1---
 2date: 2017-04-14T11:25:05-04:00
 3description: "Esmeralda"
 4featured_image: "/images/esmeralda.jpg"
 5tags: []
 6title: "Chapter VI: Esmeralda"
 7disable_share: false
 8---
 9We are delighted to be able to inform the reader, that during the whole of
10this scene, Gringoire and his piece had stood firm. His actors, spurred on
11by him, had not ceased to spout his comedy, and he had not ceased to
12listen to it. He had made up his mind about the tumult, and was determined
13to proceed to the end, not giving up the hope of a return of attention on
14the part of the public. This gleam of hope acquired fresh life, when he
15saw Quasimodo, Coppenole, and the deafening escort of the pope of the
16procession of fools quit the hall amid great uproar. The throng rushed
17eagerly after them. “Good,” he said to himself, “there go all the
18mischief-makers.” Unfortunately, all the mischief-makers constituted the
19entire audience. In the twinkling of an eye, the grand hall was empty.
20
21To tell the truth, a few spectators still remained, some scattered, others
22in groups around the pillars, women, old men, or children, who had had
23enough of the uproar and tumult. Some scholars were still perched astride
24of the window-sills, engaged in gazing into the Place.
25
26“Well,” thought Gringoire, “here are still as many as are required to hear
27the end of my mystery. They are few in number, but it is a choice
28audience, a lettered audience.”
29
30An instant later, a symphony which had been intended to produce the
31greatest effect on the arrival of the Virgin, was lacking. Gringoire
32perceived that his music had been carried off by the procession of the
33Pope of the Fools. “Skip it,” said he, stoically.
34
35He approached a group of bourgeois, who seemed to him to be discussing his
36piece. This is the fragment of conversation which he caught,—
37
38“You know, Master Cheneteau, the Hôtel de Navarre, which belonged to
39Monsieur de Nemours?”
40
41“Yes, opposite the Chapelle de Braque.”
42
43“Well, the treasury has just let it to Guillaume Alixandre, historian, for
44six hivres, eight sols, parisian, a year.”
45
46“How rents are going up!”
47
48“Come,” said Gringoire to himself, with a sigh, “the others are
49listening.”
50
51“Comrades,” suddenly shouted one of the young scamps from the window, “La
52Esmeralda! La Esmeralda in the Place!”
53
54This word produced a magical effect. Every one who was left in the hall
55flew to the windows, climbing the walls in order to see, and repeating,
56“La Esmeralda! La Esmeralda?” At the same time, a great sound of applause
57was heard from without.
58
59“What’s the meaning of this, of the Esmeralda?” said Gringoire, wringing
60his hands in despair. “Ah, good heavens! it seems to be the turn of the
61windows now.”
62
63He returned towards the marble table, and saw that the representation had
64been interrupted. It was precisely at the instant when Jupiter should have
65appeared with his thunder. But Jupiter was standing motionless at the foot
66of the stage.
67
68“Michel Giborne!” cried the irritated poet, “what are you doing there? Is
69that your part? Come up!”
70
71“Alas!” said Jupiter, “a scholar has just seized the ladder.”
72
73Gringoire looked. It was but too true. All communication between his plot
74and its solution was intercepted.
75
76“The rascal,” he murmured. “And why did he take that ladder?”
77
78“In order to go and see the Esmeralda,” replied Jupiter piteously. “He
79said, ‘Come, here’s a ladder that’s of no use!’ and he took it.”
80
81This was the last blow. Gringoire received it with resignation.
82
83“May the devil fly away with you!” he said to the comedian, “and if I get
84my pay, you shall receive yours.”
85
86Then he beat a retreat, with drooping head, but the last in the field,
87like a general who has fought well.
88
89And as he descended the winding stairs of the courts: “A fine rabble of
90asses and dolts these Parisians!” he muttered between his teeth; “they
91come to hear a mystery and don’t listen to it at all! They are engrossed
92by every one, by Chopin Trouillefou, by the cardinal, by Coppenole, by
93Quasimodo, by the devil! but by Madame the Virgin Mary, not at all. If I
94had known, I’d have given you Virgin Mary; you ninnies! And I! to come to
95see faces and behold only backs! to be a poet, and to reap the success of
96an apothecary! It is true that Homerus begged through the Greek towns, and
97that Naso died in exile among the Muscovites. But may the devil flay me if
98I understand what they mean with their Esmeralda! What is that word, in
99the first place?—‘tis Egyptian!”