English
GringoireandtheentireCourtofMiraclesweresufferingmortalanxiety.
ForawholemonththeyhadnotknownwhathadbecomeoflaEsmeralda,whichgreatlypainedtheDukeofEgyptandhisfriendsthevagabonds,norwhathadbecomeofthegoat,whichredoubledGringoire'sgrief.
Oneeveningthegypsyhaddisappeared,andsincethattimehadgivennosignsoflife.Allsearchhadprovedfruitless.
SometormentingbootblackshadtoldGringoireaboutmeetingherthatsameeveningnearthePontSaint–Michel,goingoffwithanofficer;butthishusband,afterthefashionofBohemia,wasanincredulousphilosopher,andbesides,he,betterthananyoneelse,knewtowhatapointhiswifewasvirginal.
Hehadbeenabletoformajudgmentastotheunconquerablemodestyresultingfromthecombinedvirtuesoftheamuletandthegypsy,andhehadmathematicallycalculatedtheresistanceofthatchastitytothesecondpower.
Accordingly,hewasateaseonthatscore.
Stillhecouldnotunderstandthisdisappearance.Itwasaprofoundsorrow.
Hewouldhavegrownthinoverit,hadthatbeenpossible.
Hehadforgotteneverything,evenhisliterarytastes,evenhisgreatwork,~Defigurisregularibusetirregularibus~,whichitwashisintentiontohaveprintedwiththefirstmoneywhichheshouldprocure(forhehadravedoverprinting,eversincehehadseenthe"Didascalon"ofHuguesdeSaintVictor,printedwiththecelebratedcharactersofVindelindeSpire).
Oneday,ashewaspassingsadlybeforethecriminalTournelle,heperceivedaconsiderablecrowdatoneofthegatesofthePalaisdeJustice.
"Whatisthis?"heinquiredofayoungmanwhowascomingout.
"Iknownot,sir,"repliedtheyoungman."
'Tissaidthattheyaretryingawomanwhohathassassinatedagendarme.
Itappearsthatthereissorceryatthebottomofit,thearchbishopandtheofficialhaveintervenedinthecase,andmybrother,whoisthearchdeaconofJosas,canthinkofnothingelse.
Now,Iwishedtospeakwithhim,butIhavenotbeenabletoreachhimbecauseofthethrong,whichvexesmegreatly,asIstandinneedofmoney."
"Alas!sir,"saidGringoire,"IwouldthatIcouldlendyousome,but,mybreechesareworntoholes,and'tisnotcrownswhichhavedoneit."
Hedarednottelltheyoungmanthathewasacquaintedwithhisbrotherthearchdeacon,towhomhehadnotreturnedafterthesceneinthechurch;anegligencewhichembarrassedhim.
Thescholarwenthisway,andGringoiresetouttofollowthecrowdwhichwasmountingthestaircaseofthegreatchamber.
Inhisopinion,therewasnothinglikethespectacleofacriminalprocessfordissipatingmelancholy,soexhilaratinglystupidarejudgesasarule.
Thepopulacewhichhehadjoinedwalkedandelbowedinsilence.
Afteraslowandtiresomemarchthroughalong,gloomycorridor,whichwoundthroughthecourt–houseliketheintestinalcanaloftheancientedifice,hearrivednearalowdoor,openinguponahallwhichhisloftystaturepermittedhimtosurveywithaglanceoverthewavingheadsoftherabble.
Thehallwasvastandgloomy,whichlatterfactmadeitappearstillmorespacious.
Thedaywasdeclining;thelong,pointedwindowspermittedonlyapalerayoflighttoenter,whichwasextinguishedbeforeitreachedthevaultedceiling,anenormoustrellis–workofsculpturedbeams,whosethousandfiguresseemedtomoveconfusedlyintheshadows,manycandleswerealreadylightedhereandthereontables,andbeamingontheheadsofclerksburiedinmassesofdocuments.
Theanteriorportionoftheballwasoccupiedbythecrowd;ontherightandleftweremagistratesandtables;attheend,uponaplatform,anumberofjudges,whoserearranksankintotheshadows,sinisterandmotionlessfaces.
Thewallsweresownwithinnumerablefleurs–de–lis.
AlargefigureofChristmightbevaguelydescriedabovethejudges,andeverywheretherewerepikesandhalberds,uponwhosepointsthereflectionofthecandlesplacedtipsoffire.
"Monsieur,"Gringoireinquiredofoneofhisneighbors,"whoareallthosepersonsrangedyonder,likeprelatesincouncil?"
"Monsieur,"repliedtheneighbor,"thoseontherightarethecounsellorsofthegrandchamber;thoseontheleft,thecouncillorsofinquiry;themastersinblackgowns,themessiresinred."
"Whoisthatbigredfellow,yonderabovethem,whoissweating?"pursuedGringoire.
"Itismonsieurthepresident."
"Andthosesheepbehindhim?"continuedGringoire,whoaswehaveseen,didnotlovethemagistracy,whicharose,possibly,fromthegrudgewhichhecherishedagainstthePalaisdeJusticesincehisdramaticmisadventure.
"Theyaremessieursthemastersofrequestsoftheking'shousehold."
"Andthatboarinfrontofhim?"
"HeismonsieurtheclerkoftheCourtofParliament."
"Andthatcrocodileontheright?"
"MasterPhilippeLheulier,advocateextraordinaryoftheking."
"Andthatbig,blacktom–catontheleft?"
"MasterJacquesCharmolue,procuratorofthekingintheEcclesiasticalCourt,withthegentlemenoftheofficialty."
"Comenow,monsieur,saidGringoire,"praywhatareallthosefinefellowsdoingyonder?"
"Theyarejudging."
"Judgingwhom?Idonotseetheaccused."
"'Tisawoman,sir.Youcannotseeher.Shehasherbackturnedtous,andsheishiddenfromusbythecrowd.Stay,yondersheis,whereyouseeagroupofpartisans."
"Whoisthewoman?"askedGringoire."Doyouknowhername?"
"No,monsieur,Ihavebutjustarrived.Imerelyassumethatthereissomesorceryaboutit,sincetheofficialispresentatthetrial."
"Come!"saidourphilosopher,"wearegoingtoseeallthesemagistratesdevourhumanflesh.'Tisasgoodaspectacleasanyother."
"Monsieur,"remarkedhisneighbor,"thinkyounot,thatMasterJacquesCharmoluehasaverysweetair?"
"Hum!"repliedGringoire."Idistrustasweetnesswhichhathpinchednostrilsandthinlips."
Herethebystandersimposedsilenceuponthetwochatterers.Theywerelisteningtoanimportantdeposition.
"Messeigneurs,"saidanoldwomaninthemiddleofthehall,whoseformwassoconcealedbeneathhergarmentsthatonewouldhavepronouncedherawalkingheapofrags;"Messeigneurs,thethingisastrueasthatIamlaFalourdel,establishedthesefortyyearsatthePontSaintMichel,andpayingregularlymyrents,lord'sdues,andquitrents;atthegateoppositethehouseofTassin–Caillart,thedyer,whichisonthesideuptheriver—apooroldwomannow,butaprettymaidinformerdays,mylords.
Someonesaidtomelately,'LaFalourdel,don'tuseyourspinning–wheeltoomuchintheevening;thedevilisfondofcombingthedistaffsofoldwomenwithhishorns.
'Tiscertainthatthesurlymonkwhowasroundaboutthetemplelastyear,nowprowlsintheCity.
Takecare,LaFalourdel,thathedothnotknockatyourdoor.'
OneeveningIwasspinningonmywheel,therecomesaknockatmydoor;Iaskwhoitis.Theyswear.Iopen.Twomenenter.Amaninblackandahandsomeofficer.
Oftheblackmannothingcouldbeseenbuthiseyes,twocoalsoffire.Alltherestwashatandcloak.
Theysaytome,—'TheSainte–Marthechamber.'
—'Tismyupperchamber,mylords,mycleanest.Theygivemeacrown.
Iputthecrowninmydrawer,andIsay:'Thisshallgotobuytripeattheslaughter–houseoflaGlorietteto–morrow.'Wegoupstairs.
Onarrivingattheupperchamber,andwhilemybackisturned,theblackmandisappears.Thatdazedmeabit.
Theofficer,whowasashandsomeasagreatlord,goesdownstairsagainwithme.Hegoesout.
Inaboutthetimeittakestospinaquarterofahandfulofflax,bereturnswithabeautifulyounggirl,adollwhowouldhaveshonelikethesunhadshebeencoiffed.
Shehadwithheragoat;abigbilly–goat,whetherblackorwhite,Inolongerremember.Thatsetmetothinking.
Thegirldoesnotconcernme,butthegoat!
Ilovenotthosebeasts,theyhaveabeardandhorns.Theyaresolikeaman.
Andthen,theysmackofthewitches,sabbath.However,Isaynothing.Ihadthecrown.
Thatisright,isitnot,MonsieurJudge?
Ishowthecaptainandthewenchtotheupperchamber,andIleavethemalone;thatistosay,withthegoat.
Igodownandsettospinningagain—Imustinformyouthatmyhousehasagroundfloorandstoryabove.
IknownotwhyIfelltothinkingofthesurlymonkwhomthegoathadputintomyheadagain,andthenthebeautifulgirlwasratherstrangelydeckedout.
Allatonce,Ihearacryupstairs,andsomethingfallsonthefloorandthewindowopens.
Iruntominewhichisbeneathit,andIbeholdablackmasspassbeforemyeyesandfallintothewater.Itwasaphantomcladlikeapriest.Itwasamoonlightnight.Isawhimquiteplainly.
Hewasswimminginthedirectionofthecity.
Then,allofatremble,Icallthewatch.
Thegentlemenofthepoliceenter,andnotknowingjustatthefirstmomentwhatthematterwas,andbeingmerry,theybeatme.Iexplaintothem.Wegoupstairs,andwhatdowefind?
mypoorchamberallblood,thecaptainstretchedoutatfulllengthwithadaggerinhisneck,thegirlpretendingtobedead,andthegoatallinafright.'Prettywork!'
Isay,'Ishallhavetowashthatfloorformorethanafortnight.
Itwillhavetobescraped;itwillbeaterriblejob.'
Theycarriedofftheofficer,pooryoungman,andthewenchwithherbosomallbare.
Butwait,theworstisthatonthenextday,whenIwantedtotakethecrowntobuytripe,Ifoundadeadleafinitsplace."
Theoldwomanceased.Amurmurofhorrorranthroughtheaudience.
"Thatphantom,thatgoat,—allsmacksofmagic,"saidoneofGringoire'sneighbors.
"Andthatdryleaf!"addedanother.
"Nodoubtaboutit,"joinedinathird,"sheisawitchwhohasdealingswiththesurlymonk,forthepurposeofplunderingofficers."
Gringoirehimselfwasnotdisinclinedtoregardthisasaltogetheralarmingandprobable.
"GoodyFalourdel,"saidthepresidentmajestically,"haveyounothingmoretocommunicatetothecourt?"
"No,monseigneur,"repliedthecrone,"exceptthatthereporthasdescribedmyhouseasahovelandstinking;whichisanoutrageousfashionofspeaking.
Thehousesonthebridgearenotimposing,becausetherearesuchmultitudesofpeople;but,nevertheless,thebutcherscontinuetodwellthere,whoarewealthyfolk,andmarriedtoveryproperandhandsomewomen."
ThemagistratewhohadremindedGringoireofacrocodilerose,—
"Silence!"saidhe.
"Ipraythegentlemennottolosesightofthefactthatadaggerwasfoundonthepersonoftheaccused.
GoodyFalourdel,haveyoubroughtthatleafintowhichthecrownwhichthedemongaveyouwastransformed?
"Yes,monseigneur,"shereplied;"Ifounditagain.Hereitis."
Abailiffbandedthedeadleaftothecrocodile,whomadeadolefulshakeofthehead,andpasseditontothepresident,whogaveittotheprocuratorofthekingintheecclesiasticalcourt,andthusitmadethecircuitofthehail.
"Itisabirchleaf,"saidMasterJacquesCharmolue."Afreshproofofmagic.
Acounsellortookuptheword.
"Witness,twomenwentupstairstogetherinyourhouse:theblackman,whomyoufirstsawdisappearandafterwardsswimmingintheSeine,withhispriestlygarments,andtheofficer.Whichofthetwohandedyouthecrown?"
Theoldwomanponderedforamomentandthensaid,—"Theofficer."
Amurmurranthroughthecrowd.
"Ah!"thoughtGringoire,"thismakessomedoubtinmymind."
ButMasterPhilippeLheulier,advocateextraordinarytotheking,interposedoncemore.
"Iwillrecalltothesegentlemen,thatinthedepositiontakenathisbedside,theassassinatedofficer,whiledeclaringthathehadavagueideawhentheblackmanaccostedhimthatthelattermightbethesurlymonk,addedthatthephantomhadpressedhimeagerlytogoandmakeacquaintancewiththeaccused;anduponhis,thecaptain's,remarkingthathehadnomoney,hehadgivenhimthecrownwhichthesaidofficerpaidtolaFalourdel.
Hence,thatcrownisthemoneyofhell."
ThisconclusiveobservationappearedtodissipateallthedoubtsofGringoireandtheotherscepticsintheaudience.
"Youhavethedocuments,gentlemen,"addedtheking'sadvocate,ashetookhisseat;"youcanconsultthetestimonyofPhoebusdeChâteaupers."
Atthatname,theaccusedsprangup,herheadroseabovethethrong.GringoirewithhorrorrecognizedlaEsmeralda.
Shewaspale;hertresses,formerlysogracefullybraidedandspangledwithsequins,hungindisorder;herlipswereblue,herholloweyeswereterrible.Alas!
"Phoebus!"shesaid,inbewilderment;"whereishe?Omesseigneurs!beforeyoukillme,tellme,forpitysake,whetherhestilllives?"
"Holdyourtongue,woman,"repliedthepresident,"thatisnoaffairofours."
"Oh!formercy'ssake,tellmeifheisalive!"sherepeated,claspingherbeautifulemaciatedhands;andthesoundofherchainsincontactwithherdress,washeard.
"Well!"saidtheking'sadvocateroughly,"heisdying.Areyousatisfied?"
Theunhappygirlfellbackonhercriminal'sseat,speechless,tearless,whiteasawaxfigure.
Thepresidentbentdowntoamanathisfeet,whoworeagoldcapandablackgown,achainonhisneckandawandinhishand.
"Bailiff,bringinthesecondaccused."
Alleyesturnedtowardsasmalldoor,whichopened,and,tothegreatagitationofGringoire,gavepassagetoaprettygoatwithhornsandhoofsofgold.
Theelegantbeasthaltedforamomentonthethreshold,stretchingoutitsneckasthough,perchedonthesummitofarock,ithadbeforeitseyesanimmensehorizon.
Suddenlyitcaughtsightofthegypsygirl,andleapingoverthetableandtheheadofaclerk,intwoboundsitwasatherknees;thenitrolledgracefullyonitsmistress'sfeet,solicitingawordoracaress;buttheaccusedremainedmotionless,andpoorDjalihimselfobtainednotaglance.
"Eh,why—'tismyvillanousbeast,"saidoldFalourdel,"Irecognizethetwoperfectly!"
JacquesCharmolueinterfered.
"Ifthegentlemenplease,wewillproceedtotheexaminationofthegoat."Hewas,infact,thesecondcriminal.
Nothingmoresimpleinthosedaysthanasuitofsorceryinstitutedagainstananimal.
Wefind,amongothersintheaccountsoftheprovost'sofficefor1466,acuriousdetailconcerningtheexpensesofthetrialofGillet–Soulartandhissow,"executedfortheirdemerits,"atCorbeil.
Everythingisthere,thecostofthepensinwhichtoplacethesow,thefivehundredbundlesofbrushwoodpurchasedattheportofMorsant,thethreepintsofwineandthebread,thelastrepastofthevictimfraternallysharedbytheexecutioner,downtotheelevendaysofguardandfoodforthesow,ateightdeniersparisiseach.
Sometimes,theywentevenfurtherthananimals.
ThecapitulariesofCharlemagneandofLouisleDébonnaireimposeseverepenaltiesonfieryphantomswhichpresumetoappearintheair.
Meanwhiletheprocuratorhadexclaimed:"Ifthedemonwhichpossessesthisgoat,andwhichhasresistedallexorcisms,persistsinitsdeedsofwitchcraft,ifitalarmsthecourtwiththem,wewarnitthatweshallbeforcedtoputinrequisitionagainstitthegallowsorthestake.
Gringoirebrokeoutintoacoldperspiration.
Charmoluetookfromthetablethegypsy'stambourine,andpresentingittothegoat,inacertainmanner,askedthelatter,—
"Whato'clockisit?"
Thegoatlookedatitwithanintelligenteye,raiseditsgildedhoof,andstrucksevenblows.
Itwas,infact,seveno'clock.Amovementofterrorranthroughthecrowd.
Gringoirecouldnotendureit.
"Heisdestroyinghimself!"hecriedaloud;"Youseewellthathedoesnotknowwhatheisdoing."
"Silenceamongtheloutsattheendofthehail!"saidthebailiffsharply.
JacquesCharmolue,bytheaidofthesamemanoeuvresofthetambourine,madethegoatperformmanyothertricksconnectedwiththedateoftheday,themonthoftheyear,etc.,whichthereaderhasalreadywitnessed.
And,byvirtueofanopticalillusionpeculiartojudicialproceedings,thesesamespectatorswhohad,probably,morethanonceapplaudedinthepublicsquareDjali'sinnocentmagicwereterrifiedbyitbeneaththeroofofthePalaisdeJustice.Thegoatwasundoubtedlythedevil.
Itwasfarworsewhentheprocuratoroftheking,havingemptieduponaflooracertainbagfilledwithmovableletters,whichDjaliworeroundhisneck,theybeheldthegoatextractwithhishooffromthescatteredalphabetthefatalnameofPhoebus.
Thewitchcraftofwhichthecaptainhadbeenthevictimappearedirresistiblydemonstrated,andintheeyesofall,thegypsy,thatravishingdancer,whohadsooftendazzledthepassers–bywithhergrace,wasnolongeranythingbutafrightfulvampire.
However,shebetrayednosignoflife;neitherDjali'sgracefulevolutions,northemenacesofthecourt,northesuppressedimprecationsofthespectatorsanylongerreachedhermind.
Inordertoarouseher,apoliceofficerwasobligedtoshakeherunmercifully,andthepresidenthadtoraisehisvoice,—"Girl,youareoftheBohemianrace,addictedtodeedsofwitchcraft.
You,incomplicitywiththebewitchedgoatimplicatedinthissuit,duringthenightofthetwenty–ninthofMarchlast,murderedandstabbed,inconcertwiththepowersofdarkness,bytheaidofcharmsandunderhandpractices,acaptainoftheking'sarchesofthewatch,PhoebusdeChâteaupers.Doyoupersistindenyingit?"
"Horror!"exclaimedtheyounggirl,hidingherfaceinherhands."MyPhoebus!Oh,thisishell!"
"Doyoupersistinyourdenial?"demandedthepresidentcoldly.
"DoIdenyit?"shesaidwithterribleaccents;andsherosewithflashingeyes.
Thepresidentcontinuedsquarely,—
"Thenhowdoyouexplainthefactslaidtoyourcharge?"
Sherepliedinabrokenvoice,—
"Ihavealreadytoldyou.Idonotknow.'Twasapriest,apriestwhomIdonotknow;aninfernalpriestwhopursuesme!"
"Thatisit,"retortedthejudge;"thesurlymonk."
"Oh,gentlemen!havemercy!Iambutapoorgirl—"
"OfEgypt,"saidthejudge.
MasterJacquesCharmolueinterposedsweetly,—
"Inviewofthesadobstinacyoftheaccused,Idemandtheapplicationofthetorture."
"Granted,"saidthepresident.
Theunhappygirlquiveredineverylimb.
Butsheroseatthecommandofthemenwithpartisans,andwalkedwithatolerablyfirmstep,precededbyCharmolueandthepriestsoftheofficiality,betweentworowsofhalberds,towardsamedium–sizeddoorwhichsuddenlyopenedandclosedagainbehindher,andwhichproduceduponthegrief–strickenGringoiretheeffectofahorriblemouthwhichhadjustdevouredher.
Whenshedisappeared,theyheardaplaintivebleating;itwasthelittlegoatmourning.
Thesittingofthecourtwassuspended.Acounsellorhavingremarkedthatthegentlemenwerefatigued,andthatitwouldbealongtimetowaituntilthetorturewasatanend,thepresidentrepliedthatamagistratemustknowhowtosacrificehimselftohisduty.
"Whatanannoyingandvexatioushussy,"saidanagedjudge,"togetherselfputtothequestionwhenonehasnotsupped!"
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