ta6

TOGETHER AGAIN
By Sonja

Chapter 6
Ad�le was sitting in her workshop with her needlework on her lap and Christine�s cradle at her feet. The six-month-old baby watched her environment with interest. Again and again, townspeople arrived to buy some needlework or wooden objects made by Quasimodo. Now and then, some women bowed to smile and babble to Christine, but some made unpleasant comments instead. Ad�le did her best to control herself so as not to lose her customers, but when one of the women took the baby from the cradle and called her "a little demon" the mother lost her patience. "Madame, if you are that rude I�m not going to sell you anything!" she snapped. "Now, could you please leave my workshop?"

"Don�t try to start insolent, Gypsy!" snapped the madame in turn. "That child is deformed!"

"So what? Her father has a hump as well, and without him you would never know when it�s the right time to pray or to participate in the Mass!"

"I know, I know - but this child will just bring you accidents!" Then she left the workshop, looking haughty.

Later that day when Quasimodo had joined Ad�le they were amazed to see a small group of soldiers approach the workshop. The severe-looking man who was in the soldiers� company was the Provost himself.

"May we help you?" Ad�le asked, feeling confused.

"Bellringer," the Provost addressed Quasimodo, "I have been told that your wife has refused to sell yoir products to the honourable citizens. Is that true?"

"Your Honour," answered Quasimodo, "my wife and I sell our products to all customers. Today, however, a certain lady talked very rudely about our child. For that reason, my wife wasn�t willing to serve her."

"I am not interested in your child," announced the Provost, "but if you refuse to sell your products to honourable townspeople your workshop will be closed."

Ad�le was stupefied. "Your Honour," she said, taking Christine in her arms, "this child is completely innocent, and we can�t let people abuse her only because she is hump-backed!"

The Provost bowed down to look at the child. "Hump-backed? In my opinion, you should keep her away from people�s sight."

That was too much. Ad�le glanced at Quasimodo, turning pale, and the bellringer said as peacefully as he could: "Your Honour, we�ll do our best to serve our customers, but our child will not be hidden."

Afterwards, Ad�le told everything to Phoebus and Esmeralda, shuddering with anger. "Close our workshop! Hide our baby! For what will he suggest next? Should I go to sell myself on the streets?"

"Ad�le, dear friend, please don�t talk like that!" Esmeralda was horrified, and Phoebus promised: "I�ll take care that your workshop won�t be closed, nor Christine mistreated."

Little by little, the vagabonds had gotten used to Christine, and nowadays, most of the Gypsy girls liked to help Ad�le and play with the baby. True, some of the pretenders still talked disdainfully about her, but Clopin had forbidden them from revealing their opinions to Quasimodo. The bellringer adored his child, and sometimes, he even forgot his job when spending time with her.

A few days before the Festival of Love, another vagabond company arrived in Paris. Clopin�s community took an interest in these people immediately, and especially children were enthusiastic when finding out that they had a circus. The ringmaster, named Sarousch, did his best to impress all the townspeople with his tricks, but it was easy to notice he was actually very stupid and conceited.

A shy and pretty eighteen-year-old girl named Madellaine worked in the circus. Her parents had died twelve years before, and because she hadn�t had any relatives to take care of her, she would have become a street child unless Sarousch had taken her to his care. Sad to say, however, the ringmaster continually underestimated Madellaine, called her his "little bonbon" and never let her have a performance of her own. So, Madellaine hoped she would find someone to help her.

From the very first moment, Madellaine was impressed to see the magnificent Cathedral - she hadn�t been to Paris for ten years. Early next morning, she left Sarousch�s caravan and approached the church. Right then, Ad�le stepped out of the door with Christine in her arms. She looked interestedly at the blonde, blue-eyed girl dressed in pale green who was almost as tall as she.

"Good morning! You have a sweet little one," smiled Madellaine.

"Good morning! Oh, yes, her name is Christine," Ad�le smiled back, "and I am Ad�le, the wife of the bellringer of the Cathedral."

"Oh, nice to meet you, madame," Madellaine laughed a little. "My name is Madellaine, and I�m working in the circus that arrived here yesterday."

Ad�le smiled. "You may call me by name," she said. "I�ve never met a circus performer before. What is your job like?"

Madellaine was embarrassed. "Actually, I�m not a real performer, I�m just an assistant to the ringmaster. He says the only thing I can do is to stand on the stage and look pretty. He does give me some tasks, but�" She stopped, for she couldn�t reveal Sarousch�s weakness.

"He must be rather unattractive," Ad�le noted. "Would you like to visit our workshop?" Madellaine agreed, although she knew she shouldn�t be away from the circus for long.

She took a great interest in what Ad�le told her about the Gypsies. "I live among vagabonds as well, but we don�t have any interesting customs," she said. "Do you think I could meet your friends? I would be glad to meet your husband, too."

For some reason, Ad�le wasn�t pleased by the idea. Madellaine was a very attractive young lady, and Quasi was so warm-hearted that if she told him how the ringmaster treated her he could take an interest in her! Ad�le felt embarrassed - she knew she had lately been more concentrated on taking care of Christine than showing affection to her beloved. She didn�t happen to think that Madellaine could dislike Quasimodo�s appearance.

"I don�t know," she said, "I�ll need to talk to him. Besides, the vagabonds are not very fond of strangers - they have a secret hideout where only very few Parisians are welcome."

After some time, Madellaine was obliged to hasten back to the circus. "Sarousch doesn�t like me being away," she said, giggling nervously, "but you could come to see our performance in the afternoon."

"Thank you! Maybe we will," answered Ad�le.

Later that day, she told Quasimodo about her new acquintance. "She seems to be very insecure. The ringmaster treats her badly. She is interested in the Gypsies, but I don�t think she could go to the Court to see the gallows!" She grimaced mischievously.

"I guess you are right - it�s better if we don�t tell her about that custom! Does she like Christine?"

"We didn�t talk about her for now," noted Ad�le. "Madellaine invited us to the circus today."

Indeed, Sarousch�s tricks were impressive. However, Ad�le and Quasi found out that Madellaine was just his assistant. In the bellringer�s opinion, she was pretty, but he shouldn�t have said that to Ad�le. "What if she didn�t like you?" she snapped, inconsiderately. "Ad�le, what on earth is the matter with you?" Quasimodo was confused, "You have never said such a thing before! Of course, you could first tell her Christine has a hump."

"Quasi, you are mine," said Ad�le, in embarrassment.

"Don�t be stupid," the bellringer laughed a little, "don�t you remember which bell I�ll ring in three days? I would never forget my promise!"

Meanwhile, some townspeople had noticed that their money and jewellery had been stolen. Phoebus was amazed, and next time arriving at the Court of Miracles he interrogated some vagabonds whom he suspected of being thieves. However, all of them denied their guilt, and the Captain didn�t even find anything. Clopin was even annoyed that Esmeralda�s husband suspected his comrades. Some of the Gypsies happened to think that the circus people might be responsible for the thefts.

However, Ad�le thought it was tactless to suspect Madellaine�s companions without proof. So, she checked that nothing had disappeared from the workshop, but when Madellaine arrived for a visit again, she didn�t mention the thefts in the city at all. Madellaine, in turn, was embarrassed, for the circus people had been thieves as long as she could remember. Fortunately, Sarousch hadn�t told her to take anything from Ad�le.

This time, Ad�le explained to her: "Tomorrow, we�ll be celebrating the Day of Love here! Each Parisian has tried to find a partner, and the climax of the Feast is that everyone shouts the name of his or her beloved in the Cathedral Square. The Festival was originally my idea, in fact - I had the thought last year when I was expecting Christine."

"That sounds wonderful!" Madellaine exclaimed, "Sarousch told me we were leaving for Paris because of some festivities, but I couldn�t imagine it would be anything so marvellous!"

"I�m sure you�ll enjoy the day. But before the Feast, you�ll need to see our magnificent favourite bell, La Fid�le!" Ad�le led Madellaine up to the tower and showed her the bell. Madellaine was exhausted after the endless climbing, but she had to admit she had never before seen a more fascinating bell. "Quasi rings it only on the Day of Love and in some other very special occasions," Ad�le explained. Then she suggested that Madellaine take care of Christine during the festival.

"I would very much like to, if only Sarousch agrees," Madellaine hesitated. Ad�le put the baby in her arms, and she laughed a little, nervously. Christine gurgled and reached her hands, and Madellaine smiled gently at her. Suddenly, however, she noticed something strange on the baby�s back. "What�s this?" she laughed a little again, in embarrassment. She lifted the child and looked hard at her body.

"AAAH!" She stifled a scream, and Ad�le hastened to snatch Christine in her arms. "The child - is - deformed!"

Ad�le was annoyed, but she controlled herself and said gently: "Yes, my little one does have a hump, but I�ve decided to raise her to be strong."

Madellaine was deeply touched to see the mother�s love, courage and confidence. "Your daughter is happy," she said, "my parents didn�t care for me very much when I was small, and like I told you, they died when I was six."

Ad�le sighed. "I�m very sorry for you," she said.

When the women came down from the tower they met Esmeralda and Zephyr in the Cathedral square. Ad�le introduced the dancer to Madellaine. The circus assistant asked Esmeralda if she could meet the vagabonds after the feast, and the Gypsy girl promised she would make the suggestion to Clopin the next day.

Ad�le saw Zephyr liked Madellaine, and she had an idea. "Can she take Zephyr to her wagon for tomorrow? She promised to take care of Christine."

"Errr�I�m not too fond of Sarousch because he is so conceited, and as you know, Phoebus is suspecting him," hesitated Esmeralda. "But all right, if Phoebus agrees," she added to Madellaine.

That evening, Ad�le and Quasimodo took Christine to the belltower with them. She looked and fingered at the wooden figurines. "That�s me," smiled Quasi, "that�s your Mummy�That�s Frollo." Christine laughed and tapped the table with the dolls. She seemed to be especially fond of the Ad�le figurine. "You may take it with you tomorrow," babbled her mother and asked the bellringer: "May I take Christine to Madellaine for tomorrow? She promised to take care of her."

"Why not? But does she know about her - back?"

"Yes, she does�she was startled when seeing it, but she seems to be free of prejudice."

"All right," agreed Quasimodo. "After the Feast, I would also like to meet her."

Phoebus didn�t completely trust the circus company. "I don�t want a complete stranger to look after our son," he said to Esmeralda. So, next morning, the parents left Zephyr in the Court of Miracles for Melina to take care of.

Madellaine was fascinated to see all the lovers grouping themselves and having fun in the Cathedral square. At the same time, she played with Christine. At first, the baby was calm and cheerful, but then, Sarousch entered the wagon, and she started to cry. Madellaine became alarmed, took Christine in her arms and pleaded: "Little one, please don�t cry, everything is fine."

"Little trinket, what�s this? What�s that child doing here?" asked Sarousch.

"Oh�this is the child of the bellringer." Madellaine was embarrassed. "I�promised to look after her during the feast."

"You can�t look after the children of strangers when you are supposed to work," said Sarousch, glancing at the mirror. "Besides, I don�t want screaming babies here."

"Christine, please, be quiet!" whispered Madellaine, hugging the baby. "I guess she is tired," she added to Sarousch, although she was sure Christine was crying because she disliked the man.

At the very moment, the first couple stepped in the middle of the square, and Quasimodo began to ring La Fid�le. Madellaine lifted Christine, so she could see the events. Madellaine looked up at the tower and saw Ad�le stand by the bellringer�s side. She noticed the bellringer was rather short, but it was hard to see how he looked like.

Sarousch also looked up - not at the lovers but at the bell. When it swung he saw it sparkled from the inside.

"That bell�it must be extraordinary," he mumbled. "Little trinket, have you talked to the bellringer?"

"No, I haven�t met him," answered Madellaine, "but his wife took me to see that bell yesterday."

"Tell me everything you know about it," urged Sarousch.

"Well�it�s fascinating - it�s decorated with jewels from the inside," the girl explained, "I saw my reflection in the jewels when standing inside the bell."

"Decorated with jewels? Interesting!" deliberated Sarousch. "It must be really valuable."

"Oh, yes, I guess so," Madellaine laughed a little. Then she gave some food to Christine, who didn�t cry any longer.

Sarousch deliberated what he had found out. He looked at the lovers in the square and at the bell. He had an idea.

Finally, Madellaine saw Esmeralda and Phoebus step in the middle of the crowd and heard them declare their love for each other. After that, it was Quasi and Ad�le�s turn. Madellaine lifted Christine as high as she could when the bellringer declared: "I LOVE AD�LE!!!" The whole crowd cheered. Ad�le, in turn, shouted the name of her beloved, and Madellaine, who had never heard it before, said to Sarousch: "A peculiar name indeed!"

Sarousch didn�t care about the bellringer�s name. Instead, he said: "I want to have that bell."

Madellaine was startled - those words could mean only one thing. "You mean to steal it?" she asked, confused. "Yes, exactly, little trinket," the ringmaster grimaced, "and I want you to help me to get it."

"Oh, Sarousch - I don�t�I can�t do that!" Madellaine was stupefied. "Ad�le trusts me, she let me look after Christine - and La Fid�le is her favourite bell! Besides, I don�t know the bellringer at all."

"I must remind you of who looked after you when you were starving," Sarousch said sharply. Madellaine sighed. "You did�but still, I can�t betray Ad�le�s confidence. Think about what she would say if she found out I�m helping you to steal from the church!"

"Well, then, try to impress the bellringer!" Sarousch urged. "I don�t care what you do, but I must have the bell."

Madellaine was depressed. She had often been reluctant to obey Sarousch, but he had always made her comply with his wishes by reminding her of what he had done for her good. Now, she had to get the bellringer to take an interest in her - but he was married to Ad�le! No, she couldn�t do that.

When the festival was over Madellaine took Christine with her and went to Ad�le�s workshop. "Did everything go well?" Ad�le asked.

"It seems to me Christine doesn�t like Sarousch," Madellaine told her, "She cried almost all the time when he was present, although he didn�t touch her."

"That�s interesting! Usually, she is not afraid of strangers," Ad�le noted. "But wasn�t our festival wonderful?"

"Oh, yes, I loved it!" smiled Madellaine. "Is your husband�s real name Quasimodo?"

Ad�le was embarrassed; she was afraid that Madellaine would ask what the name meant. "Yes, it is," she was obliged to say.

"I�ve never heard it before," remarked the younger girl. "By the way, Sarousch said I should talk to him." She flushed.

Ad�le was abated that she didn�t talk more about the name of her beloved, but Madellaine�s last words made her suspicious. "Why is he interested in the bellringer of Notre Dame?"

"Because�" Madellaine didn�t know what to say. After deliberating for a while she asked: "How valuable is La Fid�le?"

"I�m not sure, actually - it was donated to the Cathedral," said Ad�le, "but it�s already very famous."

Suddenly, Madellaine had an idea for a possible solution. "Have the priests or your husband ever talked about that it could be sold?" she asked.

"Never! We couldn�t sell our most beautiful bell," exclaimed Ad�le, "besides, I�m sure no one is rich enough to buy it."

Madellaine didn�t want to reveal Sarousch�s plan. So, she decided to try to appeal to him again. She said good-bye to Ad�le and returned to her wagon for the night.

"Quasi, Madellaine asked me yesterday if La Fid�le could be sold!"

Quasimodo was amused. "Where did she get an idea like that? Our bell is not for sale."

"Isn�t it amazing that Christine was afraid of Sarousch?" Ad�le hugged the baby.

"Indeed�Maybe I reacted to Frollo the same way," deliberated Quasimodo.

"Sarousch is so stupid he hardly can be compared with Frollo," Ad�le snapped, "but still, it�s best if we don�t take Christine to him."

At the same time, Madellaine was trying to get Sarousch to give up his plan to steal the bell. "The bellringer has a family, I simply can�t intrigue against Ad�le! Actually, I asked her if La Fid�le could be bought."

"You fool!" Sarousch exclaimed, "I didn�t say I was going to buy it! Since you mess things like this it�s best that I go to the belltower myself and claim the bell!"

So, the next day during the noon hour of prayer, the ringmaster went to the Cathedral and climbed to the tower. At the moment, Ad�le and Christine were at the Court of Miracles.

Sarousch was startled to see Quasimodo. Hump-backed, and so ugly! He wondered what kind of a woman that Ad�le was. He despised the bellringer, especially since his own appearance was extremely important to him. Quasimodo, in turn, was rather surprised to meet the ringmaster in the tower.

"May I help you?" he asked.

"Show me La Fid�le, hunchback," Sarousch demanded.

The bellringer was annoyed by being called names. "My name is Quasimodo", he said, "why are you interested in our bell?"

"I don�t have time for prating," Sarousch said impatiently. "Show me the bell!"

Quasi remembered what Ad�le had told him. "Would you like to buy it?"

"Out of my way, hunchback!" snapped the ringmaster and hastened towards the balcony. He shouldn�t have done that.

"Monsieur Sarousch, you can�t go there!" exclaimed Quasimodo, "I don�t want uninvited guests here. I�ll show you the bell, but only if you tell me the reason why you are interested in it."

"I have personal reasons for that," answered Sarousch scornfully.

The bellringer happened to think about how Phoebus had suspected the circus company of thefts. "If you refuse to tell me I need to ask you to leave," he said as politely as he could. Sarousch got angry. "Don�t be defiant, boy!" he snapped. At the very moment, the door was opened, and the Archdeacon stepped in. "What�s happening here?" he asked. "Oh, ringmaster, I�m surprised to meet you here."

"Eh - Your Eminence - I wanted to see the magnificent La Fid�le�" Sarousch was embarrassed, "but that - ahem - bellringer refused to show it to me."

"Why did you refuse, my friend?" The priest turned to Quasimodo.

"Your Eminence, he was very rude, he called me names and demanded to get in here," told the young man, "he didn�t even introduce himself. I asked why he wanted to see La Fid�le, but he didn�t respond."

The Archdeacon said to Sarousch: "La Fid�le is there, between the towers. Now, you�d best leave."

The ringmaster looked at the bell for a while, then he sneered and left reluctantly. After some time, when he stepped out of the Cathedral, he saw a beautiful young woman looking like a Gypsy with a baby in her arms. He wasn�t interested in the woman at all, but the child seemed familiar to him. Yes, it was the same baby Madellaine had been looking after on the Festival day. Sarousch could impossibly believe that the ugly hunchback was the child�s father.

When Quasimodo had left the belltower he told Ad�le what had happened. His sweetheart got restless. The couple went to meet Phoebus and explained to him what both Madellaine and Sarousch had said about La Fid�le. The Captain was suspicious and sent soldiers to keep guard over Notre Dame. When hearing about that, Ad�le, Quasi and Esmeralda looked significantly at each other.

Madellaine was shocked when Sarousch told her how the bellringer looked. She thought: That�s why Christine has a hump! However, she didn�t say anything about the baby. But now, Sarousch gave her a new task: "Go to your new friend, offer to look after her child for a few days and bring her to me. We will keep the child here till I and my men succeed to steal La Fid�le."

"Why? What does Christine have to do with the bell?"

"If they are separated from their child they won�t resist my intentions!" Sarousch laughed a little.

Madellaine was depressed, but she was sure Sarousch wouldn�t harm Christine - if only he didn�t see what her back was like. So, she went to meet Ad�le again. The women talked and spent time together, and finally, Madellaine asked: "Since Christine is so sweet, may I take her to my caravan for a couple of days?"

Ad�le smiled. "You could, but she is afraid of Sarousch - and I don�t wonder why since he was very unkind to my love when invading in the tower."

"Despite that, could you please give her to me?" asked Madellaine, afraid that she would reveal herself, "I promise I�ll take care that nothing happens to her."

"All right," agreed Ad�le, fondling her baby, "but if Quasi doesn�t like this you�ll need to give her back to us."

"That�s out of the question!" exclaimed the bellringer, "Christine mustn�t have anything to do with Sarousch. �Out of my way, hunchback��Think about if he mistreats our little one!"

"Madellaine promised to be good to her", assured Ad�le. "Besides, we can go to take her there together, so you may meet Madellaine." She didn�t want to let Quasi and the circus assistant meet by themselves.

"You can ask her to come here to look after Christine," suggested the young man, "but we can�t give our daughter to Sarousch."

Late next evening, Sarousch and some of his comrades approached Notre Dame. However, they were stopped by Phoebus�s guards who tried to interrogate them.

"Do you have a special reason for going to the church?" they asked. Sarousch made up an explanation, and both he and his comrades succeeded to get inside. However, the soldiers were still suspicious, and when the ringmaster noticed they were going to follow him he did a trick of disappearance with the help of his comrades. He was very angry, for he realised he couldn�t have the bell because Notre Dame was well guarded over.

In the morning, Madellaine was amazed to meet Ad�le outside her wagon. She didn�t have Christine with her. "What did your husband say?" asked the circus assistant.

"I�m sorry, but he doesn�t agree since Sarousch was unkind to him," told Ad�le, "I hope you haven�t told him about Christine�s back?"

"No, I haven�t," said Madellaine quickly, afraid that some of the company might hear them talking, "well�may I come to see her where you live?"

"We live in the secret hideout of the vagabonds, and like I told you, stangers are not very welcome there," said Ad�le, "but you can come to the belltower - both Quasi and Christine are there right now."

At the moment, Sarousch shouted from inside his caravan: "Madellaine, come here!" "I�ll come to the tower as soon as I can," Madellaine whispered to Ad�le.

As soon as she climbed in the caravan Sarousch said to her: "You may go to the belltower, but when you return you must take the child with you."

"Oh, Sarousch, I can�t take Christine from her parents!" Madellaine was horrified.

"If you defy me I won�t take care of you anymore!" snapped Saroisch - he knew Madellaine didn�t have self-confidence. The girl sighed sadly and left.

A while later, opening the tower door, she saw Christine on the table surrounded by small wooden objects. The bellringer was sitting at the table, and Ad�le was standing behind him, with her arms round his shoulders. Madellaine was touched to see them showing affection to each other. When Ad�le noticed she was watching she bowed down and pressed her cheek to Quasi�s. Madellaine felt herself depressed; the family were so happy together, and she had been told to steal Christine! No, there had to be some way to avoid that!

"Hello, Madellaine, nice to meet you", smiled Quasimodo, while he patted his sweetheart. The circus assistant approached the table. "Oh�hello," she said uncertainly, but she didn�t look at the bellringer but the baby. "Sweet, sweet little one�Where did you get all of these wonderful toys?"

"Her father made them," smiled Ad�le, "they look exactly like the townspeople."

"Indeed," Madellaine exclaimed, "isn�t this one you?" She took the figurine Christine was holding.

"Oh, yes, that�s Ad�le," noted Quasi, "and this is me."

"Quasi�", warned Ad�le. The bellringer laughed a little and gave the figurine to Christine. Madellaine didn�t notice his confusion. Suddenly, she paid attention to a dark figurine that was far off the others. "Who is that?" she asked.

"It�s Frollo," Ad�le said impatiently. "Quasi, I think it�s time for you to ring the bells."

Quasimodo stood up, abated. "You are right. It was nice to see you, Madellaine."

When he started to ring the bells Ad�le explained: "Quasi doesn�t like talking about Frollo, his guardian, since he was a very wicked man."

"I see," said Madellaine. "I think your husband is nice - although I didn�t really look at him, in fact."

Ad�le smiled. "I guessed you would like him!"

Madellaine got depressed again. She took Christine in her arms, hugged her and turned away. Ad�le looked at her in surprise. "What is it?"

"I�think I need to go now." Madellaine felt she would start crying. "May I take Christine down there?"

Ad�le hesitated. "Quasi, we are leaving now," she shouted to her beloved. The bellringer couldn�t hear the words, but he saw they were leaving. "I�ll come soon," he replied.

Madellaine stepped down the stairs with the baby in her arms, and Ad�le followed them. When they finally were down at the door Madellaine was startled to see Elise, Sarousch�s henchwoman, waiting for her.

"Give me the child!" Elise whispered. "No, you can�t take her! Her mother is coming in no time!"

"I will do what Sarousch told me to," hissed Elise and snatched the baby in her arms. "Give her to me! She is hump-backed!" whispered Madellaine in despair; she was sure that fact would save Christine. Elise was startled and had a look at the baby�s body. "Indeed! This little monstrosity!"

"WHAT?!" They heard a voice that made them shudder, and Ad�le plunged down the stairs like a wild beast. "What�s happening here?!"

Elise rushed out as fast as she could, and Madellaine burst into tears. Ad�le turned to climb up again and screamed: "Quasi, they are going to take Christine!!!"

Madellaine plunged after Elise, sobbing inconsolably. When she came to the caravans two of Sarousch�s henchmen grasped her and forced her inside her wagon. Sarousch came at the door with Christine in his arms and gave her to Madellaine. "It�s your task to take care of this little hunchback," he said coldly. "We are leaving tonight." Madellaine threw herself on her bed and embraced Christine, crying desperately.

Ad�le and Quasimodo plunged furiously out of the Cathedral. The bellringer hastened to look for Phoebus, and Ad�le went to meet the Provost. She was conviced he would help her although he had formerly been tactless.

Phoebus got furious when hearing Sarousch had stolen Christine. He ordered the guards to close the whole city. For that, the soldiers who had been keeping guard over the church had to leave the square. The circus company noticed what was happening, and as soon as all of the soldiers had left they took flight. They got out of the city with the help of Sarousch�s tricks of disappearance at the last minute before all of the gates and alleys were blockaded.

Ad�le and Quasimodo were totally in despair. "This wouldn�t have happened had you not given Christine to her!" the bellringer accused his sweetheart. "Will we never see our little one again?!" sobbed Ad�le. The soldiers searched for the company for many days, but that was useless. Quasimodo cried all the time. "I will never more ring the bells," he said. "Had I not stayed to ring them they couldn�t have taken my Christine!"

Ad�le also behaved as if she had been out of her mind. "Christine�my little one�Christine!" she screamed, "I�ll give up the workshop�my baby!�No one will see me until I get you back, my adorable little darling!"

The whole Gypsy community was worried. "They will go insane," said Sarita, "How will we ever be able to help them?"

Ad�le could hardly bear to see Quasimodo. "You remind me of Christine every moment, just like Alain reminded me of you when we were small," she moaned.

"Ad�le, if you leave me we�ll both die," said Quasimodo, embracing her. "We must stay together - for I still hope we will see our Christine again someday."

Finally, Ad�le agreed, hard as it was. "But you must never mention her name."

THE END

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