarvellousengravings,thereisoneetchinginparticular,whichissupposedtorepresentDoctorFaust,andwhichitisimpossibletocontemplatewithoutbeingdazzled。Itrepresentsagloomycell;inthecentreisatableloadedwithhideousobjects;skulls,spheres,alembics,compasses,hieroglyphicparchments。Thedoctorisbeforethistablecladinhislargecoatandcoveredtotheveryeyebrowswithhisfurredcap。Heisvisibleonlytohiswaist。Hehashalfrisenfromhisimmensearm-chair,hisclenchedfistsrestonthetable,andheisgazingwithcuriosityandterroratalargeluminouscircle,formedofmagicletters,whichgleamsfromthewallbeyond,likethesolarspectruminadarkchamber。
Thiscabalisticsunseemstotremblebeforetheeye,andfillsthewancellwithitsmysteriousradiance。Itishorribleanditisbeautiful。
SomethingverysimilartoFaust’scellpresenteditselftoJehan’sview,whenheventuredhisheadthroughthehalf-
opendoor。Italsowasagloomyandsparselylightedretreat。
Therealsostoodalargearm-chairandalargetable,compasses,alembics,skeletonsofanimalssuspendedfromtheceiling,agloberollingonthefloor,hippocephalimingledpromiscuouslywithdrinkingcups,inwhichquiveredleavesofgold,skullsplaceduponvellumcheckeredwithfiguresandcharacters,hugemanuscriptspiledupwideopen,withoutmercyonthecrackingcornersoftheparchment;inshort,alltherubbishofscience,andeverywhereonthisconfusiondustandspiders’webs;buttherewasnocircleofluminousletters,nodoctorinanecstasycontemplatingtheflamingvision,astheeaglegazesuponthesun。
Nevertheless,thecellwasnotdeserted。Amanwasseatedinthearm-chair,andbendingoverthetable。Jehan,towhomhisbackwasturned,couldseeonlyhisshouldersandthebackofhisskull;buthehadnodifficultyinrecognizingthatbaldhead,whichnaturehadprovidedwithaneternaltonsure,asthoughdesirousofmarking,bythisexternalsymbol,thearchdeacon’sirresistibleclericalvocation。
Jehanaccordinglyrecognizedhisbrother;butthedoorhadbeenopenedsosoftly,thatnothingwarnedDomClaudeofhispresence。Theinquisitivescholartookadvantageofthiscircumstancetoexaminethecellforafewmomentsathisleisure。Alargefurnace,whichhehadnotatfirstobserved,stoodtotheleftofthearm-chair,beneaththewindow。Therayoflightwhichpenetratedthroughthisaperturemadeitswaythroughaspider’scircularweb,whichtastefullyinscribeditsdelicateroseinthearchofthewindow,andinthecentreofwhichtheinsectarchitecthungmotionless,likethehubofthiswheeloflace。Uponthefurnacewereaccumulatedindisorder,allsortsofvases,earthenwarebottles,glassretorts,andmattressesofcharcoal。Jehanobserved,withasigh,thattherewasnofrying-pan。\"Howcoldthekitchenutensilsare!\"hesaidtohimself。
Infact,therewasnofireinthefurnace,anditseemedasthoughnonehadbeenlightedforalongtime。Aglassmask,whichJehannoticedamongtheutensilsofalchemy,andwhichservednodoubt,toprotectthearchdeacon’sfacewhenhewasworkingoversomesubstancetobedreaded,layinonecornercoveredwithdustandapparentlyforgotten。Besideitlayapairofbellowsnolessdusty,theuppersideofwhichborethisinscriptionincrustedincopperletters:SPIRASPERA。
Otherinscriptionswerewritten,inaccordancewiththefashionofthehermetics,ingreatnumbersonthewalls;sometracedwithink,othersengravedwithametalpoint。Therewere,moreover,Gothicletters,Hebrewletters,Greekletters,andRomanletters,pell-mell;theinscriptionsoverflowedathaphazard,ontopofeachother,themorerecenteffacingthemoreancient,andallentangledwitheachother,likethebranchesinathicket,likepikesinanaffray。Itwas,infact,astrangelyconfusedminglingofallhumanphilosophies,allreveries,allhumanwisdom。Hereandthereoneshoneoutfromamongtherestlikeabanneramonglanceheads。
Generally,itwasabriefGreekorRomandevice,suchastheMiddleAgesknewsowellhowtoformulate——~Unde?Inde?——Homohominimonstrurn-Ast’ra,castra,nomen,numen——MeyaBibklov,ueyaxaxov——Sapereaude。Fiatubivult~——etc。;sometimesaworddevoidofallapparentsense,~Avayxoqpayia~,whichpossiblycontainedabitterallusiontotheregimeofthecloister;sometimesasimplemaximofclericaldisciplineformulatedinaregularhexameter~Coelestemdominumterrestremdicitedominum~。TherewasalsoHebrewjargon,ofwhichJehan,whoasyetknewbutlittleGreek,understoodnothing;
andallweretraversedineverydirectionbystars,byfiguresofmenoranimals,andbyintersectingtriangles;andthiscontributednotalittletomakethescrawledwallofthecellresembleasheetofpaperoverwhichamonkeyhaddrawnbackandforthapenfilledwithink。
Thewholechamber,moreover,presentedageneralaspectofabandonmentanddilapidation;andthebadstateoftheutensilsinducedthesuppositionthattheirownerhadlongbeendistractedfromhislaborsbyotherpreoccupations。
Meanwhile,thismaster,bentoveravastmanuscript,ornamentedwithfantasticalillustrations,appearedtobetormentedbyanideawhichincessantlymingledwithhismeditations。ThatatleastwasJehan’sidea,whenheheardhimexclaim,withthethoughtfulbreaksofadreamerthinkingaloud,——
\"Yes,Manousaidit,andZoroastertaughtit!thesunisbornfromfire,themoonfromthesun;fireisthesouloftheuniverse;itselementaryatomspourforthandflowincessantlyupontheworldthroughinfinitechannels!Atthepointwherethesecurrentsintersecteachotherintheheavens,theyproducelight;attheirpointsofintersectiononearth,theyproducegold。Light,gold;thesamething!
Fromfiretotheconcretestate。Thedifferencebetweenthevisibleandthepalpable,betweenthefluidandthesolidinthesamesubstance,betweenwaterandice,nothingmore。
Thesearenodreams;itisthegenerallawofnature。Butwhatisonetodoinordertoextractfromsciencethesecretofthisgenerallaw?What!thislightwhichinundatesmyhandisgold!Thesesameatomsdilatedinaccordancewithacertainlawneedonlybecondensedinaccordancewithanotherlaw。Howisittobedone?Somehavefanciedbyburyingarayofsunlight,Averro?s,——yes,’tisAverro?s,——
Averro?sburiedoneunderthefirstpillarontheleftofthesanctuaryoftheKoran,inthegreatMahometanmosqueofCordova;butthevaultcannotheopenedforthepurposeofascertainingwhethertheoperationhassucceeded,untilafterthelapseofeightthousandyears。
\"Thedevil!\"saidJehan,tohimself,\"’tisalongwhiletowaitforacrown!\"
\"Othershavethought,\"continuedthedreamyarchdeacon,\"thatitwouldbebetterworthwhiletooperateuponarayofSirius。But’tisexceedinghardtoobtainthisraypure,becauseofthesimultaneouspresenceofotherstarswhoseraysminglewithit。Flamelesteemeditmoresimpletooperateuponterrestrialfire。Flamel!there’spredestinationinthename!~Flamma~!yes,fire。Allliesthere。Thediamondiscontainedinthecarbon,goldisinthefire。Buthowtoextractit?Magistriaffirmsthattherearecertainfemininenames,whichpossessacharmsosweetandmysterious,thatitsufficestopronouncethemduringtheoperation。LetusreadwhatManonsaysonthematter:’Wherewomenarehonored,thedivinitiesarerejoiced;wheretheyaredespised,itisuselesstopraytoGod。Themouthofawomanisconstantlypure;itisarunningwater,itisarayofsunlight。Thenameofawomanshouldbeagreeable,sweet,fanciful;itshouldendinlongvowels,andresemblewordsofbenediction。’Yes,thesageisright;intruth,Maria,Sophia,laEsmeral——Damnation!alwaysthatthought!\"
Andheclosedthebookviolently。
Hepassedhishandoverhisbrow,asthoughtobrushawaytheideawhichassailedhim;thenhetookfromthetableanailandasmallhammer,whosehandlewascuriouslypaintedwithcabalisticletters。
\"Forsometime,\"hesaidwithabittersmile,\"Ihavefailedinallmyexperiments!onefixedideapossessesme,andsearsmybrainlikefire。IhavenotevenbeenabletodiscoverthesecretofCassiodorus,whoselampburnedwithoutwickandwithoutoil。Asimplematter,nevertheless——\"
\"Thedeuce!\"mutteredJehaninhisbeard。
\"Hence,\"continuedthepriest,\"onewretchedthoughtissufficienttorenderamanweakandbesidehimself!Oh!
howClaudePernellewouldlaughatme。ShewhocouldnotturnNicholasFlamelaside,foronemoment,fromhispursuitofthegreatwork!What!IholdinmyhandthemagichammerofZéchiélé!ateveryblowdealtbytheformidablerabbi,fromthedepthsofhiscell,uponthisnail,thatoneofhisenemieswhomhehadcondemned,wereheathousandleaguesaway,wasburiedacubitdeepintheearthwhichswallowedhim。TheKingofFrancehimself,inconsequenceofoncehavinginconsideratelyknockedatthedoorofthethermaturgist,sanktothekneesthroughthepavementofhisownParis。Thistookplacethreecenturiesago。Well!
Ipossessthehammerandthenail,andinmyhandstheyareutensilsnomoreformidablethanaclubinthehandsofamakerofedgetools。AndyetallthatisrequiredistofindthemagicwordwhichZéchiélépronouncedwhenhestruckhisnail。\"
\"Whatnonsense!\"thoughtJehan。
\"Letussee,letustry!\"resumedthearchdeaconbriskly。
\"WereItosucceed,Ishouldbeholdthebluesparkflashfromtheheadofthenail。Emen-Hétan!Emen-Hétan!
That’snotit。Sigéani!Sigéani!MaythisnailopenthetombtoanyonewhobearsthenameofPhoebus!Acurseuponit!Alwaysandeternallythesameidea!\"
Andheflungawaythehammerinarage。Thenhesankdownsodeeplyonthearm-chairandthetable,thatJehanlosthimfromviewbehindthegreatpileofmanuscripts。Forthespaceofseveralminutes,allthathesawwashisfistconvulsivelyclenchedonabook。Suddenly,DomClaudesprangup,seizedacompassandengravedinsilenceuponthewallincapitalletters,thisGreekword~ANArKH~。
\"Mybrotherismad,\"saidJehantohimself;\"itwouldhavebeenfarmoresimpletowrite~Fatum~,everyoneisnotobligedtoknowGreek。\"
Thearchdeaconreturnedandseatedhimselfinhisarmchair,andplacedhisheadonbothhishands,asasickmandoes,whoseheadisheavyandburning。
Thestudentwatchedhisbrotherwithsurprise。Hedidnotknow,hewhoworehisheartonhissleeve,hewhoobservedonlythegoodoldlawofNatureintheworld,hewhoallowedhispassionstofollowtheirinclinations,andinwhomthelakeofgreatemotionswasalwaysdry,sofreelydidheletitoffeachdaybyfreshdrains,——hedidnotknowwithwhatfurytheseaofhumanpassionsfermentsandboilswhenallegressisdeniedtoit,howitaccumulates,howitswells,howitoverflows,howithollowsouttheheart;howitbreaksininwardsobs,anddullconvulsions,untilithasrentitsdikesandburstitsbed。TheaustereandglacialenvelopeofClaudeFrollo,thatcoldsurfaceofsteepandinaccessiblevirtue,hadalwaysdeceivedJehan。Themerryscholarhadneverdreamedthattherewasboilinglava,furiousandprofound,beneaththesnowybrowofAEtna。
Wedonotknowwhetherhesuddenlybecameconsciousofthesethings;but,giddyashewas,heunderstoodthathehadseenwhatheoughtnottohaveseen,thathehadjustsurprisedthesoulofhiselderbrotherinoneofitsmostsecretaltitudes,andthatClaudemustnotbeallowedtoknowit。
Seeingthatthearchdeaconhadfallenbackintohisformerimmobility,hewithdrewhisheadverysoftly,andmadesomenoisewithhisfeetoutsidethedoor,likeapersonwhohasjustarrivedandisgivingwarningofhisapproach。
\"Enter!\"criedthearchdeacon,fromtheinteriorofhiscell;\"Iwasexpectingyou。Ileftthedoorunlockedexpressly;enterMasterJacques!\"
Thescholarenteredboldly。Thearchdeacon,whowasverymuchembarrassedbysuchavisitinsuchaplace,trembledinhisarm-chair。\"What!’tisyou,Jehan?\"
\"’TisaJ,allthesame,\"saidthescholar,withhisruddy,merry,andaudaciousface。
DomClaude’svisagehadresumeditssevereexpression。
\"Whatareyoucomefor?\"
\"Brother,\"repliedthescholar,makinganefforttoassumeadecent,pitiful,andmodestmien,andtwirlinghiscapinhishandswithaninnocentair;\"Iamcometoaskofyou——\"
\"What?\"
\"Alittlelectureonmorality,ofwhichIstandgreatlyinneed,\"Jehandidnotdaretoaddaloud,——\"andalittlemoneyofwhichIaminstillgreaterneed。\"Thislastmemberofhisphraseremainedunuttered。
\"Monsieur,\"saidthearchdeacon,inacoldtone,\"Iamgreatlydispleasedwithyou。\"
\"Alas!\"sighedthescholar。
DomClaudemadehisarm-chairdescribeaquartercircle,andgazedintentlyatJehan。
\"Iamverygladtoseeyou。\"
Thiswasaformidableexordium。Jehanbracedhimselfforaroughencounter。
\"Jehan,complaintsarebroughtmeaboutyoueveryday。
Whataffraywasthatinwhichyoubruisedwithacudgelalittlevicomte,AlbertdeRamonchamp?\"
\"Oh!\"saidJehan,\"avastthingthat!Amaliciouspageamusedhimselfbysplashingthescholars,bymakinghishorsegallopthroughthemire!\"
\"Who,\"pursuedthearchdeacon,\"isthatMahietFargel,whosegownyouhavetorn?~Tunicamdechiraverunt~,saiththecomplaint。\"
\"Ahbah!awretchedcapofaMontaigu!Isn’tthatit?\"
\"Thecomplaintsays~tunicam~andnot~cappettam~。DoyouknowLatin?\"
Jehandidnotreply。
\"Yes,\"pursuedthepriestshakinghishead,\"thatisthestateoflearningandlettersatthepresentday。TheLatintongueishardlyunderstood,Syriacisunknown,Greeksoodiousthat’tisaccountednoignoranceinthemostlearnedtoskipaGreekwordwithoutreadingit,andtosay,’~Groecumestnonlegitur~。’\"
Thescholarraisedhiseyesboldly。\"Monsieurmybrother,dothitpleaseyouthatIshallexplainingoodFrenchvernacularthatGreekwordwhichiswrittenyonderonthewall?\"
\"Whatword?\"
\"’~ANArKH~。\"
Aslightflushspreadoverthecheeksofthepriestwiththeirhighbones,likethepuffofsmokewhichannouncesontheoutsidethesecretcommotionsofavolcano。Thestudenthardlynoticedit。
\"Well,Jehan,\"stammeredtheelderbrotherwithaneffort,\"Whatisthemeaningofyonderword?\"
\"FATE。\"
DomClaudeturnedpaleagain,andthescholarpursuedcarelessly。
\"Andthatwordbelowit,gravedbythesamehand,’~Ayáyvela~,signifies’impurity。’YouseethatpeopledoknowtheirGreek。\"
Andthearchdeaconremainedsilent。ThisGreeklessonhadrenderedhimthoughtful。
MasterJehan,whopossessedalltheartfulwaysofaspoiledchild,judgedthatthemomentwasafavorableoneinwhichtoriskhisrequest。Accordingly,heassumedanextremelysofttoneandbegan,——
\"Mygoodbrother,doyouhatemetosuchadegreeastolooksavagelyuponmebecauseofafewmischievouscuffsandblowsdistributedinafairwartoapackofladsandbrats,~quibusdammarmosetis~?Yousee,goodBrotherClaude,thatpeopleknowtheirLatin。\"
Butallthiscaressinghypocrisydidnothaveitsusualeffectonthesevereelderbrother。Cerberusdidnotbiteatthehoneycake。Thearchdeacon’sbrowdidnotloseasinglewrinkle。
\"Whatareyoudrivingat?\"hesaiddryly。
\"Well,inpointoffact,this!\"repliedJehanbravely,\"Istandinneedofmoney。\"
Atthisaudaciousdeclaration,thearchdeacon’svisageassumedathoroughlypedagogicalandpaternalexpression。
\"Youknow,MonsieurJehan,thatourfiefofTirecbappe,puttingthedirecttaxesandtherentsofthenineandtwentyhousesinablock,yieldsonlynineandthirtylivres,elevensous,sixdeniers,Parisian。ItisonehalfmorethaninthetimeofthebrothersPaclet,butitisnotmuch。\"
\"Ineedmoney,\"saidJehanstoically。
\"Youknowthattheofficialhasdecidedthatourtwenty-onehousesshouldhemovedfullintothefiefoftheBishopric,andthatwecouldredeemthishomageonlybypayingthereverendbishoptwomarksofsilvergiltofthepriceofsixlivresparisis。Now,thesetwomarksIhavenotyetbeenabletogettogether。Youknowit。\"
\"IknowthatIstandinneedofmoney,\"repeatedJehanforthethirdtime。
\"Andwhatareyougoingtodowithit?\"
ThisquestioncausedaflashofhopetogleambeforeJehan’seyes。Heresumedhisdainty,caressingair。
\"Stay,dearBrotherClaude,Ishouldnotcometoyou,withanyevilmotive。Thereisnointentionofcuttingadashinthetavernswithyourunzains,andofstruttingaboutthestreetsofParisinacaparisonofgoldbrocade,withalackey,~cummeolaquasio~。No,brother,’tisforagoodwork。\"
\"Whatgoodwork?\"demandedClaude,somewhatsurprised。
\"TwoofmyfriendswishtopurchaseanoutfitfortheinfantofapoorHaudriettewidow。Itisacharity。Itwillcostthreeforms,andIshouldliketocontributetoit。\"
\"Whatarenamesofyourtwofriends?\"
\"Pierrel’AssommeurandBaptisteCroque-Oison*。\"
*PetertheSlaughterer;andBaptistCrack-Gosling。
\"Hum,\"saidthearchdeacon;\"thosearenamesasfitforagoodworkasacatapultforthechiefaltar。\"