Three Human Hearts Differently Constructed — The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

Phœbus is not dead. The wound was grave, yet he recovers, pays the physician with his spurs, and rejoins his company at Queue-en-Brie. Two months later he rides to the Gondelaurier house, sure the affair is forgotten. Fleur-de-Lys forgives his absence. He blames the wound on a quarrel with Mahé Fédy and swears he has loved no one but her. A crowd fills the Parvis. She says a witch is to do penance that morning, and then be hanged.

At midday a cart brings la Esmeralda in her shift, a rope at her neck, her goat at her feet. Notre-Dame is draped in black, and the priests sing a mass for the dead. The archdeacon whispers that he can still save her if she will have him. She tells him to begone or she will denounce him. He sees Phœbus with Fleur-de-Lys and hisses that no one shall have her. She cries the captain’s name. Phœbus goes inside. She falls. Quasimodo slides down a rope, knocks the executioners aside, and carries her into the church, crying sanctuary. The crowd shouts Noël. The recluse still watches the gibbet.