He tore the gypsy girl from the arms of the astonished Quasimodo, and placed her across his saddle. Before the hunchback could recover from his surprise, a squadron of royal troops, going on duty as extra watchmen, surrounded him, and he was seized and bound.
The gypsy girl sat gracefully upon the officer's saddle, placing both hands upon the young man's shoulders, and gazing at him fixedly. Then breaking the silence, she said tenderly, "What is your name, M. l'Officier?"
"Captain Phaebus de Châteaupers, at your service, my pretty maid!" said the officer, drawing himself up.
"Thank you."
And while Captain Phaebus twirled his mustache, she slipped from his horse and vanished like a flash of lightning.
"The bird has flown, but the bat remains, captain," said one of the troopers, tightening Quasimodo's bonds.
Quasimodo being deaf, understood nothing of the proceedings in the court next day, when he was charged with creating a disturbance, and of rebellion and disloyalty to the King's Archers.
The chief magistrate, also being deaf and at the same time anxious to conceal his infirmity, understood nothing that Quasimodo said.
The hunchback was sentenced to be taken to the pillory in the Grève, to be beaten, and to be kept there for two hours.
Quasimodo remained utterly impassive, while the crowd which yesterday had hailed him as Lord of Misrule now greeted him with hooting and derision.