NovelGuide: The Hunchback of Notre-Dame: Novel Summary: Book I Chapter 5

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Book I Chapter 5

Summary
The chapel at the far end of the hall is quickly converted so that each contestant can express his or his visage to the crowd. Coppenole directs everything and the Cardinal, under pretext of business, excuses himself. The hall belongs to the mob and the Flemings and an air of unrivalled ribaldry consumes the occasion. The competitors begin presenting outrageous faces at the hole and the crowd laughs and stamps its approval. At the other end of the hall Gringoire insists that his players continue though only a single man, the same who had told Grigoire to continue, watches. Gringoire congratulates the sleepy man who introduces himself. Before their conversation can continue, however, the roar of the crowd overwhelms them. A Fool's Pope has been elected and it is the singularly ugly and deformed visage of Quasimodo, the deaf, one-eyed, bandy-legged, hunchback bell ringer of Notre Dame. The women of the crowd whisper that Quasimodo is in league with witches and casts spells at night but the men and Coppenole immediately proclaim the hunchback to be the Fool's Pope. The sarcastic scholar Jehan recognizes him as his brother the archdeacon's ringer. Quasimodo allows himself to be clothed in a mock robe and acoutrements and the mob places him upon a chair, hoists it into the air and parades their mock Pope through the streets.