6. Den of Gypsies

DEN OF GYPSIES
TRIAL 1 - COURT OF MIRACLES (DANCE OF MIRACLES)
Gr. is a prisoner. The Gypsies decide to kill G., as he has discovered their hidden fortress. A chase begins and just as they catch him, Es. (who lives in the compound) comes in and stops the killing. Gr. has tried to save her life, and she returns the favor. She reminds the thieves that there must be a trial (the first of three in the ballet).
For the trial, Gringoire is required to pick the pocket of a dummy covered in bells; and if a bell rings during the process, he must die. The King of the Thieves considers this during a pizz/bass clarinet section. He then orders the others to hoist the bell-covered dummy and make Gr. stand on a stool on one foot to pick the dummy's pocket. (This is a reaching similar to Q. reaching for Esmeralda earlier. )
The bells ring, Gringoire falls, and the thieves chase him again. Just as they catch him for the second time, Es. stops the killing by saying she will marry Gr. in order to save him (a thieves' custom).
Es. and Gringoire join hands and . . .
ES. AND GRING. / WEDDING AND NON-CONSUMATION
. . . the marriage is performed.
The couple goes into Es.'s tiny room. Gr. thinks he is in heaven. Esmeralda is preparing for bed, but as Gringoire reaches for her she refuses (again, a reaching and a failure). After several tries, he gives up. She will remain a virgin. (She is saving herself for Phoebus now, hoping she will marry him.)
Gr. turns sadly to pet Esmeralda's goat. The act ends with Es. asleep alone and Gr. sleeping with the goat.