第59章BOOKTHESECOND：THEGOLDENTHREAD(42)

第59章bookthesecond：thegoldenthread(42)

defargeandthethreeglanceddarklyatoneanother.thelooksofallofthemweredark，repressed，andrevengeful，astheylistenedtothecountryman'sstory；themannerofallofthem，whileitwassecret，wasauthoritativetoo.theyhadtheairofaroughtribunal；jacquesoneandtwosittingontheoldpallet-bed，eachwithhischinrestingonhishand，andhiseyesintentontheroad-mender；jacquesthree，equallyintent，ononekneebehindthem，withhisagitatedhandalwaysglidingoverthenetworkoffinenervesabouthismouthandnose；defargestandingbetweenthemandthenarrator，whomhehadstationedinthelightofthewindow，byturnslookingfromhimtothem，andfromthemtohim.

'goon，jacques，'saiddefarge.

'heremainsupthereinhisironcagesomedays.thevillagelooksathimbystealth，foritisafraid.butalwayslooksup，fromadistance，attheprisononthecrag；andintheevening，whentheworkofthedayisachievedanditassemblestogossipatthefountain，allfacesareturnedtowardstheprison.formerly，theywereturnedtowardstheposting-house；now，theyturnedtowardstheprison.theywhisperatthefountain，thatalthoughcondemnedtodeathhewillnotbeexecuted；theysaythatpetitionshavebeenpresentedinparis，showingthathewasenragedandmademadbythedeathofhischild；theysaythatapetitionhasbeenpresentedtothekinghimself.whatdoiknow？itispossible.perhapsyes，perhapsno.'

'listenthen，jacques，'numberoneofthatnamesternlyinterposed.'knowthatapetitionwaspresentedtothekingandqueen.allhere，yourselfexcepted，sawthekingtakeit，inhiscarriageinthestreet，sittingbesidethequeen.itisdefargewhomyouseehere，who，atthehazardofhislife，dartedoutbeforethehorses，withthepetitioninhishand.'

'andonceagainlisten，jacques！'saidthekneelingnumberthree：hisfingerseverwanderingoverandoverthosefinenerves，withastrikinglygreedyair，asifhehungeredforsomething—thatwasneitherfoodnordrink；'theguard，horseandfoot，surroundedthepetitioner，andstruckhimblows.youhear？'

'ihear，messieurs.'

'goonthen，'saiddefarge.

'again；ontheotherhand，theywhisperatthefountain，'resumedthecountryman，'thatheisbroughtdownintoourcountrytobeexecutedonthespot，andthathewillverycertainlybeexecuted.theyevenwhisperthatbecausehehasslainmonseigneur，andbecausemonseigneurwasthefatherofhistenants—serfs—whatyouwill—hewillbeexecutedasaparricide.oneoldmansaysatthefountain，thathisrighthand，armedwiththeknife，willbeburntoffbeforehisface；that，intowoundswhichwillbemadeinhisarms，hisbreast，andhislegs，therewillbepouredboilingoil，meltedlead，hotresin，wax，andsulphur；finally，thathewillbetornlimbfromlimbbyfourstronghorses.thatoldmansays，allthiswasactuallydonetoaprisonerwhomadeanattemptonthelifeofthelateking，louisfifteen.buthowdoiknowifhelies？iamnotascholar.'

'listenonceagainthen，jacques！'saidthemanwiththerestlesshandandthecravingair.'thenameofthatprisonerwasdamiens，anditwasalldoneinopenday，intheopenstreetsofthiscityofparis；andnothingwasmorenoticedinthevastconcoursethatsawitdone，thanthecrowdofladiesofqualityandfashion，whowerefullofeagerattentiontothelast—tothelast.jacques，prolongeduntilnightfall，whenhehadlosttwolegsandanarm，andstillbreathed！anditwasdone—why，howoldareyou？'

'thirty-five，'saidthemenderofroads，wholookedsixty.

'itwasdonewhenyouweremorethantenyearsold；youmighthaveseenit.'

'enough！'saiddefarge，withgrimimpatience.'longlivethedevil！goon.'

'well！somewhisperthis，somewhisperthat；theyspeakofnothingelse；eventhefountainappearstofalltothattune.atlength，onsundaynightwhenallthevillageisasleep，comesoldiers，windingdownfromtheprison，andtheirgunsringonthestonesofthelittlestreet.workmendig，workmenhammer，soldierslaughandsing；inthemorning，bythefountain，thereisraisedagallowsfortyfeethigh，poisoningthewater.'

themenderofroadslookedthroughratherthanatthelowceiling，andpointedasifhesawthegallowssomewhereinthesky.

'allworkisstopped，allassemblethere，nobodyleadsthecowsout，thecowsaretherewiththerest.atmidday，therollofdrums.soldiershavemarchedintotheprisoninthenight，andheisinthemidstofmanysoldiers.heisboundasbefore，andinhismouththereisagag—tiedso，withatightstring，makinghimlookalmostasifhelaughed.'heestedit，bycreasinghisfacewithhistwothumbs，fromthecornersofhismouthtohisears.'onthetopofthegallowsisfixedtheknife，bladeupwards，withitspointintheair.heishangedtherefortyfeethigh—andislefthanging，poisoningthewater.'

theylookedatoneanother，asheusedhisbluecaptowipehisface，onwhichtheperspirationhadstartedafreshwhileherecalledthespectacle.

'itisfrightful，messieurs.howcanthewomenandthechildrendrawwater！whocangossipofanevening，underthatshadow！underit，haveisaid？whenileftthevillage，mondayeveningasthesunwasgoingtobed，andlookedbackfromthehill，theshadowstruckacrossthechurch，acrossthemill，acrosstheprison—seemedtostrikeacrosstheearth，messieurs，towheretheskyrestsuponit！'

thehungrymangnawedoneofhisfingersashelookedattheotherthree，andhisfingerquiveredwiththecravingthatwasonhim.

'that'sall，messieurs.ileftatsunset（asihadbeenwarnedtodo），andiwalkedon，thatnightandhalfnextday，untilimet（asiwaswarnedishould）thiscomrade.withhim，icameon，nowridingandnowwalking，throughtherestofyesterdayandthroughlastnight.andhereyouseeme！'

afteragloomysilence，thefirstjacquessaid，'good！youhaveactedandrecountedfaithfully.willyouwaitforusalittle，outsidethedoor？'