the hunchback of notre dame-第50部分

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rumpet？〃

〃'Tis　Triton；〃　she　replied。

There　was　a　rather　pettish　intonation　in　Fleur…de…Lys's　laconic　words。　　The　young　man　understood　that　it　was　indispensable　that　he　should　whisper　something　in　her　ear；　a　commonplace；　a　gallant　compliment；　no　matter　what。　　Accordingly　he　bent　down；　but　he　could　find　nothing　in　his　imagination　more　tender　and　personal　than　this；

〃Why　does　your　mother　always　wear　that　surcoat　with　armorial　designs；　like　our　grandmothers　of　the　time　of　Charles　VII。？　　Tell　her；　fair　cousin；　that　'tis　no　longer　the　fashion；　and　that　the　hinge　（gond）　and　the　laurel　（laurier）　embroidered　on　her　robe　give　her　the　air　of　a　walking　mantlepiece。　In　truth；　people　no　longer　sit　thus　on　their　banners；　I　assure　you。〃

Fleur…de…Lys　raised　her　beautiful　eyes；　full　of　reproach；　〃Is　that　all　of　which　you　can　assure　me？〃　she　said；　in　a　low　voice。

In　the　meantime；　Dame　Aloise；　delighted　to　see　them　thus　bending　towards　each　other　and　whispering；　said　as　she　toyed　with　the　clasps　of　her　prayer…book；

〃Touching　picture　of　love！〃

The　captain；　more　and　more　embarrassed；　fell　back　upon　the　subject　of　the　tapestry；〃'Tis；　in　sooth；　a　charming　work！〃　he　exclaimed。

Whereupon　Colombe　de　Gaillefontaine；　another　beautiful　blonde；　with　a　white　skin；　dressed　to　the　neck　in　blue　damask；　ventured　a　timid　remark　which　she　addressed　to　Fleur…de…Lys；　in　the　hope　that　the　handsome　captain　would　reply　to　it；　〃My　dear　Gondelaurier；　have　you　seen　the　tapestries　of　the　H？tel　de　la　Roche…Guyon？〃

〃Is　not　that　the　hotel　in　which　is　enclosed　the　garden　of　the　Lingère　du　Louvre？〃　asked　Diane　de　Christeuil　with　a　laugh；　for　she　had　handsome　teeth；　and　consequently　laughed　on　every　occasion。

〃And　where　there　is　that　big；　old　tower　of　the　ancient　wall　of　Paris；〃　added　Amelotte　de　Montmichel；　a　pretty　fresh　and　curly…headed　brunette；　who　had　a　habit　of　sighing　just　as　the　other　laughed；　without　knowing　why。

〃My　dear　Colombe；〃　interpolated　Dame　Aloise；　〃do　you　not　mean　the　hotel　which　belonged　to　Monsieur　de　Bacqueville；　in　the　reign　of　King　Charles　VI。？　there　are　indeed　many　superb　high　warp　tapestries　there。〃

〃Charles　VI。！　　Charles　VI。！〃　muttered　the　young　captain；　twirling　his　moustache。　　〃Good　heavens！　what　old　things　the　good　dame　does　remember！〃

Madame　de　Gondelaurier　continued；　〃Fine　tapestries；　in　truth。　　A　work　so　esteemed　that　it　passes　as　unrivalled。〃

At　that　moment　Bérangère　de　Champchevrier；　a　slender　little　maid　of　seven　years；　who　was　peering　into　the　square　through　the　trefoils　of　the　balcony；　exclaimed；　〃Oh！　look；　fair　Godmother　Fleur…de…Lys；　at　that　pretty　dancer　who　is　dancing　on　the　pavement　and　playing　the　tambourine　in　the　midst　of　the　loutish　bourgeois！〃

The　sonorous　vibration　of　a　tambourine　was；　in　fact；　audible。　〃Some　gypsy　from　Bohemia；〃　said　Fleur…de…Lys；　turning　carelessly　toward　the　square。

〃Look！　look！〃　exclaimed　her　lively　companions；　and　they　all　ran　to　the　edge　of　the　balcony；　while　Fleur…de…Lys；　rendered　thoughtful　by　the　coldness　of　her　betrothed；　followed　them　slowly；　and　the　latter；　relieved　by　this　incident；　which　put　an　end　to　an　embarrassing　conversation；　retreated　to　the　farther　end　of　the　room；　with　the　satisfied　air　of　a　soldier　released　from　duty。　　Nevertheless；　the　fair　Fleur…de…Lys's　was　a　charming　and　noble　service；　and　such　it　had　formerly　appeared　to　him；　but　the　captain　had　gradually　become　blase'；　the　prospect　of　a　speedy　marriage　cooled　him　more　every　day。　　Moreover；　he　was　of　a　fickle　disposition；　and；　must　we　say　it；　rather　vulgar　in　taste。　　Although　of　very　noble　birth；　he　had　contracted　in　his　official　harness　more　than　one　habit　of　the　common　trooper。　　The　tavern　and　its　accompaniments　pleased　him。　　He　was　only　at　his　ease　amid　gross　language；　military　gallantries；　facile　beauties；　and　successes　yet　more　easy。　　He　had；　nevertheless；　received　from　his　family　some　education　and　some　politeness　of　manner；　but　he　had　been　thrown　on　the　world　too　young；　he　had　been　in　garrison　at　too　early　an　age；　and　every　day　the　polish　of　a　gentleman　became　more　and　more　effaced　by　the　rough　friction　of　his　gendarme's　cross…belt。　　While　still　continuing　to　visit　her　from　time　to　time；　from　a　remnant　of　common　respect；　he　felt　doubly　embarrassed　with　Fleur…de…Lys；　in　the　first　place；　because；　in　consequence　of　having　scattered　his　love　in　all　sorts　of　places；　he　had　reserved　very　little　for　her；　in　the　next　place；　because；　amid　so　many　stiff；　formal；　and　decent　ladies；　he　was　in　constant　fear　lest　his　mouth；　habituated　to　oaths；　should　suddenly　take　the　bit　in　its　teeth；　and　break　out　into　the　language　of　the　tavern。　　The　effect　can　be　imagined！

Moreover；　all　this　was　mingled　in　him；　with　great　pretentions　to　elegance；　toilet；　and　a　fine　appearance。　　Let　the　reader　reconcile　these　things　as　best　he　can。　　I　am　simply　the　historian。

He　had　remained；　therefore；　for　several　minutes；　leaning　in　silence　against　the　carved　jamb　of　the　chimney；　and　thinking　or　not　thinking；　when　Fleur…de…Lys　suddenly　turned　and　addressed　him。　　After　all；　the　poor　young　girl　was　pouting　against　the　dictates　of　her　heart。

〃Fair　cousin；　did　you　not　speak　to　us　of　a　little　Bohemian　whom　you　saved　a　couple　of　months　ago；　while　making　the　patrol　with　the　watch　at　night；　from　the　hands　of　a　dozen　robbers？〃

〃I　believe　so；　fair　cousin；。〃　said　the　captain。

〃Well；〃　she　resumed；　〃perchance　'tis　that　same　gypsy　girl　who　is　dancing　yonder；　on　the　church　square。　　Come　and　see　if　you　recognize　her；　fair　Cousin　Phoebus。〃

A　secret　desire　for　reconciliation　was　apparent　in　this　gentle　invitation　which　she　gave　him　to　approach　her；　and　in　the　care　which　she　took　to　call　him　by　name。　　Captain　Phoebus　de　Chateaupers　（for　it　is　he　whom　the　reader　has　had　before　his　eyes　since　the　beginning　of　this　chapter）　slowly　approached　the　balcony。　　〃Stay；〃　said　Fleur…de…Lys；　laying　her　hand　tenderly　on　Phoebus's　arm；　〃look　at　that　little　girl　yonder；　dancing　in　that　circle。　　Is　she　your　Bohemian？〃

Phoebus　looked；　and　said；

〃Yes；　I　recognize　her　by　her　goat。〃

〃Oh！　in　fact；　what　a　pretty　little　goat！〃　said　Amelotte；　clasping　her　hands　in　admiration。

〃Are　his　horns　of　real　gold？〃　inquired　Bérangère。

Without　moving　from　her　arm…chair；　Dame　Aloise　interposed；　〃Is　she　not　one　of　those　gypsy　girls　who　arrived　last　year　by　the　Gibard　gate？〃

〃Madame　my　mother；〃　said　Fleur…de…Lys　gently；　〃that　gate　is　now　called　the　Porte　d'Enfer。〃

Mademoiselle　de　Gondelaurier　knew　how　her　mother's　antiquated　mode　of　speech　shocked　the　captain。　　In　fact；　he　began　to　sneer；　and　muttered　between　his　teeth：　〃Porte　Gibard！　　Porte　Gibard！　　'Tis　enough　to　make　King　Charles　VI。　pass　by。〃

〃Godmother！〃　exclaimed　Bérangère；　whose　eyes；　incessantly　in　motion；　had　suddenly　been　raised　to　the　summit　of　the　towers　of　Notre…Dame；　〃who　is　that　black　man　up　yonder？〃

All　the　young　girls　raised　their　eyes。　　A　man　was；　in　truth；　leaning　on　the　balustrade　which　surmounted　the　northern　tower；　looking　on　the　Grève。　　He　was　a　priest。　　His　costume　could　be　plainly　discerned；　and　his　face　resting　on　both　his　hands。　　But　he　stirred　no　more　than　if　he　had　been　a　statue。　His　eyes；　intently　fixed；　gazed　into　the　Place。

It　was　something　like　the　immobility　of　a　bird　of　prey；　who　has　just　discovered　a　nest　of　sparrows；　and　is　gazing　at　it。

〃'Tis　monsieur　the　archdeacon　of　Josas；〃　said　Fleur…de…Lys。

〃You　have　good　eyes　if　you　can　recognize　him　from　here；〃　said　the　Gaillefontaine。

〃How　he　is　staring　at　the　little　dancer！〃　went　on　Diane　de　Christeuil。

〃Let　the　gypsy　beware！〃　said　Fleur…de…Lys；　〃for　he　loves　not　Egypt。〃

〃'Tis　a　great　shame　for　that　man　to　look　upon　her　thus；〃　added　Amelotte　de　Montmichel；　〃for　she　dances　delightfully。〃

〃Fair　cousin　Phoebus；〃　said　Fleur…de…Lys　suddenly；　〃Since　you　know　this　little　gypsy；　make　her　a　sign　to　come　up　here。　It　will　amuse　us。〃

〃Oh；　yes！〃　exclaimed　all　the　young　girls；　clapping　their　hands。

〃Why！　'tis　not　worth　while；〃　replied　Phoebus。　　〃She　has　forgotten　me；　no　doubt；　and　I　know　not　so　much　as　her　name。　　Nevertheless；　as　you　wish　it；　young　ladies；　I　will　make　the　trial。〃　　And　leaning　over　the　balustrade　of　the　balcony；　he　began　to　shout；　〃Little　one！〃

The　dancer　was　not　beating　her　tambourine　at　the　moment。　She　turned　her　head　towards　the　point　whence　this　call　proceeded；　her　brilliant　eyes　rested　on　Phoebus；　and　she　stopped　short。

〃Little　one！〃　repeated　the　captain；　and　he　beckoned　her　to　approach。

The　young　girl　looked　at　him　again；　then　she　blushed　as　though　a　flame　had　mounted　into　her　cheeks；　and；　taking　her　tambourine　under　her　arm；　she　made　her　way　through　the　astonished　spectators　towards　the　door　of　the　house　where　Phoebus　was　calling　her；　with　slow；　tottering　steps；　and　with　the　troubled　look　of　a　bird　which　is　yielding　to　the　fascination　of　a　serpent。

A　moment　later；　the　tapestry　portière　was　raised；　and　the　gypsy　appeared　on　the　threshold　of　the　chamber；　blushing；　confused；　breathless；　her　large　eyes　drooping；　and　not　daring　to　advance　another　step。

Bérangère　clapped　her　hands。

Meanwhile；　the　dancer　remained　motionless　upon　the　threshold。　　Her　appearance　had　produced　a　singular　effect　upon　these　young　girls。　　It　is　certain　that　a　vague　and　indistinct　desire　to　please　the　handsome　officer　animated　them　all；　that　his　splendid　uniform　was　the　target　of　all　their　coquetries；　and　that　from　the　moment　he　presented　himself；　there　existed　among　them　a　secret；　suppressed　rivalry；　which　they　hardly　acknowledged　even　to　themselves；　but　which　broke　forth；　none　the　less；　every　instant；　in　their　gestures　and　remarks。　Nevertheless；　as　they　were　all　very　nearly　equal　in　beauty；　they　contended　with　equal　arms；　and　each　could　hope　for　the　victory。The　arrival　of　the　gypsy　suddenly　destroyed　this　equilibrium。　　Her　beauty　was　so　rare；　that；　at　the　moment　when　she　appeared　at　the　entrance　of　the　apartment；　it　seemed　as　though　she　diffused　a　sort　of　light　which　was　peculiar　to　herself。　　In　that　narrow　chamber；　surrounded　by　that　sombre　frame　of　hangings　and　woodwork；　she　was　incomparably　more　beautiful　and　more　radiant　than　on　the　public　square。　　She　was　like　a　torch　which　has　suddenly　been　brought　from　broad　daylight　into　the　dark。　　The　noble　damsels　were　dazzled　by　her　in　spite　of