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a scornful laugh。
〃You have commanded me to visit the sick boy in the Temple； to
examine his condition； and to prescribe the necessary remedies for
his recovery。 I can offer no hope of recovery to the patient； but I
can afford him some relief from his sufferings。 Some of my medicines
are called playthings！ It lies with you to decide whether the
republic will refuse these medicines to the sick one。〃
〃And you say that the little Capet is incurable？〃 asked Petion；
eagerly。
〃Incurable； citizen representative。〃
〃Well； then；〃 said Petion； with a cold smile； 〃the republic can
afford to provide the last of the Capets with toys。 They have for
centuries toyed fearlessly with the happiness of the people； and the
last thing which the people of France give back to the tyrants is
some toy with which they may amuse themselves on the way to
eternity。 Citizen doctor； your demands shall be complied with。 The
first place which shall become vacant shall be given to Citizen
Simon； that he may be released from prison and enjoy his freedom。
The little Capet will be provided with playthings； and； besides； you
are empowered to give him all needful remedies for his relief。 It is
your duty to care for the sick child until its death。〃
CHAPTER XXVII。
THE HOBBY…HORSE。
In accordance with the instructions of Petion； playthings were
procured and carried into the gloomy chamber of the prince on the
very next day； and set by the side of the sick boy。 But Mistress
Simon labored in vain trying to amuse the little Louis with them。
The men danced； the wooden cocks crowed； the dogs barked； and to all
these sounds the child paid no heed； it did not once open its eyes；
nor care in the least for the many…colored things which the
officials had brought him。
〃We must try something else；〃 said the compassionate officer。 〃Do
you know any plaything which would be likely to please little Louis
Capet？〃
〃Give him a riding…horse；〃 cried Simon； with a coarse laugh。 〃I am
convinced if the obstinate youngster should hear that there was a
riding…horse outside； and that he might ride through Paris； he would
be well on the spot and get up。 It is pure deceit； his lying there
so pale and without interest in any thing about him。〃
〃You are very cruel； citizen；〃 muttered the official； with a
compassionate glance at the child。
〃Cruel？ Yes； I am cruel！〃 said Simon； grimly。 〃But it is the cursed
prison air that has made me so。 If I stay here a week longer； Jeanne
Marie will die； and I shall become crazy。 The director of the
hospital told us this； and you know； citizen； that he is the most
clever doctor in all France。 See if you would not be cruel if you
had such an idea as that in your head！〃
〃Well； citizen； you have at least the satisfaction of knowing that
it will not last long；〃 answered the officer； consolingly。 〃The
first vacancy is to be given to you。〃
〃Well； I hope it will come soon； then；〃 said Simon； with a sigh。 〃I
will take a vow to you。 If； in a week； I shall be released from this
place； and get a good situation； I will give little Capet a horse to
remember me by。 That is； not a horse on which he might ride out of
prison； but a wooden one； on which he can ride in prison。 Say；
little Capet；〃 called Simon； stooping over the bed of the child；
〃would you not like to have a nice wooden horse to play with？〃
Over the pale lips of the boy played the faint tint of a smile； and
he opened his eyes。 〃Yes；〃 he said； softly〃 yes； I should like to
have a wooden horse； and I should have a good time with it。〃
〃Come； citizen；〃 said Simon； solemnly； 〃I take you to witness my
vow。 If I receive another place； I give a hobby…horse to little
Capet。 You grant me the privilege； citizen？〃
〃I allow you； Citizen Simon； and I will report the matter to the
Public Welfare Committee； that it shall surprise no one by and by；
and I am sure no one will gainsay you in your praiseworthy offer。
For it certainly is praiseworthy to prepare a pleasure for a sick
child； and the great republic； which is the gracious mother of all
Frenchmen； will pity the poor child； too。 I wish you success；
citizen； in the fulfilment of all your hopes； and trust that you
will speedily be released from your trying imprisonment。〃
And； in fact； this release did not have to be waited for long。 A few
days brought the accomplishment of Doctor Naudin's prophecy； and the
official guard； who was then sick at the Hotel Dieu； died。 The
director of the hospital hastened to inform the authorities of this
event； and on the same day Simon was appointed his successor。 The
same official who had brought the sick prince the playthings； came
again to inform Simon； of his release； and was delighted at the
stormy outbreak of rapturous joy with which the tidings were
received。
〃We will be off directly；〃 cried Simon。 〃Our things have all been
packed for three days； and every thing is ready。〃
〃But you must wait patiently till to…morrow； my friends；〃 said the
official； with a smile。 〃Your successor cannot enter upon his duties
here in the Temple before tomorrow morning at ten o'clock； and till
then you must be content to wait quietly。〃
〃That is sad；〃 sighed Simon。 〃The time between now and ten o'clock
to…morrow morning； will lie like lead upon my shoulders。 I assure
you； citizen； the Temple could get along without me for one night。
The two Misses Capet above stairs are locked up； and as for the
little Capet down here； it is not necessary to lock him up； for he
will not run away； but lie quietly here upon his mattress。〃
〃So the child is really very sick？〃 asked the officer； with feeling。
〃Not exactly very sick；〃 answered Simon； indifferently； 〃but Doctor
Naudin； who visits him every day。 thinks that the youngster might
not be all right in the head； and he has ordered； on this account；
that his long thick hair should be cut off； that his head might be a
little cooler。 So Jeanne Marie is going to cut it off； and that will
probably be the last service that she will have to do for him。 We
are going to clear out of thiswe are going to clear out of this！〃
〃And have you really nothing more to do for the little Capet； than
merely to cut off his hair？〃 asked the officer with a fixed；
searching look。
〃No；〃 answered Simon； with a laugh； 〃nothing but that。 Oh！ yes；
there is something else。 I did not think of that。 My vow to you！ I
forgot that。 I swore that； if I were to get away from here； I would
give little Capet a hobby…horse。〃
〃I am glad； Citizen Simon； that you remember your promise；〃 said the
officer； gravely。 〃I must tell you that the Public Welfare
Committee； to which I communicated your intention； was very curious
to know whether Citizen Simon would remember to carry it into
effect。 It is on this account that I was instructed to inform you of
your transfer； and to report to them whether you intended to keep
your promise。 Your superiors will rejoice to learn that you are a
man of honor； with whom it is a sacred duty to keep his word； and
who； in prosperous days； does not forget to do what he promised to
do in less propitious times。 So； go and buy for little Capet the
promised hobby…horse； and I will inform the Welfare Committee that
it was not necessary for me to remind you of your vow； and that you
are not only a good citizen； but a good man as well。 Go and buy the
plaything； and make your arrangements to leave the Temple to…morrow
morning at ten o'clock； and to enter upon your new duties as
collector of customs at Porte Macon。〃
〃The great bell of Notre Dame will not have growled out its ten
strokes to…morrow morning； before Jeanne Marie and I； with our
goods； will have left the place；〃 replied Simon； with a laugh。 〃And
now I will run and fulfil my promise。〃 He clapped his red…flannel
cap upon his black； thick hair； and left the Temple with a hurried
step。 As the porter opened the door of the court which led to the
street； for the worthy citizen and 〃man of honor；〃 Simon stopped a
moment to chat； telling him of his new situation； and of the vow
which he was about to discharge。
〃Do not wonder； therefore； citizen；〃 he said； 〃if you see me come
back； by…and…by； with a horsewith this distinction； that it will
not be the horse that carries me； but that it will be I that will
carry the horse。 I was such a fool as to promise little Capet a
horse； and I must keep my word； particularly as the Committee of
Safety allows it。〃
〃Well； if that is so；〃 said the porter； with mock gravity； 〃I shall
let you in； even if you do not make your appearance until night。
With the permission of the Safety Committee； every thing； without
it； nothingfor I want to keep my head a little longer on my
shoulders。〃
〃And I do not grudge you the privilege；〃 said Simon； with a broad
grin。 〃We know very little about what we have here； but much less
about the place where the dear machine takes us。 But； if you like；
you can ask Roger； the official guard； whether I have permission to
bring the wooden horse into the Temple。 He is inside； and will
probably be there when I come back。〃
He nodded to the porter； and went out into the street。 As the door
closed behind him； Simon stopped a moment； and cast a quick g