the hunchback of notre dame-第75章

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　coolly　retying　his　shoulder　knots；　with　his　nose　in　the　air；　he　saw　the　shadow　approaching　him　with　slow　steps；　so　slow　that　he　had　ample　time　to　observe　that　this　shadow　wore　a　cloak　and　a　hat。　　On　arriving　near　him；　it　halted　and　remained　more　motionless　than　the　statue　of　Cardinal　Bertrand。　Meanwhile；　it　riveted　upon　Phoebus　two　intent　eyes；　full　of　that　vague　light　which　issues　in　the　night　time　from　the　pupils　of　a　cat。

The　captain　was　brave；　and　would　have　cared　very　little　for　a　highwayman；　with　a　rapier　in　his　hand。　　But　this　walking　statue；　this　petrified　man；　froze　his　blood。　　There　were　then　in　circulation；　strange　stories　of　a　surly　monk；　a　nocturnal　prowler　about　the　streets　of　Paris；　and　they　recurred　confusedly　to　his　memory。　　He　remained　for　several　minutes　in　stupefaction；　and　finally　broke　the　silence　with　a　forced　laugh。

〃Monsieur；　if　you　are　a　robber；　as　I　hope　you　are；　you　produce　upon　me　the　effect　of　a　heron　attacking　a　nutshell。　　I　am　the　son　of　a　ruined　family；　my　dear　fellow。　　Try　your　hand　near　by　here。　　In　the　chapel　of　this　college　there　is　some　wood　of　the　true　cross　set　in　silver。〃

The　hand　of　the　shadow　emerged　from　beneath　its　mantle　and　descended　upon　the　arm　of　Phoebus　with　the　grip　of　an　eagle's　talon；　at　the　same　time　the　shadow　spoke；

〃Captain　Phoebus　de　Chateaupers！〃

What；　the　devil！〃　said　Phoebus；　〃you　know　my　name！〃

〃I　know　not　your　name　alone；〃　continued　the　man　in　the　mantle；　with　his　sepulchral　voice。　　〃You　have　a　rendezvous　this　evening。〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Phoebus　in　amazement。

〃At　seven　o'clock。〃

〃In　a　quarter　of　an　hour。〃

〃At　la　Falourdel's。〃

〃Precisely。〃

〃The　lewd　hag　of　the　Pont　Saint…Michel。〃

〃Of　Saint　Michel　the　archangel；　as　the　Pater　Noster　saith。〃

〃Impious　wretch！〃　muttered　the　spectre。　　〃With　a　woman？〃

〃~Confiteor~；I　confess。〃

〃Who　is　called？〃

〃La　Smeralda；〃　said　Phoebus；　gayly。　　All　his　heedlessness　had　gradually　returned。

At　this　name；　the　shadow's　grasp　shook　the　arm　of　Phoebus　in　a　fury。

〃Captain　Phoebus　de　Chateaupers；　thou　liest！〃

Any　one　who　could　have　beheld　at　that　moment　the　captain's　inflamed　countenance；　his　leap　backwards；　so　violent　that　he　disengaged　himself　from　the　grip　which　held　him；　the　proud　air　with　which　he　clapped　his　hand　on　his　swordhilt；　and；　in　the　presence　of　this　wrath　the　gloomy　immobility　of　the　man　in　the　cloak；any　one　who　could　have　beheld　this　would　have　been　frightened。　　There　was　in　it　a　touch　of　the　combat　of　Don　Juan　and　the　statue。

〃Christ　and　Satan！〃　exclaimed　the　captain。　　〃That　is　a　word　which　rarely　strikes　the　ear　of　a　Chateaupers！　　Thou　wilt　not　dare　repeat　it。〃

〃Thou　liest！〃　said　the　shadow　coldly。

The　captain　gnashed　his　teeth。　　Surly　monk；　phantom；　superstitions；he　had　forgotten　all　at　that　moment。　　He　no　longer　beheld　anything　but　a　man；　and　an　insult。

〃Ah！　this　is　well！〃　he　stammered；　in　a　voice　stifled　with　rage。　　He　drew　his　sword；　then　stammering；　for　anger　as　well　as　fear　makes　a　man　tremble：　〃Here！　　On　the　spot！　　Come　on！　　Swords！　　Swords！　　Blood　on　the　pavement！〃

But　the　other　never　stirred。　　When　he　beheld　his　adversary　on　guard　and　ready　to　parry；

〃Captain　Phoebus；〃　he　said；　and　his　tone　vibrated　with　bitterness；　〃you　forget　your　appointment。〃

The　rages　of　men　like　Phoebus　are　milk…soups；　whose　ebullition　is　calmed　by　a　drop　of　cold　water。　　This　simple　remark　caused　the　sword　which　glittered　in　the　captain's　hand　to　be　lowered。

〃Captain；〃　pursued　the　man；　〃to…morrow；　the　day　after　to…morrow；　a　month　hence；　ten　years　hence；　you　will　find　me　ready　to　cut　your　throat；　but　go　first　to　your　rendezvous。〃

〃In　sooth；〃　said　Phoebus；　as　though　seeking　to　capitulate　with　himself；　〃these　are　two　charming　things　to　be　encountered　in　a　rendezvous；a　sword　and　a　wench；　but　I　do　not　see　why　I　should　miss　the　one　for　the　sake　of　the　other；　when　I　can　have　both。〃

He　replaced　his　sword　in　its　scabbard。

〃Go　to　your　rendezvous；〃　said　the　man。

〃Monsieur；〃　replied　Phoebus　with　some　embarrassment；　〃many　thanks　for　your　courtesy。　　In　fact；　there　will　be　ample　time　to…morrow　for　us　to　chop　up　father　Adam's　doublet　into　slashes　and　buttonholes。　　I　am　obliged　to　you　for　allowing　me　to　pass　one　more　agreeable　quarter　of　an　hour。　　I　certainly　did　hope　to　put　you　in　the　gutter；　and　still　arrive　in　time　for　the　fair　one；　especially　as　it　has　a　better　appearance　to　make　the　women　wait　a　little　in　such　cases。　　But　you　strike　me　as　having　the　air　of　a　gallant　man；　and　it　is　safer　to　defer　our　affair　until　to…morrow。　　So　I　will　betake　myself　to　my　rendezvous；　it　is　for　seven　o'clock；　as　you　know。〃　　Here　Phoebus　scratched　his　ear。　　〃Ah。　　~Corne　Dieu~！　　I　had　forgotten！　I　haven't　a　sou　to　discharge　the　price　of　the　garret；　and　the　old　crone　will　insist　on　being　paid　in　advance。　　She　distrusts　me。〃

〃Here　is　the　wherewithal　to　pay。〃

Phoebus　felt　the　stranger's　cold　hand　slip　into　his　a　large　piece　of　money。　　He　could　not　refrain　from　taking　the　money　and　pressing　the　hand。

〃~Vrai　Dieu~！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃you　are　a　good　fellow！〃

〃One　condition；〃　said　the　man。　　〃Prove　to　me　that　I　have　been　wrong　and　that　you　were　speaking　the　truth。　　Hide　me　in　some　corner　whence　I　can　see　whether　this　woman　is　really　the　one　whose　name　you　uttered。〃

〃Oh！〃　replied　Phoebus；　〃'tis　all　one　to　me。　　We　will　take；　the　Sainte…Marthe　chamber；　you　can　look　at　your　ease　from　the　kennel　hard　by。〃

〃Come　then；〃　said　the　shadow。

〃At　your　service；〃　said　the　captain；　〃I　know　not　whether　you　are　Messer　Diavolus　in　person；　but　let　us　be　good　friends　for　this　evening；　to…morrow　I　will　repay　you　all　my　debts；　both　of　purse　and　sword。〃

They　set　out　again　at　a　rapid　pace。　　At　the　expiration　of　a　few　minutes；　the　sound　of　the　river　announced　to　them　that　they　were　on　the　Pont　Saint…Michel；　then　loaded　with　houses。

〃I　will　first　show　you　the　way；〃　said　Phoebus　to　his　companion；　〃I　will　then　go　in　search　of　the　fair　one　who　is　awaiting　me　near　the　Petit…Chatelet。〃

His　companion　made　no　reply；　he　had　not　uttered　a　word　since　they　had　been　walking　side　by　side。　　Phoebus　halted　before　a　low　door；　and　knocked　roughly；　a　light　made　its　appearance　through　the　cracks　of　the　door。

〃Who　is　there？〃　cried　a　toothless　voice。

〃~Corps…Dieu！　　Tête…Dieu！　　Ventre…Dieu~！〃　replied　the　captain。

The　door　opened　instantly；　and　allowed　the　new…corners　to　see　an　old　woman　and　an　old　lamp；　both　of　which　trembled。　The　old　woman　was　bent　double；　clad　in　tatters；　with　a　shaking　head；　pierced　with　two　small　eyes；　and　coiffed　with　a　dish　clout；　wrinkled　everywhere；　on　hands　and　face　and　neck；　her　lips　retreated　under　her　gums；　and　about　her　mouth　she　had　tufts　of　white　hairs　which　gave　her　the　whiskered　look　of　a　cat。

The　interior　of　the　den　was　no　less　dilapitated　than　she；　there　were　chalk　walls；　blackened　beams　in　the　ceiling；　a　dismantled　chimney…piece；　spiders'　webs　in　all　the　corners；　in　the　middle　a　staggering　herd　of　tables　and　lame　stools；　a　dirty　child　among　the　ashes；　and　at　the　back　a　staircase；　or　rather；　a　wooden　ladder；　which　ended　in　a　trap　door　in　the　ceiling。

On　entering　this　lair；　Phoebus's　mysterious　companion　raised　his　mantle　to　his　very　eyes。　　Meanwhile；　the　captain；　swearing　like　a　Saracen；　hastened　to　〃make　the　sun　shine　in　a　crown〃　as　saith　our　admirable　Régnier。

〃The　Sainte…Marthe　chamber；〃　said　he。

The　old　woman　addressed　him　as　monseigneur；　and　shut　up　the　crown　in　a　drawer。　　It　was　the　coin　which　the　man　in　the　black　mantle　had　given　to　Phoebus。　　While　her　back　was　turned；　the　bushy…headed　and　ragged　little　boy　who　was　playing　in　the　ashes；　adroitly　approached　the　drawer；　abstracted　the　crown；　and　put　in　its　place　a　dry　leaf　which　he　had　plucked　from　a　fagot。

The　old　crone　made　a　sign　to　the　two　gentlemen；　as　she　called　them；　to　follow　her；　and　mounted　the　ladder　in　advance　of　them。　　On　arriving　at　the　upper　story；　she　set　her　lamp　on　a　coffer；　and；　Phoebus；　like　a　frequent　visitor　of　the　house；　opened　a　door　which　opened　on　a　dark　hole。　　〃Enter　here；　my　dear　fellow；〃　he　said　to　his　companion。　　The　man　in　the　mantle　obeyed　without　a　word　in　reply；　the　door　closed　upon　him；　he　heard　Phoebus　bolt　it；　and　a　moment　later　descend　the　stairs　again　with　the　aged　hag。