Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 144 — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

~ a mm ee ee THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE-DAME. 48 ‘ in front, Vy 3 oh’! how ugly and deformed behind | these personages, grotesquely ve Now I I have but aseurvy tallow-candle which stinks in my nostrils. People make a mock atme, I have only water to drink. Iam dunned by remorse and credi- white magic to man tors.”’ “ What more ?”’ said the archdeacon. tacoin left: I havesold my linen. My piece of eastern frippery, was Matthias Hunyadi_ joyous life is over. The bright taper is put out: and | cali, Duke of Egypt und Bohemia. The varlet was seat- ' i ; zened with many a| “Is she still in Notre-Dame?” asked a Jew-looking “Ay, by the mags |.”’ ‘ ed ona table, his legs crossed, his finger uplifted, im- “Well then, comrades!” cried the peddler, “to Notre- partingin a loud voice,sundry lessons in black and Dame! tne sooner the better! In the chapel of St. a gaping face around him. An- | Fereol and St. Ferrutien there are two statues, one of other party had drawn closely about our old friend the | St. John Baptist, the other of St. Antony, both of gold, valiant King of Thunes,.who was armed to the very | weighing together seventeen marks fifteen esterlin,.s, ‘Alas! my dear brother, I would fain turn me toa/ teeth, Clopiu, Trouillefou with grave look and in a/| andthe pedestals of silver gilt seventeen marks five | better life. Icome to,you full of contrition. I. am} low voice, was superintending the pillage of a large | ounces. I know this toa certainty—I am by trade a penitent. . lconfess my faults. Ihave great-reason to wish that I may one day become licentiate and sub- monitor the college of Torchi. At this moment I | } goldsmith.” . ae ger full of arms, which stool with head knocked ‘i ‘ rs) a this time Jehan’s supper was set before him. before him, and from which steres of hatchets, | swords, coats of mail, hunting knives, spear-heads, | Falling to with an excellent. appetite, he. exclaimed, feel anirresistible vocation to that office. But I have Saws, augurs, were disgoryed like apples and grapes | “ By St. Voult-de-Lucquesthe people called him, St. no. ink, Ihave no pens,I have no paper, I have no | from a cornucopia. Each took trom the heap what he books—I must buy more. Tothis end lam in great pleased—one a helmet, another along rapier, a third a need of alittle money, and I am come.to you, brother, | cross or basket-hilted dagger. The very chil with -a heart full of conirition,”’ “Is that all ? ‘* Yes,”* said the scholar. ‘‘T have none.” ' ‘ Well then, brother,’’ replied Jehan, with a graye “ A little money.’’ and at the same time adetermined lovk, ‘I am.sorry | to have to inform yon that very fair offers have been made to,mefrom another quarter. You will not give me some money “ Then I will turn Vagabond,” In uttering this | | | Roguelu—I am the happiest fellow in Pa s, though I have renounced the half ot a house ceane dette ae arene being in Paradise, promise ’ me by my brother the areb- themselves,and there were even little urchins cui- | deacon. Look at thatsimy.vton, gazingat me with the rassed and accoutered, running between the legs of tae | smooth look of an archiduke. There is another on my topers like large beetles. ) , left with tusks so long that hide hischin. Body o’ Ma- Lastly, a third party, the most noisy, the most.jovial, | hound! comrade! thou hast the very air and odor of a and the most numerous, occupied the benches and | bone-dealer; and yet hast the assurance to clap thyself is py amidst which atreble voice was swearing and | down so near me! I am noble, my tried. Trade holding forth from beneath a heavy suit of armer coi- | incompatible with nobility. Go thy ways—Solio! you plete from head to heel. The individual who had thus | there! what are ye fighting tor? What, Baptiste ue encased himsélf was so impanoplied by his martial ac- | Oison, art.not afraid to risk thy goodly mose ayainst couterments, that no part of his person could be seen, | the clumsy fists of that booby ? owest thon not, save a saucy, red, snub nose,a lock of light hair, rosy simpleton, mon cuiquam datum esthabere nasitm? Thou monstrous resolution, he assumed alook of Ajax ex- | lips,and daring eyes. He had his belt stuck full of, Thee ene ee ae pecting the thunderbolt to descend upon his head. “Turn Vagabond,’’ coldly replied the archdeacon. Jehan made a low obeis down the cloister stai At the moment when he was, passing.through the court of,the cloister,beneath the window of his er’s cell, he heardit o stern face of the archdeucon protruded through the aperture. ‘ Get thee gone !’’ said Dom Claude ; ‘that is the last money thou shalt get from me,” , At the same time the priest threw at Jehim a purse which made a great bump.on the scholas’s, forehead, and with which Jehan went his way, at-ouce growling and pleased, like a dog that is-pelted with marrow- bones, ; \ CHAPTER IIl. / IL ALLEGRO... ’ . Tue reader has not perhaps forgotten that part ofthe Cour des Miracles was enclosed by the ancient wall sur- rounding the Ville, many of the towers of which had begun so early as this period to fall to in. One of these towers had been converted into a place of enter- tainment by the Vagabonds. Atthe bottom was @ tay- ern, and the upper floors were appropriated to other purposes. This tower was the busiest and consequent- ly the most disgusting part of this resort of the crew. It was a kind of monstrous hive, where an incessant buzz was kept up nightand day. At night, when all the rest of the colony was buried in sleep, when nota single light was to be seen in the windows ot the crazy buildings encompassing the place, when no sound was to be heard issuing from the innumerable dens swarm- ing with thieves, and dissolute persons of both sexes, the jovial tower might always be known by the noise that was made there, by the crimson light, which gleaming at once from the chimneys, the windows, and the crevices in the cracked walls, issued as it were, trom évery pore. The saliod therefors: was the tavern. The descent toit w by a@jJow door and stairsas rugged as a classic Alexandr! . Overthe door was by way ot sign a won- drous daubing representing a numbet of new sous and dead chickens (ds sous neufs et de poulets tues) with this pun tnhderneath: “ Auz sanbiet pour les trespasses, | One evening, at the moment when the curtew-bell was ringing in every beliry in Paris, the seryeants.of the watch, had they chanced to enter the redoubtable Cour des Miracles, might have remarked that there was a preater tumult than usual in th: tavern of the Vaga- bonds, abd that the inmates were both drinking and sweariug more lustily. In the open space without were humerous groups conversing in a subdued tone, as when some important enterprise is planning; and here and thera a varlet was crouching, and whetting some rusty weapon or other upon a paving stone. The tavern itself, however, wihe, and gaming were so powerful a diversion to the ideas which on that even- ing enzrossed the vagabond crew, that it would have been difficult to discover from, the conversation of the topers the nature of their project. They merely ap- peared to be in higher spirits than ordinary, and be- tween the legs ofeach was seen glistening some weapon or other—a Dbill-hook, a hatchet, a thick bludgeon, or the supporter of an old arquebuss. The room, of circular form, was very spacious; bus the tables were so Close, and the customers so numer- ous, that all the contents of the tavern, men and women, benches, and beer-jugs, those who were drink- ing, those who were sleeping, those who were gam- ing, the able-bodied and the cripple, seemed to be tumbled together pell-mell, with just as much order and harmony as a heap of oyster-shells. A few tallow candles were burning on the tables, but the real luminary of the tayern, that which performed the part of the chande-ier atthe Opera-house, was the fire. This cellar was so dainp that thé fire was never suff:red to go out evebin simmer. It was animmense fire-place, With carved inantel, bristling with clumsy | foot; the bear, the old man, or the grandfather. The | andirons and other -ulinary apparatus, contaming one | cap of a gnome renders you invisible, and enables you of thosé large fires of woodand turf mixed, which at night in the.village streets produce, by their glare on the opposite walls, the appearance of the windows ofa} bell about each foot. A large dog, squatted in the ashes, was turn-| of the head; the godmother, of the feet.” smithy. ing a spit laden with viands before the fire. Notwithstanding the confusion, after the first glance there might be distinguished in this multitude, three principrl gronps standing around three personages with which the reader is already acquainted, One of ce, and skipped whistling | which ever and anon he took a copious draught. oth- | | | corner was seated a philosopher absorbed in medita- |: Sometimes I pass whole hours watching a i ee — ee —— | | daggers, along sword at his thigh, a rusty arbalest on. if thou couldst add a few inches to ‘snutt-the candles. hostelry his left, and a large jug of wine before him, from.| those mischievous brats quiet, and snuff By Mahound! what have I got here ! of Beelzebub!”’ So saying , he dashed his plate on the pavement, and began singing with all his might one o Every mouth around him was laughing, cursing, drinking, , , vet ax 8 Add to these twenty secondary groups, the, attend- H i jugs, the gamesters, lolling over the billiards, the | worthy associate. merils, the dice, and the impassionate game of the; Clopim Trouillefon. had meanwhile finished his dis- tringlet ; the quarrels in one corner, the kisses in an- | tribution of arms. He.went up to Gringoire, who, with other; and you will have some idea of ihe whole, over _ his feet on the andiron, appeared to bein a brown which flickered the glare of a huge blazing fire, which | “Friend Pierre,’ said the King of Thunesy" what the made a thousand broad, grotesque shadows dance on | devil art’thinking of?” ) ‘ 4 the walls of the tavern. : Gringoire turned toward him with a melanchdély As for the noise, it was like that within a bell in'a | smiie. ‘Iam fond of the-fire, my dear. sir,’ suid he, grand peal, 4% , : | ‘not for the trivial reason that it warms our feet. or Araidst all this din, upon the bench in the chimney | cooks our soup, but becanse there dre sparks in it. tho Gooria. I discover a thousand things in those shade-wiaieh sprinkle the black chimney-back. Those stars are worlds, too.”’ ~e ve “Thunder and death, if I understand thee!’ cried the King of Thunes. /‘ Dost know what hour it is!’’ **Not I,” answered Gringoire, tion, his feet in ashes, and his eyes fixed on the burn+ ing brands. It was Pierre Gringoire. “Come, make haste, arm yourselves! we shall start in an hour!” said Clopin Trouillefou to his crew. Two card-players were quarreling. ‘ Kuave!"’ cried the more rubicund of the two, holding up his fist at the other, ‘‘ I will mark thee with the club. Thoushelt | Clopim then went to the Duke of t.- “ Comrade be mali fied to succeed Mistigri in the card parties of | Matthias,” said he, ‘‘ it lacke quite one quarter ot e754 the King.” . |anhour. Iam told the king is in fs ‘‘Oaf,”” roared a Norman, who might easily be known “ One reason more why we should get our sister out. by his nasal twang, “we are crammed together here | of their clutches,” replied the old Bol ' e the saints of Callouville]” “ Thou Speakset* itke a man, } ias,”’ rejoined “My sons,”’ sail the Duke of Egypt to his auditors, | Trouillefon. “ Besides, we shall get on - in his falsetto, ‘‘the witches of France go to the Sab- | No resistance to fear in the ehurch. The canons are bath without broom or aught else to ride-on, merely | mere hares, and we are strong. The. officers of the witha few magical words; those of Italy always have’ a goat at the door waiting for them. They are all obliged to go out of the house through the chimney.”’ The voice of the young warrior in armor was heard’ nears fe et pois 2 \‘ huzza 4 a ap o my tavern. of arms to-day! A Vagabond! Zounds! what; Gringoire, roused from his meditatio é am I butaVagabond! Pour me out some drink! My | to contemplate the wild and nois mics friends, my name is Jehun Frollo du Moulin, and Iam | mut ring between his teeth, Lucruriosa vinum et agentleman., I could lay any -wager that if Jupiter | tus ebrietas, What good reason Grecltie abstain were Agendamme, he would be fond of plunder. We | from liquor? and how ret y St. Benedict observes, are valiant fellows. Lay siege to the church, break | Vinwm aposte | Jacit etiam sapientes ! open the doors, carry off the damsel, rescue her from/ | At that moment Clopin returned, and shouted with a Parliament will be finely taken in to-morrow when they go look for her, By the Pope's nose! they shall not g the comely damsel.” ’ With these words Clopin sallied forth. from the the judges, save her from the priests, dismantle the | voice of thunder, ‘‘ Midnight !"’ a cloistets, burn the bishop in his palace—why Wwe shall | At this signal, whieh had e effect the sound to do it all in less time than a burgomaster takes to eat a | horse upon a regiment in halt, all the nd crew, basin of soup. Our cause is a righteous one; we'll plunder Notre-Dame; that’s flat. We'll ga 8 do. Do you know Quasimodo, fair gentlewomen. Have ye seen him puffing upon the great bell on Whit-Sunday ? By Beclzebub’s horns, that is grand | men, women, ope children, poured ina torrent: out of the tavern, with a loud noise of armsand the elanking of iron implements, , e The moon yon Crgnonste The Cour des Miracles was quite dark. alight wastobeseen. It was, never- ¢ you would take him for a d:vil astride of a ghoul. | theless, filled with a multitude ot both who Isay, my friends. I am a yagabond to my heart's | talked in low tones together. A vast buzz was to be core, @ canter in my soul, a cadger born. I haye | heard, and all sorts of weapons were seen pl ing in been well off, and have run through my fortune. My | the dark. Clopin mounted a huge stone. “ To your futher wanted to make me un officer, my mother sub- |-ranks, ye men of Cant,” he cried. ‘“‘To your ranke. dean, my aunt a counselor of inquisition, my grand- Egypt! To your ranks, Galilee!" A buat anated. mother prothonotary to the king, my grand-aunt | amid the daiknage, The immense multitude a keeper of the short robe; while I—I have chosen to be to be forming incolumn. Inafew minntes the King a vagabond, I told my father so ; he flung his malison ~ ‘ . of Thunes again raised his voice. “ Now, silence in in my face; and my mother, who—poor old lady—be- | passing through the streets! No torch is to be lit tilh weare at Notre-Dame. March !’’ In less than ten minutés the horsemen of the watch fled panic stricken before a long black procession de- scending in profound silence toward the Pontanu- gan tocry and sputter like that stake on the fire. A merry life though a short one, sayI! Taverniere, my darling, let us change our wine; I have some money leit yet. Idon't like the Sturene:it cuts my throat.’ Corbeuf! I'd almost as soon swallow knives.” Meanwhile the rabble applauded -with bursts of laughter ; and as the tumult swelled around him, the scholar shouted: “How delightful ! populi debacchantis populosa debacchato!” His eye swimming imecstacy, he then fell to chanting, in the tone of acanon at vespers ; ’ but, suddenly stopping short, he tried, “ Here, you devil's taverrer, give me some supper !” Then followed a momeut of comparativg quiet,during which the Duke of Egypt raised his shrill voice, while | instructing his Bohemians. The weasel is calle. Aduine ; the fox Blufoot ; the wolf, Grayfoot or Gold- directions through the massive quarter CHAPTER IV. A, MISCHIEVOUS FRIEND.. THAT e2>1e night Quasimodo slept not. He had jnst: gone his last round in the church. He had marked that, at the moment when he was fastening tlie doors, the archdeacon had passed, or the ill-humor }) « had shown on seeing him employed in carefully bo)’ - ing and padlocking the immense iron bars, which gay. to the large folding-doors the soldity of a wall. Dor Claude appeared that night to be more deeply abs orbe«! inthought than usual. Ever since the nocturnal ad- The godfather must take hold | veuture in the cell, he had treated Quasimodo with : freat harshness; but,in spite of this usag Mean while the crew continued to arm themselves | thongh he sometimes went so far as to strike h at the other end of the tavern, amidst such whispers nothing could shake the submission, the patience, © as, these : devoted resignation, of the faithful bell-ringer. From ‘Poor Esmeralda! ?’ said a Bohemian—“She is our sister—We lust release her.”’ to see invisible things. Every toad thatis baptized ought to be dressed in red or black velvet, with a GOmiicGooo <S — scene around him, the pecniiar © , and, looking up, saw the | ants, male and female, running about with plates ahd | songs of the lawless crew of whom he had become, a 4 Ps Change, along the winding streets ee in all e Halles. not re- | e, nay even — the archdeacon he would take anything—abuse, threats, — ' blows, without murmuring a reproach, without utter~ (EO) Af + A = - ag Se er a oe ee)