Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 144 — page 36: what you’re looking at

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

—-—- 2 = ——— a eee ee ee Sr ee ee -_—. of ee = = ————S . Cah. a - > = 2 _— Py . —— ee er — - — ~ a _ —~—— o-oo we 7 4 —_e «s— ++ ee 36 a proceedings. But no sooner was his heart vacant on t:ither. The heart of Captain Phebus, like the phil- vusophy of those times, abhorred a vaccum. B-sides, Queue-en-Brie wasa very stupid place, a vil- | is indeed a crowd, as you say, Phoebus. si e of blacksmiths and dairy-women with chapped | roofs are covered with the populace. : | You might as well ask the name of eyery cloud inthe | this score than theimage of Fleur-de-Lys returned | sky. Butwhat need we care ? THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE-DAME. _— — es a —— ——— A cart, drawn by astrong Norman bay, and complete- God Almighty will be | ly surrounded by horsemen in purple livery, marked Here the venérable lady | with white crosses, had just issued trom the Rué St. “Bless me! there! Pierre-aux-Boufs and entered the Place. The ser Why, the very 'geants of the watch opened a passage forit through the Do you know, | populace with staves, with which they laid lustily sure to keep a correct list." rose and advanced to the window. sands, a long line of crazy cottages bordering both | Phebus, this reminds me of my young days, of the en- siles-ot the high road for a mile. Fleur-de-Lys was his try of King Oharles VII. when there was as great a iist passion but one, a handsome girl, witk a good | crowd as this—only the people were much more eomely lower. One fine morning, therefore, being quite con- | than now. Every spot was thronged with them, even v descent, and presuming that the affair with the Bo-| tothe battlements of the gate of St. Antoine. The iuian must after the lapse of two months be com- | king had the queen on the crupper “behind, him, and ) ctely blown over and torgotten, the amorous cavalier | after their highnesses Came all the ladies riding in the “ume swaggering to the door of the Gondelaurier man- | same way behind their lords. A procession of all the about them. Beside the cart rode seyeral officers of justice and police. who might be known by their black dress and the awkward manner in which they sat thair horses. At their head paraded Master Jacques Char- molue. In the fatal vehicle was seated a young female, with her hands tied behind her, and no priest at her side. Sho was stripped to her chemise ! her long, black hair—for it was not then customary to cut it off till the sion. He took no notice of a numerous concourse asr suubledin the Place du Parvis, before the porch of Nvtr--Dame; he recollected that it was the month of May, and, supposing that the people might be drawn tugether by some religious holiday or procession, he tustened his horse to the ring at the gate went up-stairs to his fair betrothed. She was alone with her mother. Fleur-de-Lys had always telt sore abont the scene with the sorceress, her goat, her cursed alphabet, and the long absence of Phebus ; nevertheless, at the entrance of her tru- ant, he looked so well, had sucha new uniform, such @ amart shoulder-belt, and so impassioned an air that she reddened with pleasure. The noble demoiselle was herself more charming than ever. Her magnificent light hair was admirably plaited ; she was attired completely in sky-blue, which so well suits females of a fair complexion—a piece of coquetry which she had deen taught by Colombe—and her eye swam in that dJaugour of love which suits them so much better. Phoebus, who had so long set eyes on nothing supe- rior in beauty to the wenches of Queue-en-Brie, was transported with Fleur-de-Lys; and this imparted manner that his peace was instantly made. Madame de Gondelaurier herself, maternally seated as usual in er great arm-chair, had not the heart to scold him ; and as for the reproaches ot Fleur-de-Lys, they expired in accents of tenderness. The young lady was seated near the window, still working away at her grotto of Neptune. The captain leant Over the back of her chair, and in an undertone she commenced her halt-caressing, half-scolding in- quiries. , ‘* What have you been doing with yourself for these ‘two months, you naughty man ?”’ : “> swear,” replied Phoebus, who did not relish the qvestion, “ you are so beautiful that an archbishop conld not help falling in lové with you.” , She could not torbear ares x * Beautiful, for- sooth! My beauty is nothing to the purpose, sir; I want an answer to my question.” “Well, then, my dear cuusin, I was ordered away to ee ‘ rh Vhe ‘ if you please? and why not come to bid me “At Qitend-en-Brie.” Phoebus was delighted that the first question en- se m to shirk the second. bee that is close by, sir. Howis it that you have en Otice to see me ?”’ ! us was seriously injured. “ Why—our “hot luty— besides, charming cousin, I have been ee ‘poor girl was thunderstruck. , you need not trighten yourself about that,” us, Capel baaty “it was nothing. A quar- scratch with a sword; how can that concern concern me ?”’ cried Fleur-de-Lys, raising her ea: em vin tears, ‘ Oh, an saying 10 sag at think. How came you by ‘atch you talk of? I insist on knowing all.” , then, my faircousin, I had a squabble with Fedy—you know him—the lieutenant of St. Ger- :n-Faye, and each of us ri up a few inches of ' . ; Lh t’s all.’’ ‘2m: 2 in a of a female. * ie Eat tone pee, xe wit ons oO ' ‘ om. Stil he. was not prev ce ee “A 1 Prenbus,” said she, “how I rejoice that you again. Idonot know your Mahe Fedy t he.is aseurvy fellow. And what was the cause lf th Hi whose imagination was not the most yak gate began to be puzzled how to get out of the di- emma, “Oh, I scarcely recollect—a mere nothing, a word a ut, fair cousin,” cried he, in order to conversation, “what is the occasion of this in the ? “Only look;” he ne ey re to es edo, “what a crowd there isin the ah eg x t,"’ replied Fleur-de-Lys. “I did he “¢ w not,”’ ur-de-Lys. “ ar that a is to do penance this morning before the church, to be hung afterward.” ‘The captain made so sure that the affair with La Pasweral was long since overthat he took but little iuterest in the information given to him by Fleur-de- be He nevertheless ed herone or two ques- obs “What is the name of the witch ?” nf ee eae OE - w with another shrug of her fair shoulders. " “Oh my God!” said the mother, “there are now a| “W 80 sorcerers and witches that they burn . I verily believe without knowing their names | shut for fear, | Phebus had again planted himself behind his be-| and gayly | wandering overso much of her neck as was not cover- gentlemen of France withthéir banners wavingin the culprit was at the foot of the gallows—fell loosely over air. Ah! well-a-day! 'tis sad to think that all this her bosom and her half uncovered shoulders. pomp has been, and that nothing of it is now left.’ _ Through this flowing hair, more glossy than araven's The loyers were not listening tothe worthy dowager. Plumage, might be seen twisting a gray, knotty cord, which fretted her delicate skin, and twined itself around trothed, and was leaning over the back of the chair, the neck of the poor girl like an earth-worm upon a flower. Beneath this cord glistened a little amulet ed by her dress. Dazzled by that skin which shone adorned with green beads, which had been left her, no like satin, the captain said within himself: “How can | doubt because it is usual to refuse nothing to those one love but a fair woman ?’’ Both kept silence, The | Who are going to die. The Spectators in the windows lady gave him from time to time a look of delight and | could see at the bottom of the cart her naked legs, fondness; and their hair mingled together in the | which she strove to conceal beneath her, as if by a last | such awarmth and such a tone of gallantry to his | t knew that an affair of shal aune ke Spring sunshine. Instinct of female modesty. “Phebus,” said Fleur-de-Lys abrubtly in a+ low | goat, also bound. At her feet was a little he prisoner held with her teeth her tone, “we areto be married in three months; swear | Chemise, which was not properly fastened. Her misery that you never loved any other but me.” | seemed to be greatly aggravated by her bein thus ex- ‘I doswear it, beautiful angel!’’ replied Phoebus, | posed uearly naked to the publie gaze, Alas! it is not and his impassioned look concurred with the emphatic accent of his words to convince Fleur-de-Lys, It is possible that at the moment he himself believed what ‘he asserted. Meanwhile the good mother, pleased to see the | young people on such excbllent terms, had left the ; His eyes were fixed on the cart. | for stich tremors that modesty is made! ‘Only look, fair cousin,”’ said Fleur-de-Lys sharply to the captain—* tis that Bohemian hussy with the at ” . As she thus spoke, she turned round toward Phebus, He was unusually apartment to attend to some domestic matter or pale. other. Phoebus perceived her absence, which embold- | ened the enterprizing captain. Fleur-de-Lys loved him ; she was betrothed to him; she was alone with him ; his former fondness for her was revived, if not in ull its freshuess,; at any rate in ailitsardor. Iknow not precisély what ideas crossed his mind; but 80 much is certain, that Fleur-de-Lys became suddenly “What Bohemian with the goat?” said he, faltering. “ What?’ rejoined Fleur-de-Lys, ‘‘ don’t you recol- lect ?”’ Fleur-de-Lys, “IT don’t know what you mean,” said Phebus, inter- iy te her. e was stepping back to return to the room ;. but whose jealousy, some time sincé so alarmed at the expression of his countenance. She | Strongly excited by the same Egyptian, was anew looked around her—ier mother was gone | awakened, cast on hima look full of penetration and ‘+Bless me!” said she, flushed and agitated. “Iam mistrust. Sbe had a confused recollection at the véry hot!” : “ Why,’ replied Phebus, “I dare say it is almost noon. The sunis troublesome. Iwill draw the cur- tains.” . “No, no!” cried the tremblitig damsel; “on the contrary, Ihave need of air ;"’ and rising, she ran to the window, and stepped out on the balcony. Phebus tollowed her thither. The Place du Parvis, lin front of Notre-Dame, into which, as the reader knows, this balcony looked, ex- hibited at this moment a sinister and singular spec- tacle, which quickly changed. the nature of the timid Fieur-de-Lys’s alarm, An immense crowd,which flowed back into all the adjacent streets, covered the place, property socailed. The low wall which encompassed the Parvis would not have been sufficient to keep it clear, had it not been thickly lined by sergeants of the Onze-vingts and arquebusiers, with their pieces in their hands. The wide portals of the chureh were closed, contrasting with the numberless windows around the place, which, thrown open up to the very roofs, displayed thousands of heads ed one above another, nearly like piles of cannon-balls in | a park of artillery. The surface of this crowd was gray, squalid, dirty. The sight which it was awaiting casevitently moment of having heard that acaptain was implicated in the proceedings against this sorceress. “ What ails you,” said she to Phebus; “ one would suppose that the sight of this creature had given you “Me? not the least in the world!’ stammered Phebus, with a forced grin. “Then stay !’' rejoined she imperiously, “and let us look on till all is over,’ The unlucky captain was obliged to stay. He re- covered somewhat of his assurance on observing that the prisoner never raised her eyes trom the bottom of the cart. It On this last step of misfortune an was but too su La Esmeralda. ignominy, she was still penneiiy’s her large, black eyes appeared n still larger, cheeks; her livid resembled what she had been, as a account of the hollowness of: her file was pure and sublimes Shoe Virgin of Masac- cio’s resembles a Virgin ot Raphael’s—feebler, thin- ner, more attenuated. it her For the rest, there was nothing about her, exceptin odesty, but was left, as it were, to ohana ~ deeply was she overwhelmed by stupor and despair, At each jolt of the cart, her form rebounded like an inanimate thing; her look was dull and silly. A tear one of those which have the privilege of | glistened in her eye; but it was motionless and looked calling ther all that is nrost disgusting in the popu- | ag if it were frozen. . lation. Nothing could be more hideous thap the noise that arose from this assemblage of sallow caps and unkempt heads. In this concourse there, were more women than men, more laughing than crying. Everand anon some harsh or shill voice was oeard above the general din to this effect : “Tsay, Mahiet Baliffre, is she to be hanged yonder ?”’ “No, pep ape i to do penance there in chemise. 8 going to fling Latin in her facé. ‘Tis al. the hai “T f * * 9 * * * : “Is i true, La Bougandry, that she has refused a con- essor ?”’ : ‘*T am told so, La Bechaigne,.”’ “Only think! the Pagan!” - ~ * . * * » ng, you must e’en go to the Greve. we afterward.” . , at noon precisely. If you want to see. ‘Meanwhile, the sombre cavalcade had rou the crowd, ‘amid shouts of oe oad ene curiosity. In order to.deserve the ch ful historians, we must nevertheless reco of the mob, ay, and of the hast ) te ‘many , too, on seeing her so beautiful a orlorn, were moved with wity, The cart had yd reached the pag It stopped before the central porch. The escort ranged itself on either side, The mob kept silence; and amid this silence, full of solemnity and anxiety, the folding doors o ey porch turned as if spon- ges, taneously upon their which creaked with a shrill sound like that of a fife, affording a view of the hung whole length of the church, vast, gloom black, dimly Sutited by a few wR the distance tipon the high al : mouth of a cavern upon the when eg the glorious sunshine. At the furt ex! and opening . k of the chancel “It is the custom, sir. The bailiff of the palace is Rane nt relieved upon Back choke on bound to deliver over the culprit for execution, if of | ,ina it from the roof to the pavement. e whole the laity, to the provost of Paris ; but if a clerk, to | nave was vacant. Heads of priests were however seen the official of the bishopric.” : confusedly moving about in the distant of the “I thank you, sir. choir, and at the moment when the great door opened *“ * * * * * * there burst from the church a grave, loud, and mon- Such were the dialogues carried on at this moment otonous chant, hurling, as it were, in gusts, s among the spectators collected by the ceremony. ments of doleful psalms at the head of the condemned “Oh, my God! the poor creature !” exclaimed Fleur- | de-Lys, surveying the populace with a sorrowful look. | The captain was too much engaged with her to notice the rabble. At thia moment the clock of Notre-Dame slow] struck twelve. A murmur of ‘satisfaction pervad the crowd, Scarcely had the last vibration of the twelfth stroke subsided, when the vast assemblage of heads was broken into waves like the sea in @ gale of wind, and one immense shout of, ‘‘There she is!" burst simultaneously from pavement, windows, and Fleur-de-Lys covered her eyes with her hands that she might not see. you go in, charmer ?”’ asked Phoebus. “No,” she replied ; and those eyes which she had 6 opened again out of curiosity. Domine; salyum me fac, one. ‘‘ Non timebo millia papuli circumdantis me; exsurge us! Salvum me fac, Deus, quoniam intraveruat aoqg ag usque ad. animam meam, Infixus sum in lime profundi; et non est su beaten tia."? At the same time another voice singly struck ap on the steps of the high altar this melanoholy offer- tory: “ Qui verbum meum audit, et credit et qui misit me, habet vitam #térnam et in judicium pon venit; sed trausit a morte in vitam.’ Those chants, sung by aged men, lost in the over that beautiful creature, full of youth and life, oa- €om (E| 90 )0) .*