Incathedrals,itwas,insomesort,anothersubterraneancathedral,low,dark,mysterious,blind,andmute,undertheuppernavewhichwasoverflowingwithlightandreverberatingwithorgansandbellsdayandnight.Sometimesitwasasepulchre.
Thesemightybuildings,whosemodeofformationandvegetationwehaveelsewhereexplained,hadnotsimplyfoundations,but,sotospeak,rootswhichranbranchingthroughthesoilinchambers,galleries,andstaircases,liketheconstructionabove.
Thecellarsofanedificeformedanotheredifice,intowhichonedescendedinsteadofascending,andwhichextendeditssubterraneangroundsundertheexternalpilesofthemonument,likethoseforestsandmountainswhicharereversedinthemirror–likewatersofalake,beneaththeforestsandmountainsofthebanks.
AtthefortressofSaint–Antoine,atthePalaisdeJusticeofParis,attheLouvre,thesesubterraneanedificeswereprisons.
Thesetunnelsofcellsusuallyterminatedinasackofalowestdungeon,withavat–likebottom,whereDanteplacedSatan,wheresocietyplacedthosecondemnedtodeath.
Amiserablehumanexistence,onceinterredthere;farewelllight,air,life,~ognisperanza~—everyhope;itonlycameforthtothescaffoldorthestake.
Betweenmenandhimself,thecondemnedmanfeltapileofstonesandjailersweighingdownuponhishead;andtheentireprison,themassivebastillewasnothingmorethananenormous,complicatedlock,whichbarredhimofffromtherestoftheworld.
Itwasinaslopingcavityofthisdescription,inthe~oubliettes~excavatedbySaint–Louis,inthe~inpace~oftheTournelle,thatlaEsmeraldahadbeenplacedonbeingcondemnedtodeath,throughfearofherescape,nodoubt,withthecolossalcourt–houseoverherhead.
Assuredly,Providenceandsocietyhadbeenequallyunjust;suchanexcessofunhappinessandoftorturewasnotnecessarytobreaksofrailacreature.
Coldasnight,coldasdeath,notabreathofairinhertresses,notahumansoundinherear,nolongerarayoflightinhereyes;snappedintwain,crushedwithchains,crouchingbesideajugandaloaf,onalittlestraw,inapoolofwater,whichwasformedunderherbythesweatingoftheprisonwalls;withoutmotion,almostwithoutbreath,shehadnolongerthepowertosuffer;Phoebus,thesun,midday,theopenair,thestreetsofParis,thedanceswithapplause,thesweetbabblingsoflovewiththeofficer;thenthepriest,theoldcrone,thepoignard,theblood,thetorture,thegibbet;allthisdid,indeed,passbeforehermind,sometimesasacharmingandgoldenvision,sometimesasahideousnightmare;butitwasnolongeranythingbutavagueandhorriblestruggle,lostinthegloom,ordistantmusicplayedupaboveground,andwhichwasnolongeraudibleatthedepthwheretheunhappygirlhadfallen.
Inthatmisfortune,inthatcell,shecouldnolongerdistinguishherwakinghoursfromslumber,dreamsfromreality,anymorethandayfromnight.
Thusbenumbed,frozen,petrified,shehadbarelynoticedontwoorthreeoccasions,thesoundofatrapdooropeningsomewhereaboveher,withoutevenpermittingthepassageofalittlelight,andthroughwhichahandhadtossedherabitofblackbread.
Asinglethingstillmechanicallyoccupiedherear;aboveherhead,thedampnesswasfilteringthroughthemouldystonesofthevault,andadropofwaterdroppedfromthematregularintervals.
Thisdropofwaterfallingfromtimetotimeintothatpool,wastheonlymovementwhichstillwentonaroundher,theonlyclockwhichmarkedthetime,theonlynoisewhichreachedherofallthenoisemadeonthesurfaceoftheearth.
Totellthewhole,however,shealsofelt,fromtimetotime,inthatcesspoolofmireanddarkness,somethingcoldpassingoverherfootorherarm,andsheshuddered.
Shehadarecollectionofasentenceofdeathpronouncedsomewhere,againstsomeone,thenofhavingbeenherselfcarriedaway,andofwakingupindarknessandsilence,chilledtotheheart.
Shehadrecognizedthefactthatallaroundherwaswall,thatbelowhertherewasapavementcoveredwithmoistureandatrussofstraw;butneitherlampnorair–hole.
Thenshehadseatedherselfonthatstrawand,sometimes,forthesakeofchangingherattitude,onthelaststonestepinherdungeon.
Forawhileshehadtriedtocounttheblackminutesmeasuredoffforherbythedropofwater;butthatmelancholylaborofanailingbrainhadbrokenoffofitselfinherhead,andhadleftherinstupor.
Atlength,oneday,oronenight,(formidnightandmiddaywereofthesamecolorinthatsepulchre),sheheardaboveheraloudernoisethanwasusuallymadebytheturnkeywhenhebroughtherbreadandjugofwater.
Sheraisedherhead,andbeheldarayofreddishlightpassingthroughthecrevicesinthesortoftrapdoorcontrivedintheroofofthe~inpace~.
Atthesametime,theheavylockcreaked,thetrapgratedonitsrustyhinges,turned,andshebeheldalantern,ahand,andthelowerportionsofthebodiesoftwomen,thedoorbeingtoolowtoadmitofherseeingtheirheads.
Whensheopenedthemagainthedoorwasclosed,thelanternwasdepositedononeofthestepsofthestaircase;amanalonestoodbeforeher.
Twothingsonlyseemedaliveinthatcavern;thewickofthelantern,whichsputteredonaccountofthedampnessoftheatmosphere,andthedropofwaterfromtheroof,whichcutthisirregularsputteringwithitsmonotonoussplash,andmadethelightofthelanternquiverinconcentricwavesontheoilywaterofthepool.
Shetookherfeetinherhands,agesturehabitualwithunhappywretcheswhoarecold,aswehavealreadyseeninthecaseoftherecluseoftheTour–Roland,andherteethchattered.
"Yes,"shereplied,withthebewilderedairwhichunhappinesshadgivenher."Thedaybelongstoeveryone,whydotheygivemeonlynight?"
"IthoughtIknewonce,"shesaid,passingherthinfingersoverhereyelids,asthoughtoaidhermemory,"butIknownolonger."
Sosaying,thepriesttookherarm.Theunhappygirlwasfrozentoherverysoul.Yetthathandproducedanimpressionofcolduponher.
Itwasthesinistervisagewhichhadsolongpursuedher;thatdemon'sheadwhichhadappearedatlaFalourdel's,abovetheheadofheradoredPhoebus;thateyewhichshelasthadseenglitteringbesideadagger.
Thisapparition,alwayssofatalforher,andwhichhadthusdrivenheronfrommisfortunetomisfortune,eventotorture,rousedherfromherstupor.
Allthedetailsofhermelancholyadventure,fromthenocturnalsceneatlaFalourdel'stohercondemnationtotheTournelle,recurredtohermemory,nolongervagueandconfusedasheretofore,butdistinct,harsh,clear,palpitating,terrible.
Thesesouvenirs,halfeffacedandalmostobliteratedbyexcessofsuffering,wererevivedbythesombrefigurewhichstoodbeforeher,astheapproachoffirecausesletterstraceduponwhitepaperwithinvisibleink,tostartoutperfectlyfresh.
Thenshedroppedherarmsindiscouragement,andremainedseated,withloweredhead,eyesfixedontheground,muteandstilltrembling.
Thepriestgazedatherwiththeeyeofahawkwhichhaslongbeensoaringinacirclefromtheheightsofheavenoverapoorlarkcoweringinthewheat,andhaslongbeensilentlycontractingtheformidablecirclesofhisflight,andhassuddenlyswoopeddownuponhispreylikeaflashoflightning,andholdsitpantinginhistalons.
"Finish!finish!thelastblow!"andshedrewherheaddowninterrorbetweenhershoulders,likethelambawaitingtheblowofthebutcher'saxe.
Haditnotbeenforhim,myGod,howhappyitshouldhavebeen!Itwashewhocastmeintothisabyss!Ohheavens!itwashewhokilledhim!myPhoebus!"
Hertearssuddenlyceased,shegazedathimwiththelookofanidiot.Hehadfallenonhiskneesandwasdevouringherwitheyesofflame.
"Listen,"saidthepriestatlast,andasingularcalmhadcomeoverhim;"youshallknowallIamabouttotellyouthatwhichIhavehithertohardlydaredtosaytomyself,whenfurtivelyinterrogatingmyconscienceatthosedeephoursofthenightwhenitissodarkthatitseemsasthoughGodnolongersawus.Listen.
Thatforceofsexandbloodwhich,inthemadnessofyouth,IhadimaginedthatIhadstifledforeverhad,morethanonce,convulsivelyraisedthechainofironvowswhichbindme,amiserablewretch,tothecoldstonesofthealtar.
Butfasting,prayer,study,themortificationsofthecloister,renderedmysoulmistressofmybodyoncemore,andthenIavoidedwomen.
Inafewmoments,Ifeltthegrossthingsofearthfleefaraway,andIfoundmyselfoncemorecalm,quieted,andserene,inthepresenceofthetranquilradianceofeternaltruth.
Aslongasthedemonsenttoattackmeonlyvagueshadowsofwomenwhopassedoccasionallybeforemyeyesinchurch,inthestreets,inthefields,andwhohardlyrecurredtomydreams,Ieasilyvanquishedhim.Alas!
ifthevictoryhasnotremainedwithme,itisthefaultofGod,whohasnotcreatedmanandthedemonofequalforce.Listen.Oneday—
"OnedayIwasleaningonthewindowofmycell.WhatbookwasIreadingthen?Oh!allthatisawhirlwindinmyhead.Iwasreading.ThewindowopeneduponaSquare.
AcreaturesobeautifulthatGodwouldhavepreferredhertotheVirginandhavechosenherforhismotherandhavewishedtobebornofherifshehadbeeninexistencewhenhewasmademan!
Hereyeswereblackandsplendid;inthemidstofherblacklocks,somehairsthroughwhichthesunshoneglistenedlikethreadsofgold.
Aroundherhead,inherblacktresses,thereweredisksofmetal,whichglitteredinthesun,andformedacoronetofstarsonherbrow.
Itwasnosimplegirlmadewithalittleofourearth,anddimlylightedwithinbythevacillatingrayofawoman'ssoul.Itwasanangel!
AtthemomentwhenIwasmeditatingthus,Ibeheldbesideyouagoat,abeastofwitches,whichsmiledasitgazedatme.Themiddaysungavehimgoldenhorns.
ThenIperceivedthesnareofthedemon,andInolongerdoubtedthatyouhadcomefromhellandthatyouhadcomethenceformyperdition.Ibelievedit."
"Ibelieveitstill.Nevertheless,thecharmoperatedlittlebylittle;yourdancingwhirledthroughmybrain;Ifeltthemysteriousspellworkingwithinme.
Allthatshouldhaveawakenedwaslulledtosleep;andlikethosewhodieinthesnow,Ifeltpleasureinallowingthissleeptodrawon.Allatonce,youbegantosing.WhatcouldIdo,unhappywretch?
Thereflectionofthedazzlingvision,thereverberationoftheenchantingmusicdisappearedbydegreesfrommyeyesandmyears.
ThenIfellbackintotheembrasureofthewindow,morerigid,morefeeblethanastatuetornfromitsbase.Thevesperbellrousedme.Idrewmyselfup;Ifled;butalas!
Butthisimagehadnolongerthesamecolor;itwassombre,funereal,gloomyastheblackcirclewhichlongpursuesthevisionoftheimprudentmanwhohasgazedintentlyatthesun.
"Unabletoridmyselfofit,sinceIheardyoursonghummingeverinmyhead,beheldyourfeetdancingalwaysonmybreviary,feltevenatnight,inmydreams,yourformincontactwithmyown,Idesiredtoseeyouagain,totouchyou,toknowwhoyouwere,toseewhetherIshouldreallyfindyouliketheidealimagewhichIhadretainedofyou,toshattermydream,perchance,withreality.
Atallevents,Ihopedthatanewimpressionwouldeffacethefirst,andthefirsthadbecomeinsupportable.Isoughtyou.Isawyouoncemore.Calamity!
Iwaitedforyouunderporches,Istoodonthelookoutforyouatthestreetcorners,Iwatchedforyoufromthesummitofmytower.
FirstItriedtohaveyouforbiddenthesquareinfrontofNotre–Dame,hopingtoforgetyouifyoureturnednomore.Youpaidnoheedtoit.Youreturned.
Ialsohadaconfusedideathatatrialwoulddeliveryouintomyhands;that,asaprisonerIshouldholdyou,Ishouldhaveyou;thatthereyoucouldnotescapefromme;thatyouhadalreadypossessedmeasufficientlylongtimetogivemetherighttopossessyouinmyturn.
TheplotwhichIwasweavingagainstyou,thestormwhichIwasheapingupaboveyourhead,burstfrommeinthreatsandlightningglances.Still,Ihesitated.
"PerhapsImighthaverenouncedit;perhapsmyhideousthoughtwouldhavewitheredinmybrain,withoutbearingfruit.
Buteveryevilthoughtisinexorable,andinsistsonbecomingadeed;butwhereIbelievedmyselftobeallpowerful,fatewasmorepowerfulthanI.Alas!
'tisfatewhichhasseizedyouanddeliveredyoutotheterriblewheelsofthemachinewhichIhadconstructeddoubly.Listen.Iamnearingtheend.
"Oneday,—againthesunwasshiningbrilliantly—Ibeholdmanpassmeutteringyournameandlaughing,whocarriessensualityinhiseyes.Damnation!Ifollowedhim;youknowtherest."
youarecold;thenightmakesyoublind,thedungeonenvelopsyou;butperhapsyoustillhavesomelightinthebottomofyoursoul,wereitonlyyourchildishloveforthatemptymanwhoplayedwithyourheart,whileIbearthedungeonwithinme;withinmethereiswinter,ice,despair;Ihavenightinmysoul.
Iwasthereforeverywitness,everyproof,everyplea;Icouldcounteachofyourstepsinthepainfulpath;Iwasstilltherewhenthatferociousbeast—oh!Ihadnotforeseentorture!Listen.
Ibeheldyourfoot,thatfootwhichIwouldhavegivenanempiretokissanddie,thatfoot,beneathwhichtohavehadmyheadcrushedIshouldhavefeltsuchrapture,—Ibehelditencasedinthathorribleboot,whichconvertsthelimbsofalivingbeingintoonebloodyclod.Oh,wretch!
Whenyouutteredthatcry,Iplungeditintomyflesh;atasecondcry,itwouldhaveenteredmyheart.Look!Ibelievethatitstillbleeds."
Heopenedhiscassock.Hisbreastwasinfact,mangledasbytheclawofatiger,andonhissidehehadalargeandbadlyhealedwound.
"Oh!"saidthepriest,"younggirl,havepityuponme!Youthinkyourselfunhappy;alas!alas!youknownotwhatunhappinessis.Oh!toloveawoman!tobeapriest!tobehated!
tolovewithallthefuryofone'ssoul;tofeelthatonewouldgivefortheleastofhersmiles,one'sblood,one'svitals,one'sfame,one'ssalvation,one'simmortalityandeternity,thislifeandtheother;toregretthatoneisnotaking,emperor,archangel,God,inorderthatonemightplaceagreaterslavebeneathherfeet;toclasphernightanddayinone'sdreamsandone'sthoughts,andtobeholdherinlovewiththetrappingsofasoldierandtohavenothingtoofferherbutapriest'sdirtycassock,whichwillinspireherwithfearanddisgust!
Tobepresentwithone'sjealousyandone'srage,whileshelavishesonamiserable,blusteringimbecile,treasuresofloveandbeauty!
Tobeholdthatbodywhoseformburnsyou,thatbosomwhichpossessessomuchsweetness,thatfleshpalpitateandblushbeneaththekissesofanother!Ohheaven!
toloveherfoot,herarm,hershoulder,tothinkofherblueveins,ofherbrownskin,untilonewrithesforwholenightstogetheronthepavementofone'scell,andtobeholdallthosecaresseswhichonehasdreamedof,endintorture!
Doyouknowwhatthattortureis,whichisimposeduponyouforlongnightsbyyourburningarteries,yourburstingheart,yourbreakinghead,yourteeth–knawedhands;madtormentorswhichturnyouincessantly,asuponared–hotgridiron,toathoughtoflove,ofjealousy,andofdespair!Younggirl,mercy!atruceforamoment!afewashesontheselivecoals!
Thepriestwrithedonthewetpavement,beatinghisheadagainstthecornersofthestonesteps.Theyounggirlgazedathim,andlistenedtohim.
Thehellwhereyouare,shallheparadise;thesightofyouismorecharmingthanthatofGod!Oh!speak!youwillhavenoneofme?
Ishouldhavethoughtthemountainswouldbeshakenintheirfoundationsonthedaywhenawomanwouldrepulsesuchalove.Oh!ifyouonlywould!Oh!howhappywemightbe.
Wewouldflee—Iwouldhelpyoutoflee,—wewouldgosomewhere,wewouldseekthatspotonearth,wherethesunisbrightest,theskythebluest,wherethetreesaremostluxuriant.
Wewouldloveeachother,wewouldpourourtwosoulsintoeachother,andwewouldhaveathirstforourselveswhichwewouldquenchincommonandincessantlyatthatfountainofinexhaustiblelove."
"Well,yes!"heresumedatlast,withstrangegentleness,"insultme,scoffatme,overwhelmmewithscorn!butcome,come.Letusmakehaste.Itistobeto–morrow,Itellyou.ThegibbetontheGrève,youknowit?itstandsalwaysready.Itishorrible!toseeyourideinthattumbrel!Ohmercy!
YoushalltakeyourtimetolovemeafterIhavesavedyou.Youshallhatemeaslongasyouwill.Butcome.To–morrow!to–morrow!thegallows!yourexecution!Oh!saveyourself!spareme!"
"Oh!yes,"saidhe,asthoughspeakingtohimself,"hecertainlymustbedead.Thebladepierceddeeply.IbelieveItouchedhisheartwiththepoint.Oh!myverysoulwasattheendofthedagger!"
Theyounggirlflungherselfuponhimlikearagingtigress,andpushedhimuponthestepsofthestaircasewithsupernaturalforce.
Maythebloodofbothofusmakeaneternalstainuponyourbrow!Bethine,priest!Never!never!Nothingshalluniteus!nothellitself!Go,accursedman!Never!"
Thepriesthadstumbledonthestairs.Hesilentlydisentangledhisfeetfromthefoldsofhisrobe,pickeduphislanternagain,andslowlybegantheascentofthestepswhichledtothedoor;heopenedthedoorandpassedthroughit.
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