按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 directly； as the doctor ordered。 But I should like
to have you here； citizen； and oversee the operation。 The boy will
look much changed； when his long； yellow hair is cut off； and
afterward it might be supposed〃
〃Yes； certainly；〃 interrupted Simon； with a laugh； 〃afterward it
might be supposed that it is not the stupid youngster who has
troubled us so long； that out of pure tenderness and love we had
taken him along with us。〃
〃No one would consider the republican Simon capable of such a
thing；〃 replied the official； 〃and besides； the boy will stay here；
and no substitute for him can fall out of the clouds。 Be free from
care； Simon。 I myself shall recognize the boy to…morrow； and if he
should look changed in appearance； I shall know how it comes。〃
〃Yes； he will know how it comes；〃 said Simon； with a grin； as he
watched the retreating form of the official； now leaving the prison。
〃Lock the door； Simon；〃 whispered Jeanne Marie。 〃We must let the boy
out of this if he is not to be stifled！〃
〃No； no；〃 said Simon； motioning his wife to retreat from the hobby…
horse which she was approaching。 〃He will not be stifled； for
beneath the saddle…cloth there are nothing but air…holes； and he can
endure it a good while。 We must above all things be cautious and
prepared for every thing。 It would be a fine thing； would it not； if
the officials who are on guard in the Temple should conceive the
idea of making the rounds a second time for the purpose of
inspection。 He cannot be carried out before it strikes ten from
Notre Dame。 We will； however； give him a little more air。〃
He removed the saddle with care； which was let into the back of the
wooden horse； and listened at the opening。
〃He breathes very peacefully and evenly；〃 he then said； softly。 〃He
seems to be asleep。 Jeanne Marie； hold the saddle in your hand； and
at the least approach fit it again in its place。 I will now take
hold and pack our things。〃
When the night came； and the last rounds had been made past the
closed doors of Simon's rooms； and the officials had withdrawn into
the great hall； where they stayed during the night…watch； there was
an unusual stir within Simon's apartments。 Jeanne Marie； who had
thrown herself in her clothes upon the bed； slipped out from beneath
the coverlet。 Simon； who was standing near the door listening；
advanced to the little prince； and bade him in a whisper to get up。
The child； which now seemed to have recovered from its indifference
and stupidity； rose at once； and at Simon's further command made an
effort to remove his clothes； and to put on in their place the
coarse woollen suit and the linen trousers which Simon drew out of
his bed and handed to him。
The toilet was soon completed； and the little prince looked with a
timid； inquiring glance at Simon； who was regarding him with a
searching eye。
〃And the stockings； master？〃 he asked。 〃Do not I have any
stockings？〃
〃No；〃 growled Simon〃no； the son of a washerwoman wants no
stockings。 There are some wooden shoes which will be laid for you in
the basket； and you put them on afterward； if we are fortunate in
getting away。 But you must cut his hair； Jeanne Marie。 With long
hair he will not look like a boy from the people。〃
Jeanne Marie shuddered。 〃I cannot；〃 she whispered； 〃it would seem to
me as if I were cutting off his head； and the woman in white would
stand behind； and pierce me through with her great eyes。〃
〃Come； come； that old story again！〃 growled Simon。 〃Give me the
scissors； then； I will take care of it； for the boy must part with
his hair before he goes into the basket。 Come； come； do not shrink
and curl up so； I was not speaking of the guillotine…basket； but of
your dirty…clothes basket。 Come； Capet； I want to cut your hair。〃
He took the great shears from the work…basket； and sat down on a
stool by the side of the table； on which burned a dim tallow candle；
throwing an uncertain light through the apartment。 〃Come； Capet！〃
The boy stole up with an insecure step； and shrank together when
Simon seized him and drew him between his knees。
〃Do not hurt him； Simon。 Be careful of him；〃 whispered Jeanne Marie；
sinking on the floor and folding her hands。 〃Remember； husband； that
she is here； and that she is looking at you； and that she bores into
my head with her eyes when you do any harm to the child。〃
Simon looked around with a shy and anxious glance。 〃It is high time
that we were away from here；〃 he growled〃high time； if I am not to
be crazy as well as you。 Stoop down； Capet； so that I can cut your
hair off。〃 The child let his head fall； but a faint； carefully
suppressed sob came from his breast； while Simon's shears went
clashing through his locks； severing them from his head。
〃What are you crying for； Capet？〃 asked Simon； zealously going
forward with his work。
〃I am so sorry； master； to have my locks cut off。〃
〃You probably suppose； you vain monkey； that your locks are
particularly beautiful？〃
〃Oh； no； master！ It is only；〃 sighed the boy with his eyes full of
tears〃 it is only because her hand has rested on them； and because
she kissed th