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〃My lord；〃 replied the boy； proudly； 〃the Bourbons attain their
majority at fifteen； and at that age they may； according to the law
of France； become independent sovereigns。 They ought； therefore； to
begin to learn young。 That was the opinion of Queen Marie
Antoinette； who taught me to read in my fifth year。 You； my lord；
have； in your magnanimity； done every thing to make me able to
conform to the laws of my house； if it shall please God that the son
of my dear unfortunate father should one day ascend the vacant
throne of the Bourbons。 Daring these two years which I have spent in
concealment in your palace in Vendee； you have laid a strong and
firm foundation； on which the superstructure of my life may rest。 I
have； thanks to the excellent teachers you have given me； had an
opportunity to learn much； and to recall much which I had forgotten
during the years before my release from imprisonment。〃
〃Your teachers inform me that your industry was unceasing； and that
you learned more in months than some do in years。 You are familiar
with several languages； and； besides； have been instructed； as I
desired； in the art of war and in mathematics。〃
〃In the studies of kings and soldiers；〃 replied the boy； with a
proud smile。
〃I fear that you will prove not to have prosecuted those studies
with a view to their use among soldiers；〃 said Conde； with a sigh。
〃Your prospects are very darkyes； darker even than when you left
the Temple。 These two years have made your condition more perilous。
It was fortunate that you could spend them in solitude and secrecy；
and be able to finish your education； and it would be a great
blessing to you to be able to go on with your quiet studies for some
years longer。 But your enemies had sought you without rest； they
were on your track； and had I left you there any longer； you would
have been found some day stabbed or shot in the park。 The steward
informed me that all kinds of suspicious people had gathered in the
neighborhood of the palace and the garden； and I conjecture that
they were the emissaries of your enemies。 On this I took you away
from that place； and have brought you here for your greater safety。
Now allow me one question。 Do you know who your enemies are？〃
〃I think I know them；〃 replied Louis Charles； with a sad smile。 〃My
enemies are the self…same men who brought my father and my mother to
the scaffold； destroyed the throne； and in its place gave Prance a
red cap。 My enemies are the republicans； who now rule in this land；
and whose great object must； of course； be to put me out of the way；
for my life is their death！ France will one day be tired of the red
cap； and will restore the throne to him to whom it belongs； so soon
as it is certain that he who is entitled to the crown； is living to
wear it。〃
〃And who do you suppose is justified in wearing the crown of
France？〃
〃You ask as if you did not know that I am the only son and heir of
the murdered King of France。〃
〃The only son； but not the only heir。 Your inheritance will be
contested； and even if France should transform herself from a
republic to a monarchy； every attempt possible will be made to drive
you； the son of Louis XVI。； from the throne； and put the crown on
the head of another。〃
〃Sir； if monarchy is uppermost again； the crown belongs to me。 Who；
in that case； would venture to contend with me for it？〃
〃Your enemies！ Not those whom you have just named； but the other
half of your enemies； of whose existence you have no suspicion； it
seems…your enemies； the royalists。〃
〃How so？〃 cried Louis Charles； in amazement。 〃Do you call the
royalists my enemies？〃
〃Yes； and they are so； your powerful； defiant； and untiring enemies。
Do you not see that even here in this room I do not dare to give you
the title that is your due； for fear that the walls may have ears
and increase the danger which threatens you？ I will now name to you
the greatest of your enemiesthe Count de Provence。〃
〃How！ my uncle； the brother of my father； he my enemy？〃
〃He is your enemy； as he was the enemy of your mother。 Believe me；
young man； it is not the people who have made the revolution in
France； it is the princes who have done it。 The Count de Provence；
the Count d'Artois； and the Duke d'Orleansthey are the chief
revolutionists； they it is who have put fire to the throne； they it
is who have sown the libels and lampoons broadcast over France； and
made the name of Marie Antoinette odious。 They did it out of hate；
out of revenge； and out of ambition。 Queen Marie Antoinette had won
her husband over to the policy of Austria； and in this way had set
herself in opposition to the Count de Provence； and the whole royal
family。 The count never forgave her for this； and he will never
forgive you for being the son of your mother。 The Count de Provence；
as he now styles himself； is your sworn enemy； and will do all he
can to bring you to ruin； he is ambitious； and his goal is； to be
the King of France！〃
〃King of France？ The Count de Provence； the brother of the king；
wants to be his successor； when I； the son of the king； am alive and
demand my inheritance ？〃
〃Your demand will not be acknowledged： they will declare that you
are an impostor and a deceiver。 Ah； the Count de Provence is a
selfish and a hard character。 He means to make his own way； and if
you put hinderances in it； he will put you out of his path； without
compassion and without remorse； trust me for knowing this； who for
three years have been in the immediate neighborhood of the prince。 I
was afraid to impart the plan of your escape to the princes； and；
after you were released； I was silent； for a secret is only safe
when a very few are conscious of it。 But after the news came last
year from Paris； that the boy who had been placed as your substitute
in the Temple had died； after a long sickness； I ventured to inform
the Count de Lille about the real facts。 I told him that I believed
that information I had received might be relied upon； that King
Louis XVII。 had been released from the Temple by true and devoted
servants； and was then in a place of safety。 Would you like to know
what reply the count made？〃
〃I pray you； tell me；〃 responded Louis Charles； with a sigh。
〃He answered me； 'I advise you； cousin； not to put any confidence in
such idle stories； and not to be duped by any sly rogues。 My
unfortunate little nephew died in the Templethat is a fact
acknowledged by the republic； universally believed； and denied by no
one。 After long sufferings the son has fallen as a new victim to the
bloodthirsty republicans； and we are still wearing mourning for our
deceased nephew； King Louis XVII。 And should any wise…head happen on
the thought of making the dead boy come to life again； I will be the
first to disown him and hold him as an impostor。' Those were the
words of the count； and you will now confess that I am right in
calling him your enemy； and in not daring to communicate to him the
secret of your release？〃
〃I grant you；〃 replied the prince； sadly； 〃I would rather bury the
secret forever。〃
〃Now； hear me further。 A few weeks ago the prince summoned me； and I
saw on his sinister