Quasimodo was returning to the belltower, and Adèle asked to go there with him. However, the young man said:

"I would like to go alone – it’s the first time since my guardian died."

"Oh, please, Quasi, don’t stay there for long", asked Adèle, "I know you would be depressed by memories of him."

"I’m sorry, but now I need to be alone", said Quasi. "We’ll meet some other time."

Then he climbed to the tower and spent the morning remembering the past years and the man who had raised him. Now he knew Frollo hadn’t deserved his affection, but still, he had been the only person to take care of him since he had been separated from the family in the Court of Miracles. Frollo had made him a bellringer, but he felt sad when realizing that was almost the only good thing he had done to him.

True, he had taught him the alphabet, but he hadn’t let him leave the tower in all his life! Not to mention all what he had made him believe about himself and the world! No, he wouldn’t stay in his "sanctuary" any longer. He grasped the rope of Big Marie.

"I’m going to continue ringing", he said to the bell, "but I won’t live here any more."

He turned to the gargoyles. "I’ll return, but only to ring the bells." Laverne smiled at him.

"When you are here we will talk to you, as always."

Next time when Quasimodo visited the Court of Miracles he asked Adèle to come to the belltower with him. Adèle was dazzled, for she wanted to talk to him. Up there, she noticed at once that something was missing from the table.

"Where is your Esmeralda figurine? Did you give it to Phoebus and Esme?"

The young man looked sad. "I don’t have it any longer…Frollo burned it." Adèle’s eyes were filled with tears.

"How COULD he? Tell me everything!"

Quasi told her about his last conversation with his guardian.

"I was horrified when he noticed the Esmeralda doll…He got furious when realizing I had helped Esme escape. I tried to tell him how kind she had been, but then he said…" He hesitated; Adèle loved the Gypsies more than anything. After a while, he repeated the dreadful words. The girl screamed of rage.

"How DARED he say such a thing about my people?" She put her arms round the bellringer. He continued:

"You were right – he DID call me deformed once more…Then he set the figurine on fire and said he knew where Esmeralda was hiding. Both Phoebus and I were so frightened that when Frollo had left we went to search for the Court…When we saw him at the entrance I realized he had tricked me."

"It was horrible!" Adèle exclaimed, "but let’s not talk about him any more. Where are you going to live in the future?"

"Do you think I would be accepted in the Court? Alain asked me to move there, but my guardian was your enemy."

Adèle tried to hide her delight. "I’m sure you would be welcome among us! Don’t forget you have relatives in the Court. But there, you could hardly ever be alone, and you should familiarize with the Gypsy customs."

"I have been alone so much that I would probably like having many people around me", noted Quasimodo, "and I would come here to ring the bells every day."

Adèle was happier than ever. Quasimodo would settle down in the vagabond community, and she could be with him all the time! She could show him her feelings, and he no longer would need to be sad because Esmeralda loved another. Maybe they would have a family of their own someday.

Indeed, most of the vagabonds were very friendly to the bellringer. Those who didn’t accept him were pretenders who lived in the Court only to get money easily. Quasi remembered he had wondered their pretending already as a child. These people tried to behave like the really disabled vagabonds, but they didn’t like Quasimodo who was always honest and sincere. Adèle had always despised them and avoided contacts with them.

Sarita asked Quasimodo to move by her family. The young man agreed, because he had a feeling that Clopin wouldn’t like him living by his family, and besides, he felt himself embarrassed in Adèle’s company. Of course, he sometimes let her follow him to the belltower, but in the Court, she made him think about Esmeralda. He met the dancer every day and did his best to hide his disappointment, but when Phoebus arrived to meet the Gypsy girl Quasimodo always retired.

Adèle saw the bellringer was melancholic, and she tried to show him she cared for him. They talked about their childhood, and Adèle encouraged Quasi to find a way to support for himself. He was always friendly to her, but Adèle longed for something more.

Of course, the whole vagabond community knew Phoebus and Esmeralda were lovers. Melina and her husband tried to prevent the dancer from meeting her beloved, but the youngsters helped her to leave the Court. Naturally, the parents were not very delighted for Esmeralda being in love with a Frenchman, especially since she was still very young. Some young Gypsy men were jealous of Phoebus, but they knew Esmeralda always made her decisions herself.

One day, Adèle went to Notre Dame again. She was restless, and when climbing up the stairs she planned what she would say to Quasimodo.

"Try to forget Esmeralda – she doesn’t care for you." No, Esme was her best friend, how could she talk about her like that? "Can’t you see I love you?" Her eyes were filled with tears. That was the truth, but she couldn’t say that to a young man. "Think about how much we have in common!" That was better. "Even the gargoyles have accepted me!"

She knocked at the door. Quasimodo was just ringing the bells, so it took a while before he heard someone was coming. When seeing Adèle he looked embarrassed, but then he smiled in a friendly way. Adèle put her arms round him and pressed his head to her chest.

"If only I could tell you!" she thought.

"What’s the matter with you?" the bellringer asked when she detached her hold, "I was just going to return to the Court."

"I…wanted to hear you ring the bells again", said Adèle, hesitantly. Quasi was a bit amazed, but he returned to the bells. The girl listened to the ringing and watched the miniature world. She put the figurine looking like herself by the Quasi doll’s side and hid the wooden Frollo behind all of the other figurines. Then she went on the balcony where the bellringer joined her. She would have liked to reveal her feelings, but suddenly, she was too shy. Instead, she started to talk about her stepfather.

"You have surely noticed that Clopin is interested in young women", she said. "He and Charlotte were together for fourteen years, and all that time, Clopin was faithful. They deeply loved each other. But after my mother died Clopin has taken comfort in affairs with women only a few years older than me. Some other Gypsy men have several girlfriends as well, but Mertzi, Mirette and I are rather ashamed, for we know Charlotte wouldn’t have accepted behaviour like that."

"It’s vexatious indeed", noted Quasimodo. "By the way, now I know the truth about my own mother. Just before he fell down Frollo admitted he had killed her." He sighed.

"I know, actually", said Adèle, "Clopin told me the story many times."

"The story about my life? It’s a little odd to tell children such things", Quasimodo remarked.

"The children of the city have always found that a fascinating story", assured Adèle.

"Of course, Clopin doesn’t even know the secret of the gargoyles or how nasty Frollo was to you – he tells how the Gypsies got caught and your mother fled, and the story always ends with HIM bringing you here and giving you your name…" She tenderly patted Quasi’s shoulder.

"Maybe I should say to Clopin he shouldn’t tell the story any longer since I don’t live here any more", Quasi deliberated. "On the other hand, it’s good if children learn to avoid words like ’Gypsy vermin’ and ’misshapen’."

Adèle embraced him. "Little Quasi! Will we leave for the Court now?"

"Okay…Would you like to try the same as I and Esmeralda did? I can carry you down the walls."

"Yes, please!" Adèle thought that was a good portent. The bellringer took her in his arms and began to swing down the exterior of the Cathedral.

"Remember", he whispered, "that you mustn’t hug me or say ’little Quasi’ one single time until we are down there – else we will fall down like blocks of stone!"

Then they started their exciting journey along the walls. When they finally jumped down they were surprised to see Esmeralda, Phoebus and the twins hasten to them.

"Where have you been again, Adèle?" asked Mertzi, but Esmeralda grimaced:

"I notice you did the same as we!"

"Oh, yes, that was marvelous!" Adèle exclaimed, squeezing the bellringer. Then they all returned to the hideout.

The next days, Quasimodo tried to find out what he thought about Esmeralda and Adèle. It was clear that Adèle thought him as something else than a brother, whereas he found her his sister. Of course, Adèle was a very beautiful girl, but still, the young man couldn’t help comparing her with his first love. On the other hand, he knew Esmeralda loved another man, and he couldn’t start intriguing against Phoebus, for that would spoil even his friendship with the dancer. He needed a confidante. Mirette was too young and inexperienced. Finally, he asked for Sarita’s advice.

"I think a certain girl is in love with me", he started, "she is kind and pretty, and I have talked to her about things I couldn’t tell anyone else. But I’m in love with another girl who doesn’t answer my feelings. I’m trying to overcome my hopeless love, but I don’t know if I am ready for a new one yet – and I can’t hurt the feelings of the girl who loves me. What should I do?"

"If your beloved doesn’t feel the same way as you, you’d best get something else to think about", his aunt answered. "It’s useless to waste your energy to a hopeless love. Maybe you should discuss with the girl who is in love with you and tell her you still have a heartache. According to what you said, she seems a warm-hearted and understanding girl, so I’m sure she will agree to help you to overcome your disappointment and to wait till you are ready to love her."

At the same time, Adèle was restless and thought about a way to express her feelings for the bellringer. Her family noticed she was irritable, and the twins guessed what that meant. After a couple of days, Mirette joined her big sister when she was leaving the Court and asked:

"Is everything all right with you, Adèle? You can tell me."

"You’d better not meddle in my business – you would reveal everything to Mertzi and the girls!" Adèle said impatiently.

"I definitely wouldn’t! Is it the bellringer? Does he like you?" Adèle got annoyed.

"I know you have talked about us to the girls…Beware if I find out you have told Esmeralda…!"

"Oh, I see, you are jealous of her! But she has her Phoebus, I’m sure she won’t take your Quasi."

Adèle sighed. "I don’t know if he is mine – I’m afraid he loves another. By the way, what do you think about him?"

"He is very nice", answered Mirette, "but I thought you would take a Gypsy man."

"I’m not a Gypsy by birth", remarked her sister, "and you are half-French yourself – like him!"

"We follow the Gypsy customs", Mirette snapped. "Besides, he was raised by our persecutor, and you know Frollo despised women. What if Quasimodo thinks you are immoral? Clopin would never forgive a man who would seduce you or me!"

Adèle didn’t know if she should laugh or get angry. "No-one who knows Quasi can say such a thing about him! He deeply respects women, and there is NOTHING Frollo-like in his nature! Trust me, I will take care of that I won’t disgrace myself. The woman I mentioned does not love Quasi."

"Then it’s best if you go and tell him how you feel", her sister noted. "I tried when we last met, but it seems to me he can’t see the truth", sighed Adèle.

Suddenly, she happened to think about the gargoyles. They wouldn’t reveal her secret to anyone but Quasi! The next day, when she knew the young man was in the Court she went to Notre Dame and climbed to the tower. Hugo, Victor and Laverne greeted her cheerfully.

"Our bellringer is not here right now", grimaced Hugo.

"I know, I came to see you", said Adèle, trying to keep serious. The gargoyles cheered and made fun, and it took some time before the girl had a chance to tell them what was in question.

"I love Quasimodo – you saw last time how I hugged him. I know we could be happy together, but for some reason, he doesn’t answer my feelings. I don’t have courage to say this to him, for I’m sure his behaviour has something to do with Esmeralda."

"You are an excellent girl. We need to talk to Quasi for you", said Laverne. Right then they heard steps on the stairs. Adèle hid under the table where Phoebus had been. She laughed a little when remembering how little Quasi had fled before Clopin. The bellringer came in. After he had rang for the hour of prayer he asked his stony friends:

"Has Adèle visited here? I would have liked to talk to her, but she was not in the Court."

Adèle’s heart began to beat loudly. What if…? She shuffled forth and glanced at the gargoyles. Laverne nodded at her, and she whispered:

"Quasi!" The young man turned round.

"Adèle! You are incredible!" He laughed and helped the girl to her feet. "I need to talk to you."

They sat at the table, and he continued: "This is a little difficult to explain, but…you know I had met Esmeralda before you returned to me. She was so kind to me that I fell in love, and I still love Esme although I know she is not for me. Please, don’t take offence, I don’t mean I wouldn’t care for you – "

"You don’t see the truth!" Adèle couldn’t control herself.

"I knew I loved you at the very moment when I saw how sad you were about Esmeralda kissing Phoebus!"

"Adèle, little one, I KNOW you love me, that’s why I tell you this", exclaimed Quasimodo. "At first, I thought you were a sister for me – but maybe you will be more someday. Now, however, I’m still disappointed."

"I see, Quasi dear", said Adèle, although she was a bit disappointed as well. "First love is difficult. By the way, have you happened to think of something: Cruel as Frollo was, we couldn’t hope becoming lovers had he not separated us!"

"Indeed!" exclaimed Quasi, "but let’s not talk about him any more. Now I understand why Clopin didn’t want me to live in your caravan – maybe he saw you were attracted to me!"

"Sure! He knows when love is in the air – and you are a young man from another family. He wants to protect his daughters."

From that day on, the vagabond community regarded Quasimodo and Adèle as lovers. The young Gypsy men teased Adèle so much that she was even annoyed.

"When will you two start sleeping together?" they grimaced.

"Stop that! I won’t tell anyone such a thing", Adèle snapped.

The bellringer was also embarrassed when his new friends joked about Adèle. He tried to tell them the girl was not actually his sweetheart, but no-one believed him. Clopin observed his stepdaughter and noticed she wasn’t depressed any more. He guessed she had something to do with Quasimodo, but he behaved like he wouldn’t have noticed anything. In fact, he didn’t know what to think about the choice he supposed Adèle to have made. As a child Quasi had been his adopted son, and an affair between siblings was unnatural. On the other hand, neither he nor Charlotte were Quasimodo’s real parents, and the boy had grown up separated from them.

Clopin was also convinced that his wife would have been really delighted at Adèle and Quasi spending the rest of their lives together. The actual problem was that they most likely were going to have many difficulties in society – a Parisian girl raised among vagabonds and a hump-backed half-Gypsy bellringer. Clopin was worried, but according to the customs of his people he couldn’t talk about the situation to those two. He could only wait and see what was to come.

Esmeralda was happy with Phoebus, although the Parisians had strong prejudices towards them. The lovers agreed that it was best for them to stay in the Court of Miracles for some time. The dancer was also delighted that her best friend was affected with Quasi, but it seemed to her that the bellringer still longed for something. One day, the girls were sitting together in Melina’s tent, and Esmeralda asked:

"Could you please tell me what’s the truth about you and Quasimodo?" Adèle was startled. For a brief moment, she would have liked to snap: "He doesn’t love me, and it’s your fault!" However, that would have been despicable. Esmeralda didn’t even know Quasimodo was in love with her, and besides, she had told Adèle she had met Phoebus first. After considering for a while, Adèle said in turn:

"Maybe you could tell me about your captain." Esmeralda smiled.

"He says he wants to live together with me, and for now, we are planning to stay here in the Court."

"Yes, I’m sure you would have difficulties in the city – I suppose Phoebus can’t remain a soldier."

"Not for now, but we’ll see – after all, Frollo and most of his guards are dead." Esmeralda sounded hopeful. Adèle grimaced mischievously.

"You would like to be an officer’s wife?"

"What on earth is the matter with you?" exclaimed the Gypsy girl, "Phoebus hasn’t done anything wrong to you, and I’m the same I have always been. I PROMISE I won’t leave our community…"

"It’s not our community or even Phoebus that’s in question", Adèle said quickly, "it’s Quasimodo! I was wondering what I’d best tell him!"

"Tell him? I’m sure he will be delighted for us. Did he tell you how he united our hands in Notre Dame? I found it touching."

"Despite of that, he still loves you", Adèle thought, although she was touched as well. Suddenly, she remembered something, and her eyes flashed. She said in an ominous voice: "Should I tell him you were going to say to me that he is ugly and hump-backed?"

Only afterwards did she realize what she was saying. Esmeralda quivered, and her eyes were filled with tears.

"Adèle, my dear friend, I was never going to abuse your beloved!" she sobbed. "I told you I have always liked Quasimodo, and if there is something in his appearance that doesn’t appeal to me it doesn’t mean I would believe someone else couldn’t love him!"

"Forgive me, darling Esmeralda, I don’t understand how I could say something so horrible!" Adèle started to cry, too. She would have liked to admit she was jealous, but she couldn’t deceive Quasi’s confidence. She embraced her friend. "I can’t even tell you how sorry I am", she whispered, left the tent and went to search for the bellringer.

He was talking with some Gypsy boys. Adèle motioned him to come to her.

"I need to tell you that Phoebus is going to stay here with Esmeralda."