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The archdeacon shook his head； with a bitter smile。 〃Master Jacques read Michel Psellus' '~Dialogus de Energia et Operatione Daemonum~_。' What we are doing is not wholly innocent。〃
〃Speak lower； master！ I have my suspicions of it；〃 said Jacques Charmolue。 〃But one must practise a bit of hermetic science when one is only procurator of the king in the ecclesiastical court； at thirty crowns tournois a year。 Only speak low。〃
At that moment the sound of jaws in the act of mastication； which proceeded from beneath the furnace； struck Charmolue's uneasy ear。
〃What's that？〃 he inquired。
It was the scholar； who； ill at ease； and greatly bored in his hiding…place； had succeeded in discovering there a stale crust and a triangle of mouldy cheese； and had set to devouring the whole without ceremony； by way of consolation and breakfast。 As he was very hungry； he made a great deal of noise； and he accented each mouthful strongly； which startled and alarmed the procurator。
〃'Tis a cat of mine；〃 said the archdeacon； quickly； 〃who is regaling herself under there with a mouse；〃
This explanation satisfied Charmolue。
〃In fact； master；〃 he replied； with a respectful smile； 〃all great philosophers have their familiar animal。 You know what Servius saith： '~Nullus enim locus sine genio est~；for there is no place that hath not its spirit。'〃
But Dom Claude； who stood in terror of some new freak on the part of Jehan； reminded his worthy disciple that they had some figures on the fa？ade to study together； and the two quitted the cell； to the accompaniment of a great 〃ouf！〃 from the scholar； who began to seriously fear that his knee would acquire the imprint of his chin。
CHAPTER VI。
THE EFFECT WHICH SEVEN OATHS IN THE OPEN AIR CAN PRODUCE。
〃~Te Deum Laudamus~！〃 exclaimed Master Jehan； creeping out from his hole； 〃the screech…owls have departed。 Och！ och！ Hax！ pax！ max！ fleas！ mad dogs！ the devil！ I have had enough of their conversation！ My head is humming like a bell tower。 And mouldy cheese to boot！ Come on！ Let us descend； take the big brother's purse and convert all these coins into bottles！〃
He cast a glance of tenderness and admiration into the interior of the precious pouch； readjusted his toilet； rubbed up his boots； dusted his poor half sleeves； all gray with ashes； whistled an air； indulged in a sportive pirouette； looked about to see whether there were not something more in the cell to take； gathered up here and there on the furnace some amulet in glass which might serve to bestow； in the guise of a trinket； on Isabeau la Thierrye； finally pushed open the door which his brother had left unfastened； as a last indulgence； and which he； in his turn； left open as a last piece of malice； and descended the circular staircase； skipping like a bird。
In the midst of the gloom of the spiral staircase； he elbowed something which drew aside with a growl； he took it for granted that it was Quasimodo； and it struck him as so droll that he descended the remainder of the staircase holding his sides with laughter。 On emerging upon the Place； he laughed yet more heartily。
He stamped his foot when he found himself on the ground once again。 〃Oh！〃 said he； 〃good and honorable pavement of Paris； cursed staircase； fit to put the angels of Jacob's ladder out of breath！ What was I thinking of to thrust myself into that stone gimlet which pierces the sky； all for the sake of eating bearded cheese； and looking at the bell… towers of Paris through a hole in the wall！〃
He advanced a few paces； and caught sight of the two screech owls； that is to say； Dom Claude and Master Jacques Charmolue； absorbed in contemplation before a carving on the fa？ade。 He approached them on tiptoe； and heard the archdeacon say in a low tone to Charmolue： 〃'Twas Guillaume de Paris who caused a Job to be carved upon this stone of the hue of lapis…lazuli； gilded on the edges。 Job represents the philosopher's stone； which must also be tried and martyrized in order to become perfect； as saith Raymond Lulle： ~Sub conservatione formoe speciftoe salva anima~。〃
〃That makes no difference to me；〃 said Jehan； 〃'tis I who have the purse。〃
At that moment he heard a powerful and sonorous voice articulate behind him a formidable series of oaths。 〃~Sang Dieu！ Ventre…。Dieu！ Bédieu！ Corps de Dieu！ Nombril de Belzebuth！ Nom d'un pape！ Come et tonnerre~。〃
〃Upon my soul！〃 exclaimed Jehan； 〃that can only be my friend； Captain Phoebus！〃
This name of Phoebus reached the ears of the archdeacon at the moment when he was explaining to the king's procurator the dragon which is hiding its tail in a bath； from which issue smoke and the head of a king。 Dom Claude started； interrupted himself and； to the great amazement of Charmolue； turned round and beheld his brother Jehan accosting a tall officer at the door of the Gondelaurier mansion。
It was； in fact； Captain Phoebus de Chateaupers。 He was backed up against a corner of the house of his betrothed and swearing like a heathen。
〃By my faith！ Captain Phoebus；〃 said Jehan； taking him by the hand； 〃you are cursing with admirable vigor。〃
〃Horns and thunder！〃 replied the captain。
〃Horns and thunder yourself！〃 replied the student。 〃Come now； fair captain； whence comes this overflow of fine words？〃
〃Pardon me； good comrade Jehan；〃 exclaimed Phoebus； shaking his hand； 〃a horse going at a gallop cannot halt short。 Now； I was swearing at a hard gallop。 I have just been with those prudes； and when I come forth； I always find my throat full of curses； I must spit them out or strangle； ~ventre et tonnerre~！〃
〃Will you come and drink？〃 asked the scholar。
This proposition calmed the captain。
〃I'm willing； but I have no money。〃
〃But I have！〃
〃Bah！ let's see it！〃
Jehan spread out the purse before the captain's eyes； with dignity and simplicity。 Meanwhile； the archdeacon； who had abandoned the dumbfounded Charmolue where he stood； had approached them and halted a few paces distant； watching them without their noticing him； so deeply were they absorbed in contemplation of the purse。
Phoebus exclaimed： 〃A purse in your pocket； Jehan！ 'tis the moon in a bucket of water； one sees it there but 'tis not there。 There is nothing but its shadow。 Pardieu！ let us wager that these are pebbles！〃
Jehan replied coldly： 〃Here are the pebbles wherewith I pave my fob！〃
And without adding another word； he emptied the purse on a neighboring post； with the air of a Roman saving his country。
〃True God！〃 muttered Phoebus； 〃targes； big…blanks； little blanks； mailles；* every two worth one of Tournay； farthings of Paris； real eagle liards！ 'Tis dazzling！〃
* An ancient copper coin； the forty…fourth part of a sou or the twelfth part of a farthing。
Jehan remained dignified and immovable。 Several liards had rolled into the mud； the captain in his enthusiasm stooped to pick them up。 Jehan restrained him。
〃Fye； Captain Phoebus de Chateaupers！〃
Phoebus counted the coins； and turning towards Jehan with solemnity； 〃Do you know； Jehan； that there are three and twenty sous parisis！ whom have you plundered to…night； in the Street Cut…Weazand？〃
Jehan flung back his bl