Lagardere nodded to him. "Æsop is a nickname. My true name will divert
you more. Sign, sirs, sign."
Master Griveau, with due solemnity, unfolded the contract and spread it
before him. Then he dipped a pen in the ink, and stood waiting for the
illustrious company to sign the contract.
"Give me the pen," said Gonzague. He was beginning to tire a little of
the comedy, in spite of its element of marvel, and to wish the girl well
out of his sight with her hunchback husband. He signed his name and held
up the pen. It was eagerly sought for. Taranne gained the privilege of
taking it from the fingers of his master. Taranne signed, Nocé signed,
Oriol signed, Gironne signed, Choisy signed, Albret signed, Montaubert
signed. When the pen was offered to Chavernay, Chavernay put his hands
behind his back and shook his head. It came to Navailles to sign last.
"Now for the happy pair," Navailles said. As he spoke he turned to where
the hunchback and Gabrielle stood together silent, a strangely contrasted
bride and bridegroom--youth and age, so it seemed, beauty and ugliness,
sin and purity. Truly, it appeared to be what Chavernay thought it and
called it--a damnable alliance.
While the signing had been toward the hunchback had spoken softly one
sentence to his bride. "Gabrielle," he said, "if I die here, I die as I
have lived--your lover."
And Gabrielle had answered him in the heart of her heart: "I love you, my
lover."
Now, when Navailles addressed him, the hunchback moved forward, and waved
away the little, glittering crowd of gentlemen that gathered about Master
Griveau at the table, ordering them to move. "Make space, sirs, for my
wife and me. I need elbow-room for my signature."
He advanced to the table, holding Gabrielle by the hand, and still,
though the humor of the situation had endured so long, even the
wine-flushed men and the wine-flushed women seemed almost as conscious as
Chavernay of the tragedy that underlay the humor of the play. All fell
back and left a free table for the hunchback and his bride. Master
Griveau settled himself comfortably in his seat and took up his pen.
Turning to the hunchback, he began: "Give me your names, your surnames,
your birthplaces--"