eagle；　and　fly　out　of　the　window。　Come；　brothers；　I　long　for　my
  pipe。　Let　us　carry　the　table　out　into　the　entry。〃
  Simon　opened　the　door　that　led　out　upon　the　landing；　the　officials
  took　up　the　table；　and　Toulan　and　Lepitre　the　wooden　stools。　One
  quick　look　they　cast　into　the　room　of　the　queen；　whose　eyes　were
  turned　to　them。　A　sudden　movement　of　Lepitre's　hand　pointed　to　the
  bench　beneath　the　window：　a　movement　of　Toulan's　lips　said　〃To…
  morrow；〃　then　they　both　turned　away；　went　with　their　stools　out　upon
  the　landing；　and　closed　the　door。
  The　queen　held　her　breath　and　listened。　She　heard　them　moving　the
  chairs　outside；　and　pushing　the　table　up　against　the　door；　and
  detected　Simon's　harsh　voice；　saying；　〃Now　that　we　have　put　a
  gigantic　wooden　lock　on　the　door；　let　us　smoke　and　play。〃
  The　queen　sprang　up。　〃God　bless　my　faithful　one；〃　whispered　she；
  〃yes；　God　bless　him！〃
  She　went　hastily　into　the　anteroom；　pressed　her　hand　in　behind　the
  bench　beneath　the　window；　took　out　the　package　which　Lepitre　had
  placed　there；　and　with　a　timid；　anxious　look；　stepped　back　into　her
  room。　Here　she　unfolded　the　bundle。　It　consisted　of　a　boy's　soiled
  dress；　an　old　peruke；　and　an　old　felt　hat。
  The　queen　looked　at　it　with　the　utmost　attention；　then；　after
  casting　one　long；　searching　look　through　the　room；　she　hastened　to
  the　divan；　pushed　back　the　already　loosened　cover　of　the　seat；
  concealed　the　things　beneath　it；　and　then　carefully　smoothed　down
  the　upholstery　again。
  She　now　hurried　to　the　door　of　the　sleeping…room；　and　was　going　to
  open　it　hastily。　But　she　bethought　herself　in　time。　Her　face　showed
  too　much　emotion；　her　voice　might　betray　her。　Madame　Tison　was
  certainly　lurking　behind　the　glass　door；　and　might　notice　her
  excitement。　Marie　Antoinette　again　put　on　her　ordinary　sad　look；
  opened　the　door　slowly　and　gravely；　and　quietly　entered　the
  sleeping…room。　Her　great　eyes；　whose　brightness　had　long　since　been
  extinguished　by　her　tears；　slowly　passed　around　the　chamber；　rested
  for　a　moment　on　the　glass　door；　descried　behind　it　the　spying　face
  of　Tison；　and　turned　to　the　two　princesses；　who　were　sitting　with
  the　dauphin　on　the　little　divan　in　the　corner。
  〃Mamma；〃　asked　the　boy；　〃are　the　bad　men　gone？〃
  〃Do　not　call　them　so；　my　child；〃　replied　Marie　Antoinette；　gently。
  〃These　men　only　do　what　others　order　them　to　do。〃
  〃Then　the　others　are　bad；　mamma；〃　said　the　boy；　quickly。　〃Oh；　yes；
  very　bad；　for　they　make　my　dear　mamma　weep　so　much。〃
  〃I　do　not　weep　about　them；〃　answered　his　mother。　〃I　weep　because
  your　father　is　no　more　with　us。　Think　about　your　father；　my　son；　and
  never　forget　that　he　has　commanded　us　to　forgive　his　and　our
  enemies。〃
  〃And　never　to　take　vengeance　on　them；〃　added　the　boy；　with　a　grave
  look　beyond　his　years；　as　he　folded　his　hands。　〃Yes；　I　have　sworn　it
  to　my　dear　papa；　and　I　shall　keep　my　word。　I　mean　never　to　take
  vengeance　on　our　enemies。〃
  〃Sister；〃　said　the　queen；　after　a　pause；　〃I　want　to　ask　you　to　help
  me　a　little　in　my　work。　You　know　how　to　mend；　and　I　want　to　learn　of
  you。　Will　you　come　into　the　sitting…room？〃
  〃And　we；　too；　mamma；〃　asked　the　dauphin；　〃may　we　not　stay　here？
  Theresa　has　promised　to　tell　me　an　interesting　story　if　I　did　my
  examples　in　arithmetic　correctly；　and　I　have　done　them。〃
  〃Well；　she　may　tell　you　the　story。　We　will　leave　the　door　open　so
  that　we　can　see　you；　for　you　know；　my　children；　you　are　now　the　only
  comfort　left　to　your　aunt　and　me。　Come；　sister！〃
  She　turned　slowly　and　went　into　the　next　room；　followed　by　Madame
  Elizabeth。
  〃Why；　what　does　this　mean？〃　asked　the　princess；　in　amazement；　as　she
  saw　the　anteroom　deserted　and　the　door　closed。
  〃All　his　work；　Elizabethall　the　work　of　this　noble；　faithful
  Toulan。　He　went　through　a　whole　farce　in　order　to　get　the　people　out
  of　here；　and　to　make　them　swear　that　they　never　would　smoke　after
  this　in　the　anteroom。　Oh；　I　shall　never　be　able　to　repay　him　for
  what　he　has　done　for　us　at　the　peril　of　his　life。〃
  〃We　will　pray　for　him　every　morning　and　evening；〃　replied　the　pious
  Elizabeth。　〃But　tell　me；　sister；　did　Toulon　keep　our　ball　of
  thread？〃
  〃Yes；　sister；　and　succeeded　in　giving　me　another　in　exchange　for　it。
  Here　it　is。　To…night；　when　the　guards　are　asleep；　we　will　unwind　it
  and　see　what　it　contains。　But　here　are　other　important　things　which
  we　must　examine。　Here；　this　half…burned　light　and　this　cigarette！
  Let　us　be　on　the　watch　that　no　one　surprise　us。〃
  She　went　again　to　the　threshold　of　the　sleeping…room。　〃Can　you　hear
  me　talk；　children？　Nod　with　your　head　if　you　heard　me。　Good。　If
  Tison　comes　in；　speak　to　her　loudly；　and　call　her　by　name；　so　that
  we　may　hear。〃
  〃And　now；　sister；〃　she　continued；　turning　to　the　table；　〃let　us　see
  what　Toulan　has　sent　us。　First；　the　cigar…light！〃
  She　unfolded　the　paper；　one　side　of　which　was　burned；　and　showed　a
  black；　jagged　edge。
  〃A　letter　from　M。　de　Jarjayes；〃　she　said；　and　then；　in　a　subdued
  voice；　she　hastily　read：　〃I　have　spoken　with　the　noble　messenger
  whom　you　sent　to　me　with　a　letter。　He　has　submitted　his　plan　to　me；
  and　I　approve　it　entirely；　and　am　ready　to　undertake　any　thing　that
  is　demanded　of　me　in　behalf　of　those　to　whom　my　life；　my　property；
  and　my　blood　belong；　and　who　never　shall　have　occasion　to　doubt　my
  fidelity。　The　'true　one'　will　bring　you　to…morrow　every　thing　that
  is　needful；　and　talk　the　matter　over　with　you。J。〃　〃And　now　the
  cigarette；〃　said　the　queen；　taking　it　out　of　her　basket。
  〃Let　us　first　tear　the　paper　to　pieces；〃　said　Princess　Elizabeth；
  warningly。
  〃No；　no；　Tison　would　find　the　bits；　and　think　them　suspicious。　I
  will　hide　the　paper　in　my　dress…pocket；　and　this　evening　when　we
  have　a　light　we　will　burn　it。　Quickly　now；　the　cigar！〃
  〃A　paper　cigarette！〃　said　Elizabeth。
  〃Yes；　and　see　on　the　outer　paper；　'Unroll　carefully！'〃
  And　with　extreme　caution　Marie　Antoinette　removed　the　external
  covering。　Beneath　it　was　another；　closely　written　over；　this　the
  queen　proceeded　to　unfold。
  〃What　is　it？〃　asked　the　Princess　Elizabeth；　impatiently。
  〃See；〃　said　Marie　Antoinette；　with　a　faint　smile：
  〃'Plan　for　the　escape　of　the　royal　family。　To　learn　by　heart；　and
  then　to　burn。'　Oh！　sister；　do　you　believe　that　escape　is　possible
  for　us？〃
  At　this　instant　Simon　was　heard　outside；　singing　with　his　loud；
  coarse　voice：
  〃Madame　a　sa　tour　monte　Ne　salt　quand　descendra；　Madame　Veto　la
  dansera。〃　＇Footnote：　〃Madame　will　take　her　turn；　She　knows　not　when
  it　will　come；　But　Madame　Veto　will　swing。〃＇
  The　queen　shuddered；　and　Madame　Elizabeth　folded　her　hands　and
  prayed　in　silence。
  〃You　hear　the　dreadful　answer；　sister；　that　this　sans…culotte　gives
  to　my　question！　Well；　so　long　as　there　is　a　breath　left　within　us　we
  must　endeavor　to　save　the　life　of　King　Louis　XVII。　Come；　sister；　we
  will　read　this　plan　for　our　escape；　which　the　faithful　Toulan　has
  made。〃
  CHAPTER　XXII。
  THE　PLAN　OF　THE　ESCAPE。
  Marie　Antoinette　and　Madame　Elizabeth　listened　again　at　the　door；
  and　as　Simon　was　just　then　beginning　a　new　verse　of　his　ribald　song；
  they　carefully　unrolled　the　paper　and　spread　it　out　before　them。
  〃Read　it　to　me；　sister；〃　said　the　queen。　〃My　eyes　are　bad　and　pain
  me　very　much；　and　then　the　words　make　more　impression　when　I　hear
  them　than　when　I　read　them；　I　beg　you　therefore　to　read　it。〃
  In　a　light　whisper　the　princess　began　to　read　〃The　Plan　of　Escape。〃
  〃The　queen　and　Princess　Elizabeth　must　put　on　men's　clothes。　The
  necessary　garments　are　already　in　their　possession；　for　T。　and　L。
  have　within　the　last　few　days　secreted　them　in　the　cushions　and
  mattresses。　In　addition；　the　queen　receives　to…day　a　dirty；　torn
  boy's　suit　and　a　peruke；　and　a　pair　of　soiled　children's　shoes。
  These　are　for　the　dauphin　and　Madame　Royale；　and　if　the　queen　looks
  attentively　at　the　things；　she　will　find　that　they　are　exact　copies
  of　the　clothing　in　which　the　two　children　appear　who　always
  accompany　the　lamplighter　into　the　tower　and　assist　him　in　lighting
  the　lamps。　So　much　for　the　clothing。　The　plan　of　escape　is　as
  follows：　To…morrow　evening；　at　six　o'clock；　the　royal　children　will
  change　their　dress　in　the　little　tower　next　to　the　chamber　of　the
  queen。　In　their　soiled　costume　they　will　remain　within　the　tower；
  whither　it　is　known　that　Tison　and　his　wife　never　come；　and　will
  wait　there　until　some　one　gives　them　a　signal　and　calls　them。　Toulan
  and　Lepitre　will　arrange　to　have　the　watch　again　to…morrow　in　the
  tower。　At　a　quarter　before　seven　in　the　evening；　Toulan　will　give　a
  pinch　of　snuff　to　Madame　Tison　and　her　husband；　who　are　both
  passionately　fond　of　it；　and　they　will　speedily　take　it　as　they
  always　do。　This　pinch　of　snuff　will　consist　entirely　of　colored
  opium。　They　will　fall　into　a　heavy　sleep；　which　will　last　at　least
  seven　hours；　and　during　this　times　the　flight　of　all　the　members　of
  the　royal　family　must　be　accomplished〃
  〃Wait　a　moment；　sister；〃　whispered　the　queen；　〃I　feel　dizzy；　and　my
  heart　beats　violently；　as　if　we　were　engaged　now　in　the　very
  execution　of　the　plan。　It　seems　to　me　as　if；　in　the　darkness　of　the
  dreadful　night　which　surrounds　us；　a　glimmer　of　hope　was　suddenly
  appearing；　and　my　eyes　are　blinded　with　it。　Oh；　s