Calico Illustrated Classics: Hunchback of Notre Dame
window above the door The competitors were instructed to stand on a barrel and put their heads through the empty circle The chapel fi lled up with eager competitors all anxious for the title of Pope of Fools The doors were closed and the contest began The fi rst face to emerge had reddish eyes a wide gaping mouth and a broad forehead puckered with wrinkles A roar of laughter rose up from the spectators More faces popped up one after the other And more howls resounded from the crowd But then the most hideous of all faces peeked through The man had a mouth shaped like a horseshoe a huge triangular nose and jagged teeth that stuck out in every direction A large stubbly eyebrow sheltered his left eye and his right eye was covered in a knotty wart People cheered in triumph Our winner Our new Pope It was time to celebrate They stormed into the chapel to carry him but they gasped when they saw all of him This 8
man had not been making a face This was how he always looked His gigantic head was covered with red bristles and between his shoulders was an enormous hump His feet were massive and his hands monstrous He looked like a giant who had been shattered then put back together piece by piece The townspeople recognized him instantly One cried out It is Quasimodo the Cyclops The bell ringer The hunchback of Notre Dame The students teased and taunted him The women covered their faces Others yelled insults Look at the huge ape Oh the ugly hunchback It’s the devil himself Quasimodo just stood there at the chapel door looking gloomy and grave One man came up and laughed in his face Quasimodo didn’t understand that it was the 9
Festival of Fools He lifted the man up and hurled him into the crowd The offi cial from Belgium approached him You are the ugliest creature ever He clapped his hand to the hunchback’s shoulder You are a big fellow I’d like to challenge you to a wrestling match But Quasimodo didn’t stir Ah the offi cial cried The church bells have made him deaf But this didn’t matter to the festivalgoers They had their Pope of Fools They placed a robe over his back and a paper crown on his head They hoisted him up on a litter and carried him about Quasimodo smiled down at all the well shaped men and women as they left the church and paraded him down the street 10
2 Esmeralda Pierre Gringoire was still at the theater He’d insisted that the play go on even though there were so few in attendance One by one they left too Only a few students remained One pointed out the window shouting It’s Esmeralda She is dancing in the square The others raced to the window They shouted Esmeralda Pierre gave up It’s useless Since night comes early in January it was already dusk when Pierre left the hall He was happy the day was over yet sad that his play had failed He desperately needed the money to pay his rent He was already six months behind 11
