marie antoinette and her son-第87章

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Simon；　that　he　may　be　released　from　prison　and　enjoy　his　freedom。
The　little　Capet　will　be　provided　with　playthings；　and；　besides；　you
are　empowered　to　give　him　all　needful　remedies　for　his　relief。　It　is
your　duty　to　care　for　the　sick　child　until　its　death。〃




CHAPTER　XXVII。

THE　HOBBY…HORSE。


In　accordance　with　the　instructions　of　Petion；　playthings　were
procured　and　carried　into　the　gloomy　chamber　of　the　prince　on　the
very　next　day；　and　set　by　the　side　of　the　sick　boy。　But　Mistress
Simon　labored　in　vain　trying　to　amuse　the　little　Louis　with　them。
The　men　danced；　the　wooden　cocks　crowed；　the　dogs　barked；　and　to　all
these　sounds　the　child　paid　no　heed；　it　did　not　once　open　its　eyes；
nor　care　in　the　least　for　the　many…colored　things　which　the
officials　had　brought　him。

〃We　must　try　something　else；〃　said　the　compassionate　officer。　〃Do
you　know　any　plaything　which　would　be　likely　to　please　little　Louis
Capet？〃

〃Give　him　a　riding…horse；〃　cried　Simon；　with　a　coarse　laugh。　〃I　am
convinced　if　the　obstinate　youngster　should　hear　that　there　was　a
riding…horse　outside；　and　that　he　might　ride　through　Paris；　he　would
be　well　on　the　spot　and　get　up。　It　is　pure　deceit；　his　lying　there
so　pale　and　without　interest　in　any　thing　about　him。〃

〃You　are　very　cruel；　citizen；〃　muttered　the　official；　with　a
compassionate　glance　at　the　child。

〃Cruel？　Yes；　I　am　cruel！〃　said　Simon；　grimly。　〃But　it　is　the　cursed
prison　air　that　has　made　me　so。　If　I　stay　here　a　week　longer；　Jeanne
Marie　will　die；　and　I　shall　become　crazy。　The　director　of　the
hospital　told　us　this；　and　you　know；　citizen；　that　he　is　the　most
clever　doctor　in　all　France。　See　if　you　would　not　be　cruel　if　you
had　such　an　idea　as　that　in　your　head！〃

〃Well；　citizen；　you　have　at　least　the　satisfaction　of　knowing　that
it　will　not　last　long；〃　answered　the　officer；　consolingly。　〃The
first　vacancy　is　to　be　given　to　you。〃

〃Well；　I　hope　it　will　come　soon；　then；〃　said　Simon；　with　a　sigh。　〃I
will　take　a　vow　to　you。　If；　in　a　week；　I　shall　be　released　from　this
place；　and　get　a　good　situation；　I　will　give　little　Capet　a　horse　to
remember　me　by。　That　is；　not　a　horse　on　which　he　might　ride　out　of
prison；　but　a　wooden　one；　on　which　he　can　ride　in　prison。　Say；
little　Capet；〃　called　Simon；　stooping　over　the　bed　of　the　child；
〃would　you　not　like　to　have　a　nice　wooden　horse　to　play　with？〃

Over　the　pale　lips　of　the　boy　played　the　faint　tint　of　a　smile；　and
he　opened　his　eyes。　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　softly〃　yes；　I　should　like　to
have　a　wooden　horse；　and　I　should　have　a　good　time　with　it。〃

〃Come；　citizen；〃　said　Simon；　solemnly；　〃I　take　you　to　witness　my
vow。　If　I　receive　another　place；　I　give　a　hobby…horse　to　little
Capet。　You　grant　me　the　privilege；　citizen？〃

〃I　allow　you；　Citizen　Simon；　and　I　will　report　the　matter　to　the
Public　Welfare　Committee；　that　it　shall　surprise　no　one　by　and　by；
and　I　am　sure　no　one　will　gainsay　you　in　your　praiseworthy　offer。
For　it　certainly　is　praiseworthy　to　prepare　a　pleasure　for　a　sick
child；　and　the　great　republic；　which　is　the　gracious　mother　of　all
Frenchmen；　will　pity　the　poor　child；　too。　I　wish　you　success；
citizen；　in　the　fulfilment　of　all　your　hopes；　and　trust　that　you
will　speedily　be　released　from　your　trying　imprisonment。〃

And；　in　fact；　this　release　did　not　have　to　be　waited　for　long。　A　few
days　brought　the　accomplishment　of　Doctor　Naudin's　prophecy；　and　the
official　guard；　who　was　then　sick　at　the　Hotel　Dieu；　died。　The
director　of　the　hospital　hastened　to　inform　the　authorities　of　this
event；　and　on　the　same　day　Simon　was　appointed　his　successor。　The
same　official　who　had　brought　the　sick　prince　the　playthings；　came
again　to　inform　Simon；　of　his　release；　and　was　delighted　at　the
stormy　outbreak　of　rapturous　joy　with　which　the　tidings　were
received。

〃We　will　be　off　directly；〃　cried　Simon。　〃Our　things　have　all　been
packed　for　three　days；　and　every　thing　is　ready。〃

〃But　you　must　wait　patiently　till　to…morrow；　my　friends；〃　said　the
official；　with　a　smile。　〃Your　successor　cannot　enter　upon　his　duties
here　in　the　Temple　before　tomorrow　morning　at　ten　o'clock；　and　till
then　you　must　be　content　to　wait　quietly。〃

〃That　is　sad；〃　sighed　Simon。　〃The　time　between　now　and　ten　o'clock
to…morrow　morning；　will　lie　like　lead　upon　my　shoulders。　I　assure
you；　citizen；　the　Temple　could　get　along　without　me　for　one　night。
The　two　Misses　Capet　above　stairs　are　locked　up；　and　as　for　the
little　Capet　down　here；　it　is　not　necessary　to　lock　him　up；　for　he
will　not　run　away；　but　lie　quietly　here　upon　his　mattress。〃

〃So　the　child　is　really　very　sick？〃　asked　the　officer；　with　feeling。

〃Not　exactly　very　sick；〃　answered　Simon；　indifferently；　〃but　Doctor
Naudin；　who　visits　him　every　day。　thinks　that　the　youngster　might
not　be　all　right　in　the　head；　and　he　has　ordered；　on　this　account；
that　his　long　thick　hair　should　be　cut　off；　that　his　head　might　be　a
little　cooler。　So　Jeanne　Marie　is　going　to　cut　it　off；　and　that　will
probably　be　the　last　service　that　she　will　have　to　do　for　him。　We
are　going　to　clear　out　of　thiswe　are　going　to　clear　out　of　this！〃

〃And　have　you　really　nothing　more　to　do　for　the　little　Capet；　than
merely　to　cut　off　his　hair？〃　asked　the　officer　with　a　fixed；
searching　look。

〃No；〃　answered　Simon；　with　a　laugh；　〃nothing　but　that。　Oh！　yes；
there　is　something　else。　I　did　not　think　of　that。　My　vow　to　you！　I
forgot　that。　I　swore　that；　if　I　were　to　get　away　from　here；　I　would
give　little　Capet　a　hobby…horse。〃

〃I　am　glad；　Citizen　Simon；　that　you　remember　your　promise；〃　said　the
officer；　gravely。　〃I　must　tell　you　that　the　Public　Welfare
Committee；　to　which　I　communicated　your　intention；　was　very　curious
to　know　whether　Citizen　Simon　would　remember　to　carry　it　into
effect。　It　is　on　this　account　that　I　was　instructed　to　inform　you　of
your　transfer；　and　to　report　to　them　whether　you　intended　to　keep
your　promise。　Your　superiors　will　rejoice　to　learn　that　you　are　a
man　of　honor；　with　whom　it　is　a　sacred　duty　to　keep　his　word；　and
who；　in　prosperous　days；　does　not　forget　to　do　what　he　promised　to
do　in　less　propitious　times。　So；　go　and　buy　for　little　Capet　the
promised　hobby…horse；　and　I　will　inform　the　Welfare　Committee　that
it　was　not　necessary　for　me　to　remind　you　of　your　vow；　and　that　you
are　not　only　a　good　citizen；　but　a　good　man　as　well。　Go　and　buy　the
plaything；　and　make　your　arrangements　to　leave　the　Temple　to…morrow
morning　at　ten　o'clock；　and　to　enter　upon　your　new　duties　as
collector　of　customs　at　Porte　Macon。〃

〃The　great　bell　of　Notre　Dame　will　not　have　growled　out　its　ten
strokes　to…morrow　morning；　before　Jeanne　Marie　and　I；　with　our
goods；　will　have　left　the　place；〃　replied　Simon；　with　a　laugh。　〃And
now　I　will　run　and　fulfil　my　promise。〃　He　clapped　his　red…flannel
cap　upon　his　black；　thick　hair；　and　left　the　Temple　with　a　hurried
step。　As　the　porter　opened　the　door　of　the　court　which　led　to　the
street；　for　the　worthy　citizen　and　〃man　of　honor；〃　Simon　stopped　a
moment　to　chat；　telling　him　of　his　new　situation；　and　of　the　vow
which　he　was　about　to　discharge。

〃Do　not　wonder；　therefore；　citizen；〃　he　said；　〃if　you　see　me　come
back；　by…and…by；　with　a　horsewith　this　distinction；　that　it　will
not　be　the　horse　that　carries　me；　but　that　it　will　be　I　that　will
carry　the　horse。　I　was　such　a　fool　as　to　promise　little　Capet　a
horse；　and　I　must　keep　my　word；　particularly　as　the　Committee　of
Safety　allows　it。〃

〃Well；　if　that　is　so；〃　said　the　porter；　with　mock　gravity；　〃I　shall
let　you　in；　even　if　you　do　not　make　your　appearance　until　night。
With　the　permission　of　the　Safety　Committee；　every　thing；　without
it；　nothingfor　I　want　to　keep　my　head　a　little　longer　on　my
shoulders。〃

〃And　I　do　not　grudge　you　the　privilege；〃　said　Simon；　with　a　broad
grin。　〃We　know　very　little　about　what　we　have　here；　but　much　less
about　the　place　where　the　dear　machine　takes　us。　But；　if　you　like；
you　can　ask　Roger；　the　official　guard；　whether　I　have　permission　to
bring　the　wooden　horse　into　the　Temple。　He　is　inside；　and　will
probably　be　there　when　I　come　back。〃

He　nodded　to　the　porter；　and　went　out　into　the　street。　As　the　door
closed　behind　him；　Simon　stopped　a　moment；　and　cast　a　quick　glance
up　and　down　the　street。　Above；　at　the　corner　of　the　little　cross…
street；　stood　quietly　a　young　commissioner　in　his　blouse；　apparently
waiting　for　some　one　to　employ　him。　Simon　crossed　the　street　and
went　up　to　him。

〃Well；〃　asked　the　latter　aloud；　〃have　you　any　thing　for　me　to　do；
citizen？〃

〃Yes；〃　answered　Simon；　softly　and　quickly。　〃Yes；　Toulan；　I　am　all
ready　for　you。　To…morrow　morning；　at　ten　o'clock；　I　leave　the
Temple。〃

〃I　know　it；〃　whispered　Toulan。　〃But　speak　loudly。　There　stands　a　man
who　seems　to　be　watching　us。〃

〃Come；〃　cried　Simon；　loudly。　〃I　want　you　to　accompany　me　to　a　store
where　they　sell　playthings；　and　afterward　you　must　help　carry　back
what　I　buy；　for　it　will　be　too　large　and　too　heavy　for　me　alone。〃

Toulan　followed　him　without　replying；　and　the　two　went　quietly　and
with　an　air　of　indifference　through　the　busy　crowd　of　men。　At　the
corner　of　a　neighboring　street　the　commissioner　came　in　gentle
contact　with　another；　who　was　standing　on　the　curbstone；　and　was
looking　earnestly　down　the　street。

〃Beg　pardon；　citizen；〃　said　Toulan；　loudly；　and　then　added；　softly；
〃to…morrow　morning；　at　ten　o'clock。　The　washerwomen　will　take　charge
of　the　dirty　linen　at　the　door。　At　exactly　ten　the　wagons　and　the
boys　must　start。　The　hobby…horse　will　be　filled。〃

〃Yes；　it　shall　be　filled；〃　and；　with　an　indifferent　air；　he　passed
by　the　two；　and　walked　down　the　Helder　street。　The　farther　he　went
the　more　rapid　became　his　steps；　and　when　he　at　last　entered　a
narrow；　solitary　alley；　where　he　might　hope　to　be　less　observed；　his
quick　walk　became　a　run；　which　he　continued　till　he　reached　the　Rue
Vivienne。　He　then　moderated　his　pace；　and　went　quietly　into　a　toy…
shop；　whose　attractive　windows　and　open　door　were　directed　to　the
street。　The　clerk；　who　stood　behind　the　counter；　asked；　with　a　quiet
air；　what　he　desired。

〃First；　allow　me　to　sit　down；　citizen；〃　answered　the　commissioner；
as　he　sank　upon　the　rush…chair　which　stood　before　the　counter。
〃There；　and　now；　if　you　want　to　do　me　a　service；　just　give　me　a
glass　of　water。〃

〃Halloo；　John；〃　cried　the　clerk　to　the　errand…boy；　who　was　standing
in　the　hack　part　of　the　store。　〃Bring　a　glass　of　water　from　the
well！　Hasten！〃

The　boy　took　a　glass　and　sprang　out　of　the　door　into　the　street。

〃In　a　quarter　of　an　hour　they　will　be　here；〃　said　the　commissioner；
quickly。　〃Inform　the　marquis；　if　you　please。〃

〃The　cabinet…maker；　Lamber；　you　mean；〃　whispered　the　clerk。　〃He　is
not　as　far　away　as　you；　he　lives　directly　opposite；　and　he　has　been
standing　all　day　at　the　house…door　waiting　for　the　sign。〃

〃Then　give　it　to　him；　dear　baron；〃　said　the　commissioner；　and　as　the
boy　came　in　just　then　with　the　water；　he　hastily　seized　the　glass；
and　took　a　swallow　so　immense　as　to　perfectly　satisfy　the　boy；　who
was　looking　at　him。

The　clerk　had；　in　the　mean　time；　gone　to　the　shop…door；　and　looking
across　at　the　opposite　house；　he　drew　a　blue　handkerchief；　with　a
red　border；　from　his　pocket；　and