the hunchback of notre dame-第96部分

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　Djali；　hast　thou　forgotten　any　of　thy　pretty　tricks？　　How　does　Master　Jacques　Charmolue？。。。〃

The　man　in　black　did　not　allow　him　to　finish。　　He　approached　Gringoire　and　shook　him　roughly　by　the　shoulder。

Gringoire　rose。

〃'Tis　true；〃　said　he：　〃I　forgot　that　we　are　in　haste。　　But　that　is　no　reason　master；　for　getting　furious　with　people　in　this　manner。　　My　dear　and　lovely　child；　your　life　is　in　danger；　and　Djali's　also。　　They　want　to　hang　you　again。　　We　are　your　friends；　and　we　have　come　to　save　you。　　Follow　us。〃

〃Is　it　true？〃　she　exclaimed　in　dismay。

〃Yes；　perfectly　true。　　Come　quickly！〃

〃I　am　willing；〃　she　stammered。　　〃But　why　does　not　your　friend　speak？〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Gringoire；　〃'tis　because　his　father　and　mother　were　fantastic　people　who　made　him　of　a　taciturn　temperament。〃

She　was　obliged　to　content　herself　with　this　explanation。　Gringoire　took　her　by　the　hand；　his　companion　picked　up　the　lantern　and　walked　on　in　front。　　Fear　stunned　the　young　girl。　She　allowed　herself　to　be　led　away。　　The　goat　followed　them；　frisking；　so　joyous　at　seeing　Gringoire　again　that　it　made　him　stumble　every　moment　by　thrusting　its　horns　between　his　legs。

〃Such　is　life；〃　said　the　philosopher；　every　time　that　he　came　near　falling　down；　〃'tis　often　our　best　friends　who　cause　us　to　be　overthrown。〃

They　rapidly　descended　the　staircase　of　the　towers；　crossed　the　church；　full　of　shadows　and　solitude；　and　all　reverberating　with　uproar；　which　formed　a　frightful　contrast；　and　emerged　into　the　courtyard　of　the　cloister　by　the　red　door。　The　cloister　was　deserted；　the　canons　had　fled　to　the　bishop's　palace　in　order　to　pray　together；　the　courtyard　was　empty；　a　few　frightened　lackeys　were　crouching　in　dark　corners。　　They　directed　their　steps　towards　the　door　which　opened　from　this　court　upon　the　Terrain。　　The　man　in　black　opened　it　with　a　key　which　he　had　about　him。　　Our　readers　are　aware　that　the　Terrain　was　a　tongue　of　land　enclosed　by　walls　on　the　side　of　the　City　and　belonging　to　the　chapter　of　Notre…Dame；　which　terminated　the　island　on　the　east；　behind　the　church。　　They　found　this　enclosure　perfectly　deserted。　　There　was　here　less　tumult　in　the　air。　　The　roar　of　the　outcasts'　assault　reached　them　more　confusedly　and　less　clamorously。　　The　fresh　breeze　which　follows　the　current　of　a　stream；　rustled　the　leaves　of　the　only　tree　planted　on　the　point　of　the　Terrain；　with　a　noise　that　was　already　perceptible。　　But　they　were　still　very　close　to　danger。　　The　nearest　edifices　to　them　were　the　bishop's　palace　and　the　church。　　It　was　plainly　evident　that　there　was　great　internal　commotion　in　the　bishop's　palace。　　Its　shadowy　mass　was　all　furrowed　with　lights　which　flitted　from　window　to　window；　as；　when　one　has　just　burned　paper；　there　remains　a　sombre　edifice　of　ashes　in　which　bright　sparks　run　a　thousand　eccentric　courses。　　Beside　them；　the　enormous　towers　of　Notre…Dame；　thus　viewed　from　behind；　with　the　long　nave　above　which　they　rise　cut　out　in　black　against　the　red　and　vast　light　which　filled　the　Parvis；　resembled　two　gigantic　andirons　of　some　cyclopean　fire…grate。

What　was　to　be　seen　of　Paris　on　all　sides　wavered　before　the　eye　in　a　gloom　mingled　with　light。　　Rembrandt　has　such　backgrounds　to　his　pictures。

The　man　with　the　lantern　walked　straight　to　the　point　of　the　Terrain。　　There；　at　the　very　brink　of　the　water；　stood　the　wormeaten　remains　of　a　fence　of　posts　latticed　with　laths；　whereon　a　low　vine　spread　out　a　few　thin　branches　like　the　fingers　of　an　outspread　hand。　　Behind；　in　the　shadow　cast　by　this　trellis；　a　little　boat　lay　concealed。　　The　man　made　a　sign　to　Gringoire　and　his　companion　to　enter。　　The　goat　followed　them。　　The　man　was　the　last　to　step　in。　　Then　he　cut　the　boat's　moorings；　pushed　it　from　the　shore　with　a　long　boat…　hook；　and；　seizing　two　oars；　seated　himself　in　the　bow；　rowing　with　all　his　might　towards　midstream。　　The　Seine　is　very　rapid　at　this　point；　and　he　had　a　good　deal　of　trouble　in　leaving　the　point　of　the　island。

Gringoire's　first　care　on　entering　the　boat　was　to　place　the　goat　on　his　knees。　　He　took　a　position　in　the　stern；　and　the　young　girl；　whom　the　stranger　inspired　with　an　indefinable　uneasiness；　seated　herself　close　to　the　poet。

When　our　philosopher　felt　the　boat　sway；　he　clapped　his　hands　and　kissed　Djali　between　the　horns。

〃Oh！〃　said　he；　〃now　we　are　safe；　all　four　of　us。〃

He　added　with　the　air　of　a　profound　thinker；　〃One　is　indebted　sometimes　to　fortune；　sometimes　to　ruse；　for　the　happy　issue　of　great　enterprises。〃

The　boat　made　its　way　slowly　towards　the　right　shore。　　The　young　girl　watched　the　unknown　man　with　secret　terror。　　He　had　carefully　turned　off　the　light　of　his　dark　lantern。　　A　glimpse　could　be　caught　of　him　in　the　obscurity；　in　the　bow　of　the　boat；　like　a　spectre。　　His　cowl；　which　was　still　lowered；　formed　a　sort　of　mask；　and　every　time　that　he　spread　his　arms；　upon　which　hung　large　black　sleeves；　as　he　rowed；　one　would　have　said　they　were　two　huge　bat's　wings。　　Moreover；　he　had　not　yet　uttered　a　word　or　breathed　a　syllable。　　No　other　noise　was　heard　in　the　boat　than　the　splashing　of　the　oars；　mingled　with　the　rippling　of　the　water　along　her　sides。

〃On　my　soul！〃　exclaimed　Gringoire　suddenly；　〃we　are　as　cheerful　and　joyous　as　young　owls！　　We　preserve　the　silence　of　Pythagoreans　or　fishes！　　~Pasque…Dieu~！　my　friends；　I　should　greatly　like　to　have　some　one　speak　to　me。　　The　human　voice　is　music　to　the　human　ear。　　'Tis　not　I　who　say　that；　but　Didymus　of　Alexandria；　and　they　are　illustrious　words。　Assuredly；　Didymus　of　Alexandria　is　no　mediocre　philosopher。One　word；　my　lovely　child！　say　but　one　word　to　me；　I　entreat　you。　　By　the　way；　you　had　a　droll　and　peculiar　little　pout；　do　you　still　make　it？　　Do　you　know；　my　dear；　that　parliament　hath　full　jurisdiction　over　all　places　of　asylum；　and　that　you　were　running　a　great　risk　in　your　little　chamber　at　Notre…Dame？　　Alas！　the　little　bird　trochylus　maketh　its　nest　in　the　jaws　of　the　crocodile。Master；　here　is　the　moon　re…appearing。　　If　only　they　do　not　perceive　us。　We　are　doing　a　laudable　thing　in　saving　mademoiselle；　and　yet　we　should　be　hung　by　order　of　the　king　if　we　were　caught。　Alas！　human　actions　are　taken　by　two　handles。　　That　is　branded　with　disgrace　in　one　which　is　crowned　in　another。　He　admires　Cicero　who　blames　Catiline。　　Is　it　not　so；　master？　What　say　you　to　this　philosophy？　　I　possess　philosophy　by　instinct；　by　nature；　~ut　apes　geometriam~。Come！　no　one　answers　me。　　What　unpleasant　moods　you　two　are　in！　　I　must　do　all　the　talking　alone。　　That　is　what　we　call　a　monologue　in　tragedy。~Pasque…Dieu~！　　I　must　inform　you　that　I　have　just　seen　the　king；　Louis　XI。；　and　that　I　have　caught　this　oath　from　him；~Pasque…Dieu~！　　They　are　still　making　a　hearty　howl　in　the　city。'Tis　a　villanous；　malicious　old　king。　He　is　all　swathed　in　furs。　　He　still　owes　me　the　money　for　my　epithalamium；　and　he　came　within　a　nick　of　hanging　me　this　evening；　which　would　have　been　very　inconvenient　to　me。He　is　niggardly　towards　men　of　merit。　　He　ought　to　read　the　four　books　of　Salvien　of　Cologne；　_Adversits　Avaritiam_。　　In　truth！　　'Tis　a　paltry　king　in　his　ways　with　men　of　letters；　and　one　who　commits　very　barbarous　cruelties。　He　is　a　sponge；　to　soak　money　raised　from　the　people。　　His　saving　is　like　the　spleen　which　swelleth　with　the　leanness　of　all　the　other　members。　　Hence　complaints　against　the　hardness　of　the　times　become　murmurs　against　the　prince。　　Under　this　gentle　and　pious　sire；　the　gallows　crack　with　the　hung；　the　blocks　rot　with　blood；　the　prisons　burst　like　over　full　bellies。　This　king　hath　one　hand　which　grasps；　and　one　which　hangs。　He　is　the　procurator　of　Dame　Tax　and　Monsieur　Gibbet。　The　great　are　despoiled　of　their　dignities；　and　the　little　incessantly　overwhelmed　with　fresh　oppressions。　　He　is　an　exorbitant　prince。　　I　love　not　this　monarch。　　And　you；　master？〃

The　man　in　black　let　the　garrulous　poet　chatter　on。　　He　continued　to　struggle　against　the　violent　and　narrow　current；　which　separates　the　prow　of　the　City　and　the　stem　of　the　island　of　Notre…Dame；　which　we　call　to…day　the　Isle　St。　Louis。

〃By　the　way；　master！〃　continued　Gringoire　suddenly。　〃At　the　moment　when　we　arrived　on　the　Parvis；　through　the　enraged　outcasts；　did　your　reverence　observe　that　poor　little　devil　whose　skull　your　deaf　man　was　just　cracking　on　the　railing　of　the　gallery　of　the　kings？　　I　am　near　sighted　and　I　could　not　recognize　him。　　Do　you　know　who　he　could　be？〃

The　stranger　answered　not　a　word。　　But　he　suddenly　ceased　rowing；　his　arms　fell　as　though　broken；　his　head　sank　on　his　breast；　and　la　Esmeralda　heard　him　sigh　convulsively。　　She　shuddered。　　She　had　heard　such　sighs　before。

The　boat；　abandoned　to　itself；　floated　for　several　minutes　with　the　stream。　　But　the　man　in　black　finally　recovered　himself；　seized　the　oars　once　more　and　began　to　row　against　the　current。　　He　doubled　the　point　of　the　Isle　of　Notre　Dame；　and　made　for　the　landing…place　of　the　Port　an　Foin。

〃Ah！〃　said　Gringoire；　〃yonder　is　the　Barbeau　mansion。Stay；　master；　look：　that　group　of　black　roofs　which　make　such　singular　angles　yonder；　above　that　heap　of　black；　fibrous　grimy；　dirty　clouds；　where　the　moon　is　completely　crushed　and　spread　out　like　the　yolk　of　an　egg　whose　shell　is　broken。'Tis　a　fine　mansion。　　There　is　a　chapel　crowned　with　a　small　vault　full　of　very　well　carved　enrichments。　　Above；　you　can　see　the　bell　tower；　very　delicately　pierced。　　There　is　also　a　pleasant　garden；　which　consists　of　a　pond；　an　aviary；　an　echo；　a　mall；　a　labyrinth；　a　house　for　wild　beasts；　and　a　quantity　of　leafy　alleys　very　agreeable　to　Venus。　　There　is　also　a　rascal　of　a　tree　which　is　called　'the　lewd；'　because　it　favored　the　pleasures　of　a　famous　princess　and　a　constable　of　France；　who　was　a　gallant　and　a　wit。Alas！　we　poor　philosophers　are　to　a　constable　as　a　plot　of　cabbages　or　a　radish　bed　to　the　garden　of　the　Louvre。　　What　matters　it；　after　all？　human　life；　for　the　great　as　well　as　for　us；　is　a　mixture　of　good　and　evil。　　Pain　is　always　by　the　side　of　joy；　the　spondee　by　the　dactyl。Master；　I　must　relate　to　you　the　history　of　the　Barbeau　mansion。　　It　ends　in　tragic　fashion。　　It　was　in　1319；　in　the　reign　of　Philippe　V。；　the　longest　reign　of　the　kings　of　France。　　The　moral　of　the　story　is　that　the　temptations