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 lordship 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!