Hevaguelyrecalledthispopulace，andthoughtthatherecognizedalltheheadswhohadsalutedhimasPopeoftheFoolssomemonthspreviously。Onemanwhoheldatorchinonehandandaclubintheother，mountedastonepostandseemedtobeharanguingthem。Atthesametimethestrangearmyexecutedseveralevolutions，asthoughitweretakingupitspostaroundthechurch。Quasimodopickeduphislanternanddescendedtotheplatformbetweenthetowers，inordertogetanearerview，andtospyoutameansofdefence。
ClopinTrouillefou，onarrivinginfrontoftheloftyportalofNotre-Damehad，infact，rangedhistroopsinorderofbattle。Althoughheexpectednoresistance，hewished，likeaprudentgeneral，topreserveanorderwhichwouldpermithimtoface，atneed，asuddenattackofthewatchorthepolice。Hehadaccordinglystationedhisbrigadeinsuchamannerthat，viewedfromaboveandfromadistance，onewouldhavepronouncedittheRomantriangleofthebattleofEcnomus，theboar’sheadofAlexanderorthefamouswedgeofGustavusAdolphus。ThebaseofthistrianglerestedonthebackofthePlaceinsuchamannerastobartheentranceoftheRueduParvis；oneofitssidesfacedH？tel-Dieu，theothertheRueSaint-Pierre-aux-Boeufs。ClopinTrouillefouhadplacedhimselfattheapexwiththeDukeofEgypt，ourfriendJehan，andthemostdaringofthescavengers。
AnenterpriselikethatwhichthevagabondswerenowundertakingagainstNotre-DamewasnotaveryrarethinginthecitiesoftheMiddleAges。Whatwenowcallthe\"police\"didnotexistthen。Inpopulouscities，especiallyincapitals，thereexistednosingle，central，regulatingpower。Feudalismhadconstructedthesegreatcommunitiesinasingularmanner。Acitywasanassemblyofathousandseigneuries，whichdivideditintocompartmentsofallshapesandsizes。Hence，athousandconflictingestablishmentsofpolice；thatistosay，nopoliceatall。InParis，forexample，independentlyofthehundredandforty-onelordswholaidclaimtoamanor，therewerefiveandtwentywholaidclaimtoamanorandtoadministeringjustice，fromtheBishopofParis，whohadfivehundredstreets，tothePriorofNotre-
DamedesChamps，whohadfour。Allthesefeudaljusticesrecognizedthesuzerainauthorityofthekingonlyinname。
Allpossessedtherightofcontrolovertheroads。Allwereathome。LouisXI。，thatindefatigableworker，whosolargelybeganthedemolitionofthefeudaledifice，continuedbyRichelieuandLouisXIV。fortheprofitofroyalty，andfinishedbyMirabeauforthebenefitofthepeople，——LouisXI。hadcertainlymadeanefforttobreakthisnetworkofseignorieswhichcoveredParis，bythrowingviolentlyacrossthemalltwoorthreetroopsofgeneralpolice。Thus，in1465，anordertotheinhabitantstolightcandlesintheirwindowsatnightfall，andtoshutuptheirdogsunderpenaltyofdeath；