the hunchback of notre dame-第111章

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s　to　be　seen；　the　wood　was　painted　with　roses　on　a　red　ground；　the　seat　was　of　ruby　Cordovan　leather；　ornamented　with　long　silken　fringes；　and　studded　with　a　thousand　golden　nails。　　The　loneliness　of　this　chair　made　it　apparent　that　only　one　person　had　a　right　to　sit　down　in　this　apartment。　　Beside　the　chair；　and　quite　close　to　the　window；　there　was　a　table　covered　with　a　cloth　with　a　pattern　of　birds。　　On　this　table　stood　an　inkhorn　spotted　with　ink；　some　parchments；　several　pens；　and　a　large　goblet　of　chased　silver。　　A　little　further　on　was　a　brazier；　a　praying　stool　in　crimson　velvet；　relieved　with　small　bosses　of　gold。　　Finally；　at　the　extreme　end　of　the　room；　a　simple　bed　of　scarlet　and　yellow　damask；　without　either　tinsel　or　lace；　having　only　an　ordinary　fringe。　　This　bed；　famous　for　having　borne　the　sleep　or　the　sleeplessness　of　Louis　XI。；　was　still　to　be　seen　two　hundred　years　ago；　at　the　house　of　a　councillor　of　state；　where　it　was　seen　by　old　Madame　Pilou；　celebrated　in　_Cyrus_　under　the　name　〃Arricidie〃　and　of　〃la　Morale　Vivante〃。

Such　was　the　chamber　which　was　called　〃the　retreat　where　Monsieur　Louis　de　France　says　his　prayers。〃

At　the　moment　when　we　have　introduced　the　reader　into　it；　this　retreat　was　very　dark。　　The　curfew　bell　had　sounded　an　hour　before；　night　was　come；　and　there　was　only　one　flickering　wax　candle　set　on　the　table　to　light　five　persons　variously　grouped　in　the　chamber。

The　first　on　which　the　light　fell　was　a　seigneur　superbly　clad　in　breeches　and　jerkin　of　scarlet　striped　with　silver；　and　a　loose　coat　with　half　sleeves　of　cloth　of　gold　with　black　figures。　　This　splendid　costume；　on　which　the　light　played；　seemed　glazed　with　flame　on　every　fold。　　The　man　who　wore　it　had　his　armorial　bearings　embroidered　on　his　breast　in　vivid　colors；　a　chevron　accompanied　by　a　deer　passant。　　The　shield　was　flanked；　on　the　right　by　an　olive　branch；　on　the　left　by　a　deer's　antlers。　　This　man　wore　in　his　girdle　a　rich　dagger　whose　hilt；　of　silver　gilt；　was　chased　in　the　form　of　a　helmet；　and　surmounted　by　a　count's　coronet。　　He　had　a　forbidding　air；　a　proud　mien；　and　a　head　held　high。　　At　the　first　glance　one　read　arrogance　on　his　visage；　at　the　second；　craft。

He　was　standing　bareheaded；　a　long　roll　of　parchment　in　his　hand；　behind　the　arm…chair　in　which　was　seated；　his　body　ungracefully　doubled　up；　his　knees　crossed；　his　elbow　on　the　table；　a　very　badly　accoutred　personage。　　Let　the　reader　imagine　in　fact；　on　the　rich　seat　of　Cordova　leather；　two　crooked　knees；　two　thin　thighs；　poorly　clad　in　black　worsted　tricot；　a　body　enveloped　in　a　cloak　of　fustian；　with　fur　trimming　of　which　more　leather　than　hair　was　visible；　lastly；　to　crown　all；　a　greasy　old　hat　of　the　worst　sort　of　black　cloth；　bordered　with　a　circular　string　of　leaden　figures。　　This；　in　company　with　a　dirty　skull…cap；　which　hardly　allowed　a　hair　to　escape；　was　all　that　distinguished　the　seated　personage。　　He　held　his　head　so　bent　upon　his　breast；　that　nothing　was　to　be　seen　of　his　face　thus　thrown　into　shadow；　except　the　tip　of　his　nose；　upon　which　fell　a　ray　of　light；　and　which　must　have　been　long。　From　the　thinness　of　his　wrinkled　hand；　one　divined　that　he　was　an　old　man。　　It　was　Louis　XI。

At　some　distance　behind　them；　two　men　dressed　in　garments　of　Flemish　style　were　conversing；　who　were　not　sufficiently　lost　in　the　shadow　to　prevent　any　one　who　had　been　present　at　the　performance　of　Gringoire's　mystery　from　recognizing　in　them　two　of　the　principal　Flemish　envoys；　Guillaume　Rym；　the　sagacious　pensioner　of　Ghent；　and　Jacques　Coppenole；　the　popular　hosier。　　The　reader　will　remember　that　these　men　were　mixed　up　in　the　secret　politics　of　Louis　XI。

Finally；　quite　at　the　end　of　the　room；　near　the　door；　in　the　dark；　stood；　motionless　as　a　statue；　a　vigorous　man　with　thickset　limbs；　a　military　harness；　with　a　surcoat　of　armorial　bearings；　whose　square　face　pierced　with　staring　eyes；　slit　with　an　immense　mouth；　his　ears　concealed　by　two　large　screens　of　flat　hair；　had　something　about　it　both　of　the　dog　and　the　tiger。

All　were　uncovered　except　the　king。

The　gentleman　who　stood　near　the　king　was　reading　him　a　sort　of　long　memorial　to　which　his　majesty　seemed　to　be　listening　attentively。　　The　two　Flemings　were　whispering　together。

〃Cross　of　God！〃　grumbled　Coppenole；　〃I　am　tired　of　standing；　is　there　no　chair　here？〃

Rym　replied　by　a　negative　gesture；　accompanied　by　a　discreet　smile。

〃Croix…Dieu！〃　resumed　Coppenole；　thoroughly　unhappy　at　being　obliged　to　lower　his　voice　thus；　〃I　should　like　to　sit　down　on　the　floor；　with　my　legs　crossed；　like　a　hosier；　as　I　do　in　my　shop。〃

〃Take　good　care　that　you　do　not；　Master　Jacques。〃

〃Ouais！　　Master　Guillaume！　can　one　only　remain　here　on　his　feet？〃

〃Or　on　his　knees；〃　said　Rym。

At　that　moment　the　king's　voice　was　uplifted。　　They　held　their　peace。

〃Fifty　sols　for　the　robes　of　our　valets；　and　twelve　livres　for　the　mantles　of　the　clerks　of　our　crown！　　That's　it！　　Pour　out　gold　by　the　ton！　　Are　you　mad；　Olivier？〃

As　he　spoke　thus；　the　old　man　raised　his　head。　　The　golden　shells　of　the　collar　of　Saint…Michael　could　be　seen　gleaming　on　his　neck。　　The　candle　fully　illuminated　his　gaunt　and　morose　profile。　　He　tore　the　papers　from　the　other's　hand。

〃You　are　ruining　us！〃　he　cried；　casting　his　hollow　eyes　over　the　scroll。　　〃What　is　all　this？　　What　need　have　we　of　so　prodigious　a　household？　　Two　chaplains　at　ten　livres　a　month　each；　and；　a　chapel　clerk　at　one　hundred　sols！　　A　valet…de…　chambre　at　ninety　livres　a　year。　　Four　head　cooks　at　six　score　livres　a　year　each！　　A　spit…cook；　an　herb…cook；　a　sauce…cook；　a　butler；　two　sumpter…horse　lackeys；　at　ten　livres　a　month　each！　　Two　scullions　at　eight　livres！　　A　groom　of　the　stables　and　his　two　aids　at　four　and　twenty　livres　a　month！　　A　porter；　a　pastry…cook；　a　baker；　two　carters；　each　sixty　livres　a　year！　And　the　farrier　six　score　livres！　　And　the　master　of　the　chamber　of　our　funds；　twelve　hundred　livres！　　And　the　comptroller　five　hundred。　　And　how　do　I　know　what　else？　'Tis　ruinous。　　The　wages　of　our　servants　are　putting　France　to　the　pillage！　　All　the　ingots　of　the　Louvre　will　melt　before　such　a　fire　of　expenses！　　We　shall　have　to　sell　our　plate！　And　next　year；　if　God　and　our　Lady　（here　he　raised　his　hat）　lend　us　life；　we　shall　drink　our　potions　from　a　pewter　pot！〃

So　saying；　he　cast　a　glance　at　the　silver　goblet　which　gleamed　upon　the　table。　　He　coughed　and　continued；

〃Master　Olivier；　the　princes　who　reign　over　great　lordships；　like　kings　and　emperors；　should　not　allow　sumptuousness　in　their　houses；　for　the　fire　spreads　thence　through　the　province。　Hence；　Master　Olivier；　consider　this　said　once　for　all。　　Our　expenditure　increases　every　year。　　The　thing　displease　us。　How；　~pasque…Dieu~！　when　in　'79　it　did　not　exceed　six　and　thirty　thousand　livres；　did　it　attain　in　'80；　forty…three　thousand　six　hundred　and　nineteen　livres？　　I　have　the　figures　in　my　head。　　In　'81；　sixty…six　thousand　six　hundred　and　eighty　livres；　and　this　year；　by　the　faith　of　my　body；　it　will　reach　eighty　thousand　livres！　　Doubled　in　four　years！　　Monstrous！〃

He　paused　breathless；　then　resumed　energetically；

〃I　behold　around　me　only　people　who　fatten　on　my　leanness！　you　suck　crowns　from　me　at　every　pore。〃

All　remained　silent。　　This　was　one　of　those　fits　of　wrath　which　are　allowed　to　take　their　course。　　He　continued；

〃'Tis　like　that　request　in　Latin　from　the　gentlemen　of　France；　that　we　should　re…establish　what　they　call　the　grand　charges　of　the　Crown！　　Charges　in　very　deed！　　Charges　which　crush！　　Ah！　gentlemen！　you　say　that　we　are　not　a　king　to　reign　~dapifero　nullo；　buticulario　nullo~！　　We　will　let　you　see；　~pasque…Dieu~！　whether　we　are　not　a　king！〃

Here　he　smiled；　in　the　consciousness　of　his　power；　this　softened　his　bad　humor；　and　he　turned　towards　the　Flemings；

〃Do　you　see；　Gossip　Guillaume？　the　grand　warden　of　the　keys；　the　grand　butler；　the　grand　chamberlain；　the　grand　seneschal　are　not　worth　the　smallest　valet。　　Remember　this；　Gossip　Coppenole。　　They　serve　no　purpose；　as　they　stand　thus　useless　round　the　king；　they　produce　upon　me　the　effect　of　the　four　Evangelists　who　surround　the　face　of　the　big　clock　of　the　palace；　and　which　Philippe　Brille　has　just　s