After Quasimodo's death, the bishop of the Cathedral of Notre Dame sent word
through the streets of Paris that a new bell ringer was needed. The bishop
decided that he would conduct the interviews personally and went up into the
belfry to begin the screening process. After observing several applicants
demonstrate their skills, he had decided to call it a day. Just then, an
armless man approached him and announced that he was there to apply for the
bell ringer's job.
The bishop was incredulous. "You have no arms!"
No matter," said the man. "Observe!" And he began striking the bells with
his face, producing a beautiful melody on the carillon. The bishop listened
in astonishment, convinced he had finally found a replacement for Quasimodo.
But suddenly, rushing forward to strike the bell, the Armless man tripped
and plunged headlong out of the belfry window to his death in the street
below. The stunned bishop rushed down two hundred and ninety five church
steps. When he reached the street, a crowd had gathered around the fallen
figure, drawn by the beautiful music they had heard only moments before. As
they silently parted to let the bishop through, one of them asked, "Bishop,
who was this man?". I don't know his name," the bishop sadly replied, "but .......
..... his face rings a bell ...... "
WAIT! WAIT!
There's more .......
The following day, despite the sadness that weighed heavily on his heart due
to the unfortunate death of the armless campanologist, the bishop continued
his interviews for the bell ringer of Notre Dame. The first man to approach
him said, "Your Excellency, I am the brother of the poor armless wretch that
fell to his death from this very belfry yesterday. I pray that you honour
his life by allowing me to replace him in this duty."
The bishop agreed to
give the man an audition, and, as the armless man's brother stooped to pick
up a mallet to strike the first bell, he groaned, clutched at his chest,
twirled around, and died on the spot. Two monks, hearing the bishop's cries
of grief at this second tragedy, rushed up the stairs to his side "What has
happened? Who is this man?" the first monk asked breathlessly. "I don't know
his name,"sighed the distraught bishop, but...
... he's a dead ringer for his brother."
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