the hunchback of notre dame-第51节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


and　along　her　legs　nearly　to　her　feet；　she　presented；　at　the　first　glance；　only　a　strange　form　outlined　against　the　dark　background　of　the　cell；　a　sort　of　dusky　triangle；　which　the　ray　of　daylight　falling　through　the　opening；　cut　roughly　into　two　shades；　the　one　sombre；　the　other　illuminated。　　It　was　one　of　those　spectres；　half　light；　half　shadow；　such　as　one　beholds　in　dreams　and　in　the　extraordinary　work　of　Goya；　pale；　motionless；　sinister；　crouching　over　a　tomb；　or　leaning　against　the　grating　of　a　prison　cell。

It　was　neither　a　woman；　nor　a　man；　nor　a　living　being；　nor　a　definite　form；　it　was　a　figure；　a　sort　of　vision；　in　which　the　real　and　the　fantastic　intersected　each　other；　like　darkness　and　day。　　It　was　with　difficulty　that　one　distinguished；　beneath　her　hair　which　spread　to　the　ground；　a　gaunt　and　severe　profile；　her　dress　barely　allowed　the　extremity　of　a　bare　foot　to　escape；　which　contracted　on　the　hard；　cold　pavement。　The　little　of　human　form　of　which　one　caught　a　sight　beneath　this　envelope　of　mourning；　caused　a　shudder。

That　figure；　which　one　might　have　supposed　to　be　riveted　to　the　flagstones；　appeared　to　possess　neither　movement；　nor　thought；　nor　breath。　　Lying；　in　January；　in　that　thin；　linen　sack；　lying　on　a　granite　floor；　without　fire；　in　the　gloom　of　a　cell　whose　oblique　air…hole　allowed　only　the　cold　breeze；　but　never　the　sun；　to　enter　from　without；　she　did　not　appear　to　suffer　or　even　to　think。　　One　would　have　said　that　she　had　turned　to　stone　with　the　cell；　ice　with　the　season。　　Her　hands　were　clasped；　her　eyes　fixed。　　At　first　sight　one　took　her　for　a　spectre；　at　the　second；　for　a　statue。

Nevertheless；　at　intervals；　her　blue　lips　half　opened　to　admit　a　breath；　and　trembled；　but　as　dead　and　as　mechanical　as　the　leaves　which　the　wind　sweeps　aside。

Nevertheless；　from　her　dull　eyes　there　escaped　a　look；　an　ineffable　look；　a　profound；　lugubrious；　imperturbable　look；　incessantly　fixed　upon　a　corner　of　the　cell　which　could　not　be　seen　from　without；　a　gaze　which　seemed　to　fix　all　the　sombre　thoughts　of　that　soul　in　distress　upon　some　mysterious　object。

Such　was　the　creature　who　had　received；　from　her　habitation；　the　name　of　the　〃recluse〃；　and；　from　her　garment；　the　name　of　〃the　sacked　nun。〃

The　three　women；　for　Gervaise　had　rejoined　Mahiette　and　Oudarde；　gazed　through　the　window。　　Their　heads　intercepted　the　feeble　light　in　the　cell；　without　the　wretched　being　whom　they　thus　deprived　of　it　seeming　to　pay　any　attention　to　them。　　〃Do　not　let　us　trouble　her；〃　said　Oudarde；　in　a　low　voice；　〃she　is　in　her　ecstasy；　she　is　praying。〃

Meanwhile；　Mahiette　was　gazing　with　ever…increasing　anxiety　at　that　wan；　withered；　dishevelled　head；　and　her　eyes　filled　with　tears。　　〃This　is　very　singular；〃　she　murmured。

She　thrust　her　head　through　the　bars；　and　succeeded　in　casting　a　glance　at　the　corner　where　the　gaze　of　the　unhappy　woman　was　immovably　riveted。

When　she　withdrew　her　head　from　the　window；　her　countenance　was　inundated　with　tears。

〃What　do　you　call　that　woman？〃　she　asked　Oudarde。

Oudarde　replied；

〃We　call　her　Sister　Gudule。〃

〃And　I；〃　returned　Mahiette；　〃call　her　Paquette　la　Chantefleurie。〃

Then；　laying　her　finger　on　her　lips；　she　motioned　to　the　astounded　Oudarde　to　thrust　her　head　through　the　window　and　look。

Oudarde　looked　and　beheld；　in　the　corner　where　the　eyes　of　the　recluse　were　fixed　in　that　sombre　ecstasy；　a　tiny　shoe　of　pink　satin；　embroidered　with　a　thousand　fanciful　designs　in　gold　and　silver。

Gervaise　looked　after　Oudarde；　and　then　the　three　women；　gazing　upon　the　unhappy　mother；　began　to　weep。

But　neither　their　looks　nor　their　tears　disturbed　the　recluse。　Her　hands　remained　clasped；　her　lips　mute；　her　eyes　fixed；　and　that　little　shoe；　thus　gazed　at；　broke　the　heart　of　any　one　who　knew　her　history。

The　three　women　had　not　yet　uttered　a　single　word；　they　dared　not　speak；　even　in　a　low　voice。　　This　deep　silence；　this　deep　grief；　this　profound　oblivion　in　which　everything　had　disappeared　except　one　thing；　produced　upon　them　the　effect　of　the　grand　altar　at　Christmas　or　Easter。　　They　remained　silent；　they　meditated；　they　were　ready　to　kneel。　　It　seemed　to　them　that　they　were　ready　to　enter　a　church　on　the　day　of　Tenebrae。

At　length　Gervaise；　the　most　curious　of　the　three；　and　consequently　the　least　sensitive；　tried　to　make　the　recluse　speak：

〃Sister！　　Sister　Gudule！〃

She　repeated　this　call　three　times；　raising　her　voice　each　time。　　The　recluse　did　not　move；　not　a　word；　not　a　glance；　not　a　sigh；　not　a　sign　of　life。

Oudarde；　in　her　turn；　in　a　sweeter；　more　caressing　voice；〃Sister！〃　said　she；　〃Sister　Sainte…Gudule！〃

The　same　silence；　the　same　immobility。

〃A　singular　woman！〃　exclaimed　Gervaise；　〃and　one　not　to　be　moved　by　a　catapult！〃

〃Perchance　she　is　deaf；〃　said　Oudarde。

〃Perhaps　she　is　blind；〃　added　Gervaise。

〃Dead；　perchance；〃　returned　Mahiette。

It　is　certain　that　if　the　soul　had　not　already　quitted　this　inert；　sluggish；　lethargic　body；　it　had　at　least　retreated　and　concealed　itself　in　depths　whither　the　perceptions　of　the　exterior　organs　no　longer　penetrated。

〃Then　we　must　leave　the　cake　on　the　window；〃　said　Oudarde；　〃some　scamp　will　take　it。　　What　shall　we　do　to　rouse　her？〃

Eustache；　who；　up　to　that　moment　had　been　diverted　by　a　little　carriage　drawn　by　a　large　dog；　which　had　just　passed；　suddenly　perceived　that　his　three　conductresses　were　gazing　at　something　through　the　window；　and；　curiosity　taking　possession　of　him　in　his　turn；　he　climbed　upon　a　stone　post；　elevated　himself　on　tiptoe；　and　applied　his　fat；　red　face　to　the　opening；　shouting；　〃Mother；　let　me　see　too！〃

At　the　sound　of　this　clear；　fresh；　ringing　child's　voice；　the　recluse　trembled；　she　turned　her　head　with　the　sharp；　abrupt　movement　of　a　steel　spring；　her　long；　fleshless　hands　cast　aside　the　hair　from　her　brow；　and　she　fixed　upon　the　child；　bitter；　astonished；　desperate　eyes。　　This　glance　was　but　a　lightning　flash。

〃Oh　my　God！〃　she　suddenly　exclaimed；　hiding　her　head　on　her　knees；　and　it　seemed　as　though　her　hoarse　voice　tore　her　chest　as　it　passed　from　it；　〃do　not　show　me　those　of　others！〃

〃Good　day；　madam；〃　said　the　child；　gravely。

Nevertheless；　this　shock　had；　so　to　speak；　awakened　the　recluse。　　A　long　shiver　traversed　her　frame　from　head　to　foot；　her　teeth　chattered；　she　half　raised　her　head　and　said；　pressing　her　elbows　against　her　hips；　and　clasping　her　feet　in　her　hands　as　though　to　warm　them；

〃Oh；　how　cold　it　is！〃

〃Poor　woman！〃　said　Oudarde；　with　great　compassion；　〃would　you　like　a　little　fire？〃

She　shook　her　head　in　token　of　refusal。

〃Well；〃　resumed　Oudarde；　presenting　her　with　a　flagon；　〃here　is　some　hippocras　which　will　warm　you；　drink　it。〃

Again　she　shook　her　head；　looked　at　Oudarde　fixedly　and　replied；　〃Water。〃

Oudarde　persisted；〃No；　sister；　that　is　no　beverage　for　January。　　You　must　drink　a　little　hippocras　and　eat　this　leavened　cake　of　maize；　which　we　have　baked　for　you。〃

She　refused　the　cake　which　Mahiette　offered　to　her；　and　said；　〃Black　bread。〃

〃Come；〃　said　Gervaise；　seized　in　her　turn　with　an　impulse　of　charity；　and　unfastening　her　woolen　cloak；　〃here　is　a　cloak　which　is　a　little　warmer　than　yours。〃

She　refused　the　cloak　as　she　had　refused　the　flagon　and　the　cake；　and　replied；　〃A　sack。〃

〃But；〃　resumed　the　good　Oudarde；　〃you　must　have　perceived　to　some　extent；　that　yesterday　was　a　festival。〃

〃I　do　perceive　it；〃　said　the　recluse；　〃'tis　two　days　now　since　I　have　had　any　water　in　my　crock。〃

She　added；　after　a　silence；　〃'Tis　a　festival；　I　am　forgotten。　People　do　well。　　Why　should　the　world　think　of　me；　when　I　do　not　think　of　it？　　Cold　charcoal　makes　cold　ashes。〃

And　as　though　fatigued　with　having　said　so　much；　she　dropped　her　head　on　her　knees　again。　　The　simple　and　charitable　Oudarde；　who　fancied　that　she　understood　from　her　last　words　that　she　was　complaining　of　the　cold；　replied　innocently；　〃Then　you　would　like　a　little　fire？〃

〃Fire！〃　said　the　sacked　nun；　with　a　strange　accent；　〃and　will　you　also　make　a　little　for　the　poor　little　one　who　has　been　beneath　the　sod　for　these　fifteen　years？〃

Every　limb　was　trembling；　her　voice　quivered；　her　eyes　flashed；　she　had　raised　herself　upon　her　knees；　suddenly　she　extended　her　thin；　white　hand　towards　the　child；　who　was　regarding　her　with　a　look　of　astonishment。　　〃Take　away　that　child！〃　she　cried。　　〃The　Egyptian　woman　is　about　to　pass　by。〃

Then　she　fell　face　downward　on　the　earth；　and　her　forehead　struck　the　stone；　with　the　sound　of　one　stone　against　another　stone。　　The　three　women　thought　her　dead。　　A　moment　later；　however；　she　moved；　and　they　beheld　her　drag　herself；　on　her　knees　and　elbows；　to　the　corner　where　the　little　shoe　was。　Then　they　dared　not　look；　they　no　longer　saw　her；　but　they　heard　a　thousand　kisses　and　a　thousand　sighs；　mingled　with　heartrending　cries；　and　dull　blows　like　those　of　a　head　in　contact　with　a　wall。　　Then；　after　one　of　these　blows；　so　violent　that　all　three　of　them　staggered；　they　heard　no　more。

〃Can　she　have　killed　herself？〃　said　Gervaise；　venturing　to　pass　her　head　through　the　air…hole。　　〃Sister！　　Sister　Gudule！〃

〃Sister　Gudule！〃　repeated　Oudarde。

〃Ah！　good　heavens！　she　no　longer　moves！〃　resumed　Gervaise；　〃is　she　de