Itwasalreadynearlyseventeenyearssincehehadreceivedfromtheking,onNovember7,1465,thecometyear,*thatfinechargeoftheprovostshipofParis,whichwasreputedratheraseigneurythananoffice.
~Dignitas~,saysJoannesLoemnoeus,~quoecumnonexiguapotestatepolitiamconcernente,atqueproerogativismultisetjuribusconjunctaest~.
Amarvellousthingin'82wasagentlemanbearingtheking'scommission,andwhoselettersofinstitutionranbacktotheepochofthemarriageofthenaturaldaughterofLouisXI.withMonsieurtheBastardofBourbon.
*ThiscometagainstwhichPopeCalixtus,uncleofBorgia,orderedpublicprayers,isthesamewhichreappearedin1835.
ThesamedayonwhichRobertd'EstoutevilletooktheplaceofJacquesdeVilliersintheprovostshipofParis,MasterJehanDauvetreplacedMessireHelyedeThorrettesinthefirstpresidencyoftheCourtofParliament,JehanJouveneldesUrsinssupplantedPierredeMorvilliersintheofficeofchancellorofFrance,RegnaultdesDormansoustedPierrePuyfromthechargeofmasterofrequestsinordinaryoftheking'shousehold.
Now,uponhowmanyheadshadthepresidency,thechancellorship,themastershippassedsinceRobertd'EstoutevillehadheldtheprovostshipofParis.
Hehadclungtoit,hehadincorporatedhimselfwithit,hehadsoidentifiedhimselfwithitthathehadescapedthatfuryforchangewhichpossessedLouisXI.,atormentingandindustriousking,whosepolicyitwastomaintaintheelasticityofhispowerbyfrequentappointmentsandrevocations.
Morethanthis;thebravechevalierhadobtainedthereversionoftheofficeforhisson,andfortwoyearsalready,thenameofthenoblemanJacquesd'Estouteville,equerry,hadfiguredbesidehisattheheadoftheregisterofthesalarylistoftheprovostshipofParis.Arareandnotablefavorindeed!
ItistruethatRobertd'Estoutevillewasagoodsoldier,thathehadloyallyraisedhispennonagainst"theleagueofpublicgood,"andthathehadpresentedtothequeenaverymarvellousstaginconfectioneryonthedayofherentrancetoParisin14...Moreover,hepossessedthegoodfriendshipofMessireTristanl'Hermite,provostofthemarshalsoftheking'shousehold.
Inthefirstplace,verygoodwages,towhichwereattached,andfromwhichhung,likeextrabunchesofgrapesonhisvine,therevenuesofthecivilandcriminalregistriesoftheprovostship,plusthecivilandcriminalrevenuesofthetribunalsofEmbasoftheChâtelet,withoutreckoningsomelittletollfromthebridgesofMantesandofCorbeil,andtheprofitsonthecraftofShagreen–makersofParis,onthecordersoffirewoodandthemeasurersofsalt.
Addtothisthepleasureofdisplayinghimselfinridesaboutthecity,andofmakinghisfinemilitarycostume,whichyoumaystilladmiresculpturedonhistombintheabbeyofValmontinNormandy,andhismorion,allembossedatMontlhéry,standoutacontrastagainsttheparti–coloredredandtawnyrobesofthealdermenandpolice.
Andthen,wasitnothingtowieldabsolutesupremacyoverthesergeantsofthepolice,theporterandwatchoftheChâtelet,thetwoauditorsoftheChâtelet,~auditorescastelleti~,thesixteencommissionersofthesixteenquarters,thejaileroftheChâtelet,thefourenfeoffedsergeants,thehundredandtwentymountedsergeants,withmaces,thechevalierofthewatchwithhiswatch,hissub–watch,hiscounter–watchandhisrear–watch?
Wasitnothingtoexercisehighandlowjustice,therighttointerrogate,tohangandtodraw,withoutreckoningpettyjurisdictioninthefirstresort(~inprimainstantia~,asthecharterssay),onthatviscomtyofParis,sonoblyappanagedwithsevennoblebailiwicks?
Cananythingsweeterbeimaginedthanrenderingjudgmentsanddecisions,asMessireRobertd'EstoutevilledailydidintheGrandChâtelet,underthelargeandflattenedarchesofPhilipAugustus?
andgoing,ashewaswonttodoeveryevening,tothatcharminghousesituatedintheRueGalilee,intheenclosureoftheroyalpalace,whichheheldinrightofhiswife,MadameAmbroisedeLore,toreposeafterthefatigueofhavingsentsomepoorwretchtopassthenightin"thatlittlecelloftheRuedeEscorcherie,whichtheprovostsandaldermenofParisusedtomaketheirprison;thesamebeingelevenfeetlong,sevenfeetandfourincheswide,andelevenfeethigh?"
AndnotonlyhadMessireRobertd'EstoutevillehisspecialcourtasprovostandvicomteofParis;butinadditionhehadashare,bothforeyeandtooth,inthegrandcourtoftheking.
ItwashewhowenttoseekM.deNemoursattheBastilleSaintAntoine,inordertoconducthimtotheHalles;andtoconducttotheGrèveM.deSaint–Pol,whoclamoredandresisted,tothegreatjoyoftheprovost,whodidnotlovemonsieurtheconstable.
Here,assuredly,ismorethansufficienttorenderalifehappyandillustrious,andtodeservesomedayanotablepageinthatinterestinghistoryoftheprovostsofParis,whereonelearnsthatOudarddeVilleneuvehadahouseintheRuedesBoucheries,thatGuillaumedeHangestpurchasedthegreatandthelittleSavoy,thatGuillaumeThiboustgavethenunsofSainte–GenevivehishousesintheRueClopin,thatHuguesAubriotlivedintheHôtelduPore–Epic,andotherdomesticfacts.
Nevertheless,withsomanyreasonsfortakinglifepatientlyandjoyously,MessireRobertd'EstoutevillewokeuponthemorningoftheseventhofJanuary,1482,inaverysurlyandpeevishmood.Whencecamethisilltemper?Hecouldnothavetoldhimself.Wasitbecausetheskywasgray?
orwasthebuckleofhisoldbeltofMontlhérybadlyfastened,sothatitconfinedhisprovostalportlinesstooclosely?
hadhebeheldribaldfellows,marchinginbandsoffour,beneathhiswindow,andsettinghimatdefiance,indoubletsbutnoshirts,hatswithoutcrowns,withwalletandbottleattheirside?
Wasitavaguepresentimentofthethreehundredandseventylivres,sixteensous,eightfarthings,whichthefutureKingCharlesVII.
Thereadercantakehischoice;we,forourpart,aremuchinclinedtobelievethathewasinabadhumor,simplybecausehewasinabadhumor.
Moreover,itwasthedayafterafestival,atiresomedayforeveryone,andaboveallforthemagistratewhoischargedwithsweepingawayallthefilth,properlyandfigurativelyspeaking,whichafestivaldayproducesinParis.
Now,wehavenoticedthatjudgesingeneralsoarrangemattersthattheirdayofaudienceshallalsobetheirdayofbadhumor,sothattheymayalwayshavesomeoneuponwhomtoventitconveniently,inthenameoftheking,law,andjustice.
Hislieutenants,civil,criminal,andprivate,weredoinghiswork,accordingtousage;andfromeighto'clockinthemorning,somescoresofbourgeoisand~bourgeoises~,heapedandcrowdedintoanobscurecorneroftheaudiencechamberofEmbasduChâtelet,betweenastoutoakenbarrierandthewall,hadbeengazingblissfullyatthevariedandcheerfulspectacleofcivilandcriminaljusticedispensedbyMasterFlorianBarbedienne,auditoroftheChâtelet,lieutenantofmonsieurtheprovost,inasomewhatconfusedandutterlyhaphazardmanner.
Thehallwassmall,low,vaulted.Atablestuddedwithfleurs–de–lisstoodatoneend,withalargearm–chairofcarvedoak,whichbelongedtotheprovostandwasempty,andastoolontheleftfortheauditor,MasterFlorian.
Belowsattheclerkofthecourt,scribbling;oppositewasthepopulace;andinfrontofthedoor,andinfrontofthetableweremanysergeantsoftheprovostshipinsleevelessjacketsofvioletcamlet,withwhitecrosses.
TwosergeantsoftheParloir–aux–Bourgeois,clothedintheirjacketsofToussaint,halfred,halfblue,werepostedassentinelsbeforealow,closeddoor,whichwasvisibleattheextremityofthehall,behindthetable.
Asinglepointedwindow,narrowlyencasedinthethickwall,illuminatedwithapalerayofJanuarysuntwogrotesquefigures,—thecapriciousdemonofstonecarvedasatail–pieceinthekeystoneofthevaultedceiling,andthejudgeseatedattheendofthehallonthefleurs–de–lis.
Imagine,infact,attheprovost'stable,leaninguponhiselbowsbetweentwobundlesofdocumentsofcases,withhisfootonthetrainofhisrobeofplainbrowncloth,hisfaceburiedinhishoodofwhitelamb'sskin,ofwhichhisbrowsseemedtobeofapiece,red,crabbed,winking,bearingmajesticallytheloadoffatonhischeekswhichmetunderhischin,MasterFlorianBarbedienne,auditoroftheChâtelet.
airoflistening;andthevenerableauditorfulfilledthiscondition,thesoleoneinjustice,allthebetterbecausehisattentioncouldnotbedistractedbyanynoise.
Moreover,hehadintheaudience,apitilesscensorofhisdeedsandgestures,inthepersonofourfriendJehanFrolloduMoulin,thatlittlestudentofyesterday,that"stroller,"whomonewassureofencounteringalloverParis,anywhereexceptbeforetherostrumsoftheprofessors.
"Stay,"hesaidinalowtonetohiscompanion,RobinPoussepain,whowasgrinningathisside,whilehewasmakinghiscommentsonthesceneswhichwerebeingunfoldedbeforehiseyes,"yonderisJehannetonduBuisson.
Fifteensous,fourfarthings,parisian,forhavingworntworosaries!'Tissomewhatdear.~Lexduricarminis~.Who'sthat?RobinChief–de–Ville,hauberkmaker.
Forhavingbeenpassedandreceivedmasterofthesaidtrade!That'shisentrancemoney.He!twogentlemenamongtheseknaves!
AigletdeSoins,HutindeMaillyTwoequerries,~CorpusChristi~!Ah!theyhavebeenplayingatdice.WhenshallIseeourrectorhere?
I'llbemybrotherthearchdeacon,ifthatkeepsmefromgaming;gamingbyday,gamingbynight,livingatplay,dyingatplay,andgamingawaymysoulaftermyshirt.HolyVirgin,whatdamsels!Oneaftertheothermylambs.
That'swhatwillteachyoutoweargildedgirdles!tensousparisis!youcoquettes!Oh!theoldsnoutofajudge!deafandimbecile!Oh!Florianthedolt!Oh!Barbediennetheblockhead!Thereheisatthetable!
Fines,lostgoods,taxes,expenses,loyalcharges,salaries,damages,andinterests,gehenna,prison,andjail,andfetterswithexpensesareChristmasspicecakeandmarchpanesofSaint–Johntohim!Lookathim,thepig!—Come!Good!Anotheramorouswoman!
GieffroyMabonne,gendarmebearingthecrossbow.HehascursedthenameoftheFather.AfineforlaThibaude!AfineforGieffroy!Afineforthemboth!Thedeafoldfool!hemusthavemixedupthetwocases!
Tentoonethathemakesthewenchpayfortheoathandthegendarmefortheamour!Attention,RobinPoussepain!Whataretheygoingtobringin?Herearemanysergeants!ByJupiter!
'tisourprinceofyesterday,ourPopeoftheFools,ourbellringer,ourone–eyedman,ourhunchback,ourgrimace!'TisQuasimodo!"
Thesquadofpolicemenwhosurroundedhimwasassistedbythechevalierofthewatchinperson,wearingthearmsofFranceembroideredonhisbreast,andthearmsofthecityonhisback.
Therewasnothing,however,aboutQuasimodo,excepthisdeformity,whichcouldjustifythedisplayofhalberdsandarquebuses;hewasgloomy,silent,andtranquil.
Hecastthesameglanceabouthim,butitwassodullandsleepythatthewomenonlypointedhimouttoeachotherinderision.
MeanwhileMasterFlorian,theauditor,turnedoverattentivelythedocumentinthecomplaintenteredagainstQuasimodo,whichtheclerkhandedhim,and,havingthusglancedatit,appearedtoreflectforamoment.
Thankstothisprecaution,whichhealwayswascarefultotakeatthemomentwhenonthepointofbeginninganexamination,heknewbeforehandthenames,titles,andmisdeedsoftheaccused,madecutanddriedresponsestoquestionsforeseen,andsucceededinextricatinghimselffromallthewindingsoftheinterrogationwithoutallowinghisdeafnesstobetooapparent.
Ifhisdeafnessdidhappentobetrayhimhereandthere,bysomeincoherentapostropheorsomeunintelligiblequestion,itpassedforprofunditywithsome,andforimbecilitywithothers.
Inneithercasedidthehonorofthemagistracysustainanyinjury;foritisfarbetterthatajudgeshouldbereputedimbecileorprofoundthandeaf.
Hencehetookgreatcaretoconcealhisdeafnessfromtheeyesofall,andhegenerallysucceededsowellthathehadreachedthepointofdeludinghimself,whichis,bytheway,easierthanissupposed.
Itwasthesoleconcessionwhichhemadeonthispointtopublicopinion,inhismomentsoffranknessandexaminationofhisconscience.
Having,then,thoroughlyruminatedQuasimodo'saffair,hethrewbackhisheadandhalfclosedhiseyes,forthesakeofmoremajestyandimpartiality,sothat,atthatmoment,hewasbothdeafandblind.
Quasimodo,whomnothingwarnedthataquestionhadbeenaddressedtohim,continuedtostareintentlyatthejudge,andmadenoreply.
Thejudge,beingdeaf,andbeinginnowaywarnedofthedeafnessoftheaccused,thoughtthatthelatterhadanswered,asallaccuseddoingeneral,andthereforehepursued,withhismechanicalandstupidself–possession,—
"Youareaccusedbeforeus,~primo~,ofnocturnaldisturbance;~secundo~,ofadishonorableactofviolenceuponthepersonofafoolishwoman,~inproejudiciummeretricis;tertio~,ofrebellionanddisloyaltytowardsthearchersofthepoliceofourlord,theking.Explainyourselfuponallthesepoints.
Atthisunluckyquestion,aburstoflaughterrosefromtheclerk'stablecaughtbytheaudience,soviolent,sowild,socontagious,souniversal,thatthetwodeafmenwereforcedtoperceiveit.
Quasimodoturnedround,shrugginghishumpwithdisdain,whileMasterFlorian,equallyastonished,andsupposingthatthelaughterofthespectatorshadbeenprovokedbysomeirreverentreplyfromtheaccused,renderedvisibletohimbythatshrugoftheshoulders,apostrophizedhimindignantly,—
Itstruckallassowhimsical,andsoridiculous,thatthewildlaughterevenattackedthesergeantsoftheParloi–aux–Bourgeois,asortofpikemen,whosestupiditywaspartoftheiruniform.
Quasimodoalonepreservedhisseriousness,forthegoodreasonthatheunderstoodnothingofwhatwasgoingonaroundhim.
Thejudge,moreandmoreirritated,thoughtithisdutytocontinueinthesametone,hopingtherebytostriketheaccusedwithaterrorwhichshouldreactupontheaudience,andbringitbacktorespect.
"Sothisisasmuchastosay,perverseandthievingknavethatyouare,thatyoupermityourselftobelackinginrespecttowardstheAuditoroftheChâtelet,tothemagistratecommittedtothepopularpoliceofParis,chargedwithsearchingoutcrimes,delinquencies,andevilconduct;withcontrollingalltrades,andinterdictingmonopoly;withmaintainingthepavements;withdebarringthehuckstersofchickens,poultry,andwater–fowl;ofsuperintendingthemeasuringoffagotsandothersortsofwood;ofpurgingthecityofmud,andtheairofcontagiousmaladies;inaword,withattendingcontinuallytopublicaffairs,withoutwagesorhopeofsalary!
DoyouknowthatIamcalledFlorianBarbedienne,actuallieutenanttomonsieurtheprovost,and,moreover,commissioner,inquisitor,controller,andexaminer,withequalpowerinprovostship,bailiwick,preservation,andinferiorcourtofjudicature?—"
GodknowswhereandwhenMasterFlorianwouldhavelanded,whenthuslaunchedatfullspeedinloftyeloquence,ifthelowdoorattheextremeendoftheroomhadnotsuddenlyopened,andgivenentrancetotheprovostinperson.
AthisentranceMasterFloriandidnotstopshort,but,makingahalf–turnonhisheels,andaimingattheprovosttheharanguewithwhichhehadbeenwitheringQuasimodoamomentbefore,—
"Monseigneur,"saidhe,"Idemandsuchpenaltyasyoushalldeemfittingagainsttheprisonerherepresent,forgraveandaggravatedoffenceagainstthecourt."
Andheseatedhimself,utterlybreathless,wipingawaythegreatdropsofsweatwhichfellfromhisbrowanddrenched,liketears,theparchmentsspreadoutbeforehim.
MessireRobertd'EstoutevillefrownedandmadeagesturesoimperiousandsignificanttoQuasimodo,thatthedeafmaninsomemeasureunderstoodit.
Thepoorfellow,supposingthattheprovostwasaskinghisname,brokethesilencewhichhehabituallypreserved,andreplied,inaharshandgutturalvoice,"Quasimodo."
Thereplymatchedthequestionsolittlethatthewildlaughbegantocirculateoncemore,andMessireRobertexclaimed,redwithwrath,—
"BellringerofNotre–Dame,"repliedQuasimodo,supposingthatwhatwasrequiredofhimwastoexplaintothejudgewhohewas.
"Bellringer!"interpolatedtheprovost,whohadwakedupearlyenoughtobeinasufficientlybadtemper,aswehavesaid,nottorequiretohavehisfuryinflamedbysuchstrangeresponses."Bellringer!
Messieursthesergeantsofthemace,youwilltakemethisknavetothepilloryoftheGrève,youwillfloghim,andturnhimforanhour.Heshallpaymeforit,~tteDieu~!
AndIorderthatthepresentjudgmentshallbecried,withtheassistanceoffoursworntrumpeters,inthesevencastellaniesoftheviscomtyofParis."
"Ibelievetheknavesaid'~VentreDieu~'Clerk,addtwelvedeniersParisianfortheoath,andletthevestryofSaintEustachehavethehalfofit;IhaveaparticulardevotionforSaintEustache."
ThecustomsoftheprovostshipandtheviscomtyhadnotyetbeenworkedoverbyPresidentThibautBaillet,andbyRogerBarmne,theking'sadvocate;theyhadnotbeenobstructed,atthattime,bythatloftyhedgeofquibblesandprocedures,whichthetwojurisconsultsplantedthereatthebeginningofthesixteenthcentury.Allwasclear,expeditious,explicit.
Onewentstraighttothepointthen,andattheendofeverypaththerewasimmediatelyvisible,withoutthicketsandwithoutturnings;thewheel,thegibbet,orthepillory.
Theclerkpresentedthesentencetotheprovost,whoaffixedhissealtoit,anddepartedtopursuehisroundoftheaudiencehall,inaframeofmindwhichseemeddestinedtofillallthejailsinParisthatday.
However,atthemomentwhenMasterFlorianBarbediennewasreadingthesentenceinhisturn,beforesigningit,theclerkfelthimselfmovedwithpityforthepoorwretchofaprisoner,and,inthehopeofobtainingsomemitigationofthepenalty,heapproachedasneartheauditor'searaspossible,andsaid,pointingtoQuasimodo,"Thatmanisdeaf."
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