the hunchback of notre dame-第55节
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Beside her stood a young man of imposing mien； although partaking somewhat of vanity and bravadoone of those handsome fellows whom all women agree to admire； although grave men learned in physiognomy shrug their shoulders at them。 This young man wore the garb of a captain of the king's unattached archers； which bears far too much resemblance to the costume of Jupiter； which the reader has already been enabled to admire in the first book of this history； for us to inflict upon him a second description。
The damoiselles were seated； a part in the chamber； a part in the balcony； some on square cushions of Utrecht velvet with golden corners； others on stools of oak carved in flowers and figures。 Each of them held on her knee a section of a great needlework tapestry； on which they were working in company； while one end of it lay upon the rush mat which covered the floor。
They were chatting together in that whispering tone and with the half…stifled laughs peculiar to an assembly of young girls in whose midst there is a young man。 The young man whose presence served to set in play all these feminine self… conceits； appeared to pay very little heed to the matter； and； while these pretty damsels were vying with one another to attract his attention； he seemed to be chiefly absorbed in polishing the buckle of his sword belt with his doeskin glove。 From time to time； the old lady addressed him in a very low tone； and he replied as well as he was able； with a sort of awkward and constrained politeness。
From the smiles and significant gestures of Dame Aloise； from the glances which she threw towards her daughter； Fleur…de…Lys； as she spoke low to the captain； it was easy to see that there was here a question of some betrothal concluded； some marriage near at hand no doubt； between the young man and Fleur…de…Lys。 From the embarrassed coldness of the officer； it was easy to see that on his side； at least； love had no longer any part in the matter。 His whole air was expressive of constraint and weariness； which our lieutenants of the garrison would to…day translate admirably as； 〃What a beastly bore！〃
The poor dame； very much infatuated with her daughter； like any other silly mother； did not perceive the officer's lack of enthusiasm； and strove in low tones to call his attention to the infinite grace with which Fleur…de…Lys used her needle or wound her skein。
〃Come； little cousin；〃 she said to him； plucking him by the sleeve； in order to speak in his ear； 〃Look at her； do！ see her stoop。〃
〃Yes； truly；〃 replied the young man； and fell back into his glacial and absent…minded silence。
A moment later； he was obliged to bend down again； and Dame Aloise said to him；
〃Have you ever beheld a more gay and charming face than that of your betrothed？ Can one be more white and blonde？ are not her hands perfect？ and that neckdoes it not assume all the curves of the swan in ravishing fashion？ How I envy you at times！ and how happy you are to be a man； naughty libertine that you are！ Is not my Fleur…de…Lys adorably beautiful； and are you not desperately in love with her？〃
〃Of course；〃 he replied； still thinking of something else。
〃But do say something；〃 said Madame Aloise； suddenly giving his shoulder a push； 〃you have grown very timid。〃
We can assure our readers that timidity was neither the captain's virtue nor his defect。 But he made an effort to do what was demanded of him。
〃Fair cousin；〃 he said； approaching Fleur…de…Lys； 〃what is the subject of this tapestry work which you are fashioning？' 〃Fair cousin；〃 responded Fleur…de…Lys； in an offended tone； 〃I have already told you three times。 'Tis the grotto of Neptune。〃
It was evident that Fleur…de…Lys saw much more clearly than her mother through the captain's cold and absent…minded manner。 He felt the necessity of making some conversation。
〃And for whom is this Neptunerie destined？〃
〃For the Abbey of Saint…Antoine des Champs；〃 answered Fleur…de…Lys； without raising her eyes。
The captain took up a corner of the tapestry。
〃Who； my fair cousin； is this big gendarme； who is puffing out his cheeks to their full extent and blowing a trumpet？〃
〃'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 dict
