English
NightcomesonearlyinJanuary.ThestreetswerealreadydarkwhenGringoireissuedforthfromtheCourts.
Thisgloompleasedhim;hewasinhastetoreachsomeobscureanddesertedalley,inordertheretomeditateathisease,andinorderthatthephilosophermightplacethefirstdressinguponthewoundofthepoet.
Philosophy,moreover,washissolerefuge,forhedidnotknowwherehewastolodgeforthenight.
Afterthebrilliantfailureofhisfirsttheatricalventure,hedarednotreturntothelodgingwhichheoccupiedintheRueGrenier–sur–l'Eau,oppositetothePort–au–Foin,havingdependeduponreceivingfrommonsieurtheprovostforhisepithalamium,thewherewithaltopayMasterGuillaumeDoulx–Sire,farmerofthetaxesoncloven–footedanimalsinParis,therentwhichheowedhim,thatistosay,twelvesolsparisian;twelvetimesthevalueofallthathepossessedintheworld,includinghistrunk–hose,hisshirt,andhiscap.
Afterreflectingamoment,temporarilyshelteredbeneaththelittlewicketoftheprisonofthetreasureroftheSainte–Chappelle,astotheshelterwhichhewouldselectforthenight,havingallthepavementsofParistochoosefrom,herememberedtohavenoticedtheweekpreviouslyintheRuedelaSavaterie,atthedoorofacouncilloroftheparliament,asteppingstoneformountingamule,andtohavesaidtohimselfthatthatstonewouldfurnish,onoccasion,averyexcellentpillowforamendicantorapoet.
HethankedProvidenceforhavingsentthishappyideatohim;but,ashewaspreparingtocrossthePlace,inordertoreachthetortuouslabyrinthofthecity,wheremeanderallthoseoldsisterstreets,theRuesdelaBarillerie,delaVielle–Draperie,delaSavaterie,delaJuiverie,etc.,stillextantto–day,withtheirnine–storyhouses,hesawtheprocessionofthePopeoftheFools,whichwasalsoemergingfromthecourthouse,andrushingacrossthecourtyard,withgreatcries,agreatflashingoftorches,andthemusicwhichbelongedtohim,Gringoire.
Thissightrevivedthepainofhisself–love;hefled.
Inthebitternessofhisdramaticmisadventure,everythingwhichremindedhimofthefestivalofthatdayirritatedhiswoundandmadeitbleed.
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HewasonthepointofturningtothePontSaint–Michel;childrenwererunningabouthereandtherewithfirelancesandrockets.
"Pestonfireworkcandles!"saidGringoire;andhefellbackonthePontauChange.
Tothehouseattheheadofthebridgetherehadbeenaffixedthreesmallbanners,representingtheking,thedauphin,andMargueriteofFlanders,andsixlittlepennonsonwhichwereportrayedtheDukeofAustria,theCardinaldeBourbon,M.deBeaujeu,andMadameJeannedeFrance,andMonsieurtheBastardofBourbon,andIknownotwhomelse;allbeingilluminatedwithtorches.Therabblewereadmiring.
"Happypainter,JehanFourbault!"saidGringoirewithadeepsigh;andheturnedhisbackuponthebanneretsandpennons.
Astreetopenedbeforehim;hethoughtitsodarkanddesertedthathehopedtothereescapefromalltherumorsaswellasfromallthegleamsofthefestival.
Attheendofafewmomentshisfootcameincontactwithanobstacle;hestumbledandfell.
ItwastheMaytruss,whichtheclerksoftheclerks'lawcourthaddepositedthatmorningatthedoorofapresidentoftheparliament,inhonorofthesolemnityoftheday.
Gringoireborethisnewdisasterheroically;hepickedhimselfup,andreachedthewater'sedge.
AfterleavingbehindhimthecivicTournelle*andthecriminaltower,andskirtedthegreatwallsoftheking'sgarden,onthatunpavedstrandwherethemudreachedtohisankles,hereachedthewesternpointofthecity,andconsideredforsometimetheisletofthePasseur–aux–Vaches,whichhasdisappearedbeneaththebronzehorseofthePontNeuf.
Theisletappearedtohimintheshadowlikeablackmass,beyondthenarrowstripofwhitishwaterwhichseparatedhimfromit.
Onecoulddivinebytherayofatinylightthesortofhutintheformofabeehivewheretheferrymanofcowstookrefugeatnight.
*AchamberoftheancientparliamentofParis.
"Happyferryman!"thoughtGringoire;"youdonotdreamofglory,andyoudonotmakemarriagesongs!
Whatmattersittoyou,ifkingsandDuchessesofBurgundymarry?
Youknownootherdaisies(~marguerites~)thanthosewhichyourAprilgreenswardgivesyourcowstobrowseupon;whileI,apoet,amhooted,andshiver,andowetwelvesous,andthesolesofmyshoesaresotransparent,thattheymightserveasglassesforyourlantern!
Thanks,ferryman,yourcabinrestsmyeyes,andmakesmeforgetParis!"
Hewasrousedfromhisalmostlyricecstacy,byabigdoubleSaint–Jeancracker,whichsuddenlywentofffromthehappycabin.
Itwasthecowferryman,whowastakinghispartintherejoicingsoftheday,andlettingofffireworks.
ThiscrackermadeGringoire'sskinbristleupallover.
"Accursedfestival!"heexclaimed,"wiltthoupursuemeeverywhere?Oh!goodGod!eventotheferryman's!"
ThenhelookedattheSeineathisfeet,andahorribletemptationtookpossessionofhim:
"Oh!"saidhe,"Iwouldgladlydrownmyself,werethewaternotsocold!"
Thenadesperateresolutionoccurredtohim.
Itwas,sincehecouldnotescapefromthePopeoftheFools,fromJehanFourbault'sbannerets,fromMaytrusses,fromsquibsandcrackers,togotothePlacedeGrève.
"Atleast,"hesaidtohimself,"Ishalltherehaveafirebrandofjoywherewithtowarmmyself,andIcansuponsomecrumbsofthethreegreatarmorialbearingsofroyalsugarwhichhavebeenerectedonthepublicrefreshment–stallofthecity.
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