the hunchback of notre dame-第67部分

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　chattered。

The　priest　appeared　to　cast　his　eyes　around　the　dungeon　from　beneath　his　cowl。

〃Without　light！　　without　fire！　　in　the　water！　　it　is　horrible！〃

〃Yes；〃　she　replied；　with　the　bewildered　air　which　unhappiness　had　given　her。　　〃The　day　belongs　to　every　one；　why　do　they　give　me　only　night？〃

〃Do　you　know；〃　resumed　the　priest；　after　a　fresh　silence；　〃why　you　are　here？〃

〃I　thought　I　knew　once；〃　she　said；　passing　her　thin　fingers　over　her　eyelids；　as　though　to　aid　her　memory；　〃but　I　know　no　longer。〃

All　at　once　she　began　to　weep　like　a　child。

〃I　should　like　to　get　away　from　here；　sir。　　I　am　cold；　I　am　afraid；　and　there　are　creatures　which　crawl　over　my　body。〃

〃Well；　follow　me。〃

So　saying；　the　priest　took　her　arm。　　The　unhappy　girl　was　frozen　to　her　very　soul。　　Yet　that　hand　produced　an　impression　of　cold　upon　her。

〃Oh！〃　she　murmured；　〃'tis　the　icy　hand　of　death。　　Who　are　you？〃

The　priest　threw　back　his　cowl；　she　looked。　　It　was　the　sinister　visage　which　had　so　long　pursued　her；　that　demon's　head　which　had　appeared　at　la　Falourdel's；　above　the　head　of　her　adored　Phoebus；　that　eye　which　she　last　had　seen　glittering　beside　a　dagger。

This　apparition；　always　so　fatal　for　her；　and　which　had　thus　driven　her　on　from　misfortune　to　misfortune；　even　to　torture；　roused　her　from　her　stupor。　　It　seemed　to　her　that　the　sort　of　veil　which　had　lain　thick　upon　her　memory　was　rent　away。　All　the　details　of　her　melancholy　adventure；　from　the　nocturnal　scene　at　la　Falourdel's　to　her　condemnation　to　the　Tournelle；　recurred　to　her　memory；　no　longer　vague　and　confused　as　heretofore；　but　distinct；　harsh；　clear；　palpitating；　terrible。　These　souvenirs；　half　effaced　and　almost　obliterated　by　excess　of　suffering；　were　revived　by　the　sombre　figure　which　stood　before　her；　as　the　approach　of　fire　causes　letters　traced　upon　white　paper　with　invisible　ink；　to　start　out　perfectly　fresh。　　It　seemed　to　her　that　all　the　wounds　of　her　heart　opened　and　bled　simultaneously。

〃Hah！〃　she　cried；　with　her　hands　on　her　eyes；　and　a　convulsive　trembling；　〃'tis　the　priest！〃

Then　she　dropped　her　arms　in　discouragement；　and　remained　seated；　with　lowered　head；　eyes　fixed　on　the　ground；　mute　and　still　trembling。

The　priest　gazed　at　her　with　the　eye　of　a　hawk　which　has　long　been　soaring　in　a　circle　from　the　heights　of　heaven　over　a　poor　lark　cowering　in　the　wheat；　and　has　long　been　silently　contracting　the　formidable　circles　of　his　flight；　and　has　suddenly　swooped　down　upon　his　prey　like　a　flash　of　lightning；　and　holds　it　panting　in　his　talons。

She　began　to　murmur　in　a　low　voice；

〃Finish！　finish！　the　last　blow！〃　and　she　drew　her　head　down　in　terror　between　her　shoulders；　like　the　lamb　awaiting　the　blow　of　the　butcher's　axe。

〃So　I　inspire　you　with　horror？〃　he　said　at　length。

She　made　no　reply。

〃Do　I　inspire　you　with　horror？〃　he　repeated。

Her　lips　contracted；　as　though　with　a　smile。

〃Yes；〃　said　she；　〃the　headsman　scoffs　at　the　condemned。　Here　he　has　been　pursuing　me；　threatening　me；　terrifying　me　for　months！　　Had　it　not　been　for　him；　my　God；　how　happy　it　should　have　been！　　It　was　he　who　cast　me　into　this　abyss！　Oh　heavens！　　it　was　he　who　killed　him！　　my　Phoebus！〃

Here；　bursting　into　sobs；　and　raising　her　eyes　to　the　priest；

〃Oh！　wretch；　who　are　you？　　What　have　I　done　to　you？　Do　you　then；　hate　me　so？　　Alas！　what　have　you　against　me？〃

〃I　love　thee！〃　cried　the　priest。

Her　tears　suddenly　ceased；　she　gazed　at　him　with　the　look　of　an　idiot。　　He　had　fallen　on　his　knees　and　was　devouring　her　with　eyes　of　flame。

〃Dost　thou　understand？　　I　love　thee！〃　he　cried　again。

〃What　love！〃　said　the　unhappy　girl　with　a　shudder。

He　resumed；

〃The　love　of　a　damned　soul。〃

Both　remained　silent　for　several　minutes；　crushed　beneath　the　weight　of　their　emotions；　he　maddened；　she　stupefied。

〃Listen；〃　said　the　priest　at　last；　and　a　singular　calm　had　come　over　him；　〃you　shall　know　all　I　am　about　to　tell　you　that　which　I　have　hitherto　hardly　dared　to　say　to　myself；　when　furtively　interrogating　my　conscience　at　those　deep　hours　of　the　night　when　it　is　so　dark　that　it　seems　as　though　God　no　longer　saw　us。　　Listen。　　Before　I　knew　you；　young　girl；　I　was　happy。〃

〃So　was　I！〃　she　sighed　feebly。

〃Do　not　interrupt　me。　　Yes；　I　was　happy；　at　least　I　believed　myself　to　be　so。　　I　was　pure；　my　soul　was　filled　with　limpid　light。　　No　head　was　raised　more　proudly　and　more　radiantly　than　mine。　　Priests　consulted　me　on　chastity；　doctors；　on　doctrines。　　Yes；　science　was　all　in　all　to　me；　it　was　a　sister　to　me；　and　a　sister　sufficed。　　Not　but　that　with　age　other　ideas　came　to　me。　　More　than　once　my　flesh　had　been　moved　as　a　woman's　form　passed　by。　　That　force　of　sex　and　blood　which；　in　the　madness　of　youth；　I　had　imagined　that　I　had　stifled　forever　had；　more　than　once；　convulsively　raised　the　chain　of　iron　vows　which　bind　me；　a　miserable　wretch；　to　the　cold　stones　of　the　altar。　　But　fasting；　prayer；　study；　the　mortifications　of　the　cloister；　rendered　my　soul　mistress　of　my　body　once　more；　and　then　I　avoided　women。　　Moreover；　I　had　but　to　open　a　book；　and　all　the　impure　mists　of　my　brain　vanished　before　the　splendors　of　science。　　In　a　few　moments；　I　felt　the　gross　things　of　earth　flee　far　away；　and　I　found　myself　once　more　calm；　quieted；　and　serene；　in　the　presence　of　the　tranquil　radiance　of　eternal　truth。　　As　long　as　the　demon　sent　to　attack　me　only　vague　shadows　of　women　who　passed　occasionally　before　my　eyes　in　church；　in　the　streets；　in　the　fields；　and　who　hardly　recurred　to　my　dreams；　I　easily　vanquished　him。　　Alas！　　if　the　victory　has　not　remained　with　me；　it　is　the　fault　of　God；　who　has　not　created　man　and　the　demon　of　equal　force。　　Listen。　　One　day

Here　the　priest　paused；　and　the　prisoner　heard　sighs　of　anguish　break　from　his　breast　with　a　sound　of　the　death　rattle。

He　resumed；

〃One　day　I　was　leaning　on　the　window　of　my　cell。　　What　book　was　I　reading　then？　　Oh！　all　that　is　a　whirlwind　in　my　head。　　I　was　reading。　　The　window　opened　upon　a　Square。　　I　heard　a　sound　of　tambourine　and　music。　　Annoyed　at　being　thus　disturbed　in　my　revery；　I　glanced　into　the　Square。　　What　I　beheld；　others　saw　beside　myself；　and　yet　it　was　not　a　spectacle　made　for　human　eyes。　　There；　in　the　middle　of　the　pavement；it　was　midday；　the　sun　was　shining　brightly；a　creature　was　dancing。　　A　creature　so　beautiful　that　God　would　have　preferred　her　to　the　Virgin　and　have　chosen　her　for　his　mother　and　have　wished　to　be　born　of　her　if　she　had　been　in　existence　when　he　was　made　man！　　Her　eyes　were　black　and　splendid；　in　the　midst　of　her　black　locks；　some　hairs　through　which　the　sun　shone　glistened　like　threads　of　gold。　　Her　feet　disappeared　in　their　movements　like　the　spokes　of　a　rapidly　turning　wheel。　　Around　her　head；　in　her　black　tresses；　there　were　disks　of　metal；　which　glittered　in　the　sun；　and　formed　a　coronet　of　stars　on　her　brow。　　Her　dress　thick　set　with　spangles；　blue；　and　dotted　with　a　thousand　sparks；　gleamed　like　a　summer　night。　　Her　brown；　supple　arms　twined　and　untwined　around　her　waist；　like　two　scarfs。　　The　form　of　her　body　was　surprisingly　beautiful。　Oh！　what　a　resplendent　figure　stood　out；　like　something　luminous　even　in　the　sunlight！　　Alas；　young　girl；　it　was　thou！　Surprised；　intoxicated；　charmed；　I　allowed　myself　to　gaze　upon　thee。　　I　looked　so　long　that　I　suddenly　shuddered　with　terror；　I　felt　that　fate　was　seizing　hold　of　me。〃

The　priest　paused　for　a　moment；　overcome　with　emotion。　Then　he　continued；

〃Already　half　fascinated；　I　tried　to　cling　fast　to　something　and　hold　myself　back　from　falling。　　I　recalled　the　snares　which　Satan　had　already　set　for　me。　　The　creature　before　my　eyes　possessed　that　superhuman　beauty　which　can　come　only　from　heaven　or　hell。　　It　was　no　simple　girl　made　with　a　little　of　our　earth；　and　dimly　lighted　within　by　the　vacillating　ray　of　a　woman's　soul。　　It　was　an　angel！　but　of　shadows　and　flame；　and　not　of　light。　　At　the　moment　when　I　was　meditating　thus；　I　beheld　beside　you　a　goat；　a　beast　of　witches；　which　smiled　as　it　gazed　at　me。　　The　midday　sun　gave　him　golden　horns。　　Then　I　perceived　the　snare　of　the　demon；　and　I　no　longer　doubted　that　you　had　come　from　hell　and　that　you　had　come　thence　for　my　perdition。　　I　believed　it。〃

Here　the　priest　looked　the　prisoner　full　in　the　face；　and　added；　coldly；

〃I　believe　it　still。　　Nevertheless；　the　charm　operated　little　by　little；　your　dancing　whirled　through　my　brain；　I　felt　the　mysterious　spell　working　within　me。　　All　that　should　have　awakened　was　lulled　to　sleep；　and　like　those　who　die　in　the　snow；　I　felt　pleasure　in　allowing　this　sleep　to　draw　on。　　All　at　once；　you　began　to　sing。　　What　could　I　do；　unhappy　wretch？　　Your　song　was　still　more　charming　than　your　dancing。　I　tried　to　flee。　　Impossible。　　I　was　nailed；　rooted　to　the　spot。　　It　seemed　to　me　that　the　marble　of　the　pavement　had　risen　to　my　knees。　　I　was　forced　to　remain　until　the　end。　My　feet　were　like　ice；　my　head　was　on　fire。　　At　last　you　took　pity　on　me；　you　ceased　to　sing；　you　disappeared。　　The　reflection　of　the　dazzling　vision；　the　reverberation　of　the　enchanting　music　disappeared　by　degrees　from　my　eyes　and　my　ears。　Then　I　fell　back　into　the　embrasure　of　the　window；　more　rigid；　more　feeble　than　a　statue　torn　from　its　base。　　The　vesper　bell　roused　me。　　I　drew　myself　up；　I　fled；　but　alas！　something　within　me　had　fallen　never　to　rise　again；　something　had　come　upon　me　from　which　I　could　not　flee。〃

He　made　another　pause　and　went　on；

〃Yes；　dating　from　that　day；　there　was　within　me　a　man　whom　I　did　not　know。　　I　tried　to　make　use　of　all　my　remedies。　The　cloister；　the　altar；　work；　books；follies！　　Oh；　how　hollow　does　science　sound　when　one　in　despair　dashes　against　it　a　head　full　of　passions！　　Do　you　know；　young　girl；　what　I　saw　thenceforth　between　my　book　and　me？　　You；　your　shade；　the　image　of　the　luminous　apparition　which　had　one　day　crossed　the　space　before　me。　　But　this　image　had　no　longer　the　same　color；　it　was　sombre；　funereal；　gloomy　as　the　black　circle　which　long　pursues　the　vision　of　the　imprudent　man　who　has　gazed　intently　at　the　sun。

〃Unable　to　rid　myself　of　it；　since　I　heard　your　song　humming　ever　in　my　head；　beheld　your　feet　dancing　always　on　my　breviary；　felt　even　at　night；　in　my　dreams；　your　form　in　co