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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 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 minute