detachedthemselvesfromthecircle,andreturnedamomentlater.Theybroughttwothickposts,terminatedattheirlowerextremitiesinspreadingtimbersupports,whichmadethemstandreadilyupontheground;totheupperextremityofthetwopoststheyfittedacross-beam,andthewholeconstitutedaveryprettyportablegibbet,whichGringoirehadthesatisfactionofbeholdingrisebeforehim,inatwinkling.Nothingwaslacking,noteventherope,whichswunggracefullyoverthecross-beamJinglingthechangeinhishandheshookhishead."Whataretheygoingtodo?"Gringoireaskedhimselfwithsomeuneasiness.Asoundofbells,whichheheardatthatmoment,putanendtohisanxiety;itwasastuffedmanikin,whichthevagabondsweresuspendingbytheneckfromtherope,asortofscarecrowdressedinred,andsohungwithmule-bellsandlargerbells,thatonemighthavetrickedoutthirtyCastilianmuleswiththem.Thesethousandtinybellsquiveredforsometimewiththevibrationoftherope,thengraduallydiedaway,andfinallybecamesilentwhenthemanikinhadbeenbroughtintoastateofimmobilitybythatlawofthependulumwhichhasdethronedthewaterclockandthehour-glass.ThenClopin,pointingouttoGringoirearicketyoldstoolplacedbeneaththemanikin,--"Climbupthere.""Deathofthedevil!"objectedGringoire;"Ishallbreakmyneck.YourstoollimpslikeoneofMartial&39;sdistiches;ithasonehexameterlegandonepentameterleg.""Climb!"repeatedClopin.Gringoiremountedthestool,andsucceeded,notwithoutsomeoscillationsofheadandarms,inregaininghiscentreofgravity."Now,"wentontheKingofThunes,"twistyourrightfootroundyourleftleg,andriseonthetipofyourleftfoot.""Monseigneur,"saidGringoire,"soyouabsolutelyinsistonmybreakingsomeoneofmylimbs?"Clopintossedhishead."Harkye,myfriend,youtalktoomuch.Here&39;sthegistofthematterintwowords:youaretoriseontiptoe,asItellyou;inthatwayyouwillbeabletoreachthepocketofthemanikin,youwillrummageit,youwillpulloutthepursethatisthere,--andifyoudoallthiswithoutourhearingthesoundofabell,alliswell:youshallbeavagabond.Allweshallthenhavetodo,willbetothrashyousoundlyforthespaceofaweek."
