of it, the archbishop and the official have
intervened in the case, and my brother, who is the archdeacon of Josas,
can think of nothing else. Now, I wished to speak with him, but I
have not been able to reach him because of the throng, which vexes me
greatly, as I stand in need of money."

"Alas! sir," said Gringoire, "I would that I could lend you some, but,
my breeches are worn to holes, and 'tis not crowns which have done it."

He dared not tell the young man that he was acquainted with his brother
the archdeacon, to whom he had not returned after the scene in the
church; a negligence which embarrassed him.

The scholar went his way, and Gringoire set out to follow the crowd
which was mounting the staircase of the great chamber. In his opinion,
there was nothing like the spectacle of a criminal process for
dissipating melancholy, so exhilaratingly stupid are judges as a rule.
The populace which he had joined walked and elbowed in silence. After
a slow and tiresome march through a long, gloomy corridor, which
wound through the court-house like the intestinal canal of the ancient
edifice, he arrived near a low door, opening upon a hall which his lofty
stature permitted him to survey with a glance over the waving heads of
the rabble.

The hall was vast and gloomy, which latter fact made it appear still
more spacious. The day was declining; the long, pointed windows
permitted only a pale ray of light to enter, which was extinguished
before it reached the vaulted ceiling, an enormous trellis-work of
sculptured beams, whose thousand figures seemed to move confusedly in
the shadows, many candles were already lighted here and there on tables,
and beaming on the heads of clerks buried in masses of documents. The
anterior portion of the ball was occupied by the crowd; on the right and
left were magistrates and tables; at the end, upon a platform, a
number of judges, whose rear rank sank into the shadows, sinister and
motionless faces. The walls were sown with innumerable fleurs-de-lis. A
large figure of Christ might be vaguely descried above the judges,
and everywhere there were pikes and halberds, upon whose points the
reflection of the candles placed tips of fire.

"Monsieur," Gringoire inquired of one of his neighbors, "who are all
those persons ranged yonder, like prelates in council?"

"Monsieur," replied the neighbor, "those on the right are the
counsellors of the grand chamber; those on the left, the councillors