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〃I knew that he could hear nothing； and that he was deaf；〃 growled
Simon； while his wife folded her trembling hands； and with tearful
eyes whispered a prayer。
A deep silence ensued； and with anxious expectation each looked at
the boy。 At length he slowly raised the heavy； reddened eyelids； and
looked with a timid； anxious glance around himself。 Then his gaze
fixed itself upon the eloquent； speaking face of the man whose tears
were falling like warm dew…drops upon his pale； sunken features。
A quiver passed over the coutenance of the boy； a beam of joy
lighted up his eyes； and something like a smile played around his
trembling lips。
〃Do you know me？ Do you know my name？〃
The child raised his hand in salutation； and said； in a clear；
distinct voice： 〃Toulan！ Fidele！〃
Toulan fell on his knees again and covered the little thin hand of
the boy with his tears and his kisses。
〃Yes； Fidele；〃 he sobbed。 〃That is the title of honor which your
royal mother gave methat is the name that she wrote on the bit of
paper which she put into the gold smelling…bottle that she gave me。
That little bottle； which a queen once carried； is my most precious
possession； and yet I would part with that if I could save the life
of her son； happy if I could but retain the hallowed paper on which
the queen's hand wrote the word 'Fidele。' Yes； you poor； pitiable
son of kings； I am Fidele； I am Toulan； at whom you have so often
laughed when he played with you in your prison。〃
A flash like the sunlight passed over the face of the child； and a
smile illumined his features。
〃She used to laugh； too；〃 he whispered〃she； too； my mamma queen。〃
〃Yes； she too laughed at our jests；〃 said Toulan； with a voice
choked with tears； 〃and； believe me； she looks down from heaven upon
us and smiles her blessing； for she knows that Toulan has come to
free her dear son； and to deliver him from the executioner's hands。
Tell me now； my king and my dearly…loved lord； will you trust me；
will you give to your most devoted servant and subject the privilege
of releasing you？ Do you consent to accept freedom at the hands of
your Fidele？〃
The child threw a timid； anxious glance at Simon and his wife； and
then； with a shudder； turned his head to one side。
〃You make no answer； sire；〃 said Toulan； imploringly。 〃Oh！ speak； my
king； may I set you free？〃
The boy spoke a few words in reply； but so softly that Toulan could
not understand him。 He stooped down nearer to him； and put his ear
close to the lips of the child。 He then could hear the words；
inaudible to all but him；
〃He will disclose you； take care； Toulan。 But do not say any thing；
else he will beat me to death！〃
Toulan made no reply； he only impressed a long； tender kiss upon the
trembling hand of the child。
〃Did he speak？〃 asked Simon。 〃Did you understand； citizen； what he
said？〃
〃Yes； I understood him；〃 answered Toulan。 〃He consents； he allows me
to make every attempt to free him； and is prepared to do every thing
that we ask of him。 And now I ask you too； are you prepared to help
me release the prince？〃
〃You know already； Toulan；〃 said Simon； quickly； 〃that we are
prepared for every thing； provided that our conditions are
fulfilled。 Give me a tolerable position outside of the Temple； give
me a good bit of money； so that I may live free from care； and if
the new place should not suit me； that I could go into the country；
and not have to work at all； give my Jeanne Marie her health and
cheerfulness again； and I will help you set young Capet free。〃
〃Through my assistance； and that of Doctor Naudin； you shall have a
good place outside of the Temple；〃 answered Toulan； eagerly。
〃Besides this； at the moment when you deliver the prince into my
hands； outside of this prison； I will pay you in ready money the sum
of twenty thousand francs； and as for the third condition； that
about restoring her health to Jeanne Marie； I am sure that I can
fulfil this condition too。 Do you not know； Simon； what your wife is
suffering from？ Do you not know what her sickness is？〃
〃No； truly not。 I am no doctor。 How should I know what her sickness
is？〃
〃Then I will tell you； Citizen Simon。 Your wife is suffering from
the worst of all complaints； a bad conscience！ Yes； it is a bad
conscience that robs her of her sleep and rest； it is that which
makes her see the white； pale form of the martyred queen in the
night； and read the word 'murderer' in her eyes。〃
〃He is right！…oh； he is right！〃 groaned Jeanne Marie； falling on her
knees。 〃I am to blame for her death； for I denounced Toulan to the
authorities just when he was on the point of saving her。 I tortured
her！oh； cruelly tortured her； and I laughed when she ascended the
scaffold； and I laughed too； even when she gave me that dreadful
look。 But I have bitterly regretted it since； and now she gnaws at
me like a scorpion。 I wanted to drive her away from me at first； and
therefore I was cruel to her son； for I wanted to put an end to the
fearful remorse that was tormenting me。 But it grew even more
powerful within me。 The more I beat the boy； the more his tears
moved me； and often I thought I should die when I heard him cry and
moan。 Yes； yes； it is a bad conscience that has made me sick and
miserable！ But I will do right after this。 I repentoh； I repent！
Here I lay my hand on the heart of this child and swear to his
murdered mother I will do right again！ I swear that I will free her
son！ I swear by all that is sacred in heaven and on earth that I
will die myself； unless we succeed in freeing this child！ I* swear
to you； Marie Antoinette； that I will free him。 But will you forgive
me even then？ Will you have rest in your poor grave； and not come to
my bedside and condemn me and accuse me with your sad； dreadful
eyes？〃
〃Free her son； Jeanne Marie；〃 said Toulan； solemnly； 〃and his mother
will forgive you； and her hallowed shade will no longer disturb your
sleep； for you will then have restored to her the peace of the
grave！ But you； Citizen Simon； will you too not swear that you will
faithfully assist in releasing the royal prince？ Do you not know
that conscience is awake in your heart too； and compels you to have
compassion on the poor boy？〃
〃I know it； yes； I know it；〃 muttered Simon； confused。 〃His gentle
eyes and his sad bearing have made me as weak and as soft as an old
woman。 It is high time that I should be rid of the youngster； else
it will be with me just as it is with my wife； and I shall have
convulsions and see ghosts with daggers in their eyes。 And so； in
order to remain a strong man and have a good conscience and a brave
heart； I must be rid of the boy； and must know that I have done him
some service； and have been his deliverer。 And so I swear by the
sacred republic； and by our hallowed freedom； that I will help you
and do all that in me lies to release little Capet and get him away
from here。 I hope you will be satisfied with my oath； Toulan； for
there is nothing for me more sacred than the republic and freedom。〃
〃I am satisfied； Simon； and I trust you。 And now let us talk it all
over and consider it； my dear allies。 The whole plan of the escape