After a few days, despite the sadness that weighed heavily on his heart owing to the tragic death of the armless campanologist, the bishop resumed his interviews for the post of bell ringer of Notre Dame.
The first applicant to approach him said, “Your Excellency, I am the twin brother of the poor armless wretch that fell to his death from this belfry the other day. I beseech you to honour his life by allowing me to audition in his place.”
The bishop agreed to give the man the opportunity. The twin then began to ring the bells as beautifully as his brother. But, as he finished, he groaned, clutched his chest, collapsed and died on the spot.
Two priests, hearing the bishop’s cries of grief, rushed up to the belfry.
“What has happened? Who is this man?” the first priest 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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