the hunchback of notre dame-第63章

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〃Yes；　I　recognize　her　by　her　goat。〃

〃Oh！　in　fact；　what　a　pretty　little　goat！〃　said　Amelotte；　clasping　her　hands　in　admiration。

〃Are　his　horns　of　real　gold？〃　inquired　Bérangère。

Without　moving　from　her　arm…chair；　Dame　Aloise　interposed；　〃Is　she　not　one　of　those　gypsy　girls　who　arrived　last　year　by　the　Gibard　gate？〃

〃Madame　my　mother；〃　said　Fleur…de…Lys　gently；　〃that　gate　is　now　called　the　Porte　d'Enfer。〃

Mademoiselle　de　Gondelaurier　knew　how　her　mother's　antiquated　mode　of　speech　shocked　the　captain。　　In　fact；　he　began　to　sneer；　and　muttered　between　his　teeth：　〃Porte　Gibard！　　Porte　Gibard！　　'Tis　enough　to　make　King　Charles　VI。　pass　by。〃

〃Godmother！〃　exclaimed　Bérangère；　whose　eyes；　incessantly　in　motion；　had　suddenly　been　raised　to　the　summit　of　the　towers　of　Notre…Dame；　〃who　is　that　black　man　up　yonder？〃

All　the　young　girls　raised　their　eyes。　　A　man　was；　in　truth；　leaning　on　the　balustrade　which　surmounted　the　northern　tower；　looking　on　the　Grève。　　He　was　a　priest。　　His　costume　could　be　plainly　discerned；　and　his　face　resting　on　both　his　hands。　　But　he　stirred　no　more　than　if　he　had　been　a　statue。　His　eyes；　intently　fixed；　gazed　into　the　Place。

It　was　something　like　the　immobility　of　a　bird　of　prey；　who　has　just　discovered　a　nest　of　sparrows；　and　is　gazing　at　it。

〃'Tis　monsieur　the　archdeacon　of　Josas；〃　said　Fleur…de…Lys。

〃You　have　good　eyes　if　you　can　recognize　him　from　here；〃　said　the　Gaillefontaine。

〃How　he　is　staring　at　the　little　dancer！〃　went　on　Diane　de　Christeuil。

〃Let　the　gypsy　beware！〃　said　Fleur…de…Lys；　〃for　he　loves　not　Egypt。〃

〃'Tis　a　great　shame　for　that　man　to　look　upon　her　thus；〃　added　Amelotte　de　Montmichel；　〃for　she　dances　delightfully。〃

〃Fair　cousin　Phoebus；〃　said　Fleur…de…Lys　suddenly；　〃Since　you　know　this　little　gypsy；　make　her　a　sign　to　come　up　here。　It　will　amuse　us。〃

〃Oh；　yes！〃　exclaimed　all　the　young　girls；　clapping　their　hands。

〃Why！　'tis　not　worth　while；〃　replied　Phoebus。　　〃She　has　forgotten　me；　no　doubt；　and　I　know　not　so　much　as　her　name。　　Nevertheless；　as　you　wish　it；　young　ladies；　I　will　make　the　trial。〃　　And　leaning　over　the　balustrade　of　the　balcony；　he　began　to　shout；　〃Little　one！〃

The　dancer　was　not　beating　her　tambourine　at　the　moment。　She　turned　her　head　towards　the　point　whence　this　call　proceeded；　her　brilliant　eyes　rested　on　Phoebus；　and　she　stopped　short。

〃Little　one！〃　repeated　the　captain；　and　he　beckoned　her　to　approach。

The　young　girl　looked　at　him　again；　then　she　blushed　as　though　a　flame　had　mounted　into　her　cheeks；　and；　taking　her　tambourine　under　her　arm；　she　made　her　way　through　the　astonished　spectators　towards　the　door　of　the　house　where　Phoebus　was　calling　her；　with　slow；　tottering　steps；　and　with　the　troubled　look　of　a　bird　which　is　yielding　to　the　fascination　of　a　serpent。

A　moment　later；　the　tapestry　portière　was　raised；　and　the　gypsy　appeared　on　the　threshold　of　the　chamber；　blushing；　confused；　breathless；　her　large　eyes　drooping；　and　not　daring　to　advance　another　step。

Bérangère　clapped　her　hands。

Meanwhile；　the　dancer　remained　motionless　upon　the　threshold。　　Her　appearance　had　produced　a　singular　effect　upon　these　young　girls。　　It　is　certain　that　a　vague　and　indistinct　desire　to　please　the　handsome　officer　animated　them　all；　that　his　splendid　uniform　was　the　target　of　all　their　coquetries；　and　that　from　the　moment　he　presented　himself；　there　existed　among　them　a　secret；　suppressed　rivalry；　which　they　hardly　acknowledged　even　to　themselves；　but　which　broke　forth；　none　the　less；　every　instant；　in　their　gestures　and　remarks。　Nevertheless；　as　they　were　all　very　nearly　equal　in　beauty；　they　contended　with　equal　arms；　and　each　could　hope　for　the　victory。The　arrival　of　the　gypsy　suddenly　destroyed　this　equilibrium。　　Her　beauty　was　so　rare；　that；　at　the　moment　when　she　appeared　at　the　entrance　of　the　apartment；　it　seemed　as　though　she　diffused　a　sort　of　light　which　was　peculiar　to　herself。　　In　that　narrow　chamber；　surrounded　by　that　sombre　frame　of　hangings　and　woodwork；　she　was　incomparably　more　beautiful　and　more　radiant　than　on　the　public　square。　　She　was　like　a　torch　which　has　suddenly　been　brought　from　broad　daylight　into　the　dark。　　The　noble　damsels　were　dazzled　by　her　in　spite　of　themselves。　　Each　one　felt　herself；　in　some　sort；　wounded　in　her　beauty。　　Hence；　their　battle　front　（may　we　be　allowed　the　expression；）　was　immediately　altered；　although　they　exchanged　not　a　single　word。　　But　they　understood　each　other　perfectly。　　Women's　instincts　comprehend　and　respond　to　each　other　more　quickly　than　the　intelligences　of　men。　　An　enemy　had　just　arrived；　all　felt　itall　rallied　together。　　One　drop　of　wine　is　sufficient　to　tinge　a　glass　of　water　red；　to　diffuse　a　certain　degree　of　ill　temper　throughout　a　whole　assembly　of　pretty　women；　the　arrival　of　a　prettier　woman　suffices；　especially　when　there　is　but　one　man　present。

Hence　the　welcome　accorded　to　the　gypsy　was　marvellously　glacial。　　They　surveyed　her　from　head　to　foot；　then　exchanged　glances；　and　all　was　said；　they　understood　each　other。　　Meanwhile；　the　young　girl　was　waiting　to　be　spoken　to；　in　such　emotion　that　she　dared　not　raise　her　eyelids。

The　captain　was　the　first　to　break　the　silence。　　〃Upon　my　word；〃　said　he；　in　his　tone　of　intrepid　fatuity；　〃here　is　a　charming　creature！　　What　think　you　of　her；　fair　cousin？〃

This　remark；　which　a　more　delicate　admirer　would　have　uttered　in　a　lower　tone；　at　least　was　not　of　a　nature　to　dissipate　the　feminine　jealousies　which　were　on　the　alert　before　the　gypsy。

Fleur…de…Lys　replied　to　the　captain　with　a　bland　affectation　of　disdain；〃Not　bad。〃

The　others　whispered。

At　length；　Madame　Aloise；　who　was　not　the　less　jealous　because　she　was　so　for　her　daughter；　addressed　the　dancer；〃Approach；　little　one。〃

〃Approach；　little　one！〃　repeated；　with　comical　dignity；　little　Bérangère；　who　would　have　reached　about　as　high　as　her　hips。

The　gypsy　advanced　towards　the　noble　dame。

〃Fair　child；〃　said　Phoebus；　with　emphasis；　taking　several　steps　towards　her；　〃I　do　not　know　whether　I　have　the　supreme　honor　of　being　recognized　by　you。〃

She　interrupted　him；　with　a　smile　and　a　look　full　of　infinite　sweetness；

〃Oh！　yes；〃　said　she。

〃She　has　a　good　memory；〃　remarked　Fleur…de…Lys。

〃Come；　now；〃　resumed　Phoebus；　〃you　escaped　nimbly　the　other　evening。　　Did　I　frighten　you！〃

〃Oh！　no；〃　said　the　gypsy。

There　was　in　the　intonation　of　that　〃Oh！　no；〃　uttered　after　that　〃Oh！　yes；〃　an　ineffable　something　which　wounded　Fleur…de…Lys。

〃You　left　me　in　your　stead；　my　beauty；〃　pursued　the　captain；　whose　tongue　was　unloosed　when　speaking　to　a　girl　out　of　the　street；　〃a　crabbed　knave；　one…eyed　and　hunchbacked；　the　bishop's　bellringer；　I　believe。　　I　have　been　told　that　by　birth　he　is　the　bastard　of　an　archdeacon　and　a　devil。　He　has　a　pleasant　name：　he　is　called　~Quatre…Temps~　（Ember　Days）；　~Paques…Fleuries~　（Palm　Sunday）；　Mardi…Gras　（Shrove　Tuesday）；　I　know　not　what！　　The　name　of　some　festival　when　the　bells　are　pealed！　　So　he　took　the　liberty　of　carrying　you　off；　as　though　you　were　made　for　beadles！　　'Tis　too　much。　What　the　devil　did　that　screech…owl　want　with　you？　Hey；　tell　me！〃

〃I　do　not　know；〃　she　replied。

〃The　inconceivable　impudence！　　A　bellringer　carrying　off　a　wench；　like　a　vicomte！　a　lout　poaching　on　the　game　of　gentlemen！　that　is　a　rare　piece　of　assurance。　　However；　he　paid　dearly　for　it。　　Master　Pierrat　Torterue　is　the　harshest　groom　that　ever　curried　a　knave；　and　I　can　tell　you；　if　it　will　be　agreeable　to　you；　that　your　bellringer's　hide　got　a　thorough　dressing　at　his　hands。〃

〃Poor　man！〃　said　the　gypsy；　in　whom　these　words　revived　the　memory　of　the　pillory。

The　captain　burst　out　laughing。

〃Corne…de…boeuf！　here's　pity　as　well　placed　as　a　feather　in　a　pig's　tail！　　May　I　have　as　big　a　belly　as　a　pope；　if〃

He　stopped　short。　　〃Pardon　me；　ladies；　I　believe　that　I　was　on　the　point　of　saying　something　foolish。〃

〃Fie；　sir〃　said　la　Gaillefontaine。

〃He　talks　to　that　creature　in　her　own　tongue！〃　added　Fleur…de…Lys；　in　a　low　tone；　her　irritation　increasing　every　moment。　　This　irritation　was　not　diminished　when　she　beheld　the　captain；　enchanted　with　the　gypsy；　and；　most　of　all；　with　himself；　execu