| THE RIGHT TO HAPPINESS by Sonja Chapter 3 Charlotte and her Gypsy friends were talking in a loud voice. Suddenly, however, Charlotte heard yelling and clatter in her dwelling. She hastened there and saw Quasimodo and Ad�le chasing each other on the floor. Ad�le laughed and threw herself on Quasi's back. "I caught you!" she rejoiced, squeezing the boy enthusiastically. Her mother laughed, too, but then Quasimodo grasped his sister's hair and snatched it harder than usual. Ad�le screamed. "Quasi, why did you do that? It's not nice," Charlotte asked. "I'm sorry, Ad�le, it's just that your curls are so pretty," Quasi said, putting his arms around the little girl. At that moment, Clopin entered the dwelling, and when Charlotte told him what had happened, he laughed and noted: "That's what every little boy sometimes does." Charlotte had become very well-loved in the vagabond community. She did handiwork, and Clopin had started to tell stories to the children of the city. At the beginning, Charlotte was unwilling to leave the hideout, and she and Clopin decided that she would never go to the city alone. Sometimes Quasimodo asked to go in the city, but his new parents said to him that Frollo would immediately take him back to the belltower. The little boy was getting along well in his new community, but sometimes he was still depressed by memories of Frollo. One night, when Charlotte was just going to sleep, she heard crying in the children's bed. "Ad�le, what's the matter with you?" she asked. "It's not me," said the little girl, "don't cry, Quasi." Charlotte stepped to the bed and smoothed down Quasimodo's head. She had never before heard him cry in the night. "Quasi, what's the matter?" "Frollo said I was a monster, he took me to the belltower and didn't give me any food," Quasi sobbed. "It was so cold and dark there!" Ad�le got furious. "A monster! I know WHO is the monster! But he is not here, don't be afraid, Quasi." "Darling, it was just a dream, no one is going to take you anywhere," comforted Charlotte. "Would you like to come to sleep with me for the night? And you, Ad�le, should also have been asleep long ago." She took Quasimodo in her arms and carried him to her own bed. After a while, Clopin came in and approached the bed. Charlotte covered Quasi's head. Clopin embraced Charlotte. In fact, she was not very responsive at the moment, but soon, Clopin's tenderness made her change her mind. When those two were fully concentrated on each other, Quasi turned around, and Clopin noticed him. "Why does Quasi sleep with us?" he asked. "He had a bad dream", whispered Charlotte. "Let him be." Clopin patted Quasi's back and took Charlotte in his arms again. However, their voices had awakened Ad�le, and she rushed to the big bed. "May I sleep here, too?" she asked and squeezed Clopin. "This is going a little too far," marked the Gypsy man. "Ad�le, go to your own bed. Charlotte, it's best if you don't take Quasi by the side of us any more." In the Court of Miracles, Charlotte had much to learn. Her relationship with Clopin was very passionate, and sometimes it was difficult for her to keep apart from him in the elder Gypsies' presence. Clopin did his best to advise her in following the Gypsy customs, and the community was very tolerant towards her in many situations. Because Charlotte had learned already as a child that women were impure during and after childbirth, she partly understood the Gypsy beliefs. Sometimes, however, she got annoyed when her friends forbade her to wear her old clothes "because they are unclean." "My clothes don't have anything to do with you," she snapped. "Charlotte, when you married Clopin you became one of us, and you need to behave like us," said Alida. Fortunately, Charlotte had Ad�le and Quasimodo with whom she could show her tenderness. Gypsies were very fond of children, and very often girls hugged Ad�le and called her "dear" or "little one." Many of them also thought that Quasi was cute and asked him to play in their games. Ad�le, in turn, loved to take care of baby Esmeralda. For Quasimodo, Charlotte was the first woman ever to give him motherly love and care, except his aunt Sarita, who had four children of her own to look after. They liked Quasi a lot, but he was too shy to participate in their boisterous games, and none of them adored him like Ad�le. Clopin was affected to both of the children, but sometimes he was jealous about Charlotte�s love for them. Once he even forbade Ad�le to climb in her mother�s lap when he wanted to embrace his wife after spending all the day in the city. However, he never hit either Quasi or Ad�le. The little girl sometimes defied her new father, but she always believed what her mother said. Quasimodo, in turn, was a bit reluctant to sit in Clopin�s lap, whereas he totally trusted in Charlotte. According to the Gypsy custom, both of the children addressed their parents by names. One day about a month after Charlotte and Ad�le had moved to the Court of Miracles, Ad�le asked Clopin to take her with him to the city. Clopin agreed, for he knew Ad�le enjoyed greatly to hear him tell stories. When Quasimodo heard Ad�le would go to the city he said: �Please, Clopin, take me with you as well!� Clopin answered gently: �Quasi, it would be dangerous to take you there - don�t forget HIM and his guards!� Charlotte had just entered the dwelling and heard what he was saying. She noted: �I think you should take Quasi with you - it�s not good if he never leaves our hideout, particularly if Ad�le is allowed to go to the city.� �But we can�t give him back to Frollo!� exclaimed Ad�le. Quasimodo was startled, but then he said: "If I�m sitting in the caravan, no one will see me.� Finally, the parents decided to agree to his request. Clopin and the children left the Court accompanied by Alida and Rosita. The girls were restless, but they promised Charlotte that they would take care of both Quasi and Ad�le. When those five were approaching the Cathedral square, they were seen by two of Frollo�s guards. Rosita snatched Quasi in her arms and took to flight as fast as she could; Ad�le hid under Alida�s skirt, and Clopin promised to protect his stepdaughter and friend. The soldiers rushed to catch the Gypsies. Clopin defied them, and since the Gypsies didn�t have any money with them the guards gave in and left them. But at the very moment, they all saw a dark figure approach them - Minister Frollo! He was accompanied by a small group of soldiers. Clopin got horrified; he dared defy the guards, but he was far too scared of the persecutor himself - that was why he hardly ever even used his name. Before Alida even noticed what was happening, the young man had disappeared. A moment earlier, Frollo had stepped out of the Palace of Justice and seen Rosita run in the street carrying something. When the Gypsy came nearer the Minister saw it was a small red-haired child dressed in green. He was stupefied: was it possible that a Gypsy woman was carrying Quasimodo just in front of him? Immediately, he convened a group of guards and ordered them to arrest the Gypsy. However, Rosita and Quasimodo had already succeeded to escape, so Frollo and the soldiers were obliged to search for some other Gypsies - for the Minister was sure the woman hadn�t been alone. Alida was in despair. How COULD Clopin leave her and Ad�le alone in such a horrible danger? She was abated that Rosita and Quasi were safe, but what could she do? She whispered to Ad�le: �You must keep quiet!� She did her best to keep calm and looked bravely at the guards when they milled round her. �Gypsy girl," Frollo said chillingly, �tell me everything you know about a deformed boy named Quasimodo. Don�t try to lie to me, I have seen the child accompanied by another of your kind.� Before Alida had time to say anything, Ad�le came forth and gave the Minister a look of fury. "Wicked Frollo, go away! You will never have our Quasi!� �HUSH!� Alida snatched the little girl into her arms. Frollo, in turn, asked determinedly: �Where did you get the child? How long have you had him?� Alida shuddered, but she answered as peacefully as she could: �Minister Frollo, I don�t know what this girl is talking about. I don�t know anything about a deformed boy, like you said.� Frollo got furious, like always when he was defied. �You will be arrested till I have found that little monstrosity," he announced, and his soldiers caught the young woman. One of them forced her to detach her hold of Ad�le, and Frollo grasped the girl�s arm. Ad�le shouted furious: �How dare you call my Quasi a monstrosity!� A while later, Rosita returned with Quasimodo and got extremely restless. Where were Alida, Clopin and Ad�le? In despair, Rosita ran along the streets, searching for her friends. Soon she saw Clopin who finally had encouraged himself, hastened to him and asked: �What happened? Where are Ad�le and Alida?� Clopin was startled and turned pale. �For Heaven�s sake! Did they take Ad�le? What will Charlotte do now? And Alida�How COULD I run away like that?!� �Clopin, tell me immediately what has happened!� Rosita exclaimed. �Did the soldiers arrest Alida? Where is Ad�le? Why didn�t you protect them like you promised?� Clopin lowered his head, more ashamed than ever. �HE arrived with his guards," he said quietly, �and I didn�t have enough courage to stay to defy him�I fled.� �AARRGH! How could you?!� Rosita shuddered from restlessness and anger. �I would NEVER have believed that you can be so cowardly! Your own daughter and childhood friend were in danger, and you left them! But where are they now, for Heaven�s sake?� Quasimodo burst into tears. �Did Frollo take Ad�le? What if he hurts her?� �Clopin," said Rosita, trying to keep calm, �it�s best that you take Quasi back to the Court - you must tell Charlotte how shamefully you have behaved. I�ll try to find out where Alida and Ad�le are, and then we can start thinking about a way to rescue them.� �Be careful! I don�t want Frollo to arrest you as well,� warned Clopin. Then he took Quasimodo in his arms and began to walk back to the graveyard, comforting the boy who was still sobbing. As soon as Charlotte saw that the Gypsy girls were away, she had a dreadful foreboding. It still grew when Clopin detached his hold of Quasi and the little boy rushed to his adoptive mother with his eyes full of tears. �Clopin, where is Ad�le? Is something wrong with Alida and Rosita?� Charlotte was pale and her heart was beating loudly. Clopin lowered his head and said nothing. �Where is my Ad�le?� Charlotte repeated, slowly. �What happened to our friends?� Quasimodo sobbed: �Frollo took Ad�le�and�Alida is�arrested!� �Frollo�took�Ad�le?!� Charlotte screamed. �How on earth could such a thing happen? Where were you then, Clopin? How could he see you all? You PROMISED to stay away from his guards!� Clopin quivered. �Rosita fled with Quasi immediately when we saw the soldiers,� he assured, �and I defended Alida and the children as long as there were only guards. But when I saw Frollo was approaching us I simply dared not stay there - I�m too afraid of him.� It took a while before Charlotte was able to speak. �Miserable coward!� she finally exclaimed, couldn�t even imagine you could do this to your friend and your own daughter! Now Ad�le is all alone in the hands of our worst persecutor, and Alida is in prison, and maybe they both will DIE there! How COULD you do this to Quasi and me - and all of us?!� She burst into tears, snatched Quasimodo in her arms, rushed to their dwelling, and threw herself on her bed. Quasi put his arms round her neck and said: �Charlotte, don�t cry,� but the woman was in despair. It wasn�t only because of her daughter and friend, but also because she was bitterly disappointed in her husband. She loved Clopin, Quasi and Ad�le loved him, but now he had betrayed them all. Clopin had never seen Charlotte behave that way, and he was enormously ashamed of himself. Sad, he followed his wife inside the dwelling and went to sit on the brim of the bed. He smoothed down Charlotte�s hair, trying to say something, but she shouted to him: �Don�t touch me! This is all your fault!� To crown the lot, she slapped little Quasimodo who lay by her side. The boy began to cry. �Charlotte, please don�t hit me! What have I done? It wasn�t my fault that HE took Ad�le!� He couldn�t stop crying, for this was the first time ever when the gentle Charlotte had hit him. Even Clopin was stupefied. �How can you strike Quasi? Slap me, I do deserve that, but leave him alone, he is still so small.� Charlotte hadn�t even realised what she was doing until Quasimodo began to cry. Shocked, she embraced him. �Forgive me, darling, I didn�t mean to hurt you. But - my poor little Ad�le!� She turned to Clopin. �From this day on, we will live separately till I get my daughter back and Alida is rescued.� At the same time, Frollo�s soldiers took Alida to a dungeon in the Palace of Justice, and the Minister himself deliberated where he would put Ad�le. He was sure the little girl had been stolen by the Gypsies, so he couldn�t do her any harm. However, Ad�le was hostile towards him all the time - for her, Frollo was a disgusting man-beast who had mistreated her beloved adoptive brother, and since she had just heard him call Quasi by a horrible name, she didn�t even try to hide her feelings. Finally, Frollo took Ad�le to the southern tower of Notre Dame. The little girl glanced at the north tower where Quasi had been, but fortunately, she didn�t say anything about having visited there. Before leaving her alone the Minister warned her not to go outside, and Ad�le snapped: �I WON�T stay in here forever!� The next morning, Frollo returned to her. �What are you doing here?� snapped Ad�le. �Little girl�, said the Minister, �I find it very regrettable that you behave that badly. I understand you have been mistreated by the Gypsies - � �I hate you!� Ad�le shouted. �You are the one who mistreats others! Gypsies are good and kind, I KNOW that! You know nothing about them!� �Obviously, they have made you believe in their lies,� continued Frollo, but Ad�le defied him even more determinedly: �I live among them with my mother. They are NOT evil!� Frollo didn�t want to continue arguing, for actually, he didn�t care at all of what this child thought about the Gypsies. Instead, he said: �Little girl, it seems to me that you know the boy I am searching for. Is that true?� Ad�le was startled. However, she controlled herself and stared at the Minister in a hostile way. "I�m not telling you,� she answered. �Ad�le,� this was the first time Frollo called her by name, �don�t hide anything. I heard you talk about Quasimodo.� He said the name in so mean a voice that Ad�le flared up even more. �I won�t tell anything!� she repeated. �I heard you call him a monstrosity, and I know you would be hideously wicked to him if you got him back!� �He is ugly and deformed, and besides, he is a Gypsy by birth!� Frollo was so amazed at Ad�le�s defiance that he couldn�t say anything else. �You are disgusting!� shouted the little girl. �My mother says no-one may talk like that!� �Where is your mother?� Frollo didn�t give in. �Believe me, I�m NOT telling you!� announced the little prisoner once more. Finally, Frollo lost his patience. �I will keep you here till you are ready to speak,� he said and walked to the door. Ad�le grinned behind his back. The whole community of vagabonds was full of sadness and restlessness. The Gypsy leader blamed Clopin of his cowardice, and the women felt sympathy for Charlotte. On the other hand, many of the Gypsies did understand that Clopin was scared of their persecutor. The vagabonds made plans for freeing Ad�le and Alida; it was clear none of the Gypsies could go to search for them, but it was equally dangerous for Charlotte herself to be seen by Frollo. Surprisingly, Alain, the aged, hump-backed man who had been friendly to Quasimodo, suggested that he would try to help the prisoners. The vagabonds were abated by the solution, but Charlotte was restless and Quasimodo was frightened. "That�s very kind of you, but what if you are involved in trouble yourself?� �Don�t worry, Charlotte, I�m not going to show myself to HIM,� Alain promised, for he understood what Charlotte was referring to. The next morning, Alain left the Court of Miracles and stayed near the Palace of Justice. He observed all the people walking in the streets, and when someone came near enough he stopped them and asked if there were going to be public lawsuits in the city in the near future. Many Parisians were amazed at a hump-backed beggar making a question like that, but since it was rather usual to be interested in executions and pillory punishments, they told him some people had been recently arrested. Once or twice, Alain heard also about a young Gypsy woman who was in prison, but no one was sure of what her crime was. Alain was conviced that it was Alida. Ad�le wasn�t mentioned at all. In the evening, Alain encouraged himself and entered the Palace of Justice. He knew where the dungeons were, and soon he found out where Alida was kept. He knocked at the door. �Alida, are you there? It�s me, Alain from the Court of Miracles!� Alain wasn�t an actual friend of Alida, but she was enormously abated of that someone wanted to help her. Unfortunately, they could talk only through the locked door. �Please, tell me why you were arrested,� asked the man, �what is your crime?� �I haven�t actually been accused of anything,� whispered Alida, �Frollo said I will be under arrest till he finds Quasimodo.� �Good Lord!� exclaimed Alain. �Now we will be involved in trouble, because Charlotte will never give up the boy. But what happened to her daughter?� �The soldiers took her from me and gave her to Frollo,� told Alida, �but then I was brought here, so I don�t know where she is at the moment.� Alain encouraged her and promised that the community would do its best to find a way to rescue her. Then he left the Palace of Justice and went to Notre Dame to meet the Archdeacon. He told the priest how Frollo had taken Ad�le and arrested Alida. The Archdeacon said: �The little girl is in the southern belltower. Obviously, she is a rather stubborn child.� �Will Frollo set her free? How does he treat her?� Alain asked. �He says he will set the girl free when he gets back his, ahem, adoptive child,� answered the Archdeacon. �I think the girl is continually defying him, so maybe she is not very well.� �OH, NO!� thought Alain, �this can end only in disappointment and sadness.� However, he thanked the priest and asked him to tell Ad�le that her friends were trying to rescue her. �That�s out of the question!� exclaimed Charlotte when her new friend told her Frollo�s terms. �How can he even imagine that we would let him imprison our little Quasi to that cold, dark place again and make him believe he is a monster? I want my daughter back, that�s clear, but we must find another way to rescue her and Alida than to refuse Quasi his right to happiness!� Some of the vagabonds wondered why Charlotte wasn�t ready to exchange Quasimodo to Ad�le. Alida�s relatives thought that it would be best to give in for Frollo, for naturally, they were scared for the young woman�s life. �After all, Frollo hates our people and tries to kill as many of us as possible,� they said. Sarita and her family, instead, agreed with Charlotte. �Some of us have to try to fetch Alida from the dungeon,� noted Quasimodo�s uncle. �And the Archdeacon could take Ad�le out of the tower,� Charlotte delighted. �No, that won�t work,� remarked Clopin when he heard of the plan, �it�s quite impossible for us to break into the dungeon - the guards would surely see and attack us.� After the kidnapping of Ad�le, Charlotte had behaved like Clopin did not exist. Now, however, she asked him: �Do you have a better suggestion?� �Yes, I do. It�s very daring, but if we succeed I hope you�ll care for me again,� the young man said. Indeed, Ad�le had continued defying Frollo. He had visited her every day and tried to get her to reveal the Gypsies� hideout and to tell him where the little hunchback was, but Ad�le bravely refused to answer his questions. The Minister even whipped the little girl, but that was useless; although Ad�le moaned, she still revealed nothing. In the nights, however, Ad�le cried and missed her mother, Clopin and Quasimodo. One evening, almost a fortnight after the kidnapping and the arrest of Alida, the door of the southern tower was opened, and Charlotte stepped in. She had got the key from the Archdeacon, to whom she had partly revealed the daring plan. �Mummy!� Ad�le exclaimed, rushing to squeeze her. �My little one! How is it with you?� Charlotte asked, folding her daughter in her arms. �Frollo is horrible!� Ad�le told, �he whips and threatens me to make me tell where the Gypsies live, and he says just dreadful things about Quasi!� �Whips you!� Charlotte was stupefied. �How CAN he do such a thing?� She had a look at Ad�le�s back. �It is true, for Heaven�s sake! AARRGH! If he came in here now I would surely attack him!� But then she asked seriously: �Did you say he talks about Quasi? How does he know you have something to do with him?� Ad�le was ashamed. �Yes�He said to Alida, �tell me everything you know about a deformed boy named Quasimodo� and that he had just seen him, and when I heard that, I told him to go away and said he would never have our Quasi.� Charlotte was bound to smile, for it was easy for her to imagine how the little one had defied the Minister. However, she remarked: �That was a very silly thing to say, Ad�le, for if you hadn�t said that, Frollo couldn�t have maltreated you like this.� �But I HATE him!� Ad�le exclaimed. �He says Quasi is a monstrosity!� �Yes, that�s terrible, and I do detest him as well because of what he has done both to you and Quasi,� assured her mother. �However, now I realize it was a mistake to let Quasi leave the Court with you. Now, in any case, I�ll take you out of here.� �Where is Quasi? And Clopin?� asked the girl, �I have missed them, too.� �Darling, I will tell you a secret,� whispered Charlotte. �We are cheating Frollo! Right now, Clopin is taking Quasi back to the northern tower, and when Frollo sees him there tomorrow he�ll hopefully release Alida. When Alida has returned to the Court I�ll come here to fetch Quasi back to us! This was Clopin�s idea. It�s dangerous, and maybe we�ll fail, but we told it to Quasi, and he agreed to stay in the tower till Alida is released.� The next morning, Frollo climbed to the southern tower and got furious when noticing that the girl was away. However, when he blamed the Archdeacon, the priest noted: �I think there is something in the northern tower you might be interested in.� Frollo shrugged his shoulders, but however, he climbed to the other tower. He opened the door and saw Quasimodo sitting on the floor. The little boy was startled to see the dark figure of his guardian. However, he had been shown so much love and kindness in the Court of Miracles that he wasn�t afraid at all any more, and besides, Clopin and Charlotte had promised to come to fetch him soon. So, he said quietly: �Good morning, Master.� He had never said �Frollo.� The Minister looked hard at him. The hunchback seemed healthy and well cared for. Frollo was amazed that he wasn�t frightened at all. Where had he been, and how had he been treated? �Good morning, Quasimodo,� said the guardian, �now, tell me where you have been all this time.� Before leaving him in the tower Clopin had warned Quasi not to mention a word about the Court of Miracles. So, the boy said only: �I was among the Gypsies.� �The Gypsies!� repeated the Minister in an ominous voice. �Don�t you remember what I told you: the Gypsies are dishonest and treacherous, and their way of life is heathen. I had forbidden you to have anything to do with people like that! Besides, you have defied me by going outside!� Quasimodo remembered how Charlotte had persuaded him to leave the tower and said that he shouldn�t believe everything his guardian said. He loved Charlotte, and his experiences of the Gypsies were positive. So, he dared say to his master: �Gypsies are not evil. Most of them were very kind to me.� �Kind!� repeated Frollo scornfully. �They have only pretended kindness.� �No!� exclaimed the boy. �They loved me - even the children called me �our little Quasimodo�.� He shouldn�t have said that. �Little QUASIMODO?� Frollo was amazed. �So, they didn�t change your name? There you see they didn�t love you!� �Yes, they did!� assured the child. �They called me that just because it IS my name!� �And why is that your name, dear boy?� asked his guardian, approaching him. Quasimodo lowered his head; that was the tone his master had always used when talking about his appearance. But suddenly, he remembered Alain. �Master�, he asked in turn, �why did you want to keep me here? I met a man who was also hump-backed, and he wasn�t kept hidden anywhere.� Frollo was speechless. How was it possible that his ward had become so rebellious? He slapped the boy. �How dare you defy me? As long as I�m taking care of you, you will obey me and stay in here!� �Please, Master, tell me why.� Quasimodo didn�t sound rebellious at all. �No one said I was a monster when I was out there.� Frollo didn�t know what to think. Of course, he couldn�t tell the child the truth - that he had been ashamed of having been told to take care of him - because he had made him believe his mother had abandoned him. Instead, he talked about the Gypsies again: �Didn�t they say anything about your ugliness or deformity?� �Yes, some of them called me hunchback,� admitted Quasimodo. �There you see!� Frollo smiled wickedly. �You are deformed, and it�s best for you to stay in here.� Then he hastened out of the tower before Quasimodo had time to say anything. The Gypsies knew they usually couldn�t trust Frollo. Despite of that, they hoped that Alida would soon be released. Clopin and Charlotte were restless about Quasi, and Ad�le was quite sure the cruel guardian would hurt him. Several days passed, but Alida did not return. Finally, Charlotte asked for some elder Gypsies� advice, and they gave her permission to try to get Quasimodo out of the bell tower. Clopin, Rosita and a few other Gypsies left the Court with her. First of all, Charlotte went to the Archdeacon. �Your Eminence, could you please appeal to Minister Frollo for the arrested Gypsy girl?� she asked, amazed at her own courage. �She hasn�t committed any crime - it was I who took the boy from the tower, as you know.� �My friend, unfortunately it�s very difficult to appeal to Frollo for any Gypsy,� answered the priest, �I have done my best for them, but the Minister is absolutely conviced that they are evil, and nothing can change his opinion.� �That�s very sad indeed, for I know they are mostly far from evil,� Charlotte sighed. �Naturally, I could voluntarily go to him and confess what I have done - but the problem is that I don�t think that was wrong, since the little boy does have the right to happiness.� At the very moment, the Gypsies rushed to the Cathedral. �The guards!� exclaimed Rosita, �and HE is also out there!� Fortunately, Clopin hadn�t fled this time. Now, the Archdeacon calmed the Gypsies: �You are safe here.� Charlotte had an idea. �What if we climbed to the belltower to Quasi?� The priest warned her: �It would be better if you didn�t bring him down here, however.� After deliberating for a moment, they decided that Clopin would climb to the tower. It was a clever solution, for a while after he had gone the door was opened, and the vagabonds saw their enemy in front of them. When recognizing Charlotte, Frollo smiled wickedly. �You! I should have guessed that you have something to do with the Gypsies! You will be arrested - � �Stop, Frollo! The Cathedral is a sanctuary!� said the Archdeacon. �You will not touch her nor the Gypsies as long as they are in here.� Charlotte encouraged herself. �Minister Frollo, I admit that it was I who took the boy from the belltower. The Gypsy girl whom you arrested is completely innocent. The little girl whom you captured is my daughter, and she told me you whipped her. You may arrest me, but you will NEVER more touch my child! My intention is to continue taking care of your�adoptive child, whatever you do or say!� Usually, Charlotte was very brave, but she knew she would never have dared talk like this to Frollo in any other place. The Minister was stupefied of her insolence. �Madame,� he finally said chillingly, �if you ever go to the belltower again, I will take care that the little monstrosity is no longer there.� Charlotte began to shudder, and Sarita burst into tears. �Oh, please, Minister Frollo, do not harm my beloved little nephew,� she prayed. Rosita, in turn, asked the Archdeacon: �Can�t you protect little Quasimodo?� �Yes, of course, my friend, this is a sanctuary for him as well,� comforted the priest. Then he addressed Frollo: �You must leave the Cathedral at once.� �Very well,� agreed the Minister reluctantly, �but if these people step outside the church they will be immediately arrested - unless they agree to show me the way to their hideout!� At once when Frollo had left Notre Dame Charlotte climbed to the northern tower. Clopin was sitting at the table with Quasimodo on his lap. �Clopin, this is horrible,� his wife told, �Frollo came to harass us. Of course, he couldn�t have us arrested since we are in a sanctuary, but�oh, my poor little darling Quasi�He said that if we ever come here again he will do something dreadful to you!� Her eyes were full of tears. �He said also that we all will be arrested if we don�t agree to show him the way to the Court of Miracles!� Clopin was horrified. �We can never do that! It would mean the destruction of our whole community! There is only one solution: we must stay here for today, and in the darkness of the night, we flee and return to the Court. If possible, we�d best leave the whole city!� �Will you take me with you?� asked Quasi. �If we don�t, Ad�le will be heartbroken,� Charlotte whispered. �But if the guards saw us leave with Quasi they would surely attack us,� noted Clopin. At midnight, Charlotte and the Gypsies slinked away from the church. They were sad, and the women cried, for they had been bound to leave little Quasimodo alone in the dark belltower. When they arrived at the hideout Clopin went immediately to the leader and told him everything that had happened. The next morning, a small group of vagabonds, among them Clopin, Charlotte, Ad�le, Sarita�s family, Rosita, Melina, her husband , and baby Esmeralda, were preparing to leave Paris for some time. Ad�le cried bitterly. �Will I never see my Quasi again?� She begged her mother to let her go to Notre Dame to say goodbye to the boy, but Charlotte couldn�t agree, hard as it was. When Frollo discovered that the Gypsies had left the church he went out of his mind in rage. He whipped poor Quasimodo and would have realized his cruel threat if the Archdeacon hadn�t prevented him. But the next day, Alida was executed. Quasimodo missed the Gypsies for long. Time after time, he asked his guardian if Charlotte, Ad�le and Clopin were coming back, but Frollo always got so angry that he finally dared not talk about them anymore. However, he had lovely memories in his heart, and in the years to come, they helped him to bear his loneliness and the cruelty of his guardian. The End Back to Fanfic Back to Index |