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corpse！ This is how they poison the people！〃
A fresh incident now attracted the attention of the crowd。 A travelling…
carriage； which had not been able to pass along the Quai…Napoleon； the
pavement of which was up； had ventured among the intricate streets of the
city； and now arrived in the square of Notre…Dame on its way to the other
side of the Seine。 Like many others； its owners were flying from Paris；
to escape the pestilence which decimated it。 A man…servant and a lady's
maid were in the rumble； and they exchanged a glance of alarm as they
passed the Hospital； whilst a young man seated in the front part of the
carriage let down the glass； and called to the postilions to go slowly；
for fear of accident； as the crowd was very dense at that part of the
square。 This young man was Lord Morinval； and on the back seat were Lord
Montbron and his niece； Lady Morinval。 The pale and anxious countenance
of the young lady showed the alarm which she felt； and Montbron；
notwithstanding his firmness of mind； appeared to be very uneasy； he； as
well as his niece； frequently had recourse to a smelling…bottle filled
with camphor。
During the last few minutes； the carriage had advanced very slowly； the
postilions managing their horses with great caution； when a sudden
hubbub； at first distant and undefined； but soon more distinct； arose
among the throng； as it drew near； the ringing sound of chains and metal；
peculiar to the artillery…wagons； was plainly audible； and presently one
of these vehicles came towards the travelling…carriage； from the
direction of the Quai Notre…Dame。 It seemed strange； that though the
crowd was so compact； yet at the rapid approach of this wagon； the close
ranks of human beings opened as if by enchantment； but the following
words which were passed from mouth to mouth soon accounted for the
prodigy： 〃A wagon full of dead！ the wagon of the dead！〃 As we have
already stated； the usual funeral conveyances were no longer sufficient
for the removal of the corpses； a number of artillery wagons had been put
into requisition； and the coffins were hastily piled in these novel
hearses。
Many of the spectators regarded this gloomy vehicle with dismay； but the
quarryman and his band redoubled their horrible jokes。
〃Make way for the omnibus of the departed！〃 cried Ciboule。
〃No danger of having one's toes crushed in that omnibus；〃 said the
quarryman。
〃Doubtless they're easy to please； the stiff…uns in there。〃
〃They never want to be set down； at all events。〃
〃I say； there's only one reg'lar on duty as postilion！〃
〃That's true； the leaders are driven by a man in a smock…frock。〃
〃Oh！ I daresay the other soldier was tired； lazy fellow！ and got into the
omnibus with the othersthey'll all get out at the same big hole。〃
〃Head foremost； you know。〃
〃Yes； they pitch them head first into a bed of lime。〃
〃Why； one might follow the dead…cart blind…fold； and no mistake。 It's
worse than Montfaucon knacker…yards！〃
〃Ha！ ha！ ha！it's rather gamey！〃 said the quarryman； alluding to the
infectious and cadaverous odor which this funeral conveyance left behind
it。
〃Here's sport！〃 exclaimed Ciboule： 〃the omnibus of the dead will run
against the fine coach。 Hurrah！ the rich folks will smell death。〃
Indeed； the wagon was now directly in front of the carriage； and at a
very little distance from it。 A man in a smock…frock and wooden shoes
drove the two leaders； and an artilleryman the other horses。 The coffins
were so piled up within this wagon； that its semicircular top did not
shut down closely； so that； as it jolted heavily over the uneven
pavement； the biers could be seen chafing against each other。 The fiery
eyes and inflamed countenance of the man in the smock…frock showed that
he was half intoxicated； urging on the horses with his voice； his heels；
and his whip； he paid no attention to the remonstrances of the soldier；
who had great difficulty in restraining his own animals； and was obliged
to follow the irregular movements of the carman。 Advancing in this
disorderly manner； the wagon deviated from its course just as it should
have passed the travelling…carriage； and ran against it。 The shock
forced open the top； one of the coffins was thrown out； and； after
damaging the panels of the carriage； fell upon the pavement with a dull
and heavy sound。 The deal planks had been hastily nailed together； and
were shivered in the fall； and from the wreck of the coffin rolled a
livid corpse； half enveloped in a shroud。
At this horrible spectacle； Lady Morinval； who had mechanically leaned
forward； gave a loud scream； and fainted。 The crowd fell back in dismay；
the postilions； no less alarmed； took advantage of the space left open to
them by the retreat of the multitude； they whipped their horses； and the
carriage dashed on towards the quay。 As it disappeared behind the
furthermost buildings of the Hospital； the shrill joyous notes of distant
trumpets were heard； and repeated shouts proclaimed： 〃The Cholera
Masquerade！〃 The words announced one of those episodes combining
buffoonery with terror； which marked the period when the pestilence was
on the increase； though now they can with difficulty be credited。 If the
evidence of eyewitnesses did not agree in every particular with the
accounts given in the public papers of this masquerade； they might be
regarded as the ravings of some diseased brain； and not as the notice of
a fact which really occurred。
〃The Masquerade of the Cholera〃 appeared； we say； in the square of Notre…
Dame； just as Morinval's carriage gained the quay； after disengaging
itself from the death…wagon。
＇37＇ It is well…known that at the time of the cholera； such placards were
numerous in Paris； and were alternately attributed to opposite parties。
Among others； to the priests； many of the bishops having published
mandatory letters； or stated openly in the churches of their diocese；
that the Almighty had sent the cholera as a punishment to France for
having driven away its lawful sovereign； and assimilated the Catholic to
other forms of worship。
＇38＇ It is notorious； that at this unhappy period several persons were
massacred； under a false accusation of poisoning the fountains； etc。
CHAPTER XIX。
THE CHOLERA MASQUERADE。＇39＇
A stream of people； who preceded the masquerade； made a sudden irruption
through the arch into the square； uttering loud cheers as they advanced。
Children were also there； blowing horns； whilst some hooted and others
hissed。
The quarryman； Ciboule； and their band； attracted by this new spectacle；
rushed tumultuously towards the arch。 Instead of the two eating…houses；
which now （1845） stand on either side of the Rue d'Arcole； there was then
only one； situated to the left of the vaulted passage； and much
celebrated amongst the joyous community of students； for the excellence
both of its cookery and its wines。 At the first blare of the trumpets；
sounded by the outriders in livery who preceded the masquerade； the
windows of the great room of the eating…house were thrown open； and
several waiters； with their napkins under their arms； leaned forward；
impatient to w