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over and consider it； my dear allies。 The whole plan of the escape
is formed in my head； all the preparations are made； and if you will
faithfully follow all that I bid you； in one week's time you will be
free and happy。〃
〃So soon as a week！〃 cried Simon； delightedly。 〃Yes； in a week； for
it happens fortunately that one of the officials of the Public
Safety service is dangerously sick and has been carried to the Hotel
Dien。 Doctor Naudin says that he can live but three days longer； and
then the post will be vacant。 We must be active； therefore； and take
measures for you to gain the place。 Now listen to me； and mark my
words。〃
They had a long conversation by the bedside of the little prince；
and they saw that he perfectly understood the whole plan which
Toulan unfolded in eloquent words； for his looks took on a great
deal of expression； he fixed his eyes constantly on Toulan； and a
smile played about his lips。
Simon and Simon's wife were also perfectly satisfied with Toulan's
communication； and repeated their readiness to do every thing to
further the release of the prince； if they in return could only be
removed from the Temple。
〃I will at once take the steps necessary to the success of my plan；〃
said Toulan； taking his leave with a friendly nod； and kissing the
boy's hand respectfully。
〃Fidele；〃 whispered Louis； 〃Fidele； do you believe that I shall be
saved？〃
〃I am sure of it； my dear prince。 The grace of God and the blessing
of your exalted parents will be our helpers in bringing this good
work to a completion。 Farewell； and preserve as long as you remain
here the same mood that I found you in。 Show little interest in what
goes on； and appear numb and stupid。 I shall not come again； for
after this I must work for you outside of the prison。 But Doctor
Naudin will come every day to see you； and on the day of your flight
I shall be by your side。 Till then； God bless you； my dear prince！〃
Toulan left the prison of the little Capet and repaired at once to
the H6tel Dieu； where he had a long conversation with Doctor Naudin。
At the end of it； the director of the hospital entered his carriage
and drove to the city hall； in whose largest chamber a committee of
the Public Safety officials were holding a public meeting。 With
earnest and urgent words the revered and universally valued
physician gave the report about the visits which he had made at the
Temple for some days at the command of the authorities； and about
the condition of affairs there。 Petion the elder； the presiding
officer of the committee； listened to the report with a grave
repose； and the picture of the low health of the 〃little Capet；〃
while he paid the most marked attention to that part of the report
which concerned the Simons。
〃Citizen Simon has deserved much of the country； and he is one of
the most faithful supporters of the one and indivisible republic；〃
said Petion； when Doctor Naudin ended his report。 〃The republic
must； like a grateful mother； show gratitude to her loyal sons； and
care for them tenderly。 So tell us； Citizen Naudin； what must be
done in order to restore health to Citizen Simon and his wife。〃
〃They are both sick from the same cause； and； therefore； they both
require the same remedy。 That remedy is； a change of air and a
change of location。 Let Simon have another post； where he shall be
allowed to exercise freely out of doors； and where he shall not be
compelled to breathe only the confined air of a cell； and let his
wife not be forced to listen to the whining and the groaning of the
little sick Capet。 In one word； give to them both liberty to move
around； and the free air； and they will； without any doubt； and
within a short time； regain their health。〃
〃It is true；〃 said Petion； 〃the poor people lead a sad life in the
Temple； and are compelled to breathe the air that the last scions of
tyranny have contaminated with their poisonous breaths。 We owe it to
them to release them from this bad atmosphere； in consideration of
their faithful and zealous service to the country。 Citizen Simon has
always taken pains to repair the great neglect in Capet's education；
and to make the worthless boy prove some day a worthy son of the
republic。〃
〃But even if Simon should remain in the Temple； he would not be able
to go on much longer with the education of the boy；〃 said the
hospital director； with a shrug。
〃What do you mean by that； citizen doctor？〃 asked Petion； with a
pleasant lighting up of his eyes。
〃I mean that the boy has not a long time to live； for he is
suffering at once from consumption and softening of the brain； and
the latter disease will soon reduce him to an idiot； and render him
incapable of receiving instruction。〃
〃You are convinced that the son of the tyrants will not recover？〃
asked Petion； with a strained； eager glance。
〃My careful examination of his case has convinced me that he has but
a short time to live； and that he will spend the larger part of this
time in an idiotic state。 On this account Simon ought to be removed
from the Temple； in order that his enemies may not be able to
circulate a report about this zealous and worthy servant of the
republic； that he is guilty of the death of little Capetthat
Simon's method of bringing him up killed him。 And besides； in order
that the same charge should not be laid to the one and great
republic； and it be accused of cruelty to a poor sick child； kindly
attentions should be bestowed on him。〃
Petion's countenance clouded； and his eyes rested on the physician
with a sinister； searching expression。
〃You have a great deal of sensibility； doctor； and you appear to
forget that the boy is a criminal by birth； and that the republic
can have no special sympathy with him。〃
〃For me；〃 answered Naudin； with simplicity； 〃every sick person at
whose bed I am called to stand； is a poor； pitiable Iranian being；
and I never stop to think whether be is a criminal or not； but
merely that he is a sufferer； and then I endeavor to discover the
means to assist him。 The hallowed and indivisible republic； however；
is an altogether too magnanimous and exalted mother of all her
children not to have pity on those who are reduced to idiocy； and in
sore sickness。 The republic is like the sun； which pours its beams
even into the dungeon of the criminal； and shines upon the just and
unjust alike。〃
〃And what do you desire that the republic should do for the
offspring of tyrants？〃 asked Petion； peevishly。
〃I desire not much；〃 answered Naudin； with a smile。 〃Let me be
permitted to visit the sick child from time to time； and in his
hopeless condition to procure him a little relief from his
sufferings at least； and let him be treated like the child he is。
Let a little diversion be allowed him。 If it is not possible or
practicable for him to play with children of his age； let him at
least have some playthings for his amusement。〃
〃Do you demand in earnest that the republic should condescend to
provide playthings for her imprisoned criminals？〃 asked Petion； with
a scornful laugh。
〃You have commanded me to visit the sick boy in the Temple； to
examine his condition； and to prescribe the