the hunchback of notre dame-第98章
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ost in this sight； that which mingled indignation with his anger； was the thought of what the gypsy would suffer could she behold it。 It is true that the night was very dark； that la Esmeralda； if she had remained at her post （and he had no doubt of this）； was very far away； and that it was all that he himself could do to distinguish the lovers on the balcony。 This consoled him。
Meanwhile； their conversation grew more and more animated。 The young lady appeared to be entreating the officer to ask nothing more of her。 Of all this Quasimodo could distinguish only the beautiful clasped hands； the smiles mingled with tears； the young girl's glances directed to the stars； the eyes of the captain lowered ardently upon her。
Fortunately； for the young girl was beginning to resist but feebly； the door of the balcony suddenly opened once more and an old dame appeared； the beauty seemed confused； the officer assumed an air of displeasure； and all three withdrew。
A moment later； a horse was champing his bit under the porch； and the brilliant officer； enveloped in his night cloak； passed rapidly before Quasimodo。
The bellringer allowed him to turn the corner of the street； then he ran after him with his ape…like agility； shouting： 〃Hey there！ captain！〃
The captain halted。
〃What wants this knave with me？〃 he said； catching sight through the gloom of that hipshot form which ran limping after him。
Meanwhile； Quasimodo had caught up with him； and had boldly grasped his horse's bridle： 〃Follow me； captain； there is one here who desires to speak with you！
〃~Cornemahom~！〃 grumbled Phoebus； 〃here's a villanous； ruffled bird which I fancy I have seen somewhere。 Holà master； will you let my horse's bridle alone？〃
〃Captain；〃 replied the deaf man； 〃do you not ask me who it is？〃
〃I tell you to release my horse；〃 retorted Phoebus； impatiently。 〃What means the knave by clinging to the bridle of my steed？ Do you take my horse for a gallows？〃
Quasimodo； far from releasing the bridle； prepared to force him to retrace his steps。 Unable to comprehend the captain's resistance； he hastened to say to him；
〃Come； captain； 'tis a woman who is waiting for you。〃 He added with an effort： 〃A woman who loves you。〃
〃A rare rascal！〃 said the captain； 〃who thinks me obliged to go to all the women who love me！ or who say they do。 And what if； by chance； she should resemble you； you face of a screech…owl？ Tell the woman who has sent you that I am about to marry； and that she may go to the devil！〃
〃Listen；〃 exclaimed Quasimodo； thinking to overcome his hesitation with a word； 〃come； monseigneur！ 'tis the gypsy whom you know！〃
This word did； indeed； produce a great effect on Phoebus； but not of the kind which the deaf man expected。 It will be remembered that our gallant officer had retired with Fleur… de…Lys several moments before Quasimodo had rescued the condemned girl from the hands of Charmolue。 Afterwards； in all his visits to the Gondelaurier mansion he had taken care not to mention that woman； the memory of whom was； after all； painful to him； and on her side； Fleur…de…Lys had not deemed it politic to tell him that the gypsy was alive。 Hence Phoebus believed poor 〃Similar〃 to be dead； and that a month or two had elapsed since her death。 Let us add that for the last few moments the captain had been reflecting on the profound darkness of the night； the supernatural ugliness； the sepulchral voice of the strange messenger； that it was past midnight； that the street was deserted； as on the evening when the surly monk had accosted him； and that his horse snorted as it looked at Quasimodo。
〃The gypsy！〃 he exclaimed； almost frightened。 〃Look here； do you come from the other world？〃
And he laid his hand on the hilt of his dagger。
〃Quick； quick；〃 said the deaf man； endeavoring to drag the horse along； 〃this way！〃
Phoebus dealt him a vigorous kick in the breast。
Quasimodo's eye flashed。 He made a motion to fling himself on the captain。 Then he drew himself up stiffly and said；
〃Oh！ how happy you are to have some one who loves you！〃
He emphasized the words 〃some one；〃 and loosing the horse's bridle；
〃Begone！〃
Phoebus spurred on in all haste； swearing。 Quasimodo watched him disappear in the shades of the street。
〃Oh！〃 said the poor deaf man； in a very low voice； 〃to refuse that！〃
He re…entered Notre…Dame； lighted his lamp and climbed to the tower again。 The gypsy was still in the same place； as he had supposed。
She flew to meet him as far off as she could see him。 〃Alone！〃 she cried； clasping her beautiful hands sorrowfully。
〃I could not find him；〃 said Quasimodo coldly。
〃You should have waited all night；〃 she said angrily。
He saw her gesture of wrath； and understood the reproach。
〃I will lie in wait for him better another time；〃 he said； dropping his head。
〃Begone！〃 she said to him。
He left her。 She was displeased with him。 He preferred to have her abuse him rather than to have afflicted her。 He had kept all the pain to himself。
From that day forth； the gypsy no longer saw him。 He ceased to come to her cell。 At the most she occasionally caught a glimpse at the summit of the towers； of the bellringer's face turned sadly to her。 But as soon as she perceived him； he disappeared。
We must admit that she was not much grieved by this voluntary absence on the part of the poor hunchback。 At the bottom of her heart she was grateful to him for it。 Moreover； Quasimodo did not deceive himself on this point。
She no longer saw him； but she felt the presence of a good genius about her。 Her provisions were replenished by an invisible hand during her slumbers。 One morning she found a cage of birds on her window。 There was a piece of sculpture above her window which frightened her。 She had shown this more than once in Quasimodo's presence。 One morning； for all these things happened at night； she no longer saw it； it had been broken。 The person who had climbed up to that carving must have risked his life。
Sometimes； in the evening； she heard a voice； concealed beneath the wind screen of the bell tower； singing a sad； strange song； as though to lull her to sleep。 The lines were unrhymed； such as a deaf person can make。
~Ne regarde pas la figure； Jeune fille； regarde le coeur。 Le coeur d'un beau jeune homme est souvent difforme。 Il y a des coeurs ou l'amour ne se conserve pas~。
~Jeune fille； le sapin n'est pas beau； N'est pas beau comme le peuplier； Mais il garde son feuillage l'hiver~。
~Hélas！ a quoi bon dire cela？ Ce qui n'est pas beau a tort d'être； La beauté n'aime que la beauté； Avril tourne le dos a Janvier~。
~La beauté est parfaite； La beauté peut tout； La beauté est la seule chose qui n'existe pàs a demi~。
~Le corbeau ne vole que le jour； Le hibou ne vole que la nuit； Le cygne vole la nuit et le jour~。*
* Look not at the face； young girl； look at the heart。 The heart of a handsome young man is often deformed。 There are hearts in which love does not keep。 Young girl； the pine is not beautiful； it is not beautiful like the poplar； but it keeps its foliage in winter。 Alas！ What is the use of saying that？ That which is not beautiful has no right to exist； beauty loves only beauty； April turns her back on January。 Beauty is perfect； beauty can do all things； beauty is the only thing which does not exist by halves。 The raven flies only by day； the owl flies only by night； the swan flies by day and by night。
One morning； on awaking； she saw on her window two vases filled with flowers。 One was a very beautiful and very brilliant but cracked vase of glass。 It had allowed the water with which it had been filled to escape； and the flowers which it contained were withered。 The other was an earthenware pot； coarse and common； but which had preserved all its water； and its flowers remained fresh and crimson。
I know not whether it was done intentionally； but La Esmeralda took the faded nosegay and wore it all day long upon her breast。
That day she did not hear the voice singing in
