The Dramas of Victor Hugo: Mary Tudor, Marion de Lorme, Esmeralda - LightNovelsOnl.com
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CLAUDE FROLLO.
Outrageous audacity!
QUASIMODO.
Moment of terror.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
To your knees, traitor!
QUASIMODO.
Pardon me, Master!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
No! I am a priest.
[_Claude Frollo tears off Quasimodo's pontifical ornaments, and crushes them underfoot. The Vagrants begin to murmur; they form menacing groups around him; he looks at them angrily._
THE VAGRANTS.
He threatens us, O comrades!
Here in this place, Where we reign.
QUASIMODO.
What means the audacity Of these robbers?
They menace him, But we shall see!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Race unclean, You menace me.
Robbers--Jews-- But we shall see!
[_The anger of The Vagrants bursts forth._
THE VAGRANTS.
Stop! stop! stop!
Down with the mar-joy!
He shall pay for it with his head; In vain he defends himself.
QUASIMODO.
Have respect for his head.
Let every one cease, Or I change this festival To a b.l.o.o.d.y battle.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
It is not about his head That Frollo is troubled.
[_Puts his hand on his heart._ There is the tempest, There is the battle!
[_At the moment when The Vagrants' fury has reached its highest pitch, Clopin Frouillefou appears at the back of the stage_
CLOPIN.
Who in this infamous den Dares to attack my lord the Archdeacon, And Quasimodo, bell-ringer Of Notre Dame?
THE VAGRANTS (_subsiding_).
It is Clopin, our King!
CLOPIN.
Clowns! Be off!
THE VAGRANTS.
We must obey!
CLOPIN.
Leave us!
[_The Vagrants retire to their hovels. The Court of Miracles appears deserted. Clopin approaches Claude cautiously._
SCENE II
Claude Frollo, Quasimodo, Clopin Frouillefou
CLOPIN.
What purpose brings you to this orgy?
Has your lords.h.i.+p any orders to give me?
You are my master in sorcery; Speak--I will do all.
CLAUDE FROLLO (_grasping Clopin's arm excitedly, and dragging him to the front of the stage_).
I have come to end all.
Listen!
CLOPIN.
My lord!
