the hunchback of notre dame- 第20部分

*　　A　small　dessert　apple；　bright　red　on　one　side　and　greenish…　white　on　the　other。


The　dragon…fly　had　turned　into　a　wasp；　and　asked　nothing　better　than　to　sting。

Our　philosopher　was　speechless；　and　turned　his　astonished　eyes　from　the　goat　to　the　young　girl。　　〃Holy　Virgin！〃　he　said　at　last；　when　surprise　permitted　him　to　speak；　〃here　are　two　hearty　dames！〃

The　gypsy　broke　the　silence　on　her　side。

〃You　must　be　a　very　bold　knave！〃

〃Pardon；　mademoiselle；〃　said　Gringoire；　with　a　smile。　　〃But　why　did　you　take　me　for　your　husband？〃

〃Should　I　have　allowed　you　to　be　hanged？〃

〃So；〃　said　the　poet；　somewhat　disappointed　in　his　amorous　hopes。　　〃You　had　no　other　idea　in　marrying　me　than　to　save　me　from　the　gibbet？〃

〃And　what　other　idea　did　you　suppose　that　I　had？〃

Gringoire　bit　his　lips。　　〃Come；〃　said　he；　〃I　am　not　yet　so　triumphant　in　Cupido；　as　I　thought。　　But　then；　what　was　the　good　of　breaking　that　poor　jug？〃

Meanwhile　Esmeralda's　dagger　and　the　goat's　horns　were　still　upon　the　defensive。

〃Mademoiselle　Esmeralda；〃　said　the　poet；　〃let　us　come　to　terms。　　I　am　not　a　clerk　of　the　court；　and　I　shall　not　go　to　law　with　you　for　thus　carrying　a　dagger　in　Paris；　in　the　teeth　of　the　ordinances　and　prohibitions　of　M。　the　Provost。　Nevertheless；　you　are　not　ignorant　of　the　fact　that　Noel　Lescrivain　was　condemned；　a　week　ago；　to　pay　ten　Parisian　sous；　for　having　carried　a　cutlass。　　But　this　is　no　affair　of　mine；　and　I　will　come　to　the　point。　　I　swear　to　you；　upon　my　share　of　Paradise；　not　to　approach　you　without　your　leave　and　permission；　but　do　give　me　some　supper。〃

The　truth　is；　Gringoire　was；　like　M。　Despreaux；　〃not　very　voluptuous。〃　　He　did　not　belong　to　that　chevalier　and　musketeer　species；　who　take　young　girls　by　assault。　　In　the　matter　of　love；　as　in　all　other　affairs；　he　willingly　assented　to　temporizing　and　adjusting　terms；　and　a　good　supper；　and　an　amiable　tête…a…tête　appeared　to　him；　especially　when　he　was　hungry；　an　excellent　interlude　between　the　prologue　and　the　catastrophe　of　a　love　adventure。

The　gypsy　did　not　reply。　　She　made　her　disdainful　little　grimace；　drew　up　her　head　like　a　bird；　then　burst　out　laughing；　and　the　tiny　poniard　disappeared　as　it　had　come；　without　Gringoire　being　able　to　see　where　the　wasp　concealed　its　sting。

A　moment　later；　there　stood　upon　the　table　a　loaf　of　rye　bread；　a　slice　of　bacon；　some　wrinkled　apples　and　a　jug　of　beer。　　Gringoire　began　to　eat　eagerly。　　One　would　have　said；　to　hear　the　furious　clashing　of　his　iron　fork　and　his　earthenware　plate；　that　all　his　love　had　turned　to　appetite。

The　young　girl　seated　opposite　him；　watched　him　in　silence；　visibly　preoccupied　with　another　thought；　at　which　she　smiled　from　time　to　time；　while　her　soft　hand　caressed　the　intelligent　head　of　the　goat；　gently　pressed　between　her　knees。

A　candle　of　yellow　wax　illuminated　this　scene　of　voracity　and　revery。

Meanwhile；　the　first　cravings　of　his　stomach　having　been　stilled；　Gringoire　felt　some　false　shame　at　perceiving　that　nothing　remained　but　one　apple。

〃You　do　not　eat；　Mademoiselle　Esmeralda？〃

She　replied　by　a　negative　sign　of　the　head；　and　her　pensive　glance　fixed　itself　upon　the　vault　of　the　ceiling。

〃What　the　deuce　is　she　thinking　of？〃　thought　Gringoire；　staring　at　what　she　was　gazing　at；　〃'tis　impossible　that　it　can　be　that　stone　dwarf　carved　in　the　keystone　of　that　arch；　which　thus　absorbs　her　attention。　　What　the　deuce！　　I　can　bear　the　comparison！〃

He　raised　his　voice；　〃Mademoiselle！〃

She　seemed　not　to　hear　him。

He　repeated；　still　more　loudly；　〃Mademoiselle　Esmeralda！〃

Trouble　wasted。　　The　young　girl's　mind　was　elsewhere；　and　Gringoire's　voice　had　not　the　power　to　recall　it。　　Fortunately；　the　goat　interfered。　　She　began　to　pull　her　mistress　gently　by　the　sleeve。

〃What　dost　thou　want；　Djali？〃　said　the　gypsy；　hastily；　as　though　suddenly　awakened。

〃She　is　hungry；〃　said　Gringoire；　charmed　to　enter　into　conversation。　Esmeralda　began　to　crumble　some　bread；　which　Djali　ate　gracefully　from　the　hollow　of　her　hand。

Moreover；　Gringoire　did　not　give　her　time　to　resume　her　revery。　　He　hazarded　a　delicate　question。

〃So　you　don't　want　me　for　your　husband？〃

The　young　girl　looked　at　him　intently；　and　said；　〃No。〃

〃For　your　lover？〃　went　on　Gringoire。

She　pouted；　and　replied；　〃No。〃

〃For　your　friend？〃　pursued　Gringoire。

She　gazed　fixedly　at　him　again；　and　said；　after　a　momentary　reflection；　〃Perhaps。〃

This　〃perhaps；〃　so　dear　to　philosophers；　emboldened　Gringoire。

〃Do　you　know　what　friendship　is？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；〃　replied　the　gypsy；　〃it　is　to　be　brother　and　sister；　two　souls　which　touch　without　mingling；　two　fingers　on　one　hand。〃

〃And　love？〃　pursued　Gringoire。

〃Oh！　love！〃　said　she；　and　her　voice　trembled；　and　her　eye　beamed。　　〃That　is　to　be　two　and　to　be　but　one。　　A　man　and　a　woman　mingled　into　one　angel。　　It　is　heaven。〃

The　street　dancer　had　a　beauty　as　she　spoke　thus；　that　struck　Gringoire　singularly；　and　seemed　to　him　in　perfect　keeping　with　the　almost　oriental　exaltation　of　her　words。　Her　pure；　red　lips　half　smiled；　her　serene　and　candid　brow　became　troubled；　at　intervals；　under　her　thoughts；　like　a　mirror　under　the　breath；　and　from　beneath　her　long；　drooping；　black　eyelashes；　there　escaped　a　sort　of　ineffable　light；　which　gave　to　her　profile　that　ideal　serenity　which　Raphael　found　at　the　mystic　point　of　intersection　of　virginity；　maternity；　and　divinity。

Nevertheless；　Gringoire　continued；

〃What　must　one　be　then；　in　order　to　please　you？〃

〃A　man。〃

〃And　I〃　said　he；　〃what；　then；　am　I？〃

〃A　man　has　a　hemlet　on　his　head；　a　sword　in　his　hand；　and　golden　spurs　on　his　heels。〃

〃Good；〃　said　Gringoire；　〃without　a　horse；　no　man。　　Do　you　love　any　one？〃

〃As　a　lover？〃

〃Yes。〃

She　remained　thoughtful　for　a　moment；　then　said　with　a　peculiar　expression：　〃That　I　shall　know　soon。〃

〃Why　not　this　evening？〃　resumed　the　poet　tenderly。　　〃Why　not　me？〃

She　cast　a　grave　glance　upon　him　and　said；

〃I　can　never　love　a　man　who　cannot　protect　me。〃

Gringoire　colored；　and　took　the　hint。　　It　was　evident　that　the　young　girl　was　alluding　to　the　slight　assistance　which　he　had　rendered　her　in　the　critical　situation　in　which　she　had　found　herself　two　hours　previously。　　This　memory；　effaced　by　his　own　adventures　of　the　evening；　now　recurred　to　him。　　He　smote　his　brow。

〃By　the　way；　mademoiselle；　I　ought　to　have　begun　there。　Pardon　my　foolish　absence　of　mind。　　How　did　you　contrive　to　escape　from　the　claws　of　Quasimodo？〃

This　question　made　the　gypsy　shudder。

〃Oh！　the　horrible　hunchback；〃　said　she；　hiding　her　face　in　her　hands。　　And　she　shuddered　as　though　with　violent　cold。

〃Horrible；　in　truth；〃　said　Gringoire；　who　clung　to　his　idea；　〃but　how　did　you　manage　to　escape　him？〃

La　Esmeralda　smiled；　sighed；　and　remained　silent。

〃Do　you　know　why　he　followed　you？〃　began　Gringoire　again；　seeking　to　return　to　his　question　by　a　circuitous　route。

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　the　young　girl；　and　she　added　hastily；　〃but　you　were　following　me　also；　why　were　you　following　me？〃

〃In　good　faith；〃　responded　Gringoire；　〃I　don't　know　either。〃

Silence　ensued。　　Gringoire　slashed　the　table　with　his　knife。　The　young　girl　smiled　and　seemed　to　be　gazing　through　the　wall　at　something。　　All　at　once　she　began　to　sing　in　a　barely　articulate　voice；


　　　~Quando　las　pintadas　aves；　　　　Mudas　estan；　y　la　tierra~…


*　　When　the　gay…plumaged　birds　grow　weary；　and　the　earth


She　broke　off　abruptly；　and　began　to　caress　Djali。

〃That's　a　pretty　animal　of　yours；〃　said　Gringoire。

〃She　is　my　sister；〃　she　answered。

〃Why　are　you　called　'la　Esmeralda？'〃　asked　the　poet。

〃I　do　not　know。〃

〃But　why？〃

She　drew　from　her　bosom　a　sort　of　little　oblong　bag；　suspended　from　her　neck　by　a　string　of　adrézarach　beads。　　This　bag　exhaled　a　strong　odor　of　camphor。　　It　was　covered　with　green　silk；　and　bore　in　its　centre　a　large　piece　of　green　glass；　in　imitation　of　an　emerald。

〃Perhaps　it　is　because　of　this；〃　said　she。

Gringoire　was　on　the　point　of　taking　the　bag　in　his　hand。　She　drew　back。

〃Don't　touch　it！　　It　is　an　amulet。　　You　would　injure　the　charm　or　the　charm　would　injure　you。〃

The　poet's　curiosity　was　more　and　more　aroused。

〃Who　gave　it　to　you？〃

She　laid　one　finger　on　her　mouth　and　concealed　the　amulet　in　her　bosom。　　He　tried　a　few　more　questions；　but　she　hardly　replied。

〃What　is　the　meaning　of　the　words；　'la　Esmeralda？'〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　she。

〃To　what　language　do　they　belong？〃

〃They　are　Egyptian；　I　think。〃

〃I　suspected　as　much；〃　said　Gringoire；　〃you　are　not　a　native　of　France？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃

〃Are　your　parents　alive？〃

She　began　to　sing；　to　an　ancient　air；　　　~Mon　père　est　oiseau；　　　Ma　mère　est　oiselle。　B　　　Je　passe　l'eau　sans　nacelle；　　　Je　passe　l'eau　sans　bateau；　　　Ma　mère　est　oiselle；　　Mon　père　est　oiseau~。*


*　　My　father　is　a　bird；　my　mother　is　a　bird。　　I　cross　the　water　without　a　barque；　I　cross　the　water　without　a　boat。　My　mother　is　a　bird；　my　father　is　a　bird。


〃Good；〃　said　Gringoire。　　〃At　what　age　did　you　come　to　France？〃

〃When　I　was　very　young。〃

〃And　when　to　Paris？〃

〃Last　year。　　At　the　moment　when　we　were　entering　the　papal　gate　I　saw　a　reed　warbler　flit　through　the　air；　that　was　at　the　end　of　August；　I　said；　it　will　be　a　hard　winter。〃

〃So　it　was；〃　said　Gringoire；　delighted　at　this　beginning　of　a　conversation。　　〃I　passed　it　in　blowing　my　fingers。　　So　you　have　the　gift　of　prophecy？〃

She　retired　into　her　laconics　again。

〃Is　that　man　whom　you　call　the　Duke　of　Egypt；　the　chief　of　your　tribe？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃But　it　was　he　who　married　us；〃　remarked　the　poet　timidly。

She　made　her　customary　pretty　grimace。

〃I　don't　even　know　your　name。〃

〃My　name？　　If　you　want　it；　here　it　is；Pierre　Gringoire。〃

〃I　know　a　prettier　one；〃　said　she。

〃Naughty　girl！〃　retorted　the　poet。　　〃Never　mind；　you　shall　not　provoke　me。　　Wait；　perhaps　you　will　love　me　more　when　you　know　me　better；　and　then；　you　have　told　me　your　story　with　so　much　confidence；　that　I　owe　you　a　little　of　mine。　　You　must　know；　then；　that　my　name　is　Pierre　Gringoire；　and　that　I　am　a　son　of　the　farmer　of　the　notary's　office　of　Gonesse。　My　father　was　hung　by　the　Burgundians；　and　my　mother　disembowelled　by　the　Picards