| The Two Rivals By Sonja Chapter 7 Madellaine moved to Clopin�s caravan, and the Gypsies were abated. Quasimodo and Ad�le lived together again, and in the nights, they showed each other tenderness and passion. One day, Ad�le said to the bellringer: �It would be best to take Christine to Esmeralda and Phoebus for a few weeks, maybe even for longer. We need to get used to living as husband and wife again, not only as her parents � particularly since at first, you seemed to think I was interested in nothing else but her.� �We can think about that�, admitted Quasimodo, �it would certainly be good for her to familiarize with the life in the city as well, and Phoebus would definitely protect her from mockers. But I am not jealous of her, you mustn�t even think of anything like that! Nothing in the world may ever separate the three of us again.� Christine was enthusiastic when her parents took her to Phoebus and Esmeralda. The dancer promised to take her to Notre Dame every day, so she would get used to devotions. The little girl greeted Zephyr with delight, but he wasn�t too glad. Christine had almost taken his best friend from him, and now, even his parents would start coddling her! At once when he saw Esmeralda hug Christine he started a boisterous game, ran and jumped wildly round them. �Take it easy, Zephyr�, urged Esmeralda. Then she realised what was in question and put her arms round the boy. �Christine was by Sarousch for three years, and he was never kind to her�, she explained. �But why did she come here?� Zephyr asked. �She can�t be only with her parents all the time�, said his mother. Clopin and Madellaine got along very well. Little by little, the Gypsy leader advised the young woman in the vagabond way of life. Still, Madellaine was sad � she was too aware of Ad�le and Quasi�s new happiness. She often spent her time near their dwelling and went to talk to the bellringer whenever seeing him alone. Quasimodo was very friendly to her, but he never referred to his attraction. He was so content with his renewed love life with Ad�le that he hardly even confessed to himself he was still dreaming of Madellaine. When thinking back to the past he knew he didn�t want to betray his wife, so everything he could honestly give to Madellaine was a casual affair � and because Madellaine was innocent and inexperienced, he should completely give up his wishes. Clopin tried to limit the time Madellaine spent in Quasimodo�s company. In the nights, the girl dreamt of the bellringer, and Clopin heard her cry. He was irresolute, for he wanted to protect and take care of her, but he was also interested in her himself. That was definitely wrong, because the Archdeacon himself had agreed to him starting Madellaine�s guardian, and he couldn�t misuse his status. �I took you under my patronage to save Ad�le and Quasi�s marriage�, he said to her. �You should take an interest in some other man in our community. I don�t want you to become known as a lady of easy virtue here because we Gypsies don�t esteem them.� �I am not a Gypsy�, Madellaine said stubbornly, �and I LOVE Quasimodo!� �If you want to stay here you need to behave in an honourable way�, said Clopin. �Quasimodo is my son-in-law, and I don�t want to hear a word more about you planning to seduce him.� In the day-time, Madellaine and Clopin went to the city together, Clopin had puppet shows and Madellaine practised tight-rope walking. She didn�t have actual performances yet, for the circus company had stayed in Paris, guarded by the soldiers. When Sarousch would be released the company would be exiled from the city. A few days after Clopin and Madellaine�s conversation, Phoebus, Esmeralda, Zephyr and Christine came to watch their performance. Christine sparkled when seeing Madellaine on the tight-rope. Zephyr asked Clopin to tell the story of baby Quasimodo, but he hesitated � Christine had never heard it. Finally, however, he agreed, took Christine in his arms and started. The afternoon hour of prayer had just finished, and the bellringer was leaving Notre Dame. He noticed thiis small group and, above all, Madellaine who was just jumping down from her tight-rope, and approached them with interest. He was just in time to hear Clopin describe the escape of his mother. When Clopin saw him he interrupted the story. The children grumbled about the story being cut short, but Madellaine gave Quasi a dazzling smile. �Hello! I�ve been looking forward to having a word with you.� �Well, we haven�t talked properly for a couple of weeks, so that�s all right of me�, said the young man, �we can go to Notre Dame�Clopin, you may tell the rest of the story to the children, but don�t reveal the name this time.� He and Madellaine entered the Cathedral. The bellringer thought as much what the young woman was going to talk about. She looked very beautiful, and her eyes glowed. She folded him in her arms and whispered: �My dear!� Quasimodo looked at her in astonishment. �Madellaine�I am married to Ad�le, and it would be a betrayal if we started an affair�, he said, �as you know, we are regarded as inseparable in the Court, and we do have love life�� �Quasi, tell me how you feel for ME�, Madellaine sighed. �You are attractive and beautiful�, assured the bellringer, �and warm-hearted. If I didn�t have Ad�le I would most likely fall in love with you�� �So, you are NOT in love with me?!� Madellaine exclaimed. Quasimodo tried to calm her, but she began to cry. �I love you�Can�t you even encourage me, that someday�?� Quasimodo embraced her. �Madellaine, I was in love with Esmeralda before Ad�le and I started dating seven years ago � that was at the time of the fire in the city. Despite my feelings, I accepted her love for Phoebus � I�ve often thought that probably Ad�le�s affection helped me to overcome my grief. Anyway, I�m not the right person to advise you in this. Honestly, my love for Ad�le is so strong after everything we�ve experienced ever since we were four years old, that I think I wouldn�t be able to give you a serious affair. I�m sorry, I really like you, and it�s awful to say this, but despite of all you did for Christine I love Ad�le more than any other woman.� Madellaine sobbed. Quasi was afraid that he had broken her heart, and patted her gently. �Forgive me. I just felt I had to tell you the truth now that I�ve finally understood it myself. I promise you�ll always have your place in my heart.� Madellaine looked at him with a sad and resolute expression in her eyes. �Quasi, I am ready for an affair with you. I know I said before I wanted to get accepted as something else than your mistress, but if you are serious about this I am telling you that your affection is more important to me than the attitudes of the Gypsies or the townspeople.� �Madellaine�, the young man said, �I don�t want you to lose your reputation. If the townspeople found out you really are seducing me they would become conviced of that you are a strumpet whom any man could abuse�� �You can�t mean you are going to tell everyone! Did Ad�le get the reputation of a strumpet after you had slept together for the first time?� �No, of course not, because I wasn�t married then � and I am not going to tell anyone, but still, rumours will spread fast, and you will be involved in serious trouble.� �I am ready to hide our affair�, said Madellaine, smiling at him, �after all, you said it would depend on me if we someday slept together�� Quasimodo flushed. �I know�but we shouldn�t talk about those things in here�I know you have your needs, and I do like you�but I�m sure you wouldn�t be happy with me because I have a family.� Madellaine embraced him. �Quasi, I have never loved anyone like I love you. I wouldn�t agree to an affair like this if I wasn�t absolutely sure that you are the only man who can make me happy.� Quasimodo sighed and looked at her. The girl looked like she would start crying, she turned pale and then flushed. It would be base to betray Ad�le, but he had the power to make Madellaine�s dream come true. �I want to make you happy�, he said, kissing the girl, �but you must promise you will never ever tell Ad�le or Clopin or any elders anything about us!� Madellaine sparkled. �I promise! Where can we�? You can�t come to Clopin�s caravan to meet me.� �And it�s out of the question you could come to our dwelling while Ad�le is present!� �At times, Clopin is away in the night-time�, noted Madellaine, �maybe meeting some woman�What if you came to me in an evening like that?� �Maybe I can � but I don�t want to lie to Ad�le.� Meanwhile, one of the women from the circus company had paid attention to Clopin and his companions. Since Sarousch had been arrested, the performances of the circus had been limited, and the performers hadn�t been allowed to move freely in the city. They were angry with Madellaine whom they found guilty of the arrest of Sarousch. Now, Elise had noticed Christine, and she decided to try taking her back to the circus. The little one screamed with fright when seeing Elise. �That�s the woman who was awfully mean to me!� Esmeralda snatched her and looked at the circus performer with fiery eyes. Elise asked impudently: �Where is Madellaine? That hunchback belongs to the circus, and I am going to take her back!� Clopin jumped in front of her, and Phoebus drew his sword to frighten her. �Mademoiselle, you are not taking my granddaughter anywhere, and Madellaine belongs to my community�, said the Gypsy leader severely. Then he whispered to Esmeralda: �Run to the Cathedral! We will take care of the wench.� Esmeralda rushed to Notre Dame with Christine in her arms. There, she saw Quasimodo and Madellaine. The bellringer lowered his head when seeing her�He had just promised to start an illicit affair. Madellaine, in turn, looked both ashamed and triumphant. �Quasi, the woman who stole Christine came to harass us a moment ago!� the dancer panted. �She said she is going to take her back THERE!� �Good Lord, it�s Elise! She was always mean to both Christine and me�, exclaimed Madellaine. �Hopefully, Phoebus will get her arrested�, Esmeralda said. Indeed, the Captain was just calling for a small group of guards. �This woman is a thief, and she helped in the kidnapping of Christine three years ago�, he told them. �Arrest her.� The soldiers caught Elise and took her away. Ad�le who was working in the workshop saw them pass by and recognised the woman who had taken her baby. Delighted, she hastened to Notre Dame. �Quasi, the woman who actually stole Christine was arrested a while ago!� The bellringer was ashamed. He looked at Madellaine in an appealing manner, and she found it best to sneak out of the Cathedral. Esneralda followed her, and Quasi put his arms round his wife. �Ad�le, I�ll most likely meet Madellaine more often in the near future�, he confessed, �she misses me.� �Well, I�m not too happy about that.� Ad�le�s voice was cold. �It�s your business, and you two, not I, are responsible for what�s going to happen. But I expect you to remain faithful to me.� Quasimodo folded her in his arms and sighed. Faithful�But Madellaine needed him! A few days later, Madellaine went to meet Quasi to the belltower at the time of the evening hour of prayer. At the door, she put her arms round the young man, trying to smile seductively. �Madellaine�this is a risky undertaking, and I�m not sure if I want to.� Quasimodo looked depressed. �I know I�m not as beautiful as Ad�le�, Madellaine�s voice was chilling, �but I won�t let you go before you give me what I need.� �Good heavens, Madellaine�it�s not your beauty that�s in question�Besides, this is a sacred place.� �I don�t care! Because we can�t do that in the Court of Miracles I�ll stay here with you for the night.� She caressed Quasi�s face, kissed him and pressed him to her breast. The bellringer panted in agitation and started to open Madellaine�s dress. However, he felt as if Ad�le had seen what he was doing, and he sighed, detaching himself from Madellaine�s hold. �Well? I know you are interested.� Madellaine smoothed down his cheek. �Madellaine, I want you to know I�m doing this only because you desperately long for my tenderness. If you weren�t so depressed I wouldn�t betray Ad�le.� The bellringer folded Madellaine in his arms and kissed her. The young woman quivered with passion. Quasimodo started to smooth down her hair and caress her neck. Madellaine, in turn, reached her hand to touch him between the legs. He blushed and uncovered her bosom. �Quasi�, panted Madellaine, �do you have a bed here?� �Yes�but I sleep here very seldom nowadays.� Quasimodo caressed her, and Madellaine remembered how strong he was. She uncovered his breast and back and pressed her cheek to his hump. Quasimodo laughed a little in embarrassment. When Madellaine was naked, the bellringer took her in his arms, kissed her bosom and walked slowly to the bed. The girl smiled happily, but when Quasi placed himself by her side she blushed and turned away. The young man embraced her tenderly. �I must tell Ad�le�, he whispered, �although I know it will hurt her�But promise me you will never tell anyone!� �I promise�, whispered Madellaine, but she thought: unless I get pregnant! Quasi crushed her to himself. He found the secret parts of Madellaine�s body, and she put her arms and legs round him. In a little while, she exclaimed weakly�the feeling was a bit unpleasant. She squeezed her lover tightly. �Is everything all right?� asked the bellringer. Madellaine nodded, panting. They moved slowly, and she started to feel better. She was triumphant. Early next morning, she was awakened by Quasimodo smoothing down her hair. �Did you sleep well?� She sparkled. �I think it�s rather early.� �Yes, it�s time for morning bells�, said the young man and started to ring the bells. Madellaine lay in the bed for quite a while. She thought about what the bellringer had done in the night, and she felt she would want that soon again � but she also had a little pain. She rose and started to dress up. Only then did she happen to think of what Clopin would say about her being away all the night. When they arrived at the Court they saw Clopin accompanied by Constance, one of the vagabond women who provided for herself as a streetwalker. Both Quasimodo and Ad�le had always kept a distance to the streetwalkers. Now, Madellaine winkled to Quasi when seeing Constance. At the very moment, a stranger grasped Madellaine from behind. Quasimodo recognized him as one of the successful pretenders who showed himself as �crippled� in the city. Now, this man sq�eezed Madellaine to himself and tried to drag her away. Madellaine shouted and struggled, and Quasimodo furiously attacked the man. While they fought, Clopin and Constance hastened to the pale and shuddering Madellaine. �That damned, miserable scoundrel! He would have done the same thing to you as he did to me�, hissed Constance, putting her arms round the younger girl. Madellaine was startled. �You mean he�?� �Madellaine, where did you spend the whole night?� Clopin looked severe. �I don�t approve of you leaving my caravan in the night-time. This wouldn�t have happened had you been inside.� �Clopin, you should show her a bit more sympathy�, Constance remarked. However, Clopin looked at the bellringer who had defeated the attacker. �How can it be that you two come here together at dawn? Did you spend the night with him, Madellaine?!� Madellaine lowered her head, but she couldn�t hide her triumphant smile. Quasimodo, in turn, blushed with shame. �Good Lord, this is incredible!� whispered Clopin for himself. He looked at the youngsters and then at Constance. �Quasimodo, return to your wife and take care that this won�t happen again�, he said harshly. �Madellaine, I am responsible for you, and I won�t allow you to behave like Constance and the other streetwalkers here. Constance, I am content with you, but if Madellaine wants to be a member of our Gypsy community she has to act decently.� �Excuse me, but I have not provided for myself by�� Madellaine was deeply offended and glanced chillingly at Constance. Clopin interrupted her. �You can�t defend your behaviour. You have disgraced me, your guardian, not to mention my daughter and her husband! You deserve a strict punishment!� �Clopin, Madellaine is not the only guilty�, exclaimed Quasimodo, �I made a serious mistake, and it�s I who should take care of her from this day on.� �No, you have Ad�le and Christine, and I can�t let you insult them by declaring for all the community what you did.� Clopin was determined. �I�ll take care of Madellaine, and none of you may say a single word about this any more!� �Clopin�, Constance dared suggest, �could it be possible that I would take Madellaine by myself for now? True, she despises my profession, but no matter what she did in the night she is the victim of attempted abuse, and she needs understanding and support, not just a punishment. I am able to keep her mistake secret.� Quasimodo sighed abatedly. �You are right! That will cause gossip, but it�s better than to continually remind her of what I was equally guilty of as she.� After deliberating for a while, Clopin agreed. �You may take care of her, Constance. But remember, all of you, that Madellaine and Quasimodo must keep separated, you mustn�t meet each other at all � else I�ll have to send you away, Madellaine.� Quasimodo returned to his own dwelling where Ad�le was still sleeping. He looked at his wife and felt more ashamed than ever. He, Quasimodo, had indeed been unfaithful to the woman who loved him and had given her whole life to him! She could never more be completely happy with him if he confessed this � and he couldn�t lie to her since it was she he loved. Ad�le woke up when hearing Quasimodo sob by her side. �What�s the matter, dear?� She smoothed down his cheek. Quasimodo couldn�t look at her. �Ad�le�I deceived you�, he whispered, �Madellaine came to the belltower, and she longed for tenderness so much that�� He started to cry bitterly. Ad�le began to shudder. She felt cold, and she couldn�t say a word for a long while. Finally, she whispered, as tears flowed on her face: �Quasi�I can�t tell you this doesn�t matter, for it definitely does! Didn�t you think about MY need for physical affection at all?� �Yes, I did, my love�I wanted nothing more than to make her happy�, sighed the bellringer, �I knew it would be an insult for you�� ��but she has no-one else to show her affection? What about ME � I have no-one but you either!� �I know, Ad�le, and I did want to be faithful to you! Now, in any case, Clopin has forbidden her and me to meet each other at all. She was attacked when we returned at dawn, and Clopin and the streetwalker Constance rescued her. She will stay with Constance for now.� �I don�t know if I can trust you any longer.� Ad�le was sad. �I hoped I could fullfill your needs, like you fullfill mine.� �Yes, you can.� Quasi embraced her. �If only she fell in love with someone else � for I will never more offend you like this!� Constance and Madellaine befriended quickly. Madellaine was curious when Constance met men, and the older woman told her quite a lot about her job. Some of the men tried to make advances to Madellaine as well, but she easily took fright, and Constance severely forbade her clients to harass the girl. The Gypsies were surprised at Madellaine leaving Clopin�s caravan and gossipped a lot. Quasimodo didn�t talk a word about his escapade, but some of the young men did suspect him. Mertzi, in turn, was actually delighted at Madellaine moving off, for he had a secret crush on her. He started to show his attention to her, went to see her tightrope walk practising and stayed near her whenever she walked in the streets. In a few weeks, Madellaine started to feel strange. She cried easily, was tired, and her breasts were sore. She told Constance, and the streetwalker was startled, if not surprised. �Madellaine, it seems to me you are pregnant�, she said, looking at her friend with pity. �You should have understood this could happen! Are you quite sure the bellringer is the father?� �It was my first time.� Madellaine sounded offended. �You should hide your pregnancy�, said Constance, �you can�t go and tell a married man you are expecting his child. Naturally, I could take you to a quack�� �What are you talking about, dammit? I want to have the child, if it�s true what you say!� Madellaine exclaimed. �It�s the child of the man I love!� �My goodness, Madellaine, try to understand! Your child could never be accepted here! Besides, if your only purpose is to ruin Quasimodo�s marriage you will most certainly be despised!� �Accepted! You tell me that although you are not even honourable?� Madellaine was annoyed. �I�ve decided to have Quasimodo, and now that I�m pregnant by him, he has a real reason to leave his wife.� �Madellaine, how can you be so sure of him wanting to leave his wife? As far as I know, they are quite content together.� �You�ll see I am going to tell him!� Madellaine smiled triumphantly. That evening, she went to see Christine by Phoebus and Esmeralda. The little girl told her she visited Notre Dame many times a day and was learning to pray. �But I would like to see the gargoyles more often�, she said. Madellaine took her in her arms. �You know what, Christine?� she whispered, �probably, you�ll have a little sister or brother next spring!� Her eyes sparkled. �Will I? Did Ad�le and Quasi tell you that?� Christine had learned to refer to her parents by names when talking to other people. �The baby will be born to me and Quasi.� Madellaine looked proudly around her. �What do you mean?� Christine asked. Right then, Esmeralda entered the room. �Madellaine says she is having a baby�, told Christine, �but what does she mean by having it with Daddy? He is with Mummy!� �Good gracious!�Esmeralda couldn�t believe her ears. She stared at Madellaine who didn�t show any shame or embarrassment. �Did you really�seduce Quasi?� �Constance says I am pregnant, and the only possible father is Quasi�, Madellaine admitted determinedly. �Poor Ad�le!� Esmeralda looked sad. �Christine, remember you mustn�t tell ANYONE about this, not even the youngsters! Madellaine, how could you act in such an irresponsible way?� �I longed for his love�, confessed Madellaine. �Of course, I didn�t get pregnant on purpose � I couldn�t know that would happen � but I DID hope.� She smiled happily. �Madellaine, this is not a matter of pride�, sighed Esmeralda, �Quasi is married to Ad�le, and you can�t ruin their relationship! Of course, I think you should tell Quasi the truth, but don�t do anything stupid.� Christine ran out and hastened to the workshop. Ad�le squeezed her. �Do you have something fun to tell me?� �Daddy, is it true what Madellaine said, that she is having a baby with you?� �What?� Quasimodo turned pale, and Ad�le thought she would faint. Christine explained: �She came to tell me I will have a sister or brother next year. I thought you had told her that, but she said the baby will be hers.� �Good Lord!� whispered Quasimodo, and Ad�le said to him in a chilling voice: �There you see what infidelity can lead to!� Quasimodo put his arms round her. �Ad�le�I know it�s no use to say I am sorry�but I did not know she would become pregnant!� �I didn�t take the escapade very seriously�, noted Ad�le, �for I trusted your word that you weren�t going to do that again. But it�s an entirely different matter that Madellaine is having YOUR child! You really should have realised that could happen, and not have let her seduce you! Didn�t you remember I did also get pregnant when we were together for the first time?� �No, my love, I didn�t remember that.� Quasimodo was more ashamed than ever. �I did say to her I didn�t want to betray you, but neither did I wish to break her heart.� �Quasi, no-one must be so warm-hearted that they are unfaithful against their own will!� Ad�le was stupefied. �Anyway, we both know your duty is to take care of her because she doesn�t have any family members here. But I am not going to let her live together with us � I won�t look at you rolling around in our bed with her one single time!� She shuddered with fury at the thought. �Either we will separate and you will live with her till the child is born, or she will marry someone else � for she can of course no longer live with Clopin, expecting the child of his son-in-law.� �Ad�le, we won�t separate � I love you, although I know you don�t believe me.� The bellringer embraced her. �I�m quite sure none of the Gypsy men is ready to marry a woman who is pregnant by someone else.� �Quasimodo, I will never in my life let you bring �another wife� to our home! You are the bellringer of Notre Dame, and we are going to educate our daughter to be a nun. How COULD you live a sinful and licentious life? Then you would be as hypocritical as Frollo!� �No, I�m absolutely not going to start living like that, I never meant it that way�, the bellringer conviced. �I thought that Madellaine could move by us, but I wouldn�t touch her.� �I trust you, but I don�t trust her�, answered Ad�le, �it�s self-evident she would do her best in trying to harass you, and all of us, above all Christine, would suffer in a situation like that.� Meanwhile, in the Court of Miracles, Constance had gone to Clopin and told him she suspected Madellaine to expect a child. Her purpose was to help her friend. However, Clopin got very angry for Ad�le. �That girl will have no place in our community from this day on�, he declared. Constance got restless. She went to the city and met Madellaine who had just left Phoebus and Esmeralda. �Madellaine, Clopin is furious! I told him � I meant to help you � but he doesn�t want to see or talk to you, and says you�ll be exiled. You have only one choice at the moment: leave Paris accompanied by me! I�ll support you with your pregnancy, and you can give public performances.� Madellaine burst into tears. Then, she remembered the child she was carrying was Quasimodo�s, and understood that only by leaving could she save herself and Quasi from shame and humiliation. �I agree to leave with you�, she said, �but we will return here one day, and who knows, maybe Quasi will be mine then!� To be continued.... Back to Fanfic Back to Index |