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〃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 them when I saw her the last time。〃
〃Who is she？〃 asked Simon； roughly。
〃My mamma queen；〃 replied Louis with such a tone of tenderness as to
bring tears into the eyes of Jeanne Marie； and even to move the
cobbler himself。
〃Hush！〃 he said； softly。 〃Hush！ you must never call your mother by
such a name。 After to…morrow morning you are to be the son of a
washerwoman。 Remember that； and now be still！ There； your hair is
done now。 Pick up the locks from the floor and lay them on the
table； Jeanne Marie。 We must leave them here； that the officer may
find them in the morning； and not wonder if he does not recognize
the urchin。 Now we will bring the wash…basket； and see whether young
Capet will go into it。 〃
He brought out of the chamber a high； covered basket； grasped the
boy； thrust him in； and ordered him to lie down on the bottom of the
basket。
〃He exactly fits！〃 said Simon to his wife。 〃We will now throw some
dirty clothes over him； and he can spend the night in the basket。 We
must be ready for any thing； for there are many distrustful
officials； and it would not be the first time that they have made
examinations in the night。 Little Capet must remain in the basket；
and now we will take his substitute out of the horse。〃
He went to the hobby…horse； took out some screws which ran along the
edges of the upholstery； and then carefully removed the upper part
of the animal from the lower。 In the hollow thus brought to light；
lay a pale； sick boy； with closed eyesthe nephew of the Marquis de
Jarjayes； the last descendant of the Baroness de Tarclif； now； as
all his ancestors had done； to give his life for his king。
Jeanne Marie rose from her knees； took a light from the table； and
approached the child； which was lying in its confined space as in a
coffin。
The little prince had raised himself up in his basket； and his pale
face was visible as he looked； out of his large blue eyes； with
curiosity and amazement at the sick child。
〃He does not look like the king's son；〃 whispered Jeanne Marie；
after a long； searching study of the pale； bloated face of the
idiot。
〃We will put his clothes on at once； then he will look all right；
for clothes make the man。 Stand up； little one； you need to get up。
You are not to stay any longer in your curious prison。〃
〃He does not understand you；〃 said Jeanne Marie。 〃Do not you
remember that Toulan told us that the boy is perfectly deaf and
dumb？〃
〃True； I had forgotten it； and yet it is fortunate for us； for a
deaf and dumb person cannot disclose any dangerous secrets。 Come；
Jeanne Marie； give me the clothes； we will dress up the little mute
like a prince。〃
They put upon him the velvet jacket； the short trowsers of black
cloth； the shoes and stockings of the prince； who still was looking
out of his basket at the pale； softly…moaning child； which was now
placed by Simon and his wife on the mattress。
〃There；〃 said Simon； throwing the coverlet over the boy； 〃there； the
royal prince is ready； and we can say； as they used to do at St。
Denis； when they brought a new occupant into the royal vault； 'Le
roi est mort； vive le roi！ ' Lie quietly in your basket； Capet； for
you see you are deposed； and your successor has your throne。〃
〃Master；〃 whispered Louis； anxiously and timidly； 〃master； may I ask
you a question？〃
〃Well； yes； you may； you little nameless toad。 What is it？〃
〃Master； will the sick child have to die； if I am saved？〃
〃What do you mean； youngster？ What are you at？〃
〃I only mean； masterI only wanted to say that if the poor boy must
die； if he takes my place； whyI should rather stay here。 For〃
〃Well； go on； stupid！ what do you mean by your 'for？' You would
rather remain here？〃
〃Yes； master； if another is to die and be beaten and tortured； for
blows hurt so much； and I should not like to have another boy
receive them instead of me。 That would be wicked in me； and〃
〃And you are a stupid fellow； and do not know any thing you are
talking about；〃 said Simon； shaking his fist at him。 〃 Just put on
airs； and speak another such a foolish word； and I will not only
beat you to death； but I will beat this miserable； whining youngster
to death too； and then you will certainly be to blame for it。 Down
with you into the basket； and if you venture to put your head up
again； and if to…morrow you are not obedient and do just what we bid
you； I will beat you and him； both of you； to pieces； and pack you
into the clothes…basket； and carry you away。 Down into the basket！〃
The boy sank down out of sight； and when； after a little while；
Jeanne Marie cautiously looked to see whether he had fallen asleep；
she saw that Louis Charles was kneeling on the bottom of the basket；
and raising his folded hands up to heaven。
〃Simon；〃 she whispered〃 Simon； do not laugh at me and scold me。
You say； I know； that there is no God； and the republic has done
away with Deity； and the Church； and the priests。 But let me once
kneel down and pray to Him with whom little Louis Charles is talking
now； and to whom the Austrian spoke on the scaffold。〃
Without waiting for Simon's answer； Jeanne Marie sank upon her
knees。 Folding her hands； she leaned her forehead on the rim of the
basket； and softly whispered； 〃Louis Charles； do you hear me？〃
〃Yes；〃 lisped the child； 〃I hear you。〃
〃I ask your forgiveness；〃 whispered Jeanne Marie。 〃I have sinned
dreadfully against you； but remorse has taken hold of my heart； and
tears it in pieces and gives me no rest day or night。 Oh； forgive
me； son of the queen； and when you pray； implore your mother to
forgive me the evil that I have done her。〃
〃I will pray to my dear mamma queen for you； and I know she will
forgive you； for she was so very good； and she always said to me
that we must forgive our enemies； and I had to swear to my dear papa
that I would forget and forgive all the wrong that men should do to
me。 And so I forgive you； and I will forget all the bad things that
Master Simon has done to me； for my papa and my mamma wished me to。〃
Jeanne Marie let her head sink lower； and pressed her hands firmly
against her lips to repress the outcries which her remorseful
conscience prompted。 Simon seemed to understand nothing of this soft
whispering； he was busily engaged in packing up his things； and no
one saw him hastily draw his hand over his eyes； as if he wanted to
wipe away the dust which suddenly prevented his seeing。
Gradually it grew still in the gloomy room。 The whispering in the
basket ceased。 Jeanne Marie had retired to her bed； and had wept
herself to sleep。 Upon the mattress lay the sick； sobbing child； the
substitute of King Louis XVII。； who was in the basket。
Simon was the only one who was awake； and there must have been
dismal thoughts that busied him。 He sat upon the stool near the
candle； which was nearly burned out； his forehead was corrugated and
clouded； his lips were closely pressed together； and the little；
flashing eyes looked out into the empty space full of anger and
threatenings。