登陆注册
3553900000172

第172章 BOOK ⅩⅠ(1)

Chapter 1-The Little Shoe

At the moment the truands attacked the Cathedral,Esmeralda was asleep.

But soon the ever-increasing uproar round the church,and the bleating of her goat—awakened before herself—broke these slumbers.She sat up,listened,looked around;then,frightened at the glare and the noise,hurried out of her cell to see what was the matter.The aspect of the Place,the strange visions moving in it,the disorder of this nocturnal assault,the hideous crowd dimly visible through the darkness,hopping about like a cloud of frogs,the hoarse croaking of the multitude,the scattered red torches flitting to and fro in the storm like will-o'-the-wisps flitting over the misty face of a swamp—all seemed to her like some mysterious battle between the phantoms of the witches'Sabbath and the stone monsters of the Cathedral.Imbued from her childhood with the superstitions of the gipsy tribe,her first idea was that she had happened unawares on the Satanic rites of the weird beings proper to the night.Whereupon she hastened back to cower in her cell,asking of her humble couch some less horrible nightmare.

But,by degrees,the first fumes of her terror cleared away from her brain,and by the constantly increasing noise,and other signs of reality,she discovered that she was beset,not by spectres,but by human beings.At this her fear changed;not in degree,but in kind.The thought of the possibility of a popular rising to drag her from her place of refuge flashed into her mind.The prospect of once more losing life,hope,P us,who still was ever-present in her dreams of the future,her utter helplessness,all flight barred,her abandonment,her friendless state—these and a thousand other cruel thoughts overwhelmed her.She fell upon her knees,her head upon her couch,her hands clasped upon her head,overcome by anxiety and terror;and gipsy,idolatress,and pagan as she was,began with sobs and tremblings to ask mercy of the God of the Christians,and pray to Our Lady,her hostess.For,even though one believe in nothing,there come moments in life in which one instinctively turns to the religion of the temple nearest at hand.

She remained thus prostrated for a considerable time,trembling,in truth,more than she prayed,frozen with terror at the breath of that furious multitude coming ever nearer;ignorant of the nature of the storm,of what was in progress,what they were doing,what they wanted;but having the presentiment of some dreadful issue.

In the midst of this agonizing uncertainty,she heard footsteps near her.She raised her head.Two men,one of whom was carrying a lantern,entered her cell.She uttered a feeble cry.

'Fear nothing,'said a voice which sounded familiar to her,'it is I.'

'Who?'she asked.

'Pierre Gringoire.'

The name reassured her.She raised her eyes and saw it was indeed the poet.But at his side stood a dark figure shrouded from head to foot which struck her dumb with fear.

'Ah,'said Gringoire in reproachful tones,'Djali recognised me before you did.'

In truth,the little goat had not waited for Gringoire to name himself.He had scarcely crossed the threshold before she began rubbing herself fondly against his knee,covering the poet with caresses and with white hairs,for she was casting her coat,Gringoire returning her endearments.

'Who is that with you?'asked the Egyptian in a low voice.

'Make yourself easy,'answered Gringoire,'it is a friend of mine.'

Then,setting down his lantern,the philosopher seated himself on the floor,clasping Djali enthusiastically in his arms.'Oh,'tis an engaging beast!More remarkable,no doubt,for its beauty and cleanliness than for its size;but ingenious,subtle,and lettered as a grammarian!Come,my Djali,let us see if thou hast not forgotten any of thy pretty tricks!How does M re Jacques Charmolue when—'

The man in black did not let him finish.He went up to him and pushed him roughly by the shoulder.Gringoire got up again.'You are right,'said he,'I had forgotten that we were in haste.However,that is no reason,master,for hustling people so roughly.My dear pretty one,your life is in danger,and Djali's too.They want to hang you again.We are your friends,and have come to save you.Follow us.'

'Is that true?'she cried.

'Yes,quite true.Come without delay!'

'I will,'she faltered;'but why does not your friend speak?'

'Ah,'said Gringoire,'that is because his father and mother were somewhat fantastical people,and endowed him with a taciturn disposition.'

She had perforce to content herself with this explanation.Gringoire took her by the hand,his companion picked up the lantern and walked ahead of them.The poor girl was bewildered with fear and let herself be led,the goat came skipping after them,so overjoyed at seeing Gringoire once more that she made him stumble at every other step by thrusting her horns between his legs.

'Such is life,'said the philosopher as he just missed falling flat;'it is often our best friends that occasion our fall!'

同类推荐
  • 佛语御禅师语录

    佛语御禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 淡水厅志

    淡水厅志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 伯乐相马经

    伯乐相马经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说四辈经

    佛说四辈经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Evolution of Modern Medicine

    The Evolution of Modern Medicine

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 美人谋:狂妃祸天下

    美人谋:狂妃祸天下

    她,是来自国家谍报部的异能特工7号,刮风下雨,火灾海啸,开锁盗宝,样样精通。他,只是一个质子,表面温懦,实则腹黑冷血,谈笑间可以将对手捏死。当现代异能特工穿越时空遇上他,化作了绕指柔;当蛰伏的帝星邂逅了她,成为了一捧沙。“傅乙桑,你丫再不滚,老娘要放火了——”忽然床一震,一个人形物被毫不客气的丢出敞篷外。士兵们默然地看着衣衫不整的老大,这已经是第n次发生的事。老大,您保重,小的们爱莫能助,得罪老大还能留全尸,得罪老大夫人可是连渣都剩不下滴。【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 守望先锋入侵美漫

    守望先锋入侵美漫

    富人靠科技,穷人靠变异。李唯穿越到危险的漫威世界,解锁守望先锋系统。化身士兵76与美国队长并肩作战。“我一个人就是一支军队。”化身半藏与鹰眼切磋箭技。“竜が我が敌を喰らう!”化身法老之鹰和钢铁侠轰炸九头蛇基地。“天降正义!”复仇者集结,奥创纪元,无限战争……这是一个外卖小哥在漫威世界搞事情的故事。(守望先锋入侵漫威聊天群:294647447)………无限流新书《我的英雄是不死的》已发!
  • 乱门引之美人夜妆

    乱门引之美人夜妆

    不谈过往,不念平生,惶惑之行,余谁命魂,十年之局,尽散前文,无妄未知,尔等默认,故人已分,往事已沉,怨生念狠,岂能不真,繁华声声,生死枯等,折煞世人,遁入空门,人情速冷,人世易分,落地生根,羡煞谁人,纠缠脱身,空留你恨,蹉跎年轮,空抱痴嗔,付尽一生,毁念旧人,劝诫不闻,意绝心横,而今世事,不过大梦,今日谁人,踏入绝程,归期难等,生死莫问。
  • 快穿之宿主大人别搞事!

    快穿之宿主大人别搞事!

    黑夜,是一切罪恶最好的掩饰。人心,向来是个猜不透的东西。时间的转轴从未停歇,鲜血淋漓的一切是她为复仇画下的浓墨重彩的一笔。【呀拉,坏掉了呢~】系统1843的出现是一切的转折点…做任务是为了她那亲爱的父亲?不是啊,这个世界太无趣总是要为自己找些乐子的呐。当发觉一切是个阴谋的她会怎样?谁知道呢…不过,她会生气呢…【本文慢热且无男主,女主无感情!深爱只是他人的事,女主负责搞事情就好了(^O^)】
  • 佛说师子月佛本生经

    佛说师子月佛本生经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 恃宠而骄:笨妃误乱邪皇心

    恃宠而骄:笨妃误乱邪皇心

    可爱如她,邪魅如他,她总是不断的扰乱他的心活泼如他,腹黑如他,她总是不断的让他用心呵护。神。“你就是我又厌恶又喜爱的玩具。“??
  • 动物世界4

    动物世界4

    大千世界,精彩纷呈。面对五彩缤纷的动物世界,孩子们睁大了惊奇的双眼。鸟儿为什么会飞?大象的鼻子为什么那么厉害?鱼怎么会放电?数亿年前,动植物的出现叩响了沉默。也许,它们有的只是一个细胞,渺小得似乎可以忽视,但它们却宣告了一个不平凡的开始——地球上从此有了生命。经过几亿年的进化繁衍,地球上变得日益充盈。从浩瀚的海洋到广阔的天空,从葱翠的平原到荒芜的沙漠,从赤日炎炎的非洲内陆到冰雪覆盖的南极大陆……到处都有动物的踪迹。它们或披着鳞带着甲,或裹着厚厚的皮毛,共同演绎着这个世界的五光十色和盎然生机。
  • 北京爷们儿

    北京爷们儿

    他们历经挫折,有的甚至付出了生命的代价。主人公张东一再碰壁,在冒险的生涯中成为商业社会的弄潮儿,最终面临的依然是麻木的社会现实,无可奈何。作品以深厚的生活积累,讲述了民间社会的“英雄”们积压自不同的叛逆过程……生命力最质朴的顽强抗争,在非理性的胡闹中张扬着反文化的精神特质。而大量感性的联想,更使作者的幽默具有顽童般的想象力,匆忙的叙事节奏,则适应了表现这个时代全民性的浮躁,也透露出作者自己的内心焦虑。
  • 重生之百变杀手

    重生之百变杀手

    她是月奜国国王最宠爱最骄傲的公主,箭术高超,技冠群雄,下手干净利落。亲爱的弟弟被人掳走,她毫不犹豫地冲进火海挽救弟弟。却落入敌人的圈套,两人活活被烧死了。凤凰泯灭方可重生,而她……为什么这里的人是一副要把她吞进肚子里的样子?她不过是拆卸组装手枪只用了二十秒。一天内拿着枪能够百发百中。打赢了排名第一的杀手宸西。对飙车很感兴趣跑得比车神快一点。用得着这么眼神炙热的看着她么!※------------------------------------※【节选】“美女啊!雨这么大要不要去哥哥家避避雨啊。”几个流氓满脸猥琐地堵住了她的去路。如果他们今晚遇到的不是颜歆,他们可能会得手。可是……颜歆一个绝户撩阴腿狠狠的踢在男人的身体最脆弱的地方,胖子捂着下身疼得话都说不出了,脸部整个都扭曲了起来。敢非礼老娘,我让你断子绝孙!“颜歆,我爱你!”“亲爱的,在告白之前你能不能先照下镜子,你刚才是吃的韭菜饺子吧?牙齿没弄干净。”…………“歆儿,我爱你!”“你眼睛那里有颗眼屎。”…………“亲爱的,我爱你!”“你…”话还没说完就被暴走的某人给狠狠吻了下来…
  • 元灵战争

    元灵战争

    洪荒重临灵气复苏小人物的修仙路,仙侠版星际之门