English
ItchancedthatuponafinemorninginthissamemonthofMarch,IthinkitwasonSaturdaythe29th,SaintEustache'sday,ouryoungfriendthestudent,JehanFrolloduMoulin,perceived,ashewasdressinghimself,thathisbreeches,whichcontainedhispurse,gaveoutnometallicring.
"Poorpurse,"hesaid,drawingitfromhisfob,"what!notthesmallestparisis!
howcruellythedice,beer–pots,andVenushavedepletedthee!Howempty,wrinkled,limp,thouart!Thouresemblestthethroatofafury!
Iaskyou,MesserCicero,andMesserSeneca,copiesofwhom,alldog's–eared,Ibeholdscatteredonthefloor,whatprofitsitmetoknow,betterthananygovernorofthemint,oranyJewonthePontauxChangeurs,thatagoldencrownstampedwithacrownisworththirty–fiveunzainsoftwenty–fivesous,andeightdeniersparisisapiece,andthatacrownstampedwithacrescentisworththirty–sixunzainsoftwenty–sixsous,sixdenierstournoisapiece,ifIhavenotasinglewretchedblackliardtoriskonthedouble–six!
Oh!ConsulCicero!
thisisnocalamityfromwhichoneextricatesone'sselfwithperiphrases,~quemadmodum~,and~verumenimvero~!"
Hedressedhimselfsadly.Anideahadoccurredtohimashelacedhisboots,butherejecteditatfirst;nevertheless,itreturned,andheputonhiswaistcoatwrongsideout,anevidentsignofviolentinternalcombat.
Atlasthedashedhiscaproughlyonthefloor,andexclaimed:"Somuchtheworse!Letcomeofitwhatmay.Iamgoingtomybrother!
Ishallcatchasermon,butIshallcatchacrown."
Thenbehastilydonnedhislongjacketwithfurredhalf–sleeves,pickeduphiscap,andwentoutlikeamandriventodesperation.
HedescendedtheRuedelaHarpetowardtheCity.
AshepassedtheRuedelaHuchette,theodorofthoseadmirablespits,whichwereincessantlyturning,tickledhisolfactoryapparatus,andhebestowedalovingglancetowardtheCyclopeanroast,whichonedaydrewfromtheFranciscanfriar,Calatagirone,thispatheticexclamation:~Veramente,questerotisseriesonocosastupenda~!
*ButJehanhadnotthewherewithaltobuyabreakfast,andheplunged,withaprofoundsigh,underthegatewayofthePetit–Châtelet,thatenormousdoubletrefoilofmassivetowerswhichguardedtheentrancetotheCity.
*Truly,theseroastingsareastupendousthing!
Hedidnoteventakethetroubletocastastoneinpassing,aswastheusage,atthemiserablestatueofthatPérinetLeclercwhohaddelivereduptheParisofCharlesVI.
totheEnglish,acrimewhichhiseffigy,itsfacebatteredwithstonesandsoiledwithmud,expiatedforthreecenturiesatthecorneroftheRuedelaHarpeandtheRuedeBuci,asinaneternalpillory.
ThePetit–Ponttraversed,theRueNeuve–Sainte–Genevivecrossed,JehandeMolendinofoundhimselfinfrontofNotre–Dame.
Thenindecisionseizeduponhimoncemore,andhepacedforseveralminutesroundthestatueofM.Legris,repeatingtohimselfwithanguish:"Thesermonissure,thecrownisdoubtful."
Hestoppedabeadlewhoemergedfromthecloister,—"WhereismonsieurthearchdeaconofJosas?"
"Ibelievethatheisinhissecretcellinthetower,"saidthebeadle;"Ishouldadviseyounottodisturbhimthere,unlessyoucomefromsomeonelikethepopeormonsieurtheking."
Jehanclappedhishands.
"~Bécliable~!here'samagnificentchancetoseethefamoussorcerycell!"
Thisreflectionhavingbroughthimtoadecision,heplungedresolutelyintothesmallblackdoorway,andbegantheascentofthespiralofSaint–Gilles,whichleadstotheupperstoriesofthetower.
"Iamgoingtosee,"hesaidtohimselfontheway."BytheravensoftheHolyVirgin!
itmustneedsbeacuriousthing,thatcellwhichmyreverendbrotherhidessosecretly!
'Tissaidthathelightsupthekitchensofhellthere,andthathecooksthephilosopher'sstonethereoverahotfire.~Bédieu~!
Icarenomoreforthephilosopher'sstonethanforapebble,andIwouldratherfindoverhisfurnaceanomeletteofEastereggsandbacon,thanthebiggestphilosopher'sstoneintheworld."'
Onarrivingatthegalleryofslendercolumns,hetookbreathforamoment,andsworeagainsttheinterminablestaircasebyIknownothowmanymillioncartloadsofdevils;thenheresumedhisascentthroughthenarrowdoorofthenorthtower,nowclosedtothepublic.
Severalmomentsafterpassingthebellchamber,hecameuponalittlelanding–place,builtinalateralniche,andunderthevaultofalow,pointeddoor,whoseenormouslockandstrongironbarshewasenabledtoseethroughaloopholepiercedintheoppositecircularwallofthestaircase.
Personsdesirousofvisitingthisdooratthepresentdaywillrecognizeitbythisinscriptionengravedinwhitelettersontheblackwall:"J'ADORECORALIE,1823.SIGNEUGENE.""Signé"standsinthetext.
"Ugh!"saidthescholar;"'tishere,nodoubt."
Thekeywasinthelock,thedoorwasveryclosetohim;hegaveitagentlepushandthrusthisheadthroughtheopening.
ThereadercannothavefailedtoturnovertheadmirableworksofRembrandt,thatShakespeareofpainting.
Amidsomanymarvellousengravings,thereisoneetchinginparticular,whichissupposedtorepresentDoctorFaust,andwhichitisimpossibletocontemplatewithoutbeingdazzled.
Itrepresentsagloomycell;inthecentreisatableloadedwithhideousobjects;skulls,spheres,alembics,compasses,hieroglyphicparchments.
Thedoctorisbeforethistablecladinhislargecoatandcoveredtotheveryeyebrowswithhisfurredcap.Heisvisibleonlytohiswaist.
Hehashalfrisenfromhisimmensearm–chair,hisclenchedfistsrestonthetable,andheisgazingwithcuriosityandterroratalargeluminouscircle,formedofmagicletters,whichgleamsfromthewallbeyond,likethesolarspectruminadarkchamber.
Thiscabalisticsunseemstotremblebeforetheeye,andfillsthewancellwithitsmysteriousradiance.Itishorribleanditisbeautiful.
SomethingverysimilartoFaust'scellpresenteditselftoJehan'sview,whenheventuredhisheadthroughthehalf–opendoor.
Italsowasagloomyandsparselylightedretreat.
Therealsostoodalargearm–chairandalargetable,compasses,alembics,skeletonsofanimalssuspendedfromtheceiling,agloberollingonthefloor,hippocephalimingledpromiscuouslywithdrinkingcups,inwhichquiveredleavesofgold,skullsplaceduponvellumcheckeredwithfiguresandcharacters,hugemanuscriptspiledupwideopen,withoutmercyonthecrackingcornersoftheparchment;inshort,alltherubbishofscience,andeverywhereonthisconfusiondustandspiders'webs;buttherewasnocircleofluminousletters,nodoctorinanecstasycontemplatingtheflamingvision,astheeaglegazesuponthesun.
Nevertheless,thecellwasnotdeserted.
Amanwasseatedinthearm–chair,andbendingoverthetable.
Jehan,towhomhisbackwasturned,couldseeonlyhisshouldersandthebackofhisskull;buthehadnodifficultyinrecognizingthatbaldhead,whichnaturehadprovidedwithaneternaltonsure,asthoughdesirousofmarking,bythisexternalsymbol,thearchdeacon'sirresistibleclericalvocation.
Jehanaccordinglyrecognizedhisbrother;butthedoorhadbeenopenedsosoftly,thatnothingwarnedDomClaudeofhispresence.
Theinquisitivescholartookadvantageofthiscircumstancetoexaminethecellforafewmomentsathisleisure.
Alargefurnace,whichhehadnotatfirstobserved,stoodtotheleftofthearm–chair,beneaththewindow.
Therayoflightwhichpenetratedthroughthisaperturemadeitswaythroughaspider'scircularweb,whichtastefullyinscribeditsdelicateroseinthearchofthewindow,andinthecentreofwhichtheinsectarchitecthungmotionless,likethehubofthiswheeloflace.
Uponthefurnacewereaccumulatedindisorder,allsortsofvases,earthenwarebottles,glassretorts,andmattressesofcharcoal.
Jehanobserved,withasigh,thattherewasnofrying–pan."Howcoldthekitchenutensilsare!"hesaidtohimself.
Infact,therewasnofireinthefurnace,anditseemedasthoughnonehadbeenlightedforalongtime.
Aglassmask,whichJehannoticedamongtheutensilsofalchemy,andwhichservednodoubt,toprotectthearchdeacon'sfacewhenhewasworkingoversomesubstancetobedreaded,layinonecornercoveredwithdustandapparentlyforgotten.
Besideitlayapairofbellowsnolessdusty,theuppersideofwhichborethisinscriptionincrustedincopperletters:SPIRASPERA.
Otherinscriptionswerewritten,inaccordancewiththefashionofthehermetics,ingreatnumbersonthewalls;sometracedwithink,othersengravedwithametalpoint.
Therewere,moreover,Gothicletters,Hebrewletters,Greekletters,andRomanletters,pell–mell;theinscriptionsoverflowedathaphazard,ontopofeachother,themorerecenteffacingthemoreancient,andallentangledwitheachother,likethebranchesinathicket,likepikesinanaffray.
Itwas,infact,astrangelyconfusedminglingofallhumanphilosophies,allreveries,allhumanwisdom.
Hereandthereoneshoneoutfromamongtherestlikeabanneramonglanceheads.
Generally,itwasabriefGreekorRomandevice,suchastheMiddleAgesknewsowellhowtoformulate.—~Unde?Inde?
—Homohominimonstrurn–Ast'ra,castra,nomen,numen.—MeyaBibklov,ueyaxaxov.—Sapereaude.
Fiatubivult~—etc.;sometimesaworddevoidofallapparentsense,~Avayxoqpayia~,whichpossiblycontainedabitterallusiontotheregimeofthecloister;sometimesasimplemaximofclericaldisciplineformulatedinaregularhexameter~Coelestemdominumterrestremdicitedominum~.
TherewasalsoHebrewjargon,ofwhichJehan,whoasyetknewbutlittleGreek,understoodnothing;andallweretraversedineverydirectionbystars,byfiguresofmenoranimals,andbyintersectingtriangles;andthiscontributednotalittletomakethescrawledwallofthecellresembleasheetofpaperoverwhichamonkeyhaddrawnbackandforthapenfilledwithink.
Thewholechamber,moreover,presentedageneralaspectofabandonmentanddilapidation;andthebadstateoftheutensilsinducedthesuppositionthattheirownerhadlongbeendistractedfromhislaborsbyotherpreoccupations.
Meanwhile,thismaster,bentoveravastmanuscript,ornamentedwithfantasticalillustrations,appearedtobetormentedbyanideawhichincessantlymingledwithhismeditations.
ThatatleastwasJehan'sidea,whenheheardhimexclaim,withthethoughtfulbreaksofadreamerthinkingaloud,—
"Yes,Manousaidit,andZoroastertaughtit!
thesunisbornfromfire,themoonfromthesun;fireisthesouloftheuniverse;itselementaryatomspourforthandflowincessantlyupontheworldthroughinfinitechannels!
Atthepointwherethesecurrentsintersecteachotherintheheavens,theyproducelight;attheirpointsofintersectiononearth,theyproducegold.Light,gold;thesamething!Fromfiretotheconcretestate.
Thedifferencebetweenthevisibleandthepalpable,betweenthefluidandthesolidinthesamesubstance,betweenwaterandice,nothingmore.
Thesearenodreams;itisthegenerallawofnature.
Butwhatisonetodoinordertoextractfromsciencethesecretofthisgenerallaw?What!
thislightwhichinundatesmyhandisgold!
Thesesameatomsdilatedinaccordancewithacertainlawneedonlybecondensedinaccordancewithanotherlaw.Howisittobedone?
Somehavefanciedbyburyingarayofsunlight,Averroës,—yes,’tis Averroës,—Averroës buriedoneunderthefirstpillarontheleftofthesanctuaryoftheKoran,inthegreatMahometanmosqueofCordova;butthevaultcannotheopenedforthepurposeofascertainingwhethertheoperationhassucceeded,untilafterthelapseofeightthousandyears.
"Thedevil!"saidJehan,tohimself,"'tisalongwhiletowaitforacrown!"
"Othershavethought,"continuedthedreamyarchdeacon,"thatitwouldbebetterworthwhiletooperateuponarayofSirius.
But'tisexceedinghardtoobtainthisraypure,becauseofthesimultaneouspresenceofotherstarswhoseraysminglewithit.
Flamelesteemeditmoresimpletooperateuponterrestrialfire.Flamel!there'spredestinationinthename!~Flamma~!yes,fire.Allliesthere.
Thediamondiscontainedinthecarbon,goldisinthefire.Buthowtoextractit?
Magistriaffirmsthattherearecertainfemininenames,whichpossessacharmsosweetandmysterious,thatitsufficestopronouncethemduringtheoperation.
LetusreadwhatManonsaysonthematter:'Wherewomenarehonored,thedivinitiesarerejoiced;wheretheyaredespised,itisuselesstopraytoGod.
Themouthofawomanisconstantlypure;itisarunningwater,itisarayofsunlight.
Thenameofawomanshouldbeagreeable,sweet,fanciful;itshouldendinlongvowels,andresemblewordsofbenediction.'
Yes,thesageisright;intruth,Maria,Sophia,laEsmeral—Damnation!alwaysthatthought!"
Andheclosedthebookviolently.
Hepassedhishandoverhisbrow,asthoughtobrushawaytheideawhichassailedhim;thenhetookfromthetableanailandasmallhammer,whosehandlewascuriouslypaintedwithcabalisticletters.
"Forsometime,"hesaidwithabittersmile,"Ihavefailedinallmyexperiments!
onefixedideapossessesme,andsearsmybrainlikefire.
IhavenotevenbeenabletodiscoverthesecretofCassiodorus,whoselampburnedwithoutwickandwithoutoil.Asimplematter,nevertheless—"
"Thedeuce!"mutteredJehaninhisbeard.
"Hence,"continuedthepriest,"onewretchedthoughtissufficienttorenderamanweakandbesidehimself!Oh!howClaudePernellewouldlaughatme.
ShewhocouldnotturnNicholasFlamelaside,foronemoment,fromhispursuitofthegreatwork!What!
IholdinmyhandthemagichammerofZéchiélé!
ateveryblowdealtbytheformidablerabbi,fromthedepthsofhiscell,uponthisnail,thatoneofhisenemieswhomhehadcondemned,wereheathousandleaguesaway,wasburiedacubitdeepintheearthwhichswallowedhim.
TheKingofFrancehimself,inconsequenceofoncehavinginconsideratelyknockedatthedoorofthethermaturgist,sanktothekneesthroughthepavementofhisownParis.Thistookplacethreecenturiesago.Well!
Ipossessthehammerandthenail,andinmyhandstheyareutensilsnomoreformidablethanaclubinthehandsofamakerofedgetools.
AndyetallthatisrequiredistofindthemagicwordwhichZéchiélépronouncedwhenhestruckhisnail."
"Whatnonsense!"thoughtJehan.
"Letussee,letustry!"resumedthearchdeaconbriskly.
"WereItosucceed,Ishouldbeholdthebluesparkflashfromtheheadofthenail.Emen–Hétan!Emen–Hétan!That'snotit.Sigéani!Sigéani!
MaythisnailopenthetombtoanyonewhobearsthenameofPhoebus!Acurseuponit!Alwaysandeternallythesameidea!"
Andheflungawaythehammerinarage.Thenhesankdownsodeeplyonthearm–chairandthetable,thatJehanlosthimfromviewbehindthegreatpileofmanuscripts.
Forthespaceofseveralminutes,allthathesawwashisfistconvulsivelyclenchedonabook.
Suddenly,DomClaudesprangup,seizedacompassandengravedinsilenceuponthewallincapitalletters,thisGreekword
~ANArKH~.
"Mybrotherismad,"saidJehantohimself;"itwouldhavebeenfarmoresimpletowrite~Fatum~,everyoneisnotobligedtoknowGreek."
Thearchdeaconreturnedandseatedhimselfinhisarmchair,andplacedhisheadonbothhishands,asasickmandoes,whoseheadisheavyandburning.
Thestudentwatchedhisbrotherwithsurprise.
Hedidnotknow,hewhoworehisheartonhissleeve,hewhoobservedonlythegoodoldlawofNatureintheworld,hewhoallowedhispassionstofollowtheirinclinations,andinwhomthelakeofgreatemotionswasalwaysdry,sofreelydidheletitoffeachdaybyfreshdrains,—hedidnotknowwithwhatfurytheseaofhumanpassionsfermentsandboilswhenallegressisdeniedtoit,howitaccumulates,howitswells,howitoverflows,howithollowsouttheheart;howitbreaksininwardsobs,anddullconvulsions,untilithasrentitsdikesandburstitsbed.
TheaustereandglacialenvelopeofClaudeFrollo,thatcoldsurfaceofsteepandinaccessiblevirtue,hadalwaysdeceivedJehan.
Themerryscholarhadneverdreamedthattherewasboilinglava,furiousandprofound,beneaththesnowybrowofAEtna.
Wedonotknowwhetherhesuddenlybecameconsciousofthesethings;but,giddyashewas,heunderstoodthathehadseenwhatheoughtnottohaveseen,thathehadjustsurprisedthesoulofhiselderbrotherinoneofitsmostsecretaltitudes,andthatClaudemustnotbeallowedtoknowit.
Seeingthatthearchdeaconhadfallenbackintohisformerimmobility,hewithdrewhisheadverysoftly,andmadesomenoisewithhisfeetoutsidethedoor,likeapersonwhohasjustarrivedandisgivingwarningofhisapproach.
"Enter!"criedthearchdeacon,fromtheinteriorofhiscell;"Iwasexpectingyou.Ileftthedoorunlockedexpressly;enterMasterJacques!"
Thescholarenteredboldly.Thearchdeacon,whowasverymuchembarrassedbysuchavisitinsuchaplace,trembledinhisarm–chair."What!'tisyou,Jehan?"
"'TisaJ,allthesame,"saidthescholar,withhisruddy,merry,andaudaciousface.
DomClaude'svisagehadresumeditssevereexpression.
"Whatareyoucomefor?"
"Brother,"repliedthescholar,makinganefforttoassumeadecent,pitiful,andmodestmien,andtwirlinghiscapinhishandswithaninnocentair;"Iamcometoaskofyou—"
"What?"
"Alittlelectureonmorality,ofwhichIstandgreatlyinneed,"Jehandidnotdaretoaddaloud,—"andalittlemoneyofwhichIaminstillgreaterneed."
Thislastmemberofhisphraseremainedunuttered.
"Monsieur,"saidthearchdeacon,inacoldtone,"Iamgreatlydispleasedwithyou."
"Alas!"sighedthescholar.
DomClaudemadehisarm–chairdescribeaquartercircle,andgazedintentlyatJehan.
"Iamverygladtoseeyou."
Thiswasaformidableexordium.Jehanbracedhimselfforaroughencounter.
"Jehan,complaintsarebroughtmeaboutyoueveryday.Whataffraywasthatinwhichyoubruisedwithacudgelalittlevicomte,AlbertdeRamonchamp?"
"Oh!"saidJehan,"avastthingthat!Amaliciouspageamusedhimselfbysplashingthescholars,bymakinghishorsegallopthroughthemire!"
"Who,"pursuedthearchdeacon,"isthatMahietFargel,whosegownyouhavetorn?~Tunicamdechiraverunt~,saiththecomplaint."
"Ahbah!awretchedcapofaMontaigu!Isn'tthatit?"
"Thecomplaintsays~tunicam~andnot~cappettam~.DoyouknowLatin?"
Jehandidnotreply.
"Yes,"pursuedthepriestshakinghishead,"thatisthestateoflearningandlettersatthepresentday.
TheLatintongueishardlyunderstood,Syriacisunknown,Greeksoodiousthat'tisaccountednoignoranceinthemostlearnedtoskipaGreekwordwithoutreadingit,andtosay,'~Groecumestnonlegitur~.'"
Thescholarraisedhiseyesboldly."Monsieurmybrother,dothitpleaseyouthatIshallexplainingoodFrenchvernacularthatGreekwordwhichiswrittenyonderonthewall?"
"Whatword?"
"'~ANArKH~."
Aslightflushspreadoverthecheeksofthepriestwiththeirhighbones,likethepuffofsmokewhichannouncesontheoutsidethesecretcommotionsofavolcano.Thestudenthardlynoticedit.
"Well,Jehan,"stammeredtheelderbrotherwithaneffort,"Whatisthemeaningofyonderword?"
"FATE."
DomClaudeturnedpaleagain,andthescholarpursuedcarelessly.
"Andthatwordbelowit,gravedbythesamehand,'~Ayáyvela~,signifies'impurity.'YouseethatpeopledoknowtheirGreek."
Andthearchdeaconremainedsilent.ThisGreeklessonhadrenderedhimthoughtful.
MasterJehan,whopossessedalltheartfulwaysofaspoiledchild,judgedthatthemomentwasafavorableoneinwhichtoriskhisrequest.Accordingly,heassumedanextremelysofttoneandbegan,—
"Mygoodbrother,doyouhatemetosuchadegreeastolooksavagelyuponmebecauseofafewmischievouscuffsandblowsdistributedinafairwartoapackofladsandbrats,~quibusdammarmosetis~?
Yousee,goodBrotherClaude,thatpeopleknowtheirLatin."
Butallthiscaressinghypocrisydidnothaveitsusualeffectonthesevereelderbrother.Cerberusdidnotbiteatthehoneycake.Thearchdeacon'sbrowdidnotloseasinglewrinkle.
"Whatareyoudrivingat?"hesaiddryly.
"Well,inpointoffact,this!"repliedJehanbravely,"Istandinneedofmoney."
Atthisaudaciousdeclaration,thearchdeacon'svisageassumedathoroughlypedagogicalandpaternalexpression.
"Youknow,MonsieurJehan,thatourfiefofTirecbappe,puttingthedirecttaxesandtherentsofthenineandtwentyhousesinablock,yieldsonlynineandthirtylivres,elevensous,sixdeniers,Parisian.
ItisonehalfmorethaninthetimeofthebrothersPaclet,butitisnotmuch."
"Ineedmoney,"saidJehanstoically.
"Youknowthattheofficialhasdecidedthatourtwenty–onehousesshouldhemovedfullintothefiefoftheBishopric,andthatwecouldredeemthishomageonlybypayingthereverendbishoptwomarksofsilvergiltofthepriceofsixlivresparisis.
Now,thesetwomarksIhavenotyetbeenabletogettogether.Youknowit."
"IknowthatIstandinneedofmoney,"repeatedJehanforthethirdtime.
"Andwhatareyougoingtodowithit?"
ThisquestioncausedaflashofhopetogleambeforeJehan'seyes.Heresumedhisdainty,caressingair.
"Stay,dearBrotherClaude,Ishouldnotcometoyou,withanyevilmotive.
Thereisnointentionofcuttingadashinthetavernswithyourunzains,andofstruttingaboutthestreetsofParisinacaparisonofgoldbrocade,withalackey,~cummeolaquasio~.No,brother,'tisforagoodwork."
"Whatgoodwork?"demandedClaude,somewhatsurprised.
"TwoofmyfriendswishtopurchaseanoutfitfortheinfantofapoorHaudriettewidow.Itisacharity.Itwillcostthreeforms,andIshouldliketocontributetoit."
"Whatarenamesofyourtwofriends?"
"Pierrel'AssommeurandBaptisteCroque–Oison*."
*PetertheSlaughterer;andBaptistCrack–Gosling.
"Hum,"saidthearchdeacon;"thosearenamesasfitforagoodworkasacatapultforthechiefaltar."
ItiscertainthatJehanhadmadeaverybadchoiceofnamesforhistwofriends.Herealizedittoolate.
"Andthen,"pursuedthesagaciousClaude,"whatsortofaninfant'soutfitisitthatistocostthreeforms,andthatforthechildofaHaudriette?
SincewhenhavetheHaudriettewidowstakentohavingbabesinswaddling–clothes?"
Jehanbroketheiceoncemore.
"Eh,well!yes!IneedmoneyinordertogoandseeIsabeaulaThierryeto–night;intheVal–d'Amour!"
"Impurewretch!"exclaimedthepriest.
"~Avayveia~!"saidJehan.
Thisquotation,whichthescholarborrowedwithmalice,perchance,fromthewallofthecell,producedasingulareffectonthearchdeacon.
Hebithislipsandhiswrathwasdrownedinacrimsonflush.
"Begone,"hesaidtoJehan."Iamexpectingsomeone."
Thescholarmadeonemoreeffort.
"BrotherClaude,givemeatleastonelittleparisistobuysomethingtoeat."
"HowfarhaveyougoneintheDecretalsofGratian?"demandedDomClaude.
"Ihavelostmycopybooks.
"WhereareyouinyourLatinhumanities?"
"MycopyofHoracehasbeenstolen."
"WhereareyouinAristotle?"
"I'faith!brotherwhatfatherofthechurchisit,whosaysthattheerrorsofhereticshavealwayshadfortheirlurkingplacethethicketsofAristotle'smetaphysics?AplagueonAristotle!
Icarenottotearmyreligiononhismetaphysics."
"Youngman,"resumedthearchdeacon,"attheking'slastentry,therewasayounggentleman,namedPhilippedeComines,whoworeembroideredonthehousingsofhishorsethisdevice,uponwhichIcounselyoutomeditate:~Quinonlaborat,nonmanducet~."
Thescholarremainedsilentforamoment,withhisfingerinhisear,hiseyesontheground,andadiscomfitedmien.
AllatonceheturnedroundtoClaudewiththeagilequicknessofawagtail.
"So,mygoodbrother,yourefusemeasouparisis,wherewithtobuyacrustatabaker'sshop?"
"~Quinonlaborat,nonmanducet~."
Atthisresponseoftheinflexiblearchdeacon,Jehanhidhisheadinhishands,likeawomansobbing,andexclaimedwithanexpressionofdespair:"~Orororororoi~."
"Whatisthemeaningofthis,sir?"demandedClaude,surprisedatthisfreak.
"Whatindeed!"saidthescholar;andheliftedtoClaudehisimpudenteyesintowhichhehadjustthrusthisfistsinordertocommunicatetothemtherednessoftears;"'tisGreek!
'tisananapaestofAEschyluswhichexpressesgriefperfectly."
Andhereheburstintoalaughsodrollandviolentthatitmadethearchdeaconsmile.ItwasClaude'sfault,infact:whyhadhesospoiledthatchild?
"Oh!goodBrotherClaude,"resumedJehan,emboldenedbythissmile,"lookatmywornoutboots.
Isthereacothurnusintheworldmoretragicthantheseboots,whosesolesarehangingouttheirtongues?"
Thearchdeaconpromptlyreturnedtohisoriginalseverity.
"Iwillsendyousomenewboots,butnomoney."
"Onlyapoorlittleparisis,brother,"continuedthesuppliantJehan.
"IwilllearnGratianbyheart,IwillbelievefirmlyinGod,IwillbearegularPythagorasofscienceandvirtue.Butonelittleparisis,inmercy!
Wouldyouhavefaminebitemewithitsjawswhicharegapinginfrontofme,blacker,deeper,andmorenoisomethanaTartarusorthenoseofamonk?"
DomClaudeshookhiswrinkledhead:"~Quinonlaborat~—"
Jehandidnotallowhimtofinish.
"Well,"heexclaimed,"tothedevilthen!Longlivejoy!
Iwillliveinthetavern,Iwillfight,IwillbreakpotsandIwillgoandseethewenches."
Andthereupon,hehurledhiscapatthewall,andsnappedhisfingerslikecastanets.
Thearchdeaconsurveyedhimwithagloomyair.
"Jehan,youhavenosoul."
"Inthatcase,accordingtoEpicurius,Ilackasomethingmadeofanothersomethingwhichhasnoname."
"Jehan,youmustthinkseriouslyofamendingyourways."
"Oh,comenow,"criedthestudent,gazinginturnathisbrotherandthealembicsonthefurnace,"everythingispreposteroushere,bothideasandbottles!"
"Jehan,youareonaveryslipperydownwardroad.Doyouknowwhitheryouaregoing?"
"Tothewine–shop,"saidJehan.
"Thewine–shopleadstothepillory."
"'Tisasgoodalanternasanyother,andperchancewiththatone,Diogeneswouldhavefoundhisman."
"Thepilloryleadstothegallows."
"Thegallowsisabalancewhichhasamanatoneendandthewholeearthattheother.'Tisfinetobetheman."
"Thegallowsleadstohell."
"'Tisabigfire.".
"Jehan,Jehan,theendwillbebad."
"Thebeginningwillhavebeengood."
Atthatmoment,thesoundofafootstepwasheardonthestaircase.
"Silence!"saidthearchdeacon,layinghisfingeronhismouth,"hereisMasterJacques.
Listen,Jehan,"headded,inalowvoice;"haveacarenevertospeakofwhatyoushallhaveseenorheardhere.
Hideyourselfquicklyunderthefurnace,anddonotbreathe."
Thescholarconcealedhimself;justthenahappyideaoccurredtohim.
"Bytheway,BrotherClaude,aformfornotbreathing."
"Silence!Ipromise."
"Youmustgiveittome."
"Takeit,then!"saidthearchdeaconangrily,flinginghispurseathim.
Jehandartedunderthefurnaceagain,andthedooropened.
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