the hunchback of notre dame-第91节

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h　of　something；　a　sort　of　vegetable；　which　thinks　that　it　walks；　and　thinks　that　it　thinks；　you　will　continue　to　live　with　the　life　which　you　have　stolen　from　her；　as　useless　as　a　candle　in　broad　daylight？　　Come；　have　a　little　pity；　Gringoire；　be　generous　in　your　turn；　it　was　she　who　set　the　example。〃

The　priest　was　vehement。　　Gringoire　listened　to　him　at　first　with　an　undecided　air；　then　he　became　touched；　and　wound　up　with　a　grimace　which　made　his　pallid　face　resemble　that　of　a　new…born　infant　with　an　attack　of　the　colic。

〃You　are　pathetic！〃　said　he；　wiping　away　a　tear。　　〃Well！　I　will　think　about　it。　　That's　a　queer　idea　of　yours。After　all；〃　he　continued　after　a　pause；　〃who　knows？　perhaps　they　will　not　hang　me。　　He　who　becomes　betrothed　does　not　always　marry。　　When　they　find　me　in　that　little　lodging　so　grotesquely　muffled　in　petticoat　and　coif；　perchance　they　will　burst　with　laughter。　　And　then；　if　they　do　hang　me；well！　the　halter　is　as　good　a　death　as　any。　　'Tis　a　death　worthy　of　a　sage　who　has　wavered　all　his　life；　a　death　which　is　neither　flesh　nor　fish；　like　the　mind　of　a　veritable　sceptic；　a　death　all　stamped　with　Pyrrhonism　and　hesitation；　which　holds　the　middle　station　betwixt　heaven　and　earth；　which　leaves　you　in　suspense。　　'Tis　a　philosopher's　death；　and　I　was　destined　thereto；　perchance。　　It　is　magnificent　to　die　as　one　has　lived。〃

The　priest　interrupted　him：　〃Is　it　agreed。〃

〃What　is　death；　after　all？〃　pursued　Gringoire　with　exaltation。　〃A　disagreeable　moment；　a　toll…gate；　the　passage　of　little　to　nothingness。　　Some　one　having　asked　Cercidas；　the　Megalopolitan；　if　he　were　willing　to　die：　'Why　not？'　he　replied；　'for　after　my　death　I　shall　see　those　great　men；　Pythagoras　among　the　philosophers；　Hecataeus　among　historians；　Homer　among　poets；　Olympus　among　musicians。'〃

The　archdeacon　gave　him　his　hand：　〃It　is　settled；　then？　You　will　come　to…morrow？〃

This　gesture　recalled　Gringoire　to　reality。

〃Ah！　i'　faith　no！〃　he　said　in　the　tone　of　a　man　just　waking　up。　　〃Be　hanged！　'tis　too　absurd。　　I　will　not。〃

〃Farewell；　then！〃　and　the　archdeacon　added　between　his　teeth：　〃I'll　find　you　again！〃

〃I　do　not　want　that　devil　of　a　man　to　find　me；〃　thought　Gringoire；　and　he　ran　after　Dom　Claude。　　〃Stay；　monsieur　the　archdeacon；　no　ill…feeling　between　old　friends！　　You　take　an　interest　in　that　girl；　my　wife；　I　mean；　and　'tis　well。　　You　have　devised　a　scheme　to　get　her　out　of　Notre…Dame；　but　your　way　is　extremely　disagreeable　to　me；　Gringoire。　　If　I　had　only　another　one　myself！　　I　beg　to　say　that　a　luminous　inspiration　has　just　occurred　to　me。　　If　I　possessed　an　expedient　for　extricating　her　from　a　dilemma；　without　compromising　my　own　neck　to　the　extent　of　a　single　running　knot；　what　would　you　say　to　it？　　Will　not　that　suffice　you？　　Is　it　absolutely　necessary　that　I　should　be　hanged；　in　order　that　you　may　be　content？〃

The　priest　tore　out　the　buttons　of　his　cassock　with　impatience：　〃Stream　of　words！　　What　is　your　plan？〃

〃Yes；〃　resumed　Gringoire；　talking　to　himself　and　touching　his　nose　with　his　forefinger　in　sign　of　meditation；〃that's　it！The　thieves　are　brave　fellows！The　tribe　of　Egypt　love　her！They　will　rise　at　the　first　word！Nothing　easier！A　sudden　stroke。Under　cover　of　the　disorder；　they　will　easily　carry　her　off！Beginning　to…morrow　evening。　They　will　ask　nothing　better。

〃The　plan！　speak；〃　cried　the　archdeacon　shaking　him。

Gringoire　turned　majestically　towards　him：　〃Leave　me！　You　see　that　I　am　composing。〃　He　meditated　for　a　few　moments　more；　then　began　to　clap　his　hands　over　his　thought；　crying：　〃Admirable！　　success　is　sure！〃

〃The　plan！〃　repeated　Claude　in　wrath。

Gringoire　was　radiant。

〃Come；　that　I　may　tell　you　that　very　softly。　　'Tis　a　truly　gallant　counter…plot；　which　will　extricate　us　all　from　the　matter。　Pardieu；　it　must　be　admitted　that　I　am　no　fool。〃

He　broke　off。

〃Oh；　by　the　way！　　is　the　little　goat　with　the　wench？〃

〃Yes。　　The　devil　take　you！〃

〃They　would　have　hanged　it　also；　would　they　not？〃

〃What　is　that　to　me？〃

〃Yes；　they　would　have　hanged　it。　　They　hanged　a　sow　last　month。　　The　headsman　loveth　that；　he　eats　the　beast　afterwards。　Take　my　pretty　Djali！　　Poor　little　lamb！〃

〃Malediction！〃　exclaimed　Dom　Claude。　　〃You　are　the　executioner。　　What　means　of　safety　have　you　found；　knave？　Must　your　idea　be　extracted　with　the　forceps？〃

〃Very　fine；　master；　this　is　it。〃

Gringoire　bent　his　head　to　the　archdeacon's　head　and　spoke　to　him　in　a　very　low　voice；　casting　an　uneasy　glance　the　while　from　one　end　to　the　other　of　the　street；　though　no　one　was　passing。　　When　he　had　finished；　Dom　Claude　took　his　hand　and　said　coldly　：　〃'Tis　well。　　Farewell　until　to…morrow。〃

〃Until　to…morrow；〃　repeated　Gringoire。　　And；　while　the　archdeacon　was　disappearing　in　one　direction；　he　set　off　in　the　other；　saying　to　himself　in　a　low　voice：　〃Here's　a　grand　affair；　Monsieur　Pierre　Gringoire。　　Never　mind！　　'Tis　not　written　that　because　one　is　of　small　account　one　should　take　fright　at　a　great　enterprise。　　Bitou　carried　a　great　bull　on　his　shoulders；　the　water…wagtails；　the　warblers；　and　the　buntings　traverse　the　ocean。〃




CHAPTER　II。

TURN　VAGABOND。



On　re…entering　the　cloister；　the　archdeacon　found　at　the　door　of　his　cell　his　brother　Jehan　du　Moulin；　who　was　waiting　for　him；　and　who　had　beguiled　the　tedium　of　waiting　by　drawing　on　the　wall　with　a　bit　of　charcoal；　a　profile　of　his　elder　brother；　enriched　with　a　monstrous　nose。

Dom　Claude　hardly　looked　at　his　brother；　his　thoughts　were　elsewhere。　　That　merry　scamp's　face　whose　beaming　had　so　often　restored　serenity　to　the　priest's　sombre　physiognomy；　was　now　powerless　to　melt　the　gloom　which　grew　more　dense　every　day　over　that　corrupted；　mephitic；　and　stagnant　soul。

〃Brother；〃　said　Jehan　timidly；　〃I　am　come　to　see　you。〃

The　archdeacon　did　not　even　raise　his　eyes。

〃What　then？〃

〃Brother；〃　resumed　the　hypocrite；　〃you　are　so　good　to　me；　and　you　give　me　such　wise　counsels　that　I　always　return　to　you。〃

〃What　next？〃

〃Alas！　　brother；　you　were　perfectly　right　when　you　said　to　me；〃Jehan！　　Jehan！　~cessat　doctorum　doctrina；　discipulorum　disciplina~。　　Jehan；　be　wise；　Jehan；　be　learned；　Jehan；　pass　not　the　night　outside　of　the　college　without　lawful　occasion　and　due　leave　of　the　master。　　Cudgel　not　the　Picards：　~noli；　Joannes；　verberare　Picardos~。　　Rot　not　like　an　unlettered　ass；　~quasi　asinus　illitteratus~；　on　the　straw　seats　of　the　school。　Jehan；　allow　yourself　to　be　punished　at　the　discretion　of　the　master。　　Jehan　go　every　evening　to　chapel；　and　sing　there　an　anthem　with　verse　and　orison　to　Madame　the　glorious　Virgin　Mary。Alas！　what　excellent　advice　was　that！〃

〃And　then？〃

〃Brother；　you　behold　a　culprit；　a　criminal；　a　wretch；　a　libertine；　a　man　of　enormities！　　My　dear　brother；　Jehan　hath　made　of　your　counsels　straw　and　dung　to　trample　under　foot。　I　have　been　well　chastised　for　it；　and　God　is　extraordinarily　just。　　As　long　as　I　had　money；　I　feasted；　I　lead　a　mad　and　joyous　life。　　Oh！　how　ugly　and　crabbed　behind　is　debauch　which　is　so　charming　in　front！　　Now　I　have　no　longer　a　blank；　I　have　sold　my　napery；　my　shirt　and　my　towels；　no　more　merry　life！　The　beautiful　candle　is　extinguished　and　I　have　henceforth；　only　a　wretched　tallow　dip　which　smokes　in　my　nose。　　The　wenches　jeer　at　me。　　I　drink　water。I　am　overwhelmed　with　remorse　and　with　creditors。

〃The　rest？〃　said　the　archdeacon。

〃Alas！　my　very　dear　brother；　I　should　like　to　settle　down　to　a　better　life。　　I　come　to　you　full　of　contrition；　I　am　penitent。　　I　make　my　confession。　　I　beat　my　breast　violently。　You　are　quite　right　in　wishing　that　I　should　some　day　become　a　licentiate　and　sub…monitor　in　the　college　of　Torchi。　　At　the　present　moment　I　feel　a　magnificent　vocation　for　that　profession。　　But　I　have　no　more　ink　and　I　must　buy　some；　I　have　no　more　paper；　I　have　no　more　books；　and　I　must　buy　some。　For　this　purpose；　I　am　greatly　in　need　of　a　little　money；　and　I　come　to　you；　brother；　with　my　heart　full　of　contrition。〃

〃Is　that　all？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　scholar。　　〃A　little　money。〃

〃I　have　none。〃

Then　the　scholar　said；　with　an　air　which　was　both　grave　and　resolute：　〃Well；　brother；　I　am　sorry　to　be　obliged　to　tell　you　that　very　fine　offers　and　propositions　are　being　made　to　me　in　another　quarter。　　You　will　not　give　me　any　money？　　No。　　In　that　case　I　shall　become　a　professional　vagabond。〃

As　he　uttered　these　monstrous　words；　he　assumed　the　mien　of　Ajax；　expecting　to　see　the　lightnings　descend　upon　his　head。

The　archdeacon　said　coldly　to　him；…

〃Become　a　vagabond。〃

Jehan　made　him　a　deep　bow；　and　descended　the　cloister　stairs；　whistling。

At　the　moment　when　he　was　passing　through　the　courtyard　of　the　cloister；　beneath　his　brother's　window；　he　heard　that　window　open；　raised　his　eyes　and　beheld　the　archdeacon's　severe　head　emerge。

〃Go　to　the　devil！〃　said　Dom　Claude；　〃here　is　the　last　money　which　you　will　get　from　me？〃

At　the　same　time；　the　priest　flung　Jehan　a　purse；　which　gave　the　scholar　a　big　bump　on　the　forehead；　and　with　which　Jehan　retreated；　both　vexed　and　content；　like　a　dog　who　had　been　stoned　with　marrow　bones。




CHAPTER　III。

LONG　LIVE　MIRTH。



The　reader　has　probably　not　forgotten　that　a　part　of　the　Cour　de　Miracles　was　enclo