按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
e reputed imbecile or profound than deaf。 Hence he took great care to conceal his deafness from the eyes of all； and he generally succeeded so well that he had reached the point of deluding himself； which is； by the way； easier than is supposed。 All hunchbacks walk with their heads held high； all stutterers harangue； all deaf people speak low。 As for him； he believed； at the most； that his ear was a little refractory。 It was the sole concession which he made on this point to public opinion； in his moments of frankness and examination of his conscience。
Having； then； thoroughly ruminated Quasimodo's affair； he threw back his head and half closed his eyes； for the sake of more majesty and impartiality； so that； at that moment； he was both deaf and blind。 A double condition； without which no judge is perfect。 It was in this magisterial attitude that he began the examination。
〃Your name？〃
Now this was a case which had not been 〃provided for by law；〃 where a deaf man should be obliged to question a deaf man。
Quasimodo； whom nothing warned that a question had been addressed to him； continued to stare intently at the judge； and made no reply。 The judge； being deaf； and being in no way warned of the deafness of the accused； thought that the latter had answered； as all accused do in general； and therefore he pursued； with his mechanical and stupid self…possession；
〃Very well。 And your age？〃
Again Quasimodo made no reply to this question。 The judge supposed that it had been replied to； and continued；
〃Now； your profession？〃
Still the same silence。 The spectators had begun； meanwhile； to whisper together； and to exchange glances。
〃That will do；〃 went on the imperturbable auditor； when he supposed that the accused had finished his third reply。 〃You are accused before us； ~primo~； of nocturnal disturbance； ~secundo~； of a dishonorable act of violence upon the person of a foolish woman； ~in proejudicium meretricis； tertio~； of rebellion and disloyalty towards the archers of the police of our lord； the king。 Explain yourself upon all these points。…Clerk； have you written down what the prisoner has said thus far？〃
At this unlucky question； a burst of laughter rose from the clerk's table caught by the audience； so violent； so wild； so contagious； so universal； that the two deaf men were forced to perceive it。 Quasimodo turned round； shrugging his hump with disdain； while Master Florian； equally astonished； and supposing that the laughter of the spectators had been provoked by some irreverent reply from the accused； rendered visible to him by that shrug of the shoulders； apostrophized him indignantly；
〃You have uttered a reply； knave； which deserves the halter。 Do you know to whom you are speaking？〃
This sally was not fitted to arrest the explosion of general merriment。 It struck all as so whimsical； and so ridiculous； that the wild laughter even attacked the sergeants of the Parloi… aux…Bourgeois； a sort of pikemen； whose stupidity was part of their uniform。 Quasimodo alone preserved his seriousness； for the good reason that he understood nothing of what was going on around him。 The judge； more and more irritated； thought it his duty to continue in the same tone； hoping thereby to strike the accused with a terror which should react upon the audience； and bring it back to respect。
〃So this is as much as to say； perverse and thieving knave that you are； that you permit yourself to be lacking in respect towards the Auditor of the Chatelet； to the magistrate committed to the popular police of Paris； charged with searching out crimes； delinquencies； and evil conduct； with controlling all trades； and interdicting monopoly； with maintaining the pavements； with debarring the hucksters of chickens； poultry； and water…fowl； of superintending the measuring of fagots and other sorts of wood； of purging the city of mud； and the air of contagious maladies； in a word； with attending continually to public affairs； without wages or hope of salary！ Do you know that I am called Florian Barbedienne； actual lieutenant to monsieur the provost； and； moreover； commissioner； inquisitor； controller； and examiner； with equal power in provostship； bailiwick； preservation； and inferior court of judicature？〃
There is no reason why a deaf man talking to a deaf man should stop。 God knows where and when Master Florian would have landed； when thus launched at full speed in lofty eloquence； if the low door at the extreme end of the room had not suddenly opened； and given entrance to the provost in person。 At his entrance Master Florian did not stop short； but； making a half…turn on his heels； and aiming at the provost the harangue with which he had been withering Quasimodo a moment before；
〃Monseigneur；〃 said he； 〃I demand such penalty as you shall deem fitting against the prisoner here present； for grave and aggravated offence against the court。〃
And he seated himself； utterly breathless； wiping away the great drops of sweat which fell from his brow and drenched； like tears； the parchments spread out before him。 Messire Robert d'Estouteville frowned and made a gesture so imperious and significant to Quasimodo； that the deaf man in some measure understood it。
The provost addressed him with severity； 〃What have you done that you have been brought hither； knave？〃
The poor fellow； supposing that the provost was asking his name； broke the silence which he habitually preserved； and replied； in a harsh and guttural voice； 〃Quasimodo。〃
The reply matched the question so little that the wild laugh began to circulate once more； and Messire Robert exclaimed； red with wrath；
〃Are you mocking me also； you arrant knave？〃
〃Bellringer of Notre…Dame；〃 replied Quasimodo； supposing that what was required of him was to explain to the judge who he was。
〃Bellringer！〃 interpolated the provost； who had waked up early enough to be in a sufficiently bad temper； as we have said； not to require to have his fury inflamed by such strange responses。 〃Bellringer！ I'll play you a chime of rods on your back through the squares of Paris！ Do you hear； knave？〃
〃If it is my age that you wish to know；〃 said Quasimodo； 〃I think that I shall be twenty at Saint Martin's day。〃
This was too much； the provost could no longer restrain himself。
〃Ah！ you are scoffing at the provostship； wretch！ Messieurs the sergeants of the mace； you will take me this knave to the pillory of the Grève； you will flog him； and turn him for an hour。 He shall pay me for it； ~tête Dieu~！ And I order that the present judgment shall be cried； with the assistance of four sworn trumpeters； in the seven castellanies of the viscomty of Paris。〃
The clerk set to work incontinently to draw up the account of the sentence。
〃~Ventre Dieu~！ 'tis well adjudged！〃 cried the little scholar； Jehan Frollo du Moulin； from his corner。
The provost turned and fixed his flashing eyes once more on Quasimodo。 〃I believe the knave said '~Ventre Dieu~' Clerk； add twelve deniers Parisian for the oath； and let the vestry of Saint Eustache have the half of it； I have a particular devotion for Saint Eustache。〃
In a few minutes the sentence was drawn up。 Its tenor wa