After Quasimodo’s death, the bishop of Notre Dame Cathedral sent word through the streets of Paris that a new bell ringer was needed.
The bishop decided to conduct the interviews personally in the belfry. After observing several applicants demonstrate their skills, he had decided to call it a day when an armless man approached him and said that he was applying for the job.
The bishop was incredulous. “But you have no arms!”
“Not a problem,” said the man. “Observe.” And he began striking the bells with his face, producing a beautiful melody.
The bishop listened in amazement, convinced that he had found a replacement for Quasimodo. Suddenly, however, rushing forward to strike a bell, the armless man tripped and plunged out of the belfry window to his death in the street below. The stunned bishop rushed down the stairs. When he reached the street, a crowd had gathered around the dead man, drawn by the beautiful music they had heard only moments before. As they silently parted to let the bishop through, one of them asked him, “Who was that man?”
“I don’t know his name,” the bishop sadly replied, “but his face rings a bell”.
(There is a sequel to this joke and it will appear later this month!)
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