English
Theillustriouswineshopof"Eve'sApple"wassituatedintheUniversity,atthecorneroftheRuedelaRondelleandtheRuedelaBâtonnier.
Itwasaveryspaciousandverylowhailonthegroundfloor,withavaultedceilingwhosecentralspringresteduponahugepillarofwoodpaintedyellow;tableseverywhere,shiningpewterjugshangingonthewalls,alwaysalargenumberofdrinkers,aplentyofwenches,awindowonthestreet,avineatthedoor,andoverthedooraflaringpieceofsheet–iron,paintedwithanappleandawoman,rustedbytherainandturningwiththewindonanironpin.
Thisspeciesofweather–vanewhichlookeduponthepavementwasthesignboard.
Nightwasfalling;thesquarewasdark;thewine–shop,fullofcandles,flamedafarlikeaforgeinthegloom;thenoiseofglassesandfeasting,ofoathsandquarrels,whichescapedthroughthebrokenpanes,wasaudible.
Throughthemistwhichthewarmthoftheroomspreadoverthewindowinfront,ahundredconfusedfigurescouldbeseenswarming,andfromtimetotimeaburstofnoisylaughterbrokeforthfromit.
Thepassers–bywhoweregoingabouttheirbusiness,slippedpastthistumultuouswindowwithoutglancingatit.
Onlyatintervalsdidsomelittleraggedboyraisehimselfontiptoeasfarastheledge,andhurlintothedrinking–shop,thatancient,jeeringhoot,withwhichdrunkenmenwerethenpursued:"AuxHouls,saouls,saouls,saouls!"
Nevertheless,onemanpacedimperturbablybackandforthinfrontofthetavern,gazingatitincessantly,andgoingnofurtherfromitthanapikernanfromhissentry–box.
Hewasenvelopedinamantletohisverynose.
Thismantlehehadjustpurchasedoftheold–clothesman,inthevicinityofthe"Eve'sApple,"nodoubttoprotecthimselffromthecoldoftheMarchevening,possiblyalso,toconcealhiscostume.
Fromtimetotimehepausedinfrontofthedimwindowwithitsleadenlattice,listened,looked,andstampedhisfoot.
Atlengththedoorofthedram–shopopened.
Thiswaswhatheappearedtobewaitingfor.Twobooncompanionscameforth.
Therayoflightwhichescapedfromthedoorcrimsonedforamomenttheirjovialfaces.
Themaninthemantlewentandstationedhimselfonthewatchunderaporchontheothersideofthestreet.
"~Corneettonnerre~!"saidoneofthecomrades."Seveno'clockisonthepointofstriking.'Tisthehourofmyappointedmeeting."
"Itellyou,"repeatedhiscompanion,withathicktongue,"thatIdon'tliveintheRuedesMauvaisesParoles,~indignusquiintermalaverbahabitat~.
IhavealodgingintheRueJean–Pain–Mollet,~invicoJohannisPain–Mollet~.
Youaremorehornedthanaunicornifyouassertthecontrary.
Everyoneknowsthathewhooncemountsastrideabearisneverafterafraid;butyouhaveanoseturnedtodaintieslikeSaint–Jacquesofthehospital."
"Jehan,myfriend,youaredrunk,"saidtheother.
Theotherrepliedstaggering,"Itpleasesyoutosayso,Phoebus;butithathbeenprovedthatPlatohadtheprofileofahound."
Thereaderhas,nodoubt,alreadyrecognizedourtwobravefriends,thecaptainandthescholar.
Itappearsthatthemanwhowaslyinginwaitforthemhadalsorecognizedthem,forheslowlyfollowedallthezigzagsthatthescholarcausedthecaptaintomake,whobeingamorehardeneddrinkerhadretainedallhisself–possession.
Bylisteningtothemattentively,themaninthemantlecouldcatchinitsentiretythefollowinginterestingconversation,—
"~Corbacque~!Dotrytowalkstraight,masterbachelor;youknowthatImustleaveyou.Hereitisseveno'clock.Ihaveanappointmentwithawoman."
"Leavemethen!Iseestarsandlancesoffire.YouareliketheChateaudeDampmartin,whichisburstingwithlaughter."
"Bythewartsofmygrandmother,Jehan,youareravingwithtoomuchrabidness.Bytheway,Jehan,haveyouanymoneyleft?"
"MonsieurRector,thereisnomistake;thelittlebutcher'sshop,~parvaboucheria~."
"Jehau!myfriendJehan!
YouknowthatImadeanappointmentwiththatlittlegirlattheendofthePontSaint–Michel,andIcanonlytakehertotheFalourdel's,theoldcroneofthebridge,andthatImustpayforachamber.
Theoldwitchwithawhitemoustachewouldnottrustme.Jehan!forpity'ssake!
Havewedrunkupthewholeofthecuré'spurse?Haveyounotasingleparisisleft?"
"Theconsciousnessofhavingspenttheotherhourswellisajustandsavorycondimentforthetable."
"Bellyandguts!atrucetoyourwhimsicalnonsense!Tellme,Jehanofthedevil!haveyouanymoneyleft?Giveittome,~bédieu~!"
orIwillsearchyou,wereyouasleprousasJob,andasscabbyasCaesar!"
"Monsieur,theRueGaliacheisastreetwhichhathatoneendtheRuedelaVerrerie,andattheothertheRuedelaTixeranderie."
"Well,yes!mygoodfriendJehan,mypoorcomrade,theRueGaliacheisgood,verygood.
Butinthenameofheavencollectyourwits.
Imusthaveasouparisis,andtheappointmentisforseveno'clock."
"Silencefortherondo,andattentiontotherefrain,—
"~Quandlesratsmangerontlescas,
Leroiseraseigneurd'Arras;
Quandlamer,quiestgrandeetle(e
SeraalaSaint–Jeangele(e,
Onverra,par–dessuslaglace,
Sortirceuxd'Arrasdeleur
place~*."
*Whentheratseatthecats,thekingwillbelordofArras;whentheseawhichisgreatandwide,isfrozenoveratSt.John'stide,menwillseeacrosstheice,thosewhodwellinArrasquittheirplace.
"Well,scholarofAntichrist,mayyoubestrangledwiththeentrailsofyourmother!"
exclaimedPhoebus,andhegavethedrunkenscholararoughpush;thelatterslippedagainstthewall,andslidflabbilytothepavementofPhilipAugustus.
Aremnantoffraternalpity,whichneverabandonstheheartofadrinker,promptedPhoebustorollJehanwithhisfootupononeofthosepillowsofthepoor,whichProvidencekeepsinreadinessatthecornerofallthestreetpostsofParis,andwhichtherichblightwiththenameof"arubbish–heap."
ThecaptainadjustedJehan'sheaduponaninclinedplaneofcabbage–stumps,andontheveryinstant,thescholarfelltosnoringinamagnificentbass.
Meanwhile,allmalicewasnotextinguishedinthecaptain'sheart.
"Somuchtheworseifthedevil'scartpicksyouuponitspassage!"
hesaidtothepoor,sleepingclerk;andhestrodeoff.
Themaninthemantle,whohadnotceasedtofollowhim,haltedforamomentbeforetheprostratescholar,asthoughagitatedbyindecision;then,utteringaprofoundsigh,healsostrodeoffinpursuitofthecaptain.
We,likethem,willleaveJehantoslumberbeneaththeopensky,andwillfollowthemalso,ifitpleasesthereader.
OnemergingintotheRueSaint–André–des–Arcs,CaptainPhoebusperceivedthatsomeonewasfollowinghim.
Onglancingsidewaysbychance,heperceivedasortofshadowcrawlingafterhimalongthewalls.
Hehalted,ithalted;heresumedhismarch,itresumeditsmarch.Thisdisturbedhimnotovermuch."Ah,bah!"hesaidtohimself,"Ihavenotasou."
HepausedinfrontoftheColleged'Autun.
Itwasatthiscollegethathehadsketchedoutwhathecalledhisstudies,and,throughascholar'steasinghabitwhichstilllingeredinhim,heneverpassedthefaadewithoutinflictingonthestatueofCardinalPierreBertrand,sculpturedtotherightoftheportal,theaffrontofwhichPriapuscomplainssobitterlyinthesatireofHorace,~Olimtruncuseramficulnus~.
Hehaddonethiswithsomuchunrelentinganimositythattheinscription,~Eduensisepiscopus~,hadbecomealmosteffaced.
Therefore,hehaltedbeforethestatueaccordingtohiswont.Thestreetwasutterlydeserted.
Atthemomentwhenhewascoollyretyinghisshoulderknots,withhisnoseintheair,hesawtheshadowapproachinghimwithslowsteps,soslowthathehadampletimetoobservethatthisshadowworeacloakandahat.
Onarrivingnearhim,ithaltedandremainedmoremotionlessthanthestatueofCardinalBertrand.
Meanwhile,itriveteduponPhoebustwointenteyes,fullofthatvaguelightwhichissuesinthenighttimefromthepupilsofacat.
Thecaptainwasbrave,andwouldhavecaredverylittleforahighwayman,witharapierinhishand.
Butthiswalkingstatue,thispetrifiedman,frozehisblood.
Therewerethenincirculation,strangestoriesofasurlymonk,anocturnalprowleraboutthestreetsofParis,andtheyrecurredconfusedlytohismemory.
Heremainedforseveralminutesinstupefaction,andfinallybrokethesilencewithaforcedlaugh.
"Monsieur,ifyouarearobber,asIhopeyouare,youproduceuponmetheeffectofaheronattackinganutshell.
Iamthesonofaruinedfamily,mydearfellow.Tryyourhandnearbyhere.
Inthechapelofthiscollegethereissomewoodofthetruecrosssetinsilver."
ThehandoftheshadowemergedfrombeneathitsmantleanddescendeduponthearmofPhoebuswiththegripofaneagle'stalon;atthesametimetheshadowspoke,—
"CaptainPhoebusdeChâteaupers!"
What,thedevil!"saidPhoebus,"youknowmyname!"
"Iknownotyournamealone,"continuedthemaninthemantle,withhissepulchralvoice."Youhavearendezvousthisevening."
"Yes,"repliedPhoebusinamazement.
"Atseveno'clock."
"Inaquarterofanhour."
"AtlaFalourdel's."
"Precisely."
"ThelewdhagofthePontSaint–Michel."
"OfSaintMichelthearchangel,asthePaterNostersaith."
"Impiouswretch!"mutteredthespectre."Withawoman?"
"~Confiteor~,—Iconfess—."
"Whoiscalled—?"
"LaSmeralda,"saidPhoebus,gayly.Allhisheedlessnesshadgraduallyreturned.
Atthisname,theshadow'sgraspshookthearmofPhoebusinafury.
"CaptainPhoebusdeChâteaupers,thouliest!"
Anyonewhocouldhavebeheldatthatmomentthecaptain'sinflamedcountenance,hisleapbackwards,soviolentthathedisengagedhimselffromthegripwhichheldhim,theproudairwithwhichheclappedhishandonhisswordhilt,and,inthepresenceofthiswraththegloomyimmobilityofthemaninthecloak,—anyonewhocouldhavebeheldthiswouldhavebeenfrightened.
TherewasinitatouchofthecombatofDonJuanandthestatue.
"ChristandSatan!"exclaimedthecaptain."ThatisawordwhichrarelystrikestheearofaChâteaupers!Thouwiltnotdarerepeatit."
"Thouliest!"saidtheshadowcoldly.
Thecaptaingnashedhisteeth.Surlymonk,phantom,superstitions,—hehadforgottenallatthatmoment.Henolongerbeheldanythingbutaman,andaninsult.
"Ah!thisiswell!"
hestammered,inavoicestifledwithrage.
Hedrewhissword,thenstammering,forangeraswellasfearmakesamantremble:"Here!Onthespot!Comeon!Swords!Swords!Bloodonthepavement!"
Buttheotherneverstirred.Whenhebeheldhisadversaryonguardandreadytoparry,—
"CaptainPhoebus,"hesaid,andhistonevibratedwithbitterness,"youforgetyourappointment."
TheragesofmenlikePhoebusaremilk–soups,whoseebullitioniscalmedbyadropofcoldwater.Thissimpleremarkcausedtheswordwhichglitteredinthecaptain'shandtobelowered.
"Captain,"pursuedtheman,"to–morrow,thedayafterto–morrow,amonthhence,tenyearshence,youwillfindmereadytocutyourthroat;butgofirsttoyourrendezvous."
"Insooth,"saidPhoebus,asthoughseekingtocapitulatewithhimself,"thesearetwocharmingthingstobeencounteredinarendezvous,—aswordandawench;butIdonotseewhyIshouldmisstheoneforthesakeoftheother,whenIcanhaveboth."
Hereplacedhisswordinitsscabbard.
"Gotoyourrendezvous,"saidtheman.
"Monsieur,"repliedPhoebuswithsomeembarrassment,"manythanksforyourcourtesy.
Infact,therewillbeampletimeto–morrowforustochopupfatherAdam'sdoubletintoslashesandbuttonholes.
Iamobligedtoyouforallowingmetopassonemoreagreeablequarterofanhour.
Icertainlydidhopetoputyouinthegutter,andstillarriveintimeforthefairone,especiallyasithasabetterappearancetomakethewomenwaitalittleinsuchcases.
Butyoustrikemeashavingtheairofagallantman,anditissafertodeferouraffairuntilto–morrow.
SoIwillbetakemyselftomyrendezvous;itisforseveno'clock,asyouknow."HerePhoebusscratchedhisear."Ah.~CorneDieu~!Ihadforgotten!
Ihaven'tasoutodischargethepriceofthegarret,andtheoldcronewillinsistonbeingpaidinadvance.Shedistrustsme."
"Hereisthewherewithaltopay."
Phoebusfeltthestranger'scoldhandslipintohisalargepieceofmoney.Hecouldnotrefrainfromtakingthemoneyandpressingthehand.
"~VraiDieu~!"heexclaimed,"youareagoodfellow!"
"Onecondition,"saidtheman."ProvetomethatIhavebeenwrongandthatyouwerespeakingthetruth.
HidemeinsomecornerwhenceIcanseewhetherthiswomanisreallytheonewhosenameyouuttered."
"Oh!"repliedPhoebus,"'tisallonetome.Wewilltake,theSainte–Marthechamber;youcanlookatyoureasefromthekennelhardby."
"Comethen,"saidtheshadow.
"Atyourservice,"saidthecaptain,"IknownotwhetheryouareMesserDiavolusinperson;butletusbegoodfriendsforthisevening;to–morrowIwillrepayyouallmydebts,bothofpurseandsword."
Theysetoutagainatarapidpace.Attheexpirationofafewminutes,thesoundoftheriverannouncedtothemthattheywereonthePontSaint–Michel,thenloadedwithhouses.
"Iwillfirstshowyoutheway,"saidPhoebustohiscompanion,"IwillthengoinsearchofthefaironewhoisawaitingmenearthePetit–Châtelet."
Hiscompanionmadenoreply;hehadnotutteredawordsincetheyhadbeenwalkingsidebyside.
Phoebushaltedbeforealowdoor,andknockedroughly;alightmadeitsappearancethroughthecracksofthedoor.
"Whoisthere?"criedatoothlessvoice.
"~Corps–Dieu!Tte–Dieu!Ventre–Dieu~!"repliedthecaptain.
Thedooropenedinstantly,andallowedthenew–cornerstoseeanoldwomanandanoldlamp,bothofwhichtrembled.
Theoldwomanwasbentdouble,cladintatters,withashakinghead,piercedwithtwosmalleyes,andcoiffedwithadishclout;wrinkledeverywhere,onhandsandfaceandneck;herlipsretreatedunderhergums,andabouthermouthshehadtuftsofwhitehairswhichgaveherthewhiskeredlookofacat.
Theinteriorofthedenwasnolessdilapitatedthanshe;therewerechalkwalls,blackenedbeamsintheceiling,adismantledchimney–piece,spiders'websinallthecorners,inthemiddleastaggeringherdoftablesandlamestools,adirtychildamongtheashes,andatthebackastaircase,orrather,awoodenladder,whichendedinatrapdoorintheceiling.
Onenteringthislair,Phoebus'smysteriouscompanionraisedhismantletohisveryeyes.
Meanwhile,thecaptain,swearinglikeaSaracen,hastenedto"makethesunshineinacrown"assaithouradmirableRégnier.
"TheSainte–Marthechamber,"saidhe.
Theoldwomanaddressedhimasmonseigneur,andshutupthecrowninadrawer.
ItwasthecoinwhichthemanintheblackmantlehadgiventoPhoebus.
Whileherbackwasturned,thebushy–headedandraggedlittleboywhowasplayingintheashes,adroitlyapproachedthedrawer,abstractedthecrown,andputinitsplaceadryleafwhichhehadpluckedfromafagot.
Theoldcronemadeasigntothetwogentlemen,asshecalledthem,tofollowher,andmountedtheladderinadvanceofthem.
Onarrivingattheupperstory,shesetherlamponacoffer,and,Phoebus,likeafrequentvisitorofthehouse,openedadoorwhichopenedonadarkhole.
"Enterhere,mydearfellow,"hesaidtohiscompanion.
Themaninthemantleobeyedwithoutawordinreply,thedoorcloseduponhim;heheardPhoebusboltit,andamomentlaterdescendthestairsagainwiththeagedhag.Thelighthaddisappeared.
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