Notre Dame de Paris - Bartleby.com

“Oh, most excellent and honourable pavement of Paris!” he exclaimed. “Oh, cursed staircase, that
would wind the very angels of Jacob’s ladder! What was I thinking of to go and thrust myself up that
stone gimlet that pierces the sky, just to eat bearded cheese and look at the steeples of Paris through a
hole in the wall!”
He went on a few steps, and caught sight of the “two owls” lost in contemplation of the sculpture in the
doorway. Approaching them softly on tip-toe, he heard the Archdeacon say in low tones to Charmolue:
“It was Guillaume of Paris who had the Job engraven on the lapis-lazuli coloured stone. Job represents
the philosopher’s stone, which also must be tried and tormented in order to become perfect, as Raymond
Lulle says: ‘Sub conservatione formæ specificæ salva anima.”’ 75
“It’s all one to me,” said Jehan; “I’ve got the purse.”
At that moment he heard a powerful and ringing voice behind him give vent to a string of terrible oaths:
“Sang-Dieu! Ventre-Dieu! Bé-Dieu! Corps de Dieu! Nombril de Belzébuth! Nom d’un pape! Corne et
tonnerre!”
“My soul on it!” exclaimed Jehan, “that can be no other than my friend Captain Phœbus!”
The name Phœbus reached the ear of the Archdeacon just as he was explaining to the King’s attorney
the meaning of the dragon hiding its tail in a caldron from which issued smoke and a king’s head. Dom
Claude started and broke off short to the great astonishment of Charmolue, then turned and saw his
brother Jehan accosting a tall officer at the door of the Gondelaurier mansion.
It was, in fact, Captain Phœbus Châteaupers. He was leaning his back against a corner of the house of
his betrothed and swearing like a Turk.
“My faith, Captain Phœbus,” said Jehan, taking his hand, “but you are a wonderfully spirited
swearer!”
“Thunder and devils!” answered the captain.
“Thunder and devils to you!” retorted the scholar. “How now, my gentle captain, whence this overflow
of elegant language?”
“Your pardon, friend Jehan!” cried Phœbus, shaking his hand, “a runaway horse can’t be pulled up
short! Now I was swearing at full gallop. I’ve just been with those mincing prudes, and by the time I
come away my throat’s so full of oaths that I must spit them out, or by thunder I should choke!”
“Come and have a drink?” asked the scholar.
This proposal calmed the young soldier.
“With all my heart, but I’ve no money.”
“But I have.”
“Nonsense! let’s see.”
With an air of good-natured superiority Jehan displayed the purse before his friend’s eyes.