house…steward；　who　motioned　him　to　come　into　the　cabinet。
  〃I　have　something　to　tell　you；　citizen；〃　said　the　steward；　with　a
  weighty　air；　〃but　first　I　must　beg　you　to　make　me　a　solemn　promise
  that　you　will　continue　a　faithful　and　obedient　servant　of　the　count；
  and　prove　in　no　way　false　to　your　oath　and　your　duty。〃
  The　servant　pledged　himself　solemnly；　and　the　steward　continued：
  〃The　count　has　undertaken　a　journey　which　is　not　to　be　spoken　of；
  and　is　to　remain；　if　possible；　a　secret。　I　demand　of　you；　therefore；
  that　if　any　one　asks　where　the　count　has　gone；　you　answer　that　you
  do　not　know。　But　above　all　things；　you　are　not　to　say　that　the　count
  is　not　travelling　alone；　but　in　company　with　the　young…gentleman；
  whose　name　and　rank　I　know　just　as　little　about　as　you。　Will　you
  promise　to　faithfully　heed　my　words？〃
  The　servant　asserted　it　with　solemn　oaths　and　an　expression　of　deep
  reverence。　The　steward　beckoned　to　him　to　go；　and　then　looked　at　him
  for　a　long　time；　and　with　a　singular　expression　as　he　withdrew。
  〃He　is　a　spy　of　the　Safety　Committee；〃　he　whispered　to　himself。　〃I
  am　convinced　that　he　is　so；　and　he　will　certainly　go　at　once　and
  report　to　the　authorities；　and　they　will　break　their　heads　thinking
  what　the　count　has　to　do　in　Puy；　and　who　the　boy　is　who　accompanies
  my　lord。　Well；　that　is　exactly　what　we　want：　to　put　the　bloodhounds
  and　murderers　on　a　false　scent。　That　is　just　the　object　of　the
  count；　and　for　that　purpose　M。　Morin　de　Gueriviere　has　lent　his　only
  son；　for　all　that　we　have　and　are；　our　lives；　our　children；　and
  every　thing　else；　belong　to　our　king　and　lord。　I　hope；　therefore；
  that　the　count's　plan　will　succeed；　and　the　Safety　Committee　be　put
  on　a　false　scent。〃
  Meanwhile　the　pitiful　carriage　containing　Simon's　goods　had　slowly
  taken　its　way　through　the　streets　and　halted　at　its　goal；　the
  custom…house　near　Porte　Macon。　Before　the　building　stood　a　woman　in
  the　neat　and　tasteful　costume　of　the　washerwomen　from　the　village　of
  Vannes；　which　then；　as　now；　was　the　abode　of　the　washerwomen　of
  Paris。
  〃Well；〃　cried　the　woman；　with　a　loud　laugh；　helping　Mistress　Simon
  dismount　from　the　wagon〃　well；　you　have　come　at　last。　For　two
  hours　I　have　been　waiting　for　you；　for　you　ordered　me　to　be　here　at
  eleven；　and　now　it　is　one。　What　will　my　husband　and　my　little　boy
  say　about　my　coming　home　so　late？〃
  〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　Jeanne　Marie；　with　a　kindly　voice。　〃Our
  ride　was　a　good　deal　slower　than　I　thought；　for　the　things　were
  packed　only　loosely；　and　if　we　had　ridden　faster　they　would　easily
  have　been　injured。　But；　I　will　not　detain　you　longer；　and　you　shall
  have　my　wash　at　once。　There　are　a　great　many　clothes　this　time；　and
  I　have　therefore　thrown　them　all　at　once　into　the　basket；　so　you　can
  put　the　basket　right　upon　your　wagon　and　bring　the　things　back　in
  it。　Halloa；　Simon；　and　you；　commissioner；　take　hold　and　lift　the
  basket　down；　and　carry　it　out　to　the　washerwoman's　wagon　that　is
  standing　near　the　gate。〃
  The　two　men　immediately　lifted　the　great　basket　out；　and　carried　it
  to　the　open　cart　which　stood　there；　in　which　lay　arranged　in　regular
  order　great　bundles　of　dirty　linen。　Near　the　gate　stood　the　sub…
  collector；　whose　superior　Simon　now　was；　and　it　therefore　did　not
  occur　to　him　to　examine　the　basket　which　his　new　chief　was　putting
  in　the　washerwoman's　wagon。　Some　busybodies　who　stood　around　turned
  their　whole　attention　to　the　wagon　which　contained　the　furniture　and
  goods　of　the　new　collector；　who　was；　of　course；　a　very　important
  person　in　this　remote　quarter；　and　Jeanne　Marie　endeavored　with　her
  loud　words　and　choleric　gesticulations　to　fasten　the　attention　of
  the　idlers　upon　herself。　Nobody　regarded　the　two　men；　who　had　just
  put　the　basket　into　the　washerwoman's　cart；　and　no　one　heard　the
  words　that　they　softly　spoke　together。
  The　washerwoman　had　raised　the　cover；　and　was　rolling　around　the
  clothes；　as　if　she　wanted　to　examine　the　contents　of　the　basket。
  〃Sire；〃　she　whispered；　softly；　as　she　did　so〃sire；　do　you　hear
  me？〃
  A　weak；　faint　voice　replied；　〃I　hear　you。〃
  〃And　shall　you　be　able　to　bear　it；　if　you　stay　a　little　longer　in
  your　hiding…place？〃
  〃Oh　yes；　I　shall　be　able　to　bear　it；　but　I　am　anxious；　and　I　should
  like　to　be　away　from　here。〃
  The　washerwoman　closed　the　cover　of　the　basket；　and　sprang　down　from
  the　wagon。　〃Every　thing　is　in　order；〃　she　said；　〃and　it　is　high　time
  that　I　should　be　off。　I　have　a　long　way　to　go；　and　my　husband　and
  child　are　expecting　me。〃
  〃Then　go；　with　God's　blessing；〃　said　the　commissioner；　shaking　hands
  with　the　washerwoman　as　if　she　were　an　old　acquaintance。〃　Go；　with
  God's　blessing；　and　may　He　protect　you　from　all　calamity；　and　bless
  you　with　happiness　and　joy！〃
  He　spoke　loudly；　as　if　this　was　intended　for　the　ear　of　some　person
  besides　the　washerwoman。　And　another　had　heard　the　words　of　Toulan；
  and　a　soft　and　tremulous　voice　called：　〃Farewell；　Fidele；　I　thank
  you；　dear　Toulan。〃
  The　wagon　was　at　once　in　motion；　and　drove　quickly　down　the　street
  through　the　rows　of　small　houses　in　the　suburbs。　The　two　men　stood
  and　looked　after　it　till　the　washerwoman's　carriage　disappeared　in　a
  cloud　of　dust。
  Toulan　raised　his　eyes　slowly　to　heaven；　and　a　pious　expression
  illumined　his　good；　energetic　countenance。
  〃Thou　lookest　down　upon　me；　my　queen　and　mistress；〃　he　said；　softly
  and　inaudibly。〃　I　feel　the　glance　of　thy　heavenly　eyes；　and　it　rests
  like　a　hallowed　blessing　upon　my　thankful　heart。　I　know；　my　queen；
  that　thou　art　satisfied　with　me　this　hour；　and　it　seems　to　me　as　if
  thy　loved　voice　were　whispering　above　me　in　the　air　the　word　Fidele。
  Give　me　now　thy　blessing；　that　I　may　end　my　work；　and　rescue　the
  daughter　and　the　sister　as　I　have　rescued　the　son。　My　life　is
  devoted　to　thy　service；　and　I　shall　save　all　thy　dear　ones　or　die！〃
  〃Well；　Toulan；〃　said　Simon；　softly；　〃I　have　kept　my　word；　and　little
  Capet　is　released。　Are　you　going　to　keep　yours？〃
  〃Certainly　I　shall；〃　said　Toulan；　whose　glance　slowly　fell　from
  heaven；　and　whose　face　still　glowed　like　one　in　a　trance。　〃Yes；
  Simon；　I　shall　keep　my　word　to　you　as　you　have　yours　to　me。　Come
  into　your　house；　that　I　may　pay　you。〃
  He　withdrew　quickly　from　the　gate　and　entered　the　house　which
  thereafter　was　to　be　the　house　of　the　collector　Simon。　All　was　going
  on　busily　there；　for　Jeanne　Marie　had　impressed　into　her　service　not
  only　the　sub…collector　but　some　of　the　curious　spectators；　and　she
  scolded　her　husband；　who　was　just　coming　in　with　Toulan；　for　talking
  too　long　with　the　washerwoman　instead　of　helping　her。
  〃Do　you　two　take　the　heavy　mattresses　and　carry　them　into　the　next
  room。〃
  The　two　men　quickly　obeyed；　and　bore　the　mattresses　into　the
  chamber。　Then　they　locked　themselves　in。
  Toulan　took　several　rolls　from　the　great　waistcoat　which　he　wore
  under　his　blue　blouse；　broke　them　asunder；　and　let　the　gold…pieces
  fall　out　upon　the　mattress。
  〃Count　them；　Simon；〃　he　said；　〃to　see　that　there　are　exactly　two
  hundred　and　fifty　double　gold…pieces；　all　bearing　the　exalted
  symbols　of　'he　one；　great；　and　indivisible　republic。'　May　they　bring
  you　joy；　and　be　a　reward　for　the　great　good　fortune　which　you　have
  brought　to　me；　and　to　all　who　love　the　king　and　his　house。〃
  〃But　will　no　one　reveal　me？〃　asked　Simon；　anxiously；　while　busily
  engaged　in　collecting　the　gold…pieces；　and　hiding　them　between　the
  mattresses。　〃Say；　Toulan；　will　no　one　divulge　and　report　me　to　the
  authorities？〃
  〃Be　quiet；　Simon；　and　fear　nothing。　To　betray　you；　would　be　at　the
  same　time　to　betray　the　great　cause　which　we　serve；　and　to　surrender
  the　young　king　to　the　persecution　of　his　enemies。　But　no　one　knows；
  excepting　me；　that　of　your　own　free　will　you　have　helped　save　the
  king。　With　express　reference　to　your　safety；　I　have　made　all　the
  other　allies　believe　that　I　have　deceived　you；　and　that　you　know
  nothing　of　the　concealment　of　the　child。　So　be　entirely　without
  concern。　Only　Toulan　knows　your　secret；　and　Toulan　is　silent　as　the
  grave。　But　let　us　go　out　now　and　help　your　wife　bring　the　things
  into　the　house；　and　afterward　you　can　let　me　go　without　any　further
  leave…taking。　Farewell；　citizen；　may　you　be　entirely　successful　in
  your　new　field　of　labor。〃
  He　nodded　with　a　friendly　air　to　Simon；　and　as　Jeanne　Marie　just
  then　called　the　commissioner　with　a　loud　voice；　Toulan　hastily
  opened　the　door　and　hurried　to　her。
  Simon　followed　him　with　a　long；　dark　look。　Then　he　slowly　shook　his
  head；　and　his　eye　kindled。
  〃It　must　be；〃　he　said　to　himself；　softly。　〃I　should　otherwise　have
  no　rest　day　or　night；　and　it　would　be　worse　than　in　the　Temple。　He
  said　so　himself：　only　Toulan　knows　my　secret。　So　if　Toulan　dies；　my
  secret　dies　with　Toulan；　and　is　buried　with　him；　and　I　cart　then
  enjoy　my　life；　and　shall　not　need　to　live　in　anxiety；　and　in
  perpetual　fear　of　being　betrayed。　But；〃　he　continued；　after　a　brief
  pause；　〃what　is　done；　must　be　done　quickly；　otherwise　I　may　fall
  into　the　very　pit　I　have　digged　for　Toulan！　If　the　little　Capet　is
  fairly　carried　to　a　place　of　safety；　and　escapes　out　of　the
  republic；　Toulan　can　avenge　himself　by　reporting　the　whole　story　and
  bringing　me　to　misfortune。　I　must；　therefore