the hunchback of notre dame-第108节

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At　that　moment；　she　had　a　vague　feeling　that　destiny　is　an　irresistible　force。　　She　had　no　more　resistance　left　in　her；　she　allowed　herself　to　be　dragged　along；　running　while　he　walked。　　At　this　spot　the　quay　ascended。　　But　it　seemed　to　her　as　though　she　were　descending　a　slope。

She　gazed　about　her　on　all　sides。　　Not　a　single　passer…by。　The　quay　was　absolutely　deserted。　　She　heard　no　sound；　she　felt　no　people　moving　save　in　the　tumultuous　and　glowing　city；　from　which　she　was　separated　only　by　an　arm　of　the　Seine；　and　whence　her　name　reached　her；　mingled　with　cries　of　〃Death！〃　　The　rest　of　Paris　was　spread　around　her　in　great　blocks　of　shadows。

Meanwhile；　the　stranger　continued　to　drag　her　along　with　the　same　silence　and　the　same　rapidity。　　She　had　no　recollection　of　any　of　the　places　where　she　was　walking。　As　she　passed　before　a　lighted　window；　she　made　an　effort；　drew　up　suddenly；　and　cried　out；　〃Help！〃

The　bourgeois　who　was　standing　at　the　window　opened　it；　appeared　there　in　his　shirt　with　his　lamp；　stared　at　the　quay　with　a　stupid　air；　uttered　some　words　which　she　did　not　understand；　and　closed　his　shutter　again。　　It　was　her　last　gleam　of　hope　extinguished。

The　man　in　black　did　not　utter　a　syllable；　he　held　her　firmly；　and　set　out　again　at　a　quicker　pace。　　She　no　longer　resisted；　but　followed　him；　completely　broken。

From　time　to　time　she　called　together　a　little　strength；　and　said；　in　a　voice　broken　by　the　unevenness　of　the　pavement　and　the　breathlessness　of　their　flight；　〃Who　are　you？　　Who　are　you？〃　He　made　no　reply。

They　arrived　thus；　still　keeping　along　the　quay；　at　a　tolerably　spacious　square。　　It　was　the　Grève。　　In　the　middle；　a　sort　of　black；　erect　cross　was　visible；　it　was　the　gallows。　　She　recognized　all　this；　and　saw　where　she　was。

The　man　halted；　turned　towards　her　and　raised　his　cowl。

〃Oh！〃　she　stammered；　almost　petrified；　〃I　knew　well　that　it　was　he　again！〃

It　was　the　priest。　　He　looked　like　the　ghost　of　himself；　that　is　an　effect　of　the　moonlight；　it　seems　as　though　one　beheld　only　the　spectres　of　things　in　that　light。

〃Listen！〃　he　said　to　her；　and　she　shuddered　at　the　sound　of　that　fatal　voice　which　she　had　not　heard　for　a　long　time。　He　continued　speaking　with　those　brief　and　panting　jerks；　which　betoken　deep　internal　convulsions。　　〃Listen！　we　are　here。　　I　am　going　to　speak　to　you。　　This　is　the　Grève。　　This　is　an　extreme　point。　　Destiny　gives　us　to　one　another。　　I　am　going　to　decide　as　to　your　life；　you　will　decide　as　to　my　soul。　Here　is　a　place；　here　is　a　night　beyond　which　one　sees　nothing。　Then　listen　to　me。　　I　am　going　to　tell　you。。。In　the　first　place；　speak　not　to　me　of　your　Phoebus。　　（As　he　spoke　thus　he　paced　to　and　fro；　like　a　man　who　cannot　remain　in　one　place；　and　dragged　her　after　him。）　Do　not　speak　to　me　of　him。　　Do　you　see？　　If　you　utter　that　name；　I　know　not　what　I　shall　do；　but　it　will　be　terrible。〃

Then；　like　a　body　which　recovers　its　centre　of　gravity；　he　became　motionless　once　more；　but　his　words　betrayed　no　less　agitation。　　His　voice　grew　lower　and　lower。

〃Do　not　turn　your　head　aside　thus。　　Listen　to　me。　　It　is　a　serious　matter。　　In　the　first　place；　here　is　what　has　happened。All　this　will　not　be　laughed　at。　　I　swear　it　to　you。What　was　I　saying？　　Remind　me！　　Oh！There　is　a　decree　of　Parliament　which　gives　you　back　to　the　scaffold。　　I　have　just　rescued　you　from　their　hands。　　But　they　are　pursuing　you。　Look！〃

He　extended　his　arm　toward　the　City。　　The　search　seemed；　in　fact；　to　be　still　in　progress　there。　　The　uproar　drew　nearer；　the　tower　of　the　lieutenant's　house；　situated　opposite　the　Grève；　was　full　of　clamors　and　light；　and　soldiers　could　be　seen　running　on　the　opposite　quay　with　torches　and　these　cries；　〃The　gypsy！　　Where　is　the　gypsy！　　Death！　　Death！〃

〃You　see　that　they　are　in　pursuit　of　you；　and　that　I　am　not　lying　to　you。　　I　love　you。Do　not　open　your　mouth；　refrain　from　speaking　to　me　rather；　if　it　be　only　to　tell　me　that　you　hate　me。　　I　have　made　up　my　mind　not　to　hear　that　again。I　have　just　saved　you。Let　me　finish　first。　　I　can　save　you　wholly。　　I　have　prepared　everything。　　It　is　yours　at　will。　　If　you　wish；　I　can　do　it。〃

He　broke　off　violently。　　〃No；　that　is　not　what　I　should　say！〃

As　he　went　with　hurried　step　and　made　her　hurry　also；　for　he　did　not　release　her；　he　walked　straight　to　the　gallows；　and　pointed　to　it　with　his　finger；

〃Choose　between　us　two；〃　he　said；　coldly。

She　tore　herself　from　his　hands　and　fell　at　the　foot　of　the　gibbet；　embracing　that　funereal　support；　then　she　half　turned　her　beautiful　head；　and　looked　at　the　priest　over　her　shoulder。　One　would　have　said　that　she　was　a　Holy　Virgin　at　the　foot　of　the　cross。　　The　priest　remained　motionless；　his　finger　still　raised　toward　the　gibbet；　preserving　his　attitude　like　a　statue。　At　length　the　gypsy　said　to　him；

〃It　causes　me　less　horror　than　you　do。〃

Then　he　allowed　his　arm　to　sink　slowly；　and　gazed　at　the　pavement　in　profound　dejection。

〃If　these　stones　could　speak；〃　he　murmured；　〃yes；　they　would　say　that　a　very　unhappy　man　stands　here。

He　went　on。　　The　young　girl；　kneeling　before　the　gallows；　enveloped　in　her　long　flowing　hair；　let　him　speak　on　without　interruption。　　He　now　had　a　gentle　and　plaintive　accent　which　contrasted　sadly　with　the　haughty　harshness　of　his　features。

〃I　love　you。　　Oh！　how　true　that　is！　　So　nothing　comes　of　that　fire　which　burns　my　heart！　　Alas！　young　girl；　night　and　dayyes；　night　and　day　I　tell　you；it　is　torture。　　Oh！　　I　suffer　too　much；　my　poor　child。　　'Tis　a　thing　deserving　of　compassion；　I　assure　you。　　You　see　that　I　speak　gently　to　you。　　I　really　wish　that　you　should　no　longer　cherish　this　horror　of　me。After　all；　if　a　man　loves　a　woman；　'tis　not　his　fault！Oh；　my　God！What！　　So　you　will　never　pardon　me？　You　will　always　hate　me？　　All　is　over　then。　　It　is　that　which　renders　me　evil；　do　you　see？　and　horrible　to　myself。You　will　not　even　look　at　me！　　You　are　thinking　of　something　else；　perchance；　while　I　stand　here　and　talk　to　you；　shuddering　on　the　brink　of　eternity　for　both　of　us！　　Above　all　things；　do　not　speak　to　me　of　the　officer！I　would　cast　myself　at　your　knees；　I　would　kiss　not　your　feet；　but　the　earth　which　is　under　your　feet；　I　would　sob　like　a　child；　I　would　tear　from　my　breast　not　words；　but　my　very　heart　and　vitals；　to　tell　you　that　I　love　you；all　would　be　useless；　all！And　yet　you　have　nothing　in　your　heart　but　what　is　tender　and　merciful。　　You　are　radiant　with　the　most　beautiful　mildness；　you　are　wholly　sweet；　good；　pitiful；　and　charming。　　Alas！　You　cherish　no　ill　will　for　any　one　but　me　alone！　　Oh！　what　a　fatality！〃

He　hid　his　face　in　his　hands。　　The　young　girl　heard　him　weeping。　　It　was　for　the　first　time。　　Thus　erect　and　shaken　by　sobs；　he　was　more　miserable　and　more　suppliant　than　when　on　his　knees。　　He　wept　thus　for　a　considerable　time。

〃Come！〃　he　said；　these　first　tears　passed；　〃I　have　no　more　words。　　I　had；　however；　thought　well　as　to　what　you　would　say。　　Now　I　tremble　and　shiver　and　break　down　at　the　decisive　moment；　I　feel　conscious　of　something　supreme　enveloping　us；　and　I　stammer。　　Oh！　　I　shall　fall　upon　the　pavement　if　you　do　not　take　pity　on　me；　pity　on　yourself。　　Do　not　condemn　us　both。　　If　you　only　knew　how　much　I　love　you！　What　a　heart　is　mine！　　Oh！　what　desertion　of　all　virtue！　What　desperate　abandonment　of　myself！　　A　doctor；　I　mock　at　science；　a　gentleman；　I　tarnish　my　own　name；　a　priest；　I　make　of　the　missal　a　pillow　of　sensuality；　I　spit　in　the　face　of　my　God！　all　this　for　thee；　enchantress！　to　be　more　worthy　of　thy　hell！　　And　you　will　not　have　the　apostate！　　Oh！　let　me　tell　you　all！　more　still；　something　more　horrible；　oh！　　Yet　more　horrible！。。。。〃

As　he　uttered　these　last　words；　his　air　became　utterly　distracted。　　He　was　silent　for　a　moment；　and　resumed；　as　though　speaking　to　himself；　and　in　a　strong　voice；

〃Cain；　what　hast　thou　done　with　thy　brother？〃

There　was　another　silence；　and　he　went　on

〃What　have　I　done　with　him；　Lord？　　I　received　him；　I　reared　him；　I　nourished　him；　I　loved　him；　I　idolized　him；　and　I　have　slain　him！　　Yes；　Lord；　they　have　just　dashed　his　head　before　my　eyes　on　the　stone　of　thine　house；　and　it　is　because　of　me；　because　of　this　woman；　because　of　her。〃

His　eye　was　wild。　　His　voice　grew　ever　weaker；　he　repeated　many　times；　yet；　mechanically；　at　tolerably　long　intervals；　like　a　bell　prolonging　its　last　vibration：　〃Because　of　her。Because　of　her。〃

Then　his　tongue　no　longer　articulated　any　perceptible　sound；　but　his　lips　still　moved。　　All　at　once　he　sank　together；　like　something　crumbling；　and　lay　motionless　on　the　earth；　with　his　head　on　his　knees。

A　touch　from　the　young　girl；　as　she　drew　her　foot　from　under　him；　brought　him　to　himself。　　He　passed　his　hand　slowly　over　his　hollow　cheeks；　and　gazed　for　several　moments　at　his　fingers；　which　were　wet；　〃What！〃　he　murmured；　〃I　have　wept！〃

And　turning　suddenly　to　the　gypsy　with　unspeakable　anguish；

〃Alas！　you　have　looked　coldly　on　at　my　tears！　　Child；　do　you　know　that　those　tears　are　of　lava？　　Is　it　indeed　true？　Nothing　touches　when　it　comes　from　the　man　whom　one　does　not　love。　　If　you　were　to　see　me　die；　you　would　laugh。　　Oh！　I　do　not　wish　to　see　you　die！　　One　word！　　A　single　word　of　pardon！　　Say　not　that　you　love