clothes。　And　these　gentlemen　crowded　in　front　of　my　father；　shoved
  him　to　the　wall；　hid　him　from　the　eye　of　the　king；　who　passed
  through　the　hall　at　the　side　of　the　queen；　and　with　a　pleasant　face
  received　all　the　petitions　which　were　handed　to　him。　Sadly　we　turned
  home；　but　on　the　following　day　we　repaired　to　the　gallery　again；　and
  I　had　the　courage　to　crowd　back　some　of　the　elegantly…dressed　men
  who　wanted　to　press　before　my　father；　and　to　secure　for　him　a　place
  in　the　front　row。　I　was　rewarded　for　my　boldness。　The　king　came；　and
  with　a　gracious　smile　took　the　petition　from　the　hand　of　my　father；
  and　laid　it　in　the　silver　basket　which　the　almoner　near　him
  carried。〃
  〃Thank　God；〃　cried　Margaret；　with　a　sigh　of　relief；　〃thank　God；　you
  were　saved！〃
  〃That　we　said　too；　Margaret；　and　that　restored　my　father's　hope　and
  made　him　again　happy　and　well。　We　went　the　next　day　to　the　gallery。
  The　king　appeared；　the　grand　almoner　announced　the　names　of　those
  who　were　to　receive　answers　to　their　petitionsthe　name　of　my
  father　was　not　among　them！　But　we　comforted　ourselves　with　the
  thought；　it　was　not　possible　to　receive　answers　so　quickly；　and　on
  the　next　day　we　went　to　the　gallery　again；　and　so　on　for　fourteen
  successive　days；　but　all　in　vain；　the　name　of　my　father　was　never
  called。　Still　we　went　every　day　to　the　gallery　and　took　our　old
  place　there；　only　the　countenance　of　my　father　was　daily　growing
  paler；　his　step　weaker；　and　his　poor　boy　more　trustless　and　weak。　We
  had　no　longer　the　means　of　stilling　our　hunger；　we　had　consumed
  every　thing；　and　my　father's　cross　of　St。　Louis　was　our　last
  possession。　But　that　we　dared　not　part　with；　for　it　was　our　passport
  to　the　palace；　it　opened　to　us　the　doors　of　the　great　gallery；　and
  there　was　still　one　last　hope。　'We　go　to…morrow　for　the　last　time；'
  said　my　father　to　me　on　the　fifteenth　day。　'If　it　should　be　in　vain
  on　the　morrow；　then　I　shall　sell　my　cross；　that　you；　Louis；　may　not
  need　to　be　hungry　any　more；　and　then　may　God　have　mercy　upon　us！'　So
  we　went　the　next　day　to　the　gallery　again。　My　father　was　to…day
  paler　than　before；　but　he　held　his　head　erect；　he　fixed　his　eye；
  full　of　an　expression　of　defiance　and　scorn；　upon　the　talkative；
  laughing　gentlemen　around　him；　who　strutted　in　their　rich　clothes；
  and　overlooked　the　poor　chevalier　who　stood　near　them；　despised　and
  alone。　In　my　poor　boy's　heart　there　was　a　fearful　rage　against　these
  proud；　supercilious　men；　who　thought　themselves　so　grand　because
  they　wore　better　clothes；　and　because　they　had　distinguished
  acquaintances　and　relations；　and　yet　were　no　more　than　my　fatherno
  more　than　suppliants　and　petitioners；　tears　of　anger　and　of　grief
  filled　my　eyes；　and　the　depth　of　our　poverty　exasperated　my　soul
  against　the　injustice　of　fate。　All　at　once　the　whispering　and
  talking　ceased；the　king　and　the　queen　had　entered　the　gallery。　The
  king　advanced　to　the　middle　of　the　hall；　the　grand　almoner　called
  the　names；　and　the　favored　ones　approached　the　king；　to　receive　from
  him　the　fulfilment　of　their　wishes；　or　at　least　keep　their　hope
  alive。　Near　him　stood　the　young　queen；　and　while　she　was　converging
  with　some　gentlemen　of　the　court；　her　beautiful　eyes　glanced　over　to
  us；　and　lingered　upon　the　noble　but　sad　form　of　my　father。　I　had
  noticed　that　on　previous　days；　and　every　time　it　seemed　to　me　as　if
  a　ray　from　the　sun　had　warmed　my　poor　trembling　heartas　if　new
  blossoms　of　hope　were　putting　forth　in　my　soul。　To…day　this
  sensation；　when　the　queen　looked　at　us；　was　more　intense　than
  before。　My　father　looked　at　the　king　and　whispered　softly；　'I　see
  him　to…day　for　the　last　time！'　But　I　saw　only　the　queen；　and　while　I
  pressed　the　cold；　moist　hand　of　my　father　to　my　lips；　I　whispered；
  'Courage；　dear　father；　courage！　The　queen　has　seen　us。'　She　stopped
  short　in　her　conversation　with　the　gentleman　and　advanced　through
  the　hall　with　a　quick；　light　step　directly　to　us；　her　large　gray…
  blue　eyes　beamed　with　kindness；　a　heavenly　smile　played　around　her
  rosy　lips；　her　cheeks　were　flushed　with　feeling；　she　was　simply
  dressed；　and　yet　there　floated　around　her　an　atmosphere　of　grace　and
  nobleness。　'My　dear　chevalier；'　said　she；　and　her　voice　rang　like
  the　sweetest　music；　'my　dear　chevalier；　have　you　given　a　petition　to
  the　king？'　'Yes；　madame；'　answered　my　father　trembling；　'fourteen
  days　ago　I　presented　a　petition　to　the　king。'　'And　have　you　received
  no　answer　yet？'　she　asked　quickly。　'I　see　you　every　day　here　with
  the　lad　there；　and　conclude　you　are　still　hoping　for　an　answer。'　'So
  it　is；　madame；'　answered　my　father；　'I　expect　an　answer；　that　is　I
  expect　a　decision　involving　my　life　or　death。'　'Poor　man！'　said　the
  queen；　with　a　tone　of　deep　sympathy。　'Fourteen　days　of　such　waiting
  must　be　dreadful！　I　pity　you　sincerely。　Have　you　no　one　to　present
  your　claims？'　'Madame；'　answered　my　father；　'I　have　no　one　else　to
  present　my　claims　than　this　empty　sleeve　which　lacks　a　right　armno
  other　protection　than　the　justice　of　my　cause。'　'Poor　man！'　sighed
  the　queen；　'you　must　know　the　world　very　little　if　you　believe　that
  this　is　enough。　But；　if　you　allow　me；　I　will　undertake　your
  protection；　and　be　your　intercessor　with　the　king。　Tell　me　your　name
  and　address。'　My　father　gave　them；　the　queen　listened　attentively
  and　smiled　in　friendly　fashion。　'Be　here　to…morrow　at　this　hourI
  myself　will　bring　you　the　king's　answer。'　We　left　the　palace　with
  new　courage；　with　new　hope。　We　felt　no　longer　that　we　were　tired　and
  hungry；　and　heeded　not　the　complaints　of　our　host；　who　declared　that
  he　had　no　more　patience；　and　that　he　would　no　longer　give　us　credit
  for　the　miserable　chamber　which　we　had。　His　scolding　and　threatening
  troubled　us　that　day　no　more。　We　begged　him　to　have　patience　with　us
  till　to…morrow。　We　told　him　our　hopes　for　the　future；　and　we
  rejoiced　in　our　own　cheerful　expectations。　At　length　the　next　day
  arrived；　the　hour　of　the　audience　came；　and　we　repaired　to　the　great
  gallery。　My　heart　beat　so　violently　that　I　could　feel　it　upon　my
  lips；　and　my　father's　face　was　lighted　up　with　a　glow　of　hope；　his
  eye　had　its　old　fire；　his　whole　being　was　filled　with　new　life；　his
  carriage　erect　as　in　our　happy　days。　At　last　the　doors　opened　and
  the　royal　couple　entered。　'Pray　for　me；　my　son；'　my　father
  whispered'pray　for　me　that　my　hopes　be　not　disappointed；　else　I
  shall　fall　dead　to　the　earth。'　But　I　could　not　pray；　I　could　not
  think。　I　could　only　gaze　at　the　beautiful　young　queen；　who　seemed　to
  my　eyes　as　if　beaming　in　a　golden　cloud　surrounded　by　all　the　stars
  of　heaven。　The　eyes　of　the　queen　darted　inquiringly　through　the
  hall；　at　last　she　caught　mine　and　smiled。　Oh　that　smile！　it　shot
  like　a　ray　of　sunlight　through　my　soul；　it　filled　my　whole　being
  with　rapture。　I　sank　upon　my　knee；　folded　my　hands；　and　now　I　could
  think；　could　pray：　'A　blessing　upon　the　queen！　she　comes　to　save　my
  dear　father's　life；　for　she　frees　us　from　our　sufferings。'　The　queen
  approached；　so　beautiful；　so　lovely；　with　such　a　beaming　eye。　She
  held　a　sealed　paper　in　her　hand　and　gave　it　to　my　father　with　a
  gentle　inclination　of　her　head。　'Here；　sir；'　she　said；　'the　king　is
  happy　to　be　able　to　reward；　in　the　name　of　France；　one　of　his　best
  officers。　The　king　grants　you　a　yearly　pension　of　three　hundred
  louis…d'or；　and　I　wish　for　you　and　your　son　that　you　may　live　yet
  many　years　to　enjoy　happiness　and　health。　Go　at　once　with　this　paper
  to　the　treasury；　and　you　will　receive　the　first　quarterly　payment。'
  Then；　when　she　saw　that　my　father　was　almost　swooning；　she　summoned
  with　a　loud　voice　some　gentlemen　of　the　court；　and　commanded　them　to
  take　care　of　my　father；　to　take　him　out　into　the　fresh　air；　and　to
  arrange　that　he　be　sent　home　in　a　carriage。　Now　all　these　fine
  gentlemen　were　busy　in　helping　us。　Every　one　vied　with　the　others　in
  being　friendly　to　us；　and　the　poor　neglected　invalid　who　had　been
  crowded　to　the　wall；　the　overlooked　officer　Toulan；　was　now　an
  object　of　universal　care　and　attention。　We　rode　home　to　our　inn　in　a
  royal　carriage；　and　the　host　did　not　grumble　any　longer；　he　was
  anxious　to　procure　us　food；　and　very　active　in　caring　for　all　our
  needs。　The　queen　had　saved　us　from　misfortune；　the　queen　had　made　us
  happy　and　well　to　do。〃
  〃A　blessing　upon　the　dear　head　of　our　queen！〃　cried　Margaret；
  raising　her　folded　hands　to　heaven。　〃Now　I　shall　doubly　love　her；
  for　she　is　the　benefactor　of　him　I　love。　Oh；　why　have　you　waited
  until　now　before　telling　me　this　beautiful；　touching　story？　Why　have
  I　not　enjoyed　it　before？　But　I　thank　you　from　my　heart　for　the　good
  which　it　has　done　me。〃
  〃My　dear　one；〃　answered　Toulan；　gravely；　〃there　are　experiences　in
  the　human　soul　that　one　may　reveal　only　in　the　most　momentous　epochs
  of　lifejust　as　in　the　Jewish　temple　the　Holy　of　Holies　was
  revealed　only　on　the　chief　feast…days。　Such　a　time；　my　dear　one；　is
  to…day；　and　I　withdraw　all　veils　from　my　heart；　and　let　you　see　and
  know　what；　besides　you；　only　God　sees　and　knows。　Since　that　day　when
  I　returned　with　my　father　from　the　palace；　and　when　the　queen　had
  made　us　happy　againsince　that　day　my　whole　soul　has　belonged　to
  the　queen。　I　thanked　her　for　all；　for　the　contentment　of　my　father；
  for　eve