the memoirs of victor hugo-第6部分

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　a　ruin；　it　is　more　than　a　ruin；　it　is　a　disaster；　one　feels　that　the　proprietor　is　bankrupt　and　that　the　contractor　has　fled。

In　rear　of　the　house；　a　wall　white　and　new　like　the　rest；　encloses　a　space　in　which　a　drum　major　could　not　lie　at　full　length。　　This　is　called　the　garden。　　Issuing　shiveringly　from　the　earth　is　a　little　tree；　long；　spare　and　sickly；　which　seems　always　to　be　in　winter；　for　it　has　not　a　single　leaf。　　This　broom　is　called　a　poplar。　　The　remainder　of　the　garden　is　strewn　with　old　potsherds　and　bottoms　of　bottles。　Among　them　one　notices　two　or　three　list　slippers。　　In　a　corner　on　top　of　a　heap　of　oyster　shells　is　an　old　tin　watering　can；　painted　green；　dented；　rusty　and　cracked；　inhabited　by　slugs　which　silver　it　with　their　trails　of　slime。

Let　us　enter　the　hovel。　　In　the　other　you　will　find　perhaps　a　ladder　〃rickety；〃　as　Regnier　says；　〃from　the　top　to　the　bottom。〃　Here　you　will　find　a　staircase。

This　staircase；　〃ornamented〃　with　brass…knobbed　banisters；　has　fifteen　or　twenty　wooden　steps；　high；　narrow；　with　sharp　angles；　which　rise　perpendicularly　to　the　first　floor　and　turn　upon　themselves　in　a　spiral　of　about　eighteen　inches　in　diameter。　　Would　you　not　be　inclined　to　ask　for　a　ladder？

At　the　top　of　these　stairs；　if　you　get　there；　is　the　room。

To　give　an　idea　of　this　room　is　difficult。　　It　is　the　〃new　hovel〃　in　all　its　abominable　reality。　　Wretchedness　is　everywhere；　a　new　wretchedness；　which　has　no　past；　no　future；　and　which　cannot　take　root　anywhere。　　One　divines　that　the　lodger　moved　in　yesterday　and　will　move　out　　tomorrow。　　That　he　arrived　without　saying　whence　he　came；　and　that　he　will　put　the　key　under　the　door　when　he　goes　away。

The　wall　is　〃ornamented〃　with　dark　blue　paper　with　yellow　flowers；　the　window　is　〃ornamented〃　with　a　curtain　of　red　calico　in　which　holes　take　the　place　of　flowers。　There　is　in　front　of　the　window　a　rush…bottom　chair　with　the　bottom　worn　out；　near　the　chair　a　stove；　on　the　stove　a　stewpot；　near　the　stewpot　a　flowerpot　turned　upside　down　with　a　tallow　candle　stuck　in　the　hole；　near　the　flowerpot　a　basketful　of　coal　which　evokes　thoughts　of　suicide　and　asphyxiation；　above　the　basket　a　shelf　encumbered　with　nameless　objects；　distinguishable　among　which　are　a　worn　broom　and　an　old　toy　representing　a　green　rider　on　a　crimson　horse。　　The　mantelpiece；　mean　and　narrow；　is　of　blackish　marble　with　a　thousand　little　white　blotches。　　It　is　covered　with　broken　glasses　and　unwashed　cups。　　Into　one　of　these　cups　a　pair　of　tin　rimmed　spectacles　is　plunging。　A　nail　lies　on　the　floor。　　In　the　fireplace　a　dishcloth　is　hanging　on　one　of　the　fire…iron　holders。　　No　fire　either　in　the　fireplace　or　in　the　stove。　　A　heap　of　frightful　sweepings　replaces　the　heaps　of　cinders。　　No　looking　glass　on　the　mantelpiece；　but　a　picture　of　varnished　canvas　representing　a　nude　negro　at　the　knees　of　a　white　woman　in　a　decolletée　ball　dress　in　an　arbour。　　Opposite　the　mantelpiece；　a　man's　cap　and　a　woman's　bonnet　hang　from　nails　on　either　side　of　a　cracked　mirror。

At　the　end　of　the　room　is　a　bed。　　That　is　to　say；　a　mattress　laid　on　two　planks　that　rest　upon　a　couple　of　trestles。　　Over　the　bed；　other　boards；　with　openings　between　them；　support　an　undesirable　heap　of　linen；　clothes　and　rags。　　An　imitation　cashmere；　called　〃French　cashmere；〃　protrudes　between　the　boards　and　hangs　over　the　pallet。

Mingled　with　the　hideous　litter　of　all　these　things　are　dirtiness；　a　disgusting　odour；　spots　of　oil　and　tallow；　and　dust　everywhere。　　In　the　corner　near　the　bed　stands　an　enormous　sack　of　shavings；　and　on　a　chair　beside　the　sack　lies　an　old　newspaper。　　I　am　moved　by　curiosity　to　look　at　the　title　and　the　date。　　It　is　the　〃Constitutionnel〃　of　April　25；　1843。

And　now　what　can　I　add？　　I　have　not　told　the　most　horrible　thing　about　the　place。　　The　house　is　odious；　the　room　is　abominable；　the　pallet　is　hideous；　but　all　that　is　nothing。

When　I　entered　a　woman　was　sleeping　on　the　beda　woman　old；　short；　thickset；　red；　bloated；　oily；　tumefied；　fat；　dreadful；　enormous。　　Her　frightful　bonnet；　which　was　awry；　disclosed　the　side　of　her　head；　which　was　grizzled；　pink　and　bald。

She　was　fully　dressed。　　She　wore　a　yellowish　fichu；　a　brown　skirt；　a　jacket；　all　this　on　her　monstrous　abdomen；　and　a　vast　soiled　apron　like　the　linen　trousers　of　a　convict。

At　the　noise　I　made　in　entering　she　moved；　sat　up；　showed　her　fat　legs；　that　were　covered　with　unqualifiable　blue　stockings；　and　with　a　yawn　stretched　her　brawny　arms；　which　terminated　with　fists　that　resembled　those　of　a　butcher。

I　perceived　that　the　old　woman　was　robust　and　formidable。

She　turned　towards　me　and　opened　her　eyes。　　I　could　not　see　them。

〃Monsieur；〃　she　said；　in　a　very　gentle　voice；　〃what　do　you　want？〃

When　about　to　speak　to　this　being　I　experienced　the　sensation　one　would　feel　in　presence　of　a　sow　to　which　it　behoved　one　to　say：　〃Madam。〃

I　did　not　quite　know　what　to　reply；　and　thought　for　a　moment。　　Just　then　my　gaze；　wandering　towards　the　window；　fell　upon　a　sort　of　picture　that　hung　outside　like　a　sign。　　It　was　a　sign；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　a　picture　of　a　young　and　pretty　woman；　decolletée；　wearing　an　enormous　beplumed　hat　and　carrying　an　infant　in　her　arms；　the　whole　in　the　style　of　the　chimney　boards　of　the　time　of　Louis　XVIII。　　Above　the　picture　stood　out　this　inscription　in　big　letters：


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Mme。　BECOEUR

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Midwife

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BLEEDS　AND　VACCINATES


〃Madam；〃　said　I；　〃I　want　to　see　Mme。　Bécoeur。〃

The　sow　metamorphosed　into　a　woman　replied　with　an　amiable　smile：

〃I　am　Mme。　Bécoeur；　Monsieur。〃




II。　　PILLAGE。

THE　REVOLT　IN　SANTO　DOMINGO。



I　thought　that　I　must　be　dreaming。　　None　who　did　not　witness　the　sight　could　form　any　idea　of　it。　　I　will；　however；　endeavour　to　depict　something　of　it。　　I　will　simply　recount　what　I　saw　with　my　own　eyes。　　This　small　portion　of　a　great　scene　minutely　reproduced　will　enable　you　to　form　some　notion　as　to　the　general　aspect　of　the　town　during　the　three　days　of　pillage。　　Multiply　these　details　~ad　libitum~　and　you　will　get　the　ensemble。

I　had　taken　refuge　by　the　gate　of　the　town；　a　puny　barrier　made　of　long　laths　painted　yellow；　nailed　to　cross　laths　and　sharpened　at　the　top。　　Near　by　was　a　kind　of　shed　in　which　some　hapless　colonists；　who　had　been　driven　from　their　homes；　had　sought　shelter。　　They　were　silent　and　seemed　to　be　petrified　in　all　the　attitudes　of　despair。　Just　　outside　of　the　shed　an　old　man；　weeping；　was　seated　on　the　trunk　of　a　mahogany　tree　which　was　lying　on　the　ground　and　looked　like　the　shaft　of　a　column。　　Another　vainly　sought　to　restrain　a　white　woman　who；　wild　with　fright；　was　trying　to　flee；　without　knowing　where　she　was　going；　through　the　crowd　of　furious；　ragged；　howling　negroes。

The　negroes；　however；　free；　victorious；　drunk；　mad；　paid　not　the　slightest　attention　to　this　miserable；　forlorn　group　of　whites。　　A　short　distance　from　us　two　of　them；　with　their　knives　between　their　teeth；　were　slaughtering　an　ox；　upon　which　they　were　kneeling　with　their　feet　in　its　blood。　A　little　further　on　two　hideous　negresses；　dressed　as　marchionesses；　covered　with　ribbons　and　pompons；　their　breasts　bare；　and　their　heads　encumbered　with　feathers　and　laces；　were　quarrelling　over　a　magnificent　dress　of　Chinese　satin；　which　one　of　them　had　grasped　with　her　nails　while　the　other　hung　on　to　it　with　her　teeth。　　At　their　feet　a　number　of　little　blacks　were　ransacking　a　broken　trunk　from　which　the　dress　had　been　taken。

The　rest　was　incredible　to　see　and　impossible　to　describe。　It　was　a　crowd；　a　mob；　a　masquerade；　a　revel；　a　hell；　a　　terrible　buffoonery。　　Negroes；　negresses　and　mulattoes；　in　every　posture；　in　all　manner　of　disguises；　displayed　all　sorts　of　costumes；　and　what　was　worse；　their　nudity。

Here　was　a　pot…bellied；　ugly　mulatto；　of　furious　mien；　attired　like　the　planters；　in　a　waistcoat　and　trousers　of　white　material；　but　with　a　bishop's　mitre　on　his　head　and　a　crosier　in　his　hand。　　Elsewhere　three　or　four　negroes　with　three…cornered　hats　stuck　on　their　heads　and　wearing　red　or　blue　military　coats　with　the　shoulder　belts　crossed　upon　their　black　skin；　were　harassing　an　unfortunate　militiaman　they　had　captured；　and　who；　with　his　hands　tied　behind　his　　back；　was　being　dragged　through　the　town。　　With　loud　bursts　of　laughter　they　slapped　his　powdered　hair　and　pulled　his　long　pigtail。　　Now　and　then　they　would　stop　and　force　the　prisoner　to　kneel　and　by　signs　give　him　to　understand　that　they　were　going　to　shoot　him　there。　Then　prodding　him　with　the　butts　of　their　rifles　they　would　make　him　get　up　again；　and　go　through　the　same　performance　further　on。

A　number　of　old　mulattresses　had　formed　a　ring　and　were　skipping　round　in　the　midst　of　the　mob。　　They　were　dressed　in　the　nattiest　costumes　of　our　youngest　and　prettiest　white　women；　and　in　dancing　raised　their　skirts　so　as　to　show　their　lean；　shrivelled　legs　and　yellow　thighs。　Nothing　queerer　could　be　imagined　than　all　these　charming　fashions　and　finery　of　the　frivolous　century　of　Louis　XV。；　these　Watteau　shepherdess　costumes；　furbelows；　plumes　and　laces；　upon　these　black；　ugly…faced；　flat…nosed；　woolly…headed；　frightful　people。　　Thus　decked　out　they　were　no　longer　even　negroes　and　negresses；　they　were　apes　and　monkeys。

Add　to　all　this　a　deafening　uproar。　　Every　mouth　that　was　not　making　a　contortion　was　emitting　yells。

I　have　not　finished；　you　must　accept　the　picture　complete　to　its　minutest　detail。

Twenty　paces　from　me　was　an　inn；　a　frightful　hovel；　whose　sign　was　a　wreath　of　dried　herbs　hung　upon　a　pickaxe。　Nothing　but　a　roof　window　and　three…legged　tables。　A　low　ale…house；　rickety　tables。　　Negroes　and　mulattoes　were　drinking　there；　intoxicating　and　besotting　themselves；　and　fraternising。　　One　has　to　have　seen　these　things　to　depict　them。　　In　front　of　the　tables　of　the　drunkards　a　fairly　young　negress　was　displaying　herself。　　She　was　dressed　in　a　man's　waistcoat；　unbuttoned；　and　a　woman's　skirt　loosely　attached。　　She　wore　no　chemise　and　her　abdomen　was　bare。　　On　her　head　was　a　magistrate's　wig。　　On　one　shoulder　she　carried　a　parasol；　and　on　the　other　a　rifle　with　bayonet　fixed。

A　few　whites；　stark　naked；　ran　about　miserably　in　the　midst　of　this　pandemonium