Continuation of the Key to the Red Door — The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

La Esmeralda sleeps, dreaming of Phœbus, until a figure with a lamp looks in. She knows the priest. He puts out the light, slips beside her, and closes his arms about her. She calls him monster and assassin, and swears she will spit in his face. He begs her to love him: his love is fire, melted lead, a thousand daggers. She strikes him, then feels herself overpowered, a wanton hand on her. She screams. Only Djali bleats. Her fingers find Quasimodo’s whistle, and she blows.

An arm lifts the priest. A knife shows in the dark. He cries Quasimodo’s name and is thrown down, a heavy knee on his chest. The blade stops, for there must be no blood on her. Dragged outside, he is seen by moonlight, and the deaf man shrinks back. Quasimodo kneels, offers the knife, and asks to be killed first. She snatches it and says she knows Phœbus is not dead. The priest kicks him aside and flees. Quasimodo returns the whistle and leaves her weeping. Dom Claude is settled. He is jealous of Quasimodo, and no one shall have her.