Notre Dame de Paris - Bartleby.com
Notre Dame de Paris - Bartleby.com
Notre Dame de Paris - Bartleby.com
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
“Horns of the <strong>de</strong>vil!” growled Phœbus, “here’s a villainous, ragged bird methinks I’ve seen somewhere<br />
before. Now, then, my friend, let go my horse’s rein, I tell thee——”<br />
“Captain,” returned the <strong>de</strong>af ringer, “are you not asking me who it is?”<br />
“I am telling thee to let go my horse,” retorted Phœ bus impatiently. “What does the fellow mean by<br />
hanging at my charger’s rein? Dost take my beast for a gallows?”<br />
Far from leaving hold of the horse, Quasimodo was preparing to turn him round. Unable to explain to<br />
himself the officer’s resistance, he hastened to say: “Come, captain, ’tis a woman awaits you,” and he<br />
ad<strong>de</strong>d with an effort, “a woman who loves you.”<br />
“A droll rascal!” said the captain, “who thinks me obliged to run after every woman that loves me, or<br />
says she does; especially, if perchance she is anything like thee, owl-faced one! Go—tell her who sent<br />
thee that I am going to be married, and she may go to the <strong>de</strong>vil!”<br />
“Hark you!” cried Quasimodo, thinking with a single word to over<strong>com</strong>e his hesitation; “<strong>com</strong>e,<br />
monseigneur, ’tis the gipsy girl you wot of!”<br />
This word did in<strong>de</strong>ed make a tremendous impression on Phœbus, but not the kind the hunchback<br />
expected. It will be remembered that the gallant officer had retired from the balcony with Fleur-<strong>de</strong>-Lys a<br />
few minutes before Quasimodo saved the con<strong>de</strong>mned girl out of Charmolue’s hands. Since then, in all his<br />
visits to the Gon<strong>de</strong>laurier mansion, he had taken good care not to mention the woman, the recollection of<br />
whom, after all, was painful to him; and Fleur-<strong>de</strong>-Lys, on her part, had not <strong>de</strong>emed it politic to tell him<br />
that the gipsy was alive. Consequently Phœbus believed poor “Similar,” as he called her, to be <strong>de</strong>ad,<br />
and what’s more, for a month or two. Ad<strong>de</strong>d to which, the captain had been thinking for some moments<br />
past that the night was pitch dark; that, <strong>com</strong>bined with the sepulchral voice and supernatural ugliness of<br />
the strange messenger, it was past midnight; that the street was as <strong>de</strong>serted as on the night the<br />
spectremonk had accosted him, and that his horse had snorted violently at sight of the hunchback.<br />
“The gipsy girl!” he exclaimed, almost in fear. “How now, <strong>com</strong>est thou from the other world?” and his<br />
hand went to his dagger-hilt.<br />
“Quick, quick!” said the hunchback, trying to lead the horse on. “This way.”<br />
Phœbus planted a vigorous kick in the middle of his chest. Quasimodo’s eye flashed. He ma<strong>de</strong> as if to<br />
throw himself on the captain, but checked himself sud<strong>de</strong>nly. “Oh,” he exclaimed “’tis well for you<br />
there’s some one that loves you!” He laid particular stress on the “some one,” then dropping the horse’s<br />
bridle, “Go your way!” he cried.<br />
Phœbus put spurs to his horse and galloped off, swearing lustily.<br />
Quasimodo watched him disappear down the dark street. “Oh,” murmured the poor <strong>de</strong>af hunchback,<br />
“to think of refusing that!”<br />
He returned to the Cathedral, lit his lamp, and mounted the stairs of the tower. As he had surmised, the<br />
gipsy was where he had left her.<br />
The moment she caught sight of him she ran to him. “Alone!” she cried, clasping her beautiful hands in<br />
<strong>de</strong>spair. “I did not find him,” answered Quasimodo coldly.