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The hall was vast and gloomy, which latter fact ; the long, pointed s peruished before it reached the vaulted ceiling, an enorures seemed to hted here and there on tables, and bea 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 istrates and tables; at the end, upon a platfores, whose rear rank sank into the shadows, sinister and motionless faces The walls were soith innuuely 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 of inquiry; the owns, thered fellow, yonder above theoire

"It is monsieur the president"

"And those sheep behind hioire, who as we have seen, did not love the e which he cherished against the Palais de Justice since his dramatic misadventure

"They are 's household"

"And that boar in front of him?"

"He is monsieur the clerk of the Court of Parliaht?"

"Master Philippe Lheulier, advocate extraordinary of the king"

"And that big, black tom-cat on the left?"

"Master Jacques Char in the Ecclesiastical Court, with the gentleoire, "pray what are all those fine fellows doing yonder?"

"They are judging"

"Judging whom? I do not see the accused"

"'Tis a woman, sir You cannot see her She has her back turned to us, and she is hidden froroup of partisans"

"Who is the wooire "Do you know her name?"

"No, monsieur, I have but just arrived I merely assume that there is some sorcery about it, since the official is present at the trial"

"Coistrates devour huood a spectacle as any other"