Chapter 58: The Grave

"Thank you so much!" Elaine said with relief. "You've saved me from SUCH an embarrassing moment!"

"It is nothing." Claude assured. "Give my regards to your uncle."

"I will!" Elaine promised.

She started turning to leave, but stopped herself.

"Oh!" She exclaimed in sudden memory. "I wanted to say... I'm sorry that it didn't work out with you and Esmeralda..."

That was the last thing Claude had expected to hear from any friend of Quasimodo's. His mouth dropped open slightly.

"I thought you would be offended." He said in disbelief.

"I feel for Quasimodo." Elaine shared. "But I feel for you too."

Claude realized he wasn't as alone as he'd thought.

"Not many people do," He informed. "So I appreciate that."

He managed a smile, and Elaine returned the look before making her way to the door.

Claude still didn't know what had compelled him to rush to that young woman's aid on that painful night, but he was glad that he'd done it. It had seemed like such a stupid decision at the time, risking his life for some girl he didn't know and getting hurt in the process, exposing his scar to all those people. But the pain of that night no longer mattered. The world was better with Elaine in it.


Jean was uneasy as he journeyed up the belltower stairs. He'd only just realized that this conversation would be more complicated than telling Quasimodo where his parents were buried. He'd naturally have to explain how he came to acquire the bodies, which would surely open the door to even more questions. Jean felt foolish for not sooner realizing what he was getting into, and for making the decisions that had led to these complications. But he would have to manage this as well as he could. Quasimodo deserved to have his questions answered.

The bell ringer first thought Elaine was back when he heard someone coming up the stairs. He was surprised when he went to check and instead found the archdeacon.

"Good morning." The holy man greeted.

"Uh... Good morning, sir." Quasimodo returned confusedly. "What's going on? You're not normally up here..."

Jean frowned.

"I've come to tell you something important." He explained. "I understand Frollo has told you about your parents..."

Quasimodo looked down sorrowfully.

"What about it?" He asked.

"You should know... Their grave is by the river, just below the bridge."

Quasimodo looked up in surprise.

A grave... His parents had a grave!

"They were buried?" The bell ringer questioned.

Jean hesitated.

"I buried them myself." He finally explained.

Quasimodo was silenced. Questions filled his head. He wanted to know how this had happened, but he decided that could wait. He now knew that the bodies of his parents hadn't simply gone unaccounted for, as would often happen to "criminals" who died. They'd been given a proper burial. There was a grave that he could go to...

"By the river..." Quasimodo repeated.

He tried to think of a way to get to the river, but his limited knowledge of the layout of Paris didn't include directions to it.

"How do I get there?" He inquired.

"I could show you the way, if you like." The archdeacon offered.

"Yes, please!" Quasimodo accepted.

He thought of Elaine. Quasimodo realized he would want her support during this. Visiting the grave of his parents would be an emotionally challenging task.

"Where's Elaine?" He asked. "I'll... Manage best if she comes."

"I sent her to buy bread." Jean explained. "She'll be back shortly, and then I'll escort you both to the river."

The holy man started to mentally prepare himself. The child he'd stopped an insane Frollo from killing had now grown up, and was now going to face the grave of his parents for the first time. This would not be easy to watch.


Elaine was surprised when she returned to find her uncle and Quasimodo waiting for her together. Jean briefly explained the plan to Elaine in a tone that said her questions would be answered later. Elaine understood. Her job right now was to provide moral support, so she would do her best.

None of them spoke on the way to the river. When they arrived, the site of the grave was evident. It was marked with a simple stone, engraved with five words.

"A loving mother and father"

Quasimodo froze when he saw the stone. He struggled to read the words on it, but it was easy to figure out what they were in this context.

His period of being unable to cry ended. Tears rushed to his eyes and he collapsed to his knees in front of the grave.

Elaine wanted to go to his side, but Jean stopped her, whispering that she should give the grieving bell ringer a moment. She waited, watching sadly as Quasimodo cried in front of the stone.

"I'm sorry I thought you left me..." Quasimodo sobbed. "I know the truth now. I know you loved me. And... And I hope you know I love you too..."

He touched the stone while his eyes slowly dried. Eventually, he stood and turned around. Elaine looked at her friend with great sympathy and took him in a hug. For a full minute, Quasimodo held onto her, taking deep breaths to calm himself.

Finally, after letting go of Elaine, he faced the archdeacon.

"How did you get their bodies?" He questioned.

Jean hesitated to reply because Elaine was there, but Quasimodo picked up on his thoughts.

"Elaine can hear it all." He assured. "I would tell her anyway."

With that assurance, Jean relayed the events of the night when Quasimodo had been orphaned, including every detail.

Quasimodo became more shocked with every word. He soon had new questions to ask.

"You told Frollo to keep me..." He said in disbelief. "Why would you let him do that? You knew what he was like..."

"I was furious when he killed your mother." Jean explained. "I wanted him to pay for what he'd done, and I could see no other possibility for justice."

"But he was terrible." Quasimodo reminded. "Did you really think I'd be alright with him?"

Jean looked down regretfully.

"Being a priest is difficult." He shared. "It is my job to help people atone for their sins. I always want to see people do the right thing. I wanted that for Claude. I wanted to believe that he could do right by you, if he were given the chance..."

"But he didn't!" Quasimodo snapped. "And all those years, you let him hide me in the belltower..."

Jean closed his eyes in shame.

"I was blinded by hope." He explained. "I knew him long ago. Long before you came along. He wasn't always like this... Claude was once a troubled young man whom I felt sorry for. I wanted him to find his way. It was a thought I couldn't give up on..."

He looked at Quasimodo apologetically.

"There were times I talked to him. I used to ask when he would bring you out of there, and he said he would when you were old enough. I should have known he wouldn't, but my hope for him to find his way kept me from seeing reality. I should have realized that his chance was at your expense. I'm sorry for allowing that... I hope you can forgive me..."

Quasimodo couldn't speak. He was too busy thinking about everything the archdeacon said.

According to Jean, there had been a time in Frollo's past when he had not been the evil judge. And for decades, Jean had continued to hope that the man would find his way back to sanity.

That had finally happened...

Quasimodo wasn't sure what to do with this information, but he was sure of one thing: There was a story for him to learn.

Elaine was thinking the same thing.