No one in Avignon had the skills to play the 15 note bell scale, and without the draw of the bells attendance had decreased.
The Cardinal had no choice but to advertise the vacancy throughout the land. He dispatched many acolytes to the surrounding town to Cry the churches need.
Early one morning several weeks later a young strange man arrived. He requested an audience with the Cardinal. Taken before the Cardinal the man announced " Your Eminence I understand that you have a vacancy for a bell ringer. I have been a bell ringer for all of my life. I am here to offer my services to you in your time of need."
The Cardinal was slightly taken aback, and replied, " Young man how can you possibly be a bell ringer? Why, you have no arms!"
Instead of replying the young man walked out of the room and headed for the bell tower. Bemused the Cardinal followed him up the stairs to see what the man was up to. Entering the bell tower the young man looked around for a moment, and suddenly jumped upwards. Grabbing the rope with just his legs and teeth the man climbed into the tower, and then the Cardinal was amazed as the man began jumping among the various ropes in a feat of athletic legerdemain, slamming the front of his head into the bells, and producing the most beautiful song the Cardinal had ever heard.
Suddenly, at the climax of the song, the young man slipped, and before the Cardinal's eyes fell and was killed instantly upon hitting the flagstones.
Horrified the Cardinal summoned the local gendarme to report the death. After hearing the story the gendarme asked " What was the young man's name?"
The Cardinal said " I don't know, but his face rings a bell."
Now, about two weeks later, another young man arrived and requested an audience with the Cardinal. Taken to the Cardinal the young man said " Your Eminence a short time ago my brother came to offer you his services as a bell ringer. My family have been bell ringers for many generations and I would be pleased to offer you my service in replacement of my younger sibling."
Smiling the Cardinal asked the young man to demonstrate his skills, and the young man lead him to the bell tower. For the second time in as many weeks the Cardinal was amazed as this second armless young man jumped around the tower, playing a fantastic medley. And for the second time he was devastated as he watched another soul fall to his death during a performance.
Once again the local gendarme was summoned, and again he was told a tale of misadventure. A little suspicious by this point the gendarme asked "At what was this one's name this time?"
The Cardinal said " I don't know, but he's a dead ringer for his brother."