The Hunchback of Notre Dame Page #3

"By this sacred emblem

I plight my troth."

Again the King's

justice-

"Girl! Do you persist in

denying that you stabbed

Phoebus de Chateaupers?"

"Of course I deny it! How

could I? I love him more

than my own life!"

"It was he - he who

stabbed Phoebus!"

"The girl is bewitched!"

"Put her to the question!"

The "question" - the

system of the Middle

Ages to force confession.

"Do you still deny-?"

"I do - I love him!

I love him!"

"I confess ... I confess!

I confess to anything

you wish!"

Through nights of delirium,

Phoebus of Chateaupers

wondered if the charge brought

against Esmeralda were true

-whether it was she who

stabbed him.

"Monsieur, the brother of the

Archdeacon inquires the health

of Captain Phoebus."

"The wench who stabbed you

has confessed her crime. She

has been ordered hanged."

"I come to get Esmeralda."

"She has been carried to

prison by his Majesty's

servants."

"I'll get her if I have to tear

down Notre Dame rock by

rock."

"You - in the robes

of the Church!"

"Only in these robes could

I pass the prison-guard.

Quick - come with me!"

"I'd rather die!"

"Phoebus died of his wound

last night. I promised him

to save you!"

"Oh, Esmeralda, pity me! All

I have done was for love

of you!"

"Assassin!"

"Very well, then hang!"

Suddenly the date for

Esmeralda's execution

was secretly set ahead, and

orders came to the hunchback

to toll the death-knell.

For what poor soul he

rang, he did not know.

When the great bell

tolled like that, all

Paris knew some prisoner

was on the way to

execution.

"Let me kill the gypsy! Her

life for the life of my child!"

"Cursed gypsy! Cursed-

Cursed!"

"My baby! My baby!

Save her, O God!"

"Requiescat in pace!"

A pleasant diversion for

the workmen who were

repairing the Cathedral.

"... and first appear on the

steps of the Cathedral of

Notre Dame ... there to do

penance."

"Sanctuary! Sanctuary!"

"Would you violate the sacred

law of Sanctuary?"

All Quasimodo knew was

that this girl had once

been kind to him.

"My daughter, the law of

sanctuary protects you pend-

ing an appeal. Until then,

Mother Church will give you

shelter and clothing."

The night had brought a

dreamless sleep.

Esmeralda's presence

inspired Quasimodo

to express his wild joy in

the only way he knew.

With plans all made for

rescuing Esmeralda on

her way tot he gallows, Clopin

was awaiting the day that

had been announced for the

execution.

"They feared an uprising to

rescue Esmeralda. To prevent

bloodshed the King suddenly

ordered he hanged today!"

"The hour has struck. They

are about to surrender the

maid to the officers of the

King."

"Hear me, you two-legged

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