It took Briggina a week to recover from her ordeal. Her bruises healed quickly, but her spirit was broken. When Kathryn finally persuaded the princess to venture outside the palace walls again in hopes of rekindling her love for the people, both were shocked by what they saw. It was market day, yet there was no market. Shops were closed, doors locked, and those who were outside hurried to finish their business as quickly as possible. The baker's wife, one of Briggina's friends, came out of her house to talk with the two.
"What are you two doing out here? Frollo has ordered the streets cleared! Go home, before one of the soldiers sees you." Briggina began to stir from her melancholy. "What? Why?"
The woman whispered, "That gypsy, Esmeralda, escaped from the cathedral, and Frollo's looking for her. Gypsies are arrested and interrogated, and anyone who is friendly with such people are treated the same. The jails and prisons are busting at the seams with innocent people. Hurry home, before Frollo decides to throw you in there as well." Indeed, the two girls did hurry home, so they could prepare a counterattack.
As they raced back to the palace, Kathryn began to feel a little guilty. She should feel horrible about what was happening, but she couldn't help feeling a little happy. The fire was back in Her Ladyship's eyes.
First, Briggina had Kathryn write to her father. The King had taught the servant girl how many years earlier, so she could be his daughter's pen as well as her eyes. Briggina was confident this letter would receive an answer. He may be on a campaign, but he can't ignore what's going on here if he is alerted to it. He'll have to come home.
Dear Father,
I hope the campaign is going well, and that both you and my brother are in good health. Here in Paris, things are in a state of disaster. The dishonorable judge Claude Frollo was the subject of an innocent prank at a peasant festival, a humiliation caused by someone of low birth. Now he searches for her to exact revenge, even though the girl is of far lesser rank than his and shouldn't even merit his attention. This was not a crime worth investigating. In his frenzy to find her to exact his revenge, he locks innocents away for offering Christian hospitality to those who ask for it, if that person if of the same station as the girl he is going insane trying to find. He has set fire to our beautiful Paris, in an effort to force the girl out of her hiding place. Frollo has given no reasons for his actions. Please return home and put a stop to this madness, before he resorts to more drastic measures. I fear executions will be next.
Godspeed your return,
Briggina
The letter was the part of her plan most likely to work, but also the slowest. Briggina knew that even if she sent the fastest messenger, it would take at least four days for the letter to reach her father, and even longer for him to return, with all his knights and retinue in tow. And Frollo would be much faster. He might have already made the connection between Esmeralda's escape and Quasimodo. She waited in nervous anxiety for Frollo to make his move.
But she did not wait idly. After having the girl write a few more letters, she assigned Kathryn to tail Quasimodo. When she reported that he had captured in the gypsy hideout, along with Esmeralda and most of the gypsy population, they both knew it was time to set their plan in motion.
"You saw where they were keeping her, right?" Briggina asked her companion. Kathryn nodded. "A cart with bars, but the guard is a young man. Just wear your crown and getting in won't be a problem." They walked in silence to the prison lot where Frollo was keeping his special prisoner. Briggina walked determinedly, busily composing the excuse she would give the guard in order to gain access to the key to Esmeralda's cell, in case showing off her blue blood wasn't enough. Kathryn was crying.
"Halt" Commanded the guard. Briggina knew this man. She had heard him in the square many times, and had stopped to chat with him. But today, she wouldn't be the friendly peasant woman. Today she was a princess. She lowered her hood that the guard might see her crown, and spoke with a regal tone. "I wish to see the prisoner Esmeralda and hear her final confession. Perhaps I can turn her from her evil ways. I wish for the key to her cell." Of course, the man couldn't possibly disobey royalty, so he handed the key over and ushered the princess into the cell.
Briggina could feel the heat of the dancer's rage from the moment she entered the cart. She snarled "Here to poke fun at me again? Haven't you had your fill for one day?"
Briggina chuckled. Esmeralda must have her back to her. "I'm only here to help, if you'll let me."
She heard Esmeralda turn around, and say, in a tone of astonishment "You were in the cathedral. You sang with me, but how could you be her, you're no peasant."
Briggina prepared to reveal herself. "I am Briggina, blind princess of France, and I want to help. Here." She thrust two jars, labeled "skin" and "hair", and three letters toward the dancer. "Can you read?"
She nodded, then, realizing Briggina wouldn't have seen, said, "I'm one of the few gypsies who can. Why?"
"One of the letters is for you, explaining, but read it later. We don't have much time. You and I are going to switch places. I'm told we look pretty similar in all other respects, so we only need to dye our hair and skin. The rest should be easy. When you're done, take off your dress and hand it to me. I'll do the same, but I might need a little help getting yours on, since I can't see what I'm doing."
The transformation was swift. Soon, Esmeralda was standing in silk and jewels with flaxen hair and a rosy face, while a dark haired, dark skinned Briggina was sitting in a white prison dress.
Esmeralda was more confused than she'd ever been in her life. "Why are you doing this?"
"Go. Now, before the guard catches on." Then Kathryn pulled Esmeralda out of the cart, locked the door behind her, and ran off with Esmeralda into the night.
