nst these four walls--I
tell you that 'twas the gypsies who stole her from me, do you hear that?
and who ate her with their teeth.--Have you a heart? imagine a child
playing, a child sucking; a child sleeping. It is so innocent a
thing!--Well! that, that is what they took from me, what they killed.
The good God knows it well! To-day, it is my turn; I am going to eat the
gypsy.--Oh! I would bite you well, if the bars did not prevent me! My
head is too large!--Poor little one! while she was asleep! And if
they woke her up when they took her, in vain she might cry; I was not
there!--Ah! gypsy mothers, you devoured my child! come see your own."

Then she began to laugh or to gnash her teeth, for the two things
resembled each other in that furious face. The day was beginning to
dawn. An ashy gleam dimly lighted this scene, and the gallows grew more
and more distinct in the square. On the other side, in the direction of
the bridge of Notre-Dame, the poor condemned girl fancied that she heard
the sound of cavalry approaching.

"Madam," she cried, clasping her hands and falling on her knees,
dishevelled, distracted, mad with fright; "madam! have pity! They are
coming. I have done nothing to you. Would you wish to see me die in this
horrible fashion before your very eyes? You are pitiful, I am sure. It
is too frightful. Let me make my escape. Release me! Mercy. I do not
wish to die like that!"

"Give me back my child!" said the recluse.

"Mercy! Mercy!"

"Give me back my child!"

"Release me, in the name of heaven!"

"Give me back my child!"

Again the young girl fell; exhausted, broken, and having already the
glassy eye of a person in the grave.

"Alas!" she faltered, "you seek your child, I seek my parents."

"Give me back my little Agnes!" pursued Gudule. "You do not know where
she is? Then die!--I will tell you. I was a woman of the town, I had a
child, they took my child. It was the gypsies. You see plainly that you
must die. When your mother, the gypsy, comes to reclaim you, I shall say
to her: 'Mother, look at that gibbet!--Or, give me back my child. Do you
know where she is, my little daughter? Stay! I will show you. Here is
her shoe, all that is left me of her. Do you know where its mate is? If
you know, tell me, and if it is only at the other end of the world, I
will crawl to it on my knees."

As she spoke thus, with her other arm extended through the window,
she showed the gypsy the little embroidered sh