Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 144 — page 11: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE-DAME. i “ — - —— —!- —_ ee — —_— — ~ J > ot a a ia a i Ml —_—— TC J % The august King of Thunes knitted his brow. ‘‘ What lost his balance, mechanically caught at the figure, and | mounted from the stool, on which he was obliged to * do you take mefor, my friend? What Hungary Jew fell plunip on the ground; stunned by the fatal jingle | sit down, so vehement was his agitation. | vberish are you talking now? IJ know notiting of | of the thousand belis of the figure, which, yielding to) The Dukeof Egypt, without uttering aword, brought ‘urew. One may be a ruftian without being a Jew.” ( the impulsiou of his hand, at first turned round upon af earthenware jug. The gipsy-girl handed it to Grin- } tclngoire strove to slip in an excuse between these | itself, and then swung majestically between the two | goire. ““ Drop it to on the ground,” said’she to him. j af sentences cut short by dnyer. “I bey your poles. : | The jug broke into four pieces. . justy’s pardon ; itis not Hebrew, but Latin.”’ _. * Sacre!’’ cried he, as he fell, and he lay like one! “ Brother,” said the Duke of Egyp‘, placing a hand ‘T tell thee,”” rejoined Clopin, furiously, “I am not dead, with his face toward the ground. He heard, | upon the head of each, “she is thy wife. Sister, he is a Jew, and I will have thee hamged, veriet; ay, and however, the horrid chime above his head, the diabol- | thy husband—for four years. Go!” that little Jew peddler beside tiiee, whom I h@pe some | ical laugh of the Canters, and the voice of Trouillefou, ; hen day to see nailed to a counter, like a piece of base coin | who said: “ Pick up the varlet, and hang him out ot as he ig.” | | | hand.” ' | : CHAPTER VII. As he thus spoke, he pointed to the little bearded| Herose. They had already taken down the effigy to | A WEDDING NIGHT. } Hungarian Jew, who, acquainted with no other lan- | make room forhim. The Vagabonds made him once Ix t t found. hi if i nall ar guage but that in which he had accosted Gringoire, | more mount the stool. Clopin stepped up to him, put |_ 1X4 few eA oil Aah 9 pee D, & ome | was surprised at the ill-humor which the King af | the rope about his neck, and patting him on the shoul- | TOO, with cove enh an pan Prey | et Be ‘Thunes Appeeed to be venting upon him. der, “ Farewell, my ftiend!” ‘said he. “Thou canst | 8e4ted at a table whic Py ringer to aa ao ing bet- At fength King Clopin became somewhat more calm. | not escape now, even with the devil's luck and thine than to draw a few loans from a cupboard guspend- ia ed close by, having a prospect of a good bed, and a tete-a-tete witha handsome girl. The adventure was like absolute enchantment. He began seriously to take himself for the hero of some fairy tale, and looked round from time to time to see whether the chariot of fire drawn by griffins, which could alone have conveyed him with such rapidity from Tartarus to Paradise was, stillthere. Now and then, too, he would, fix his eyes on the holes in his doublet, as if to satisfy. himself of his identity. His reason, tossed to and fro in imaginary space had, only this thread to hold by. , : The girl appeared to take no notice, of him; she moved backward and forward, setting things to rights, talking to her goat, and now and then pouting her.dip. At length she sat down near the.table, and rtiguixe had a good opportunity to scrutinize her, at You have been achild, reader, and may, perhaps, have the good fortune, to be so still. I dare say you have often {it know I have, for whole days together, ay, and some of the best spent days of my life) followed from busly to bush on the bank of a i fine sunshiny day, some beautiful green and blue dragon- fly, da off every moment at acute angles, and brush- ing the ends of all the branches. You remember with what amorous curiosity your attention and’ your eyes were fixed on those fluttering wings of ian and tinct “‘Knave,’ said he to our poet, “thou hast a mind) own.” then to be a Vagabond ?”’ | The word Mercy! died away on the lips of Gringoire. “Undoubtedly,” replied Gringoire. | He glanced around him, but there was no hope: they “Tis not enough to have a mind,” said his surly were all laughing. . | majesty ; “ good-will puts not one more onionintothe| ‘ Bellevigne de’ l’Etoile,”’ said the King of Thunes, suup. To be admitted into our brotherhood, thou | to a porpoise of a fellow, who stepped forth from the must prove that thou art*fit for something. ow us | ranks, “scramble upto the cross-bar.”’ The monster thy skill at picking a pocket.” ' mounted with an agility for which no one would have “Any thing you please.’’ said the poet. , given him credit, and Gringoire, raising lis eyes, beheld Clopm made a sign. Several of the Vagabonds left | him with terror crouching on the cruss-beam over his the circlé, and presently returned, They brought | head. two poles, each having 4 flat, horizontal piece of wood “Now,” resumed Clopin, “the moment I clap my fastened at the ea Tete upon which it stood | hands, thou, Andry the Red,‘kick’away the stool; thou upright on the ground Into the upper ends of these | Francoise Chanteprune pull the varlet's legs, aid thou, two poles the bearers fitted a cross-bar, and the whole | Bellevigne, spring upon his shoulders—all. three at then formed a very handy portable gibbet, which | once, d’ye hear?’ v* Gringoirs lad the satisfaction to see set up before his| Gringoire shuddered. face in a trice. Nothing was wanting, not even the “Are ye there?” said Clopin Trotillefou to the three cord, which dangletl gracefully from the cross-bar. | ruffians, ready to rush upon the unfortunate poet. “What are they about now?’ said Gringoire to | The wretched man passed a moment of horrid suspense, himself, while. his heart sunk within him, A tinkling | while Clopin carelessly kicked tnto the fire a few twigs of small bells put an end to his anxiety. It was the | which the flame ha@ not consumed. “Are ye there ?’’ figure of 4 man, 4 kind of scarecrow, in a red dress, | he repeated, opening his hands for the decisive clap. ao profusely bestudded with little pee! tha they He stopped short, as ifa sudden thought had occurred { would have sufficed for the caparison of thirty Casti!-| to him. “ Wait a mroment!” said hoe, “I forgot—it is 4 ian mules, which the Vagabonds were suspending by customary with us not to hang a blade, till the women ) the neck from a rope. The clatter of these thousand | have been asked whether any of them will'have him. | poe tage Me origins from the rope, gradu su at len ceased entire! | with the motion of the effigy. , , wy | | Clopin pointed to a crazy stool pla neer the ) figure. “Get upon that |" said he to Gringoire. -| reprieve. ~. | “ *Sdeath |"’ Bele led the poet, “I s break my Clopin again mou his hogshead, “This way, | neck. Your stool alts like a distich of Martial’s ; it | gentlewomen!" cried he. “Is there ahy among you, has one hexameter and one pentameter foot.” _ who will have this knavye? Come foreward and see! “ Get tip, knave!” repeated Clopin. A husband for nothing! . Who wants one ?”’ Gringoire mounted the stool, and, after some oscil- Gringoire, in this wre plight looked far fromi ‘lations of head and arms, recovered his center of| tempting. The female mumpers showed no eagerness gravity. to accept the offer. The unhappy man heard them “Now,” continued the King of Thunes, “cross thy | answer one after another, ‘ No, yo, hang him, and that right leg over the left ard stand on tiptoe.” | will be a pleasure tor us all.” , we 3 “ !"’ cried ngoire, ‘then youabsolutelyin-| Three of them, however, stepped forward from sist on it that I shall break some of my limbs ?”’ among the crowd to take a look at him. The first was Clopin shook his head. astrapping broad-faced wench. She closely examine! “Hark ye, my friend, thou talkest too much for me. | the deplorable doublet and the threadbare trock of. the Ta two words this is what theu hast to do. ‘Thou must. pense. She shrugged her shoulders, . “ Queer . gtand on tiptoe as I tell thee, so as to reach the pocket | toggery'"’’ grumbledshe. Then turning to Gringoire : . of the ah Thow must take out a purse that is in it, | ‘* Where is thy cloak?’ ‘‘Ihave lostit,” answered, he | and if thou canst do this without making any of the | “Thy hat?” “They have taken it trom mé.”’ “Th bells speak, ‘tis well; thou shalt be a Vagabond. . We | shoes?’’ “They arenearly wornout.” “Thy purse?” shall oe a nothing to do but to baste thee soundly 7 Alas !"’ stammered Cginqeiten, ‘St <arg het tpg for 4 week.” : oo eft.” “Hang then,and be thankful!” rep e| - “ Ventre Dieu!" exclaimed Gringoire. “And if the wench, turning on her heel and striding away. mney Sa a rhs pe Bee Bs ik ny he | “ , then thou shalt be hanged. Dost thou com-| ugly, walked round Gringoire. “He almost trembled | PTOached the gird with su etuosity | azure, amidst which floated a form rendere by the very rapidity ofits motion, The aerial creature confusedly perceived throngh this flickering of wings, appeared to sanenimedisa!. imaginary, a thing neither to be touche: nor scen. But when at length it settle on the pointef a rush, and, holding your breath the while, you could exa:nine bose delicate wings of ganze, that long robe of enamel, those two globes of crystal, what astonishment did you not feel, and what fear lest this beautiful fixure suould again vanish into an airy Comrade, this is thy last chance.” Gringoire breathed once more. It was the second time that he had come to life within the last ‘half hour. He durst not, therefore, place much reliance upon this ~ undefipable phantom. Recoll “these impr ssions, and you wi aay ees what Gringotea felt on con- templatiny in ay eand palpable form that. - sl ae wo had till then had bi ‘5 Be 4 amidst the wile g dance and corora of spectators. He besamhe e and more absorbed in his feverie. This then—thouyht he, while his eve vaguely followed her motions—is La Esmeralda! a.celestial creature! a street-daneer! So much and so little. It was she who gave the Slasine stake to my ntystery this afternoon, and it is she who saves my life to-night, My evil genius | my good angel! sect art, upon my word! and who must love me to distraction, to have taken me in this manner, For, said he, rising all at once with that candor which formed the groundwork of his char- acter and of his philosopiry,.1 know not exactly how it A prehend me? lest she should take a faney to him. At length she|* | ok ae ee oe " re edrpion,”’ ‘ o you want with me?” inqnired she, a ee aes He 16 So TERR SA PENNS MOT) Yh: Gan you usk such a question, advrable Esn eralda ? The third was young, fresh-looking, and not ill- rejoined Gringoire in so impassioned a tone that he was favored. ‘Save me!’ said the poor poet to herina astonished at ve aes nde Yalthe ev dd Oe Ban : low tone. She surveyed him for a moment with a look ane Egyptian ope “ ashe. arge eyes. .“T kn Ww no of pity, cast down her eyes, twitched her petticoat, and | ¥2 eet it netiioa Gri e. ibd’ Wadnley “Rue aha stood fora moment undeci He narrowly watched - d thiuki at aite rail ft wae But . ietiiee all her motions.. It was the last glimmer of hope. | OT abe Muhsing on ee ie * ale de a virtue of “No,” said she at last; “no; Guillaume Longjoue the e Miracles mx, e had to do with ; “am I would beat me,” and she rejoined the crowd, not thine, my sweet friend? art thou not mine?’ ""Conitade,” aaid Clopin, «thou are uniuoky,”” ‘Then | With these words he fondly threw hig arm around her standing up on his hogshead, *t Will nobody bid?” |.W#s*- | peer cried he imitating the manner of anauctioneer, to the } . The drapery. of the Bohemian glided through his high diversion of the crew. ‘Will nobody bid? once, | #8nds like the skin ofan eel. Bounding from one end yates three times!” andthen turning to the gallows, | ©! the cell to the other, she stooped, and raised herself with a nod of the head“*Gonel”? » ; again, with a little dagger in her hand, before Gringoire Balleviene ae Y'Btdlle,. Andey the Red and atte sald, poo. wheaoe it eee pyenes lip, lean ', nostril, cheeks as re an apricot, and eyes flas Chanteprune yt +f het ee ~ — lightning. At the same moment the Little wht ‘goat momeut cries of bona + eat ; ee 5 a iat placed itself before ler in the attitude of attack, pre- arose from the Vagabon “* b teal sa udder 9 ner senting to Gringcire two, very pretty but very sharp turned the way from which the ciamor’ proceeded. | piit horns. All this was done in a twinkling. — The crowd opened and ‘made Dairy 4 fora bright and: daz- |“ Our philosopher stood petrified, alt rhately eyeing zling figure. It was the gipsy-girl. the goat and her mistress. ‘‘ Holy Virgin!” ‘he at “La Esmeralda!” ejaculated Gringoire, struck, : ejaculated, when surprise allowed him tospeak, ‘‘ Not at all,” answered Gringoire. . “ Well, then I tell thee once more. ‘Thow must pick the pocket of that figure of a purse, and if @ sing)e bell stirs while thou art about it, thou shalt be hanged. Dost thou understand that ?” ' | ‘*T do,” said Gringoire. “And then?” ; : “If thou art clever enough to prig the purse without | setting the bells a clattering, thou art a Canter, and shalt soundly thrashed every now and then for a ' . wevk. Thou und dest that, no doubt ?’’ : “But what better shall I be? Hanged in one case, | beaten in the other ?” | “And a ter,"’ rejoined Clopin—‘a Canter! Is that nothing? [tis for thy own benefit that we shall beat thee—to inure thee to blows.”’ | “ Many thanks to yon,’’ replied the poet. “Come, bear a hand,” said the king, stamping upon his hoyshead, which soun like a bigdrum. “To : shy task, kdave! And recollect, if I hear but a single 1, thou shalt change places with that figure.” — The crew applanded ‘'s words, and ranged A themselves ina cirele round the gallows with so piti- ge that Guingsiee hoes he amused them i much not to have ear the worst from them. e : = : amidst his agitation at the sudden manner in which | “ what a couple of vixens |’ that magic name connected his scattered recollections “ And you,” said the Bohemian. breaking silence on of the day. This extraordinary creature appeared by | her part, “ must be a very impudent fellow.” her fascination and beauty to exercise ‘sovereign sway _“ Pardon me,”’ replied Gringoire, smiling. “But why over the Cour des J athe: | itself. Its inmates of both | did you take me for your husband ?” wdvey sexes respectfall w back for her to pass, andatsight |, “ Ought-I to have let you be hanged? | of her their brutal faces assumed asofter exp! on.| “Then,” rejoined the poet, somewhat disappointed With light step she approached the sufferer. Her pretty | in his amorous hopes, “ you had no other intention in Djali followed at her heels. Gringoire was more dead than alive. She eyed him for a moment in silence. “Are you going to hang this man ?’* said she gravely | have had?” em | ¥ to Clopin. ' ‘ oire bit his lips. “Go'to,”’ said he, to himself, _“ Yes@sister,”’ replied the King of the Thanes, ‘un- “Iam hot sotriumphant in love affairs as I imagined. Nay “Thou shalt be hanged,” replicd the King of Thunes, | less thou wilt take him for eT husband.’ | ' But then, of what use vas it to break the poor jug ?” y without hesitation. . Her lower lip wes protru into the pretty pout al-| Meanwhile Esmeralda’s dagger and the horns of her Finding that there was her respite nor reprieve, | ready d “oe : | goat were still upon the defensive. nor any evasi him, he went rosol uly to ord will take him,” said sho. ‘Mademoiselle Esmeralda,” said the poet, “let us | his right leg over his left, and raising oire was now thoroughly convinced that he had | capitulate. I am not aclerk to the gerin Pac tn the himself on tiptoe, b out his wy D b tthe | been in a dream ever since morning, and that this was | n oke you thus towarry a daggerin in th SEN eee te tented ton ee. ¥ pod hie r but py srwonen 9 of it, Theshock’ ig yer os tooth of the provost’s ordinances and prohibit i. j . ine & the stool which but three legs; he! was yiolent, The noose was removed, the was | You must, nevertheless, be aware that Noel im = tea” only hope he had left was the most precarious chance of succee in the ticklish task imposed upon him. Before he set about it, he addressed a fervent prayer to ) ine > a was going $9, Fe and wane wo ve sottened as easily ag ‘agabonds. The myriad se with their little copper poneces. seemed to him somany gaping jaws of serpents, r to bite, and to hiss. o_o , “Oh,’’ said he, aside, “is it possible that my life de- ands on the slightest vibration of the smallest of these . lis ?” ; “es } “He tried the effect of a last effort on Trouillefou. « And if there should come a inst of wind ?” marrying me but to save me from the gallows?” * Aha whet other intention do you suppose "I could y COMMIE NOVO) <Sareve)