the hunchback of notre dame-第86节
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gn tranquillizer。 The solemn lines of that architecture； the religious attitude of all the objects which surrounded the young girl； the serene and pious thoughts which emanated； so to speak； from all the pores of that stone； acted upon her without her being aware of it。 The edifice had also sounds fraught with such benediction and such majesty； that they soothed this ailing soul。 The monotonous chanting of the celebrants； the responses of the people to the priest； sometimes inarticulate； sometimes thunderous； the harmonious trembling of the painted windows； the organ； bursting forth like a hundred trumpets； the three belfries； humming like hives of huge bees； that whole orchestra on which bounded a gigantic scale； ascending； descending incessantly from the voice of a throng to that of one bell； dulled her memory； her imagination； her grief。 The bells； in particular； lulled her。 It was something like a powerful magnetism which those vast instruments shed over her in great waves。
Thus every sunrise found her more calm； breathing better； less pale。 In proportion as her inward wounds closed； her grace and beauty blossomed once more on her countenance； but more thoughtful； more reposeful。 Her former character also returned to her； somewhat even of her gayety； her pretty pout； her love for her goat； her love for singing； her modesty。 She took care to dress herself in the morning in the corner of her cell for fear some inhabitants of the neighboring attics might see her through the window。
When the thought of Phoebus left her time； the gypsy sometimes thought of Quasimodo。 He was the sole bond； the sole connection； the sole communication which remained to her with men； with the living。 Unfortunate girl！ she was more outside the world than Quasimodo。 She understood not in the least the strange friend whom chance had given her。 She often reproached herself for not feeling a gratitude which should close her eyes； but decidedly； she could not accustom herself to the poor bellringer。 He was too ugly。
She had left the whistle which he had given her lying on the ground。 This did not prevent Quasimodo from making his appearance from time to time during the first few days。 She did her best not to turn aside with too much repugnance when he came to bring her her basket of provisions or her jug of water； but he always perceived the slightest movement of this sort； and then he withdrew sadly。
Once he came at the moment when she was caressing Djali。 He stood pensively for several minutes before this graceful group of the goat and the gypsy； at last he said； shaking his heavy and ill…formed head；
〃My misfortune is that I still resemble a man too much。 I should like to be wholly a beast like that goat。〃
She gazed at him in amazement。
He replied to the glance；
〃Oh！ I well know why；〃 and he went away。
On another occasion he presented himself at the door of the cell （which he never entered） at the moment when la Esmeralda was singing an old Spanish ballad； the words of which she did not understand； but which had lingered in her ear because the gypsy women had lulled her to sleep with it when she was a little child。 At the sight of that villanous form which made its appearance so abruptly in the middle of her song； the young girl paused with an involuntary gesture of alarm。 The unhappy bellringer fell upon his knees on the threshold； and clasped his large； misshapen hands with a suppliant air。 〃Oh！〃 he said； sorrowfully； 〃continue； I implore you； and do not drive me away。〃 She did not wish to pain him； and resumed her lay； trembling all over。 By degrees； however； her terror disappeared； and she yielded herself wholly to the slow and melancholy air which she was singing。 He remained on his knees with hands clasped； as in prayer； attentive； hardly breathing； his gaze riveted upon the gypsy's brilliant eyes。
On another occasion； he came to her with an awkward and timid air。 〃Listen；〃 he said； with an effort； 〃I have something to say to you。〃 She made him a sign that she was listening。 Then he began to sigh； half opened his lips； appeared for a moment to be on the point of speaking； then he looked at her again； shook his head； and withdrew slowly； with his brow in his hand； leaving the gypsy stupefied。 Among the grotesque personages sculptured on the wall； there was one to whom he was particularly attached； and with which he often seemed to exchange fraternal glances。 Once the gypsy heard him saying to it；
〃Oh！ why am not I of stone； like you！〃
At last； one morning； la Esmeralda had advanced to the edge of the roof； and was looking into the Place over the pointed roof of Saint…Jean le Rond。 Quasimodo was standing behind her。 He had placed himself in that position in order to spare the young girl； as far as possible； the displeasure of seeing him。 All at once the gypsy started； a tear and a flash of joy gleamed simultaneously in her eyes； she knelt on the brink of the roof and extended her arms towards the Place with anguish； exclaiming： 〃Phoebus！ come！ come！ a word； a single word in the name of heaven！ Phoebus！ Phoebus！〃 Her voice； her face； her gesture； her whole person bore the heartrending expression of a shipwrecked man who is making a signal of distress to the joyous vessel which is passing afar off in a ray of sunlight on the horizon。
Quasimodo leaned over the Place； and saw that the object of this tender and agonizing prayer was a young man； a captain； a handsome cavalier all glittering with arms and decorations； prancing across the end of the Place； and saluting with his plume a beautiful lady who was smiling at him from her balcony。 However； the officer did not hear the unhappy girl calling him； he was too far away。
But the poor deaf man heard。 A profound sigh heaved his breast； he turned round； his heart was swollen with all the tears which he was swallowing； his convulsively…clenched fists struck against his head； and when he withdrew them there was a bunch of red hair in each hand。
The gypsy paid no heed to him。 He said in a low voice as he gnashed his teeth；
〃Damnation！ That is what one should be like！ 'Tis only necessary to be handsome on the outside！〃
Meanwhile； she remained kneeling； and cried with extraor… dinary agitation； 〃Oh！ there he is alighting from his horse！ He is about to enter that house！Phoebus！He does not hear me！ Phoebus！How wicked that woman is to speak to him at the same time with me！ Phoebus！ Phoebus！〃
The deaf man gazed at her。 He understood this pantomime。 The poor bellringer's eye filled with tears； but he let none fall。 All at once he pulled her gently by the border of her sleeve。 She turned round。 He had assumed a tranquil air； he said to her；
〃Would you like to have me bring him to you？〃
She uttered a cry of joy。
〃Oh！ go！ hasten！ run！ quick！ that captain！ that captain！ bring him to me！ I will love you for it！〃
She clasped his knees。 He could not refrain from shaking his head sadly。
〃I will bring him to you；〃 he said； in a weak voice。 Then he turned his head and plunged down the staircase with great strides； stifling with sobs。
When he reached the Place； he no longer saw anything except the handsome horse hitched at the door of the Gondelaurier house； the captain had just entered there。
He raised his eyes to the roof of the church。 La Esmeralda was there in the same spot； in the same attitude。 He made her a sad sign with his head； then he planted his back against one of the stone posts of the Gondelaurier porch； determined to wait until the captain should come forth。
In the Gondelaurier house it was one of those gala days which precede a wedding。 Quasimodo beheld many people enter； but no one come out。 He cast a glance towards the roof from time to time； the gypsy did not stir any more than himself。 A groom came and unhitched the horse and led it to the stable of the house。
The entire day passed thus； Quasimodo at his post； la Esmeralda on the roof； Phoebus； no doubt； at the feet of Fleur…de…Lys。
At length night came； a moonless night； a dark night。 Quasimodo fixed his gaze in vain upon la Esmeralda； soon she was no more than a whiteness amid the twilight； then nothing。 All was effaced； all was black。
Quasimodo beheld the front windows from top to bottom of the Gondelaurier mansion illuminated； he saw the other casements in the Place lighted one by one； he also saw them extinguished to the very last； for he remained the whole evening at his post。 The officer did not come forth。 When the last passers…by had returned home； when the windows of all the other houses were extinguished； Quasimodo was left entirely alone； entirely in the dark。 There were at that time no lamps in the square before Notre…Dame。
Meanwhile； the windows of the Gondelaurier mansion remained lighted； even after midnight。 Quasimodo； motionless and attentive； beheld a throng of lively； dancing shadows pass athwart the many…colored painted panes。 Had he not been deaf； he would have heard more and more distinctly； in proportion as the noise of sleeping Paris died away； a sound of feasting； laughter； and music in the Gondelaurier mansion。
Towards one o'clock in the morning； the guests began to take their leave。 Quasimodo；
