marie antoinette and her son-第88章

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across　at　the　opposite　house；　he　drew　a　blue　handkerchief；　with　a
red　border；　from　his　pocket；　and　slowly　raised　it　to　his　face。

The　man　in　the　blouse；　standing　at　the　door　of　the　low　house　across
the　street；　nodded　slightly；　and　stepped　back　out　of　sight。

〃Well；〃　cried　the　commissioner；　〃now　that　I　have　taken　breath；　and
have　had　a　good　drink；　I　will　tell　you　why　I　have　run　so。　I　have
directed　a　citizen　to　you　who　wants　to　buy　some　playthings；　and
something　very　fine；　I　suppose；　as　he　brings　a　commissioner　along
with　him　to　carry　the　things　home。　Now　I　want　to　know　what　per　cent；
of　the　profit　you　get　from　him　you　are　willing　to　give　me；　for　you
cannot　expect；　citizen；　that　I　should　give　my　recommendation
gratis。〃

〃I　am　not　the　owner　of　the　store；〃　replied　the　clerk；　with　a　shrug。
〃I　have　been　here　only　a　week；　and　manage　the　business　merely　while
the　owner　is　absent　for　a　short　time　on　a　necessary　journey。　So　I
can　give　no　fees。　But　ask　the　boy　whether　in　such　cases　Mr。　Duval
has　paid　money。　He　has　been　here　longer　than　I。〃

〃Mr。　Duval　has　paid　every　commissioner；　who　has　brought　him　such
news；　two　centums　on　the　franc；〃　said　the　boy；　with　an　important
air。

〃Well；　then；　I　will　give　you　two　centums　on　the　franc；　provided　that
the　citizen　buys　more　than　a　franc's　worth。〃

〃Aha！　there　comes　the　man；〃　cried　the　commissioner；　pointing　at
Simon；　who　just　then　entered　the　store　with　Toulan。　〃Well；　citizen；
now　make　a　very　handsome　purchase；　for　the　more　you　buy；　the　better
I　shall　like　it。〃

〃Yes；　I　believe　you；〃　replied　Simon；　laughing；　〃that　is　the　way　in
all　stores。　I　want　something　nice；　I　want　to　buy　a　hobby…horse。　But
mind　you；　citizen；　show　me　one　of　your　best　ones；　a　real　blood…
horse；　for　I　tell　you　that　he　who　is　to　ride　it　is　of　real　blood
himself。〃

〃We　happen　unfortunately　to　have　a　limited　supply　of　the　article；〃
said　the　clerk；　with　a　shrug。　〃They　do　not　come　exactly　in　our　line。
But　there　has　been　so　much　demand　for　hobby…horses　of　late　that　we
have　ordered　some；　and　if　you　will　wait　a　few　days；　citizen〃

〃A　few　days！〃　interrupted　Simon；　angrily。　〃Not　a　few　hours；　not　a
few　minutes　will　I　wait。　If　you　have　no　hobby…horses；　tell　me；　and　I
will　go　elsewhere　to　make　my　purchases。〃

He　turned　to　go；　but　the　clerk　held　him　back。　〃Wait　only　a　minute；〃
he　said。　〃I　should　not　like　to　lose　your　custom；　and　I　think　it
possible　that　I　can　procure　you　a　fine　horse。　The　cabinet…maker；　who
makes　our　horses；　lives　just　opposite；　and　he　has　promised　to
deliver　them　tomorrow。　The　boy　shall　go　over　and　see　if　they　are　not
ready。〃

〃We　would　rather　go　over　with　him；　citizen。　If　we　find　what　is
wanted；　we　shall　need　to　go　no　farther。〃

〃It　is　true；　that　will　be　the　best　course；〃　said　Simon。　〃Come；
commissioner。〃

〃I　will　go　along　to　have　the　business　all　rightly　done；〃　said　the
clerk。　〃Here；　John；　take　my　place　behind　the　counter　while　I　am
gone。〃

Simon　had　already　crossed　the　street　by　the　side　of　Toulan。　The
clerk　followed　with　the　second　commissioner。

〃Why　have　you　not　got　rid　of　the　boy；　Count　St。　Prix？〃　asked　the
latter。

〃It　was　impossible；　Count　Frotte〃　answered　the　former　in　a　whisper。
〃Duval　is　a　very　nervous　man；　and　he　supposed　that　it　would　excite
suspicion　if　the　boy；　who　is　well　known　in　the　neighborhood；　should
disappear　at　just　the　time　when　he　should　be　away。　He　is　right；
perhaps；　and　at　any　rate　the　thing　is　unavoidable。　The　sly　chore…boy
has　noticed　nothing；　I　hope；　and　we　shall　reach　our　goal　without　any
hindrance。　You　are　going　to　London　tomorrow　morning？〃

〃Yes；　count。　And　you？　what　is　your　direction？〃

〃To　Coblentz；　to　the　royal　princes；〃　replied　Count　St。　Prix。　〃Only　I
suspect　that　we　shall　not　both　of　us　reach　the　end　of　our　journeys。〃

〃At　any　rate　not　with　the　children　that　we　shall　take　with　us；〃
whispered　the　other；　as　they　entered　the　house　of　the　cabinet…maker。

They　found　Simon　and　Toulan　in　the　large　workshop　busily　engaged　in
bargaining　with　the　cabinet…maker；　who　had　shown　them　six　tolerably
large　hobby…horses；　and　was　descanting　on　their　beauties。

〃It　seems　tome　they　all　look　very　much　alike；〃　said　Simon。　〃Tell　me；
commissioner；　which　of　these　race…horses　pleases　you　best。〃

〃This　with　the　red　flanks；〃　said　Toulan；　laying　his　hand　upon　the
largest　one。

〃It　is　an　immense　creature；〃　said　Simon；　with　a　laugh。　〃Still；　the
red　flanks　are　pretty；　and　if　we　can　agree　about　the　price　I　will
buy　the　animal。〃

They　did　agree；　and　after　Simon　had　gravely　paid　the　twenty　francs；
he　and　Toulan　took　the　horse　on　their　shoulders　and　marched　down　the
street。

〃Do　all　those　people　know　about　our　secret？〃　asked　Simon；　as　they
strode　forward。

〃No；　only　the　cabinet…maker　knows　about　it；　and　he　will　leave　Paris
to…morrow　and　carry　the　prince　to　a　place　of　safety。〃

〃For　God's　sake；　do　not　speak　so　loudly！〃　whispered　Simon；　casting
an　anxious　look　around。　〃But　why　do　you　yourself　not　go　away　with
the　boy　and　leave　Paris；　where　you　are　constantly　in　danger？〃

〃I　cannot；〃　answered　Toulan；　solemnly。

〃Cannot！　what　forbids　you？〃

〃The　vow　that　I　gave　to　Marie　Antoinette；　to　rescue　her　children
from　the　Temple　or　to　die。〃

〃Well；　but　to…morrow　you　hope　to　fulfil　your　vow；　and　then　you　can
go。〃

〃I　shall　fulfil　to…morrow　but　the　half　of　my　vow。　I　shall；　if　you
help　me；　and　my　plan　succeeds；　release　the　son　of　the　queen；　but　the
daughter　will　remain　behind　in　prison。　You　see；　therefore；　that　I
cannot　leave　Paris；　for　the　daughter　and　sister…in…law　of　the　queen
are　still　prisoners；　and　I　must　release　them。〃

〃But　I　should　rather　that　you　would　go　away　with　the　boy；　and　never
come　back　to　Paris；〃　said　Simon；　thoughtfully。

〃How　so？　Do　you　not　trust　me？〃

〃I　trust　no　one；〃　replied　Simon；　gloomily。　〃You　might　some　day；　when
it　might　suit　your　humor；　or　in　order　to　save　yourself；　betray　me；
and　report　me　to　the　Committee　of　Safety。〃

〃What；　I！　And　ought　I　not　to　fear　too？　Could　not　you　betray　me　as
well？〃

〃You　know　very　well　that　I　shall　take　care　not　to　disclose　a　word　of
this　whole　history；　for　to　disclose　it　would　be　to　write　my　own
death…warrant。　But　hush；　now；　hush！　there　is　the　Temple；　and　it
seems　to　me　as　if　the　very　walls　looked　at　me　maliciously；　as　if
they　wanted　to　say；　'There　comes　a　traitor！'　Ah；　Toulan；　it　is　a　bad
thing　to　have　an　accusing　conscience！〃

〃Help　me　faithfully　to　save　the　prince；　Simon；　and　you　will　have　a
good　conscience　all　the　rest　of　your　life；　for　you　will　have　done　a
grand　and　noble　deed。〃

〃In　your　eyes；〃　whispered　Simon；　〃but　not　in　those　of　the
Convention；　and　when　they　learn　about　itbut　here　we　are；　and　our
talk　and　reconsideration　are　too　late。〃

He　struck　three　times　with　his　fist　against　the　closed　gate　of　the
outer　court。　The　porter　opened；　and　let　the　two　men　in；　only　saying
that　the　guard　had　given　his　special　consent　to　the　bringing　in　of
the　hobhy…horse。

〃But　about　the　commissioner　whom　you　bring　with　you；〃　said　the
porter；　reflectively；　〃he　did　not　make　any　mention；　and　I　can　only
allow　him　to　take　your　plaything　into　the　second　court。　He　must　not
go　into　the　Temple。〃

〃It　is　no　particular　wish　of　mine　to　go　into　a　prison；〃　answered　the
commissioner；　carelessly。　〃It　is　a　good　deal　easier　to　get　in　than
to　get　out　again。　Well；　take　hold；　Citizen　Simon；　forward！〃

They　walked　on　to　the　second　court。　〃Now；　then；〃　whispered　Toulan；
〃for　caution　and　thoughtfulness！　Tomorrow　at　ten　o'clock　I　will　be
standing　before　the　door；　and　you　will　call　me　in　to　help　you　in
your　moving。〃

〃I　wish　it　were　all　over；〃　groaned　Simon。　〃It　seems　to　me　as　if　my
head　were　shaking　on　my　shoulders；　and　my　heart　beats　as　if　I　were　a
young　girl。〃

〃Courage；　Simon；　only　courage！　Remember　that　tomorrow　you　are　to　be
a　free　and　a　rich　man。　Then；　as　soon　as　you　give　your　basket　to　the
washerwoman　at　the　Macon　gate；　I　will　pay　you　the　promised　twenty
thousand　francs。　And〃

〃Halt！〃　cried　the　sentinel　at　the　entrance　to　the　Temple。　〃No　one
can　go　in　here　without　a　pass。〃

〃You　do　not　want　a　pass　for　my　rocking…horse；　brother　citizen；　do
you？〃　asked　Simon；　with　a　laugh。

〃Nonsense！　I　am　speaking　about　the　commissioner。〃

〃He　is　going　of　himself；　and　does　not　want　to　go　in。　But　look　him
square　in　the　face；　for　he　will　come　to…morrow　morning　again。　I　have
secured　him　in　advance；　to　help　me　in　moving　out。　Bring　a　wagon
along；　commissioner；　for　the　things　will　be　too　heavy　to　carry
without　one。　And　now　help　put　the　horse　on　my　shoulders。　So！　Well；
then；　to…morrow　morning　at　ten；　commissioner。〃

〃To…morrow　morning　at　ten；〃　replied　Toulan；　nodding　to　Simon；　and
slowly　sauntering　through　the　court。　He　stopped　at　the　outer　gate；
told　the　porter　that　he　was　going　to　assist　Simon　in　his　moving　on
the　morrow；　and　then　asked　in　an　indifferent　tone　whether　Simon's
successor　at　the　Temple　was　appointed。

〃Why；　would　you　like　the　place？〃　asked　the　porter；　gruffly。

〃No；　indeed；　not　I！　I　have　no　taste　for　such　work。　It　must　be　an
awful　air　in　the　prison。〃

〃It　is　that；〃　replied　the　porter。　〃And　so　after　Simon　has　moved　out；
they　are　going　to　cleanse　the　place　a　little；　and　give　it　an　airing；
and　the　successor　will　move　in　about　noon。〃

〃Well；　I　don't　envy　the　man　who　moves　in；〃　said　Toulan；　with　a
laugh。　〃Good…by；　citizen；　we　shall　see　each　other　to…morrow。〃

He　went　out　into　the　street；　and　slowly　sauntered　along。　At　the　end
of　it　he　stopped　and　gave　a　trifle　to　a　beggar　who；　supported　by　a
crutch；　was　leaning　against　a　house。

〃Is　it　all　right　thus　far？〃

〃Yes；　marquis；　thank　God；　thus　far　every　thing　has　gone　on　well。　The
horse　is　in　the　Temple；　and　nothing　is　discovered。〃

〃May　the　grace　of　God　stand　by　us　to…morrow！〃　whispered　the　beggar。
〃You　are　sure　that　all　the　arrangements　are　carefully　attended　to？〃

〃Entirely　sure；　M。　de　Jarjayes。　While　you　are　leaving　Paris　in　the
garb　of　a　washerwoman；　our　two　allies　will　both　be　driving　out　of
two　other　gates；　with　the　boy；　in　stylish　carriages。〃

〃And　it　will　be　you；　Toulan；　who　will　have　saved　the　King　of
France；〃　whispered　the　beggar。　〃Oh！　be　sure　that　all　France　will
thank　you　for　it　some　day；　and　give　you　the　title　of　savior　of　your
country！〃

〃Baron；〃　said　Toulan；　shaking　his　head；　〃for　me　there　is　but　one
title　of　honor；　that　which　the　Queen　of　France　gave　me。　I　am　called
Fidele；　and　I　want　no　other　name。　But　this　one　I　will　maintain　so
long　as　I　live。　Good…by　till　we　meet　to…morrow　at　the　Porte　Macon！〃

Little　Prince　Louis　Charles　received　the　hobby…horse；　which　Simon
carried　into　the　chamber；　with　a　little　more　interest　than　in　the
case　of　the　other　playthings。　He　even　raised　himself　up　a　little　on
his　mattress；　and　directed　a　long；　searching　gaze　at　the　tall；
handsome　wooden　creature。

〃Well；〃　asked　the　official；　who　had　gone　with　Simon　into　the
dungeon；　and　had　watched　the　effect　of　the　toy；　〃well；　how　does　your
horse　please　you；　little　Capet？〃

The　boy　nodded　slowly；　but　made　no　reply；　he　only　reached　out　his
long；　thin；　right　hand；　and　made　a　motion　as　if　he　wanted　to　rise。

〃To…morrow；　little　Capet；〃　cried　Jeanne　Marie；　holding　him　back。
〃To…day　you　must　keep　entirely　still；　so　the　doctor　said；　and　I　will
cut　your　hair　off　directl