this world," remarked the archdeacon.

"'Tis devilish badly done," observed Gringoire.

The archdeacon resumed after a silence,--

"So, she saved your life?"

"Among my good friends the outcasts. A little more or a little less and
I should have been hanged. They would have been sorry for it to-day."

"Would not you like to do something for her?"

"I ask nothing better, Dom Claude; but what if I entangle myself in some
villanous affair?"

"What matters it?"

"Bah! what matters it? You are good, master, that you are! I have two
great works already begun."

The priest smote his brow. In spite of the calm which he affected, a
violent gesture betrayed his internal convulsions from time to time.

"How is she to be saved?"

Gringoire said to him; "Master, I will reply to you; _Il padelt_, which
means in Turkish, 'God is our hope.'"

"How is she to be saved?" repeated Claude dreamily.

Gringoire smote his brow in his turn.

"Listen, master. I have imagination; I will devise expedients for you.
What if one were to ask her pardon from the king?"

"Of Louis XI.! A pardon!"

"Why not?"

"To take the tiger's bone from him!"

Gringoire began to seek fresh expedients.

"Well, stay! Shall I address to the midwives a request accompanied by
the declaration that the girl is with child!"

This made the priest's hollow eye flash.

"With child! knave! do you know anything of this?"

Gringoire was alarmed by his air. He hastened to say, "Oh, no, not I!
Our marriage was a real _forismaritagium_. I stayed outside. But one
might obtain a respite, all the same."

"Madness! Infamy! Hold your tongue!"

"You do wrong to get angry," muttered Gringoire. "One obtains a respite;
that does no harm to any one, and allows the midwives, who are poor
women, to earn forty deniers parisis."

The priest was not listening to him!

"But she must leave that place, nevertheless!" he murmured, "the decree
is to be executed within three days. Moreover, there will be no decree;
that Quasimodo! Women have very depraved tastes!" He raised his voice:
"Master Pierre, I have reflected well; there is but one means of safety
for her."

"What? I see none myself."

"Listen, Master Pierre, remember that you owe your life to her. I will
tell you my idea frankly. The church is watched night and day; only
those are allowed to come out, who have been seen to enter. Hence
you can enter. You will come. I will lead you to her. You will change
clot