Chapter V: End of the Story of the Cake

La Esmeralda turned pale and descended from the pillory,
staggering as she went. The voice of the recluse still pursued
her,—

“Descend! descend! Thief of Egypt! thou shalt ascend it once
more!”

“The sacked nun is in one of her tantrums,” muttered the
populace; and that was the end of it. For that sort of woman was
feared; which rendered them sacred. People did not then willingly
attack one who prayed day and night.

The hour had arrived for removing Quasimodo. He was unbound, the
crowd dispersed.

Near the Grand Pont, Mahiette, who was returning with her two
companions, suddenly halted,—

“By the way, Eustache! what did you do with that cake?”

“Mother,” said the child, “while you were talking with that lady
in the bole, a big dog took a bite of my cake, and then I bit it
also.”

“What, sir, did you eat the whole of it?” she went on.

“Mother, it was the dog. I told him, but he would not listen to
me. Then I bit into it, also.”

“’Tis a terrible child!” said the mother, smiling and scolding at
one and the same time. “Do you see, Oudarde? He already eats all
the fruit from the cherry-tree in our orchard of Charlerange. So
his grandfather says that he will be a captain. Just let me catch
you at it again, Master Eustache. Come along, you greedy fellow!”

VOLUME II.

BOOK SEVENTH.