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　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。
  〃It　must　be；〃　he　muttered　at　last；　〃it　must　be。　I　should　otherwise
  not　have　a　moment's　peace；　and　always　feel　the　knife　at　my　throat。
  One　of　us　must　be　away　from　here；　in　order　that　he　may　disclose　the
  other。　I　will　not　be　that　one；　it　must　be　Toulan。〃
  He　stood　up　with　the　air　of　one　who　had　made　a　fixed；　unchangeable
  resolve；　and　stretched　his　bony；　crooked　limbs。　Then　he　threw　one
  last　look　at　the　stranger…child；　that　lay　moaning　and　groaning　on
  his　mattress；　fell　upon　his　bed；　and　soon　his　long…drawn；　sonorous
  breathing　disclosed　the　fact　that　Master　Simon　was　asleep。
  On　the　next　morning　there　reigned　in　the　lower　stories　of　the　Temple
  a　busy；　stirring　life。　Master　Simon　was　preparing　to　move；　and　all
  his　household　goods　were　set　out　in　the　court；　in　order　to　be
  transferred　to　the　wagon　that　Commissioner　Toulan　had　ordered。　Close
  to　the　wagon　stood　one　of　the　officials　of　the　Public　Safety；　and
  examined　every　article　of　furniture　that　was　put　into　it；　opening
  even　the　bandboxes　and　pillows　to